It’s that time again! Monthly favorites are probably one of my favorite posts to write. Is that fair? Can I include my monthly favorites as a favorite? Well, regardless, it is a great way for me to talk about what I like and what I’ve been working on during the month. The dress that I’m wearing in the the above photo is one project that I tackled this month. It is my first big sewing project and I’m so happy with how it turned out. I’m not ready to instruct a course on how to sew but there are a couple of things I’m excited to tell you about. Keep reading to find out.
Food Favorites
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop with Pumpkin
I am either really eager for fall or plain in love with pumpkin. Maybe both. I enjoyed pumpkin in sweet and savory recipes: pumpkin pasta, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin cinnamon date muffins! The pasta is something I definitely want to turn into a blog recipe because it was so good! As for the others, I followed the Tone it Up recipes for the pumpkin smoothie, using frozen pumpkin ice cubes instead off soft puree. Additionally, pumpkin is my favorite puree to sub in the Cinnamon Date Muffins. I got the recipe from the TIU Nutrition Plan but I used 2/3 cup pumpkin puree in place of bananas in the recipe. I enjoyed the muffins on their own and also included them in bowls with coconut chia ice cream.
Mango Carrot Tumeric Smoothie
I like to keep my smoothies low in sugar so where does that leave mango? Mango needed another partner besides banana and then this delicious little gem happened! Plus, the smoothie lets me take advantage of turmeric in alternative ways besides Indian-inspired dishes. I posted the recipe on Instagram over here. Sometime, hopefully soon, I’ll try to get around to making my go-to smoothies permanent posts on the blog—that way they are easy to find and easy to access.
Chocolate in all its forms
My chocolate cravings usually stay tame thanks to smoothies. Other times, I’ll eat a squarebar. Though, I got creative in the kitchen to make these Creamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Crisp Bars. They’re no-bake and what I’d consider to be a “clean” treat. The recipe ingredients may seem rich but, fear not, because one small slice is so satisfying! Just looking at the photo of the bars reminds me that I need to remake them!
The Notable Moment of the Month
For my mom’s birthday, my family went out to eat for brunch. I usually hate eating out because food options are limited and my family doesn’t eat meals punctually. For the occasion, I rolled with it. As I spent more time out and about with my family, my lunch ended up being a protein bar. Then, my afternoon snack was a slice of the German Chocolate Cake I made my mom.
Sidenote: I used a super easy recipe from the Love Real Food Cookbook and topped it with the suggested date frosting. My healthified baked goods don’t often please my family but my mom enjoyed the homemade cake! She said that it tasted rich enough where a small piece was satisfying. I can admit that it was delicious but it’s definitely more of a treat than I typically desire. Unfortunately, a few hours after eating a slice, my blood sugar felt out of whack.
My eating schedule that day was messy to say the least. Plus, I was relying on sugar and little substance to ride me through the day. Here’s what I observed: 1) my body notices when I’m not eating enough food and when I’m not feeding it with nourishing food. It freaked out by giving me brain fog and a sugar rush headache. Additionally, 2) sweets are just too sweet for me. The cake, while yummy, would have tasted good with a drizzle of peanut butter on top instead of the date frosting. I’ve trained my taste buds to crave fats over sweets and some fat is what I personally missed in the cake.
It is part of life to enjoy different food and I’m okay with the occasional treat. It also serves to reinforce how strongly I believe in the way I eat. I follow a combination of the TIU Nutrition Plan, with FLO Living guidelines, and make that work for me. I am comfortable to veer off the rail road tracks once in a while. Though, for the most part, I’m satisfied with choosing healthy options. Healthy food is what makes me feel good.
What I Read
Always and Forever Lara Jean
In To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han, Lara Jean’s private handwritten letters to the boys she has crushed on are mailed to the boys’ homes. Readers followed Lara Jean in the subsequent novels as she juggles between Peter and other crushes. Now, in Always and Forever, Lara Jean, is graduating high school and wants to find a way to make things work with the boy she loves and the future she envisions for herself. The concept may sound a bit juvenile but, in YA novels, there is a lot of beauty to explore in first loves and relationships. They are my guilty pleasure and, just like the first two books in the series, this one delivers. I was really satisfied with the way things wrapped. Han keeps the spirit of young love bright and vibrant but also realistic and true.
