In general, Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week.  I get up early and start the day with some hot yoga, have a leisurely breakfast/lunch with Patrick and the rest of the day is spent relaxing, enjoying the winding down of the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead.  But this past Sunday was a little different.  I spent the majority of Sunday hanging out with my sister doing something we both love – crafting and shopping!  When you can spend the day with one of your favorite people doing something you’re both ga-ga over, what’s better than that?

After a sweaty, yet calming yoga session, I headed over to my sister’s neck of the woods to grab some breakfast and to strategize our game plan for the rest of the morning.  I couldn’t think of a more suitable place than Panera Bread – plus it happened to be right across the street from our first shopping destination.

Me in the car after yoga – don’t I look refreshed?

No line at Panera?!  That never happens!

We ordered one whole grain bagel to share along with two cups of coffee.  While I could probably eat three whole bagels in one sitting, Michelle and I decided to opt for splitting one with a schmear of butter.  It cuts down all all those carbs and makes the belly less full for shopping.  After all, shopping is a sport!

While sipping our freshly brewed, guess who called?  MHC!  She either has ESP or has some sort of tracking device on us because she always seems to call whenever we are together.  Maybe it’s her mother’s intuition?  Obviously, we extended the invite, but MHC declined.  While she likes spending time with her daughters, crafting isn’t one of her faves.  Oh well…more bonding time for the Sisters Chow!

“Yeah Mom, I know my sister is the best…!”

Ohhh, I’m so hot like my coffee!

After finishing our breakfast, we trekked on over to our first destination – Jo-Ann Fabrics.  Holy crap on a cracker!  That store is insane in the membrane!  I’ve been to Jo-Ann’s in the past, but not recently.  If you’re crafting and Jo-Ann’s doesn’t have what you’re looking for, then you don’t need it.  Talk about oh-em-gee!

“Um, can you hurry up so we can start shopping already?”

BTW, any guesses on what we’re making?

After about an hour and a half at the crafting supply mecca, we headed across town to a place I’ve never been to before.  Fortunately, Michelle had visited this place in the past and was able to get us there in a snap.  Our next shopping destination was truly a hidden gem.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if you had to give a password to the doorman in order to get in.  It was just one of those places that was in the middle of nowhere and wasn’t in the most friendly looking of areas.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior of the store.  Our second shopping destination, Downstairs at Felton Antiques, was jammed pack with all things antique.  It was as if we had walked into another world.

While Michelle and I were mostly interested in the vintage jewelry, we couldn’t help but take a peek at everything this place had to offer.  There were antique art, photographs, knickknacks, furniture, glassware, pottery/china, shoes and housing fixtures.  Everything was so interesting; I could only imagine the history behind all these things that filled the store.  While I was intrigued by all the items for sale and wanted to capture them on camera, the store owner seemed less than thrilled.  I managed to snap a few photos before she inquired as to what I was doing.  While she said she didn’t mind, I didn’t want to further press her buttons and stopped my picture taking efforts.  She was a pleasant woman, but just didn’t seem to want me taking any more photos.  A blogger can understand…

After about an hour or so, we made our purchases and our day of crafting and shopping came to an end.  While we did more shopping (and chatting) than crafting (which will be postponed for a later date), our afternoon couldn’t have been better.  I’m so lucky to have a sibling that has such similar interests as me.  The synergy that we share when we’re shopping, designing, creating and of course, just hanging out, is one that can’t be matched or duplicated.  Because we’re sisters, it’s easy for us to brainstorm ideas with one another, but it’s also easy for us to be brutally honest.  I don’t think there’s any one else in this world with whom I can share these kinds of Sundays.  But then again, sharing comes natural to us.  For instance, we shared our breakfast, our crafting supplies, a bedroom and an apartment in the past, our jewelry business presently, our wardrobe growing up as kids, cooking duties and of course, a womb (thanks MHC!).  When you’ve been together (literally) since the beginning of the life, you get pretty good at supporting each other and having each other’s back (literally), it makes sense that I wish ’sister sunday’ could be ’sister every day’!

My share of the loot for the day

Do you know what we’re making yet?  Any ideas or thoughts?  Astrid, you already know, so you can’t guess !

Namasté,
Nicole

What ever happened to Bobby McFerrin?

Guess What?!  The other day I had the pleasure of receiving the Happy 101 award/game from the lovely Kate! Thank you so much, Lady!  It was such a sweet way to brighten my day and a good reminder that when the world and your surroundings get you down, we have to remember the things that makes us happy and smile from the inside out.

According to Kate, the only thing I have to do is list 10 things that make me happy and then pick 10 people to do the same.  Sounds pretty easy!  Drum roll please…

1) Finding a great bargain – I love to shop.  I love clothes.  I love shoes.  I love handbags.  I love jewelry.  I love food.  And I love it even more when I can get all of those things on SALE!  I don’t what it is, but I get this high like no other when I can find an amazing deal.  And you know what’s even better?  When someone sees me in/with my new bargain purchase and then compliments me on it.  I honestly have to bite my tongue so I don’t yell, “Guess how much I paid for it?!  You won’t believe it!”

2) Yoga - I probably don’t even need to explain this one, but yoga is definitely something that makes me happy.  I love how I feel when I’m on my mat; I feel energized, strong, calm and capable of anything and everything.  Feeling my breath slowly filling every inch of my body and then feeling every ounce of it exit out of my body relaxes my mind, spirit and soul and when I’m finished with my practice, I emerge as a new person.  I feel whole again.

3) Afternoon naps – I’m not sure if I liked taking naps as a small child, but as an adult, I love them.  Being able to curl up on my couch on a snowy and cold day with my favorite blanket (and person) and catching a few zzz’s mid-day is heavenly.  It’s definitely a luxury and one I won’t have forever once I have my own children to prepare for nap time

4) Spending time with Patrick - We really know how to crack each other up.  There are moments when we’re just being silly and goofy and all we can do is laugh at each other.  And, there are times when we’ll have our heart-to-heart talks or when I’ll need a shoulder to cry on and Patrick is always there to make me feel better.  I’m so lucky and blessed to have him in my life and I cherish all the time we spend together.

