ThreeGirlsTwoCities

Monday, September 22, 2014

Taste ↣ Cranberry Lemon Kale Salad with Parmesan and Pine Nuts

Kale was a superfood I had yet to fully appreciate. I could mask the flavor in green smoothies but it wasn't until Pam introduced me to this salad that now I not only enjoy kale but actually crave it! This salad has a little bit of everything in it- sweet, salty, citrus, and fully satisfying. It is an easy go to healthy lunch option or a perfect dinner appetizer for when guests come over.

Ingredients

Salad

1 bunch of kale, stems removed, washed and patted dry
1/3 cup of dried cranberries (or you can use raisins if you prefer)
1/2 cup of pine nuts
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Dressing

Juice of one lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Prepare dressing by mixing together lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper
In a food processor (or if you don't have one I used my vitamix on a low speed) process kale into small chopped pieces
Add chopped kale, pine nuts, cheese, and dried cranberries to dressing
Mix everything together then serve into salad bowl

Healthy and delicious! Hope you enjoy!

How do you like to eat your superfood kale?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Taste ↣ Healthier Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Anyone who knows my husband knows that he loves to bake and makes deliciously naughty desserts. And anyone who knows me knows that I have an insane weakness for cookies. ANY type of cookie. Every now and then there is nothing wrong with indulging in sweets but baking was becoming an every week thing. So I decided now is the time that we start looking into slightly healthier options. For this recipe we took out butter from the recipe completely and added oats for less flour and sugar. Like I said, this is an intro into healthy desserts so it's not completely guilt- free but one step at a time right? These cookies might quickly become a new favorite. For me the hard part was to not eat all the dough and actually bake the cookies. These really are so good. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
2 cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
2/3 cup of Canola Oil (use a little more if dough seems too dry)
2 large Eggs
4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Semi- Sweet Chocolate Chips (however much chocolate you want!)

↣ You can also add or substitute nuts, dried fruit, coconut, or any other toppings you enjoy!

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

2. Mix together the oatmeal, flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, oil, eggs, and vanilla.

3. Beat until the dough is moist and all the ingredients are combined. Mix in the chocolate chips or whatever topping you chose!

4. Using your hands, clump together a tablespoon of dough and squeeze the dough into a ball. Place on prepared baking sheet.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

6. Eat and enjoy while they are still warm!

Enjoy!

Can't you just see the gooey goodness?!

With Love,

Monday, September 8, 2014

Explore ↣ Alaska

Alaska is probably one the most incredible places on earth (specifically in the summer time.) I am sure it has its mystical beauty in the dead of winter but for this post I was there in the summer and enjoyed the soaring 60 degree temperatures. Anyways, I really do feel like Alaska is a small piece of heaven on earth and if you ever have the chance to visit- go! I definitely plan to be back one day and enjoy the serene oasis that is Alaska.

Ketchikan

The excursion Russell and I chose for Ketchikan was kayaking and it was my favorite excursion of the trip. A boat took us to a private island where the kayaks were waiting for us on the shore. From there we were able to kayak through crystal blue water and gorgeous green mountains. We were even greeted by some friendly bald eagles and a very curious sea lion. It was so quiet out there with just Russell and I on the water (a big change from Houston.) That day the sun was shining and the weather was just the right temperature and I really couldn't ask for more. It was perfect.

Juneau

The perfect weather in Ketchikan did not show up the next day for us in Juneau but you're in Alaska what can you expect? Juneau was rainy and cold and yet the beauty of this place still blew me away. I actually embraced the cold rain as a true Alaskan experience. Our excursion in this city was a hike through the forest leading up to a glacier and then of course a boat whale watching tour. The hike was another one of my favorite moments in the trip. This yellow forest felt like a fairy tale came to life. Seriously, can't you just picture this in a storybook? The ice blue glacier was amazing. It's not every day you see a glacier. And there is something truly magical seeing an enormous, immaculate whale in the wild. Even through the cold, Juneau is another place I will never forget.

(Sorry about the blurry whale photo, it was raining pretty hard at that point.)

Tracy Fjord Arm

Once again another breathtaking moment. When we sailed into this fjord it literally left Russell and I speechless. It was so still and peaceful, no words were needed. The pictures do not do this justice and it will just have to be a spot that you experience for yourself.

Skagway

The popular excursion in Skagway is the White Pass Railway which I have heard is beautiful and a great way to see the city. However, Russ and I usually choose to do something out of the box so for this stop we decided on horseback riding through the valleys and it was so worth it. The ride worked out to be just four of us including the guide and we were able to walk, run, whatever we wanted (and as someone who used to ride horses, freedom makes a huge difference!) Our ride was full of a lot of mud, laughter, and stunning views. After our ride, we took a stroll through the adorable town and enjoyed the great alaskan pastime - cozying up with a few pints of beer.