Raspberry Banana Smoothie

Raspberry Banana Smoothie

Have you gotten into the smoothie habit?  A couple of months ago I started drinking smoothies as a meal replacement once a day for four or five days a week.  Some days it is a breakfast smoothie.  Other days it might be a lunch smoothie.  Occasionally I replace dinner with a smoothie.  I  have
three basic recipes I rely upon, each with approximately 300 calories, or less.  Each has a very different flavor profile, so I choose the one that suits my mood and taste buds that day.

I've researched smoothie recipes on the Internet looking for flavorful and healthy options.  There are many, many smoothie recipes online you can try.  You'll want to be careful, though, because it is easy to pack too many calories into a smoothie and that defeats the purpose of introducing smoothies into your diet.

One key to enjoying a smoothie is getting a nice, creamy consistency.  That means you'll need a good blender that is able to pulverize the ingredients into a smooth consistency.   It doesn't have to be a fancy, expensive blender.  It just has to get the job done.  My favorite blender these days is my Ninja blender.  It has been one of my favorite things since I bought my first one in 2010.

Ninja Blender

This raspberry banana smoothie is one that I favor for breakfast or lunch.  The banana makes it a little sweet.  The ground flax seed and the almond butter give it body and make it more filling.  The raspberries pack the drink with antioxidants and the spinach adds additional vitamins.  The nutritional breakdown for this smoothie is:

 Have I convinced you to give it a try?  Let's make one now.

Donna's Raspberry Banana Smoothie
Serves 1

• 1 cup raspberries, or mixed berries, fresh or frozen
• 1 medium ripe banana
• 1/4 cup baby spinach
• 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
• 1 cup filtered water

Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of your blender.  If the fruit is frozen, let it thaw for 30 minutes or so.  Otherwise the consistency of the
smoothie will be very thick.  Blend for 30-60 seconds, until the ingredients are well combined and very smooth.

Do you have a favorite healthy smoothie?  If you do, please send me the recipe.  I'd like to expand my smoothie options.

Enjoy!

Misquamicut Beach Is Back!

My Friend, Barbara, Celebrates Misquamicut Beach

Today the townspeople of Westerly, Rhode Island celebrated their beach.  Misquamicut Beach, located in southwestern Rhode Island is one of the most beautiful beaches in New England.  Like many beaches in the northeast, Misquamicut was brought to its knees by Superstorm Sandy in October, 2012.  Many questioned whether the beach community could or would recover from the devastation.  Today, the community came together to celebrate, and categorically state that yes, the beach would be ready for summer 2013.  After recovery efforts costing more than $2.4 million and countless hours donated by hundreds of volunteers the sand has been restored to the beaches and most of the businesses are looking forward to opening their doors to serve beach goers.


Hands Along the Sands was an effort spearheaded by the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce with a goal to bring the community together in celebration of this important natural resource and business stimulus.  I've made no secret in this blog of how much I adore the beach.  It's hard not to for those of us who were raised with sand between our toes.  My heart was filled with sadness after Sandy, but today that sadness was replaced with optimism.

Beach Lovers Joined in Celebration

Hundreds of people, young and old, stretched out along Misquamicut Beach.  Looking out on the relative calm of today's ocean, the fury and power that destroyed the beach so many months ago was a mere memory. 

The dunes were completely destroyed by Sandy.  In the past few months tons of sand was screened and replaced where the dunes once stood.  These dunes will be important protective barriers in future storms.

Newly Bulldozed Misquamicut Dunes

It will take time for the dunes to get fully established and provide both protection against the ocean's rage and habitat for shoreline wild life.

Misquamicut Dunes before Sandy

Today was a day for hope.  It was a day to celebrate community.  It was a day to hold hands and welcome summer on one of the prettiest beaches in the northeast.

Hands Along the Sands in Misquamicut, RI

Come visit us this summer and enjoy the beach.  Misquamicut Beach is back and ready to welcome you!

Buffalo Chicken Dip-A Party Must Have

Has warm weather arrived in your neighborhood?  Warm weather is just starting to grace southern New England, and we are getting very excited.  Our winter was long and challenging, and spring has so far been less than delightful.  I'm not complaining, but I am anxious for sunny, warm days.  Those sunny, warm days are perfect for gatherings of family and friends on the back deck.  I like to have

Buffalo Chicken Dip

snacks and dips on hand for the impromptu gatherings. Buffalo Chicken Dip is easy to make and always a crowd pleaser.  It can be served either hot or cold, so it is perfect for any situation.

I start by poaching a chicken breast covered with water seasoned with salt, peppercorns and a bay leaf.  You don't have the time for that?  Not to worry, you can easily substitute canned chicken, but if you have the time go ahead and poach your own chicken.

