Foodie Fridays: Almond Butter Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed puddings are a great warm weather breakfast option, and the Dreamy Almond Butter Chia Seed Pudding from The Almond Eater website is an especially tasty choice.  If you have never made a chia seed pudding before, it is surprisingly easy as no cooking is required, but the mixture will need to be refrigerated for a few hours so plan to make it the night before if you wish to have it for breakfast.  This cool treat would also make a delicious and relatively healthy dessert.  If you love almonds, then I am sure you will love this recipe!

Almond Butter Chia Seed Pudding

3 T. almond butter
2 T. maple syrup
1 C. almond milk
1/4 C. chia seeds
1 T. toasted sliced almonds (optional)

Combine the almond butter, maple syrup, and almond milk in a bowl and stir well to combine (the almond butter will not incorporate completely so the mixture will not be completely smooth).  Stir in the chia seeds until evenly distributed.  Pour the mixture into a large glass or mug and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or overnight).  Top with the sliced almonds just before serving.  Serves 1 (or 2 for dessert).
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Should You Let Your Dog(s) Sleep on Your Bed?

From AKC

Do you let your canine companion(s) sleep on your bed with you?  If so, you are certainly not alone.  A recent study of almost 1,000 women found that 55% sleep with at least one dog in their beds (for comparison, 57% share their sleeping space with another human!).  As to whether this habit is healthy, check out the infographic from an article on the Casper website shown below:

Read the Casper article for a more in-depth discussion of these benefits.  Of course, not everyone agrees that allowing a pet on your bed at night is a good idea.  Ultimately, it is up to the pet owner to decide what works for their own lifestyle.  In our house, both of our dogs get to decide where they prefer to sleep - sometimes they like to be on the bed, but sometimes they would rather sleep somewhere else, and not necessarily even in the same room.  They do not like to be on the bed at the same time so we never have more than one dog sharing our space, and that works out well for us!

                

Wish List Wednesdays: The Cat Library Jigsaw Puzzle

(click to enlarge)

Georgia's hot summer weather is starting to settle in, which means that it is time to retreat indoors for the hottest part of the day.  This is also a good time to start a fun and ongoing indoor project to work on while taking a break from summer's sweltering temperatures, and The Cat Library jigsaw puzzle ($17.99) from Puzzle Warehouse would be an ideal choice for such a project.  The 1,000-piece puzzle featuring cute kitties lounging on book-filled shelves is a better way to engage your brain than most video games or television binge-watching.  You can leave the puzzle where it is for as long as you like, returning to work on it at your leisure without worrying about remembering where you are in the game or what happened the last time you watched an episode of a favorite TV series.  When you are finished you can frame and keep the puzzle, or take it apart and either store it away for a future attempt or give it away to let others try their skill.  Talk about a win-win situation!
               

Weekend Wardrobe: Accessories for Neutral Palette 4x4 Basic Wardrobe for a Mild Summer

I meant to get this posted last weekend, but life got in the way (we were having all the tile flooring replaced on the first floor of our house after a leak in the kitchen necessitated pulling up the tiles in the kitchen).  Anyway, here are the accessories for the basic 4x4 summer wardrobe featured two weeks ago.  I decided to use the tropical palm print from two of the tops as the focal point for many of the selections - even though this wardrobe was designed with a cooler summer in mind, I thought that it would be nice to at least dream about summer in the tropics when choosing accessories!

Let's start with some summery head coverings (plus a bag which comes as a set with one of the hats):

Clockwise from top left: Peter Grimm Coralia Resort Hat in Black; Mio Marino Sun Hat and Beach Tote in Ivory; Jack Wolfskin Women's Reversible Wahia Palm Hat; J. Jill Etched Palms Triangle Scarf in Black.

And now for more handbags, plus a pair of sunglasses:

Clockwise from top left: Fendi Women's Black Oversize Sunglasses; Brevayo Circle Straw Crossbody Handbag in Black; Island Girl Cork Clutch in Tropical Leaf Print; Brahmin Tote in Cream/Palm Leaf print.

