@ManicPixel Scavenger Hunt: HOW TO WIN

This week, my friend and YA author, Christian M. Heidicker is taking over my blog. His new book, Cure for the Common Universe (Simon & Schuster) will hit stores in 2016, and we’re soo looking forward to every last inch of it. Which is why I wanted to invite you to celebrate his cover reveal. A rare opportunity to get a sneak peek at the book, join the misadventure and win cool things. It won’t be the same wihtou you. And now, here’s Christian, to tell you about today’s soiree…

WELCOME TO THE MANIC PIXEL SCAVENGER HUNT!

LET’S GET SCAVENGING!

This is it, folks. This is your chance to easily win the CURE prize package:

An ARC of Cure for the Common Universe and an book-inspired embroidery of ‘Nobody Puts Princess in a Castle’ from The Cotton Floozy .

Oo. Aah.

Just participate in the Manic Pixel Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win. GET ALL THE DETAILS HERE.

Oh, look, here’s a pixel now!

What do you see?

Write down your findings from this and the other pixels at any or all of the other blogs (listed below) and email them to me at cmheidicker @ gmail.com or message them to C.M. Heidicker on Facebook.

For every three things you send, I’ll put your name in the hat (or my jeans pocket) again and again and again, and then I’ll draw five names out of the hat (pocket) and send prize packages to those people.

Go! Get started! Win it! Win it all! Here’s where you’ll find all the pixels:

• YA writer, Valynne Maetani 
• Throwing Up Words with Carol Lynch Williams 
• YA author Elana Johnson
• Trimmer Tales with Christian Trimmer
• Agent & Author, John Cusick
• The Perks of Being a Unicorn with Brooke Kelly 
• The Cotton Floozy Shoppe
• Ya Author, Jennifer Bardsley
• You can also follow the fun via #cureforthecommonuniverse #manicpixel

(I hope you’ll take some time to explore the amazing blogs.)

(I also hope this means that more than just my mom will participate.)

Happy Scavenging! Tune in tomorrow to find out if you’ve won!

Go check out the book on Goodreads!

Prepare to be cured June 2016.

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1KWzbk9

#ManicPixel Scavenger Hunt: Day 1

Heeeyyyaaa Cheeky readers! For the next three days, my blawg is being taken over by YA author (and ma dear friend) Christian. I met Christian in line at a coffee shop. He said hi, we chatted a bit and discovered we’re both freelancer folk who hit the shoppe from time to time to do a little worky worky. I thought it was lovely of him to introduce himself, until about a week later, when I returned to el coffee joint and saw Christian walk in. Greeted by the masses, like a homecoming king walking into a kegger, I quickly realized Christian introduces himself to everyone. And everyone simply adores him. 

And so, what better way to celebrate the coming into the world of his soon-to-be-released book, than to let him introduce himself to you. You’re going to adore him. Everyone does.

You’re also going to have a chance to join us on a magical 3-day journey of online hijinks, scavengerring like wild ravens and the hunting of pixels and cross-stiches and things. Do join us. It’s going to be a blast. And we all sort of think it would be eighty-four times better with you along.

Ready? I’m so superexcited to introduce you to… coffee shoppe Christian….

Meet Christian

Hello, everyone. My name is Christian McKay Heidicker.

WELCOME TO THE CURE FOR THE COMMON UNIVERSE COVER REVEAL & SCAVENGER HUNT!

Whew. That’s a mouthful. Let’s try . . .

MANIC PIXEL SCAVENGER HUNT!

There. Better.

You may be asking yourself, where’s the cover? I came here to see a cover.

Okay, first, have I told you how nice your hair is looking today?

And second, the cover isn’t here.

CURE’s cover art is a little intense to take in all at once, so for everyone’s safety, I’ve divided it into nine pieces (er, pixels) and spread them across the internet.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US?

To make a scavenger hunt, of course. What’s the use of a book about a kid going to video game rehab if there isn’t some gaming first?!

Also, this will be your chance to take in all of the juicy (potentially scandalous) details of the cover before it’s fully revealed.

The art is reminiscent of books like I Spy or Where’s Waldo, so this scavenger hunt will work just like that . . . except instead of finding a cats eye marble or some seemingly friendless chump in a red and white striped sweater, you’ll receive ACTUAL PRIZES.