The presence of phytoestrogens in plant-based foods
As I’ve tried to follow the recommendations for cycle-syncing for my hormones, it is important that I’m eating food that will support my cyclical phases. Alisa Vitti’s WomanCode outlines everything quite well but she suggests avoiding soy due to the phytoestrogens. Thus, I found this article listing some common foods high in phytoestrogens. I’m not kicking out any foods from but rather choosing to incorporate them at the best times for my hormones. Check out the article on 50 Foods High in Estrogen here.
Update on Cycle-Syncing
I notice that the more and more I’m looking into ideas for meals for each of my four cycle phases, the more I crave what WomanCode recommends. The same goes for the lifestyle habits and exercise suggestions. The book provides guidance that seems to align with my energy levels and what my body wants. I feel increasingly in tune with what my body is capable of. I know when to push it and when to ease off. If this is your first time here then check out my Healthy Lifestyle: Is it Worth It? post to read a little more on cycle-syncing and WomanCode. Also, I worked really hard on putting together comprehensive A Day of FLO Living posts so read up on the different phases here: Follicular, Ovulatory, Luteal, and Menstrual.
Products I Love
Progessence Essential Oil Blend
A cousin-in-law of mine sells Young Living Essential Oils. A few months ago I started using the Progessence blend, per her recommendation. Quickly, I felt a difference in my mood and thoughts. My hormones are pretty out of whack but they were worse before. I constantly had mood swings and got easily frustrated. This is a big part of the reason why my hormones are at a decent place right now. I use it twice, daily, and I can’t go without it!
Shea Butter
I recently finished up the miscellaneous lotion bottles I had in my stash of body care. I look for products with short, recognizable lists of ingredients. The Shea Moisture Shea Butter is exactly that. I’ve been using it as a moisturizer on my legs, elbows, feet, and lips! It’s 100% raw shea butter and it is a product I can feel safe about using—plus it’s a great light moisturizer.
What I’m Listening To
In Undertow by Alvvays
Have you heard of Alvvays? A friend of mine introduced me to their hit song “Archie, Marry Me” a few years back and I was instantly hooked. I repeatedly listened to their self-titled debut album for months but I’m stoked to see that they are releasing a new album this September! In Undertow is one of two singles off their upcoming album. It’s dreamy, it’s electric, it’s poetic, and everything I loved about their first album—revamped!
Bombay Bicycle Club by Shuffle
This song is MY JAM. I’m constantly (re)discovering old songs and this one has been on replay throughout the month. Oddly enough, I think the song is about a relationship that is irreparably messed up. Okay, maybe not the happiest situation but the lively beat and cascading vocals make it such a joy to listen to! Let me know what you think if you check it out.
Thanks so much for taking an interest in my monthly favorites! I love putting these posts together and I hope to hear back from you what your favorites from the month of July are. xoxo
All day long I’m either eating or snacking—and in between those moments I’m brushing my teeth. The last thing I want is to stack food smells and flavors in my mouth. As much as the food I eat is important to me, so is clean, fresh breath. I brush my teeth three times a day so I realized that the oral care products I’m using so frequently should be chemical-free and as natural as possible. For this reason, I’ve been on the hunt for toothpaste that meets those standards and aligns with my values.
Why Brush Your Teeth?
I carry around a toothbrush and mini toothpaste in my purse that way I never miss an opportunity to brush! It’s so important to me but I know not everyone makes it a priority. Here are a couple of incentives that make me motivated to brush my teeth:
Clean Mouth Feeling
Oral Hygiene
Fresh Breath
Bonus: It curbs the desire to snack or graze needlessly.
