A Glimpse of Glam

Hey everyone!

It’s no secret that when the sun is shining in the sky, a slight summer breeze is drifting in the air, and you are out lounging with your friends, having a drink and snacks within reach would be the perfect way to round out the day. I know that for me personally I always love to have some food and beverages nearby for any and all hangouts. Chilling with my squad just isn’t the same when we don’t have something to nosh on.

And usually that something for me is preferably popcorn. It’s one of my favorite snacks that are on the “healthier” side. I love a good kettle corn, a chocolate drizzled popcorn, or even just a plain ol’ buttery movie theater style popcorn. There are so many popcorn flavors to choose from it can be overwhelming.

With every snack and every popcorn flavor there is always an ideal beverage pairing to sip on while snacking. While you can go the boring route of just choosing water, a soda, juice, or just a beer, it’s fun to mix things up every once in awhile and really kick things up a notch. The perfect popcorn and drink combo in my opinion should be so great that it creates flavor explosions, like that one scene from Ratatouille when Remy paired random food together into a flavorful combination. That is the one scene from the movie that I reference to literally All. The. Time. Comment down below if you remember that scene!

Of course, to really make a snack and drink pairing good, spiking it with some alcohol couldn’t hurt. I mean, Olivia Pope has her wine and popcorn and she’s has a super successful career. So we can’t go wrong following in her footsteps, am I right? 

While you can just scroll through Pinterest to see which drinks would work well with which flavor of snack you are going for, it can be tough to narrow down the choices. Today, I have with you all a helpful little guide for some easy popcorn and drink pairings to try out, thanks to SkinnyPop Popcorn. 


I have to confess something to you guys. I am not the best at making drinks. I don’t even have a shaker. I just pour a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. Take a sip. Add a little more of this and a little more of that until it tastes BOMB. There’s no real method to my madness. Just a ton of madness. Trial and error, if you will. I’m a barista, not a bartender. Lemme know in the comments below if you guys are the same way!

But, because I am a Starbucks barista, I do like to create some wacky drink combos based on Starbucks drinks. You know those customers ahead of you in line who rattles off a long, complicated order that ends up taking ten years to recite? Yeah.. I'm kinda guilty of doing that too. But in my defense, it's because I am trying out new flavor combinations beyond the boring basics you can get off of Buzzfeed or all those trendy Instagram ones. My weekend go-to after my shift at work is to create a different drink combination that I can later spike with some alcohol. Who needs to go to a bar when you can just make your own "drinks"? I'm certainly no professional, but the combinations are tasty and endless!

Much like in the SkinnyPop popcorn and drink pairing guide, I love to have a tasty fruity beverage with cheese-flavored popcorn. I am addicted to popcorn, and white cheddar has got to be one of my all time favorites. White cheddar popcorn is such a classic salty cheesy flavor that works so well with any light, tangy fruity drink.



One drink I highly recommend trying with a white cheddar flavored popcorn is a strawberry açai refresher with lemonade instead of water, a couple pumps of mango syrup, and both blackberries and strawberries from Starbucks. I posted this drink on my Instagram Story a couple months ago. It is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. When I got home, I added in a couple shots of rum to give it that extra kick. The rum doesn't take away from the overall taste as much, but does kick it up a notch. All you need after that is to add a pretty little umbrella, and pretend you are relaxing by the beach.

Another drink concoction from Starbucks I've started ordering a lot is a cool lime refresher with coconut milk instead of water and a few pumps of mango. Then I add in some Malibu coconut rum to it, and it literally tastes like a piña colada. I kid you not. Something bout the combination of the minty lime and the sweet tropical mango with the coconut flavor I guess. It's so bomb I've gotten my friends into it as well. We all call it the Starbucks piña colada drink. This drink would go VERY well with a sea salt popcorn. The drink itself is creamy and sweet, and the saltiness of the popcorn won't be too overwhelming for your tastebuds. It's a win-win for salty and sweet.

I swear those were not just Starbucks ads. I'm not sponsored by them, unless you count getting my paychecks from them because I work there. I just like not having to buy a bunch of cocktail ingredients from the store to make drinks at home. It's easier to get a base drink, and add in alcohol later on at home. I'm a lazy girl. We all know that by now.

Now, we've all established the fact that I am not professional. I just like having weird drink combinations. And trying out new things. I may not be the most classy, sophisticated go-to-wine-tastings kind of person out there, but at least I can say I am adventurous and experimental with my drinks. That disclaimer has already been said and done. So don't go complaining that I'm ruining drinks when I tell you bout this next drink.



