Foodie Friday: Clean Eating Chicken Wings

This recipe is clean because I used all natural chicken, baked (not fried) and there are no icky preservatives! I found the on The Gracious Pantry's blog. Click the link for the recipe. I pretty much followed the recipe exactly. Except I left out the onion powder and molasses, only because I didn't have any. I did use Frank's Hot Sauce, but not the buffalo sauce since it has preservatives in it. I used 1/2 cup of honey, because it was pretty spicy. I also used my own spices, a combo of paprika, basil and pepper. They turned out freaking amazing!! I will def be making this again. Simple and delicious!

Wordless Wednesday: Voodoo Doughnuts

It's true what they say about Voodoo:the magic in in the hole. Or in the Old Dirty Bastard, Marshall Mathers, Butterfingering, or Dirty Snowballs (all doughnuts.) I am visiting PDX next week and can't wait to grab a doughnut.It's totally worth the  20+ minute wait in line.

Apartment Living: My Porch Garden

Do you live in an apartment? Don't have a yard for a garden? If you have a porch or balcony, think again! It is possible to grow your own food with minimal space. Time to get creative! Don't let your small space compromise your health.

My "garden" on the balcony.

 From left to right, aloe plant, mint plant, pepper plant and tomato plant.

Peppers are ready!

Tomatoes are not quite ripe yet. 

Aloe is good for burns.

Mint is good for mojitos!

Also growing, but not pictured, in the window of our spare bedroom: lavender, hot banana peppers, and an herb mixture. These are still in the early stages. My advice would be to start small, one plant at a time. I looking forward to eating my very own organic food soon! You can do it too. Your body will thank you.

Foodie Friday: Spanish Noodle Skillet

I tried this recipe for the first time this week. It turned out pretty good, so I thought I would share.
You Will Need:
1 lb of beef (I prefer grass fed)
1 small onion, diced
1-2 bell peppers, chopped
1-2 cups of noodles (I used whole wheat elbow macaroni)
2 cups of tomatoes, pureed in food processor or diced well
1-2 t. of paprika
1 t. basil
1/4 t. oregano
3/4 c  water
*bacon is optional but adds that extra kick (I used 5-6 strips)

To Prepare:
1. Cook pasta according to directions on box.
2. Brown the beef.
3. Cut up veggies and cook bacon while doing steps 1 and 2.
4. When beef is done, drain excess fat. Put back in skillet and add spices, peppers, onions, water and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 10 min.
5. Add cooked noodles, stir well, cover and simmer for 5-10 more minutes. Top with bacon.
Manja!

Wordless Wednesday: My Favorite Bridge

This is St. Johns Bridge in Portland, Or. It is Portland's tallest and only suspension bridge, and by far the coolest.

7 Things To Consider Before Getting Tattooed

Thinking about taking the plunge and getting inked for the first time? Or maybe you are considering a 2nd or 3rd tattoo and want it to be better than your first? Let this motto be your friend " A good tattoo isn't cheap, and a cheap tattoo isn't good."

1. Find a good artist. This is really the key to your perfect piece of ink. Ask around. Check reviews. Do some research here. This is a big one. 
2. Give your artist some creative freedom.Sure, it's good to come in with an idea of what you want. Maybe even an exact reference. Still, always leave the tattooer room to tweak it. Why? They are the expert and the artist. They probably see something you don't. They will understand what works best, so give them some control. 
3. Go in sober. Don't drink. No drugs. Nothing. Let your body do it's thing. 
4. Eat. Don't go in on an empty stomach. Bring water and hydrate as well.
5. Forget about the pain. Focus on something else. Engage in conversation. Watch a movie. Listen to music. Text someone. The first 10-15 minutes are the most intense, and it gets better from there.
6. Breathe. Try and relax. Enjoy the experience.
7. Talk to your tattooer about aftercare. One of the most important parts to ensure the life of your ink!!

