Need a quick appetizer? You got it. Picky eater on your hands? No worries. Vegan? Sure. Healthy? You bet.

Delicious?

Ohhh yes.

This is one of my favorite recipes to date. It’s super simple, comes together so quickly, and tastes amazing. They’re crazy addictive, and you would never know how healthy they are. Eat up!

Cauliflower Pizza Bites

1 head cauliflower, chopped into equal sized florets

1 cup tomato sauce

1 tsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

pinch of sea salt

Nutritional Yeast (or cheese, if not vegan)

Set aside the cauliflower. In a bowl, mix together the tomato sauce, olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano, lemon juice, and sea salt. Fill a separate small bowl with nutritional yeast.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Cover a pan in parchment paper, and spritz with a bit of cooking oil.

Dip each cauliflower floret in the tomato sauce mixture until just coated, and shake off the excess. Roll in nutritional yeast, and place on baking sheet. Continue for the rest of the cauliflower.

Put the pan in the oven and bake for about 1 hour or until crispy around the edges, periodically flipping the cauliflower. Remove and serve immediately!

Here are some of my favorites from this season:

From Sosie:

From Free People: 

From Anthropologie: 

From Ruche:

From La Petite Marmoset: 

From Brandy Melville:

From LF:

Oohhh I just can’t get enough. I’m going to have to lock my wallet in a safe. Lord help me.

Spring cleaning, sure… you’ll be getting a post on that later. But I’m cleaning up in two ways this week: I’m going raw!

It’s just for a few days to really reset my system, but I have to say, it’s Day 2 and I’m feeling pretty freaking fantastic. Totally energized!

I was thinking about ways to detox my body and kickstart my summer break in a healthy way, and after some research, decided that this was the way to go. I didn’t want anything extreme, and definitely didn’t want to deprive myself in any way, so it seemed like a great option. I don’t have any fancy tools around here- no dehydrator or spiralizer or anything like that- but given the short time period, I really don’t think it’s necessary. I’m already enjoying nature simply at its best, no extra equipment required. Well, except for my juicer. But that’s a bonus.

So it’s fruit and veggie city for me. And I’m so loving it. The only thing bumming me out is this weather! Whenever I eat really fresh, local foods, I crave long hikes, but the perpetual rain this week is a little bit of a damper. Sigh. No worries though, it’ll just be pilates and yoga this week.

Yesterday, before lunch, I whipped up a HUGE batch of raw vegan cole slaw, in 2 flavors. Both are so tasty! I totally underestimated just how much I was making, so I’m pretty much set on slaw for the next week. No complaints there, given how good they are. Trust me, I don’t care if you’re raw, vegan, or couldn’t give up meat if your life depended on it. If you are looking for a fresh, quintessentially summer side dish, this is it. Easy, light, and absolutely delicious.

Basic Tangy Slaw

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1 cup shredded broccoli (including the stems!)

1 cup shredded cauliflower (including the stems!)

1 cup almond milk

1 tbsp ground flax

1 tbsp stone ground mustard

1 tsp mustard powder

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)

½ tsp thyme

pinch of sea salt

pinch of stevia or 1 tbsp agave

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp paprika (optional)

In a large bowl, toss the shredded cabbage, shredded broccoli, and shredded cauliflower. In a separate smaller bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until smooth and creamy. Let sit for 5 minutes (it should thicken, just a tad). Stir the sauce into the shredded vegetables. Add a little more milk if you like a more liquid consistency.

Curried Slaw

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1 cup shredded broccoli (including the stems!)

1 cup shredded cauliflower (including the stems!)

1 cup almond milk

1 tbsp ground flax

1 tbsp stone ground mustard

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp tahini

1 tbsp nutritional yeast

pinch of stevia or 1 tbsp agave

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp paprika (optional)

In a large bowl, toss the shredded cabbage, shredded broccoli, and shredded cauliflower. In a separate smaller bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until smooth and creamy. Let sit for 5 minutes (it should thicken, just a tad). Stir the sauce into the shredded vegetables. Add a little more milk if you like a more liquid consistency.