With five main ingredients, this Buffalo Chicken Dip is a simple dip to prepare.  You probably have all the ingredients on hand to make it right now. 

Buffalo Chicken Dip Ingredients

Donna's Buffalo Chicken Dip

• 1 boneless chicken breast
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6-8 whole peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 ounces cream cheese (low fat may be substituted)
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce

Directions
Place the chicken breast is a sauce pot.  Cover completely with water.  Add the salt, peppercorns and bay leaf.  Bring the water to a boil and then reduce to a gentle simmer. 

Poaching the Chicken

Cover the pot and cook until the chicken breast falls apart when pricked with a fork, about 50-60 minutes.  Drain the chicken and set aside to cool.  Shred the chicken.

The Chicken Will Shred Easily

In a medium bowl. mix together the remaining ingredients until well combined.  Fold in the shredded chicken, mixing well. 

Mix the Ingredients Well

Cover and chill, allowing the flavors to meld.    When serving hot, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Place the dip in a small heat proof casserole.  Cook for 20- 30 minutes until bubbly.  Serve with crackers and celery spears.  This dip is also yummy when served chilled.

Yummy Served Cold or Hot

 

Get the printable Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Enjoy!

Spring Project: Master Bath ReModel

Spring has sprung and when that happens I always start looking around my home for projects to freshen up the place.  Do you do the same?  Trouble is that I don't have much patience for disruption in my home.  The thought of a major remodeling project sends shivers up and down my spine.  As a result, I'm always looking for ways to refresh with as little disruption as possible.

Our master bathroom is in need of work.  Truth be told, we should gut the room and start over.  I just can't bear the thought of it.  So, instead, Hubby and I decided to freshen up.  Here are a couple of pictures to show you what it looked like in the before state.

The Master Bath Vanity

This master bathroom is a small room and as you can see there is only one sink.  I bet you can tell which of us has claimed this vanity as her own.  There are many things I really like about this vanity.  I like that there as six drawers in total, flanking the central cabinet space that is primarily used for cleaning supplies.  The drawers give me plenty of space to hide my stuff.  I usually don't have all my make up out on the vanity top.  The second thing I really like about my vanity is the mirrored cabinet.  There are shelves behind the mirrored sections on the right and left sides.  That means there is a lot of space to store my potions and such.

Another thing I like about our master bath is the linen closet.

The Linen Closet

The linen closet is behind the door you see on the left side of the picture above.  That closet has plenty of room for all the towels for the bathroom, the sheets for the master bedroom and plenty of other miscellaneous items.  I can't imagine going without my linen closet.

One thing I'm not crazy about in this bathroom is the placement of the toilet in front of the only window in the room.

The Toilet

When facing the window, the shower is to the left.  It is a basic shower with a fiberglass surround.  What I really like about it is how easy the fiberglass surround is to care for.  It's not glamorous, or even pretty, but it is functional and easy to live with.

You can see in the linen closet photo that the floor is simple white square tiles.  The walls are painted the same color as the maser bedroom, Benjamin Moore Prescott Green.

What can I do without tearing this whole room apart?  How can I freshen up this space and maintain its functionality?

As I write this post I don't yet know what the result will be.  Soon I will share with you the things we did to freshen up this space.

Enjoy!

Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken

Roasted Garlic Chicken

A roasted chicken is a staple in my refrigerator.  I learned long ago that having a roast chicken on hand is a wonderful time saver.  First, it is a delicious family dinner entree that is easy to prepare on a busy weekend.  Later the leftovers become lunch in the form of a soup or sandwich, or become a light dinner as part of a crisp salad.

You can buy a prepared rotisserie chicken at any grocery store these days, and I do when I am really pressed for time.  Those store roasted chickens are just not the same as the chickens you roast in your home oven.  To me the store roasted versions always seem over cooked and over seasoned.  That's why I prefer to roast my chicken at home.

One of my favorite recipes for roast chicken is my lemon garlic roast chicken.  It is made with ingredients I always have on hand, so extra effort is required like running to the store for a missing ingredient.  One thing I like to do is prep the chicken an hour or two before roasting to give the lemon and seasonings a little extra time to work their magic.  Just be sure to cover the chicken well and refrigerate it.



Roasted Chicken Ingredients

Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken

• 1 whole chicken, 4-5 pounds, rinsed and patted dry
• 1- 1/2 lemons
• olive oil
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  Mix together the salt, pepper and garlic powder in a small bowl.  Place the chicken in a roasting pan and coat it generously with olive oil.  Using your hands, rub the chicken all over with the oil.  Sprinkle approximately half of the seasoning mixture inside the cavity of the chicken.  With your fingers, loosen the skin attached to the breast and legs by gently inserting your fingers between the skin and the meat.  Once loosened, spread about half of the seasoning mixture under the skin.

