Hi friends! How was the weekend? I hope you had a wonderful one. Ours was filled with events – a very typical Maycember – but lots of fun time with friends and family. We had a birthday party, graduation party, dance party, and I taught a couple of classes.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a little catch-up post around here. While I wish I could have a green juice or coffee with you in real life, virtual will have to do for now. 🙂 So please grab a green juice or coffee, let’s share a giant pastry, and catch up a bit on life!

If we were having green juice right now…

I’d ask you about summer plans! I always love to hear what you’re up to over the summer, camps the kiddos are doing, and if you have upcoming travels.

I’d also tell you about our upcoming trip to Italy and Greece! I’m SO so looking forward to it (the scenery! the food! the SHOPPING) and the kiddos can’t wait, too. If you have any tips for jet lag, please send them my way lol.

Also, I’m having the hardest time finding sandals with a strap that don’t look like old lady sandals or toddler shoes. If you have any Europe sandals (with a heel strap) that are comfy for all day walking and still stylish, pleeeeease lmk. I don’t want to go the Birks or Tevas route, and am just looking for something neutral, comfy and cute! I’ll be wearing these unicorn sandals and my white Vivobarefoots while we walk around and explore.

If we were having green juice right now, I’d tell ya that I’m thisclose to finishing my Integrative Health Practitioner Level 2 certification and am so pumped about it. I could have blasted through the material and finished quickly, but I wanted to make sure I absorbed as much as possible and truly learned everything I could. I’ll also repeat modules to review material later on because it’s a LOT. I can’t wait to put this into practice, interpret real-life test results, and help clients and friends make some incredible and positive life changes.

I’d also probably tell ya about a program that I’ve been working on, and will be sharing later this summer/ early fall / when it’s finished. It really is the whole package and it’s something I wish would have existed when I was in the depths of my health journey. When I wanted to nap all day, couldn’t wake up in the morning, depending on sugar, had horrible anxiety, I wish this would have existed.

I’ll share more soon, but it’s going to be geared towards moms who feel completely burned out and want

Red potatoes seasoned with Mexican spices are roasted and then tossed with sauteed onions, peppers, and beans, finished with a handful of barely wilted, warm spinach in this Black Bean Breakfast Skillet.

Topped with a soft egg or scrambled eggs, this is a hearty and filling, slightly spicy weekend breakfast that can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.

Black and White Beans

Hash has been a staple at my house for breakfasts and other quick meals for years, now. This skillet with black and white beans falls perfectly in line with so many of our other favorites.

Plus, cleanup is a breeze with just one sheet pan and a skillet. I love cooking, but I am not a fan of dishes. So, this is a recipe that lets me enjoy a fabulous breakfast and then get on with my day.

Beans for Breakfast

Super easy to make, this skillet is perfect for a relaxing morning when you’re craving black beans and eggs for breakfast. The best part? You can mix and match your favorite veggies and proteins to really make it your own.

Give this simple breakfast skillet a try, and it might just become one of your go-to morning meals. Just be sure to let me know what you add to the mix, if you change the recipe up. I’m always looking for a fresh take!

Beans and Potatoes

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

• olive oil
• onion and bell peppers
• black and white beans and potatoes
• Read more

Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars

These Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars are my favorite dessert! The easy oil pie crust pairs with the most delicately sweet cheesecake filling and is topped with a simple berry topping.

We’ve teamed up with my dream brand, Oregon Berries to bring you the BEST berry dessert that you will find online this year. I’M SERIOUS. I cannot stop eating it!!

I debated on whether to call these no-bake or not. You bake the crust, but the cheesecake layer is no-bake. And I’m telling you, this is a totally unique crust and it’s life-changing!

My friend Megan always tells me about this yummy chocolate pie business, but then she mentioned that there’s a berry version and I couldn’t help it, I needed the recipe immediately. Like, yesterday. And you all should be forever grateful that I got it because this is going to be one of the dreamiest berry desserts you’ll ever devour. In fact, I’m writing this post before I’ve even photographed the recipe because I’m just so excited!

Oregon Berries

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I had berries written into my very soul! There is no berry quite like the Oregon Marionberry. Oregon was made for growing blackberries- HELLO, Optimal soil, air, water, climate and love!

It’s all about the local families who are total stewards of the land, supporting environmentally sustainable practices and always picking at the height of ripeness. And blackberries are actually good for you so you can feel good eating them in multiple ways.

If you’re the wanderlust or bucket list type of person I absolutely insist you make visiting the Oregon coast during the summer appear on your calendar. There is absolutely nothing like the breathtaking drives with music blasting, wonderful friends and conversation in the car and then pulling over to the roadside stands to buy freshly picked berries. It’s my favorite thing ever.

