Butternut Squash Pasta

If you’re anything like me, sometimes you just need to get out of your routine and change things up in order to jump-start your health regimen. When you’re uninspired you find yourself sort of dreading making the same go-to meals. 

To spark my motivation I make a list of all my ordinary weekly dishes and supplement them with seasonal produce. Most winter vegetables have thick flesh to protect them through the cold season. Although that skin provides endless nutrients it adds additional work when prepping.

Sometimes our weekly schedules allow for more time in the kitchen and other times it doesn't. The past few weeks have been INSANE for me...holiday parties, happy hours, dates, meeting up with friends, last minute Christmas shopping (you get the hint).

I'm super loyal but if there is one time to cheat, it's in the pre-cut produce aisle. Whole Foods goes beyond great product, it's about the experience and your convenience as a crazy-busy-stressed out-go-go-go New Yorker. 

PSA: Buy the butternut squash pre-spiralized 'noodles'.

Ingredients

• 1 Butternut Squash
• Olive oil
• 2 Cups of Baby Kale
• 1 Small Red Onion 
• 2 Spicy Chicken Sausage links
• 2 Tablespoons of Parmesan Cheese
• Fresh Sage

Instructions (serves 3)

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Spiralized noodles. http://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-spiralized-butternut-squash/
3. Place the noodles on a baking sheet, toss them with olive oil, salt and pepper.
4. Throw them in the oven for about 12 minutes.
5. While the noodles are roasting, add 2x tablespoons of olive oil to a sauce pan on medium heat. Mince the red onion and cook until translucent.
6. Chop the chicken sausage into bite size pieces and add to the cooking onions.
7. Once the chicken sausage is fully cooked add in the baby kale, cook until wilted.
8. Once the spiralized butternut squash is roasted, combine it into the sauce pan with the rest of the mixture. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and sauté until fully mixed.
9. Add a pinch of Parmesan cheese, black pepper and fresh sage on top. 

enjoy!

ag

freshark.

Living in NYC you would think healthy food options are endless. The problem is we never know the exact ingredients they are using in their preparation. I’m always that annoying person who orders their food with a million questions and substitutions.  Why cant restaurants accommodate me and my taste buds, make a menu based on health-conscious people... well look no further. Freshark Juice Bar & Grill  was founded by two guys who are super cognizant of their health and fitness. As seasoned restaurant guru’s they decided to craft their menu inspired by their clientele- genius I know.  Everything is locally sourced and flavored to perfection without being laden in  fat and unwanted calories. Whether you’re a gym junkie, health freak, paleo, gluten-free, or have specific dietary requirements, freshark is the ISH!

Being a long Islander, us north shore peeps stick together like peanut butter and jelly. Their original location in Rockville Centre is my go-to when I’m back on the island and now that they opened a location in the heart of the big apple (2^nd ave btw 54^th & 55^th) I couldn’t be happier. No, this is not a paid post; I just genuinely appreciate companies who put their consumers first. This culinary wonderland is FINALLY open to the public! Be sure to check them out :)

these sweet potato power cakes are vitamin packed stacked up with egg whites, turkey bacon &served with agave syrup. holy heaven!!!

 #GreenShotChallenge

to be honest i never understood the rave about acai bowls until i had this incredible creation, i could eat this everyday! their acai granola bowl a bowl created of raw oats, nuts & fruits filled with refreshing acai berry sorbet, protein packed peanut butter. a total must-try!! NOTE: this is just a sample size.

these all natural fresh juices are super refreshing, energizing and cleansing! 

these grab & go yogurt parfaits are filled with layers of protein packed greek yogurt, fresh berries & granola. a must for a quick on-the-go breakfast or snack option!

 all farm fresh salads are made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients and topped with their homemade fruit infused dressings. yum!

these protein power balls ARE NOT NORMAL. you will be addicted the moment you take a bite. 

Beauty queen People’s Choice Miss Earth Australia Liana Werner-Gray got a wake-up call at the age of 21, when she was diagnosed with a precancerous tumor in her throat. Realizing that health issues were holding her back, including in her entertainment career, she decided to change her lifestyle. Through juicing and using the whole-food recipes shared in this book, Liana healed herself in only three months.  Follow her incredible story @theearthdiet .

Be sure to check out them out!

http://freshark.com/

@freshark_juice_bar

Transitional Salads

Green obsessed ever since I was a kid. Instead of begging for chicken fingers & French fries at the dinner table, I would ask for "more flowers". In case you’re wondering, flowers were broccoli in my house… weird I know.

I’ve always been known for making the most DELISH salads. I truly get that from my momma. The queen of greens. As I got older I decided to take her #basic salad to the next level. I’m obsessed with incorporating seasonal fruit and veggies into all my dishes. The problem is, who can keep tabs on when fruit and veggies are at their peak.

 I can eat salad for lunch every day (I would be lying if I said I didn’t) and never get sick of them, but the key is changing it up. The more variety, the less bored I get. Picking and choosing your toppings based on color and texture is really important. I start with a base of greens, add something sweet/savory, an herb, a bite of crunch and something velvety.

Now that we are in-between summer and autumn, in-season produce is inconsistent. Which led me to my transitional salad inventions. In the summer I love loading up on fresh raw fruit and in the fall perfectly roasted vegetables. I put two and two together and unified both into one EPIC salad, genius I know.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of greens (baby kale and arugla)
• 1 scallion
• ½ cup of blueberries
• ½ a peach
• 1 cup of roasted brussels sprouts
• ½ cup of roasted butternut squash
• ¼ avocado
• ¼ cup of mixed nuts and dried cranberries

Raw Apple Cider Vinaigrette

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon mined shallots
• ¼ cup apple cider vinager 
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of honey 
• 1/3 cup of olive oil

xo,

adele

sisterhood of the traveling

Hello it’s me …

No, but really, I’m back! I took a bit of a blogging hiatus but don't you worry.