A bit of jewelry would be a nice addition:

Clockwise from top left: BLING Jewelry Sterling Silver Palm Tree Bracelet; Sterling Forever Sterling Silver Palm Tree Pendant Necklace; formandfunktion Sterling Silver Palm Leaf Cuff Bracelet; Ocean Jewelry Store Palm Tree Stud Earrings with Swarovski Crystals.

Shoes for warmer weather are up next:

Clockwise from top left: Banana Republic Woven Double-Strap Sandal in Black; Dolce Vita Women's Tala Fashion Sneaker in Palm Print Canvas; Clark's Women's Sultana Rayne Leather Sandal in Khaki; Vince Ace Palm Printed Slip On Sneakers in Coastal (no longer available); TOMS Women's Topanga Collection Clemente Slip-Ons in Birch.

And finally, since the wardrobe we are accessorizing is best suited for cooler climates, let's add some lightweight outerwear:

Clockwise from top left: Banana Republic Linen-Blend Long Cardigan in Olive Green; Edwards Ladies Full Zip V-Neck Cardigan in Black; John Lewis Mint Velvet Summer Print Kimono in Multi; BP V-Neck Cardigan in Ivory Dove; Center: prAna Cozy Up Zip Jacket in Cargo Green Heather.

Next week I have a very colorful wardrobe in mind, and as long as we don't have any more major house issues come up (other than the washing machine that my husband managed to break yesterday, less than 24 hours after he returned from a trip), I should actually manage to get it posted on time!
               

Foodie Fridays: Summer Solstice Salad

I have really been looking forward to trying the recipe for Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette from the Half Baked Harvest website, and it was just as delicious as I hoped it would be.  As usual I made some modifications, and since today is the Summer Solstice I decided to give my version a name change as a nod to this first day of summer.  Temperatures have been quite variable for the past month, but I think we are finally settling into our usual summer pattern of hot days and warm nights.  Main dish salads are perfect for southern summer suppers, and today's recipe is delightfully different from my usual salad meals.  Roast the vegetables early in the morning to avoid heating up your kitchen too much.  You could add some chicken if you feel the need for more protein, but the chickpeas and cheese are more than adequate for me.  This dish is a great way to start the summer season!

Summer Solstice Salad

1 large head cauliflower (I used the orange variety), cut into bite-sized florets
1 large red bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 small red onion, cut into chunks
2 T. olive oil
2 T. garlic-flavored oil*
1 tsp. chipotle chili powder
2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
6 C. baby arugula
8-10 oz. Wensleydale cheese with apricots, cut into 6 portions
3 avocados
Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette, or my cheater's version (see both below)

Combine the first eight ingredients in a large roasting pan and stir well to coat the vegetables thoroughly with oil.  Roast at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and lightly charred.  Remove from the oven and set aside to cool to room temperature.

For each salad serving, place 1 cup of arugula in a bowl.  Top with a portion of the roasted cauliflower mixture, drizzle on some of the vinaigrette, and toss.  Crumble a portion of the cheese over the top. Add half of an avocado, diced or sliced, and serve.  Serves 6.

Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette: Whisk together 1/4 C. olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 3 T. honey, 2 T. Dijon mustard, 2 T. tahini, 2 T. apple cider vinegar, and salt to taste.

Cheater's Honey Mustard Vinaigrette: For each serving, whisk together 2 T. Marzetti Simply Dressed Lemon Vinaigrette, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, and 1-2 tsp. honey.

*Or increase the olive oil to 4 T. and use 2 cloves of garlic, minced, instead.
               

This 'n That Thursdays: Are You on Board with These Surprising Opinions about Food?

From POPSUGAR

I recently read a list of thirteen rather unexpected opinions about food contributed by Food Network staffers that had me nodding in agreement in all but two cases.  These views are probably not popular with most people, but many of the grievances expressed have been my own personal pet peeves for quite a while.  Check out the Food Network list for yourself, as summarized by me below, and see if you find yourself in accord with any of the opinions:

From Quotabulary

1) Chocolate desserts are overrated, and vanilla options are almost always better.

I have been saying this for decades.  While I do like some chocolate desserts (like brownies), don't mind chocolate bits added to a dessert (like chocolate chip cookies), and would not say no to a good chocolate bar, for the most part I prefer vanilla, cinnamon, peanut butter, or citrus-flavored sweets when it comes to cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, pudding, etc.