You Have to Get in There with Your Hands

Thinly slice 1/2 of the lemon and place the slices under the skin of the chicken.  Cut the whole lemon into quarters and place the lemon pieces into the chicken's cavity.  Spread the remaining seasoning mixture over the outside of the chicken using your fingers to distribute the seasoning evenly.

Place Lemon Slices Under the Skin

Tie the legs of the chicken together with twine.  Place the chicken in the oven to roast until the skin is browned and the internal temperature measures 185 degrees F, 60-90 minutes.  Baste the chicken occasionally while it roasts.

Tie the Legs Together with Kitchen Twine

Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with foil and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Serve with your favorite sides.

Browned and Crispy

You can get the printable Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe by clicking the link.

Today, roasted chicken.  Tomorrow, salad topped with the leftovers.  Yum!

Salad with Chicken, Pecans and Dried Cranberries

Enjoy!

Baked Cod with Sauteed Greens

The other night I was cooking dinner and while standing at the stove I noticed I was talking to myself, explaining the steps of the recipe I was making.  I immediately smacked myself in the head and ran to get my camera, all the while telling myself that this dinner would make a great blog post.  I

Baked Cod with Sauteed Greens

tell you this so that you'll understand why the format of this post is different from my usual recipes.  This is a spontaneous post, but the recipe is definitely well thought out and delicious.  You definitely should make it.  Today.

This is a perfect recipe for spring.  It is light and healthy, just what we are looking for this time of year.  Additionally, you'll find this a very easy recipe to pull together with limited time and very few ingredients.  Are you ready to get started?

Since this is a two part recipe we'll start with the greens.

Sauteed Greens
Serves 4

Kale

• 1 large bunch of kale
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 1/2 large onion, sliced
• 6 large cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

The greens we are using are kale and baby spinach.  You'll need to prep the kale by removing the green leaves from the stems.  Chop the leaves into bite sized pieces and rinse them in cool water.  Place the kale in a colander to drain.

Fill a large pot with water and 1 tablespoon of salt.  Bring the water to a boil.  Add the kale, cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes.  Drain the kale into a colander, rinse with cool water.  Allow the kale to drain well.

Place a large skillet over medium high heat.  Heat the olive oil.  Add the onion cooking approximately five minutes, until soft.  Season the onion with salt and pepper.  Add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute, until fragrant. 

Getting Started

Add the drained kale and the spinach leaves.  Cover the pan to wilt the spinach, about five minutes.  Stir the mixture to combine the kale and spinach. 

Mix Together the Spinach and Kale

Taste the mixture and add salt and pepper as desired.  Grate fresh nutmeg over the greens. 

Don't Forget the Nutmeg

Set aside until ready to serve.

Baked Cod

Baked Cod
Serves 4


• 4 cod fillets
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cayenne pepper, a pinch
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 handful fresh chopped parsley
• 1/2 lemon

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Rinse and pat dry the cod fillets.  Butter your baking dish and lay the fillets in the pan, folding any thin portions under the fillet.  Season the fillets with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.    Squeeze the lemon over the cod fillets.

Mix together the bread crumbs, chopped parsley and melted butter.  Spoon the bread crumb mixture over the cod fillets.  Bake the cod in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the bread crumbs are browned and the fish flakes with a fork.

To serve, spoon the cooked greens onto your plate.  Top with the baked cod.  Enjoy!

Get the printable Baked Cod with Sauteed Greens recipe.

Enjoy!

My Powder Room Remodel: Part 2

I posted about my powder room remodel project a couple of weeks ago and since then have been asked about the specifics of the products used.  Today's post will share the details of all the products we used to go from...

The Old Powder Room

to...

The New Powder Room

The Paint
The paint is Behr brand from Home Depot.  The yellow color is Provence Creme, eggshell and the white is Brilliant White, semi-gloss.

The Tile
6 x 6 Marazzi Montagna Lugano tile from Home Depot.  We alternated plain tiles with the fancy, decorative tiles.

The Fixtures
The toilet and pedestal sink were from the Kohler Memoirs line.  The faucet is Kohler Devonshire.

The Mirror
The mirror is the Carrabelle 23 inch wide mirror in Glacier White from Home Depot.

The Wall Mounted Cabinet
The cabinet over the toilet is the Fieldcrest wall cabinet from Target.

The Wall Mounted Magazine Rack
The magazine rack is also a toilet paper holder.  It is the Chatham model from Restoration Hardware.

Put it all together and you'll have a brand ne powder room.  We're enjoying ours very much.

Enjoy!


This is not a sponsored post.  All of the products were purchased by me.