5) Trader Joe’s - I know I’ve said it before, but I will say it again.  I <3 TJ’s!  I could spend hours there just staring at all their wonderful (and wonderfully priced) products.  And, the people who work there are always so cordial and helpful.  Trader Joe’s makes me happy because I always leave there feeling like I got some good food, some great service and an amazing feeling in my heart.  You can’t beat that!

6) Compliments on the jewelry I’ve created – Making jewelry is something I started close to ten years ago and I still love it to this day.  Being able to have an idea in my head and then making that idea come to life is truly magical to me.  But when someone compliments me on my work and is then interested in that same piece for themselves, it’s music to my ears!  I take pride in my work and being recognized for it makes me a happy camper.

7) Hugs - There’s nothing better than a hug.  I don’t think people give enough of them and even more so, I don’t think people allow themselves to receive them enough.  When my goddaughter or nieces give me a hug, it brightens up my day and totally melts my heart.  I can’t help but grin from ear-to-ear after that.

8 ) Coffee with my sister – After Michelle and I go to yoga class on Saturday morning, we have our morning coffee together.  It’s our time to bask in our post-yoga glow, catch-up on ‘what’s the haps’ and enjoy a fresh brew.  Sometimes, we’ll just sit and chat for hours and before we know it, it’s almost time for lunch.  It makes me happy knowing I have a great relationship with my twin sister and that I’m fortunate enough to see her as often as I do.

9) The arrival of spring -You know that day that comes at the very, very end of winter (or sometimes it’s technically already spring) when all of the sudden you realize the day is longer, the sun is warm and shining and you don’t need to wear a down coat anymore?  Well, that day makes me want to jump up and down and scream for joy!  There’s that somethin’-somethin’ in the air and you just know that the cold is gone and warmer days are here to stay.  I equate the feeling I have on this day to the feeling I used to get on the last day of school before summer vacation…almost.

10) When someone tells me how much they enjoy reading my blog – Whenever I receive a comment in my inbox or on my blog and they tell me how much they enjoy reading Healthy Chow and how inspired they feel, my spirits are immediately lifted.  I started my blog because I wanted to live a more healthy and balanced life.  I did it for me.  But knowing that I’ve been able to bring a little joy in someone else’s life and that I’ve been able to give them some encouragement, makes Healthy Chow a Happy Chow!

And here are the 10 bloggers I wanted to pass Happy 101 along to…(FYI, I wanted to pass this along to everyone!)

Astrid – Two Feet Ten Toes
Angela – Angela Loves Food
Morgan – Life after Bagels
Lauren – Giant Scoops of Joy
Shannon – Lessons to Learn
Sophia – Burp and Slurp
Casey – Spicy & Sweet
Alyson – Nourished Fitness
Morgan – Live, Love, Eat and Play
Ashley – Daily Goods

Thank you again, Kate! This was a fun exercise and definitely brought a smile to my face.  Maybe I should make this a regular practice of mine?  It really does bring things into perspective and reminds me of how fortunate I am.

What are some of the things that make you happy?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Find out the winner to my jewelry giveaway at the end of this post.  But if you like food, you won’t want to miss out on all my TDay dinner pics!***

Thanksgiving day started off much earlier than usual for me, as I got up before the crack of dawn to squeeze in two hot yoga classes.  I know what you’re thinking. You’re not the only person who thinks I’m crazy.  But if I don’t exercise before I knowingly have a big meal, then I just don’t feel right.  And because I love my aunt’s cooking and usually only get this one day out of the year to have her cooking, I wanted to be able to fully enjoy myself.  Thus, a sweaty workout was on the agenda!  While taking two challenging classes so early on in the day was tough, it was certainly worth it.  My Thanksgiving dinner was out-of-this-world delicious and I savored each and every bite.

When my mother and I (thanks for the ride, MHC!) arrived at my aunt and uncle’s house, we were immediately greeted by my family and the heavenly aroma of turkey and all the scrumptious side dishes whose deliciousness I could only imagine.  In order to hold our growing appetites down, we gladly nibbled on appetizers consisting of a crudité platter with spinach dip, roasted almonds, sushi (brought by MHC) and a traditional fried Chinese dumpling, which I haven’t had the pleasure of eating in several years.  Needless to say, we were all kept quite busy enjoying the appetizers and each other’s company as the main course was getting its final preparation.  My aunt and uncle have a beautiful home with a large open area kitchen and living room.  While the television may have been on in the background, it was certainly no comparison to the entertainment that was being held in the kitchen.  My aunt is a fabulous cook and watching her in her element is not only a treat, but also a terrific learning experience.  My cousin, Brendon, takes after his mother and is also a natural in the kitchen.  I’m glad I was able to capture some of the dinner magic in action!

As a Thanksgiving tradition, my cousins and I always take pictures around the turkey.  This year was no exception.  In fact, this was one of the first time in years that all of the cousins were present (there was always someone away at college).  My cousins are such characters; each one is hilarious and has a great personality.  I really enjoy the time I spend with them and can’t believe they are no longer the little ‘babies’ I used to help watch when I was younger.  In fact, my sister and I are the oldest and yet, we are now the shortest!  Too funny!

After our brief photography sesh, we happily sat down for dinner.  And boy, was it a spread!  While there were 14 guests at the dinner table, we had enough food to feed a small army.  I tried to sample a little bit of everything, but with dessert lurking in the background, I knew I had to pace myself and reserve some of that precious real estate.  Everything, as usual, was wonderful and cooked to perfection.  While the traditional Thanksgiving favorites like roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, puréed butternut squash, stuffing, corn and baked sweet and russet potatoes made appearances at the table, there were also some other delightful sides such as orzo with baby spinach, cremini mushrooms and pancetta, haricots verts with caramelized onions and roasted brussels sprouts with dried cranberries, pecans, chickpeas and got cheese (made by yours truly).  There were even three different kinds of cranberry sauce!  To say the least, our Thanksgiving dinner was like whoa!

