Spicy Sweet Potato Sauté

Sweet potatoes are one of my all-time favorite foods.

Their versatility, sweet flavor and spectacular color make them a lovely ingredient to work with.

The recipe I'm sharing with you today comes from my brother, and I think you'll all be very happy with him once you try this sweet and spicy little treat.

Before I share it with you, let's take a moment and brag on these little treasures:

The Center for Science in the Public Interest ranked sweet potatoes number one in nutrition above all over veggies! Here's why:

• Lots of Vitamin A, almost twice the daily recommendation 
• Lots of Vitamin C, almost half the daily recommendation 
• Tons of Beta-carotene, four times the recommended amount 
• Plenty of Fiber, more than oatmeal if eaten with skin!
• They also digest slowly, making you feel full longer!

Now that we know the facts behind their healthy reputation, let's get cookin'....

What You'll Need:

2 sweet potatoes, cubed in small pieces

1/2 onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 can Rotel 

1-2 TBSP olive oil

Dash of Chile Powder

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375. Dice your sweet potatoes into small cubes and place them on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with olive oil. 

Now place the sweet potatoes in the oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes. Take the sweet potatoes out, flip them over and roast again for another 10-12 minutes. Set aside.

Now slice your onion, garlic, and pepper and place in a large skillet. Sprinkle with olive oil and sauté for 1-2 minutes. 

Now add the sweet potatoes, Rotel, and spices and continue to sauté for another 4-5 minutes or until everything is cooked through thoroughly.

Now, it's ready to eat! Serve it over rice, spinach, or eat it plain. It will be delicious either way.

Special thanks to Justin for this delectable dish!

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Famous Roommates: Edgar Allan Poe & Oscar Wilde

If I told you I live with Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde and have cruelty-free lips, you might think I'm crazy.

But you'd be wrong. All of the above statements are in fact true. But how?

Well, I'm rapidly becoming a zealot for all things local, crafty and artisan-made. So yesterday when I stumbled into a shop called Rala, whose name stands for Regional and Local Artisans, I knew I was in for a treat.

I walked in with an inquisitive spirit and open mind and left with some inspiring new treats and yes, two famous roommates.

What do I mean, you say?

I mean that I walked away with vegan lip balm and some fabulous candles named after the great American writers.

Let's start with the lip balm since it's winter and all of our lips need some lovin'....

The brand is Buzzabee, and it's a locally made product line that offers soy candles, salt scrubs, hand soap, lip balm, fragrances and more.

Buzzabee offers delightful fragrances such as pacific rain, floral french lavender, peony bloom, pumpkin spice and milk and honey.

Several of the products, including the lip balm and hand and body creams, are available in vegan form!

So not only are they good for you, but they are safe and cruelty-free.

I bought the Peppermint Vanilla lip balm and I am o-b-s-e-s-s-e-d.


Now for the candles....

If your galvanized by literature, poetry, eloquent speakers and receive word-of-the-day like I do, you will appreciate this...

Paddywax Candles, anyone?

If you're not familiar with this company, it's a sophisticated collection of hand-poured soy candles, and they have now introduced The Library Collection to pay tribute to the American literary giants.

Each candle is inspired by a quote and housed in simple elegant packaging that's perfect for any home or office.

But the thing that makes these candles so amazing, is not just the design and inspiration behind them, but also the fragrance.

They're all so enchanting it was hard to choose, so I bought two to tide me over.

So now you see how I do, in fact,  live with Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde.

But I hear Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Henry Thoreau and Walt Whitman are all still looking for a place to stay.

If you're curious, Edgar smells like Cardamom, Absinthe and Sandalwood.....

.....and Mr. Wilde resembles Cedarwood, Thyme and Basil.....

Granted, this is my first time living with men, but they're so charming and subtle I hope they never leave.

I hope you're as excited as I was about these new artisan finds. Give them a try, you won't be sorry!

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Lean & Green Goat Cheese Pasta

Sometimes recipes with long and fancy ingredient lists can be intimidating and inconvenient.

This is not one of those recipes.

This was an experiment-gone-right, so right, in fact, that I'm adding it to the books. 

