Wendy

Puerto Rico: La Isla Del Encanto

February 9, 2016 by Wendy Leave a Comment

Puerto Rico. Where do I begin? I’ve been to this gorgeous island multiple times, and all my trips have been memorable. My favorite part about PR is that you can cover a lot of ground within a short period of time. The island is pretty small. It’s also the perfect blend of chill vibes, beach, sun, and piña coladas. My most recent trip was this past December 2015. I went to celebrate my girl’s big 3-0, and we stayed at her grandmother’s house in Vega Alta. We drove all over the island, explored, met awesome people, and most importantly, ate really great food. Just a heads up that if you want to really go out and explore places outside of San Juan, I recommend renting a car. Public transportation is terrible within the island, as most people drive. With that being said, here are some of my favorite places. If you’ve been to Puerto Rico, definitely share your go-to spots with us!

Viejo San Juan:

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love Viejo San Juan. The cobblestone streets, colorful houses, colonial architecture, chic restaurants and bars…it’s just too damn much. I can literally walk for hours just staring at all of it (and taking cute pics).

Castillo San Felipe del Morro y San Cristobal:

Amazing view of the coast and the most beautiful architecture. Both fortifications can be explored alone or with a park service ranger. Historical information is posted throughout the fort for those of you who wanna get your read on.

La Cueva de La Ventana:

We ducked bats and hiked through dark caves to reach La Cueva de La Ventana, a cave that offers a stunning view of Arecibo.

El Yunque National Rainforest:

Rainforest. Hiking. Waterfalls. If you’re into getting a nature workout in, this is the spot for you.

Mate:

I love this place! They make delicious wraps and smoothies, and also have homemade empanadas (veggie options included!) I’ll also mention that they made me a pina colada to die for.

La Cubanita:

A low-key bar/lounge with specialty cocktails. Expect good music and super sexy vibes (put on that freakum dress).

La Salita Café:

Open mic nights, local music, art, & film. My friend Carolina from Miss Rizos had an event here and the service was great. Check out their calendar for a complete list of all their events.

El Departamento de la Comida:

Located in Santurce, this place is a must for vegan/vegetarian lovers. All of their food is locally sourced, and they work closely with a family farm to bring you the freshest meals imaginable. Definitely going down as a favorite.

Oceano Lounge:

Located just 15 minutes outside of Viejo San Juan, this place seriously has the best calamari ever. Oh-em-gee. Just so good! This restaurant is on the pricier side of things, but if you’re in the mood to splurge a bit (as you should be), then check it out.

Cerro Gordo:

This beach is one of those “off the beaten path” situations. You’ll find mostly locals laying back and enjoying the sun. You can hike to the far end of the beach, for stunning views of the ocean. You’ll also find really cool rock formations.

Loiza:

This Afro-Puerto Rican town made my heart smile. Not only because I was so excited to see an entire community of brown faces, but also because Loiza is home to many Dominicans (woop!) We stopped by Los Piñones, which has a strip of food kiosks and restaurants. We ate at La Casita (so good!) and went to the local beaches that line the coast, before heading into town to visit Las Cuevas de Loiza:

Cabo Rojo:

We drove to Cabo Rojo, a cute beach town with tons of cute bars and restaurants. It’s super chill, and great for getting in that much needed rest and relaxation.

And then there was Vieques and Culebra. I’ve been fortunate enough to explore both these islands, and they are truly a treat. I’ve done day trips to Culebra, and did an extended vacation in Vieques. If you’re interested in visiting, you have to catch a ferry from Fajardo (if going to Culebra, arrive 1-2 hours early or you will be left). Here’s a quick summary of both:

Vieques:

I stayed in the Vieques Good Vibes house, which is run by my good friend Pacifica. She drove us all over the island. I wish I kept track of the names of the beaches we went to, but I’ll just say that it’s a pretty small island. You probably won’t get lost, and will be able to explore most of the beaches within one weekend. Vieques has really cute cafés and restaurants, and the southern side of the island is considered to be the liveliest if you’re looking to turn up.

Culebra:

Culebra is smaller and more tourist-driven. It also has a ton of beaches that are great for swimming, snorkeling, diving, and all that good stuff. I visited Flamenco beach while there, and it was everything.

Quinoa Enchilada Dip

January 27, 2016 by Wendy 31 Comments

This quinoa enchilada dip recipe is perfect for those days when you’re expecting people over, and want to entertain them with a filling dish that won’t take you hours to do. But then again- I made this and enjoyed it for my weekly lunch (all by myself). So it really works either way. If you enjoy it as a dip, you can accompany it with some tortilla chips!

