I hope your weekend is filled with lots of beauty!

So when Crofters sent me a few samples of their intriguing Super Fruit Spreads I was as tickled as a bear consuming a bushel of berries!

 Crofters is unique in that its products are certified organic, they utilize sustainable packaging and use small batch processing to ensure nutrient and flavor retention.

You know what I like most {well besides the adorable glass jars and packaging design} is the fact that there is a POUND of fruit in every jar! This makes me smile.  A lot!

{My Two Favorites}

Europe Super Fruit

Pomegranates and black currants blended with red grapes and morello cherries.

Pomegranates are an ancient fruit with a rich history. Rich in vitamin C and packed with antioxidants, tart black currants balance out the pomegranate’s sweetness.

Perfect on a thick slice of artisan bread, this combo is for those who prefer fruits spreads that aren’t too sweet and pack a little pucker. Naturally, this bright blend also packs plenty of vitamin C and antioxidants

North America Super Fruit

Wild cranberries and blueberries blended with red grapes and morello cherries.

What berry combination could possibly be more North American? With a sweet but tart taste, cranberries and blueberries join forces to create this comforting and irresistible spread. Loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, cranberries and blueberries have been used therapeutically on this continent for centuries to treat a variety of ailments.

Wild cranberries and blueberries blended with red grapes and morello cherries.

What berry combination could possibly be more North American? With a sweet but tart taste, cranberries and blueberries join forces to create this comforting and irresistible spread. Loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, cranberries and blueberries have been used therapeutically on this continent for centuries to treat a variety of ailments

Both of these had a bold fruit flavor that was perfectly sweet.  Most jams you buy are over powering with sweetness. :gag: 

I feel like I have so much more to tell you about Crofters…but instead of me rambling on about licking this delightful Superfruit spread off my butter knife and feeling like Super Mom* {cheese ball I know} after eating it drizzled over French toast…just go check out their website for more information and fun recipe ideas.  You will thank me!

I know I sure do its just never ending. The same old boring recipes. That’s why I love thisrecipe so much. You can change a few ingredients and it gives it a completely different appeal. Love.

I’m a simple girl. I don’t like a lot of ingredients and I loathe adding a lot of spices to a recipe. This recipe is full of fresh ingredients and there’s just the right amount of creaminess to bring it altogether.

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
Mostly from this recipe

{Ingredients}

3 sausage links sliced diagonally
¾ lb ww spaghetti
1 T Evoo
1 T butter
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 pkg mushrooms, sliced
1 small tomato, chopped
1.5 C chicken broth
½ C heavy cream
Cayenne pepper to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

{Directions}

• Cook pasta according to package directions.

• Sauté sausage in a pan over med-high heat. Once cooked through remove from heat and place in a separate bowl.
• Add butter and EVOO to the pan you cooked the sausage in. Once heated add peppers and mushrooms.
• Season with salt and pepper. Add Sausage and sauté for a few minutes more.
• Remove from heat and place in separate bowl.
• Deglaze the pan with the broth, whisking up the bits on the bottom of the pan.
• Slowly whisk in the cream.
• Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. You may need to add 1 teaspoon of flour or cornstarch if liquid does not thicken.
• Season liberally with salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Once the sauce has thickened add in the meat and veggies. Coat completely.
• Add to pasta.
• Garnish with tomatoes and parsley.

Enjoy this easy peasy dinner!

The summer weeks are passing by fiercely and I feel like Ava and I are running out of time before she heads back to school. We are filling up our evening with phonics and numbers. As well as, learning to tie her shoes! Before we know it the temperature and leaves will be falling, so we are soaking up the summer heat as much as we can.

We have also made a few necessary trips to the peach orchard….hopefully I will have a new peach recipe for you soon…honestly though we can’t stop ourselves from eating them fresh! Pure bliss, melt in your mouth peaches don’t last long around this house.

Ava is having a blast spending time with family and even making a quick trip to the beach.  She will be starting kindergarten soon {cries}! She is so very excited to finally be one step closer to high school! LOL I’m always telling her real high school is nothing like what the movie High School musical protrays!  She tells me I’m a liar!

Anyhoo, on hot, muggy nights the last thing I want to be doing is slaving over a hot stove.  So I whipped up this short and spicy recipe it lacks all the time consuming qualities but holds nothing back with flavor like some stove top recipes do.