I made this a few nights ago on a whim with some staples that I always have on hand and it turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself.

I used kale and green peppers, but I am sure this same recipe would be great with whatever veggies you have in your fridge!

This dish is yummy, light, and nutritionally dense. So get excited!!

What You'll Need:

1-2 bunches kale

1/4 green pepper, sliced

1/4 sweet onion, sliced

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 TBSP goat cheese, depending on preference

1/4 cup milk

1 TBSP olive oil

1 tsp of lemon juice

dash of salt

dash of pepper

1-2 servings of pasta, boiled

Directions: 

Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about 6-7 minutes or until the desired tenderness. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, add onion, garlic, green peppers, kale, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil. Saute about 4 minutes on high, or until the onions are golden brown and kale is wilted slightly.

Once the veggies have cooked, turn the heat to medium and add the goat cheese and milk. Stir in and the veggies soak up the milk and cheese slightly. Once this is at a desired consistency, pour the veggie mixture over the pasta and enjoy!

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Bijoux for You!

My life is very blessed with remarkable friends and family who fill my life with love and support.

Actually, each one provides a lot more than just love and support. 

In fact....one of them provides me with jewelry.

Yes, my friends, I am talking about my beautiful and talented friend Curry!

She's an incredibly gifted jewelry designer who continues to enhance her abilities and create one-of-a-kind pieces.

I am truly blessed to have such a talented, sweet and strong woman in my life to call my friend, which is why I am honored to introduce you all to her today!

Curry's love for life and simple elegance is evident through her designs.

They're feminine, sophisticated and smart.

Her classic eye will be sure to provide you and your loved ones with timeless jewelry that's a great conversation starter.

She's been making jewelry for over half a decade and has worked with designers like Diana Warner in New York. 

If you're close to the Knoxville, Tenn. area you can stop by Val's Boutique on Kingston Pike and pick up some of her darling designs.

And if you're in a more remote area, stay tuned! Her merchandise will be available online shortly and I will of course let you know as soon as it's available.

May all of you be rich in love and laughter and spoiled with family and friends!

Until next time....

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Lemon & Garlic Kale w/ Caramelized Onions

If any of you are Modern Family fans like I am you may recall the episode that features the lovely winter green that is kale.

On this particular episode Mitchell claims kale is "more of a garnish and not ready to anchor a meal," but I beg to differ.

I love kale for several reasons...

It's versatility in the kitchen makes it an easy companion to any cook and the fact that it's nutritionally dense doesn't hurt either.

So before I give you this yummy, simple and extremely quick recipe, let me share with you the benefits you'll be getting by eating this generous green:

Kale is rich in beta carotene, vitamins K and C, and calcium. It also contain sulforaphane (an anti-cancer chemical). By eating Kale, you'll also be boosting your body's ability to repair DNA cells.

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Wrong.

It is indeed healthy and delicious!

Now let's get cookin.....


What You'll Need:
servings: 2


1-2 bunches of kale
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup sweet onion, sliced
1 TBSP olive oil
1-2 tsp. lemon juice
dash of salt
dash of pepper


Directions:

Take your kale bunches and remove the leafy parts from the stem, breaking it into pieces. Place the pieces into a colander.

Once you've completed this step, transfer the colander to the sink, rinse the kale thoroughly and set aside.

Now, mince your garlic and add it to the skillet in which you will cook your kale..

Next, slice your onion and add it, along with the rinsed kale, to the skillet as well...

Now we're going to add the olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper to the kale and sauté on high for about 4 minutes, or until the onions are caramelized and the kale is wilted slightly.

That's all! Wasn't that easy?
Now transfer these leafy heroes to a plate and enjoy!

I hope this recipe turns your taste buds into kale-lovers like mine!

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Drink Your Way to Immunity

"Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary." - Chinese Proverb

I may be dramatically enamored with tea, but the fact that a Chinese Proverb encourages the daily consumption of such leads me to believe I have nothing to be ashamed of. 

It's such a lovely companion. A cup of tea may be enjoyed both in solitude or with company and is wonderful either way.

Did I mention the variety? Flirt with different flavors until you find the one that dazzles you!

