Like most Americans, I remember exactly where I was when 9/11 happened. I was at my high school, and they wouldn't clue the students in on what was going on. After all, so many people commute from New Jersey to New York every day. I had classmates whose parents worked in the city, friends whose dads were in the twin towers, family who was near it all. The school didn't want us students to panic. I remember calling my mom to see what was going on, hearing her voice crack over the phone. When I later realized the weight of what had happened, I remember being overcome by the feeling that people are evil. Soon after on a chilly fall day when I looked at the billows of smoke and fog, which had taken the place of where the buildings had stood tall, I wondered how we would ever ... [Read More]
Archives for April 2013
Creamy Pasta Shells with Mushrooms, Green Beans & Pine Nuts
Last week as I was flipping through my cookbooks looking for some inspiration while meal planning, I came across a recipe in my Essential Vegetarian book that caught my eye. It was a recipe for fettuccine with creamy mushroom and bean sauce. I decided to use whole wheat pasta shells and altered some of the ingredients, and the meal came out pretty delicious if I do say so myself! Creamy Pasta Shells with Mushrooms, Green Beans & Pine Nuts 12 oz [whole wheat] small pasta shells1 TBSP olive oil1/4 onion (chopped)2 garlic cloves (minced)1 large portobello mushroom cap (thinly sliced)1/2 cup white wine1 cup heavy whipping cream1/2 cup vegetable stock6 oz green beans (trimmed and thinly sliced diagonally)3 TBSP chopped fresh basil1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (cut into ... [Read More]
Why I Love Mangoes
Before I talk about anything else today, I must first mention the Boston Marathon bombing. I've had a sick feeling in my gut watching the news and thinking about how such a celebratory event turned so tragic. People put so much time and effort into training for the marathon, and to think that the day was ruined by a terrorist/group of terrorists is utterly disheartening. A few people lost their lives, and many more will be forever scarred by what happened today. I can only imagine the feelings of panic that people felt as the explosions went off, and my thoughts are with everyone who was effected today. I can only hope that in moving forward, those injured will recover well, the loved ones of those lost can find a way to carry on, and that justice will be served to whoever is ... [Read More]
Girl Time in San Francisco
Hi friends! What an awesome weekend it has been...though it zipped by so quickly! Yesterday I got to hang out with one of my best friends, Danielle. She lives in Jersey but was here in California for work all last week, so we planned a weekend together. We met in San Francisco yesterday morning, and it was a beautiful day out. I've only been to San Fran once before when Adam and I did a road trip up the California coast, so I was excited to see the city again. We did some touristy things, including driving down the windy Lombard st... ...checking out the Golden Gate Bridge... ...walking around Fishermans Wharf: ..and taking lots of pictures of boats, seals, Alcatraz Island, and the gorgeous scenery: After having a bite to eat, we drove back to my area to do some late ... [Read More]
My “Klutch Moments” This Week
Hello and Happy Friday! My time in Vegas this week was fun and work-wise it went great, but I'm also happy to be back home in the Bay Area. Things are finally looking pretty good in my new place, and my next focus is getting decor on the walls! This week I was thinking a lot about how healthy living is a journey, how it's about everyday decisions we make to be good to ourselves on the inside and out. While we tend to beat ourselves up over any decisions we make that stray from being our healthiest selves, sometimes we forget to celebrate the positive moves we make - no matter how big or small they may be. It's important to recognize and pat ourselves on the back for the efforts we put in to creating a healthy, happy life. This concept was on my mind because I was recently contacted ... [Read More]
Peach Chia Smoothie
Last Saturday morning, I found myself staring at a ripe peach trying to think of what to do with it. While I did have time to whip up a fancy weekend breakfast, a waffle or pancake creation didn't seem appealing to me at the moment. I realized that what I was in the mood for was a smoothie. I peered into my fridge and cabinet and pulled out some ingredients that I thought would work well together... ...and this is what wound up being my breakfast: Including chia seeds added a bit of a crunch to my peach smoothie, which I was a fan of. Chia seeds upped the nutritional value of the smoothie, as they are a nice source of omega-3 fatty acid, fiber and antioxidants. Next time I'm going to try adding protein powder to this combo, but this recipe makes a nice refreshing smoothie as is. Peach ... [Read More]