Spicy Red Quinoa

{Ingredients}

2 C red quinoa
1 T EVOO
1 garlic clove {minced}
1 small yellow onion
1 small green pepper
1 t chili powder
½ t cumin
Pinch of cayenne
Salt and pepper {to taste}
1 ear of corn {1/2 Cup}
½ C black beans
1 can {8oz} tomato sauce
1 ½ C chicken broth {or Veggie broth}
Cilantro

{Directions}

• Saute onion, green pepper, and garlic in EVOO.
• Add seasonings
• Add quinoa, black beans, corn and stir for a few minutes
• Stir in broth, tomato sauce.
• Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 25-30 min.
• Keep a watchful eye and add more broth or water as needed.
• Once quinoa is cooked, fluff with a fork.
• Serve and top with cheddar cheese and cilantro, if desired.

This dish makes great leftovers once the ingredients have had time to marry. I love warping it up in a whole wheat tortilla. Mmmm…so good.

When your life flashes before your eyes, make sure you’ve got plenty to watch.  ~Author unknown

BLUEBERRY PIE

{ingredients}

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C brown sugar

1/4 C cornstarch

1/2 t cinnamon

6 C fresh blueberries

1 T fresh lemon Juice

2 pie crust {recipe below}

{directions}

Toss sugar, cornstarch, Cinnamon in a bowl.  Fold in Blueberries to coat completely.

Spoon filling into pre-made crust and sprinkle with lemon juice.  Take 1 T butter and cut into cubes.  Place on top of the berry filling.

Cover with top crust, making slits in the top of the pie and brush on a light coat of egg whites and sprinkle with sugar {if desired}.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 25 min.

PIE CRUST

{ingredients}

1 C ww flour

3/4 t salt {if using salted butter us only 1/4 t}

2/3 C butter {cold}

5 T ice water

{directions}

Sift dry ingredients together.

Add butter and cut into the flour mixture.

Add water 1 T at a time.

With a pastry cutter until dough forms.

Wrap in plastic wrap and store in refridgerator for 30 min.

On a well floured surface roll out to desired thickness.

Best served with vanilla ice cream…naturally!

I hope in my 26th year of life I begin to LIVE.  To awaken all my senses and stop mindlessly going through the days. 

I hope to:

Eat lots of heathly foods.

And eat some not so healthy …..but damn good food!

Become more active and create a stronger body.

Play in nature more.

Fill my life with more love than ever before.

 So when I was contacted by The Original Brat Hans Company I’m not sure who was more excited, Jonathan or myself. 

These  chicken and pork brats are all-natural meats and contain no antibiotics, added hormones, preservatives, nitrates, nitrites, or MSG!

Now honestly, when I fist cut open the package to put them on the grill I was a bit put off with the chicken smell….my carnivorous better-half  told me I was crazy! Could be?  But once they got grilling the pungent aroma dissapated and we were left with a wonderfully satisfying Brat!  The crispy out side lended some crunch and the middle was juicy!  These Brats paired perfectly with whole wheat buns and grilled zucchini!!  

The two kinds we tried were the Spicy and Mild Italian.  I can’t wait to try their Spicy Cilantro and Sweet Apple.  I bet both are popping with flavor!! Check out their varietyof flavors !

These would make a great addition to your Fourth of July cook out!

Bon Appetit!

~{source}

“You cannot always choose what happens in life, but you can choose to respond with either fear or love, with anger or with acceptance. You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” ~{source}

Have a great 4th of July weekend!

I bought this brand and as it claims it was not mushy, it tasted al dente and went perfectly with my summer veggies and marinara!

Tinkyada Brown Rice Penne Pasta with Rice Bran

On to fun things…….I indulged a little and bought myself a sweet shirt from  Anthropologie as an early b-day gift! 

Cute or what? 

I’m off to frolic in the garden for awhile..woot woot…

Here are a few pics to recap:

We started off with an OSG(www.ohsheglows.com) inspired breakfast:

These strawberries where super fresh!! Amahazing!

Reading material

Iced Coffeeeeeeeeeeeeee….

Do you all remember when POM Wonderful Teas used to come in these glasses?  I have a whole collection of them.  I saved every one and use them as everday drinking glasses….I miss them like crazy now that they’ve switched to the plastic packaging!  I’ve even had to breakdown and buy a set of ‘real’ drinking glasses….These new glasses didn’t come with the cold, refreshin Pom tea either!! sigh…

Please don’t forget today is the last day to vote for my Lentil Cookies @ http://reciperivalry.com/.