The Organic Market

       I am so excited to write to you all today! First of all, let’s talk about how beautiful it was outside, upper 60’s finally!!! I got out of work at 2:30pm so I decided to make a few stops on the way back home. One of my customers at work told me about The Organic Market in Westport, located at the Playhouse Square Shopping Center. I have to say this place has everything you can think of... they have amazing salads they prepare on a daily basis, along with fresh smoothies, homemade muffins, soups and you can do some grocery shopping as well. Today I had a Kale & Mango salad with almonds, cucumbers, carrots, and red & yellow peppers. It was so good and refreshing! I recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for a healthy and fresh meal! 

Ashely's Nice-Cream!

She calls this desert for breakfast! ( just how I like it girl)  All this deliciousness takes is 2 ingredients: Frozen bananas (2 large some recipes suggest 3) and 2 tablespoons of all natural peanut butter! She added some cinnamon on top too!

Photo Credit: Ashley Perez

Pancakes!

I'm obviously obsessed with Ashley's recipes :)

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter & Banana Pancakes made from scratch:

She mixed together 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 6 tablespoons stevia, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 1/4 cups almond milk (or any milk of your choice) 1/4 cup peanut butter (or chunky PB) 1 tablespoon coconut oil, roasted peanut oil or vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs lightly beaten and once they're cooked you can chop up some banana and put it on top!

Photo Credit: Ashley Perez

Breakfast done right by Ashley Perez

    I love breakfast and avocado and Ashley does too! Check out her most important meal of the day:

2 slices of Hass Avocado (mashed and seasoned with garlic), diced tomato, a poached egg on top with a small sprinkle of sharp cheddar and one slice of turkey bacon shredded.

Photo Credit: Ashley Perez

Presentation

       I came across a friend from High School's Facebook page when she started posting food pics! I've been learning a thing or two from her since I love the way she prepares her food! I didn't realize how important food presentation was but she nails it every time. She has quick awesome recipes that are healthy and delicious. Her name is Ashley Perez, (hey girl) and I will be sharing some of her recipes on my blog! She is  a creative and stylish gal from the Bronx and an awesome make up artist too. I am so happy to introduce her to my food blog.  

One of her favorite meals are:

1 slice of 12 grain bread--toasted, 1/4 of a hass avocado, 2 sliced grape tomatoes, 1 slice of shredded turkey, 1 poached medium egg. Seasoned with garlic and black pepper.

Thank you ash <3 nbsp="" p="">

Photo credit: Ashley Perez

Salmon sprinkled with love

          I am just so excited for this post, I feel like I got my mojo back! April just might be my month, especially since warm days are ahead. Well, let me jump into this delicious recipe... all day I searched for a Salmon recipe but could not find any. Luckily, I have a food calendar on the fridge and there it was, I didn't follow the exact recipe but sometimes you have to experiment, right? For starters, I sprinkled shredded carrots and celery on top of this bad boy. But before I did that, I let the salmon sit in butter, lemon juice and a table spoon of soy sauce for 2 hours before I threw it in the oven.

Coat a glass baking dish with lemon and butter.
Sprinkle shredded carrots and celery on the bottom before placing your salmon on it along with everything it was soaking in.
Sprinkle your shredded carrots and celery on top of salmon as well.
Then, sprinkle Cumin, Ginger (powder), and Parsley on top of the sprinkled carrots and celery. (1 tablespoon of each.)
Cook for 30 minutes and serve with a sweet potato and cream spinach!

A moment of silence is necessary, LOL :)

Bolognese

            Though it is traditionally served with spaghetti, this classic Italian meat sauce goes well with virtually any type pasta! I love this dish because the best part of it are the leftovers which usually make a good sloppy Joe. Plus, everything taste better the next day, right? This is a quick and easy meal for one of those long and rainy days we've been having.

6 tablespoons olive oil
6 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
1 1/2 tablespoons double-concentrate tomato paste
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the garlic and onion; saute until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the beef and raise the eat slightly. Saute the beef until it has lost all its pink color and left a brown laze on the pan, about 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes, stir in the remaining ingredients and gently boil until thick, 15-20 minutes. Serve over cooked pasta :)