My dinner plate (I had another piece of turkey and a scoop of orzo for seconds!)

And not to be out done by dinner, coffee and dessert took center stage just as we had enough time to digest our turkey and the fixings.  It’s safe to say that I didn’t need to eat anymore for the day, but when there’s a fresh apple pie with vanilla ice cream, personal-sized chocolate fallen cakes and apple crisps, double-ginger cupcakes, a custard pie, miniature pecan tarts and an apple-caramel cake, how can you resist?  Well, I certainly could not!  Everything was divine and intermingled quite nicely with the savory foods that were peacefully resting in my belly.

My dessert plate (I had a few bites of chocolate cake as well!)

As with every Thanksgiving, this one was filled with good laughs, fun times and delicious food.  I’m so grateful to have such a wonderful family and to be able to spend the holiday in their presence.  While many in this country have to travel, either by hours in a car, bus, train or plane, my family is local and always willing to host Thanksgiving dinner.  When you have great company and more than enough food, what more could you ask for?  Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the amazing things for which we are thankful in our lives.  It’s too bad that we only have one day out of the year dedicated to this, when in reality it should be 365 days of the year.  I’m thankful for so much in my life and I’ll admit, sometimes I do forget to express my gratitude.  That said, I want to say to my aunt, uncle and cousin, I appreciate all that you do for our family every year and thanks for giving us a home to celebrate this special holiday.

***And finally, the winner of my earring giveaway is…***

Those are really pretty! So my go to outfit for the holiday season is a brown DVF wrap dress. These would actually look great with it!!

Congratulations Trish!  Please email me at healthychow@gmail.com with your contact information, so I can get your little sparklies to you just in time for your first holiday party!  Thanks to everyone for participating!  And if you didn’t win this time, don’t fret!  I’ll be sure to do another jewelry giveaway soon!

What’s your favorite holiday?  Why?  Are you looking forward to winter?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Have you entered my earring giveaway yet?…***

So if you read yesterday’s post, you’ll know that I was recently given samples of POMx™ Iced Coffee to taste and review.  While I really enjoyed the flavor of the iced coffees, I don’t think I’ll be rushing to replace my morning cup of black coffee with the POMx™ Iced Coffee anytime soon.  Sorry! They’re just a tad too sweet for me to have so early on in the day as my first consumption of caffeine.  Plus, I’m already sweet enough (*sarcasm*)!  So what did I do with the rest of my samples, you ask?  Did I throw them away?  Did I give them to someone else to finish (that would be a bit gross)?  Did I just drink them for the heck of it?  No.  No.  And no!  Since Healthy Chow isn’t one for wasting things, I decided to make good use of my free samples versus just letting them sit and and take up precious space in my fridge.

So, you wanna know what I made…?

Well, if I wasn’t going to be drinking these little ‘wonderfuls’ as part of my breakfast, I figured the next best thing was to cook with them!  Because I love the rich and decadent taste of each of the flavors, I imagined they would be the perfect component in my breakfast foods.  Now, I’m not right a lot of the times, but when I am, I hit the nail exactly on the head (she pats herself on the back)!

Are you ready to find out yet…?

Blueberry Cheesecake Oatmeal POM-erized
Serves 1

• 1/2 cup of dry oats (you can use quick oats or old-fashioned style)
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 TSP of chia seeds (I used Greens Plus brand)
• 2 TBSP of nonfat cottage cheese
• 1 TBSP of POMx™ Vanilla flavored Iced Coffee
• 1/2 TBSP of chopped raw almonds
• small handful of blueberries, fresh or frozen

1) In a small pot, bring water to a rolling boil.  Once boiling, add the oats and chia seeds.  Stir to make sure the chia seeds are well-blended with the oats.  Reduce the heat to medium/medium-low and let cook for another 3 minutes.

2) Add your cottage cheese and iced coffee.  Stir.

3) Remove oatmeal from heat and pour into a bowl.  Top with blueberries and chopped almonds.

4) Eat with a spoon, but you won’t be able to stop thinking that this is a piece of blueberry cheesecake!

Yum-to-the-O!  This was incredible! The cottage cheese made the oatmeal fluffy (and cheesy) while the chia seeds added to the thickness.  The vanilla iced coffee sweetened this whole little number and the chewiness from the almonds made me think I was eating a graham cracker crust.  And of course, the blueberries accentuated the entire recipe.  If this breakfast was a whole cake, there wouldn’t be a slice left!

POM-errific Chocolate Banana French Toast
Serves 1

• 2 or 3 slices of bread (I used Trader Joe’s Sprouted Flourless Whole Wheat Berry Bread – 2 slices and 1 end)
• 1/4 cup of POMx™ Chocolate flavored Iced Coffee
• 1/3 cup of liquid egg whites
• few shakes of pumpkin pie spice
• few shakes of cinnamon
• few shakes of nutmeg
• pinch of brown sugar
• 1/2 of banana, sliced
• sprinkling of organic dried coconut (I used Woodstock Farms brand)
• sprinkling of cocoa powder

1) Mix the iced coffee, egg whites, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar in a shallow bowl.

2) Dip each slice of bread in the iced coffee/egg white mixture.  Let each piece absorb the mixture for about 1 minute.

3) Spray your frying pan or griddler (or in my kitchen, the C.G.) with cooking spray.  Turn your heat to medium.

4) Place your dipped slices of bread on the frying pan/griddler.  Heat each side for about 2-3 minutes or until the edges start turning that nice golden brown color.

5) Flip each piece of bread and cook for another couple of minutes.

6) Serve with sliced bananas, cocoa powder and dried coconut sprinkles.  Devour!

