Yesterday morning a mama friend proposed to meet up for an evening dinner picnic with our families at a nearby park. It was quickly decided “Yes! Let’s do it!” and with that I was on to figuring out what to bring.

With a look at what I already had on hand (quinoa, avocado, corn and red pepper), I made a short list (limes and fresh cilantro, plus a Kombucha and some dark chocolate too if you’re going to look at my receipt) and planned a quick grocery trip while the girls were at gymnastics for an hour in the afternoon.

Shrimp Ceviche on Salad

October 22nd, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (4 Comments)

“Ceviche” is a relatively new word to me.  Wikipedia says ceviche is a seafood dish marinaded in citrus juices – and I’m with ya so far.

But Google Chrome and it’s squiggly red line under the word Ceviche is suggesting I use the word “Crevice”, which is not especially helpful because until just a few moments ago, I wasn’t even sure how to pronounce “ceviche”.  Now I’m going to go to a fancy party some day and say “May I please have the Shrimp Crevice?” and people are going choke on their caviar and/or snort Cristal out their nose.  Thanks for nothing, Google Chrome.

Good news!  I’ve got an awesomely healthy delicious snack to share with you.

Bad news.  I’m not actually sharing this with you.  I’m only sharing the recipe.  If you want some you’ll have to make it yourself.

Good news: Zak is still on his juice fast.

Bad news: You can’t juice an avocado.

Good news: I am not on a juice fast.  I can eat all the chocolate avocado pudding I want.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

The End of March

March 31st, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (3 Comments)

Well, we made it. It’s the last day of The Greener March Challenge.

Whether you ate greens every day for the last 31 days or not, you endured my month long green stream of posts.  I’m not sure if I should say “Congrats!” or “I’m sorry.”

There were certainly a few highlights for me for this month.

The first thing that comes to mind is Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  I’m so glad I watched this documentary and was re-inspired to get back to juicing after a bit of a juice hiatus.  I know that a few of you watched this film and were inspired and motivated by it too.

Different Strokes

March 26th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (14 Comments)

This is quite possibly the greenest lunch I’ve eaten all month. It might even be the greenest lunch I’ve ever eaten.  Like, ever ever.

Tuna and Pickle Sandwich

My dad reads the blog and sometimes he calls to comment on cute baby pictures or if I made something that looked appealing to him.

But the other day he called to ask me what the heck I was thinking putting carrots in chili. Carrots and beef are for meat sauce, not chili! He’s not the only one who’s questioned my recent approach to chili – someone else said that chili without beans is not chili, it’s meat sauce.

Taco Salad

March 21st, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (1 Comments)

I made beef chili this morning.  It smelled so good that I decided to throw together an impromptu taco salad for breakfast.

Yes, taco salad for breakfast.  Stop looking at me like that.  You don’t have to eat this for breakfast if non-standard breakfast foods aren’t your thing.  We can still be friends.

Taco Salad

I made chili with grass-fed ground beef, carrots, onions and that leftover jar of Garlic Roasted Garlic sauce in my fridge from Naan pizza night.  Piled this morning on to a bed of mixed greens, some shredded colby jack cheese and avocado with a few tortilla chips on the side.  It’s likely (OK, a certainty) that a few more tortilla chips were snagged from the bag before I put it away.

A few days ago my dad (who is also a runner) asked if I was going to run the “Johnny’s Runnin’ of the Green” on Saturday, the annual St. Patrick’s Day race here in Rochester.

I said no, I was too busy with half marathon training – and besides, I’d rather be Eatin’ of the Green.

(I didn’t really say that last part.)

Fast forward to this morning, in the car and less than 2 minutes away from my yoga class, I discovered the road I was about to turn onto was closed – blockaded by cop cars with flashing lights and caution tape. It was then that I noticed all the runners dressed in green costumes, green shirts, hats and sparkly shamrock antennae.

A Greener Birthday

March 8th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (10 Comments)

My biggest gal turned 9 years old today. NINE! I guess that means I must have been 16 when she was born because I can’t possibly be a day over 25 myself.

(What?)

Ava’s birthday breakfast request was bagels, and so bagels it was.  After Deep Nutrition, bagels became more of a treat around here – this is why it was a birthday request. Bagels have been missed!

Some greens still managed to elbow their way into the birthday breakfast line up – a spinach and mushroom omelet with half a French Toast bagel (awesome!) and cream cheese.

Spinach and Mushroom Omelet

Smoothie Math Fail

March 5th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (5 Comments)

Have you ever made something really, really good – but then just plain forgot to ever make it again?

Maybe it’s because it’s too painful to remember. Our brain knows that we will feel so sad we don’t have that delicious food item in front of us at this very moment, it protects us from the pain and won’t allow us to relive it. Not even a little memory jog so you can make it again. It’s like PTSD, except from food. I’ve got Post Traumatic Smoothie Disorder.

Avocado Perks

February 24th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (37 Comments)

I’ve got too many ripe avocados right now.

Over Easy Eggs with Avocado

Although I think this is comparable to complaining that your pants are too loose or that you have too much money.

I like avocado and egg salad sandwiches, so I decided to throw some of my abundant avocado onto my over easy eggs this morning.  This was an awesome breakfast combo, which is why I’m here telling you about it now:

Avocado on eggs is good.  Eat this.

(If over easy eggs aren’t your favorite, I don’t think you’ll go wrong with avocado in an omelet or on top of scrambled eggs either.)