How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

Consistency is key.

I don't know how many times I said this yesterday morning when my girlfriends and I got together to practice yoga and make breakfast together. And by breakfast, I mean the most delicious smoothie bowls. I'm a huge fan of smoothies in the morning so when I started to see the bowls pop up all over, I was anxious to try one. Not only do they  make for a beautiful presentation but they're made from all of my favorite snacks -- granola, fruit and coconut. However, I tried making one a few months ago and I can't sugarcoat it...it was God awful. I wanted to love it because I had been anticipating it for so long but I would be lying if I said most of it didn't end up down the sink. Then I talked to a few of my ladies and realized why -- the consistency was ALL WRONG. There were 2 significant problems: 1) It was more of a soup bowl than a smoothie bowl, 2) I wasn't aware of the proper layering/topping techniques.

SO! If you have ever wanted to try one but aren't sure of how to make it both delicious AND IG worthy, here's how easy it actually is...

A few starting tips:

• Start with a layer of granola on the bottom as your base - This way, even if your "smoothie" is a little thinner than it should be, you will still have something thick on the bottom

• I'll say it again - consistency is key. You don't want to end up with a texture that's thin enough to drink through a straw like you would a regular smoothie. It should be thicker, more like soft serve or a blizzard. You can adjust this by guessing and testing the amount of liquid you use. We used coconut milk and found that 1/3 cup is about right. 

Ingredients for the smoothie:

• Acai superfruit - You can buy these in pre-measured packets at Target. Not only do these help create the consistency you're looking for but they are filled with antioxidants and omegas.
• Coconut milk or water
• Fruit to thicken: We used mangos, cherries, bananas and strawberries (use frozen where you can)
• Greens: Throw in a handful of kale for good measure & added health benefits
• You can throw in a protein for extra thickening: I like chia seeds or nut butter

Adjust these amounts to your desired flavor and thickness. Instead of blending on high, we pulsed the ingredients on low multiple times, guessing and checking in between to make sure it wasn't becoming too liquidy (totally a word!). When it's thick enough to eat with a spoon, pour over your 1st layer of granola and then add one more (like a smoothie sandwich). Now comes the best part: The toppings.

Customizing our bowls with toppings was so much fun! I went with kiwi, banana, strawberries, shaved almonds, pomegranate seeds, coconut and the ultimate in breakfast sweetness, a drizzle of honey and guys...it was delicious. 100x better than my first experience and now that I know how to make them correctly, I can officially add these to my regular breakfast routine.

What is your favorite smoothie bowl recipe?
Any tips you can share?

Bacon, Not Stirred

Everything tastes better with bacon...or at least this is the opinion of most of us in 'Merica. For some reason, we have started to incorporate it into every recipe including ice cream sundaes, fudgy brownies and classic milk shakes. I tend to think we've gone a little bacon crazy, especially since it's not on my top 10 list of side dishes but there is fine print on that statement when it comes to salads...

I love adding a crunch to everything (chips on my sandwiches, yes please!) so bacon is a tasty way to incorporate some texture and flavor, especially if you go with applewood smoked. Harvest and red, white and blue salads are my go-to's for daily lunches..I love the combination of strawberries, blueberries, apples, goat/feta cheese, pecans, etc. so I often stock the fridge with these ingredients to recreate these meals at home. 

And while the crumbled bacon adds a savory flavor, let's not kid ourselves...Gaffigan said it best: 

"Once you put bacon in a salad, it's no longer a salad...it just becomes a game of 'find the bacon in the lettuce,' like you're panning for gold." 

For some protein, I cut up some grilled chicken strips (I love these from Trader Joe's) and we also had a lot of produce in the house so I included some blackberries as well...I could eat berries all day long, no matter what kind.

What is your favorite salad recipe? How do you add extra flavor?

All is Merry and Bright

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the "day of fun" I share with my Mom. For the 4th year in a row, I took the day off work and we headed north to Winnetka for our first (and favorite) stop at the Home Alone house. This has been our #1 Christmas movie since I was little and we watch it an embarrassing amount of times during the season so we squeal with delight when we round the the corner and the house is in view. I play the theme song on my phone and we eat peppermint Jojo's...it's a little ridiculous, but that's what makes its so fun.

This year, we grabbed lunch at Cafe Aroma, a cute corner shop with a hometown feel and then crossed some more gifts off our shopping list. We could be sitting in an empty parking lot listening to Christmas music and having just as much fun...it's just the time spent together that makes it memorable.

Hat: Target | Sweater: c/o Shop Lately | Scarf: Old Navy (similar) | Jeans: LOFT (similar)

Boots: Sole Society | Jacket: North Face | Purse: Old Navy

What traditions do you look forward to?

Give Thanks For Family (& Wine!)

It was our second year hosting Thanksgiving and in the words of my cousin, "I think we need to do this every year." As much pressure as it's possible to feel when it comes to hosting a momentous Holiday, it's also a huge privilege and I look forward to making it special. 

I think I got my love of entertaining from my Mom and while nobody does it better, I like to think she taught me everything I know. She always made sure of two things: The presentation was beautiful and the table was always full because that's what brings people together. As long as there's good snacks, the conversation will follow...

This chalkboard table runner was a gift from my Aunt and I can't wait to bring it out every year. It was so much fun to read everyone's messages after the house emptied out.

My husband gave a lovely toast with two different wines from CK Mondavi including the Merlot and the Blonde Five, which I paired with a summer salad earlier this year and really enjoyed the flavors. 

I’m a fan of using this brand for special occasions, especially family-oriented because the wines are produced in the Napa Valley by the iconic C. Mondavi & Family and they are 100% American 

grown.

I almost filled an entire cart with flowers at Trader Joes but they were just too beautiful and the sunflowers make me so happy. I was there the day before Thanksgiving and it was packed but everybody was in such a good mood and the cashiers must've been delirious at that point but still making jokes..."How much turkey gravy does one REALLY need!?"

The host & hostess - download these DIY place cards for 2015!

SO. MUCH. GOODNESS.

The spiked cranberry punch recipe turned out amazing...pretty sure the host isn't supposed to have the first cup but I couldn't stay away ;)

I love when everybody is seated around the table - if only for a few hours, everybody's stress and problems fade away and we just focus on the time together

100 calorie pumpkin pie tartlets...gotta love a bite-sized dessert! 

Not pictured: The hot chocolate cheesecake. I have no words...

How was your Thanksgiving? What made it memorable?