Food

Holy Guacamole

Easy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comEasy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comEasy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comAvocados should possibly become their own food group in our household for how often we buy them. We don’t just frequently buy them, we buy them in bulk to always have them on hand. I’ll thank Costco for that brilliant idea of bulked food items. Please and thank you, even for a family of two. 🙂 When you have four ripe avocados, what’s a girl to do other than make guacamole, that Eric so sweetly pointed out, is my own take on guacamole for how simple it is compared to a “standard” recipe. I grinned because that’s exactly what I love about it. The simplicity.

With just a touch of vegeanise to a bowl of avocados, it creates a guilt free side dish and dare I say condiment?!! to your next burger or taco! It’s light and flavorful with room to be mixed and matched with other foods but content on its own, all the same. When people ask what’s in it, I can’t help but blush because it sounds too simple. Two simple ingredients and one to sprinkle on top are all that is needed!

Easy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comEasy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comEasy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com


 Ingredients: 

  • 4 ripe avocados
  • 1 Tbsp Vegenaise
  • Salt and pepper to taste


What to do: 

Cut and peel four avocados. Place into a large bowl. Use a fork to mash together until semi-smooth. Add one Tbsp of Vegenaise. Mix together with a fork or spoon. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips and tricks: 

  1. Add lemon or lime juice to preserve the guacamole.
  2. Adding one or two of the avocado pits, makes it last longer. You can even leave them in when serving to make it last while it sits out!
  3. This basic recipe can have tomatoes, onions, garlic powder, or garlic salt added to your desired taste. It’s a great recipe on its own or mixed!

Easy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com Easy Guacamole-- Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com

3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette

3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com 3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comOh summer, I just love you! Your flavors and textures get me every time! The heavy bounty of veggies that come our way each week is something I have started to look forward to. Days before the arrival of these fresh goodies, I start dreaming up what salad will make it’s way to our table and nourish us. From a greek salad sprinkled with creamy feta and bitter red onions, to topping a bowl of vibrant greens with crispy bacon and tart blackberries, the possibilities are endless! Regardless of the combo that makes it into the salad bowl, a vinaigrette that can be made in less than five minutes is a winner in my book and should be recognized! The marriage of these 3 flavors will have any person finding themselves reaching for these ingredients and feeling like a chef in no time! 3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com 3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com


 Ingredients: 

  • 3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 tsp minced garlic

*This serves 4 of 2 big salads.*



What to do: 

In a medium sized bowl, combine all ingredients. Whisk together and serve immediately. Drizzle over salad. Enjoy! xoxo


3 Ingredient Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com
                              

Friday Favorites + Blueberry Yogurt Pops

I love Fridays. So much. Here’s to the weekend and my favorites with Erika, Narci, and Andrea!

One.

Here’s the deal. You know that pen/pencil/marker that you just love writing with? The one you always reach for and would be so sad if they ran out? These are my favorite! I used them during student teaching a few years ago and fell in love. Well, they just ran out. With such a small price tag and so much excitement, these showed up on my doorstep this week. Completely random? Yes. Totally worth it when I have a million lists to write? Absolutely! 🙂 You can get a pack of five, here!

Two.

                            

 I’ve been shopping for wedding and baby gifts like it’s my job. So much happiness to indulge in! The last five gifts have been delivered to my doorstep and I love it. So thankful for free shipping! 😉 Check them all out because I can’t be the only one in the midst of wedding and baby season!

Three.

Scale_largeLast weekend we stumbled upon this store that is awesome! They have such unique pieces and Eric and I both wanted to buy all of it!

Four.

The other night I was flipping through the Dessert of the Day book from Williams Sonoma that is always on our coffee table. The recipes and pictures are wonderful and having a seasonal dessert for every day of the year is so fun!