Experiences with cab drivers in NYC are hits or misses… and tend to be the latter. Generally you hope for one that, at the very least, gets you from point A to point B fairly quickly and without you fearing too much for your life.

Last week, however, when I was running an errand for work, I had a taxi ride that I’ve been reflecting on ever since. I was totally taken aback when the driver started talking loudly to himself, until I realized he was speaking to me, in French. Don’t ask me why he decided to start a conversation this way, because I honestly have no idea.

Anyway, we struck up a conversation in Frenglish, and he told us (my co-worker was also in the car) that he was from the Cote D’Ivoire in Africa and has lived in New York for 20 years. He then went on to speak to my co-worker in Spanish (she’s fluent). We asked him how he knew all these languages (he mentioned that he also speaks German) and he said, “I’ve been a lot of places. Even when I was living in Africa, it was so important to me to learn as much as I possibly could about the world. I think that languages are the most valuable things to learn because you never know where you’ll go or who you’ll meet in this life. Maybe if people learned how to speak to each other, our world would be a much friendlier place.”

I was so blown away by this, and it definitely put me in my place. I was so freaking focused on getting this errand done; focused on the way this man was driving a little erratically or honking his horn once or twice. Let’s be real, here; we’re a judgmental society. I didn’t exactly get into that cab with the idea that I was going to gain some major insight.

So aside from the beautiful lesson that the driver was speaking about in a worldwide sense, I learned something else- that if I avoid taking each moment at face value and instead focus, without judgment, on the elements of the situation at hand, I open myself up to a world of unexpected inspiration.

Have a happy Monday!

My mom is an amazing person.

She’s not just my mom. She’s my best friend.

Admittedly, I didn’t always see her this way. Teenage angst put a schism between us for awhile. One of the best parts of growing up for me, however, is the perspective that I now have, and the appreciation that I can’t even begin to describe. Through the worst of it, she has been everything to me. I owe her so much.

Aside from the mushy stuff, she’s also incredibly cool. She’s always the first one rocking out on the dance floor, makes the world’s best apple martini, and has a shoe collection that rivals your average celebrity. She has killer taste in music.

Most importantly, she knows when to say “No” and when to say “Yes”. The result? I’ve been taught to have a good head on my shoulders but to fight for my wildest dreams. Some parents might say that majoring in art or trying to be a singer is impractical. My mom not only accepts that I want to do it, but pushes me to give it my all.

Thank you so much, Mommy. I love you!

It’s kind of odd, because you would think with my love for the outdoors, I would be all over that.

Well, things are changing around here.

I mentioned that I’ve started my own little herb garden. Can I just say? Obsessed. It’s amazing to really taste the fruits of your own labor.

All of these are AMAZING in pasta sauce. Just sayin’. And the lemon thyme is pretty epic in general.

Of course, it’s still very early in my gardening career, so I’m not really in any position to be giving out tips. Instead, consider this to be the musings of a beginner as I learn along the way.

First off, planting physical seeds from scratch was a little daunting to me, so I “cheated” with actual seedlings. I googled “planting fresh herb seedlings in pots” and got a plethora of info on how to do so.

Also important before planting anything is knowing some general information about your gardening area. The most basic of this is knowing your Zone:

This is based on climate and typical temperature conditions for your area. It’s basically the basis of knowing what plants can be planted at what time of year, and which can be planted at all (obviously an orange tree that thrives in Miami and LA is not going to do so well in upstate New York).

Actually, when I was doing some research for this post, I found this amazing website!

Just plug in your zip code, and it gives you specific info based on exactly where you live. Now I know I’m not just Zone 6, but 6A.

Next up, now that you have your zone, you can easily find charts of what to plant and when (which that website also provides). For example, my zone, Zone 6:

Again, this is based on planting the seeds themselves, so timing with seedlings is probably going to be more flexible (I’m assuming).