ACTUAL PRIZES!

Five lucky winners will receive a signed ARC (advanced reading copy) of CURE FOR THE COMMON UNIVERSE (cover obscured for obvious reasons) AND an embroidery of one of the phrases from the book, hand stitched by the extremely talented Cotton Floozy.

GAH! I WANT THAT. HOW DO I WIN?

For every three things you discover hidden in the nine pixels and email to cmheidicker @ gmail.com or message to C.M. Heidicker on Facebook, I’ll enter your name again . . . and again . . . and again. (There’s a lotta stuff on that cover.)

EXAMPLE:

Subject: Manic Pixel Scavenger Hunt

Dearest Christian,

I found:

1. A puppy made of garlic cloves
2. A bottomless bowl of undercooked breadsticks
3. A Christmas tree wearing lipstick
4. Amelia Earheart’s monocle
5. A bottomless bowl of overcooked breadsticks
6. A Who*

*(Objects not actually on cover, but no less interesting than what’s really on there.)

THAT’S IT!

So, no, the cover is not here. But fear not! Tomorrow, I’ll be posting their whereabouts on this blog and at www.cmheidicker.com. (You can also follow them with #cureforthecommonuniverse and #manicpixel.)

Tomorrow, the Manic Pixel Scavenger Hunt begins!

In the meantime, go check out the book on Goodreads!

Again, the cover is exquisitely complex, and in my personal opinion, AMAZING. It was designed by Greg Stadnyk with art by eboy (that of Miley Cyrus fame).

Prepare to be cured, June 2016.

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1N1gl27

Remember This Daily.

Namaste, you. ~B

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1h7HKB3

3-Ingredient Pineapple Avocado Toast

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by DOLE Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. DOLE provided compensation for my time. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are mine.

There’s this big, glorious park in the center of Salt Lake City. It’s official name is “Liberty Park” but I call it the Sesame Street Park because it has the same vibe as the TV neighborhood. People out and about. Rollerblading, running, bike riding, picnicking, selling handcrafted wares, dred-headed hippies dancing ’round drum circles, ferris wheel and merry go’ round tinkling with music while little kids lick snowcones and moms chase after barefooted toddlers in swimgear and flip flops. I love this park. Love the feel and the buzz of it. Love sharing it with my kids. Love getting out under the sunshine and feeling connected to my community. We don’t do things like that enough, do we? Always so go-go-go and busy-busy, taking time to attend gatherings is something we too often table, missing the sweetness of celebration that happens when you get outside, get out of the box and get around your fellow humans.

You feel the same way? Well, hello soul sister. So glad to meet you.

And also, here’s a chance for the both of us to seize these final sweet moments of summer. It’s a free community event put on by DOLE called the “Get Up and Grow” Tour, and I’ve gotta tell you, this is one event you do not want to miss.

WHAT IS THE GET UP AND GROW TOUR?

It’s an 11,700-mile, 115-day journey organized by the Dole Food Company and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze to give North Americans a number of tangible ways to make 2015 their healthiest and happiest summer EVER! We are directly challenging local residents to eat better this summer to receive some exciting health and wellness rewards. We’ll ultimately be stopping at 480 supermarkets and special events throughout the U.S. and Canada through September.

The Tour is part of Dole’s year-long “Get Up and Grow!” initiative dedicated to showing that a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables can be the pathway to a happier, healthier world. Another highlight is the Get Up and Grow Healthy Living Pledge, an interactive, customizable commitment to a healthier diet and lifestyle. If you’ve already submitted your pledge, welcome to Get Up and Grow! We look forward to helping you reach your healthy-living goals.

WHAT DO YOU RECIEVE?

The Get Up and Grow Tour Caravan is a wrapped van and trailer with kitchen and sampling tent that offers:

• Free recipe samples
• A DIY smoothie bar
• Free giveaways for the kid expert
• Nutritional advice by our resident RD or produce expert
• PLUS other surprises!