This was one h e c k of a summer & boy do I have lots to share with you.

Summer 2016 was about self-exploration. Becoming aware of my true potential, surrounding myself with only the best of people, stepping out of my comfort zone, and challenging myself mentally and psychically. Us Americans get so caught up in our careers, spend endless amounts of time on dating apps trying to ‘find the one’, spend $24 on a cocktail with a popsicle in it while walking on the most filthy NYC streets in our $600 heels, talk about stupid.. So, I decided to escape it all… well only for 10 days, but man did it open my eyes.

I was craving wanderlust. I wanted to lose my self in culture, music, food, art and all the other things I don’t take advantage of while I’m here, living in my tiny East Village apartment. And you know what, I did all of that.

I hopped on a plane, met my best friend in London, and did me. No itinerary. No reservations. No diet restrictions. No heels. Just purely immersed myself.

   

Obvs. had to take a selfie w. a red phone booth in the heart of London- Cheerio!

            

I was clearly obsessed w. the Snapchat filters (#duh).

The Topshop on Oxford Street was like being in Disney World circa 1995, magical! 

High tea was the most memorable, incredible part of my trip in London. High recommended! Pinkies up ;)

This photo was taken at brunch, moments before we sprinted to the airport to catch our flight to Ibiza. Needless to say, we entirely sweated through our clothes and looked like disheveled homeless people in the airport. 

This was our gorgeous view from our hotel in Ibiza.

Night one was a complete success! We made friends with the locals, had a bit too much Sangria (& Sambuca) & ended up at Pacha night club & oh yeah the emergency room. It didn't stop me from partying until the sun came up though. When in Ibiza, right?!

 

#Shameless

The fashion in Ibiza was perfection. My aesthetic is bohemian, world traveler, chic. If you know anything about me, I'm obsessed with neon, pom-poms and tassels & I couldn't get enough!

This is my favorite picture of the trip. So much so that I bought a hand painted canvas of this exact street from a local artist. I dream of walking up and down these cobble stone roads. Pure beauty.

Ever dream of what heaven's like? Well let me tell you, if it's anything like this... sign me up. While the sun was beating on our sun kissed skin, we were sipping on perfectly chilled rose, listening to the best euro house music and notching on the most delish fresh caught salmon. TAKE ME BACK!

On every vacation it's my goal to find the best 'hole in the wall' restaurant suggested by a local. We took a cab across the island, took our sandals off to climb down the rocks and arrived at the  4 tables, no menu 'restaurant'. We had three choices of fresh locally caught fish to choose from. I want to confirm that we both ate the entire fish and it was freakin' amazing.

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We most certainly saved the best for last..

 

Before leaving Ibiza we grabbed iced lattes at the most gorgeous waterfront restaurant. As we were chatting away the general manager came up to us and starting telling us about the island's hot-spots, unfortunately we were moments from hopping on our next flight. Instead, he quickly gave us a grand tour of the restaurant, rooftop lounge and insanely beautiful boutique. As we were heading out he asked us where we were off too next, once we said Barcelona he quickly ran to his iPad and came back to the table. Furiously typing he said in his cute Spanish accent "go here and tell them you are my friend".Well, let me just tell you... we ended up there every night. They had the most incredible drinks, like EVER. I still dream of that glorious jalepeno concoction. Not to mention we became friends with the entire staff. 

God put Karena in my life when I needed her most. When I was at my lowest point. The first time we met, we immediately clicked. She just gets every ounce of me. When I need to truly and sincerly tell her something serious, she doesn't judge me. We lay all the cards on the table; open up about our childhood, talk about our deepest darkest secrets, we're vulnerable and real. We can sit on the couch together in mute without trying to fill that silence. She's my ultimate travel partner and I wouldn't want it any other way. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry but most importantly she makes me, me. Relationships come and go, but best friends are ... well ... forever. Like Carrie Bradshaw once said "Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates, and guys are just people to have fun with". 

I'll never forget this day. We toured the entire city by foot. I love getting lost in the architecture of a foreign city, listening to the medley of languages, not relying on technology and forcing yourself to converse with strangers.

We were on a mission for kale and green juice & we found the most adorable "Brooklyn-like" juice loft in the heart of the gothic quarter. It was FAB!!

I would consider myself spiritual, as I'm in touch with my body, mind and soul. Visiting cathedrals and connecting to my inner core is purifying. I felt so level headed and mentally connected, it was much needed!

The stories about this night can not be shared. This was a FAB night. That is all. 

 Like I have previously mentioned, I have a passion for finding the BEST local restaurants. After shopping all day we decided to take the public bus back to our balcony apartment, which we had rented. For some bizarre reason I had decided to ask this native Spanish speaking older woman what her favorite restaurant was. Well, My high school Spanish teach, Mr. Gonzales would have been VERY proud. I was able to make out the name and address. And boy and I glad I asked. I kid you not, it was the most delicious, authentic Spanish meal I have ever had in my entire life. I will not proceed to tell you what we ate and drank because you will never look at me the same. But we finished all... and went out a beach club after, which leads me to the picture below.

Dear Friends, please do not excessively eat and drink the night before an 8 hour flight. This image was captured during breakfast. To answer your question, yes, I was knocked out cold, face planted  on the restaurant table. Oh, this was also before puking my brains out before my flight back to the States. 

I hope you enjoyed my journey as much as I did ;)
xo,
Adele