spiced hot chocolate.

Today's recipe is so incredibly simple, I almost didn't post it. It doesn't require tons of prep work, it doesn't even really require measuring cups or spoons (although I did write exact measurements below), and it was lovingly dreamt up on my drive home from work when all I wanted was something sweet with a bit of dimension. Actually, it's these kinds of recipes that are my most favorite because they're easy. The result is ready in mere minutes, which means enjoyment can take place that much sooner.

This recipe calls for conventional chocolate chips (the horror!) and half and half, which comes from cow's milk (gasp!). Truthfully, it has no health benefits. It's not really good for you. In fact, it's probably bad for you! However, it does boast something quite special, and it's this: it's good for the soul. I think it's perfectly okay to consume both dairy and conventional sugar in humble amounts, especially when they're tucked into a simple hot chocolate that creates quite stellar results. Enjoy!

(As a quick note, I have not always been a hot chocolate lover [?!]. As a kid, I didn't even really care for chocolate [?!?!!!?]. Therefore, this is quite a small serving because that's how I like it. Feel free to increase certain ingredient measurements to suit your personal preferences.)

S P I C E D  H O T  C H O C O L A T E
Serves 1

Ingredients
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cardamom*
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup chocolate chips
3 tablespoons half and half
1/2 cup coconut milk

* If you do not like the flavor of cardamom, I would recommend leaving it out completely. It's notorious for taking over, which I love, but you might not.

Directions
1. Place half and half and coconut milk in a small sauce pan over medium low heat. As it warms, slowly add the vanilla, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. Whisk well so that spices combine.
2. Add half the chocolate chips into the sauce pan and stir gently until all chips have melted. Then, add the remaining chocolate chips and continue to stir until all chips have melted.

black bean bowl.

Last week, I wrote about how I plan meals for our family. This recipe is an example of what might come of that plan. It's hardly a recipe because it was created from the ingredients we had at home on a Wednesday night, but there's no harm in sharing anyway!

It is always best to soak beans for an extended amount of time (I try to start the soaking process before I leave for work in the mornings), but in case you forget (as I did on Wednesday), here's a great how-to for quick-soaking beans. If you're new to soaking beans and would like to read a bit more, this is a well-written and informative article.

B L A C K  B E A N  B O W L
Serves 2, with plenty of leftovers

Ingredients
1 cup pre-soaked black beans
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup steamed corn
3 small peppers, chopped
1 heaping handful spinach, chopped
1/4 of onion, chopped
1/2 avocado, sliced
Honey-Lime dressing (recipe below)

Directions
1. Cook black beans on a low simmer for one hour (for firmer beans [my preference]), or an hour and a half (for softer beans) with 2 cloves of garlic in 2 cups water, uncovered. Stir occasionally. Add 1 teaspoon salt during the last 10 minutes of cook time.
2. Divide beans into two bowls,* and top with corn, peppers, spinach, onion, avocado, and dressing.
3. We like serving with these chips.

* This is where I save the remaining beans and toppings + dressing in a reusable container for the following day's lunch.

H O N E Y - L I M E  D R E S S I N G
Serves 2, with plenty of leftovers

Ingredients
1/2 avocado
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon coconut milk
up to 2 tablespoons water, for thinning
up to 1 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. Place all ingredients (except for water) in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and combined.
2. If desired consistency is not reached (or your appliance needs a little extra help), add up to 2 tablespoons of water to thin the dressing. Add salt for taste.

Enjoy! xo

make the most of your smoothie.

Smoothies are one of my favorite ways to start the morning, especially if I'm short on time! I've been really inspired by Arielle's blog, where she talks about nutrition in a way that seems approachable and manageable to me. I'm not sure about you, but I often feel as though I can get easily overwhelmed by clean-eating blogs. Whereas the writer has probably taken months or even years to get to a place of beautiful, clean eating, in blogland it can seem like it's only taken minutes! I'm incredibly grateful for the wealth of information that's available and I'm so thankful for the people who share their knowledge, but simple and step-by-step works best for me.

Today I thought I'd share five of our latest favorite smoothie add-ins. They're perfect for adding a boost of nutrition in a simple and quick way!

1. Oats. I love adding oats into my smoothie, especially if I'm looking to bulk it up a bit. Especially delicious when combined with nut butter, oats pack tons of health benefits (high levels of calcium, iron, and fiber) and taste deliciously nutty, too!

2. Amazing Grass. This is a new discovery for us and we love it. Not only is this product filled with probiotics, but it also packs a ton of greens and sea veggies! While the recommended dose is a tablespoon, it does have quite a strong flavor, so we are starting with a teaspoon. The smoothie masks the taste pretty well, but it does leave a flavor behind.

3. Bee Pollen. A sprinkle of bee pollen is very beneficial for those of us who experience seasonal allergies. I typically just garnish the top of my smoothie with a bit of this, but it can also be mixed right in with everything else. (Bee pollen is not safe to consume if you're allergic to bees.)

4. Chia Seeds. I'll never forget the first time I tried chia seeds. My sister and I ventured into our local health food store and split a bulk container. I've been a lover of these little gems ever since (I wrote about them here). To get the most of these little guys, soak them in water first and then just add a spoonful to your smoothie.

5. Honey. Packed with antioxidants and antibacterial properties, honey is a delicious addition to a smoothie, especially if your sweet tooth is looking for something to satisfy it. A little less than a spoonful will do the trick!

I'd love to hear about your favorite ways to boost a smoothie! xo