While there, you call also get to create your own customizable, interactive pledge which will give you a chance to receive wellness rewards like free DOLE fresh produce, Fitbits® and a wellness getaway in California. You’ll also get to sample a variety of fruit, vegetable and salad recipes created for Get Up and Grow! – ranging from the Banana & Blue Breakfast Smoothie, Power Punch Smoothie and Spinach-Avocado Hummus to the Grilled Banana Parfait, Southwestern Gazpacho, Caesar’s Bounty Salad and Charred Summer Salad, which has been proclaimed 2015’s “Official Salad of Summer.” YUMMMMMM!

To take the Get Up and Grow Pledge or see if the Get Up and Grow Tour is visiting a city near you, go to:

• Saturday, September 5 from 10am to 1pm: Lee’s Market Place at 2645 N. Washington Blvd., No Ogden, UT 84414
• Saturday, September 5 from 3pm to 6pm: Macy’s –So Ogden 325 36th St., South Ogden, UT 84405
• Sunday, September 6 from 10am to 1pm: Smith’s- 1170 E. Gentile St., Layton, UT 84040
• Sunday, September 6 from 3pm to 6pm: Fresh Market Holladay at 4530 South Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84117
• Monday, September 7 from 10am to 1pm: TBD
• Monday, September 7 from 3pm to 6pm: TBD
• Thursday, September 10 from 12pm to 3pm: TBD
• Friday, September 11 from 10am to 1pm: Smiths at 555 S 200 W., Bountiful, UT 84010
• Friday, September 11 from 3pm to 6pm: Smiths at 876 E 800 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84102
• Saturday, September 12 from 10am to 1pm: Harmons at 200 Station Parkway, Farmington, UT 84025
• Saturday, September 12 from 3pm to 6pm: Fresh Market- Jeremy Ranch at 3151 Kilby Road, Park City, UT84098
• Sunday, September 13 from 10am to 1pm: TBD
• Sunday, September 13 from 3pm to 1pm: TBD

It’s Snack Time!

To kick off the ‘Get Up & Grow Tour’ we whipped up a real food recipe that lends a tasty twist to classic avocado toast that will have you enjoy the final flavors of summer. So easy to make and so fun to enjoy, here’s how to make Pineapple-Avocado Toast. Ideal for breakfast, awesome for snacktime, you’ve really gotta try this nosh. Though the basic recipe is awesome, I LOVE mixing in some diced jalapenos and chopped mint or basil for extra zestiness.

Get Up & Grow Pineapple Toast

2015-09-03 16:08:51

Serves 1

Whip up a quick snack in minutes with this bright and zesty avocado-pineapple toast. Perfect for breakfast, snacktime....or anytime!

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Ingredients

1. 1 slice whole grain bread, toasted (I prefer paleo or Ezekiel)
2. 1/2 ripe DOLE avocado, mashed
3. 1/4 cup fresh DOLE pineapple, diced
4. 1 teaspoon fresh mint, chopped (optional)
5. 1/2 fresh chopped jalapeno (optional)
6. pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1. Spread mashed avocado on bread. Top with pineapple, sprinkle with sea salt. Garnish with fresh chopped mint, if desired.

By Brooke Lark

detoxily http://ift.tt/UCZol2

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1N5SpZJ

3-Ingredient Paleo Apple Pancakes

  
Whether your eating paleo, diving into keto or just trying to oomph up your intake of plant-based versus processed noshes, there is one undeniable truth: at some point, you will wish you could motorboat a pile of pancakes. A big, glorious pile of soft and floury flapjacks, patted high with butter and drizzled with pure golden maple syrup.

Alas, science tells us those pancakes are doing more ill for our bodies than they are benefitting our tastebuds. An invitation to blood sugar chaos and a whole day on the cravings rollercoaster, a plate of classic pancakes are barely better than eating a cupcake for breakfast. Drizzled with cheap, storebought syrup, they may even be worse that buttercream-frosted cuppies.

Regardless the real science of calories and cupcakes, here is one deliciously simple fact to digest: you don’t have to diet without pancakes. Because, sweet mother almighty. Three-ingredient Paleo Apple Pancakes are a thing. They’re also, like, they easiest breakfast hack you’ve ever hacked. All you need? An apple, coconut flour and an egg.

Making this incredibly easy, fritter-inspired recipe goes like this: Slice apple. Dip apple. Fry apple in a skillet. Enjoy pancakes. Amen.

