pomegranate

Quinoa and Kale Protein Power Salad

Quinoa, chickpeas and pistachios add protein and healthy fat to this seasonal kale salad, making it a favorite side dish or healthy vegetarian main meal.

Even though I knew better, I still asked.

“Should we do something with kale, or swiss chard, or spinach, with the quinoa?”

“I’m not a good one to ask about that sort of thing,” he replied. “How about you do something with sausage, butter and cream?”

Typical. Oh…so…typical.

Didn’t he hear the bleating of the noise makers? Didn’t he see the ball drop? Doesn’t he know there’s been the annual calendar flip that puts us all into dietary shock following the previous two month’s full-steam-ahead intake of gluttonous anything and everything?

Lucky for him (ahem) he has me and this protein-packed quinoa and kale salad to remind him.

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Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch

This festive and fruity punch with bubbly champagne and DIY frozen ice cubes is a crowd favorite that can easily be made non-alcoholic.

We’ve done it for the past 20+ years and I expect we’ll be doing it for the next 20+ years, too.

As the year starts to wane, and now that we’ve given thanks and counted our blessings with turkey, pie and our family’s love, and are beginning to think of what might lie ahead in the sunshine and sparkles of what we hope the new year will bring, my friends and I gather together to celebrate our long time friendship by doing what we did best in college.

Jello shots? Wellllll…sometimes. But not this time around.

Instead, we head back to our sorority roots and plan a philanthropy to give to others who don’t have it as good as we are so fortunate to have it.

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Acai, Pomegranate and Raspberry Smoothie

Acai juice, pomegranate juice and raspberries are full of antioxidants with all sorts of health benefits in this sweet and tart superfood packed smoothie.

Because if you’re like me and my soon to be 6th grade babe who this week declares, “School’s out for summer!” (cue Alice Cooper) you will in short order be seeking anything cool, frothy and delicious to take away the bite of summer’s heat that is about to descend upon us like a triple-woven wool blanket.

Honestly? I’m looking forward to it. Remind me of this come August when I’m walking across the hot grocery store parking lot, sweltering as I peel my tank top from my sweaty skin and seriously debate booking a flight to Alaska.

Until then, let’s just enjoy it, shall we?

One thing that will be making our summer all the more chill is this new cookbook from my friend Deborah of the blog Taste and Tell. It pretty much says it all in the title, Best 100 Smoothies for Kids. But like all good things in life, it’s truly not just for kids. Pass me a straw!

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Pomegranate Martini Recipe

This adaptation of Oprah’s Pomegranate Martini has a hint of rosemary and real pomegranate seeds for an added dose of festive flavor.

Are you a garnish-er, or a garnish-less?

I think it’s pretty evident by the looks of the recipes I post on this old bloggity blog that I’ve become a garnish-more type of gal. You may say YAY!, you may say EW!, but either way, the garnish is my go-to, and not quite shockingly, cocktails have yet to escape my embellishing.

A dip of gold sugar here, a drop or two of fresh pomegranates there and a stir stick that’s fresh and fragrant are what make my seasonal Pomegranate Martini totally festive and bright.

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Coconut Waffles with Pomegranate Syrup…Or Ice Cream

Maybe it was all of that tropical sun beating on my brain while I celebrated Thanksgiving at the equator. Or maybe it’s just my die hard love of coco-nut—Almond Joys have always been my weak in the knees sweet treat.

Either way, these Coconut Waffles with Pomegranate Syrup just hit the top of my koo-koo for coco-nut list. And it’s all a part of Gold Medal Flour‘s Virtual Bake Day.

Breakfast. It’s the meal that can sometimes get overshadowed by the big guns with tons of variety in the lunch and dinner time menus. I say, rise up breakfast! Let your flavor buds show their flair!

And let’s add coconut to waffles.

Like most red-blooded Americans I spent Thanksgiving with my family. Unlike most red-blooded Americans I spent it in the British West Indies sucking down Mango Mambos, fresh from the sea Conch salad and digging my toes in the sand while my girl savored every second of cousin time.

Meal times were just about the only thing that kept us in touch with the time of day. Breakfast > beach > lunch > beach > 4:00 rainbow > cocktail on beach > dinner > bed. Then up to do it all again the next day.

Oh what a glorious groundhog day we were in.

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