Hello everyone!

How is your week going? I’ve been enjoying seeing the sun a little more lately! Cloudy day after cloudy day really starts to wear on me.

Over the weekend I spoke at an event with Michigan Cru on disordered eating and body image, got coffee with a friend at a favorite cafe in Ann Arbor, and did some household work/chores. We also have been watching some March Madness here and there. My championship pick (Texas) remains alive!

I’m certainly looking forward to spring with hopefully some warmer weather, time outside, and all the fresh spring produce.

Some recent eats for inspiration!

I made some super satisfying scrambled eggs for dinner one night. I added red bell pepper, white onion, spinach, and feta. Served alongside my favorite roasted potatoes seasoned with salt + pepper, paprika, and garlic powder!

I have been loving this salad the past couple of weeks. Arugula topped with brown rice, roasted sweet potatoes, green onion, feta, pepitas, dried cherries, and the most amazing fresh ginger dressing. I’ve also been adding chickpeas or tempeh for extra protein. Kind of more of a fall salad in my mind but I couldn’t resist!

Mini chia pudding snack with fresh raspberries + dark chocolate chips. To make a batch of the chia pudding, I simply whisked together 1 1/2 cups almond milk, 6 tbsp chia seeds, and 1 tbsp maple syrup. Let sit overnight and enjoy throughout the week! Other excellent chia pudding topping ideas include nut butter, granola, and/or chopped nuts + dried fruit.

For dinner one evening we enjoyed our favorite black bean soup topped with sour cream, tortilla chips, and green onion. While we don’t normally watch TV during dinner, we ate this in the living room while watching the March Madness Selection Show. We didn’t expect Michigan to make the NCAA tournament after their disappointing and frustrating end to the season… so that has been a bummer for this March!

I am now obsessed with this ginger + turmeric tea from TJ’s. It has a hint of orange flavor, which I love. Makes for a fabulous warm evening drink, or I also like it iced with some almond milk for an afternoon refresher!

Another salad lately, this time featuring mixed greens topped with quinoa, chopped carrot + radish + beets, feta, pepitas, chickpeas, and homemade balsamic. I love the sweet pickled beets from Costco!

Absolute favorite dish as of the past couple of weeks! Flavorful roasted veggie bowls –> brown rice topped with roasted sweet potatoes + brussels + chickpeas, all drizzled with the most delish tahini honey mustard dressing. I love how quickly this bowl comes together and how well it keeps for leftovers! I recommend storing each component to the bowl separately (except for the brussels + chickpeas together). Will certainly be making this on the regular.

I have been making these Samoa cookies at work on Wednesdays for months and finally took one home! Of course I have tested and tasted various bits + pieces, but it was nice to enjoy an entire one. There are a number of steps involved in making the cookies but I’d say it’s well worth the effort! Here is a version from Minimalist Baker that is somewhat similar.

I also have been enjoying some Juicy Kitchen maca bites lately for afternoon snacks. We had a power outage a few weeks ago so I was able to take home some energy bites + cookies that we couldn’t sell anymore (they stayed nice and cold due to the low temps despite not technically being refrigerated!). This energy bite is a tasty blend of oats, almond butter, coconut, maca powder, dried cranberries, dates, chia seeds, walnuts, chocolate chips, vanilla, and agave syrup. The best!

One other work dish… a mushroom, spinach, + truffle oil quiche I got for a quick/early dinner one evening. We use the most delish pie crusts from Crust Bakery in Fenton. I had to eat before Alec got home from work and perused one of my favorite new cookbooks while eating.

Have you ever had a red pear?? We have been loving the organic red pears I’ve been buying at Whole Foods. I like how they are a little harder than typical green pears (but not quite like an apple). I’ve been including them with our lunches most days!

Lastly, fave overnight steel-cut oatmeal breakfast topped with plenty of peanut butter, sesame seeds, honey, and fresh berries. Coffee with plenty of almond milk splashed in! I think it is almost time to switch over to my warmer weather cold overnight oats and iced coffee with cacao cashew milk… maybe in April??

Everyday Enjoyment:

Michigan basketball game: While it is disappointing how Michigan’s basketball season went, we did enjoy going to the Michigan-Toledo NIT game in Ann Arbor last week with my dad and brother. We had great seats just a few rows behind the hoop so it was fun being able to see everything so well. I had Michigan basketball season tickets all four years of college and hadn’t been to a game since then! However, Michigan is now out of the NIT. #Sad.

Irish soda bread: I tried Irish soda bread (from Crust) for the first time last week and was surprised by how much I loved it!! Like most things, I’m sure not all soda bread is the same, but this one was amazing. I am now eager to try this sourdough Irish soda bread recipe… maybe this weekend? Next year I’ll have to be more prepared by actually making it on St. Patrick’s Day!

Currently reading: Right now (as far as fiction goes) I just started The Keeper of Lost Things. I’m liking it so far!

What is your favorite Girl Scout cookie??
Do you enjoy corned beef, Irish soda bread, and other typical St. Patrick’s Day foods?
What are you currently reading? (Or hoping to read this spring?)