This french toast recipe was so tasty! There was just enough chocolate flavoring from the iced coffee to give this dish a unique flavor without it being overly sweet.  Coupled with the smashed banana slices (the banana was previously frozen) and the dried coconut, this french toast didn’t even need maple syrup.  I wish I had made more than the the 2.5 pieces I inhaled!

Oatmeal POM-tein Pancakes
Serves 1

• 1/3 cup of dry oats (you can use quick oats or old-fashioned style)
• 1/4 cup of POMx™ Vanilla flavored Iced Coffee
• 1/4 cup of liquid egg whites
• 1/2 TSP of baking soda
• few shakes of cinnamon
• few shakes of nutmeg
• 1/2 banana, sliced
• maple syrup or agave nectar

1) In a small bowl, mix together the oats, iced coffee, egg whites, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

2) Pour the mixture into your blender.  Add your sliced banana.  Blend until you get the consistency of a thin batter.

3) Spray your frying pan or griddler (or C.G) with cooking spray.  Turn your heat to medium/medium-high.

4) Pour your batter onto your pan or griddler.  Let cook for 2-3 minutes.  Once the pancake can be moved without sticking, flip.  Cook the other side for another 2 minutes.

5) Serve with maple syrup or agave nectar.  Enjoy!

Ohemgee!  These protein-packed pancakes tasted more like banana bread than flapjacks.  They were so delicious and aromatic; I couldn’t believe this breakfast was actually healthy! The vanilla iced coffee and banana kept these pancakes moist and more than flavorful.  I’m glad no one was watching me eat these because I seriously was licking the plate clean.

POM-tastic Banana Coffee Soft Serve
Serves 1

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 TBSP of POMx Café au Lait flavored Iced Coffee

1) Place the  frozen banana and the iced coffee in your blender.  Blend until you get the consistency of soft serve.  You might need to stop the blender intermittently to scrape down the sides and then blend again.

2) Pour into a dish and savor your frosty treat!

Not only did I love this but Patrick seemed to be quite fond of it as well.  He kept asking me what was in his soft serve and couldn’t believe that it was just a frozen banana and a couple of splashes of iced coffee.  The coffee flavoring gave this frozen treat a more gourmet taste than the usual banana flavor.  While we ate this for dessert, it could definitely be a fun breakfast.  After all, it is just fruit and coffee!

When I first tried these iced coffee samples, my first reaction was that they were good.  They were a bit sweet for my liking, but they were definitely tasty.  However, after I began cooking with the iced coffees, I really fell in love.  I guess that goes to show that when life (or Blue) gives you slightly over sweet iced coffee, you need to make perfectly sweet breakfast!

Do you prefer cranberry sauce from the can (the kind where you can still see the indentations from the can) or do you prefer the homemade stuff?  Or are you like me and don’t like either?

***Don’t forget!  You still have until Friday, November 27th at 6pm ET to enter my jewelry giveaway.  After all, we could all use some sparkle in our lives…***

Namasté,
Nicole

Back for some more New York City action, huh?  Well, I can’t blame you!  In yesterday’s post, I gave you the lowdown on our first day and night in the big city.  Boy, did we have a great time!  We checked into our lovely and fabulously located hotel, we had a quick and delicious lunch at Cranberry Café, we witnessed the grandeur that Times Square has to offer and we enjoyed a laugh-filled dinner at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant.  But that was just the tip of the iceberg! Thank goodness, we all got our much needed beauty rest.

After getting a good night’s sleep in preparation for our Sunday celebratory festivities, we were refreshed and had a full tank of gas, just rearing to go.  With our breakfast scheduled at 9:30am, I knew we had to be up by no later than 8am to get our day started.  However, I’m not sure if it was the cool temperature in our hotel room or the fact that I was electrified by the fact that we were in the New York, but I was wide awake at 7am (that’s not a normal thing without an alarm clock for Healthy Chow).  Patrick must have been on the same sleeping pattern as me, because he was also ready to greet the day before the alarm went off.  That said, we jumped into our workout clothes and made good use of the hotel’s fitness center.

The Millennium Broadway Hotel’s fitness center was pretty impressive.  There were two separate areas to work out in: one was for weights and weight training and the other was for cardio.  The gym was clean and had multiple televisions available for use.  Other than two other people, Patrick, David and I were the only ones in the gym.  It was great! No lines and no incessant yapping from other guests.  Plus, I got to stare at the tops of the New York City buildings as I was speedwalking and working up a good lather.  With a few yoga stretches, 25 minutes of speedwalking and regular walking on the treadmill and some cool down stretching, I was completely energized.  While I got a good workout in, I probably could have pushed myself further.  But, I also didn’t want to be tired (or sore) for the rest of the day.  My quick cardio session was just enough to get my blood pumping and to do some much needed detoxification.

Wow, it looks like we both worked up a good sweat!

After quickly showering and getting dressed, we only had a few moments to spare before it was breakfast time.  And this wasn’t just any ordinary breakfast, it was a special breakfast for a special girl.  In addition, breakfast wasn’t going to be served at just any ol’ restaurant, it was being held at a place that is undeniably, a little girl’s fantasy.  For Casey’s 5th birthday party, Lisa and David planned a breakfast at none other than American Girl Place.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but when we arrived, I was blown away.  To be able to see all the children so giddy with excitement and joy was truly endearing.  Plus, this place was amazing and huge! There were about four or five floors filled with shopping, activities for girls and their dolls, a restaurant and more shopping.  I could not believe how popular this store was – it was filled to the brim with families and dolls! Crazy!

Our breakfast destination!

