shortbread cookies // coconut + macadamias

These cookies, THESE cookies are so freakin' amazing. Before posting I ended up testing this recipe about 5 times and they were spot on 4 out of 5 times.....the first time around, I attempted a gluten free version and that was a total fail, it didn't even make it to the freezer phase of the recipe. Then I moved onto the good ol' all purpose flour and there was not turning back- they were perfect.

triple nut butter // pecans, cashews + almonds

We loooooove our nut butters - no lie. Between Justin, Brody and I we probably go through about a jar a week. Overnight oats, farina, celery and peanut butter, waffles and nut butter, english muffins with nut butter and banana...the list goes on and on.

When I have the motivation I like to make my own. It is super simple, and every time I whip up a batch I think to myself why on earth I don't do this more often.

A quick roast and blend and you have yourself a nut butter. A nut butter where you control the ingredients, texture and amount.

kitchen IQ + So Delicious Brunch! // Banana Pancakes

At our house breakfast or brunch is a favorite. For us, a breakfast that includes a Mimosa automatically becomes Brunch.

This post combines my two favorite things: Banana Pancakes + Mimosas.  

This my friends, is the perfect start to any Sunday.

Who actually needs an excuse to day drink, I didn't think so.

chocolate chip coconut muffins // almond flour + walnuts

It is finally feeling like Summer here in New Hampshire and I'm loving it! Aside from the massive amounts of black flies, mosquitoes and ticks it has been pretty awesome spending as much time outside as we possibly can. Our morning hikes have turned into a hiking and swatting session with creatively made head gear about  half way through the hike with whatever piece of clothing we can bear to lose. I am pretty certain we are going to invest in those crazy screened in hats or learn to outrun the bugs. Hopefully this bug season will be short lived - fingers + toes crossed!

chickpea salad sammie // shallots + celery

I love sammies - they are so quick, easy and depending on how you make them super satisfying. Justin and I have been on a chickpea salad sammie quick and thought I would share with you our go to recipe. Direct quote from Justin // "I don't know how you did it but these taste just like chicken salad sandwiches" .....which I think is kind of skewed since we haven't had chicken in over 12 years- but really these have all the same flavors and textures as the chicken salad sammies we can remember - just better, cause' you know they don't have chicken in them.

red curry soup // rice noodles + coconut

This type of meal is all me- Justin would not touch this with a 10' pole. For some reason he has an aversion to coconut milk in anything other than curry.

I am a sucker for rice noodles in any which way you want to serve them up // I love them in soups, a stir fry and spring rolls. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

strawberry chia turnovers // tahini maple drizzle

Who wouldn't want to know how to make pastries in under 30 minutes? 

These are so stupid easy to make - simple ingredients with semi impressive results with little effort.

Perfect to make in a pinch for Brunch or Mothers Day.

They could be a lifesaver one day.

za'atar hummus // kalamata + garlic

Justin and I plow through so much hummus in a week it is kind of embarrassing - it is our snack of choice and I love adding it to my veggie wraps. 

Hummus is also our go to if we are heading to a party or on a road trip and it is something our friends always have on hand for us too. 

I mean you can't really go wrong with hummus, am I right?

loaded hash brown waffles // Mastro Co.

Weekend breakfasts are the best.  When we are not having pancakes we are most definitely having breakfast sandwiches. Alongside our breakfast sandwiches we always have some form of breakfast potato. Justin loves to tell me about how his Mom would always use their waffle maker for sandwiches and pie pockets - then he proceeds to ask me why I don't use my waffle iron for more than just waffles- that got me thinking. Justin loves shredded potato hash browns and I am more of a home-fry girl with peppers and onions, this is the perfect combination of the two. And the perfect way to put my waffle iron to use for more than just waffles.

smokey tomato grilled sammie // chao cheese

Sandwiches are so much fun to make- the possibilities are endless. I had so much fun creating this Sandwich with Field Roast Deli Slices + Chao Cheese. I was lucky enough to have been selected along with Chuck Pepper, as Field Roasts 2015 Cooks in the Field. We get to create recipes each month, for six months highlighting Chao Cheese. This was especially exciting for me, often times, here on the East Coast it takes a little while for new products to make their way to us, let me tell you Chao Cheese does not disappoint.

chocolate chip coconut waffles

The only waffles I ever knew growing up were of the frozen variety. A waffle iron, what's that?  

It  was  my other half , Justin that convinced me I needed a waffle iron in my life. Let me tell you, he was so right, I had no idea what I was missing out on all those years. There's just something about making your own waffles that is super satisfying. The  best part about making waffles at home is deciding what's going in the batter.  When I received my Pacific Foods Coconut Milk I absolutely knew I had to make something with chocolate (I mean coconut + chocolate together is heaven), chocolate and coconut in waffle form, now that's a winner!

