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Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Pomegranate Cranberry Salsa

November 17, 2014

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With the weather cooling down, I’m excited to jump into some more seasonally appropriate meals.  First up? This gorgeous recipe I scored on Pinterest that I can’t stop looking at.

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Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Pomegranate Cranberry Salsa 

Recipe via The Half Baked Harvest

Tacos

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 sweet onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 canned chipotle chilies, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo (from the chipotle chili can)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 small bunch cilantro
  • Tortillas (flour, corn or hard shell)
  • 1 avocado, sliced or diced
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • cotija cheese, crumbled, for topping

Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (I used a little less)
  • 1 canned chipotle chili, chopped
  • 1 lime, zested + juiced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 jalapeno, chopped and seeds removed
  • the seeds from 1 pomegranate
  1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Cover a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease.
  2. Place the cranberries, brown sugar, chipotle chili, lime zest and juice, garlic, jalapeño and a pinch of salt and pepper on baking sheet.
  3. Use your hands to toss everything together until the cranberries are evenly coated.  Roast in the oven until the cranberries burst and release their juices, about 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven and and let cool (about 10 minutes).
  5. Add the pomegranate arils and toss well. Set aside at room temperature until ready to use.
  6. While the cranberries are roasting, start on the tacos… Heat the olive oil over a large skillet set over medium heat.
  7. Add the onions and sweet potatoes and toss to coat.
  8. Cover the skillet and let cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, but not mushy, stirring once or twice for about 10-15 minutes.
  9. Once the sweet potatoes are tender (easily pierced with a fork), add the garlic and saute 30 seconds.
  10. Turn heat to medium-high (adding more oil if needed) and add the quinoa.
  11. Let the quinoa get crispy and cook for about 5 minutes.
  12. Add 3/4 cup water, the chili powder, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar and cayenne, stir to thoroughly combine and bring the mixture to a boil.
  13. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the water has completely evaporated.
  14. Remove from the heat and stir in the black beans, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and the lime juice.
  15. To assemble the tacos, place some of the quinoa in a tortilla or shell. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, avocado, a large dollop the the roasted cranberry salsa, crumbled catija cheese and fresh chopped cilantro.

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Cranberry Salsa

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By the way, if you haven’t checked out Half Baked Harvest before… you definitely need to do so! Her photography is amazing, and her recipes are next level.  I’ve been eating off solely off of her site for the last week and I couldn’t have been more excited to stumble across her gem of a site.  Enjoy!

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Sip

Sour Cherry Cider Sip

November 14, 2014

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Now that fall is in the (80 degree) air I am swapping watermelon for butternut squash, swim suits for sweaters, and vodka for bourbon.  My family loves sour cherry syrup (perfect for mixing with club soda and lime for a refreshing sipper), so when I came across a bottle of it, I knew I had to swoop it up (it can be hard to find).  I mixed it with a favorite of my fall-ish libations and here is what we came up with!

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Sour Cherry Cider Sip 

  • 1 1/2 oz whiskey
  • 1/2 oz sour cherry syrup
  • ~1/4 cup cider
  1. Pour whiskey in a low ball glass over ice.
  2. Add sour cherry syrup.
  3. Top with cider and stir.

You know how I love a cocktail with minimal clean-up… and this one hits the spot! Delicious, refreshing, seasonal and still a little bubbly from the cider – perfection!

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Step 1

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Step 2

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 Step 3

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PS. if you aren’t able to find any syrup at your local artisan store (or Cost Plus or Home Goods), you can make your own!

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Cherry Simple Syrup 

  • 8 oz cherries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  1. Place ingredients in a sauce pan and stir over medium heat.
  2. Cover and lift lid only to stir occasionally.
  3. Once cherries soften (and are easily “mashable”), allow to cook 5 more minutes and then cool.
  4. Store cherries and syrup in an airtight container.

*For this recipe you can include both cherries and syrup in the cocktail.  Otherwise feel free to strain them.

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Travels

Happiness Files: Hawaii

November 13, 2014

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It has become a bit of a tradition for J and I to sneak away to Hawaii for his birthday weekend and this year was a one for the books!  I felt it fitting for a long overdue Happiness Files.

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Our first Hawaiian meal tradition

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 The crew

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 The gorgeous view from the Lobby at the Montage Kapalua Bay

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The best nachos I’ve ever had – topped with Kahlua Pork (need I say more!?)

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My favorite spot at the Montage’s Serenity pool (by day)

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 The view (by night)

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Turtle time!

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Our fridges were stocked with these delicious lemonades.

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Coconut macadamia nut pancakes at Gazebo.

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The coolest walk-in hot tubs at the resort’s pool.

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 Celebrating the birthday boy with some friends – new and old 🙂

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But first…

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…let’s take…

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…a selfie (80th times a charm).

Until next time Hawaii!

Sip

Bowl of Soul

November 12, 2014

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I’m not a coffee drinker but sometimes I crave that richness that tea just can’t give you.  The Bowl of Soul from my favorite coffee shop – Verve, hits the spot!  Here is my copy cat recipe:

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Bowl of Soul 

  • 1 cup vanilla soy or almond milk
  • loose leaf tea (I prefer coconut or chamomile)
  • honey
  • nutmeg
  1. Heat up milk over medium heat in a small saucepan.
  2. Let come to low boil (until milk gets a little frothy) and turn off heat.
  3. Place 2 tablespoons of loose leaf tea into a tea filter.
  4. Let tea steep in warm milk and cover saucepan with a lid. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  5. Add a bit of honey (depending on your sweetness preferences) to the bottom of a mug and top with tea/milk mixture.
  6. Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg.

* If you have a milk frother, giving it a whirl after step 5 would be a great addition!

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My favorite coconut tea right now is this one.  I also love these tea filters!

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Domestic

Happy Veteran’s Day

November 11, 2014

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Taking today to honor and thank those that serve our country and protect our freedom.  Thank you for your service!