Not only did the guest of honor, Casey, have a blast at her birthday party, but we all did as well.  The staff was hospitable, friendly and prompt.  In a large restaurant with so many customers, one usually expects and receives less-than-stellar service and not-so-great food.  This was the complete opposite!  Our main server, Anthony, couldn’t have been more accommodating and polite.  Plus, the menu offered more than ‘kid friendly’ options and everyone seemed quite pleased with their selections and the quality of the food.  The decorum of the dining area was also fantastic.  I felt like a doll living in a dollhouse or at least, a big (but not that big) little girl having her dreams come true.  As the conversation flowed, the coffee flowed and the good times and laughter were continuously being rolled out much like our hot breakfast entrées.  There were even souvenirs (a hair elastic with a hot pink bow) for all the guests and fun little conversational question cards available at the table.  It’s truly a blessing to be able to spend time with your family and to be able to be in the presence of such wonderful company.  I can only imagine the greatness that both Dan and Ellen felt just watching their family interact and have such a joyous time and knowing that this all stemmed from the love they created 40 years ago.

The guest of honor with her dolls

Taylor with her Papa

Taylor with Grammy

Who’s the bigger doll?

Everyone smile for the camera and say, “Healthy Chow!”

How’s that smoothie?

The American Girl Breakfast Menu

My Breakfast: Eggs Benedict Florentine - poached eggs served with wilted spinach and English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce (I had mine on the side) and accompanied by home-style potatoes and fresh fruit

Flower Power Pancakes with Fresh Bananas and Whipped Cream – served with fresh fruit and sausage links (and some Country Breakfast Eggs)

Country Breakfast - scrambled eggs with home-style potatoes, onions, sausage and peppers topped with cheddar cheese and served with a side of avocado, salsa and sour cream

Classic French Toast – topped with warm apples and cinnamon fresh fruit kabob, served with a side of apple wood smoked bacon and maple syrup

Chocolate Mousse Flowerpot with Butterfly Cookie

The whole gang

Question: Who would you want to trade places with for one day?  Why?

Taylor’s Answer: “I pick you, Nicole, because you’re a lot of fun and you look like a teenager.  For real!”

Too much!

Once breakfast was over, the gang broke free to explore the rest of American Girl Place.  While the little ladies got their shopping on, I managed to check things out and get a lay of the land.  Holy moly, words can’t describe the magnitude of this place.  If you have an American Girl doll, this is the place to go for your doll.  There is everything and anything you could possibly want or need here for your American Girl.  I think both Taylor and Casey were more than happy with their purchases.

An hour and a half?!

The Doll Hair Salon

After getting back to the hotel to drop off our purchases, we freshened up and decided to make a trip to the Empire State Building.  While most of the group was in on visiting this tourist attraction, some decided to make good use of the amazing weather and make a visit to Central Park.  Since my MIL and I love shopping and enjoy each other’s company (we share the same sense of humor!), we decided to branch off from the group and have some mother-in-law and daughter-in-law time.  We ventured off and hit some of the nearby shops as the rest of the group made the trip to the top of the Empire State Building.  Patrick was in the Empire State Building group and thus, became the interim photographer for my blog.  He did a pretty fancy job snapping some great pics.  Thanks Patrick!

By the time all of our tours were over, it was late in the afternoon.  But with our dinner reservation at 6:30pm, we had only a few moments to rest and recharge.  But when you’re in New York, who needs to rest, right?  For our final dinner and celebration in the big city, we decided to have dinner at the Italian restaurant, Becco (thanks for the recommendation, Billy!).  Becco was about a ten minute walk from our hotel, which was key since it was about 6:15pm by the time we left.  We made it just in time and with even a few minutes to spare! While we all congregated in front of the restaurant, we decided it was the perfect time to take a group photo. Don’t you love it when you can grab a complete stranger off the street and ask them to take a picture and it actually turns out well?

What a night to remember!

Becco’s menu was incredible! There were so many delectable sounding choices and quite fairly priced for a New York City restaurant.  After much deliberating both to myself and out loud, I finally chose the Pesce Spada (grilled swordfish paired with spaghetti squash, stewed cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds & pumpkin seed oil).  It was divine and certainly had its fair portion of both vegetables and fish.  Not to mention the swordfish was grilled to perfection and the stewed cherry tomatoes were deliciously sweet.  While I originally thought I had ordered ‘the best’ entrée on the menu, I soon questioned my belief after sampling some of Patrick’s Sinfonia di Paste (Becco’s renowned unlimited table side service of Becco’s Chef’s Three Daily Pasta Preparations) and David’s Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef (brined double cut pork chop grilled, topped with figs poached in Apianae & roasted fingerling potatoes), I soon realized that there was just more than one ‘best’ entrée at Becco.  Actually, everyone was more than thoroughly pleased with both the food and the service at this restaurant.  You really could not go wrong with any item ordered off the Becco menu.  Our waitress, Anne, was a pleasure and was gracious throughout our entire meal.  And while the food was excellent, the restaurant itself was quite charming as well.  It had a rustic feel and almost felt like a North End restaurant with it’s exposed brick and close fitting dining area.

Our coat check tag and table reservation number from breakfast- both were 40, like Dan and Ellen’s anniversary!

Fresh mozzarella with roasted red peppers, toasted pine nuts & golden raisins

Fresh prosciutto

Caesar salad – very tasty but way too much dressing for my liking…

Now that’s a meatball!

Pesce Spada – Grilled swordfish paired with spaghetti squash, stewed cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds & pumpkin seed oil

Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef - Brined double cut pork chop grilled, topped with figs poached in Apianae & roasted fingerling potatoes

Sinfonia di Paste - Becco’s renowned unlimited table side service of Becco’s Chef’s Three Daily Pasta Preparations

Trancio di Salmone – Pan-seared salmon with braised cauliflower & extra virgin olive oil

Bistecca – Grilled Black Angus rib eye, dry-aged & rubbed with porcini mushrooms
with garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables

Of course, we had to have dessert!

Happy 40th Anniversary!

Once dinner was over, we made our way through Times Square once again to get one last look at the the city lights.  They were as bright as ever and the city was even more jammed with people than when we last saw it.  I saw a bunch of cameras and even brighter lights at the center of Times Square and people clamoring around as though there was something being filmed.  As we made our way over, I realized that it was Entertainment Tonight’s The Insider being filmed.  With my MIL, Ellen, being a huge fan of The View, as soon as I realized it was Star Jones sitting on stage, I just knew this would be one of the highlights of her trip.  Not only was Ellen excited to see Star, but she was even more thrilled to see that the guest anchor was none other than Levi Johnston! Ellen, I will have to admit, Levi was pretty cute!

