Happy Wednesday!

We are already midway through the week. I’m looking forward to the upcoming weekend with Good Friday and Easter. Also the weather forecast here in Michigan looks amazing! (Highs in the 50s/60s and sunny!) Hoping to spend some additional time outside.

In case you haven’t heard, I am starting a disordered eating-focused Bible study coming up on April 11th! Contact me if interested. Anyone is welcome!

Lettuce get to discussing the start of spring’s recent eats!

With the start of April, my favorite lemon bars are back on the dessert rotation! These truly couldn’t be easier. My main tip is to let them cool gradually to hopefully avoid cracking! (For example, after baking, let sit on the warm oven, then the counter, then transfer to the fridge for a very gradual cooling process.) If there is any dessert that rivals my love for chocolate, it is a good lemon bar!

Other spring dessert recipes that look fun to try include strawberry crisp, blueberry lemon thyme cake, or my mango black rice pudding!

All the spring veg in this Thai green veggie curry. A generous blend of asparagus, carrot, white onion, and spinach all over a (hidden) bed of quinoa/brown rice. Served with more spring veg on the side! I have been all about the arugula + radish combo lately.

As alluded to a couple of weeks ago, I am back to my spring/summer morning drink of choice! Iced coffee with homemade chocolate cashew milk for the win.

For the creamy + dreamy cashew milk goodness –> add to a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix) 3/4 cup raw cashews, 6 dates, 1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp cacao powder, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a dash of salt, and 3 cups of filtered water. Blend until smooth! Basically a naturally-sweetened version of chocolate milk!

Classic Juicy Kitchen salad with organic mixed greens, fresh fruit, cucumber, fennel, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, chicken, and white balsamic. The globs of goat cheese with fruit all in the same bite is where it’s at!

To take a salad from more of a side to a meal, it’s key to have a significant source of each macronutrient – fat, protein, + carb.

Ideas for fat sources for salads –> avocado, cheese, or nuts. Plus a quality olive or avocado oil-based dressing!

Ideas for protein sources –> cheese, nuts, veggie burger, chicken, chickpeas, tempeh, beef, salmon, hard-boiled egg, beans, or edamame.

Ideas for carb sources –> toasted pita chips, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, wild rice, fresh fruit, croutons, or a side of a roll, fresh bread, or tortilla chips!

I have been obsessed with this pistachio chicken recipe and it couldn’t be easier! For continued dinner ease + flavor satisfaction, serve with a baked potato w/ butter and side salad. Fabulous!

Have you given my mocha almond joy smoothie a try? Your tastebuds will be thanking you! Round it out with some granola (or other toppings of your choosing) for some added crunch.

Adding in some texture variety tends to make meals/snacks more satisfying!

Sometimes, at the end of the month, when our grocery budget is running low, I am forced to get more creative! After taking a deep dive into our pantry I came up with this impromptu Mediterranean orzo side dish to have alongside some leftover chicken. I cooked the orzo according to package instructions and then added in some sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, red chili flakes, and a few splashes of lemon juice. Alec and I were both fans!

Another end-of-the-month meal one night was quinoa topped with sautéed broccoli + corn (seasoned with thyme, rosemary, salt, + pepper), shredded parmesan, and a sunny egg.

I picked up this mouthwatering black tea and saffron rice pudding from El Harissa in Ann Arbor. Made w/ oat milk and cardamom, with juicy plump raisins mixed in, and pistachios, rose petals, + toasted almonds for topping!

More spring salad goodness, this time with mixed greens, roasted asparagus, beets, toasted pepitas + hemp seeds, chopped cuc, tempeh, and my favorite tahini Green goddess dressing. Part of my Wednesday post-yoga routine!

Two bar recipes to round things out… including these raspberry oatmeal bars I decided to make for breakfast on a whim for when Alec’s mom was in town. 10/10 will be making these gems again! Served with coffee+ whole milk yogurt + homemade granola.

Homemade chocolate peanut butter protein bars heading into the freezer before slicing for later… sweetened with dates and made with plenty of walnuts + cacao + peanuts!

Everyday Enjoyment:

On resisting algorithms: This article on resisting algorithms from one of my favorite blogs. Some of my favorite ideas –> resisting the urge to Google everything (one of my pet peeves in conversation!), trying a new skill without reading about it, and finding a new restaurant by exploring instead of looking up ratings/reviews!

Essential oils: I have been into utilizing my essential oils diffuser a lot more lately now that I’ve moved it into our office. Currently loving an organic lemon scent. An often-overlooked aspect of health is minimizing toxic scents/chemicals from artificially-scented candles, beauty products, cleaning products, and more!! Check out Clean Mama’s blog for loads of easy (and MUCH cheaper!!) DIY non-toxic cleaning sprays. It takes me less time to make my homemade sprays than it would to order and unbox something from Amazon!

Simple morning stretching routine:  I always like to wake up with this simple yoga/stretching sequence as part of my morning routine: Downward dog –> one-legged dog –> crescent warrior –> reverse crescent –> sky archer –> triangle –> reverse triangle –> half moon –> standing forward fold –> switch sides! Also always some backbends and inversion (such as a headstand or shoulder stand) to get the blood flowing!!

What is a spring produce recipe you are looking forward to making soon??
Is there a way you want to grow in “resisting algorithms”?

Enjoy the rest of your week! Hopefully there are more sunnier + warmer days are ahead!