sutra

Although I’m not vegan myself, I’m always down for a tasty plant-based meal. I think everyone could eat more plants in their lives, and I make it a point to eat plenty! I’ve been a fan of Matthew Kenney restaurants for a while- the vegan pizza at Double Zero is super delish!- and was excited to try out one of his latest NYC openings, Sutra. I love the “modern yet mindful” approach to cuisine here, and was truly blown away by the variety of flavors in each dish. The creative menu focuses on elevated, refined, plant-based food, and sits atop the rooftop of the Alo Yoga store in NYC’s Flatiron district. It’s a beautiful urban oasis, and the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.

I got the pleasure of enjoying a solo three course lunch one afternoon, and really savored each and every bite. I started with a frothy and earthy turmeric latte, followed by the spicy carrot roll as my appetizer. The carrot pate and the jalapeno cream cheese nestled in nori wraps was so unique and tasty. For my entree, I went with the beet poke bowl, which featured avocado, wakame, macadamia nuts, edamame and cauliflower rice, and was both refreshing and satisfying. Never one to skip dessert, I had to try the deconstructed banana & coconut cream pie for dessert. Oh my glory- this was to die for. I was quite full by this point, but I just couldn’t help but going back to finish the entire plate. And how gorgeous was the presentation too?! If you’re in NYC, I definitely recommend stopping by for a nourishing, vibrant, and delicious meal.

seed + mill

This should come as no surprise to anyone by this point, but I have an obsession with tahini. The smooth and creamy paste (akin to nut butter) made from ground sesame seeds is truly one of my favorite things! I love baking with it and eating it in all the ways, any time of day- whether it’s in my tahini chocolate chip blondies or made into a simple salad dressing or spooned into medjool dates with chocolate, I am here for it!

No surprise then that I am a huge fan of Seed + Mill, a cute tahini and halva focused shop in New York City’s Chelsea Market. They make some of the best, smoothest, and creamiest tahini around (luckily you can order this online), and not to mention delicious halva as well! For those of you who don’t know, halva is a traditional Middle Eastern fudge-like confection made with tahini (sesame seed paste), sugar, spices and nuts. In fact, the Arabic word halva translates to “sweetness.” It’s sweet, but not obnoxiously so, and delightfully nutty, fluffy, and crumbly. Seed + Mill whips up some seriously delicious halva flavors at their store- Toasted coconut dark chocolate? Pistachio? Date walnut? Ginger? Yes please, my mouth is watering already! These are sold by the slab, so pick a few to take home and try out. You won’t be disappointed.

Perhaps even more exciting for me was the tahini soft serve ice cream that Seed + Mill churns out. It’s made with goat milk, so perhaps less irritating for those with lactose sensitivities, and oh so creamy and delicious! It’s finished with crumbles of halva and a generous drizzle of tahini – so heavenly I can hardly stand it! Now that I’m back in New York next week, I cannot wait to return soon to get my fix.

healthy nut & seed granola

Granola makes for a delicious breakfast or snack anytime of day, am I right? I’ve been known to enjoy it dry on its own, in a bowl with almond milk or Greek yogurt & fresh fruit, and even sprinkled on top of chia pudding or açaí bowls! And I have to say, it always hits the spot! Although it’s easy to buy granola pre-made, many store-bought versions are loaded with sugar and other unhealthy and unnecessary ingredients. At our house we tend to go through Costco-size bags of grain-free granola at a pretty rapid pace (it’s so addicting), and as I was finishing one off the other day, I decided to make some myself for a change! 

This recipe is super adaptable, so feel free to swap out other nuts and seeds if you prefer, or use what you have on hand. But do make sure to use plenty of them since they are the star- and super important for that tasty crunch! No one in my household avoids grains, so I did include rolled oats as well, since they make such a good base for granola. If you’d like to keep things gluten free, just make sure your oats are certified GF! My healthy nut & seed granola boasts a pretty impressive nutritional profile thanks to superfoods like chia & flax seeds, fiber-rich oats, and an extra dose of healthy fats from coconut oil. Plus, it’s lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup, which is much lower on the glycemic index than regular sugar and corn syrup, so it won’t spike your blood sugar! I definitely recommend adding pure vanilla extract and ground cinnamon for some added depth of flavor, but feel free to skip these if you prefer. You can also toss in some dried or freeze dried fruit after baking, if that’s your jam, as well. The options are endless! Homemade granola is so easy y’all- I don’t know why I haven’t done this more often, but I definitely will going forward! Not to mention it leaves your house smelling oh so delicious and fragrant! Enjoy!