Hey there!

Our trip to New York City was certainly a memorable one.  We shared as many laughs and smiles as we did bites of food and dessert.  When you’re in a special city celebrating occasions such as a wedding anniversary and a birthday with your entire family, everyone is lucky enough to receive a gift.  I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and to have been able to be a part of the New York trip.  It is sure to go down as one of my favorite family vacations.  And while we were able to see so many sights and do so many things in the city, there was one common theme that remained throughout and that was love.  Like the lights in Times Square that brighten up the sky morning, noon and night, and guide the city’s people, it is the love of family and the love between an extraordinary couple, like Dan and Ellen, that remains a constant and continues to fuel the fire of life.

What’s your favorite city you’ve ever visited?  Do you wish you could live there or would you rather keep it as a favorite vacation spot?

Namasté,
Nicole

I don’t know about you but when I’m at a coffee shop, local or franchise, and the aroma of the freshly brewed hits my nose, I immediately want a cup.  And as soon as I take my first sip, I have this undeniable desire for something sweet.  Perhaps it’s because I now drink my coffee black and I need that sugary taste to curb my craving? Maybe my stomach feels better when I eat something while drinking my black coffee?  Who knows?  Maybe I just like to eat? Yeah.  It’s definitely more than likely the latter answer.

But whether I’m at the coffee shop or I’m at home, the idea of sitting down with a big mug of joe is comforting to me.  And having a soft and chewy cookie, a buttery muffin or a thick and crumbly piece of coffee cake just accentuates that comfort.  However, I’m trying to cut down on my refined sugar and processed foods intake and that means those yummy baked goods I mentioned are not going to help my cause.  That said, I’ve decided to do some more baking.  With the remaining apples from that Sunday at Smolak Farms and my newest found love, the Omega³ Chia seeds, I decided to bake up something healthy and hearty that would not only give me the chance to do some more experimenting with the Chia seeds, but it would also give me something to dip into my coffee.

Image Credit – Susty.com

After perusing some recipe sites online and not being able to find something that met my standards (they are high, you know), I decided to make up my own recipe.  I know; hold onto your socks! I was a bit nervous since baking tends to need to be more exact than cooking.  But, with my apples being on their last leg and my longing to bake something with the Chia seeds, I knew it was go time.  Plus, if you don’t try, you can’t win, right? After much deliberating in the kitchen, I finally came up with a winner.

Hearty & Healthy Apple Oatmeal Bread with Raisins & Chia Seeds (aka Your Coffee’s Partner in Crime)
Makes 1 loaf, 10 servings

• 1 1/2 cups of oatmeal (old fashioned oats), uncooked
• 3/4 cup of whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup of unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 TSP of baking powder
• 1 1/2 TSP of cinnamon
• 1 TSP of pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup of agave nectar (I used Trader Joe’s brand)
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce
• 2 egg whites (or 1/3 cup of egg whites)
• 1 TSP of Greens Plus Omega³ Chia seeds, mixed with 2 oz. of water
• 2 small-medium Granny Smith apples, unpeeled and diced (about 1 1/2 cups diced)
• 3 TBSP of raisins

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Coat a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.  Make sure to do a good job coating – get the corners and the entire sides of the pan.

3) In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oatmeal, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.  Set aside.

4) In another bowl, combine your wet ingredients: agave nectar, almond milk, applesauce, egg whites and Chia seeds mixed in water.  Beat this mixture with a fork until blended.

5) Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and mix just until the dry ingredients are moistened.  Please note that your batter will not be smooth; resist the urge to over mix.

6) Gently fold in your apples and raisins.

7) Spoon your batter into the greased loaf pan.  Try to make the batter as level as possible to ensure even cooking.

8 ) Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

9) Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Once cooled, carefully remove the bread from the pan and let sit on a wire rack to cool for an additional 5-10 minutes.

This was scrumptious! Once out of the oven, it felt like it took forever to cool.  The smell of the baking apples, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and agave nectar filled my condo and made me feel like Susie Homemaker.  There is truly something satisfying about the scent of your own homemade baked goods.  And while the aroma of the bread was enough to put me on cloud nine, the taste was even better.  The bread was moist, thick, soft and chewy.  While it wasn’t overly sweet, it was enough to fix my sugar craving.  The natural sweetness from the apples and raisins gave the bread a wholesome flavor, something which paired quite nicely with the oatmeal.  Because I used egg whites and Chia seeds instead of whole eggs, and applesauce instead of oil, this bread was not greasy at all and yet, there wasn’t a hint of dryness.  I would say that this recipe was like having a bowl of oats in a bread/bar form.  It was great as is, but equally as wonderful with a light schmear of buttery spread, a dollop of Greek yogurt or a thin layer of fruit preserve.

And not only did I think this bread recipe was pretty darn good, but my sister and husband both agreed.  I shared a piece with Michelle this past Saturday morning at Panera Bread after our yoga class.  She noted that it was dense, but that she favored that texture for a breakfast food.  She, too, liked the fact that it wasn’t overly sweetened by sugar and enjoyed the big chunks of apple and raisin pieces.  But she didn’t notice the Chia seeds until I told her what I used to make the bread.  I told her the Chia seeds were high in soluble fiber and she was digging that.  Michelle <3’s her fiber, if you know what I mean! Patrick couldn’t believe that this bread was actually healthy.  He didn’t miss the butter, whole eggs or sugar.  He said, “whatever you put in it, you need to remember and write it down because you need to make this recipe again!  This is so good!“  And like my black coffee, my days are always better when they’re paired with something sweet.

Do you prefer baking or cooking?  What is your hot beverage of choice? Do you drink it because you ‘need’ the caffeine or do you just like the ritual of it?