My Background in Oral Care
The first time I ever went to the dentist in my life was at age 12. Prior to that, my family didn’t have dental insurance and felt we would be fine without the annual dentist check-ups. Despite that, my mom instilled the importance of teeth-brushing from the very beginning.
As a kid, I’d hate to eat something after I had just brushed my teeth. It distressed me to ruin the clean, minty fresh feeling that brushing my teeth achieved. Flash forward to my first dentist visit and I was cavity-free. Yes, CAVITY-FREE after 12 years of never seeing a dentist. Young Melanie sure ate a lot of sweets daily so I can’t attribute my results to an impeccable diet. I say it came from a great oral health care routine: brushing my teeth after any meal.
I’m not a dentist or registered anything but, from personal experience, I know teeth-brushing is important for cavity prevention and oral health overall. That is, the action of effectively cleaning debris off teeth helps prevent build up that can lead to tooth decay. Unfortunately, oral care products often have fluoride and other elements that I don’t want to ingest or have in my mouth, even in small amounts.
Fluoride and What Else to Avoid in Oral Health Care Products
Perhaps you might remember being a child in elementary school and being provided a cup of fluoride to swoosh around in your mouth during recess. Or was that just at my school? Maybe your city or state utilizes water-fluoridization. The idea behind both is that fluoride is helpful to clean teeth and people, children especially, need more help in that department. Though, recent research, which collated the use of fluoride in water across multiple countries, demonstrated miniscule decreases from its use. If anything, a scientific review of fluoride in drinking water is shown to be a potential endocrine disruptor and that is the last thing I personally want in my body. Particularly when hormonal balance is a major concern of mine.
Thus, I am happy to bring to light a company that produces oral health care products free of fluoride. Oral Essentials toothpaste and mouthwash range are completely chemical-free and non-toxic. In addition, the products are made without dyes, preservatives, alcohol, glycerin, or SLS (a shady ingredient even found in household cleaners)!
Why I Like Oral Essentials
What is in Oral Essentials products, then? Their brand utliizes the natural exfoliating power of Dead Sea salt. Other ingredients worth mentioning are coconut oil, aloe vera, non-GMO xylitol, and essential oils. All of these ingredients are familiar, safe, and allow me to continue my oral care routine without worry.
I tried out the Whitening toothpaste and mouthwash, Sensitivity toothpaste and mouthwash, Dry Mouth mouthwash, and Original formula toothpaste. I honestly cannot differentiate between the products as far as effectiveness goes. Though, I can feel a difference in the cleanliness of my mouth in comparison to my old toothpaste. It wasn’t until I started using Oral Essentials that I realized how traditional toothpaste leaves a slippery film on my teeth. I would sometimes double brush my teeth because I just didn’t feel like my mouth was clean enough after the first brushing. Not anymore.
Simply one brushing with Oral Essentials toothpaste leaves my teeth feeling residue-free and clean. While there are a few choices, the toothpastes are all quite similar. They each feel slightly dry from the sea salt but there is no gritty feeling. Unlike the typical store-bought brand, Oral Essentials toothpaste is not thick and goopy, and it dissolves quickly. At first, I found myself using a little bit more toothpaste than I would normally use. The light-mouth feel and thinner consistency of the toothpastes are different than what I am used to. I now use a small amount and that serves to efficiently remove any bit of gunk I may have on my teeth. I pair it with the mouthwash for an even fresher, sting-free clean feeling!
My Oral Essentials Product Variety of Choice
When it comes to the product line varieties, I enjoy the original and sensitivity formulas the most. I do not have a tooth sensitivity issue but the flavor and feel of the original and sensitivity line are most similar to what I previously had in toothpaste. The whitening variety made with lemon peel is a bit zingy for me, though it is not harsh! I should mention that each Oral Essentials product is designed to be suitable for sensitive mouths. Therefore, each product is non-irritating and safe for frequent, daily use.
I could definitely see myself continuing use of Oral Essentials toothpaste and mouthwash. Any of the varieties are great and I’m proud to recommend these non-toxic products. I hope my review is helpful if you are also interested in natural products. 🙂
DISCLAIMER: The Oral Essentials product review is completely my own opinion. I am not under any obligation to promote or endorse their products. I truly enjoyed them so I just want to share my review.