Go ahead! Indulge away, enjoy for days. This 3-ingredient recipe is a total keeper. We love eating it for dessert, but of course, it’s also absolutely ideal for breakfast.

3-Ingredient Paleo Apple Pancakes

2015-08-31 18:14:28

Serves 1

Quick and simple, this healthy hack will have homemade plant-based pancakes on your table in 10 minutes flat.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

10 min

Total Time

15 min

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

10 min

Total Time

15 min

Ingredients

1. 1 egg
2. 1 tablespoon coconut flour
3. 2 tablespoons water
4. pinch salt
5. 1 apple, cored and sliced into rings
6. coconut oil or butter (for frying)

Instructions

1. Preheat a small skillet over medium-high heat.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, coconut flour, water and salt.
3. Melt coconut oil or butter in skillet. Dip apples in egg mixture, cook in skillet until golden brown. Flip and cook the second side until golden brown.
4. Serve topped with your favorite toppings--pure maple syrup, raw honey or fresh berries. Enjoy!

Notes

1. Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or 1 teaspoon vanilla, if desired, for added flavor!

By Brooke Lark

detoxily http://ift.tt/UCZol2

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1X6LG6o

3-Ingredient Strawberry Avocado Toast

Here in SLC, we have this gorgeous little coffee shoppe, called the Rose Establishment. Sparsely decorated and purely hipster, it’s one of the most beautiful shops in the city. Well worth a trip for their fresh baked goods and carefully crafted cups of coffee. Their carrot cake, topped with a thick layer of cream cheese buttercream is essentially the finest thing I’ve ever put into my mouth. Or, at least, I thought that was so until I ordered me a slice of their avocado toast.

A slice of hot toast, schmeared with fresh avocado and proffered with a hearty sprinkling of salt and pepper.

So simple, it’s irresistible.

This sparseness of avocado toast is the perfection of avocado toast. A reminder that pure and simple food is all you need to satisfy mad hunger in the middle of our mad, modern schedules. Isn’t it funny how food can become such a reminder to slow down?

Though basic avocado toast is eternally awesome, this version calls from the center of summer, pairing the bright flavors of tangy strawberries with cool and creamy avocado. And I basically want to make a raft of this version and live on it for, like, always. I spike my avo mash with a touch of fresh lime (or when I’m feeling snazzy, lime-infused oil) and fork-smash it on top of golden brown toast made with paleo or Ezekiel bread.

Perfect for paleo eaters, an amazingly easy vegan lunch, the ultimate whole food snack.

Make, eat, enjoy the simple life. It is so, so good.

Strawberry Avocado Toast

2015-08-10 17:22:18

Serves 1

Even paleo and keto eaters can enjoy avocado toast. Grab a pack of paleo bread and get schmearing. Or try this on top of a slice of nourishing Ezekiel bread, sourdough, or your vegan multigrain favorite.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Prep Time

5 min

Prep Time

5 min

Ingredients

1. 1/2 avocado
2. 1 slice toast
3. 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
4. salt and pepper to taste
5. fresh lime juice or apple cider vinegar (optional)
6. hemp seeds (optional)
7. fresh mint (optional)

Instructions

1. Mash avocado with lime juice (if desired). Salt and pepper to taste. Schmear on toast and top with strawberries. If desired, garnish with hemp seeds and fresh mint. Enjoy immediately.

By Brooke Lark

detoxily http://ift.tt/UCZol2

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1TlaIKp

True Dat.

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1W5KW0N

3-Ingredient Zucchini Boats

  
When it comes to dinner making, it’s so easy to fall into lazy zone. You whap a bag of premade shortcuts from the freezer or throw on your flip flops and call it a day, heading out for a vat of fries or a hunk of grocery store sushi. It’s just so easy to go the easy route.

Except, of course, when it’s not. Turns out, real food is basically ready to eat. When you’ve got a prizewinng flavor combo, it doesn’t take a long list of ingredients (or a thousand hundred hours) to pull together a melt-your-face-off delish dish. And this combo, dear you’s, is totally prizewinning. .

End-of-summer zucchini, tangy heirloom tomatoes, a smidgen of parm (or if you’re totally vegan, a schprinkle of nutritional yeast). Bake it all until tender and golden, then top with basil if you’re feeling really cheffy.

