March Foodie PenPals

Foodie Penpals is the brainchild of Lindsey @ Lean Green Bean Blog Basic premise: get matched with another blogger or blog reader and send a $15 dollar "foodie gift" it's a lot of fun both shopping and receiving the packages.

i got a fabulous box of treats from Columbus Ohio from Kristin (who was just in boston wouldn't you know??)

Kristin basically sent me plant-based crack. Seriously.

These organic raw cacao goji "energy bites" were way better than bars-and bitesized (gotta love bulk sections!)
Mexican kale chips?? Yes please!
And i have no idea how she knew that i love smokey flavors. And smoky praline chocolate? holy.
raw krackers. yes they are real and wonderful
jelly and almond butter!

Kristin basically rocks. You should really check out her blog Beauty and my Feast

Want in on Foodie Penpals?If you’re interested in participating for April, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. It's a whole lotta fun!

Have you tried any fun new foods lately?

Recipe Redux: Maple Coconut Granola

Before I get into the recipe redux for the month (which i think you'll enjoy!) I have a special announcement! the winner of my Larabar giveaway is Katherine! I will be in touch with her about getting her prize. thanks to all that entered by commenting or tweeting-I have so many new snack ideas to try!

Nothing like getting a little kick in butt to make/try a new recipe by a Recipe Redux prompt at the beginning of the month! For those of you who may be saying "what is she rambling about again?" Recipe Redux is the first and only recipe challenge founded by registered dietitians, The Recipe ReDux is focused on taking delicious dishes, keeping them delicious, but making them better for you. And it's a whole lotta fun!
Today we're all celebrating some natural northeastern sweetness with maple syrup! There's something that just feels so warm about maple syrup. I consider myself lucky to have been raised on VT Maple Syrup and don't think Aunt Jemima ever crossed my lips. Plus it's the only sweetener besides honey that's local to my current home. I found this guide to maple syrup grades to be very interesting if you want to get nerdy with me. So start your morning with a little maple syrup-y treat!

Maple Coconut Granola

• 4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped or sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• salt and cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. (i always forget this step

First I had to toast my own coconut and almonds. This taste but 15 minutes and exponentially improves the taste

.Then combine all the ingredients and spread out on a baking sheet (or two)

Stir every 15 minutes for 45 minutes to make sure no areas get too "crispy"

Let cool. Then enjoy! With fresh fruit, yogurt, milk (or any sort) or on top of ice cream .mmmm

Check out some more maple syrup goodness by these dietitians!

Taza Chocolate Factory Tour

A couple weekends ago I decided to take the Taza Chocolate Factory Tour again. Maybe it was because I had just rewatched Willie Wonka, but there's never a bad time to visit a chocolate factory right?
This local chocolate factory is unique in many ways. First-it's stone ground. This is a traditional way to make Mexican chocolate and results in a more rough bar than a Hershey-smooth. But it makes a MEAN hot chocolate and honestly tastes more REAL.
Second-all of their chocolate wheels are USDA Organic, Kosher, Dairy/Soy/Gluten Free.
Third-they are direct trade certified. They maintain direct relationships with the cacao producers and are committed to compensating them fairly, with respect to their rights. Cacao trading can get a little nasty if it isn't direct/fair certified, which is something I definitely take into account when buying a chocolate product.
Last but not least-it's delicious!! I love love love the salted almond and salt and pepper wheels. But there's not a "bad" bar. I'm not usually an orange-chocolate girl but found myself falling for theirs. They're cayenne and ginger bars are spicy-in two unique ways. And their nibs. Oh their chocolate covered nibs. Sure to cure any chocolate craving.
During the tour I sampled sampled sampled and learned A LOT about the process of harvesting and making chocolate. Truly fascinating!
In Boston? Go take tour! There are daily tours and they will give you plenty of tastes!
Taza Chocolate Factory Store
561 Windsor St
Somerville MA 02143

A National Nutrition Month Giveaway!

As a new RD I feel obligated to let you know that March is indeed National Nutrition Month (although I believe every month should be focused on Nutrition) and that today is Registered Dietitian Day. Yay!!!

Here's a couple more things I want to tell you:

• The theme of this National Nutrition Month is Get Your Plate in Shape! And SupermarketSavvy is having a pretty awesome giveaway. Check it out!

• Weight stigma is not ok. No discrimination is ok, and currently more people are discriminated based on their weight than their race. Let's do something about it. Read what I have to say on Marci RD's blog

• The kitchn breaks down how to make a quick, healthy weeknight meal. Fantastic how-to for us busy ones!

• Because the Irish lass in me knows it's a sin not to celebrate St Patrick's Day-I highly recommend you read this post on how to avoid a holiday hangover. You'll thank me come Sunday.
  

And because you rock for reading that-I have a special prize for you!
I'm giving away Peanut Butter Cookie and Cherry Pie Larabars-because I love them so!
Enter by leaving a comment below on your favorite nutritious snack and I'll randomly pick 1 winner by March 21st, 2012! That means you have 1 week to enter, but you should really do it sooner rather than later!

Gain 1 additional entry by tweeting: "@ElizabethEats is giving away @Larabar for National Nutrition Month! http://tinyurl.com/7hxm62s #NNM"

Elizabeth Drinks: Grillo's Bloody Mary

Since before I left Houston I've been keeping a list of things to do once back in Beantown. And visiting Grillo's Pickle Pop Up was at the top of that list.
Yes- a pop up shop. Just for pickles. But not just cucumber pickles-pickled asparagus, green tomatoes, grapes, oh my!

The Grillo's Pickles Story from Sam Hamad on Vimeo.

I adore Pickles. But you get left with this container of wonderfully salty "juice." When I was a kid the ice skating rink they used to turn this into "pickle-sicles" (yes frozen pickle juice popsicles) but i never really dug that. So I was going to toss it until I picked up Bon Appetite, and was inspired by their new Bloody Mary. So I made some tweaks and voila! my new favorite Bloody Mary!

Grillo's Bloody Mary

(for 2. Because it's funner to drink with at least 1 other person)

• 2 cups 100% tomato juice
• 1/2 cup Grillo's Pickle Juice (i prefer the HOT variety. But that's me)
• 4 oz vodka (or try cucumber or vegetable infused vodka to make it even better)
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• Sriracha
• Smoked sea salt
• Worcestershire sauce
• Black Pepper
• 2 celery sticks

Combine tomato juice, pickle juice and vodka. Add sriracha, salt and worcestershire til it is your perfect bloody mary. Share. Enjoy

Now run, don't walk, to Grillos before they (possibly) close at the end of March!
And cheers to the weekend!