Once you decide what you want to plant, you should do a little research to get an idea of what kind of sunlight and spacing you’ll need. For example, our yard really has no spots with constant direct sunlight. This has proven a little tricky with my herbs, which really need a lot of light, so I end up just moving them a couple times throughout the day.

I’m really excited to move onto vegetables though! Fresh grown Jersey tomatoes are amazing. Mine probably won’t be, but, hey, I’ll give it a shot.

True story though- I planted a brussels sprouts seedling a couple of days ago. I went inside for literally 30 seconds, came back, and the seedling was missing from its pot! Still a little bit of a mystery. My mom said squirrel, but I’m thinking someone else…

Lesson learned- if critters hang around the yard, it might be a good idea to add some kind of fencing to your plant.

Happy planting!

Previously:

Amaranth

Quinoa

Wheatberries

Today…

Millet!

Actually, if you think you haven’t heard of or seen millet before, you probably have:

Yes, it’s commonly used in birdseed. But please don’t let that spoil your appetite, because it’s quite delicious.

Millet is incredibly versatile. Like quinoa, it’s a faux-grain: it’s actually a seed. It’s gluten-free, so it is often used as a GF flour when it is ground up. It can be used in anything from muffins to bread to an oatmeal alternative. It also works well in savory dishes.

For any history buffs out there, millet is also an ancient grain- one of the oldest food sources out there (more info about that here).

Taste-wise, it’s mildly sweet and nutty, and its texture is VERY similar to steel-cut oats.Toasting it ever so slightly before cooking it enhances both the flavor and texture.

Here’s the nutritional info:

Obviously, not quite as nutritious as some of the other grains, especially as there is a lack in fiber. But it’s a great source of protein, and still rich in vitamins.

And a recipe to get you started!

Lemon-Poppyseed Millet Porridge

1/4 cup dry millet

1.5 cups almond milk

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon zest

2 tsp poppyseeds

1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

pinch of sea salt

stevia to taste

Over low heat, gently toast the dry millet, stirring constantly to keep from burning, just until slightly browned and it begins to pop. Add milk. Heat millet and milk over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes. Uncover, and if the liquid has reduced too much, add a little more milk (it should be a little soup-y in consistency). Add the remaining ingredients, increase the heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, stirring until the liquid has reduced to desired consistency. Serve, and enjoy!

The Met Gala always evokes the most incredible style. I love how different it is from typical red carpets: it celebrates fashion as art, embraces the avant garde, and brings the most spectacular names in the industry together. Watching the photographs emerge on Monday night, I was like a kid on Christmas. I have never loved social media more- there’s nothing like watching Rachel Zoe’s iPhone pictures take over your Facebook newsfeed.

Without further ado, here are my favorite looks from the night:

1. Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren She killed it. From the makeup to that flawless gown, she looked absolute amazing. Ralph Lauren, genius as usual.
2. Rachel Zoe in Rachel Zoe CollectionI’m a sucker for fringe. And the off-the-shoulder? Dying.
3. Diane Kruger in Prada I thought this gown was so refreshingly different! The breeziness of it reminds me of a great, summery maxi dress, but the feathers and styling elements take it over the edge. It’s almost casual- in the most glamorous way possible.
4. Rihanna in Tom Ford Stunning. She could pull off anything, but I love that she kept it simple with just a subtle edge.
5. Joan Smalls in BalmainNot many people can pull off a short dress at the Met Gala, but Joan + Balmain = ultra cool.
6. Claire Danes in J. MendelI’m having a moment for flowy white dresses right now, and this epitomizes it for me.
7. Liu Wen in Michael KorsJust gorgeous. I love long-sleeved gowns, and the color and subtle sparkle just take it to perfection.
8. Karlie Kloss in Jason WuI mean, she can obviously wear anything and look amazing. Not everyone can pull this look off and still look classy doing it. But I love how it looks on her- sexy but still high fashion. The fuchsia and black lace are draped just perfectly.
9. Gisele Bundchen in GivenchyMy personal feelings about Gisele aside (loyal Giants fan here), she looked amazing (she usually does). It was a pretty classic gown, but you can’t go wrong with classic glamor.
10. Emma Stone in Lanvin Another short one, but so quintessentially Lanvin, and I can’t think of a more perfect person to wear it. Emma may have suffered a little wardrobe malfunction (her zipper broke!) but she looked gorgeous, and as she said, the dress was rainproof!