If you’ve been following my A Day of FLO Living posts, then you’ll know I enjoy eating food that is nourishing for me and my cycle. Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that chocolate-topped peanut butter crisp bars are “health food” but I’ll say they come close. During my ovulatory phase I was craving sweets LIKE CRAZY—specifically chocolate. Lucky for me, chocolate is on the list of WomanCode approved foods for ovulatory phase. Yippee!
So, I went into the kitchen, with a bit of guidance from Angela Liddons’ Oh She Glows Everyday Cookbook, and got experimenting. I used Angela’s recipe for Nut-Free Dream Bars as a base but I tinkered with the sweetener, salt, and, of course, the nut butter. For me, what makes these bars awesome is the pairing of protein and fat, both of which lessen the sugar punch and make these bars satiating. Of course, macronutrients aside, the chocolate-peanut butter combination is also a huge appeal!
They require a small amount of prep but NO BAKING. This is a freezer treat at its finest. Plus, once made, they will last forever in the freezer! Just let them defrost for a few minutes before biting into them. If you can exercise restraint, let them defrost for five to ten minutes and the peanut butter filling gets extra creamy and oozy. In fact, the filling contrasts so nicely in that state with the crisp crust and solid chocolate topping. Together, the three layers make for one delightfully decadent and delicious dessert or snack.
Let me know if you give these bars a try! Just writing this post makes me crave one so I’ll be at my freezer if you need me! 👋
Creamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Crisp Bars
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 18-20 bars
These rich and creamy no-bake bars, adapted from Angela Liddon’s recipe, make for a satisfying dessert or snack when those chocolate peanut butter cravings kick in! The combination of crispiness from the crust and creaminess from the bars just can’t be beat!
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients:
1 ½ tbsp melted virgin coconut oil
1 ½ cups Erewhon Organic Cinnamon Brown Rice Cereal
2 tbsp cacao powder or cocoa powder
2 tbsp maple syrup
a pinch of salt
Filling Ingredients:
1 cup natural peanut butter
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup melted virgin coconut oil
¼ to ½ tsp salt, depending on the saltiness of the peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Topping Ingredients:
1/3 cup melted virgin coconut oil
1/3 cup cacao or cocoa powder
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts, chopped, for topping
Sea salt, for topping, optional
Instructions
Line a large loaf tin (see notes) with parchment paper and lightly grease with coconut oil.
In a bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients for the crust. With a rubber spatula, mash up the cereal until it looks crumby and thoroughly coated. Then, press the crust down into the bottom of the loaf tin. Place it in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
In the same bowl, rinsed and wiped clean, combine the next five ingredients. As a precaution, make sure the ingredients for the filling are all room temperature. If the maple syrup or peanut butter are cold then that will make the coconut oil seize up. The mixture should be smooth. Adjust salt to taste.
Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the filling on top. Gently swivel the pan so that the filling covers the crust completely and so that the top is flat and even. Now, the filling will set in the freezer for an hour before the final topping.
After waiting the appropriate amount of time for the filling to solidify, begin making the chocolate topping. Whisk together melted coconut oil, cacao powder, and maple syrup until no clumps remain. Chop the peanuts and keep them at the ready.
Remove the loaf tin from the freezer and pour the chocolate over the filling. Be warned: it freezes almost instantaneously! While the chocolate is still wet, throw on the peanuts and a sprinkle of sea salt. The chocolate layer will soon solidify from the cold from the loaf tin.
You may then remove the bars, using the parchment paper to lift them out. Move them to a cutting board and slowly cut into 18-20 squares. If the bars seem melty in any way, do put them back into the freezer for 10 minutes or so. They may fall apart if you try cutting them while soft.
The peanut butter chocolate dream bars are best stored in the freezer. Pull one out when you want to enjoy a bar and let it sit at room temperature for up to 3-5 minutes. They will soften to an easier-to-bite state. Wait a little longer and the peanut butter filling gets extra oozy and delicious!