Recently, my sister bought a bottle of rosé that was really tasty, but a bit on the dry side. I like my drinks to be a more balanced sweet. To combat that issue, I decided to add in a bit of Mountain Dew to my rosé. That literally made the drink SO good. All it took was two parts rosé and one part Mountain Dew, and that made the drink perfect. A drink like that would go so nicely with a pepper flavored popcorn.



I definitely recommend trying out some of these drink and snack combinations from the SkinnyPop guide, and the ones I suggested too! Lemme know what you think! 

Sometimes it's easy to fall into a rut, and simply eat what tastes good. But when you got a great drink and food pairing, it can really enhance and bring out the flavors even more. There's less of a need to wash and cleanse your palate with water when you got a good pairing going on. Although, there is nothing wrong with drinking water. That ain't what I'm saying. Do remember to drink water and stay hydrated. That's very important if you wanna stay healthy. You can't just live off of vodka. I mean, it looks almost like water... but it ain't haha

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you find this helpful! Please comment down below if you try out any of these pairings! Or if you have some suggestions of your own! I would love to have more ideas to try out!

I wish you all a lovely week!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

How's that arugula and quinoa salad looking to you? I'm still working on my photography skills, so I hope I did it justice.

I don't know about you, but one thing for sure that applies to me is that I LOVE food. I love trying out new tasty treats, and putting recipes to test. Whenever I find the time to, I enjoy taking a recipe and making it my own. Food is life! Literally...

Which is why one of the classes I am taking this quarter is like a dream come true. Too bad it's only one class for one quarter. I forgot if I have mentioned in a previous post, but I am taking a culinary nutritional sciences class. All of that is just a fancy name for a class where we get to learn about the science behind foods. We get to cook food as our homework. Can it get better than that? I'm not even at a culinary school either, which is why when I found out this class was offered I had to snatch up on that opportunity as soon as I could.

Recently one of my assignments was to create a vinaigrette, all from scratch! Like you can't take the lazy route and go to the store, buy a bottle of Paul Newman's, and call it a day. We were learning about the properties of emulsion, and how that works. A vinaigrette is the perfect way to show this. I chose to create a honey balsamic vinaigrette because I love the taste of honey. It's the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

So I'm basically sharing TWO recipes today. One is the vinaigrette, and the other is a recipe idea to go with it. You could just eat the vinaigrette straight up with a spoon, but I wouldn't recommend that. I mean, it is edible. And you won't die. But it's pretty strong. The choice is yours. I'm not your mother.

Also, just want to let you know that you will need a blender or food processor to make this. Maybe a hand mixer works too? It helps to have this to blend the ingredients together into one homogenous product.



Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (NOT the vinaigrette, but the pure balsamic vinegar. I used one that has a light blueberry flavor, but plain works)
3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 heaping tablespoon dijon mustard
2-3 tablespoons raw honey (depending on how sweet you like it)
pinch of sea salt
dash of nutmeg
dash of cinnamon

Put the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and mustard into a blender or food processor. Blend together.
Add in the honey and blend again until the mixture is completely smooth and mixed through.
Add the salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon and blend only to combine evenly.

Makes roughly 2 oz


Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa**
4 cups arugula
1/2 of a long english cucumber
6 mini sweet bell peppers
1 medium carrot
2 medium tomatoes
6 oz honey balsamic vinaigrette (or more if you like)
light sprinkle of hemp seeds

Dice the cucumber and bell peppers into small chunks
Thinly slice the carrot into small 1 inch pieces
Thinly slice the tomatoes. Set aside several pieces for garnish.
Combine all ingredients, except for the slices of tomato for garnish, into a bowl and toss to combine. (I found that adding half of the dressing at first, then slowly adding more and more helped evenly mix it through. Otherwise, the quinoa really soaks up the dressing.)
Top it off with the leftover slices of tomato and serve.

Makes 6 servings


**To cook quinoa it is a 1 to 2 ratio for the dry uncooked quinoa and liquid of choice. Add the quinoa and liquid into a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it is boiling and bubbling, cover pot with a lid and reduce heat to a low simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from heat and let sit to cool for an additional 5-7 minutes with the lid still on. Fluff up and separate the individual grains with a fork and serve. (I chose to cook the quinoa for the salad here with 1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup water for a hint of a savory chicken flavor to pair with the salad )


Give this a try next time you're feeling like eating a salad, and lemme know what you think! I'm trying to get healthier for the summer. And I'm hoping you guys wanna join me in this. Gotta rid of those cold-weather habits sooner rather than later.

What is your favorite type of salad dressing? Have you cooked quinoa before?

