Scenes From The Weekend

Cupcakes from Cupcake. Carrot Cake and Banana pudding. Sign up for their birthday club and get a free cupcake!

Early birthday Presents from the Grandparents!

Jelly beans from Hall’s. A lot of them. We’re obsessed!

Beach time.

With Paula Deen’s Piña Colada smoothies. Delicious!

Running.

Boat day.

Waterkeeper and watermelon on the sandbar.

Some dogs eat kale.

In summary: I love the sunshine, my friends, and dessert, and that dog is healthier than I am.

Spicy Kale & White Bean Soup / CSA Week 2

It’s Christmas again! Err, Week 2 of my CSA with Gruber Farm I mean. Same thing, right?

Included in the box from Week 2:

• strawberries
• kale
• turnips
• snow peas
• lettuce
• a GIANT head of cabbage the size of my head
• sweet onions

Just like last week, as soon I picked up the box, I immediately washed and ate most of the strawberries. I can’t help myself.

I don’t know what happened to our “Summer” weather, so I had no problem using the massive amount of kale to make another soup.

Spicy White Bean & Kale Soup

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound kale, stems and veins removed and leaves washed
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2  (14.5 oz.) cans white northern beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 cups water
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
• grated Parmesan cheese, for topping

Preparation:

1. Cut the kale into small strips, about 1/2 inch thick. In a medium saucepan, heat 1olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook until softened, or about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
2. Add the beans, stock, water, and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Stir in kale, salt, and both peppers. Reduce heat to low, partially cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until kale is tender and dark green.
3. Serve immediately and top with freshly grated parmesan, if desired.

Nutritional perks of kale! According to The World's Healthiest Foods, kale is an excellent source of Vitamins K, A, and C, and manganese. It is a very good source of fiber, copper, calcium, vitamin B6, and potassium. It is a good source of iron, magnesium, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, protein, and many others. Check out the full profile here.

For just a few ingredients and very little seasoning, this soup has a lot of flavor. It’s not too spicy – just a bit of kick! Kale makes me feel like the healthiest person on the block. It’s just so….green.

You should also check out these kale chips I made last year.

When I walked into work on Wednesday morning, I found that my coworker Dane had brought me 3 different cupcakes: Vanilla, Lemon Blueberry, and Red Velvet. What a sweet guy! After dinner, I had no problem devouring some (most?) of the Red Velvet.

HUNGRY MEETS HEALTHY MEETS  SUGAR. REPEAT.

I must also note that I completed my “20 Pure Barre Classes in April” that night. More on that later ;)

What’s your favorite kale recipe? Next week, I’ll have a kale salad for you. It contains many of the ingredients found in a mojito! No, not the liquor. Sorry guys.

When you have a clean, healthy dinner, are you more apt to indulge in dessert?

Things That Make Me A Happy Girl

-Signing up on the Mt. Olive website gets you an official letter and coupon! haha. Why they put it on a stretchy band, I’m not sure. Guess they think I might use it to pull up my hair…

…which I can do now! This is the longest my hair has been in 3 years! Woop!

-My new desktop background at work. Pervin'!.

-The new way to share almonds with your cube neighbor.

-Speaking of coworkers, my awesome cube mate brought me in dark chocolate covered strawbs!

-And speaking of chocolate, these Dove promises quotes make me happy. This one’s a bit risqué!

–This month’s quote in my Lilly Pulitzer planner really spoke to me…

…and speaking of Lilly, I found her cookies at Publix. That bitch makes everything!

…and speaking of junk food, I got my free salted caramel chocolate cupcake during Power Hour at Cupcake yesterday! Definitely one of their best flavors.

But do you know what makes me the happiest of all!?

YOU YOU YOU!!!

What makes you happy lately?

HAPPY FRIDAY MY LOVES!