A whole darned whole-food dinner (or side dish) made with just three easy ingredients? Yep. You’re dag-gummed cheffy, you clever thing you.

Make. Eat. Glow.

 

3-Ingredient Zucchini Boats

2015-08-04 19:48:53

Serves 4

3-Ingredient Zucchini Boats | Vegan, Paleo, Stupid Easy Delicious. Make for dinner or as a simple side. You will love.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

25 min

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

25 min

Ingredients

1. 4 zucchini
2. 1 cup fresh diced tomatoes
3. 1/4 cup grated parmesan (or 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast)
4. EVOO
5. Salt & Pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Slice zucchini lengthwise. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Scoop the inner seeds from each zucchini. Spoon fresh diced tomatoes into the center of each zucchini. Drizzle with olive oil. Salt and pepper. Sprinkle with grated parmesan or nutritional yeast.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini become soft and tender. Serve and enjoy. Garnish with basil, if desired.

By Brooke Lark via Detoxily.com

detoxily http://ift.tt/UCZol2

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1N8nYjJ

100 Veggies Detox: 1 Week, 100 Veggies

Let’s Eat Real Food!

A proper detox isn’t just about taking things out of your body, it’s also about putting things in.

Antioxidants and other, mostly plant-based compounds like phytosterols, are the weapons the body uses against toxins, stress, free radicals and other things that tax both our immune systems and our digestive tracts. The best place to get those handy micronutrients is through vegetables.

By removing unhealthy things from the diet and loading yourself up on a ton of fresh veggies, you can really detox your body and boost your immunity. At the same time, all the fiber from those veggies will speed up cleansing of your digestive tract.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t get enough veggies, and when we do eat them, we tend to stick to a handful of old standbys. Antioxidants occur in veggies according to their color group. Red veggies, for instance, contain resveratrol and lycopene. Orange veggies are loaded with beta-carotene. In order to really benefit from your veggies, you need to eat a wide variety from every color.

Hence, the 100 Veggies Detox, a foolproof way to ensure that you are getting a huge amount of all of the antioxidants and plant-based compounds you need to cleanse your body of the bad stuff, and erase the damage that bad stuff has wrought.

How It’s Done

We’ve made the 100 Veggies Detox as simple as it can be. Every day, for three meals and three snacks, we’ll tell you how many servings to eat and from which color group. At the end of the week, you will have consumed over 100 servings of fresh veggies from the lists we provide. That’s HUGE, especially compared to the typical consumption of 5-10 veggies per week!

At the same time, you’ll be eating a clean diet that is free of processed foods, starches and refined sugars. This not only reduces the load on your immune and digestive systems, it also helps re-calibrate hormones like insulin, so that your metabolism works faster and more efficiently and your energy levels stay high.

What to Expect

First of all, expect to be full pretty much all of the time. Most of us are unaccustomed to such a high-fiber diet, and all of that fiber is going to be slow-to-digest. You may not be hungry, but veggies are light and refreshing, so it won’t be uncomfortable for you to eat.

By Day 2, you will probably be going to the bathroom more than once per day. Don’t be concerned. All of that fiber is like taking a scrub brush to your digestive tract, and you’re going to end up feeling lighter and cleaner. By the second day after you end your detox week, you’ll go back to having just one bowel movement per day. You will have a ton of energy, and the lack of processed foods, starches and refined sugars will actually decrease fatigue, especially that afternoon slump you’re probably used to.

You may have some withdrawal headaches for the first couple of days, but your body will adjust very quickly to a lack of sugar and refined flours. Once it does, even something like a red bell pepper will give you the same, only better, boost of energy that you used to get from candy or a soda.

At the end of the detox, you will feel light and clean, you’ll probably notice clearer skin, you’ll be resting better, and you will probably have dropped a few pounds as well.

Print 1-week 100-Veggies-Detox now, it’s Free!

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1gneerH

Yeah, Exactly.

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1RQSPHL

How to Make Homemade Honey Lemonade

 

Summer in SLC has arrived with the speed of the blazing sun. It’s desert living here, so we shouldn’t be suprised. But as temps have stretched into the 103’s this week, we’ve holed ourselves into snowcones and waterparks, sighing like old women and constantly commenting, “This Heat!” and “Wow! It’s hot!”

