My Cooking Spot

When Girl Meets Kitchen

Strawberry Pina Colada Smoothie

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Strawberry Pina Colada Smoothie

This Strawberry Pina Colada Smoothie may look like a cocktail, but I promise you, this vegan, gluten-free treat is meant for breakfast!

So after the sugar fest that was Tuesday’s s’mores recipe, I decided I need to clean up my noshing habit a bit and try to snack a little bit on the healthier side. So, of course, I’m here to share the tasty results of my latest experiment with you!

Let me just put this out there; in case the name of my blog didn’t give it away, I adore sweets and desserts – chocolate, ice cream, cupcakes, brownies – they’re mostly my favorite things to eat in the world. I rarely skip dessert when we go out for dinner, and I almost always have some sort of sweet snack somewhere in the house. I’m also a wannabe gym rat, and I have a pretty good grasp on moderation.

When I’m on my game (meaning meal prepping, lifting/working out 3-4 times a week, and generally giving 100% to my healthy life regimen), I make smoothies for breakfast every morning for myself and my husband, so I feel like I’m pretty good at coming up with tasty flavor combinations. Pina Coladas are one of my favorite cocktails to indulge in, so I figured it would make for a killer smoothie since the ingredients are fairly similar.

Then, I decided to toss some strawberry puree in the mix, and all of a sudden it became a Lava Flow, and I immediately wished I was on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, listening to steel drums and soaking up some sun by the pool. [Read more…]

Oranges, Balsamic Candied Pecans & Herb Salad

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Orange and herb salad with lemon vinaigrette

Hi, Marcella Rose here!  I often find that I make some of my most exciting recipes out of necessity.  Needing to use this or that before it goes bad or to make room in the fridge or because “surprise!”, you have guests staying for dinner.  It’s where I shine because you really have to be creative to make it work.

It is a skill that was honed while being a ranch cook 45 miles from anything for 5 years.  I would open up a cook book and decide on a recipe only to find out that we don’t have half the ingredients.  I got really good at substitutions and clever ways around things and it made me feel empowered.  I didn’t need to be limited by recipes. So strict and to the point.  Why not let your palate decide?  You know what you like, what flavor combinations taste best together.  So tonight why not take off the saddle, untie the reins and just run free?  Make something up, be spontaneous, and try something new! Who knows what could happen, you could invent a new favorite dish!

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Roasted Red Pepper Dip (Romesco)

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Romesco

I have never heard of this dip before, but I am drooling, and I don’t have to feel guilty because this dip is healthy, rich in antioxidants and a great source of healthy fats that are essential for our brains. The Greek yogurt also gives a big protein boost and this snack will help keep you satisfied till dinner.

This dip can be made up in a jif, and it is a dip that your family will love, and a great dip for pot lucks or parties. I am always wanting to bring something healthy to a party or pot luck, because most of the time, there are not a lot of healthy options.

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Homemade Thai Chili Sauce

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My little sister and fellow Cooking Spot contributor Nathalia of Creatively Conscious was married this fall in the loveliest wedding ceremony up in the pine-dotted Sierra.  She and her husband Loren then took off for an epic honeymoon of honeymoons – to travel the world together for 7 months hand-in-hand. It really doesn’t get any more lovely or romantic than that.

It has been like a dream to be able to follow their adventures through their Instagram “Lov3_is_Key” and their Blog, LoveIsKey.net.  But, better than that, Loren and Nathalia invited family members to join them along the way.  I poured over their itinerary with my husband’s large atlas spread on the floor in front of me, my calendar to the right and my computer to my left, tracing what would be their epic journey, trying to decide where in the world would we fly off to see them, fantasizing about all the wonderful places, the amazing food, the cultures, and the people one would meet.  I knew a few things for certain, I wanted to be with my sister for a holiday, traveling can be hard and so can being so far away from your family so this was a priority. If I could make at least one holiday feel a little bit like home, I would have achieved my goal.  Also I wanted to go somewhere new, somewhere I thought I would never get a chance in my lifetime to visit, an adventure to top all adventures.

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