The enchilada sauce is fire. We’re making the sauce with tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and a dash of salt. For the base of the dip, we’re going to combine our quinoa, tomatoes, beans, peppers, and onions. Then we will top with the sauce and some cheddar cheese and bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy!!

Quinoa Enchilada Dip

Total Time

30 mins

Servings: 4 -6

Ingredients

2 cups of cooked quinoa*
3/4 cups of cooked black beans
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 jalapeño, chopped
1/4 small red onion, chopped
3 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 avocado, cubed
1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro leaves

For the enchilada sauce

1 cup of tomato sauce
1/4 teaspoon of chili powder
1/4 teaspoon of cumin
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
Salt to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400F
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the enchilada sauce and mix.
In a oven-safe skillet or pan, combine the quinoa, beans, tomato, peppers, and onion. Then add the enchilada sauce evenly to the quinoa mix.
Top with cheddar cheese, and bake at 400F for 25 min.
Finish off with avocado and fresh cilantro.

Recipe Notes

*To make quinoa, boil 1 cup of quinoa in 2 cups of water for 25-30 min on low-medium heat with the cover on, until fluffy.

Ginger Garlic String Beans

January 22, 2016 by Wendy 2 Comments

Winter is here, and ginger is the perfect ingredient for adding warmth and spice to meals, which is exactly what we did with this ginger glazed garlic string bean recipe. This recipe is meant to be the vegetable side piece to your favorite meal. It’s savory, crunchy, and nutrient-packed! The combination of garlic, ginger, beans, soy sauce, and mushrooms are going to create an awesome flavor that you’ll crave again and again.

Ginger is an awesome ingredient to add to your recipes. Ginger has been found to help with stomach aches, nausea, asthma, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Not to mention the delicious flavor that ginger adds to dishes!

Garlic has also been found to help with many diseases because of its antioxidant and antibacterial functions. Garlic may help fight hypertension, high cholesterol, infections, and cardiovascular disease. The garlic will also help add a nice punch of flavor to the classic string bean.

This is going to be a super simple recipe, starting with cutting the ends off of the string beans. Once the beans are all ready, heat some olive oil in a skillet and add the garlic and ginger. Next add the beans to the oil, ginger, and garlic in the pan. Cook the beans for about ten minutes before adding the mushrooms and soy sauce. Get ready to enjoy once you top with a dash of black pepper!

Do you use ginger in any of your recipes? Let us know how you like the garlic-ginger combo with these string beans in the comment section below!

5 from 2 votes

Ginger Glazed Garlic String Beans

Total Time

20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 cups of string beans
1 cup of mushrooms, sliced (use your favorite)
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1 teaspoon of fresh ginger, minced
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cut the ends off the string beans.
In a pan, heat olive oil and add garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute on low-medium heat.
Add string beans, and cook for 10 minutes with the lid on.
Then add mushrooms and soy sauce, and cook for another 3-5 minutes without the lid
Remove and top with black pepper.

Recipe Notes

Enjoy as a vegetable side to your favorite meal!

Pesto Portobello Mini Pizzas

January 19, 2016 by Wendy 3 Comments

We all know those nights when all you want is a movie and pizza. These portobello mini-pizzas will do just the trick! Just stack your favorite pizza toppings on a portabello mushroom, and 20 minutes later…wah-lah! Portobello pizzas. This goes great as an appetizer, as the filling for a sandwich, or with a side of pasta.

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and add the portabello mushrooms tops down onto the baking sheet, with the insides facing up. Pulse the basil, walnuts, parmesan, and olive oil into a pesto. Salt to taste and spread evenly onto mushroom bottoms. Layer with chopped tomatoes, and shredded mozzarella and bake for 20 minutes. Adjust for salt, as needed and enjoy with red pepper flakes.

The versatility of these portobello mini-pizzas will never leave you bored. Try different cheeses such as burrata or ricotta. Maybe spice it up with some fresh herbs. Try out some basil, parsley, or oregano. You can even add any of your favorite vegetables like peppers, onions, spinach, you name it! What types of combos can you make with this? As always, let us know in the comments section below! xo

Portabella Mini-Pizzas

Total Time

25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 portabella mushrooms, stems removed
½ cup fresh basil
¼ cup walnuts
¼ cup grated parmesan
¼ cup olive oil
Salt to taste
1 cup chopped tomatoes, canned or fresh
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Red pepper flakes for topping

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and add the portabello mushrooms tops down onto the baking sheet, with the insides facing up.
Pulse the basil, walnuts, parmesan, and olive oil into a pesto.
Salt to taste and spread evenly onto mushroom bottoms.
Layer with chopped tomatoes, and shredded mozzarella and bake for 20 minutes.
Adjust for salt, as needed and enjoy with red pepper flakes.