There’s nothing to do on day’s like these but drink yourself cool. A tall glass of iced tea or frosty lemonade has never tasted so good.

Rather than sucking down vats of sugar with those powdered drink mixes, we’ve decided homemade honey lemonade tastes 80x times better. And just so happens to be the easiest thing you’ve ever made. Topped with a batch of fresh berry ice cubes (which are even easier to make than the lemonade), this recipe is a total summertime must-sip. Grab yourself a pitcher, squeeze a million and two lemons, then drizzle in raw unfiltered honey to your hearts content. 

Or, just grab a a pitcher and head over to Nature Nates for the step-by-step recipe. You will love. 

Want even more fun flavor ideas for your lemonade? Click back into the Cheeky archives and make these Gourmet Pure Fruit Ice Cubes. Blended kiwi, bright yellow mango, deep purple blackberries. These little ice cubes are like sticking a smoothie right into your cup o’ ade. Yummy and gurgeoussss. 

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1GO5G36

Spinach Apple Salad-in-a-Jar with Honey Orange Vinaigrette

 

Picnic season is here and I couldn’t be more delighted. With emerald lawns begging for a blanket in the park next to our house, I figured it was high time the kids and I go stretch ourselves out and enjoy some fresh summertime eats. 

Wanting something healthy and vibrant, but fun enough to entice the tots, I tossed together a few of these mason jar salads. Crunchy cucumbers and apples, a little sneak of quinoa, and baby spinach, and a honey-orange vinaigrette so good, it’ll have you licking the fork clean. And the mason jar clean. And your kids mason jars clean. I’m totally not speaking from licking experience. 

Except I am.

This lovely recipe is so simple and so worth making. Grab yo’self a mason jar and start stuffing it with spinach, stat. You’ll be so glad you did.

Grab the recipe here & share with someone you love because #honeymakesitbetter

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1F065OM

3-Ingredient Honey Garlic Salmon

It’s not that don’t like fish. It’s just that I love salmon. Rich and buttery, wildcaught filets of the pink stuff make all other fishtypes pale in comparison. Filets are readily available at grocery stores everywhere and are ready to eat in 15 minutes flat. Especially when you have a recipe like this one.

3-Ingredient, 10-Minute Honey Garlic Salmon.

This is the best salmon recipe you’ve ever made. I kid you not. It’s so quick, you’ll think the fast food like at MickeyDees is damn slow in comparison. It’s so healthy, your skin will glow at the mere thought of mouthing morsels of this tender, flavor-pow’ed fish. It’s so gourmet, you’ll want to change your name to Wolfgang and start carrying ginsu knives on your belt buckle.

Think those are high and mighty promises. Naw. They’re just the reality of this wondrous recipe. Some recipes are like that. They just melt your face off and make you weep with gladness.

 

3-Ingredient Honey Garlic Salmon

 

Interest piqued? I hear ya. Quick, easy, healthy, delicious dinner recipes are a total find. They’re the stuff of dreams. They’re the things you wish for and only discover once in a….okay, know what? I’m getting carried away here. Click, cook, love. You will. This recipe. It’s just so very. 

Nab the recipe now.  My 3-Ingredient Honey Garlic Salmon is now live on Nature Nate’s yummy recipe site, HoneyMakesItBetter.com

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1KJSVK4

Make Your Own Pinxtos: Goat Cheese, Beet, Arugula and Honey Toast

I tripped to Bilbao this month. Spent thirteen days there, typing articles from a 6th floor flat right in the middle of the city. 

Every morning started with a run along the Nervion river, which winds through the city. One end leading you to the old industrial ghetto, a ghost of what Bilbao once was. The other direction takes you into the art district, where the shining Guggenheim Art Museum sits like a fat and gleaming silver buddha. 

At night, boyfriend Hukee and I would wander the streets, ducking into pinxtos bars that inspired. Pinxtos are Basque Country fare. Toothpicked toast slices, piled with a splendid array of toppings–from anchovies and tomatoes to thai-inspired fajita fillings. We’d walk in from the street, point at the pinxtos that most called out to our tastebuds, order two glasses of red, and pay a mere five or seven or ten dollars before tucking ourselves into a table and letting life just sit all around us.

