happy new year, friends!
in honour of resolutions and commitments to a healthier life and all that jazz… and just because i truly believe in this lifestyle, i want to present a gentle reminder – don’t forget to “eat the rainbow!” as in : plenty of colourful foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables!
some things i’ve been enjoying lately:
– baked purple sweet potato
– roasted cabbage w/ bacon bits
– kaniwa w/ sautéed garlic and onion
– slow-cooked smoked ham and green beans
—
nom nom!
alcoholic rootbeer.
when i first discovered this, i wasn’t exactly excited. it sounded a little weird to me. but oh my goodness is this stuff good! it’s kind of a trend right now, i guess. i’ve tried a few brands, but this one is my favourite by far. it’s amazing how much it tastes just like rootbeer!!! the label recommended pouring it over ice… which, again, sounded odd to me but i tried it anyway. and it’s very good!
however, it’s also very very sweet and has a ton of sugar in it, so i only drink one on occasion for fun. and i highly recommend you do, as well!
🙂
… and she is {ironically} not really a fan of having her picture taken.
😛
it’s that time of year!
don’t you just LOVE autumn?!
the colours, the crisp air, the leaves falling, the clothing, the smell of pumpkin everywhere…
and it’s the time of year during which the only beer i’ll be drinking is oktoberfest! {pretty much}
and usually i’m sippin’ on some sam adams, cuz i just love that stuff. but i literally squealed with excitement when i discovered this sierra nevada oktoberfest!
i’m somewhat obsessed with sierra nevada. however, i only recently starting drinking their beers… and my goodness are they ahh-mazing!
a friend of mine told me that sierra nevada has been tested/known for their extremely clean water… and in my opinion, this greatly effects the taste of their brews. i don’t know quite how to explain it, but there is something distinguishably different about sierra nevada beer, and not just this wonderful oktoberfest. it makes sense to me that it could have something to do with the natural cleanliness and quality of their water.
furthermore, i love SN’s oktoberfest because it was brewed in collaboration with an old-school 19th century german brauhaus, using their recipe!!! the brewery is one of the oldest in the country… and i mean, it doesn’t get much more authentic than that!
and this stuff tastes incredible!
sierra nevada claims this is a ONE TIME ONLY release – so get your hands and taste-buds on some as soon as you can!
SLAINTE!
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are you a sierra nevada fan?! and if so, do you agree with my theory regarding their water?!
i’m kind of obsessed with lettuce-wraps, as of late…
they are so easy to make and they are fulfilling without the guilt – gluten-free {if you want them to be}, quick and simple to prepare, and full of colour!
i also like to eat lettuce wraps during my “transition” months… like september, when the weather begins to change and my body begins to prepare for the heartier foods, but i’m not quite ready to let go of lighter fare. lettuce wraps meld the changing seasons together nicely.
i also LOVE grass-fed beef… for the nutrition, the health of the animal, the health of the planet… and the sense of pride i take when purchasing sustainable, farm-fresh food.
furthermore, i love to eat locally and support a “100-mile diet” as often as i can in my life. the 100-mile diet simply means you only eat food that is raised or grown within 100 miles of where you currently live. for me, choosing this lifestyle is the best way i can “vote with my dollars” in supporting a food-system that is sustainable, healthy, and good for our planet earth. i pair that choice with seasonal and organic eating, and it has proven to be the best lifestyle for me.
almost everything in these lettuce wraps was locally grown/made :
once you brown your meat {try really hard not to overcook grass-fed beef!} and add in any spices you wish, simply pile it all up on a clean lettuce leaf and wrap it up and eat it!
i created my wrap in this order : lettuce leaf, beef, cheese, tomatoes, onions, olives, salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips..
and then…
nom nom… nomcrunch.. NOM NOM!!!
it’s just around the bend… that wonderful feeling in the air, as summer transitions to autumn… this is, afterall, my favourite time of year… and i humbly and somewhat eagerly welcome the change of seasons {both literally – in nature, and figuratively – in my own life} as i toast with a yummy, beautiful brew — pumpkick, from new belgium… and goodness, they sure know what they’re doing when it comes to beer!
and i’m slowly learning what i’m doing when it comes to life…
SLAINTE!
eat the rainbow!
farm-fresh veggies and homemade ranch dip with simple greek yogurt and herbs.
colourful mixed bell peppers, olives, sugar snap peas, baby carrots, and mini cucumbers.
nom nom!!
there were such beautiful and intimate moments at this wedding, that at one point – i almost forgot to keep taking pictures! i was completely enamored, what can i say?! these two are such magnificent souls… and their love carries such an intense energy with it that EVERYONE could feel!
they decided to wed on the blue moon, just three weeks ago, this past july. it was just the most beautiful day and only 20 people were present for the ceremony… and so was blue moon, the yummy beer.
congratulations, a & a! ❤
it’s my mama’s birthday today… you may remember how i celebrated a couple years ago…
well, this year i am going to take myself out to do something special… and in honour of my mother {since i look just like her} and her birthday, i thought i would post these silly pics of myself… Continue reading
my grandpa used to say, “a potato will cure what ails ya…” and i’ve held on to his words over the years. i can hear him in the back of my head when i’m making mashed potatoes, or any variation of potatoes. i just happen to love them. probably in part due to my irish and german roots and also due to my grandma always teaching me how to stretch a dollar. the potato is an inexpensive food that is loaded with vitamins and minerals. when i was a kid, i used to chop them up into small bits, sprinkle them with salt, and eat them raw!
today, i eat them any way i can get them. lately, i’ve been making a potato hash, or potato homefries. it keeps well in the fridge, and you can make a huge batch and heat them up for breakfast or a side dish with dinner. top with a fresh egg, or dip in a little ranch dressing or ketchup… and nom nom!
i’ve been keeping it pretty simple with mine :
simply heat up some oil or butter on medium to high heat and add in garlic, onions, bell peppers, and potatoes… then cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occaisonally. you want the potatoes to crisp up a little bit… but keep in mind, if you are batch-cooking them, you can reheat them later and crisp them up at that time.
super easy and simple. and you could even freeze these if you wanted to! but i doubt you will want to or have any left over, because they are just so yummy! 🙂
lots to love this summer!
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eatin’ baked brie with caramelized onions, grapes, and strawberries…
watchin’ silly movies and dressin’ for random weather…
servin’ farm-to-table meals…
margaritas… and sunglasses…
seein’ randomness… and plenty of beauty…
eatin’ dessert with beer and wearin’ new hats…
catchin’ rays and devourin’ tapas at happy hour…
random sunrises and… other things…
workin’ on puzzles… and completin’ them the same night 😉
eatin’ on the patio and watchin’ sunsets…
admirin’ the flowers and wearin’ them in my hair…
tryin’ new cocktails… and appetizers…
and balancin’ that with lots of fresh summer veggies…
and these!…
takin’ selfies… and stayin’ true to me…
havin’ friends who are chefs!!!!…
for real… i have some SUPER talented friends!!!!….
keepin’ an open eye…
red lobster’s crabfest!… and the boozie drink they served me… it came with a sidecar of gran marnier… which, i was lovin’… and which also totally made me buy dessert! {key lime pie!}
cloud-watchin’….
fresh beer and BLTs… and coffee!
and i’m lovin’ the fact that my hair is finally growin’!
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what are YOU lovin’ about summer?!?!
🙂
❤
it’s kind of a known fact that photographers generally don’t like being photographed… in this case, with my friend slash client who also works behind the lense, she was no exception 😉
congratulations, kate!
here’s a bunch of pics via the iphone, from recent days in the life of audrey michelle :
food & foto 