Thank you for reading, and I hope you guys are all having a lovely week!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

Indulging, partying, and relaxing on our normal routines take a toll on our bodies. It takes time to get back into our everyday routine, and back to the happy "normal" we were at. It doesn't help that it's also flu season. To go with the "Let's Get Healthy" mood we are all still feeling this January, we shouldn't forget about detoxing our bodies. Detoxing is hugely important to rid our bodies of toxins and other garbage, which will help us with our healthy living routine.

One super easy and affordable way to detoxify your body WITHOUT having to get off your lazy derriere and exercise is to drink this delicious concoction of hot water and lemon. All you gotta do is pour hot water over a slice of lemon, or use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Though, having the peel still on will add more health benefits. Just remember to wash the peel first, in case of pesticides or other junk you don't want to consume. Yes, exercising is one of the ultimate way to purge your body of toxins because you sweat out all the nasties that have been camping inside. But, what you consume can play a major role in getting your body all happy and healthy as well.

Something I do each and every morning, almost religiously, is to drink a big huge mug of hot water with lemon. Well, it's more on the warm-hot side than actual hot. It's best to drink it in warm water rather than hot or cold because you can absorb all the nutrients from the lemon better. Lemon has such great health benefits for your body.

Lemon is a great source of Vitamin C which is an antioxidant that can help with aging, wrinkles, and skin issues because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C also helps with your immune system, so it can help you ward off colds. Lemon also has this type of fiber in it called pectin that can help with your digestive system, and help you feel fuller longer. The combination of warm water and lemon can help clean out your system... if you know what I mean. Some people believe that starting your day off with cold water is best because it shocks your system and gets it moving. But, based on personal experience, I find that starting off with warm water is best because it helps gently wake up my body, and doesn't upset my stomach. I have a sensitive stomach, and I find this drink to be very soothing. There are many other benefits lemons have to offer, but I don't want this post to turn into some kind of science lecture.

Another added benefit is that drinking this every morning ensures that you are hydrating your body right away. Your body is dehydrated from the many hours (hopefully) of sleep you had, so you need this liquid to rehydrate your body. Plus, drinking water on an empty stomach like that can help you eat less. Sometimes your body confuses hunger with thirst.

I've also heard that lemon water can help with energy, and eventually become a substitute for coffee and caffeine. This is true for me! I've noticed a difference after a year and a half of continuous consumption of lemon water each morning. I've been able to stop my morning coffee habit. I do still drink it, but it's more for enjoyment than for necessity. I hate having to drink/eat things out of necessity. That just takes the joy out of things.

ONE LAST THING! Lemons are acidic and can erode your teeth! But I asked my dental hygienist and she told me that if you drink pure water afterwards then you are okay. Don't go sipping lemon water the entire day because your teeth will weaken, eroding the enamel way faster. You will be using dentures before you even retire! And don't go brushing your teeth too soon either. Toothpaste and stuff can hurt your teeth. Just remember to drink it and drink some water afterwards. If you have a morning coffee, drink water after that too because coffee can stain teeth too. Just wanted to pass along a helpful tip!

Give it a try and lemme know what you think! I would love to hear your thoughts! What do you like to drink in the mornings?

Thanks for stopping by! I wish you all a lovely day!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

Starbucks copy-cat Flourless Chewy Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies. Oh yeah, I went there. It is definitely possible to make these bad boys at your very own home. And they taste super amazing and way better than you can possibly imagine. Think of a brownie in a convenient, portable cookie form then multiply that taste by ten.

These delicious cookies are super easy to make! They take the simple concept of making meringues, and simplifies it by a billion. Because they are flourless, they are naturally gluten free!

Super chewy and delicious

Look at how shiny and crackly the beautiful cookie is

Ingredients

They will soon become cookies!!

This is how the cookie dough will look on the sheet. They do not spread much in the oven, so whatever shape you put them in is approximately what they will end up being.

Boom! Cookies!!

Hey everyone!

Today I am sharing with you a favorite go-to breakfast. Or snack. Or whatever your heart desires. Really, it's just some food on a plate that you consume to fill your belly. But, it's healthy and delicious. And super easy to prepare because it requires no cooking skills at all. I mean, if you can take food out of a container and slap it on a plate, I think you will rock this.

It is basically fruit and cheese, so it is super good for you and yummy.

Trader Joe's Low Fat Cottage Cheese

Nutrition Label

Nativas Natural Goji Berries

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts

Delicious, chicken veggie scramble

Hey everyone!

My lunch de jour was very delicious. I made a chicken veggie scramble. It was super easy to cook up, and tasted amazing. For all you out there who claim to not be good chefs, trust me when I tell you that this was easy to whip up.

This honey mustard is SO good!

This salsa is wayyy too salty with carrots or cucumbers or chips. But on this scramble it was really good!