Notes
My baking tin is 9.5 x 5 inches though Angela’s recipe uses a 10 x 6 inch pan. I believe that a standard 9 x 5 loaf tin could work, too but your bars will just be a bit thicker.[br]Cooking time also reflects freezing time in this recipe.
You all know I enjoy cooking, but I can also appreciate the savior that is meal-prepping. It makes a difference to batch-cook entrees or staples items to have easy to assemble meals throughout the week. I thought lunch, dinner, and snacks were the only thing worth prepping until today. This past weekend I whipped up a Mango Blackberry Coconut Oatmeal Bake for my family breakfast and got to ride the wave of leftovers for two days. And let me tell ya…
Oatmeal bakes are highly underrated.
Not only is the one-dish meal convenient for feeding a crowd but it keeps really well, too! It tastes amazing on Day 1 but then something magical happens when the leftovers go into your fridge. The texture gets better and the flavors meld together even more (similar to the way banana bread gets better the day after you bake it)! Leftovers keep well for up to 5 days in the fridge. You can eat it cold, if you prefer, but I like to reheat a portion in the microwave for a minute, then add it to a cast-iron skillet greased with coconut oil so the bottom gets crispy. 😉 Oooh yeaaah.
Plus, if I haven’t already convinced you, baked oatmeal is versatile and a great way to use up lots of fruit. My inspiration for baked oatmeal actually comes as an adaptation of a Love and Lemons recipe for Blueberry Coconut Baked Oatmeal. Her recipe is splendid but this tropical version with mango and plump juicy blackberries is so perfect for summer! 😀
This bake can be assembled ahead of time or simply the day you want to serve it.
Also, don’t be put off by the long list of ingredients. You likely have most of them on hand already and, if not, sub in what you do have! I like making the oatmeal mixture the night before so that way all I need to do is slip it into the oven in the morning. EASY. The oatmeal could also be assembled and baked straight away if that’s more your thing. My instructions are for the latter option but do what works for you.
If you like oatmeal, also be sure to check out my single-serving
Who’s making this for weekend brunch? 🙋 Drop me a comment or tag me on Instagram if you do!
Mango Blackberry Coconut Baked Oatmeal
Recipe Type: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed + 6 tablespoons warm water
¾ cup water or almond milk
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
¼ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon sea salt
¾ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp coconut extract (optional)
2 cups whole rolled oats
½ cup chopped or slivered almonds (save half for topping)
⅔ cup coconut flakes (save half for topping)
1 cup packed diced mango (from about 2 large mangoes)
½ – 1 cup blackberries (mixed in or as topping)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8-inch (or 9×11) baking dish with coconut oil or use cooking spray.
In a small bowl, combine the flaxseed and warm water and set aside to thicken for about 5 minutes.
Then, combine the water OR almond milk, coconut oil, and brown sugar and whisk to combine.
Next, add in the baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and extracts. Stir in the rolled oats and HALF of the almonds and coconut flakes.
Mix in the mango (and blackberries, if desired. I like to serve them fresh, as shown in the photo) before pouring the mixture into a baking dish. Cover the top with reserved coconut flakes and chopped almonds, lightly pressing the toppings into the oatmeal.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the top is crisp and golden. If the coconut flakes have browned then definitely remove the bake from the oven.
Lastly, let the oatmeal cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Top with as many fresh blackberries as your heart desires!
Notes
You can substitute whatever fruit you like. I find that 1-1 ½ cups of fruit is ideal. The bake is only lightly sweetened but you can add in an extra ¼ cup of either sugar if your fruit isn’t very sweet or if you just prefer sweeter food.
The official start of summer wasn’t until June 21st but I’ve been living it up in the blazin’ hundred degree weather since the start of the month. The hot weather leads me to have simple days of chill tea dates with friends or just spend a bit more time indoors, discovering new favorites 😉 I’m really excited to share what I loved in books, TV, food, music, and more this month so, if you’re interested, keep reading!