DIY kitchen series: instant oatmeal // 3 ways

Lately, life has been crazy- in a good way. We are coming up on our busiest time of year at work, which means Summer is just around the corner. Our house will be going on the market towards the end of May, which is a scary and exciting time all rolled in one. Little side projects, both personal + professional have been popping up all over the place.

I like to save time anywhere I can, even if it's just shaving 5-10 minutes off of my morning routine. During my teenage years I was a breakfast skipper, actually, I was a terrible eater in general (hello Swedish fish, Pizza Hut bread sticks + Little Debbie snacks for lunch!). Growing up I have learned to appreciate and look forward to breakfast. During the work week I rely on quick and easy breakfasts, instead of buying pre - mixed instant oatmeal which can get a little pricey, I have learned to make my own. Today, I am going to share with you my three favorite mixes, they take very little effort and gives you a quick breakfast for the week.

sweet potato + black bean quesadillas

When Justin and I first started dating and throughout our vegetarian years quesadillas were a BIG part of our lives. It was Justin's go to anytime we went out with friends to a non veg friendly restaurant and it was my go to when I wanted a quick and easy meal on a busy weeknight. Sadly, when we went vegan quesadillas were kind of forgotten about. Justin is not a huge fan of vegan cheese, so finding a quesadilla filling that satisfied him just like the cheesy version was a challenge to say the least. That was until recently, this quesadilla blows the socks off its non vegan counterpart and way more satisfying.

mini grinders // maple chipotle veggie meatballs

I have had these maple chipotle veggie meatballs on my mind since I first saw the non vegan counterpart on Martha Stewart- I just knew I had to recreate a vegan version. 

They are sweet, savory and a bit spicy- a fusion of Asian and Mexican flavors, Justin and I couldn't get enough of this flavor combination.

cherry maca almond smoothie {giveaway!}

We are half way through Non Dairy Month- how crazy is that! 

This weeks smoothie features 3 of my favorite things: almond milk, cherries and maca- total goodness in a glass.

Almond Milk is our go to milk for everyday drinking and baking. Nearly every morning during the work week Justin has a couple bowls of cereal drowned in Almond Milk. My Mom, who isn't even vegan or vegetarian has replaced her coffee creamer with Almond Milk - this stuff is good, no lie.

triple berry tart & perfection

Puff Pastry can be a lifesaver in the dessert making department- easy to use, readily available & bakes up fast in a totally impressive way. Normally I have a few sheets of pastry in my freezer, you do need to think ahead a bit in order to defrost the pastry prior to using. I like to pop it in the fridge overnight so it is ready the next day.  I was in need of a quick dessert over Memorial Day Weekend; who doesn't love pastry and fresh fruit? This tart would also fit the bill nicely for 4th of July. 

coconut oat scones // maple cinnamon glaze

I don't make scones very often, but I had a super craving for scones and a cup of tea a couple weeks ago and couldn't get the idea out of my mind. There was only one solution- makes scones! 

Keeping in theme with non dairy month, these beautiful little scones are made with Pacific's Organic Oat Milk. They turned out even better than I had imagined- you will want each and every last crumb.

herb pesto pasta salad

Justin and I consider pasta salad the first rite of summer - admittedly we are known to bust out the first pasta salad of the season a little too soon...okay, really early, like at the first sight of a robin or when the temp hovers around 60 degrees and the day light stays with us until 7:00pm. We are like Snow White singing and dancing with little birdies surrounding us in the backyard at the first sight of warm weather. Oh glorious day! We feel free and can't get enough of the warmth from the sun- then it rains for the month of May and we are catapulted back into the reality that we shouldn't have packed away all of our cold weather clothes.

Spring, she is a funny lady- she gives us a taste and then takes it away. It's like taking a bite of an awesome cupcake after a fast and then having someone take it away before you have even finished chewing.

falafel veggie burgers

Veggie burger + falafel = a party in my mouth. Kid you not, this is one of the best veggie burgers I have made to date. Crunchy on the outside and just right on the inside (aka not dry) and holds together incredibly well without the need for any fillers such as rice, oats or bread crumbs. This is a straight bean and veggie burger with flavors of falafel and the middle east- I can't say enough about how good this veggie burger is.

I am willing to bet these would hold up well on the grill but have yet to experiment on an open grate grill. only a tabletop outside grill griddle and they cooked up perfectly. 

kiwi blackberry hemp smoothie {giveaway}

It is rare to see a giveaway or a sponsored review on this blog, come to think about it this is a first. Over the years I have had several companies reach out looking to sponsor a post or send along a product for review, however none of them ever felt like the right fit. A few weeks back Pacific Foods approached me looking to see if I would be interested in participating in their non dairy month during the month of June; I jumped at the chance! First I love Pacific's line of vegan products and have been a loyal customer for several years, secondly I love the fact that there is a whole month dedicated to promoting dairy alternatives. Each week I will be featuring a smoothie and recipe featuring the non dairy beverage of the week. This week let me introduce you to Hemp Milk, which just so happens to be one of my favorites!