Acai Berry Breakfast Bowl

Your breakfast is about to become very on-trend. Because everyone in the world is talking about smoothie bowls and I for one don't like to be left out of breakfast popularity. Those are the best kind of trends, amiright? So here you go, folks. The simplest, most ridiculously easy smoothie bowl recipe there ever was.

I first had one of these a few years back at Kale Me Crazy. And the entire time I was wolfing it down, I kept thinking, I have to remember everything that is in this so I CAN MAKE IT AGAIN. And ever since then, we've been making them at our house. It's kind of like a twist on the traditional breakfast parfait. You just swap out the yogurt for an almond milk/acai mixture. And let your mouth go numb with the yum. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

- 1 Sambazon Acai Berry Frozen Pouch - you should be able to find these in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store.

- 1 cup Almond Milk

- 1/2 cup Blueberries

- 1/2 cup Banana, sliced

- 1/2 cup granola

- 1/4 cup shredded Coconut, unsweetened

- Honey, drizzled

- a dash of Cinnamon

Method:

1. Place the pouch of acai in a cold glass of water for a few minutes to thaw. This will allow it to slide out of the pouch easily.

2. Once a little bit thaw, open the pouch of acai and pour into your high-powered blender. I am a sucker for my Vitamix, but any blender will work for this recipe. It's okay if the acai is still very frozen.

3. Add in the almond milk, and blend on high for 20 second, or until completely combined. The mixture should have the consistency of a smoothie. And it should be a grayish-purple shade that will make you want to paint your walls with it, nay, bathe in it. But you won't. Because you will want to eat it more.

4. Pour half the contents into a bowl, and cover half to use at another time. Like tomorrow. And voila, your first layer is complete! Now it's time to dress it up.

5. Add a layer of granola, then berries, then coconut. Top with a dash of cinnamon and drizzle with honey - the more the better in my opinion. And that's it! Your trendy, delectable acai berry bowl is ready for consumption! Enjoy, my friends!

TASTE: Very Berry-licios Salad

 I have never been a huge fan of salads. I'm a woman, so apparently I should love salad and rightfully gorge myself on it. As if it's some badge of honor. This is one of the huge disappointments I've found with being a member of my gender. Apparently all self-respecting women should just eat lettuce as a meal. This proves you're "taking care of yourself" or something. Ew. I am just not one of those rabbit-like salad eaters. I like protein. I like fruit. I like cheese. And throw in a little wine. So sue me. No don't. But for REAL throw in some bread and I'm a happy girl.

Here's the Deal.

I decided to create a GOOD salad. I'm gonna go ahead and tell you that this is a success story. Read on.

My delicious tasty oh-so-yummy salad consists of:

- A handful of Romaine Lettuce

- Another handful of Spinach

- 1/4 sliced avocado

- 1/4 cup blueberries

- 1/4 cup sliced cucumbers

- 1/4 cup sliced kiwi

- A smattering of sunflower seeds

- A sprinkling of sliced almonds

- A light shower of grated Parmesan cheese

- A pinch-ful of fresh Rosemary

- Salt and Pepper to taste

Lets Dress* it up:

- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, quartered

- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

- 1 tbsp. olive oil

- 1 tbsp. agave nectar

- 1/2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

*This dressing has been adapted from the Gluten-Free Goddess recipe for "Berry Dressing"

Method:

1. Combine all the "salad stuff."

2. Combine all the "dressing fixings" into a food processor. Blend until mostly smooth (it will be textured) and then toss delightfully over the delicious yummy salad. Bring on the taste.

// I canned my dressing in ball jars. Just a bit of my Southern roots coming out. And yes, that is my specialty quiche, as well. //

My friends agreed. I may or may not have made this in honor of a ladies lunch and bridge club session. I would normally feel embarrassed of what you think of me for saying that, but for some surprising reason I just don't. I'm learning to play bridge and learning to love salad. And this was a goooooooooood salad. Enjoy your taste buds again, ladies. And eat your heart out. You're welcome.

TASTE: A Sweet Springtime Snack

Happy Monday, Friends!

I have news for you. I have finally discovered the perfect snack. Or breakfast. Or anything. It's just the tastiest treat. (Okay, I didn't discover it, but I discovered it for myself, you know what I mean.) It's even better than dessert at Max Brenner's, no joke. I've been treating myself to this since I started loading up on extra berries at the Haymarket. Having an abundance of berries around the house makes me feel like the Queen of England. This snack is truly magnificent. Live it up and treat yourself.

This is how I build it (in the order of layers, from bottom to top):

- Greek yogurt (I like Fage, but I don't discriminate)

- Granola

- Strawberries

- Sliced almonds

- Blueberries

- Walnuts

- Shredded Coconut

- Drizzle with Honey*

*The honey I use is from the fabulous honey store that I'm madly in love with. I find excuses to walk through this little boutique, Follow the Honey, far more often than I ever actually need to. They have honey on tap. They have beeswax candles. They have honeycomb jewelry. I can't get enough. Just like this tasty parfait.

I hope this special snack will brighten your Monday and make you feel like the sweetness of springtime is just around the corner :-)

Bon Appetit!