Ingredients for Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars

I’m going to divide up the ingredients list into what you will need for each layer. Here is what you will need:

Pie Crust Layer

• Flour: just regular all purpose flour is all you need
• Sugar: adds sweetness to the crust
• Salt: enhances all the flavors
• Vegetable Oil: the fat needed to create a flaky strong base for the bars
• Milk: helps bind everything together

Berry Layer

• Berries: for this recipe we are using blackberries and raspberries, but you can use any combinations of berries you want (see section below for suggestions)
• Sugar: adds sweetness and balances the tartness of the berries
• Cornaby’s Ultra Gel: my favorite way of thickening the berry layer, cornstarch can be used as a substitute (see recipe card notes)
• Water: thins everything out to create a beautiful glossy berry layer

Cream Layer

Quick and Easy Cashew Chicken

This cashew chicken recipe comes together in about 10 minutes and is a healthier version of the classic Chinese takeout dish!

These tender bites of chicken are coated in a bold homemade sauce and mixed with roasted cashews. Serve it over a bed of rice with a side of steamed broccoli and dinner is on the table in no time!

Chinese Cashew Chicken Recipe

I have no idea why this is, but Christmas always makes me crave Japanese and Chinese food. Yup, not an Asian ancestor in me, but the holidays, a time when we reflect on family and make family favorite recipes, always makes me want Chinese food like our crispy honey chicken. I have never had cashew chicken at home until now, and I’m sure there are gobs and gobs of recipes out there, but this one is our personal favorite, especially because it’s quick and easy. For real.

I adore cooking, but there’s nothing I love more than a delicious dinner that took no time at all to clean up and then busting out our pajamas and relaxing. It’s my favorite time of day. I love sending everyone upstairs to hop into pajamas.

Especially during the winter because it means I can really get cozy and warm. I have the worst circulation and unless one of you know of some secret way to fix that I depend on layers all winter long. In fact, even during the summer you’ll always catch me in slippers or socks because my feet are freezing. I can’t be the only one, don’t any of you love getting into your pajamas and snuggling up?

Cashew Chicken Ingredients

For this chicken with cashews recipe, you’ll need only a handful of pantry staples and all the ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store. You won’t believe how easy it is to make this restaurant quality recipe right at home. Here is what you will need…

Chicken

• boneless skinless chicken breasts
• cornstarch
• salt and pepper
• garlic
• rice vinegar
• canola oil

Sauce

• hoisin sauce
• soy sauce
• brown sugar
• ground ginger
• water
• cornstarch

Add-Ins

• dry roasted cashews
• sesame oil

This is meant to be an overview of the ingredients for this recipe. For the detailed measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post.

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve spent every morning this week hearing the birds sing, appreciating this spectacular weather, and thinking endlessly about how much I love living in Ohio. The fact that I wake up every day in my favorite place in the world is something I hope I’ll never take for granted. 

I’m headed out to walk with a friend this morning, followed by (a very easy) hike with Sean this afternoon and I’m pretty happy about both. My youngest son had his last day of school yesterday and we’re taking him to TN (just the three of us) to celebrate his 13th birthday this coming week.

We’ve taken each of the boys on a trip by themselves for their 13th birthdays – you can see those trips here and here. I can hardly wait! Shoot me any suggestions you might have for food or fun in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas.

ON THE BLOGS this week:  This zesty Italian dressing is so simple to make, it’s ready in just a few minutes! And I promise you it’s infinitely tastier than anything store-bought.

Once you’ve made the dressing, put this California spaghetti salad on your must-make list for summer. It’s filled with fresh vegetables, tangy Italian dressing, and delightful twirls of pasta, you’ll want to savor each bite.

Pot pie has never been easier to make – all the irresistible flavors of classic chicken pot pie are here in a perfect balance of savory chicken and wholesome veggies, wrapped in a buttery crescent roll crust.

Three different kinds of beans simmer in the crockpot with plenty of seasonings and hot sauce to make one of the easiest side dishes you can put on the table. These spicy baked beans come together with barely five minutes of effort.

Crispy cauliflower, toasted bread crumbs, and nutty, savory parmesan are wonderful together in this scrumptious side. This roasted garlic parmesan cauliflower is snackable right off the pan!

Tender and buttery, sauteed mushrooms and onions are a terrific side dish on their own. However, if you happen to enjoy them anywhere near as much as I do, you’ll want to pile them over your next pan of steak bites or serve them with these roasted chicken thighs.

If you’d told me a couple of years ago that one day in the future I’d be Read more