Runaway Bay, Jamaica

January 18, 2016 by Wendy 5 Comments

Last year, I came across the amazing Runaway Jamaica Bed & Breakfast when they launched their Kickstarter campaign in 2015. Immediately after checking out their campaign, I was like “who are these cool kids and how can I get in touch with them?” Naturally, I reached out just to let them know how inspiring and beautiful their idea was for creating Runaway Jamaica. We’ve been in touch ever since.

You may be wondering, “well what exactly is The Runaway Jamaica?” Co-creators Jeff and Kalisa, have created a space that goes beyond your idea of what a bed & breakfast should be. They have established powerful connections with farmers, herbalists, architects, artists, and creatives from all over the island, which have influenced how they run their bed & breakfast. In The Runaway, you will find local art, crafts, furniture, food and so much more. Jeff and Kalisa are passionate about curating experiences for their guests that tap into the culture and beauty that is Jamaica.

When they invited me to come over and check out the space last month, I was thrilled. The timing was perfect and a vacation was overdue. I packed my bags, and 4 hours later, I was in Runaway Bay. With Jeff and Kalisa. In real life. (They were already BFF’s in my head.) It was such an amazing trip. These two pretty much spoiled me to the max. Kalisa was cooking glorious meals (3x a day) and refused to let me eat leftovers. Jeff put his mixology skills into use, and hooked me up with banging cocktails. I was in heaven. It was so great spending time in their space, and I left feeling inspired, motivated, and (most importantly) rested.

Here are some flicks I took of their Bed & Breakfast space:

And here are some of the mouth-watering meals Kalisa prepared for me:

And here are some of the cool gems they took me to:

Cranbrook Flower Forest

A lush forest wonderland where we hiked, swam, and explored.

Silver Sands Beach

A deserted stretch a white sand beaches. Everything.

Stush in the Bush

A sustainable farm and education space that grows organic food and prepares organic goods/meals.

Arite folks, so there you have it. Some highlights of my getaway to Runaway Bay, Jamaica. To learn more about Kalisa & Jeff, and check out their amazing B&B, click here. Have you ever been to Runaway Bay or Jamaica? Share your favorite gems in the comments below! xo

Nashville, Tennessee

January 18, 2016 by Wendy Leave a Comment

We’ve heard so many amazing things about Nashville- mainly the food, music, shops, and nature outings. Just about everything we need in life. When we found out that the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE 2015) would be taking place here, we knew we had to go. We were not disappointed. Although we only spent 4 days (most of our time was spent attending geeky nutrition workshops and seminars) we were able to do some exploring. Here are some of the cool spots we checked out:

Merchants:

After we landed, we headed to this spot for lunch. Jess had the strawberry salad, and I had the grilled salmon BLT (without the bacon). We also enjoyed their sweet potato wedges. Merchant’s is located right on Broadway, so afterwards we went for a stroll and listened to all the great live music that was playing in various venues on Broadway (mid-day!)

The City Winery

As we were driving through town, we spotted this beautiful building that said “City Winery.” We looked up the menu that evening, and decided on checking it out for dinner. We had such a great time. The City Winery is a multi-purpose space- they have concerts, food and wine classes, they run a fully-functional winery (I took a tour of where the wine is stored- amazing!), and offer incredibly tasty meals. We ordered the Margherita flatbread, the shredded kale salad, and macaroni and cheese. For desert, we split a scoop of locally-sourced vanilla ice cream. We loved it so much here that we actually returned the following day for dinner hahahaha

Pinewood Social

Hands down, our favorite spot! The coolness factor for Pinewood Social is through the roof. They have a cafe area, a dining area, an outside seating area, a living room, a bowling alley in the back (whoa), anddd a pool in the back that is open during the warmer months. Insane. For dinner, we ordered split the kale caesar salad, fried broccoli, and the salmon entree. We loved our experience so much that we then returned the following day for brunch!

The Post East

Not gonna lie. The food in Nashville can be on the heavy side of things and after eating a few southern comfort meals, we were ready to gulp down green smoothies. We checked out The Post East, a cute coffee shop that makes smoothies, juices, salads and more. We were able to customize our green smoothies, and also enjoyed a tasty brown rice and black bean salad. We then took a stroll in the neighborhood, which had some cool murals and adorable houses.

Shelby Bottoms

We took a ride through Shelby Bottoms, a beautiful nature park in East Nashville. This is a great place to go to unwind, lay down, or even get a workout in. They have trails for biking, running, hiking, and wildlife watching.