I love this soup for so many reasons but mostly because it’s super easy and really good! A wonderful juice shop in NYC made this soup for a holiday party I had this year and it was such a hit with healthy eaters and especially non healthy eaters alike. I knew this would be a recipe I had to share, especially with temps dropping and people needing warm, nourishing meals. Enjoy!

Butternut Squash & Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

 I made this recipe for my family pot luck Thanksgiving this year. It was a huge hit! It takes all of the colors and flavors of fall and puts them in one salad. While it has a lot of ingredients and directions, this recipe is easy to make and doesn’t require you to be standing in the kitchen dicing and chopping for very long. Enjoy!

Hello fall! I’m obsessed with this side dish. It brings in the amazing flavors of ripe, fall apples and keeps it sweet using cinnamon even with a slightly bitter green. This is super east to make and is packed with nutrients. You will love this one!

My week long trip started off in Las Vegas for an intensive 3-day training on how to up the ante on KWSOF. And.it.did!! The hardest part though, what was I going to eat? Las Vegas isn’t known for it’s healthy food and not wanting to compromise how I like to eat, I knew it would be a challenge. Luckily Henderson, NV has a gorgeous Whole Foods so I knew I’d be set. When I arrived on Wednesday I did a big shop and came right back to my brand new rented fridge which I immediately stocked!

Some of the easiest items? The LaraBars for a mid-morning snack & apples with almond butter for my dessert. No bowls for having Paleokrunch cereal with coconut milk? No problem! I used the hotel water glasses as my bowl and took plastic forks, spoons & knives to keep in the room. You have to get crafty when you travel! It’s so easy to make excuses but you can do it too! Lunches were easy too, back to Whole Foods I went for the salad bar which is always fresh and many veggies are organic.

On Saturday night it was off to LA…I was full of information, excitement and confidence (so much so that I drove myself there!)

Some food highlights:

Elf Cafe

So I have an obsession with Katie Lowes – I can’t help it, she’s amazing! I recently read about how much she likes the Elf Cafe so of course, I had to try it. Four of my favorite things are in this dish: kale, quinoa, avocado & egg…perfection!!

Gracias Madre:

Vegan Mexican amazingness! NYC is really missing this kind of restaurant (the kind where Beyonce & JLo frequent) and I wish it would translate to the east coast. This place is so creative and tastes just as good as a non-vegan restaurant (actually, maybe even better!) This would be a staple for me if I lived anywhere near West Hollywood.

The Farm

Beverly Hills is gorgeous! And the dishes at The Farm mirror that beauty! More of my favorite things: kale, quinoa & avocado, they just make me so happy!

Moon Juice

I could not be more obsessed with a smoothie/juice shop that I am with Moon Juice! They have such creative and decadent tasting drinks that I had to get 2. I legit drank them together because I couldn’t pick just one. I also loved the staff because even though most drinks are pre-made, they made me a special combo and didn’t give me a hard time at all.

Cafe Gratitude 

I finally made it here! I’ve wanted to eat here for years and am so grateful to have finally experienced this place. It was definitely worth the hype! The picture doesn’t do this bowl any justice but it was everything! In the bowl: braised butternut squash, adzuki beans, sea vegetables, seasonal sautéed greens, housemade kim chee, black sesame seed gomasio, garlic-tahini sauce, teriyaki almonds, sunflower sprouts, and quinoa. YUM!

One morning I was fooling around in the kitchen trying to create something new and different for breakfast. I usually have a smoothie because it’s the fastest and easiest option, but I had time to sit and enjoy so I wanted to embrace it! I threw together all of my favorite seeds (including pomegranate, such a powerful taste!) and voila! This super seed breakfast bowl was born. Filling, nutrient dense and delicious.

My latest obsession: nightshade veggies & lentils. It warms me up when it’s cold and the combo is perfection! I created this recipe based on 2 of my favorites and decided to combine them. The eggplant, tomato & onion combo is so delicious and the lentils are a great winter staple. This recipe can be used as a main dish or a side dish.

*nightshade vegetables: eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes & peppers

I love smoothies! This greenberry smoothie is packed with vitamins, protein, cancer prevention properties, promotes heart health, etc etc. So much goodness is just one glass will keep you going in the morning or when you need a pick-me-up snack.

I’m not a huge dessert person but when I want something sweet, it has to be really good. Making this Banana “ice” cream is the easiest and most delicious thing ever!  I always keep frozen bananas in my freezer just in case the mood strikes and I need something sweet!

 It’s finally soup season! Even though it’s still pretty warm in NYC, I’m embracing November and all the root veggies that come with it. I love butternut squash and this creamy (but dairy free) soup hits the spot on a chilly day. Add some hemp seeds for protein and you’ll be totally satisfied.

2 of my most favorite things: eggs and avocado! This recipe is so easy and changes up your regular morning breakfast routine. Wow guests and friends with this recipe as it’s perfect for entertaining since the cook time is just 15 minutes.