Five.
Blueberry Yogurt Pops Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comIt has been H-O-T here! What should I do with an overwhelming amount of blueberries? Make them into popsicles of course! 😉 The creaminess of the yogurt and fresh blueberry taste creates a punch in your mouth that is refreshing for any summer day, stifling hot or not! 😉 Blueberry Yogurt Pops Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comBlueberry Yogurt Pops Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comBlueberry Yogurt Pops Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comBlueberry Yogurt Pops Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com


Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup Siggi’s Vanilla yogurt
  • 1/2 cup blueberries

*Makes four popsicles.*



What to do: 

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the yogurt and blueberries with a spoon. Once combined, spoon into the popsicle molds. When each popsicle holder is filled, carefully tap the holder to eliminate air bubbles and space. Place in the freezer for at least four hours or until frozen.

*Don’t forget to enter this giveaway There’s only a few days left!*

Happy Friday! xoxox

4 fridays

Salmon + Yogurt Dill Sauce

Salmon with yogurt dill sauce Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comSalmon with yogurt dill sauce Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comAt first, I was intimidated by a fish that normally comes with a large price tag. How can I cook this at home? Surprisingly, it is painless! I have a deep love for salmon. The way it can be combined and garnished with a variety of flavors makes it exciting and enticing to try out new recipes. The health benefits are an added bonus with each bite! Salmon = A+!Salmon with yogurt dill sauce Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comSalmon with yogurt dill sauce Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com


 Ingredients: 

  • One Pound Wild Caught Salmon
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: to drizzle

Sauce:

  • 1 Cup Plain Yogurt
  • About 5 Sprigs of Dill
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice


What to do: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a deep dish pan with foil. Place salmon in the pan and lightly drizzle with EVOO. Fold the foil to cover the salmon and bake for about 35 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven. Top with sauce and garnish with dill.


 

Friday Favorites + Ginger Mule

It’s Friday! Although my weeks are a much, much slower pace than the school year, there is still something about the weekend and I love it! As always, I’m linking up with Erika, Narci, and Andrea to share my favorites things from this week!

One.

We got these {rooster, pig} hand towels as a wedding gift. They have grown to become two of my favorite hand towels. They are super soft and absorbent. I love having them displayed. 🙂

Two.Our one anniversary is this Sunday. Ah! I love him ten times more now than I did a year ago. 🙂

Three.

{Check out this drink. I’m kind of, sort of, obsessed with it.}

Ginger Mule Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comGinger Mule Recipe at: stephanie-spring.comI was convinced I didn’t like gin. I told Eric he could make his own concoctions and I’d settle on wine. I was so wrong. All it took was one sip of his drink because I wanted to venture out for 0.2024 seconds, and I found myself stealing two, then three sips. He finally looked at me and smiled as he got up to make me one. A ginger mule….what?! It’s the cousin of a Moscow mule; Similar, yet different and ever so tasty and refreshing. See for yourself!Ginger Mule Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com Ginger Mule Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com


 Ingredients: 

    • 2 oz. Gin
    • Ginger Beer
    • 10 Mint Leaves (plus an extra sprig for garnish)
    • 1 oz. Lime Juice
    • Ice

What to do:

Pour the lime juice into a shaker and add mint leaves. Muddle the mint leaves in the lime juice. Add gin and top shaker with ice. Shake for about 20 seconds. Strain into a highball glass with additional ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with the remaining mint. Relax, sip, and enjoy!


Ginger Mule Recipe at: stephanie-spring.com

Check out all these fun cocktail shakers and mugs to put them in. You can use any glass or mug but these would make it extra fun for a party or just to have on hand. 🙂

Four.

I always get excited about a giveaway and next week is no different! Be sure to check back and see what’s in store! 😉 It’s great for you, smells amazing, and has endless possibilities! Any guesses as to what you think it might be?!

Five.

Yesterday I took a run outside and used an arm band to hold my phone and play music. I haven’t used it in almost a year because I like running inside on the treadmill and set my phone there. But for running outside,this was definitely a game changer and allowed me to focus on running, rather than making sure I don’t drop my phone. I got mine a few years ago but here are some similar ones that I love!

 *Pssstt! You know how I talked about this tunic last week? It’s on sale and I’ve worn it twice this week because I love it so much. Shh! Don’t judge.* 😉

Happy Friday beauties!

4 fridays