I fell in love with Basque Country. The soft smell of the sea. The people spilling outside each bar, sidewalks full of people standing close, Kalimotxo’s in hand. The space filled with Spanish chatter and so much happy. 

And the pinxtos. I miss the pinxtos. Every life would benefit from more toast. We really must get on board with the concept here in the States. Toast topped with toppings isn’t just for appetizers and cocktail parties. It’s perfect for lunch. It begs to be midnight snacked. 

Let’s start the trend now with this divine little pinxto-inspired toast, made last month for Nature Nate’s. Toastlettes, gota cheese, beets, toasted pine nuts, peppery arugula, raw honey. Easy and utterly edible.

Do give yourself a pinxto tonight. You deserve it endlessly.

CLICK HERE to grab the recipe from Nature Nate’s beautiful recipe website HoneyMakesItBetter.com

---

©2012 detoxily

via detoxily http://ift.tt/1zkn954

7-Days to Vegan Detox

You can’t miss all of the media hoopla surrounding the dangers of commercially-raised meats and seafood and the health benefits of going without animal products in your diet. (Um, hello Forks Over Knives. You plum talked me into plant-based eating for eternity, thankyouverymuch). It’s also impossible not to hear about the latest, healthy-looking celeb whose gone vegan and loves it.

However, the idea of going vegan yourself can be hugely intimidating. No meat, no butter, no milk, no fish? What about my tacos, my stir-fry, my favorite sandwiches?

Going Vegan Can Seem Intimidating

Let’s be straight and upfront about it – going vegan means giving up certain foods, but it doesn’t mean giving up great meals or going hungry all the time. In fact, there are thousands of fantastic recipes out there for vegan meals – everything from savory, exotic curries to decadent burgers and yes, even some amazing tacos.

The keys to going vegan without going crazy or feeling deprived are to take it one step at a time, be prepared by cleaning out your pantry, stocking up on plenty of vegan options, and collecting some fab recipes.

Make Going Vegan an Adventure

But the biggest thing to look at the whole endeavor as an adventure. Be open to exploring whole new cuisines, like Indian, Japanese, Middle Eastern or Greek foods. Act like a tourist in a foreign country when you go to the supermarket or farmer’s market and check out exotic or unfamiliar ingredients. Have fun, be ready to discover a whole new world of tastes and you won’t even think about what you’ve cut from your diet.

Reap Some Great Benefits without Feeling Deprived

The benefits you’ll reap will be huge and significant. You’ll open yourself up to discovering all kinds of new favorite foods. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re going something great for your heart, your immune system and your weight. If you stick to home-cooking the first week (we recommend it), you’ll save a ton of money on fast food and overpriced restaurant meals.

Most people who have been eating a typical American diet of processed foods, sugar, red meat and starches report that just a few days of vegan eating left them feeling energized, with more stable moods, fewer cravings, better focus and better sleep.

Going vegan isn’t about giving up good things, it’s about discovering lots of new good things and doing something great for your health at the same time.

Do It Right By Keeping it Simple and Easy

The best way to try vegan eating and see if the lifestyle fits your lifestyle is to keep it simple, remove all the guesswork and have a good time with it.

I’ve made that easy-peasy with our 7 Days to Vegan Plan. We take you through your first week of vegan living one day at a time and one step at a time. We also give you some great ideas for substituting healthy vegan choices and finding lots of new favorite foods.

By the end of the week, you’ll be totally vegany and feeling amazingy.

Grab the 1-page printable plan below. This may seriously be the best way to try on Veganism for a week…and make it stick forever.

---

©2012 Cheeky Kitchen

via Cheeky Kitchen http://ift.tt/1CHsY8b

7-Days to Paleo

There are so many people going Paleo these days, from celebrities to your next-door neighbor. The Paleo diet is also on almost every magazine cover, health show or cooking blog.

There are so Many Benefits to Paleo Eating

There are plenty of good reasons to switch to a Paleo diet. Most people lose weight, despite the fact that they’re eating much more. A Paleo lifestyle also means getting rid of a lot of additives, toxins, antibiotics and other nasty things that fill the typical American diet.