Drinking herbal tea can also have several health benefits depending on which type you consume.

And the tea that I am most excited to share with you today is one that has amazing health benefits and has been in use for centuries!

It's name, you ask? Chaga.

Chaga is a mushroom that grows on the bark of birch trees and has been used as a medicinal remedy since the 16th century. 

It has been known to treat harmful diseases including cancer, tuberculosis, gastritus and more.

Chaga comprises significant amounts of betulin, a natural substance that contains anti-cancer properties, and immune-stimulating phytochemicals. 

It's also packed with nutrients. What more could you want in a tea?


If mushroom tea sounds a bit out of your comfort zone, Chaga (like Spirulina) is also available in capsules!

So my dear friends, give Chaga a try and start drinking your way to health and immunity...

But before I go, I'll leave you with this:

"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!"  

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Cranberry Walnut Bread

Since the Atkins diet is no longer a fad, I hope you all embrace carbs like I do.

Unlike other food groups, my carb cravings are always pretty consistent. I am somehow always in the mood for them, especially bread.  


So when my Aunt Sally brought two loaves of her homemade bread for Christmas, I realized she was onto something....


The only way to heighten the sensation of eating bread is by making the bread yourself! So naturally I bought myself a bread machine, so that I could start making fresh, fluffy goodness all on my own.


I've toyed with a few recipes so far and I'm sharing my favorite one with you today.


You don't have to have a bread machine to make bread, although it does make it a lot easier!


If you love bread (and dried fruit and nuts) you will love this recipe....




What You'll Need

3 1/4 cups bread flour
1/2 TBSP salt
1.5 TBSP butter or earth balance
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or 1 .25 oz package)
1.5 TBSP white sugar
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup walnuts, chopped

If you have a bread machine, you know the drill. Just make sure to add the yeast first and the water last with the other ingredients in between, set it to the white bread setting and the machine will do the rest for you! Just add the cranberries and walnuts at the end of the second kneading process.

If you have a dough hook for your food processor or mixer, you can use that to make the dough rather than doing it manually.

If you do not have a bread machine or a dough hook for your processor or mixer, here's what you'll do.....

Directions:

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Stir in the butter, salt, cranberries, walnuts and two cups of the bread flour. Stir in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, and beat well after each addition.

Once it is at a nice consistency, transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic. This will take about 8 minutes.

Now place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth to let it rise. Let it rise until it has doubled in size. This should take about one hour.

Once the dough has risen, place it into a lightly greased 9x5 in. loaf pan. Cover the load again with a damp cloth to let it rise for another 40 minutes. It should double in volume.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Once the bread has risen for the last time, place it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

I hope you enjoy this delicious bread!

xoxo,

Stay Curious!

Cranberry Walnut "Chicken" Salad

I am now in my fifth month of vegetarianism and the shift from carnivore to herbivore has left me missing one thing: chicken salad.

It's so simple, so delectable, and since I'm not eating meat these days, so not an option.

This was a depressing thought at first, but then I discovered Nashville's vegetarian restaurant The Wild Cow. They feature a yummy chickpea salad that mimics potato salad and then it hit me: I could do this for chicken salad!

So, my fellow veggies and vegans, I have great news: I have the recipe to satisfy your chicken salad cravings without caving on your diet.

Please allow yourself to get acquainted with my new not-so-guilty pleasure, Cranberry Walnut "Chicken" (chickpea) Salad.

Let's get cookin'!


What you'll need:

2 cans chickpeas
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 teaspoon salt (I used Himalayan pink salt!)
1 teaspoon paprika
1.5 cups dried cranberries
1 cup celery, chopped
1 TBSP onion, minced
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Black pepper to taste
A dash or two of garlic powder


Start by rinsing and draining your chickpeas. Then add them to your food processor or blender and pulse until chopped.

Now, transfer those protein-packed guys to a mixing bowl,

Now, add the mayonnaise and yogurt.

Then add the cranberries....

Now, chop your onion and celery and add them and the walnuts to the party!

Now, mix it all together....

And enjoy!!!

I hope you think it's as tasty as I do!

xoxo,

Stay Curious!