There were of course a million other gorgeous (and a few tragic) looks on those amazing Met stairs that night… you can see all of them here. Tell me what you think were hits, and what you think were misses!

As a broke college student whose day job is an unpaid internship, my gift will be largely culinary- a great option if you’re on a budget.

But these finds are also fantastic, and none of them really blow the bank either.  Something for every mom out there!

P.S. I’m kind of obsessed with it all too. So if you end up buying any of it for yourself, no judgment here.

First, some culinary love…

These salts from Uncommon Goods aren’t just gourmet, they’re also beautifully packaged.

I can speak from experience… my best friend gave me this Teavana Tea Rhapsody Glass Tumbler for my birthday! It has a strainer inside so you  can brew on the go!

For the jokester! This Face Mug always cracks my Mom and I up. One of these days we’ll have to get a couple for ourselves!

Customized mugs make an amazing, personal gift. I’ve made them in the past for my Dad and my Grandma. It’s super easy on Shutterfly!

For the crafty, DIY Mom…

Seed bombs make a really fun gardening gift… plus they’re really wallet friendly! From Uncommon Goods.

I’m dying over this DIY watercolor postcard set from Anthropologie. I think any artist would!

This beautiful hammer from Ruche also doubles as a screwdriver!

For a much deserved spa day…

TokyoMilk has the most AMAZING soaps.  They smell phenomenal and they’re wrapped so beautifully!

I’m mentioned these before, but Red Flower  makes such amazing candles with petals included!

These yarn-wrapped soaps from Anthropologie are also gorgeous… and perfect if you’re on a budget!

For the hostess…

These Agate Coasters are just stunning…

… and so are these crystal bottle stoppers from Anthropologie.

And this sparrow bottle opener from Ruche is so cute.

For the Zen Mom…

I love this hilarious tote from Zoey’s Attic on Etsy!

For the traveler…

This scratch map from Uncommon Goods is a fun way for her to keep track of where she’s been.

For the reader, decorator, fashionista, or chef…

Anthropologie’s book collection is just perfectly curated. All are beautiful and would be as great sitting on a coffee table as they would be useful!

And for every mom…

Kisses and hugs all around, because they deserve everything.

Luckily, what’s coming your way doesn’t need much of an introduction.

I first discovered the power of pureed nuts with my walnut whipped cream. Obviously that’s a sweet recipe, but if we’re going on texture, the creaminess is something that I knew could definitely translate over to a savory recipe. Plus, I’ve heard praises sung about cashew “cheese” everywhere from other vegan blogs to veggie restaurants.

I’ve tried cashew cheese, and it’s amazing… especially in mac & cheese. (P.S. that recipe is still one of my all-time faves!)

But alfredo sauce is obviously a different breed- a different cheese. I knew I needed a more mild flavor that was still creamy. So I turned back to walnuts. Mixed with some herbs and almond milk?

Perfection.

And, the flavor is dead on. Don’t believe me? I challenge you to try it!

Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

1 cup almond milk

1 cup walnuts, soaked

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

2 tsp lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp vinegar

2 tsp dried basil or oregano

salt and pepper to taste

pinch of guar or xantham gum (optional)

your choice of pasta (or spaghetti squash!)

After soaking the nuts for 1-2 hours, drain them and put in a blender or food processor with the almond milk. Puree until smooth, and add the rest of the sauce ingredients. Puree until smooth. Heat over stove in a pot over low heat until desired temperature (add more milk if the sauce reduces at all)

Cook pasta according to instructions, pour sauce over, and serve.