What I’ve Been Reading
WomanCode by Alisa Vitti
Women who have period, fertility, or libido issues are the ones who can most benefit from WomanCode. Though, those problems may exist without you being fully aware. A while back, I heard about the book from Lee from America and hoped it could help with my personal health concerns. The self-help book illuminates the areas in which lifestyle factors may be working against naturally-fluctuating hormone levels. I touched on how reading the book pertains to my health and fitness journey but this won’t be the last I talk about it. I feel positively influenced by the WomanCode Protocol so I hope to share equally positive results regarding my cycle and hormone regulation in coming months. I’m also planning to follow this up in the future with blog posts about how I’m incorporating the recommendations in the book to perfect my cycle.
KP-ingitsimple’s Fit Fuel Series
Over the past year, I’ve become more and more interested in nutrition. I think it’s a natural progression after beginning to prioritize personal health and fitness. I’m avidly seeking out new information about what nutrients are best going to fuel my body and how. Fellow TIU sister and peanut butter lover, Kelly or KP, already shares enlightening health posts on her blog in topics such as water weight and bloating, and now her Fit Fuel Series has me hooked! It addresses exactly that you would want to know as far as how to effectively fuel your body for workouts. The sort of information she provides can be hard to find online so I find it to be such a great resource!
Favorite Eats
Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin knows no single season at my house. It screams fall but it also makes the perfect batter for baked treats all year long. I am pretty proud of myself for baking up a super-tasty and lightly-sweetened cookie with good-for-you ingredients like rolled oats, pumpkin, and coconut oil. They are even versatile enough that you can add a scoop or your favorite protein powder to them without sacrificing the cookie-taste. See the post and recipe here.
Halfway through the month, I began incorporating WomanCode protocols and eating with my cycle. During my luteal phase, I was all about sautéed greens and hearty veggies. This skillet dish was one of my favorite meals. I loaded up on dark leafy greens, sweet potato, brown rice, onions, and garlic—all rich in vitamins and minerals—to help with fluid retention and progesterone production pre-menstruation phase. The interesting thing about this time of month is how sugar cravings kick up a notch so roasting and sautéing vegetables helps bring out natural sweetness in food. I am so satisfied after meals like this, and don’t feel the desire to reach for a candy bar to satisfy my sweet tooth.
What I’ve Been Watching
(Surprisingly, all of the shows I’ve loved this month are series finales or just short-run programs)
I simply adore Mary Queen of Scots and her consistent motivation to do better for her people. Yet, I’m baffled by the ending of Reign and disappointed with how history unfortunately played out for Mary. Her long, tumultuous battle for a throne and respect as a queen is one worth watching. I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it but the entire show is on Netflix if you want to catch up with the 16th century queen.
Pretty Little Liars
I know the series finale just happened so I won’t give away any spoilers in case you have yet to catch up. Admittedly, the show dragged out the A/AD storyline far too long but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. Freeform aired the second part of the final season which over the past two months and I’ve been hooked. Friendships and relationships were tested but we also got a taste for possible AD suspects up til the finale episode. I seriously didn’t see the ending coming!
This one is an HBO exclusive starring boss babes: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley. Upon moving to Monterey, Woodley’s character and her son become targets in a finger-pointing scandal. It starts in the children’s elementary school but the parents quickly make it a personal with one another. The show skips back and forth between present investigations about a murder and the past events leading up to it. Viewers watch the past events unfold to get to know the main suspects and piece together who among them gets murdered. It showcases an interesting look at how there is so much more happening in each person’s life than the face that they put forth to others. Also, unlike the next show I’m about to mention, Big Little Lies has a bittersweet but satisfying end.
GirlBoss
Last TV show, I promise! The story of NastyGal founder Sophia Amoruso is one you won’t exactly want to cheer for but it is awe-inspiring. Britt Robertson, who I love from Life Unexpected and The Secret Circle, plays Amoruso with a wild steadfast drive and independence. The NastyGal founder isn’t the most admirable female role model, especially when you see what she had to do to get her business started. Still, I couldn’t help but have hope for the anti-hero. Unfortunately, Netflix probably didn’t want to pursue the series since real-life Amoruso filed for bankruptcy last year, so one season is all GirlBoss is getting.
