Healthy Food • Healthy Living
Health and nutrition have always been important to me, but over the past several years, my knowledge and interest in food and how it affects our body has really expanded. So, with my love for cooking, organic produce, and whole foods, with my food blog Lemons and Basil, I hope to inspire you in your cooking adventures and journey of good health, the way so many other food blogs have inspired me!
This doesn’t look much like a Fudgy Flourless Red Chili Chocolate Muffin, does it? Because that’s the recipe I was planning on sharing with you. However, some times things don’t go as planned.
After church this afternoon I began preparing a recipe, what I’m calling, a Green Powerhouse Salad with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato. Although now that I see how long that is, I may have to revise it a bit before posting the recipe…
Pizza. Is it silly that I can’t imagine a time without it? I mean, it seems like it’s right there with red beans and rice. Surely it has and always will be something that people of all backgrounds, ethnicity, income levels, and from all parts of the world recognize. It’s essentially the universal food… am I right?…
Okay, truth? I’ve never actually eaten Pad Thai. So, I feel like a bit of a phony, or at least a little unqualified, to title this recipe, Sweet Potato Pad Thai. BUT, like the straight-A student I always sought to be, I did do my research. And I think {fingers-crossed} that I have enough of the general ingredients needed to label this Pad Thai…
It’s Friday, the sun is shining and the high is 70 degrees. I believe a celebration is in order, and lets start it with this Spring inspired, fresh Turmeric Banana Smoothie with Ginger!
I have read so many wonderful things lately about Turmeric and how good it is for the body, it has the ability to help prevent cancer, improve asthma, speed up healing process among so many other benefits – which I’ll dive into in just a minute…
I had read about the fudginess of avocado cookies, but some things you just have to experience for yourself. These Avocado Chocolate Chips Cookies are not only festive for Saint Patrick’s Day, but they are unbelievable tasty! Like don’t-tell-your-family-they’re-ready-and-pour-a-big-glass-of-milk-and-EAT kind of good!…
I simply cannot let March 17th come and go without sharing seven Saint Patrick’s Day recipes that feature an array of greens threaded throughout some of my favorite, albeit experimental recipes. So today, I decided to don my shamrock green in anticipation of the upcoming holiday while hoping the Luck of the Irish comes my way!…
After making these Chilaquiles with Chipotle Adobe Pepper and Avocado, I learned, if you’re looking for a way to track your favorite foods and see what you are naturally drawn to…start a food blog.
I never realized just how much I love Mexican inspired foods, or sweet potatoes, avocados, and chocolate. Okay, maybe I knew the chocolate. But when you see these same ingredients show up post after post you begin to realize you’re (I’M) maybe not as diversified as you’d (I’D) like to think…
I know, I know… I just posted a spaghetti squash recipe a few weeks ago, but while getting groceries last week, I couldn’t help but pick one up and make this Spaghetti Squash Casserole! I toyed with making another Mexican dish, but ultimately decided to go the more traditional Italian route…
Who knew that bananas, when frozen, could be turned into a creamy-sweet-delicious dessert that closely mimics ice cream?
I discovered this about a year ago and since then keep a large stock of bananas in my freezer. Not only are they perfect to grab for a quick ice cream fix, but they’re also great to thicken up smoothies, while sweetening them naturally!…
Two for two!
These BBQ Lentil Meatballs are the second vegetarian meatball recipe I’ve made here, and I’m am over-the-moon with the outcome of both! You may remember the Vegetarian Quinoa Meatballs I posted back in November, they were full of fresh herbs, eggplant, parmesan, all ingredients that gave them an immense flavor that paired perfectly with a red sauce pasta sauce…
Before I get to this tasty Lemon Ginger Asparagus topped with Toasted Coconut, let me give you a brief update on what we’ve been up to!
Last week was full of lots of hard work {mostly on Josh’s part!} to make a few changes around the site and I am thrilled with the outcome! Josh has done a wonderful job redesigning the home page to incorporate a few new features, including the slider at the top and a “Popular Posts” column on the right…
As of Wednesday, Lemons and Basil is officially six months old! At times it feels as though it’s been much longer and others it feels as though I’ve just began. I can honestly say it’s been much-needed sense of distraction and comfort these past six months. I shared some personal things my family is facing in my last post, Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Tacos, which explains a bit more the need for comfort this blog, and you, have provided…
I should forewarn you that this is a very long post, but if you have a minute, I’d like to share with you our story and the battle we are facing with my mom’s health.
