Sometimes life is filled with all sorts of unexpected surprises (sometimes good and sometimes bad) and these past few months have been full of ‘em for me. A few health issues, two surgeries and a full month off of work later, I’m back and finally getting back into the swing of things. Our health is fragile, and life is short, and these past few months have definitely helped me to appreciate that. Jonathan and I have had lots of deep and meaningful’s these past months, and we have decided to turn a few of our dreams into realities. More to come on that in the months to come, so keep an eye out for an update hopefully sooner rather than later!
So even though I haven’t been posting definitely does not mean that I haven’t been thinking up all sorts of recipes. I’m really focusing (even more than before) on whole foods that are completely preservative-free, and meats that are hormone-free and organic. I’ve always been hesitant to jump on the Organic Train, especially since opinions on whether it’s actually necessary are pretty divided, but I’ve been on the Organic diet kick for almost a month now, and I have to say… I feel fantastic. Many of the recipes that I’ll be posting will have been made with totally organic, totally unprocessed ingredients. Of course if I’m out of organic pasta, I don’t stress, I use regular. If I don’t have any organic milk, I use regular milk. The idea for me to is pay total attention to what I eat, even though there will always be exceptions because well…life. Business lunch? No problem, I’ll get the healthy option on the menu. Dinner with friends? Not gonna sweat it: a glass of wine (or two…) and a nice steak, definitely. But most of the time, I’m eating only things that I know without a doubt are good for me.
The thing is, I’ve never been big on processed foods anyway, as I’ve mentioned before: they’re not quite as common in Europe as they are in the U.S. (although sadly, that is changing). It would never occur to me to buy pre-made spaghetti sauce, or use seasoning packets these days, simply because the homemade version is easier, cheaper, and tastes better. But I realize this isn’t the case for everyone, so hopefully some of these recipes will help you make a few of your favorite meals from scratch.
What I have not always been good at, though, is making sure I eat balanced meals. I’m not a big meat eater, but I don’t really compensate enough with other proteins. I’m a self-diagnosed pasta addict, but don’t always get enough veggies, and my water intake was definitely in need of a boost. Meal planning was a step in the right direction, but now I’m consciously making an effort to get in three solid and nutritious meals per day. Starting with breakfast, I’ve been keeping track of what I eat every day, and more importantly, not skipping it altogether! Organic Earl Grey tea and oatmeal have been my staples lately, with mid-morning bananas and apples. Because of my 30-day organic cure that I’m 19 days into, I’ve pretty much been forced to bring my lunch to work every day which means: no more greasy (but oh so delicious) grilled sandwiches or grabbing a soup, while delicious, but not really enough to get me through the afternoon, and perhaps more importantly: no more Starbucks! (okay, I’ve had two, but decaf with soy milk… c’mon! how am I supposed to live without my pumpkin spice lattes..!?).
So, this post is to let you know that I’m back and better than ever ☺️ and I can’t wait to share some of the recipes I’ve been working on, as well as a few trip reports from some of our travel highlights from the past few months. In the meantime, and in the spirit of celebrating life and love, I’d like to share a few photos from me and Jonathan’s 1-year anniversary photo shoot. If there’s anything I’ve come to appreciate since I’ve met Jonathan, it’s the value of having someone always by my side, no matter what. These past twelve months have been filled with lots of changes, decisions, and complications, but also with lots of love, understanding, and adventures. We made it to Year One and I can’t wait to see what the rest of this adventure will bring ❤️
Photography: http://www.ksquared-photography.com