There are numerous studies that show a Paleo diet can lead to less stored body fat, better cardiovascular health, increased energy, more lean muscle, lower cholesterol levels and so much more.

People on the Paleo diet don’t have to worry about counting calories or measuring, weighing and portioning every bite they eat. The foods you eat and the foods you eliminate do all of the work for you.

Nobody goes hungry on the Paleo diet, not even people trying to lose weight.

What’s Keeping You from Trying the Paleo Diet?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who have read all of the studies and anecdotes and blogs and would like to try the Paleo diet on for size, but it all just seems so overwhelming.,

Going Paleo does mean making huge changes to the way you eat, if you eat like most Americans, relying heavily on processed foods. However, those changes can be awfully welcome if you’re one of million people trying to get by on a low-calorie, low-fat, low-enjoyment diet.

Even so, the idea of making so many dramatic changes all at once is enough to keep a lot of people from trying Paleo at all. But do you really need to do it lock-stock-and-barrel from Day One?

No. The main goal is to make the transition at all, not to make it on Monday.

Why the 7-Days to Paleo Plan?

That’s why we’ve out together the 7-Days to Paleo Plan. Like the Paleo diet, it’s simple, straightforward and to the point. But instead of turning your entire lifestyle upside down in a day, you get to take one step each day for seven days and end the week fully transitioned to the Paleo way of eating.

There are three advantages to this. The first is that it gives you some incentive to try paleo, by relieving you of the burden of going whole hog all at once. Second, it can keep you from going insane. The third advantage is that if you get to Day 7 and decide Paleo’s not really for you, you can add back to your diet the things you want to keep and leave out the things you’ve decided you’re better off without.

Each day, you have one step and lots of tips to make that one step easier. No meal plans, no long list of rules and no recipes for stuff you don’t want to eat.

It’s that simple and that good.

---

©2012 Cheeky Kitchen

via Cheeky Kitchen http://ift.tt/1yhSch8

Meet UNOMUM: The Hilarious New Website for Single Moms

I’ve been working for months on a secret project.

Yesterday, it went live. I’m so excited about this website, I want you to meet it. Especially if you’re a Single Mom or divorced mom. Even if you’re not.

Bewarned: Swears ahead.

Continue reading: Meet UNOMUM: The Hilarious New Website for Single Moms

---

©2012 Cheeky Kitchen

via Cheeky Kitchen http://ift.tt/1sVbUtf

Silver Dollar Pumpkin Bacon Waffles (Paleo! Gluten-Free!)

I’m all sorts of cowing out today. Because, these waffles.

But also, because the secret behind the waffles. You guys. I feel like I’ve stumbled onto a pirate ship full of treasure. Here’s why:

Continue reading: Silver Dollar Pumpkin Bacon Waffles (Paleo! Gluten-Free!)

---

©2012 Cheeky Kitchen

via Cheeky Kitchen http://ift.tt/1wNeXnt

Perfect Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies

What is the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie? For me, it’s long been a cookie that’s buttery and golden-crisp around the edges. A little chewy give in the center. And so many chocolate chips it makes your face melt off.

And now, on this Autumn Sunday in the middle of October, I add two more mandatories. Sea salt. And a kiss of maple.

These cookies are just that. Everything you ever wanted in a chocolate chip cookie. Good-for-you ingredients, no sugar. Gluten-free. Paleo. Egg-free. Golden. Chocolate-chippy. And so, so splendidly perfect.

Continue reading: Perfect Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies

---

©2012 Cheeky Kitchen

via Cheeky Kitchen http://www.cheekykitchen.com/2014/10/perfect-paleo-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

Microwave Paleo Pumpkin Mug Pie

Pumpkin season is here. Hoorayyyyyyy.

I know pumpkin can be a polarizing. Either eaters love it or hate it. I stand proudly on the side of pumpkin love.

Like, literally. Can not get enough of it. See pumpkin cookies in the store, bend a knee, and bow. Stir it into waffles, put it into pancakes, buy it in Costco-sized pie.

Continue reading: Microwave Paleo Pumpkin Mug Pie

---

©2012 Cheeky Kitchen

via Cheeky Kitchen http://ift.tt/1waG9ML