Let me start by saying that I’ve come to believe we were all created with this deep desire to know people and be known. I believe there is an innate longing in all of us to feel really known by other human beings, and more importantly, to feel loved and accepted for who we are…
Happy Valentine’s Day!
This week has flown by! I think being sick does that to you, time disappears and consequently, I feel behind on just about everything! I came down with some sort of awful sinus congestion/head cold thing last Saturday and it got progressively worse until I found myself curled up in bed Monday evening with a pounding headache…
I think I’ve trained my taste buds over time to love most healthy foods. Not all of them, but a lot of them. So sometimes I’m a little hesitant to rave about something I’ve made and love myself, in fear that those who maybe are not accustom to eating healthier meals, may be disappointed or turn up their noses at the typical things you’ll find here on Lemons and Basil…
Is it ironic that as I write about these energy bars, I’m yawning?
If only I had some left, I might have more energy. They didn’t last long. Not only did I wolf them down at every opportunity…but because I thought they were so good, I shoved them at anyone I could, insisting they had to try them…
I don’t know about you, but Sunday night’s Super Bowl felt like there was a whole lot of build up for a whole lot of nothing… except maybe embarrassment. I mean really, 43-8?? I had such high hopes for you, Denver.
And the commercials? Maybe I just didn’t pay attention as closely as I should have, but the only commercial I remember really liking was the Puppy Love commercial with the Clydesdale horse and the cute puppy. So sweet!…
And the all time favorite Game Day Meal? Pizza, Pizza, Pizza!
Okay, I promise this is my last suggestion for what you should make, serve, and EAT for your 2014 Super Bowl get together!…
Before I talk about these incredible Quinoa Veggie Burgers, smothered with sweet potato fries and a fried egg, or the fact you should totally make them for the Super Bowl this weekend, let’s talk coffee.
Can you guess what happens to a caffeine-drinking-coffee-holic (me) when they stop drinking caffeinated coffee?…
TGIF! Anyone one else remember the series of shows that use to come on ABC during prime time every Friday night. There was Boy Meets World, Growing Pains, Step by Step, The Wonder Year…AH, such fond memories, such good shows!…
Happy Monday! I hope you had an enjoyable weekend!
Josh was out of town on Saturday, which gave me the opportunity to get the house cleaned, laundry done, a few dishes prepared and photographed, as well as a chance to finish going through our pictures from New York…
Looking for the perfect meal for tomorrow’s Playoff games? I have just the thing for you!
I don’t know if you have any football fans in your house, or if you’re excited about the remaining teams, but let me just say that the Pauley house is pretty stoked. Josh has been a longtime, loyal 49ers fan. Even during their, shall we say… struggling seasons. So while they’ve had their ups and downs this year, we could not be more excited about tomorrow night’s game and their chance at going to the Superbowl two years in a row!…
As promised, here is the recipe for the Root Vegetable Hash with Eggs and Aged Cheddar. This is a dish I can’t seem to get enough of!…
I’m still playing catch up, but I finally had a chance to sit down and go through our New York pictures. There were too many for one post so I’ve split it up into two.
We flew out of Nashville bright and early Christmas morning and arrived in New York about 11A.M. Eastern time…
The holidays are over, our trips are complete, and we are home safe and sound for good. Which means back to reality!
I love traveling and all it includes. Visiting family, capturing gorgeous views, experiencing other culture, eating an array of cuisine and making memories that I’ll always treasure…
Happy New Year!
This past year has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride with it’s ups and downs. And while I am thankful for so many things, I must admit that I am looking forward to 2014…
Josh and I are back in Nashville, and while New York was absolutely wonderful, I am so thankful to be home. As energizing, adventurous and exciting as traveling is, I’m very much a person of routine, and there is nothing more comforting than to sleep in your own bed and wake up in your own surroundings…
Merry belated Christmas!
I hope Christmas brought you joy and peace, along with rest and time with family and friends! We celebrated Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve and had an absolutely wonderful time. So much to be thankful for. We devoured a lovely feast for dinner. Ham with sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs,salad, bread. Essentially, lots of carb! But somehow it wouldn’t feel right any other way…
Christmas is in TWO days! Are you ready??
I’m sure most of you have your meal all planned out, but if you’re looking for a festive salad to add to the feast, consider this Pomegranate Christmas Salad!…
The Christmas season is often full of indulgence. With Christmas parties, family get-togethers and tasty edible gifts, I’d say most of us get our fair share of holiday treats. So why not allow our four-legged friends a little indulgence as well?…
