My boyfriend, Zach, and I have been spending our quarantine over the last 6 weeks (woah it's been that long?) in Pennsylvania with his family. For the past couple of weeks specifically we have been at his dad's lake cabin enjoying the peace and quiet. I've been especially enjoying time spent in nature and learning about the plants around us. It is very different from what we are used to living in Brooklyn, but I am grateful to have this time to pause and reconnect with trees and streams and grass and moss. Plus I found the mother lode of RAMPS(!!!) which is incredibly exciting. Not finding ramps growing in the wild on Myrtle Ave anytime soon, after all.
Anyway, when I think "cabin by the lake" I think campfires. And what goes with campfires? Marshmallows of course. Every good cabin will have a supply. Just our luck that we are spending this time in a good cabin. Everyone knows what comfort food is. Some comfort foods are universally agreed upon (mac and cheese, anyone?) and others are comforting on a much more personal level.
Some of my favorite comfort foods are sunny side up eggs with buttered toast, pierogies fried in butter and sprinkled with sugar, and american grilled cheese on wheat bread. These foods aren't necessarily the healthiest, though they remind me of childhood in the best way! If we're gonna talk about comfort sweets, however...my number one is banana bread. I don't know why but I have been obsessed with maple syrup lately. I think it all began because I put some in my vanilla roiboos tea and (obviously) that was delicious and now I just can't get enough!
My boyfriend and I often snack on popcorn as an after dinner treat or for something to hold us over. A lot of people go for the microwave kind but not only are those little bags full of added ingredients that aren't great for you but the cost adds up and it's just not necessary! Making popcorn on your stove is super easy and you can customize any way you like! Ever since I was a child, crispy rice squares have been one of my favorite treats. Their crispy yet gooey texture with buttery marshmallow flavor just speaks to me on a hugely comforting level. Whether they were homemade or store bought I could never get enough of them when I was growing up!
Now that I'm older, I won't discriminate against store bought. After all, there are some pretty good ones out there (I'm looking at you, marshmallow dream bars from Starbucks). But homemade crispy rice squares are just so superior. Not to mention, they're a blank canvas to flavor however you like! What's worse than having a fever and sore throat? Having a fever and sore throat right in the middle of summer. Unfortunately this is my current situation. Usually I would baby myself with lots of hot tea and warm chicken noodle soup, but when it is 90 degrees outside those are kind of the last things I want.
When I'm sick I refuse to let it spoil eating food that I enjoy. I still have great food but make sure that it is something that will benefit me and help me feel better. So I decided to make myself a delicious smoothie that would be hydrating and full of all the vitamins I need to not just feel better but get better! |
AuthorAli is a Brooklyn based blogger and Certified Health Coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, providing you with recipes to inspire you to cook more at home! She is a firm believer in knowing that eating healthy can be made easy and inexpensive if you simply know how to cook and understands that for the average person there needs to be balance between "healthy" and "unhealthy". Whether you are looking for easy weeknight recipes, delicious snacks, or want to try something new, Ali's recipes are easy to follow at all skill levels! For more info about Ali and her offerings, check out the About page. Categories
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