What I’ve Been Listening To
Paramore’s After Laughter
Long after punk-rock and teen angst phase has passed, Paramore is still relevant! I’ve been growing up with their music over the past few years and their latest release, After Laughter, is no different. It’s expressive of struggles of changes with life and growing up but with a new fresh sound. Expect groovy, pop-y tunes, and Hayley Williams’ soaring, fiery vocals. Some favorites from the album include songs like Fake Happy, Told You So, and Grudges:
Product Favorites
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is under controversy recently but, like all oils, it should be used in moderation. I’m not needlessly swallowing down coconut oil in coffee drinks but the unrefined variety is my go-to choice for baking (see below). A little bit of this oil adds decadence that only butter may come close to providing. Though, the jury is still out on health benefits of coconut oil, I’m keeping the unrefined, virgin, expeller-pressed variety around in my kitchen. I like Spectrum and Nutiva.
Avocado Oil
Two favorite oils, Melanie? Yes! I’m not deep-frying up a storm over at my house but oil is still important to have on hand. I have a collection of quality cooking oils that I use for different purposes. Avocado oil is perfect for roasting veggies or pan-frying. Its high heat temperature won’t smoke on the stovetop like extra virgin olive oil or other vegetable oils. Plus, I notice it imparts a slight richness to food without messing with the flavor of your dish. I’ve tried Chosen Foods and Primal Kitchen. Both are great!
pHresh Deodorant Cream
I’d been searching for a natural deodorant that is not only aluminum-free but organic. As I mentioned above, I’m making adjustments to my lifestyle to help out my hormones. A step towards doing that involves ridding my environment of toxic chemicals that may be endocrine disruptors. Our armpits are such a sensitive area and an important one for excreting toxins (which happens when you sweat). I do need to apply the cream 1-2 times a day but, for a softening and protective cream deodorant like pHresh, it is worth it! I’m not smothering my sweat glands with antiperspirant anymore, plus, my armpits have never been softer! The Deodorant Cream deserves to be amongst my monthly favorites and you can read more about how I use it in my Shower Routine and Essentials post.
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
This lip product was all the rage a few years back but it never struck me as a big deal. I had all but abandoned my Bite Beauty lip mask until I pulled it out again in the springtime. I’ve been using it ever since as my nighttime lip protectant. It is thick and made with food-grade quality ingredients. It is something I feel safe to put around my mouth and the moisturization benefits last for hours!
Notable moments of the month
Friends from Instagram will remember that my pet rabbit, Twix, was always at the top of my favorites list. So, I want to touch on what exactly happened to lead to this moment. He had been slowly losing weight since April but we figured it was because of his age. His hind legs were also giving out a bit more. He no longer was able to hop onto our couch like he used to and he would slip when walking. The signs pointed to age.
Though, in the month of June he got dramatically skinny almost overnight. Twix wasn’t eating his food or hopping around like he used. Or even going to the bathroom in his potty dish. If you knew Twix, you’d know that’s a big deal because he was particular about his preferred “peeing spots”. Unfortunately, his condition just escalated so quickly.
Even if I fed him all the veggies and leafy greens, those were not going to be enough to put weight on him. He felt frail and I think he himself noticed that his body wasn’t cooperating with him anymore. It pained my family and I to watch our furry baby’s deterioration so we had to say goodbye to him after nearly 6 years. I miss him every day but love is not limited to life or death. I’ll always care very much about Twix and treasure the memories I have with him.
On another note, an old friend from school was here for the month in between graduation and the start of his doctorate program. It was so fun to reconnect and hang out multiple times this month. Nothing beats having a good catch-up and enjoying fun activities with friends.
Thank you for taking an interest in my favorites from the month of June!
