This dip was inspired by two people; Jessica Mishra and my dad. Jessica was my roommate in Costa Rica and she pretty much introduced me to tahini. I swear the girl ate it on everything. It's so yummy! In case you didn't know, tahini is a ground sesame seed paste, similar to peanut butter. It is a creamy, oily, and smooth nut butter rich in calcium. It goes beautifully in this dish!
 

My dad really only inspired the name. (Hey, it’s officially baseball season and watching the Red Sox play from the Green Monster is one of my favorite things to do with him.)

This dip is basically hummus with a twist. (Exciting I know!) The spinach and cilantro are great ways to get some extra greens in your diet!

Green Monster Hummus Dip

1 15 ounce can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons tahini
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups baby spinach
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Add everything but the spinach and cilantro to the food processor or vitamix

Puree until smooth.

Add the spinach one cup at a time and puree until smooth.

Add the cilantro and blend again.

Serve with asparagus, baby carrots, cucumbers or pita bread!

Easter Sunday was GORGEOUS here in Boise. Sunny, seventy-five degrees and no wind, the kids were outside all day while I soaked up some much needed vitamin D. I'm praying this weather sticks.

My husband’s family is in town so I wanted to make them my favorite salad with homemade dressing. Everyone loved it, (duh?!) so I wanted to share it with you! My husband’s grandma loved it so much she is going to make it for her Bunco ladies.

My husband grilled some organic chicken breasts and diced them up over his salad. I'm thinking of doing the same with some salmon tonight! Get creative and feel free to modify ingredients to suit your taste buds.

Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad

5-6 cups baby spinach
1/2 red onion diced
1/2 container strawberries diced
1/4 cup feta
1 avocado diced
1/4 cup candied walnuts (recipe below)
strawberry balsamic dressing (recipe below)

Candied Walnuts

1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 cup walnuts
3 tablespoons agave
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add all liquid ingredients to a frying pan
Add nuts and stir; sprinkle spices and toss to coat evenly.
Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour onto a sheet of aluminum foil. Separate candied nuts before or after they harden.

Lemon Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup raw honey
2-3 cloves garlic
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup frozen berries (I use a blend of raspberry, strawberry and cherry)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a vitamix or blender.  Spoon over salad. Keep refrigerated.
**Take out of fridge about 1/2 hour before serving. The olive oil causes the dressing to harden

Pretty sure I wanted to do this post for the sheer purpose of posting the beatuiful picture of my juices! Well that, and the fact that this past week, I've had some friends with juicers reach out to me in hopes of getting some new juicing recipes. While I hope to do more informative posts on juicing down the road,  here are some of my favorite recipes! The first one is my favorite juice and the staple of my juice cleanse.

Enjoy friends! I'd love to hear some of your favorite recipes too!

Lean And Green Juice

1 green apple
5 stalks celery
5 stalks of kale
2 handfuls spinach
2 cucumbers
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 inch knob of ginger

Just Beet It

1 apple
4 large carrots
1 beet
2 cups grapefruit
1 inch ginger

Revitalizing Red Juice

3 large carrots
1 red apple
1 beet

Watermelon Lime Mojito

1 small watermelon
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 Handful of mint
1 small cucumber

Carrot Romaine

6 large carrots
1 head of romaine

Green Paradise (perfect for those new to juicing!)

1 pear
1 green Apple
1 cup cubed pineapple
1 cucumber
3 stalks kale

Pear Necessities

3-4 ounces green chard leaves
1 large pear
1 orange, peeled
1 inch knob of ginger
Juice of 1 lime

The Italian Scallion (I made the name up. Do you love it?)

1 cup scallions
2 kiwis
2 apple
4 stalks celery
small handful basil

Sweet and Sour Green Juice

1 small honeydew cubed
4 stalks celery
handful parsley
juice of 1 lime

Sinus Clearing Juice

1 large orange
1/2 lemon
1 apple
1 inch piece of ginger
Pinch of cayenne pepper

If you're still hungry...I mean thristy for more, go to my friend Jenny's Healthy Crush Blog! She's a juicing wizard and inspires me daily!

Yesterday, while cleaning up my office, I found my old food journal with my “allowed” foods and caloric intake scribbled in the back. I’m still amazed I was able to sustain myself on 500 calories of fat-free cheese, vegetable broth, rice cakes and diet pepsi. I’m so grateful for my body and it’s resilience through my unhealthy obsessions with food and weight.

After my whirlwind weekend in NYC, I have a new obsession! Green smoothies!! Jenny Sansouci, my long lost soul sister and founder of Healthy Crush, concocted some of the most amazing green breakfast smoothies while I was staying with her. I swear she needs her own TV show on Food Network. She makes it look so easy!

OK, so they are super easy to make and they’re super healthy too. Green smoothies are a quick and convenient way to get your vegetables and dark, leafy greens without tasting them. You’ll be increasing your energy, upping your fiber intake, have clearer skin, reduce cravings and enhance your immune system right in time for cold and flu season. Also keep in mind that fruits and vegetables are alkaline foods that help maintain a proper alkaline balance in the body. The American diet is extremely acidic, so a green smoothie a day helps to balance your body’s PH levels. Basically, green smoothies are cancer and other disease’s worst nightmare.

If you’re just starting out making green smoothies, I recommend starting with just fruits and veggies. You can work your way up to Jenny’s smoothie. Here are some yummy and simple green smoothie combinations to start out with:

* 1 banana, 2 cups spinach, 1 kiwi fruit and 1 cup coconut water or almond milk and ice cube

* 1/2 apple, i cucumber, 2 handfuls spinach, ice cubes and 1/2 juiced lemon

* 2 handfuls Kale, 1 cup frozen blueberries and 1 cup almond milk

* 2 pears, 2 handfuls of Kale, mint leaves, ice cubes and water

Now get ready to meet the newest member of my cherished morning ritual. Drum roll please!

Best Green Smoothie On The Planet

1 cup frozen peaches

2 large handfuls Kale

1 tablespoon almond butter

2 cups coconut water

1 tablespoon raw maca

2 tablespoon raw cacao

1/2 tablespoon flax oil