Foodie Friday: Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

I love my crock pot. It makes cooking easy. Just toss it in and leave it for a few hours! Here is my recipe for Italian Sausage and Peppers. Use whatever seasonings you prefer.
You Will Need:
1 lb of sausage browned (I like to use nitrate-free turkey sausage)
3 or 4 bell peppers
1 large onion
4 cloves of garlic
one can of diced tomatoes
one small jar tomato paste

To Prepare:
1.Brown the sausage. Chop up your peppers and onions while sausage is cooking.
2.In a greased crock pot, layer onion, peppers, sausage, onion, peppers. I also like to add some baby spinach into the mix.
3.In separate bowl, mix the diced tomatoes, garlic, tomato paste and 1/ 2 cup of water. Top with whatever herbs/seasonings you desire. Stir well and pour over everything in crock pot.
4.Cook on low for 5-6 hrs.
I like to eat the meal with quinoa. The sauce soaks into the quinaa quite nicely. You could also make a sandwich with it or add rice to it. Manja!

Wordless Wednesday: Best Mouthwash Ever!!

You need to try this. Your mouth will thank you!

Concert Review: SADE

I can't get Sade out of my head. I saw her perform last Saturday at The Q in Cleveland. She was simply amazing.Brilliant. Beautiful. One of the best shows I have ever been to, and worth every penny. Her music is a mix of R&B, jazz and soul. Backed by a band that included guitar, bass, drums, sax and more, the mood was set for an impeccable performance. And perform they did, practically sounding better live than on the albums. The visuals were stunning as well. There were 2 giant screens on either side of the stage, zoomed in on Sade and other band members. The backdrop screens were filled with videos and other graphics that went right along with the music. If you want to see for yourself, check out this video of "Cherish The Day." The juxtaposition of her red dress with the black and white background is pretty cool.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzpyQ5NGZik

Here's a review of the show from the Columbus Dispatch:
http://bit.ly/q3jDck

I am very happy I got to see Sade. You should go if you get a chance. You will not be disappointed!!

Smooth Operator

Foodie Friday: Coconut-N-Garlic Chicken w/ Broccoli and Asparagus

What's for dinner tonight? Spice up the normal chicken dish with some coconut oil, garlic and paprika. I have been cooking with coconut oil instead of olive oil lately. There are numerous benefits to using coconut oil, but I really just love the taste.
To Make Chicken:
Heat coconut oil over medium heat. I like to saute some onions and garlic in the oil too. Throw chicken in and cook til done. I add broccoli on top the last few minutes of cooking until it turns bright green.

For the asparagus:

In a separate pan, I again sauteed more onions and garlic in the coconut oil over medium heat. Then I add asparagus. Sprinkle paprika on top. Cook til asparagus is tender.

Paprika is a new favorite spice of mine. It has antioxidants and adds that perfect sweet spice to any vegetable. I didn't really measure any ingredients. Just went by taste. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with it!Manja!

(Oh and excuse the crappy cell phone pics. I need a new camera, bad. )

Garden Envy

This past weekend I went camping. Actually, I pitched a tent in my friend's backyard. So it was quasi camping. They live on 8 acres of land out in the country. The best part of it was their garden. It was huge and took up the whole side yard. I managed to get a few pics before my camera died. It's hard not to have a little garden envy, living in an apartment with no yard and all.

Some of the garden

Onions!!!

Zucchini (you can eat these flowers)

Cabbage

Tiger Lillies

Clothes hung to dry

Cool bendy tree

Ohh, to be able to go pick dinner from your yard. Someday!!

Foodie Friday: Warm Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

Oh the diversity of quinoa! Betcha didn't think you could eat it for breakfast! This recipe uses cinnamon and agave to transform quinoa into a wonderful, oatmeal like dish. It's delicious!

You will need:

1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of milk (I use almond milk)
1/2 cup of quinoa
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped nuts (I use almonds or sunflower seeds)
2 tsp of agave or honey

To Prepare:

1. Combine milk, water, and quinoa in a small pot. (Add some vanilla if you like.)Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium-low heat and cover. Simmer for 12-15minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
2. Cool quinoa for about 5 minutes. Next add agave and cinnamon, stirring them into the quinoa.
3. Transfer to a bowl and add the chopped nuts and blueberries. Manja!