A friend recently requested a Quinoa recipe and I instantly thought of this super-duper yummy Quinoa Breakfast. In fact, this is my favorite summer breakfast meal. It is simple, and I always feel ready to take on the world after eating it. I hope that you do too!

A Few Quinoa Facts

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is actually a species of Chenopodium grown as a crop primarily for its edible seeds. Yum! It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal as it is not a grass and its leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has officially declared that the year 2013 be recognized as "The International Year of the Quinoa." Yay!

I love soups. In fact, every Sunday (Soup Sunday), I make soup for the week — especially during the cooler months. Having soup on hand makes for easier meal prep throughout the week. Plus, most soups freeze well. So I can stock the freezer for days when I don’t have the time or bandwidth for preparing a meal from scratch.

In my household, we have different nourishing needs. My partner often prefers more meat. I prefer more vegetarian meals. For this recipe, I cook it up until the point where the lentils are fully cooked. After that, I divide the soup before I serve. I add the kale and corn to my soup and the Polish Sausage and spinach to his.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

I love the taste of cardamom for sweet treats and savory dishes. Most of the cardamom bought here in the states is green cardamom. It has a strong, sweet, pungent flavor and aroma, with hints of lemon and mint. But there’s also black cardamom with a smoky note and hint of menthol. Green cardamom pairs nicely with sweet treats (think Scandinavian baked goods), fruit, and savory dishes like curries and kababs. Yes. It is that dynamic.

Today we’ll create some simple Cardamom Bliss Balls for a super simple tasty treat. They’re a perfect match for your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

You can’t beat a warm and gooey baked banana. This super simple recipe is a perfect dessert for quenching your sweet-tooth without the guilt. Plus, these delicious morsels will make your house smell divine!

Baking bananas bring out the fruit's natural sweetness and turn them golden with a soft, gooey texture. They taste amazing all on their own, or you can dress them up with a range of toppings. I like mine with toasted pecans, walnuts, or coconut.

I love the simplicity of this recipe. A shortlist of ingredients makes prep a breeze. Plus, these pancakes keep well for 2-3 days and reheat quickly in a toaster oven. So I always double or triple the recipe so that my efforts can continue to nourish me over the course of a few days.

You’ll get the best results with this recipe if you use ripe bananas: go for the ones that already have brown spots. You'll also find that making smaller pancakes will give you the best results. The larger ones tend to break apart when they’re flipped. Pile up a big stack of pancakes on your plate, top it all off with some coconut yogurt, berries, and drizzle maple syrup (or honey, if you like), and enjoy!

I recently had a run-in with a tick that landed me on antibiotics. It’s one of the joys in living in a region with an AMAZING AUTUMN but a high incidence of both Lyme and Anaplasmosis. Now, to be fair, this is only the 4th time that I’ve taken antibiotics in over 30-years. I’m feeling confident in my body’s ability to both utilize these meds and heal from it all.

That said, I needed something handy to eat with my antibiotics to keep my tummy in check. Plus, who doesn’t need a quick treat that nourishes the brainy bits? Enter the Brainy Bliss Balls.

This Flourless Orange Cake recipe hails from my days of living in San Diego, CA. There were times when we had more oranges than we could possibly eat or juice. It’s simple to make and scented with whole sweet oranges, vanilla, and almonds.

The first thing you’ll notice, and love, about this cake is the floral and citrus aroma. As you take your first bite, the crunch of the almonds and then the super moist decadence cake will delight your oral senses. The flavors are dynamic and not overpowered by sweetness.

When life is full, it’s also busy. And my life is gloriously full these days. I’m betting your life can be hectic too. So if you’re like me, then you are always on the lookout for super simple recipes of grab-and-go goodness. Well, these nourishing Lemon & Cashew Energy Bites (a.k.a. Bliss Balls) fit the bill! They’re nutrient and calorie-dense to keep you fueled throughout the day.