Namasté,
Nicole

I grew up on the eastern side of Massachusetts.  To get to Boston by car from my house, it would take you about 15 minutes.  All of my family lived within 30 minutes from my childhood home.  I attended college in Boston; it was about a ten minute drive from my house.  My first job after I graduated was in Waltham, another 15 minute drive from Boston.  And now I live in Boston.  Needless to say, Healthy Chow likes Massachusetts and the Boston area.  And why wouldn’t I?  Boston is a great place to be.  Suffice it to say, I never strayed too far from home.

However, when I met Patrick, I ‘discovered’ there was another side to Massachusetts.  Patrick is from Springfield, which is in western Massachusetts.  Perhaps I grew up in a box or I was just too ignorant to realize there was more to Massachusetts than what was within Route 128, but I had never been to western Massachusetts until I met my husband.  It’s a whole other world out there!  Where had I been?  What else was I missing out on?  Now whenever I go to Springfield or any other part of western Massachusetts, it’s like a pure adventure for me.  Instead of it being the other side of the state to me, I think of western Massachusetts as being the side of the state that needs to be explored.

Last Saturday when the sun was shining and the temperature was still warm enough where a coat was not needed, we decided on taking a day trip to visit Patrick’s parents.  Springfield is less than an hour and a half away from Boston and since we didn’t have much on our plate (notice the food reference) that afternoon, we figured it was the perfect time to make the trip out west.

For the car trip, I figured the most important thing other than gas was snacks (but I guess that’s gas for our bodies).  Since we were meeting Patrick’s parents for a late lunch/early dinner and I didn’t want to spoil my appetite, I only brought a few emergency essentials.

But of course as soon as we started driving by all the various rest stops along the highway and I kept seeing the signs for all the fast food restaurants, I started getting a hunger pang and immediately wanted something to eat.  Plus, since I hadn’t had my morning coffee, I knew that that was going to be on my agenda.  As we began pulling off the highway and onto the rest area to ‘rest’, I saw the most unusual thing.  It was a farmers market! Of course I jumped at the chance to go shopping (and take pics) and thus, jumped out of the car to check it out.  While the farmers market was a small one, they sold things such as locally preserved jams, raw honey, bee pollen, locally grown vegetables and fruits, flowers, fresh herbs and my personal favorite, honey crisp apples.

I really enjoyed both my coffee and fruit and yogurt parfait from Mickey D’s.  While it’s always tempting to be lured in by a hot and cheesy Egg McMuffin, I managed to stick to my guns and ordered a lighter, but still enjoyable meal.  It definitely hit the spot.  Plus, my refueling gave me the much needed energy to gaze at the beautiful scenery along the highway.  While it’s still a bit early for official leaf peeping, the trees and leaves were breathtaking and definitely ready for fall (or ‘to fall’).

I guess my picture taking and scene gazing really kept me busy because we made it to Springfield in no time.  And as we arrived at the door, we were greeted by a friendly face.  Lexi is my in-laws’ French Bulldog.  She’s only about a year and a half old (in human years) and is quite the energetic dog.  Don’t you just love that little face?

Because my mother-in-law is an avid reader and loves to clip out articles of interest from various newspapers and magazines for her children and children-in-law, Healthy Chow was armed with a healthy stack of good reading.  You know I love my recycled magazines and all those recipes you save me, El!  If you get a stack of reading material from this woman, you know she likes you.  By the looks of my stack, Ellen must really love me.  Thank you!  You’re the best, Ellie!  And no trip back to my in-laws’ would be the same if I didn’t get to check out some family photos.  I definitely found some good ones

Look at Patrick the studly soccer jock!

Awww, young love at the beach

While the sun was still shining, Ellen and I decided to take a short drive over to this newly developed shopping area in the neighboring town.  We visited a family member who works at Ann Taylor and chatted it up with her for a bit.   And then continued walking the shops and enjoying our day out in the sun.  It was such a fun afternoon and a lovely shopping area.  I’m glad I had the chance to visit.  Before we knew it, it was close to 5 pm and the ‘boys’ were at home waiting for us to have dinner.  Patrick went to watch his father referee a football game and what a perfect day it was for it.  There was not a cloud in the sky, nor a hint of a cool breeze.  It’s days like this where you cherish both the weather and the company you’re fortunate enough to keep.

My stomach was growling by the time we made it home to Patrick’s parents’ house.  So we quickly decided on one of our favorite places to go when we’re in the area.  We went to Ginger Blossom, a Chinese-American food restaurant a few minutes up the road.  It’s a cute little place that serves your standard Chinese-American cuisine, as well as sushi.  While Patrick and his dad ordered the sample appetizer platter (it was huge!) along with beef teriyaki and chicken fried rice for their entrée.  My mother-in-law and I shared some ‘lighter’ fare and opted for steamed shrimp with mixed vegetables and a lite ginger sauce on the side with brown rice.  Everything was sooooo good! I sampled a few items from the sampler platter and each bite was divine.  It’s always fun when the table shares their entrées and we can eat ‘family style’.  And my family certainly loves to share.  I’m truly blessed with having such wonderful people in my life!

Because it was still light out and we needed wanted to burn off some of the food we had just savored, we decided to go for a ride to Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse in Ludlow.  This place was so amazing!  I had no idea this place even existed.  It’s essentially a large farm stand/marketplace with a bakery, a deli, a greenhouse selling plants and flowers, a huge produce section, a grocery aisle with various gourmet and gluten-free items, a large selection of beer and wine and my personal favorite, the creamery.  The creamery was Randall’s spot to get ice cream and frozen yogurt.  They had picnic tables set-up outside but because it was now dark and the temperature was no longer ‘Indian summer-esque’, we decided to take our dessert inside.  We found an open table in the greenhouse and had some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted.  I didn’t order my own ice cream, instead I helped myself to shared everyone else’s dessert.  That way, I was able to get the best of everyone’s world (sorry, at this point my camera battery decided to go nighty-night.  So, you’ll have to envision some gorgeous ice cream and a gorgeous girl eating it (that would be me!) ).

