watermelon mint julep

About 6 months ago, Aaron and I started staying in on Friday nights for an at home happy hour rather than going out. I work from home on Friday’s so by the time he got home, the last thing I wanted to do was change out of my yoga pants (the universal work from home uniform)  to go out but also was very ready for a change of pace. I’d pick up some cheese and crackers, and vegetables for crudité and he would bring home the bourbon.  We started with Old Fashioned’s and dubbed the tradition Old Fashioned Friday’s. Life gets busy during the week and we don't have a lot of time to just chill just the two of us so we made Friday our time. 

Call me old – but getting a little cocktail drunk at home is pretty damn fun. 

Since the weather has warmed up Aaron, our home’s resident mixologist, has started making new cocktails like greyhounds or mint juleps. We added a little watermelon to the mint julep this past weekend and folks, it was refreakingfreshing. Watermelon is also rich in antioxidants and mint helps with digestion so it’s practically healthy too. Whatever you need to tell yourself…

Ingredients:
2 oz bourbon
1/4 cup watermelon, cubed, seeded
3 sprigs mint
1 tsp simple syrup
Seltzer Water to taste

Directions:

• Muddle the mint and watermelon with the simple syrup. Don't middle the mint too much or it will be bitter!
• Added crushed ice to the brim of the glass
• Add 2oz of bourbon over the ice
• Add seltzer water to taste (I like mine with an extra splash)

If you want a more watermelon taste, puree the watermelon separately and mix it in after you add the bourbon.

healthier snacks for superbowl sunday

Superbowl Sunday is almost upon us!

I'm not a huge football fan, I enjoy watching games and especially enjoy watching 49er games but since the 49ers lost in the NFC championship, this year's Superbowl is pretty anticlimactic. Good thing the Superbowl is just about eating, day drinking and a good Beyonce performance, ammiright or ammiright? Or am I just bitter the 49ers aren't playing? Maybe a bit of both :)

While I love an excuse to indulge in yummy game day foods, my skinny jeans would appreciate keeping indulgences to a minimum hence a round up of healthier Superbowl eats. I totally wish I was creative enough to come up with healthy recipes like this on my own but the truth of the matter is that I am terrible cook and an even more terrible healthy cook. Thank goodness for these ladies around the internets who have mastered healthy and delicious cooking.

Healthified 7 Layer Dip .................................................via The Skinny Fork
Buffalo Cauliflower ..........................................................via The Curvy Carrot
White Bean, Kale and Artichoke Dip ..............via The Healthy Maven
Zucchini Fritters ..................................................................via Hungry Happenings
Zucchini Pizza Bites .........................................................via Skinny Taste

PS- Can anyone help me make a healthy version of THESE?! I will love you forever.

[from the kitchen] non-family recipe banana bread

I'm under this impression that Banana Bread is something everyone has an old family recipe for. You know, a recipe that  has been passed down for generations, a recipe that reminds you of grandma's house, a secret family recipe you make for every occasion you need baked goods. 

Well I don't have one of those. 

And maybe no one else does which would make my insecurities about a secret family banana bread recipe unfounded. But just in case you too need a "family recipe" join me and the food network family and use this recipe. I add a tsp of vanilla to the wet ingredients to personalize it and pretend its my family recipe. When I don't eat my banana bread with ice cream (obviously not pictured since I ate it too fast the ice cream melted too fast) I like to drizzle some honey over butter. YUM!