Spring is in the air, my friends. Can you feel it?
(Oh, how I miss this sweet little baby face. She is 10 years old now.)
With temperatures pushing the 90’s, we pulled out our shorts and sandals a few weeks ago. Some of my kids even went swimming in our unheated pool. They are crazy.
Aside from the gorgeous Arizona spring weather, here are a few things that have been catching my interest this month:
1. Apples on Paninis
Wednesdays are a little crazy around here, with people coming and going all afternoon and evening. We have started eating paninis on Wednesday evenings because it is easy for people to make their own sandwiches when they are ready to eat.
While I usually have a variety of ingredients to choose from, thinly sliced apples have become a staple on the sandwich buffet. Combined with some sort of meat (ham, turkey, bacon) and melted cheese, you have yourself a little slice of heaven.
Last week I got a little fancy and buttered the outside of the bread with garlic butter and added fresh basil to the middle along with apples and cheese. It is making me hungry just thinking about it.
It sounds weird, I know, but you simply must give it a try. This recipe is a good place to start.
You can thank me later.
2. Green Smoothies
I drink a full quart for breakfast most mornings. That sounds like a ton, but I have actually started to crave it. My favorite hidden ingredient is avocado. You cannot taste it, but it adds a creamy texture and keeps me full for hours.
Try this recipe, but add an avocado. Trust me.
If you like it, follow Simple Green Smoothies on Instagram for daily recipes and inspiration.
3. American Idol
Anybody else enjoying the farewell season? There are so many talented contestants, but I am shamelessly rooting for La’Porsha Renae.
She’s AMAZING!
4. The Race
While I did enjoy Zootopia, my favorite movie of the month was definitely this one.
Since I just read The Boys in the Boat, which was set during the same Olympics, it was fascinating to see the politics of the games played out on the screen. I would definitely recommend it! Two thumbs up!
5. The Calorie Myth, by Jonathan Bailor
A few weeks ago, I listened to this podcast with Jonathan Bailor, best-selling author of The Calorie Myth, and it was fascinating. I have never been a calorie counter and do not have much faith in traditional “diets” that rely heavily on calorie restriction and exercise in order to lose weight.
I have watched people who are close to me repeatedly starve themselves into quick weight loss, only to quickly put all of the weight back on again plus some extra. The next time that they try to lose weight, it is much more difficult because their bodies resist the starvation.
It only makes sense that a diet will only work if it is a lifestyle change, and calorie restriction is not really sustainable for a lifetime. This book details why weight loss is not a matter of calorie quantity, but calorie quality. It is a matter of healing your metabolism by eating the right foods, and that is backed up by study after scientific study.
I will admit that we have not fully adopted this lifestyle yet, but the science behind it makes perfect sense. We are working on adding many more vegetables to our diet while cutting way back on sugar.
If that sounds interesting, I would recommend starting with the podcast above. You can also purchase your own copy of the book here.
6. Hallelujah
This short video is incredible! The Mormon Tabernacle Choir teamed up with over 2000 virtual singers from all over the world to create this rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. What a beautiful way to usher in the Easter season.
What are you into these days?