Healthy Nut & Seed Granola:

healthy nut & seed granola

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a half sheet pan or large cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together oats, nuts, seeds, cinnamon and salt (keep coconut separate for now). Set aside. In a separate bowl, heat the coconut oil and maple syrup until melted. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well until oat mixture is completely coated.

Spread the granola on the baking sheet in an even layer and press down evenly with a spatula. Bake for about 35 minutes, until golden brown. Sprinkle coconut flakes on top, and return to oven for a few more minutes, until just toasted. Granola should be nice and fragrant. Remove from the oven and allow the granola to cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes to set. Feel free to break it into clumps or clusters if you prefer. Transfer to an airtight container or large mason jar.

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sweet laurel bakery cake shop

I had been plotting my visit to the Sweet Laurel Bakery Cake Shop over in the Palisades for quite some time now. I’m a huge fan of Laurel herself (and her cottage is to die for), as well as her delectable baked goods! But as well all know, the pandemic hit, and so I really haven’t been out & about all that much. In the meantime, I’ve been baking up a storm from the cookbook, and boy are there some tasty recipes to be had! Sweet Laurel recipes are all gluten, grain, and refined sugar free, and many are also vegan as well, making them a great choice for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions. My bestie Rachel McConn (an amazing nutritional therapy practitioner & natural foods chef, by the way) came up from San Diego to hang for a night, and since she has Celiac Disease, the bakery has been on her must-visit list as well. We headed out on a (safe & socially distanced) mission for sweets, and we were not disappointed.

The star of the show was the ice cream sandwich- snickerdoodle cookies with chocolate ice cream. This was so delicious, not to mention all vegan & gluten free! It totally hit the spot on a hot summer day. I can never say no to carrot cake, so had to get a slice of that as well. This one is lightly sweet, and studded with walnuts and raisins. The probiotic cashew cream frosting is super unique and provides such a nice tang! Even my one year old got in on the sampling, and he was definitely a fan. I can’t wait to return to try some of their super food lattes and keto frappes- yum! And lastly, don’t miss Laurel’s new savory cookbook, which is now available for preorder!

christopher's kitchen

Immediately before the pandemic hit, I got to travel to Jupiter, Florida for my best friend’s wedding. The weekend was truly memorable for so many reasons- from the beautiful venue to the delicious food to the gorgeous bride- and I’m happy to say the trip ended on a tasty note as well! On our way back to the airport, a group of us stopped by Christopher’s Kitchen in Palm Beach for a healthy, vegan meal. After a night of drinking (and perhaps more than one piece of cake), it felt good to flood my body with so many healthy ingredients. The pad thai and thai wrap were fresh and flavorful- I really loved the almond sauce for a unique take on the more typical peanut. But the sushi really stole the show- avocado, kale, almond ginger paté, cucumber, mango, red pepper, collard green, sprouts, all topped with almond crunchies!? Yum!

Of course we couldn’t pass on dessert, so we got a little sampling of their homemade chocolates and cookies to finish the meal on a sweet note. I love all the vibrant colors in these photos- such a great depiction of all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you get from eating fresh, plant-based food. Christopher’s Kitchen was the last restaurant I dined at before the pandemic caused us all to stay home. I feel lucky that it was such a tasty, yet healthy experience, and I look forward to returning, hopefully sooner than later!

trilogy sanctuary

On a recent day trip down to San Diego with the fam, we got to spend time with one of my best friends and eat some tasty vegan food in the process. I’d heard great things about Trilogy Sanctuary, a cute vegan cafe and yoga studio in La Jolla, so was pumped to check it out. We sat outside on the rooftop deck, overlooking Trilogy’s setup for Aerial Yoga (which looks both super intimidating yet relaxing at the same time), and enjoyed fresh, healthy, yet satisfying meal. The menu is huge- I already want/need to go back to try out more things- but once I finally narrowed it down, I decided on the raw coconut wrap filled with tasty things like roasted butternut squash, avocado and tahini drizzles, along with a green smoothie full of apple, avocado, cucumber parsley, fennel, ginger, and lime! Zingy and delicious! My hubby, an avid meat-eater, ordered the Beet Burger with fries, and chowed down. I think he just wishes it were bigger, as per usual… My bestie went the cauliflower route, and I have to say her buffalo cauliflower wings and cauliflower crust pizza were super impressive and flavorful as well! I definitely need to come back soon for a dessert sampling: the raw carrot cake, jumbo peanut butter cup, and warm fudgy brownie with date caramel are all calling my name! And who knows, maybe I’ll even try Aerial Yoga?!