Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My two youngest kids are at opposite ends of the country visiting family this week and next. I’m so glad they were able to do this, but man, the house sure has been quiet this week! I miss having them home.

I’ve headed out of town myself for a spur-of-the-moment weekend trip, so Sean and my oldest are going to have to hold down the fort and keep Oscar company this weekend. It’s hard to imagine a time when the boys won’t all be living at home, but I know that day is coming.

ON THE BLOGS this week: A colorful medley of garden-fresh vegetables is tossed in a light oil and vinegar dressing to make this tangy pasta salad a surefire hit at your next gathering.

Sweet onions, fresh zucchini, and grilled corn along with a bit of chicken and plenty of melting cheese made these some of the best vegetable quesadillas that I have made recently.

Roasted peanuts, ginger, garlic, and spicy red chilies give this easy kung pao chicken a kick that makes it quite unique. Kung Pao chicken is savory and sweet with as much spiciness as you might desire. The peanuts provide an additional nutty flavor that really brings it all together.

The robust flavor of artichoke hearts is perfect with the fiery kick of fresh jalapenos in this endlessly snackable artichoke jalapeno dip.

Learning how to roast beets is something that I am so glad I took the time to figure out. Getting those purple rocks soft and delectable is much easier than I imagined!

Sweet and earthy beets dance with tangy goat cheese, crunchy candied walnuts, and a drizzle of rich balsamic in this roasted beet salad.

Sweetly tart and tender rhubarb is baked to perfection under a crisp topping of brown sugar and oats in this easy rhubarb crisp.

There is nothing – and I do mean nothing – that compares with steeping whole spices and tea leaves to make an authentic pot of fragrant, spicy, sweet homemade chai. I’m warning you now, once you’ve made real chai you will never be as happy with the other versions.

Fragrant cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are steeped with black tea leaves to infuse each scoop of this chai ice cream with the classic flavor of chai tea.

Sweet strawberries meet tart rhubarb, b

Fragrant cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are steeped with black tea leaves to infuse each scoop of Chai Ice Cream with the classic flavor of chai tea.

Chai Ice Cream

This chai ice cream recipe creates a memorable dessert that is richly fragrant with all of the spices we love in chai, whether it’s ordered from your favorite coffee shop or made at home.

It is a cold, creamy treat that blends all the warmth of a traditional spiced tea into a surprisingly refreshing dessert. You’ll love this ice cream on its own or scooped over a peach cobbler or an apple crisp.

Like many other recipes I’ve shared over the years, this recipe was inspired by a conversation with my sister Jenny. Her husband Jason can be thanked for the chai recipe that forms the base of flavors in this new ice cream.

Milk Tea Ice Cream

I don’t typically prepare my morning or evening tea with milk, but I’ve seen my mom do it for years. And, when making chai tea, I always use half and half. Turns out, a lot of cultures have their own version of tea with milk.

I don’t know why I never tried to make an ice cream with this flavor before. In retrospect, it seems a no-brainer that milk tea ice cream could work. I’m glad I finally gave it a try, because chai tea ice cream is fabulous!

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Please keep in mind that today’s post is for information purposes and is not medical information. If you have questions about improving your gut health, talk to your health care provider. 

Today I want to talk about something that may not be the most glamorous topic, but it’s incredibly important: gut health. As women, we often put a lot of emphasis on our performance, energy levels, and what we put into our bodies to look and feel our best. But what about what’s going on inside? Our gut health plays a crucial role in our overall health and wellbeing, from our digestion and immune system to our mental health.

So, why is gut health so important?

Our gut is home to trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. When our gut is in balance, meaning there’s more good bacteria than bad, it helps keep our immune system strong, aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients, and even produces neurotransmitters that affect our mood and cognitive function. On the flip side, when our gut is out of balance, it can lead to a host of problems such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and even depression and anxiety.

Now, the good news is that we can improve our gut health through a few simple lifestyle changes.

*Please note that this is not medical advice and simply intended for informational purposes. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before making any fitness or nutrition changes.*

Gut Health for Women: Why it Matters and How to Improve it

Here are some tips:

Eat a diet rich in fiber:

Fiber feeds the good bacteria in our gut and helps keep things moving smoothly. Aim for at least 25-30 grams of fiber per day from sources such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. A helpful strategy: track your fiber! I like Chronometer and My Fitness Pal.

Incorporate probiotic-rich foods:

Probiotics are live bacteria that can help boost the good bacteria in our gut. Foods such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, tempeh, sauerkraut, and kimchi are all sources of probiotics.

Avoid processed and sugary foods:

These types of foods can feed the bad bacteria in our gut and lead to inflammation and other issues. When you do have these foods, enjoy them, and move on with your life. I just don’t recommend making them the staple or focus in an everyday diet.

Manage stress:

Chronic stress can negatively impact our gut health, so finding ways to manage stress such as meditation, yoga, or simply taking a walk in nature can be incredibly beneficial.

Consider supplements:

In some cases, supplements such as probiotics or digestive enzymes may be helpful in improving gut health. I love the Sakara probiotics! (My code is XOGINAH for 20% off)

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There is nothing – and I do mean nothing – that compares with steeping whole spices and tea leaves to make an authentic pot of fragrant, spicy, sweet homemade chai.

I’ve enjoyed plenty of powdered chai in coffee shops and I’ve brewed my own a few times with chai-flavored teabags and mixes. I’m warning you now, once you’ve made real chai you will never be as happy with the other versions.

Easy Chai

I heard about my brother-in-law’s homemade chai for a few years before it finally worked out for me to sample it at their house.

If you recall, this is the same sister and her husband who introduced me to Spanish Cafe con Leche after they visited Spain almost 15 years ago. When they tell me that something is delicious, I tend to believe them.

Now that I’ve had a chance to make Jason’s recipe for myself, it most certainly does not disappoint. I’ve been making this easy chai in doubled and tripled batches for years now and I love having a jar or two stashed in the fridge.

Served with a plate of Almond Bars, a steaming cup of chai (or an iced chai latte) becomes an afternoon snack that no one turns down.

Chai Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• cardamom pods
• whole cloves
• cinnamon stick
• fresh ginger
• black peppercorns
• bay leaf
• loose black tea leaves
• water
• half and half
• light brown sugar or honey

Chai Recipe

Place the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, peppercorns, and a bay leaf in a medium size saucepan.

Add the water and bring to a boil. Allow this to boil for 5 minutes. Remo

Sharing a full review of the Aviron rower and why I love having this as a part of my home gym!

Hi friends! How are you? I hope the day is treating you well! I’d love to hear what you’ve been into for workouts lately. Two things I’ve really been into: Pilates and rowing.

For today’s post, I wanted to share a review of the Aviron rower since I’ve had the chance to use it and enjoy it as part of my home office gym for a few weeks. Aviron generously gifted me this rower and I LOVE it so much! It had been on my radar for quite a while. If you decide to purchase one, you can use my tracking link here!

Aviron Rower Review (and why I’m obsessed with it)

I received the Aviron a couple of weeks ago, and while I thought the set-up would take a while, the Pilot and I put it together within 30 minutes.

You can check out a time lapse of our assembly process here!

I’ve been wanting a rower for our home gym foreverrrrrrr, and this rower is everything I could wish for: it’s sleek, well-constructed, and has a screen that you can use to stream apps (like Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon) as well as compete with others and play games. It’s perfect for the days where I want to blast some rowing intervals, get in an awesome cardio workout, or simply take a movement or brain break in the middle of the work day.

Here are some of the pros and cons!

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