Spaghetti with Zucchini Noodles

So I finally made zucchini noodles...

Hands raised if you've tried z noodles — er, zoodles? I first heard about them earlier this year when Austin and I were about to do Whole30, but I didn't actually get around to making them until a few weeks ago.

It's really easy, honestly. You just have to get a vegetable spiralizer, make the "noodles" and cook them in a pan with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. The only downside is the zoodles are prone to being watery, so it's best if you can pat them with paper towels, but you'll still need to prep yourself because they're not exactly like eating spaghetti.

But, with a little meat sauce and some basil, it's close enough! To be totally honest, the first time I tried making zucchini noodles I also tried to make this fancy-pants pesto sauce, but I didn't have a food processor, so I used a blender instead. Pro-tip: When recipes call for a food processor, a blender doesn't always do the job. I ended up sitting in the McDonald's drive through that night reminiscing on how far I'd fallen.

So anyway, this is just a simple meat sauce. With no recipe. What did you think this is, a food blog or something?? (My bad.)

I tried spiralizing squash recently, and I liked that a little better than the zucchini. Adding chicken, tomatoes, olive oil and spices really made it yummy. As far as zoodles go, what other recipes should I try?!

Send me your recipes! xoxo

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Citrus and Berry Lacroix Popsicles

Does anybody else wish summer would last forever? I love Labor Day weekend and all of the fun it brings, but it always gives me a twinge of remorse for those long, hot days that are about to turn into fall. Don’t get me wrong, I love fall just as much as the next basic girl, but there’s just something magical about summer.

When I was a kid, one of my family friends would babysit me often, and sometimes I could convince her to let us make "Sprite-sicles." The genius concoctions were just Sprite frozen into a popsicle mold, and I LOVED them. I think of them often in the summer, as the season brings the nostalgic memories. But really, reflecting on it as an adult, sucking on frozen Sprite is probably not the best idea. (Hello, cavities!)

So here’s my solution for the end-of-summer blues: Lacroix Popsicles. They’re the perfect refreshing (and healthy) treat to cool off with, and they’re Whole30 approved! 

Here’s the recipe:

Berry Popsicle (makes 6)

- 1/2 can (6 oz.) Passionfruit Lacroix

- 1 cup Cranberry Juice

- 1/3 cup Strawberries

- 1/4 cup Blackberries

Citrus Popsicle (makes 6)

- 1/2 can (6 oz.) Mango Lacroix

- 1 cup Orange Juice

- 1/2 cup Blueberries

- Splash of Lime Juice

For the Berry Popsicles, combine all ingredients in blender. Pour into popsicle molds, freeze overnight, and enjoy!

For the Citrus Popsicles, combine Lacroix, orange juice and lime juice in blender. Drop blueberries into popsicle molds, freeze overnight, and enjoy!

Personally, I liked the Berry Popsicles better, but this recipe is so customizable you could combine nearly any ingredients to make your own perfect healthy-indulgent fruity-flavored taste-bud wonderland. The juice you pair with the Lacroix is going to be the first flavor you notice, but since the sparkling water is carbonated, it adds a really fun, refreshing experience to what would otherwise be just a plain jane popsicle. 

Have you all hopped on the Lacroix train? Would you say you prefer Lacroix over boys?

Happy Labor Day weekend!

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A Healthy, Easy, Yummy (!) Steak Salad

Y'know what? I'm just gonna come out and say it. Eating healthy can be boring! Most of the time when I try to be healthy I end up eating the same recipes over and over, and I don't even get to add any Chick-Fil-A sauce to anything. It's a struggle, y'know?

THEN some other times you try some cool-girl zoodles recipe and completely ruin it (more on that in a later post).

But then, there are days when the clouds part and a ray of sunlight pours into your brain and you have the idea for an easy, healthy, tasty steak salad. Those are the days I live for.

To be perfectly honest, I don't really like steak. Is that comment going to get me kicked off the internet? But steak is the healthiest red meat that's high in iron, so if you're looking to supplement iron, it's a great option.

And this salad actually made me want to eat steak again, so I'd call it a win-win!

So easy it's crazy.

Ingredients
- Mixed greens
- Steak
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Garbanzo Beans
- Sunflower Seeds
- Goat Cheese

Directions
Grill steak, or pan sear if you live in an apartment (🙋🏼).While steak is cooking, rinse mixed greens, strawberries and blueberries. Toss salad with garbanzo beans, sunflower seeds and crumbled goat cheese.

Now the dressing is where you can make this really fun (or really healthy). If you're trying to make this meal Whole 30, you could remove the garbanzo beans and cheese, use an olive oil dressing, and cry yourself to sleep.

Personally, I used a raspberry vinaigrette. Happy salad days!

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