I only share products that I’ve been using for a while and can vouch for their effectiveness. As for other favorites, like TV shows and interesting reads, those are ever-rotating. Have you encountered some favorites in the past month? If so, definitely drop me a line and tell me what they are! I love hearing you guys’ ideas and suggestions.
First and foremost, thank you to Attune Foods for making this post possible!
If you’ve been hanging around here for any short amount of time, you know that I’m a big fan of sweet treats and breakfast foods. What may come as a surprise is how much savory food appeals to me, too! As a matter of fact, I love spiced dishes like curries, southwestern fajitas, or my Tex-Mex quinoa taco “meat”. As for main dishes, I’ve been meaning to expand my blog’s recipe archives with some yummy veggie patties or meatballs for a lunch/dinner entree.
Enter: Sweet and Smoky Meatballs
I’m all about making recipes as easy as possible so these plant-based meatballs come together in little time and without any wild ingredients. The only thing you might need to pick up is a box of Purple Corn Flakes Peace Cereal. When Attune Foods sent over a few products for me to try, I knew the pretty purple corn flakes would be fun to add texture to some vegetarian patties.
I’m not too big on a bowl for breakfast but cereals can be such a versatile ingredient for cooking! The purple corn flakes are what provides the sweetness in the “sweet and smoky” element of my meatballs. These non-GMO corn flakes are also crispier than traditional corn flakes so that contributes a unique texture and flavor that you won’t want to miss! As a bonus, I love that the cereal is made from organic corn flour and organic brown rice flour so the meatballs are gluten free!
Sometimes veggie patties or meatballs can be a miss with my meat-eating family but I received pretty great reviews on these! Looks like I’ll be cooking them up again soon. 😉 Let me know if you try them out!
Sweet and Smoky “Meatballs”
Recipe Type: Main
Cuisine: Vegetarian, Vegan
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10-12 meatballs
These plant-based meatballs come together easily, in little time, and without any wild ingredients.
Ingredients
Olive oil, for cooking
½ cup white onion, chopped
½ cup carrot, diced
1 clove of garlic, chopped or minced
Salt and pepper
1 ½ cups lentils or white beans, well-drained*
½ tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp smoked paprika + ½ tsp for coating
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1/3 cup packed chopped tomato (about 1 small roma)
1 cup Purple Corn Flakes Peace Cereal + ¾ cup for coating
Lime juice, optional for serving
Instructions
In a cast-iron skillet, on medium heat, warm olive oil. Add sauté the onion, carrot, and garlic until soft. Then, remove from heat.
Using a food processor, grind 1 cup of the purple corn cereal until a fine meal is achieved.
In a bowl, mash the drained beans or lentils and add spices. The texture should be mashed and chunky but not pureed. Add in the skillet mixture, along with the cilantro, tomato, and ground cereal. The mixture should look thick and slightly on the dry side.
To make the coating, add the remaining ¾ cup of the cereal, along with ½ tsp of smoked paprika, to the food processor. Process until a choppy meal is achieved. Then, transfer to a zip-top baggie.
At this point, cover the bowl of the meatball mixture and store in the fridge for later or form into 10-12 balls for immediate use.
When ready to cook, heat up a few tablespoons of olive oil in a cast-iron skillet. Add one meatball to the baggie with the cereal coating and shake. Add the cereal-coated meatball to the skillet. Repeat with remaining meatballs. With the pan on medium heat, continue rotating the meatballs until they are browned all over.
Serve warm with a squeeze of lime. They pair nicely with a salad or sautéed greens. Cauliflower mashed potatoes or roasted veggies would also be delicious.
Notes
*I tried two different versions of this recipe using white beans and then lentils. The white bean version seemed to allow a slightly more prominent smoky flavor but the lentil version is excellent, too. I suppose you could substitute other beans like black beans, though I haven’t tested that myself.
3.5.3226
Thank you to Attune Foods for sending me Peace Cereal and allowing me to showcase a recipe with their purple corn flakes. See their store locator to find Peace Cereal near you.
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