From ThriftyFun

2) Stale snack foods are actually a good thing.

This is one of two opinions on this list that I do not agree with.  However, I would put unsweetened flavored carbonated beverages that have lost their fizz in this category instead (I know it's weird, but carbonation hurts my throat).

From District Dispatch

3) I cannot stand coffee!

Yes, yes, yes!  Although I admit that the smell of coffee can be pleasant, I have never liked the taste, and the caffeine buzz is just too much for me - I prefer a nice cup of tea instead.

From Backyard Burgers

4) Salads are my favorite meals.

While salads are not my most favorite meal, they are one of my top choices when the weather is not.

From Rachael Ray Every Day

5) Stop topping desserts with sea salt!

I have never understood the appeal of this trend.  I do realize that a bit of salt added to the batter will enhance the sweet flavor of baked goods.  However, on the now rare occasions when I indulge in a sweet treat, I want to taste the sweetness, unadulterated by large salt crystals sprinkled on the top!

From Novenyi Etrend Webshop

6) Rice pudding is one of the best desserts ever.

It is not my absolute favorite dessert, but I do love a good rice pudding - just do not add raisins please!

From Business Insider

7) I absolutely love mayonnaise!

Although I have recently switched to Vegenaise to reduce the amount of saturated fat in my diet, I still love that cold and creamy smoothness with the slight tang that mayonnaise brings to a dish.

From Broadway Bagels

8) Canned tuna is just awful, and egg salad is not any better.

This is the other one of two opinions I do not agree with.  I actually prefer canned tuna to fresh, especially when the latter is raw in the middle.  And I adore egg salad.

From Blaine's Farm & Fleet

9) DOTS are one of the best candies ever.

I don't mind them, and I love the name because I once had a Dalmatian named Dot, but they are not a favorite.  However, my husband loves them.

From Twitter

10) I eat SpaghettiOs straight out of the can.

I no longer do this, and have not had SpaghettiOs in ages, but I am still fond of them and would not hate eating them this way.

From Target

11) I prefer bouillon cubes to fresh or boxed/canned stock.

I would never go through the bother of making my own stock for the same reasons mentioned by this Food Network staffer (too much trouble saving and storing enough bones, and then storing the resulting vat of stock).  However, I only use the unsalted variety in a box and am not sure I could find unsalted bouillon cubes, because after all aren't they mostly salt?

From Cici's

12) Just say no to pepperoni on pizza!

My feelings exactly.  I detest pepperoni, and would pick the pieces off if given a slice of pizza topped with them.

From Thrillist

13) The Rainbow Unicorn trend must go (and the Red Velvet craze as well).

Actually, I would argue that this might be the more popular opinion now, at least as far as the rainbow unicorn trend is concerned!  I do not like the idea of artificial food dyes, so I was never a fan of food dye-filled, rainbow-colored edibles (I do not find the kaleidoscope of colors to be very appetizing).  And when I found out how much red dye goes into red velvet cake batter I lost interest in red velvet desserts.  It would not make me unhappy to see both of these fads end (the grilled cheese sandwich at the top of the page does not even look like food, but I have to admit that the cake shown below sure does look delicious!).

From Southern Living

Did you find yourself concurring with any of these opinions, or do you think that those of us who do agree are peculiar?  If the latter, then just call me weird, because I stand by my support for the majority of the items on the list!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Soft Surroundings Summer Sale

From Soft Surroundings

Soft Surroundings is currently having a summer sale, with some items up to 75% off.  I found a number of lovely offerings for less than $50, and may just have to place an order myself, despite my determination not to purchase any new apparel or décor until after we have made our move to New Mexico.  Below are just a few of the items I may not be able to resist:

1) Watercolor Slimsations Skort in Watercolor Floral (originally $74.95, now $29.99)

2) Fabulous Flamingo Shirt in Soft Blue (originally $79.95, now $29.99)

3) Salema Shawl in Multi (originally $49.95, now $34.99)

4) Mouline Beaded Pendant in Beaded Sea (originally $149.95, now $49.97)

This is just a sampling of the hundreds of items available in this price range alone.  You might want to check out the Soft Surroundings sale if you are looking for fun apparel, accessories, and even home décor at some amazing prices!