What a great day it truly was!  Again, I had the opportunity to visit the ‘other side’ of the state and experience some of the things I would have missed if I had not made the choice to venture out.  I was able to spend time with my in-laws, have a lovely time shopping with my mother-in-law, enjoy some yummy food (and dessert) and visit both a farmers market and farm.  It was one of those glorious days that just sort of piece together by chance.  Who says you have to travel far in order to have a mini adventure?  If you can stay at home and have a ’stay-cation’, then you can certainly visit another part of your state or hometown and make it an ‘explor-stay-tion’.

This was a little sign I saw being sold at Randall’s Farm.  I thought it was such an appropriate notion with which to end our wonderful day…

Do you like seasonal flavored foods like the pumpkin and spiced apple flavored ice cream at Randall’s?  If so, what is your favorite?

***I just wanted to wish my mother a happy birthday!  Happy birthday, Mom!  I love you and I hope you have an amazing day!  I love you!***

Namasté,
Nicole

Well, the weather this summer in New England (and in many other locations) hasn’t been so stellar.  We’ve had way too much rain and some days, it felt more like October than it did July.  But enough about that, we need to move on.  That said, Patrick, his parents and I decided to test our luck and venture down to Dennis Port on Cape Cod for a long weekend last week.  While we didn’t get the usual torrential downpour, we did get a bit of wind and some haze but mostly, it was a sun and fun filled weekend.

If you’ve never vacationed on the Cape, I’ll tell you that most of the hotels are, to say it as nicely as possible, antiquated.  Now, I’m not trying to say that all of the Cape’s hotels are old.  There are some very new and contemporary ones available but most of the ones that I have seen (and stayed at) seem to think the 70’s/early 80’s need to be remembered forever.  But, I try to lie to tell myself that that’s part of the charm of Cape Cod and the best thing to do is embrace it.  So when we went on our little excursion last week, I tried to not have any expectations of the hotel or weather and just decided I would go with the flow.

My mother-in-law, being the experienced armchair traveler that she is, loves researching vacation spots and accommodations.  She has a knack for finding these hidden gems and thus, we all turn to her when it’s time to book our hotel.  This vacation, she discovered that the hotel, The Soundings, had just completed building a new wing to their hotel and that the weekend we were planning on going down was the first weekend The Soundings was allowing guests to stay in their new wing.  Score!

Gotta love that sign – so retro!

When we arrived, we tried our hardest to check-in before their 3 pm check-in time.  To no avail, we perused their tourist brochures and gladly took their welcome packets to read as we killed some time waiting for our room to be ready.

This is where we sat, read and enjoyed our welcome packets from the hotel…

Hmmm, yummy salt water taffy…

Look at the ad I found in one of the brochures!  I guess the ‘green’ chairs matched the green grass…

Finally, our room was ready and boy, was it worth the wait.  As I mentioned previously, the wing we were going to be staying in was brand spanking new – so new that we didn’t even see pictures and really weren’t sure what to expect.  It’s a good thing I didn’t have any expectations because if I did, they would have been blow away!  Check it out:

Our room (suite) came with two separate bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a complete kitchen that was fully stocked with cooking and dining utensils, a dining area, a sitting/tv area and a balcony that overlooked the ocean.  We felt like royalty in our suite and couldn’t believe what a deal we had scored (the going rate for our same room actually increased by $200 the same day we checked in).

I loved having our own private balcony.  It was such a treat to be able to make our breakfast every morning in our kitchen and have our sliding glass doors open with the crashing waves as the soundtrack to our vacation.  Not only could we eat a more healthy and economical breakfast, but we had the luxury of eating on the deck or at our kitchen table overlooking the beach.  I think I leisurely had about two cups of coffee over two hours.  It was such a perfect setting with the perfect company.  How I miss having my own deck!

Like I said, it was a tad hazy that weekend.  But that’s ok, because we were a tad lazy…

Brekkie on Day 1: Scrambled eggs (cooked by Patrick), half of an egg bagel with a light schmear of margarine, a piece of watermelon & black coffee

Brekkie on Day 2: Bowl of Cheerios with skim milk, fresh blueberries, more watermelon & black coffee.  Gotta love my MIL for bringing all this lovely food – she rocks!

And another fantastic thing about our room was that when Patrick and his dad went for their father and son tradition of jumping into the ocean, my mother-in-law and I had the option of staying in the room.  Because we could see the boys from our balcony, it was as if we were there in the water with them (without having to get cold and wet).  So while they chatted and swam, we ladies did some reading and had some much needed catching-up with one another.

The view from our room, and what a lovely view it ’twas!

Some good reads and some good snacks…

It honestly was the vacation that we all needed.  We were able to hang out on the beach, get some needed rest, take advantage of a ridiculously beautiful hotel room and enjoy each other’s company.  It was a simple and relaxing vacation.  And because I didn’t have any expectations of things such as what our room was going to be like, how the weather was going to behave, what we were going to do and what we were going to eat, everything turned out great.

I have a tendency to ‘expect’ things and to hope for certain outcomes when they are completely out of my control.  Things usually end up working out, but I spend a great deal of wasted energy worrying for no reason.  But I think with this blog and the fact that I’m becoming more aware of what I’m thinking and feeling, I’m finally starting to realize life is more fun (and relaxing) when you are able to live in the moment.  Instead of focusing on what will happen or what could happen or what happened before, it’s healthier to be in the present.  I know it’s much easier said than done but with one step at a time, I know I can get there.  I just need to stop worrying about getting there and reflect on the progress I’ve currently made.  You see, Healthy Chow is getting healthier by the moment!

The Breakfast Club (not sure if I’m Molly Ringwald or Ally Sheedy…)

What do you do to manage your expectations? Or, if that’s too deep, what’s your favorite hotel you’ve ever stayed in?

Namasté,
Nicole