I wanted to do a throwback to a summertastic dinner idea!  

It is that time of the year to turn that grill on and create some amazing dishes!

This salmon pouch dish is one that is always a hit at my house.  It is easy and super yummy!  For the recipe of click HERE and scroll down till you see these scrumptious pouches.

If you are wondering how in the world to make a pouch that vents but doesn't leak see my original post HERE for a how to.

It is not only a family favorite but it is one of my blog favorites too!

Would love to hear your thoughts on these super easy salmon pouches... Let me know your variations or what you think.

Best Mushroom Soup Ever!

I guess the title of this is more my opinion than anything else but I love this soup!!  The mushroom flavor is just to die for!

It is too hot for soup but I don't care, this is a good anytime soup that just hits that mushroom craving spot (you know if you have one *WINK*).

This soup is an adaptation to one that I found on Skinnytaste.com.  I have used more "clean" type of ingredients.

So here is what I do...

I gather all my ingredients... Organic chicken broth, white button mushrooms, celery, wheat flour, and portabella mushrooms.  I cut up the mushrooms but leave the celery whole.  I don't cut the celery because I am going to have to gathering it out of the soup later and blend it.  I cut it up the first time I made this soup because I didn't read the directions fully and man was it hard to get it out of the broth.  That is what makes cooking fun though and well I learned from my mistake.

Okay, then I put the broth and the flour into a blender to blend it together (it is definitely easier than mixing it together with a whisk or fork).

At this point rest is pretty simple...

Putting everything in a medium size pot.  You first let in boil then bring it down to a simmer and cover.  It will seem like it is going to over flow out of the pot but as long and you have it low and covered that won't happen.  

Once it has been simmering for about 20 minutes it is time to put the finishing touches on!

Taking the celery out and some of the soup and placing it into a blender (blend, obviously) then return the smooth mixture to the pot and let simmer for a little bit longer.

I don't know if you noticed that I have not added any seasonings.  It seems weird I am sure but I want the soup flavored by the mushrooms and celery.  When the soup is finally finished and you ladle yourself some into a bowl... taste it.  If you would like to add pepper and salt this is when I do it.  Sometimes I don't put any in, others I need my salty friend.

For the full recipe click HERE and scroll down.

VIOLA!  

Awesome, flavorful, mushroomtastic soup!

Enjoy!

A How-To: Cleaning Your Yoga Mat

I have to be honest... 

When first starting yoga many years ago it really never occurred to me that I may have to clean my yoga mat.  Cue YUCK!  But here is the thing I don't wear it and once put away I didn't think about it.  It wasn't until I went to a real yoga studio and saw others doing it that it clicked... DUH!  I sweat on my mat, I touch my mat, my sweaty clothes touch the mat... Why in the world wouldn't I clean it?!?!

So then I just started cleaning it with the wipes that they had at the studio.

Now that I am doing yoga only at home because of the Yoga Boot Camp I am in and the love I have for my yogi guide Adriene I knew I had to come up with a way to clean the mat at home.  

Luckily that was easy because on Adriene's blog she was kind enough to show a little how to on making your own yoga cleaning spray. To see her how to video click HERE.  

Here is my version though so you can see what I used since I have to work a little bit on a budget.

So I used the ingredients that she provided but I had to cheap it down with not 100% essential oils and a cheapy version of witch hazel.  I got the plastic bottle for 99cents at Wal-mart too!
I followed her directions...

3/4 full distilled water and the rest witch hazel then about 5 drops of an essential oil.

I did lavender in the pink bottle and the I did mint rosemary in the green bottle (seen below). 

I chose lavender because it helps to relieve stress and improve your mood (if you choose to use 100% oil it you can use it sparingly on yourself to help relieve stress, tension or even disinfect your scalp, you can search for other health benefits on google of click HERE for an awesome article).

I chose rosemary mint for the other bottle because mint helps calm the body and rosemary is wonderful for many reasons including stress relief.  Using rosemary by itself is also marvelous!  If used topically it helps with clarity, headaches and pain relief.  Click HERE for more info on rosemary, since you know I am no expert.

Once you have made your spray, use it liberally on your mat (I let it sit for about 30 seconds) and then wipe with a cloth with the grain of your mat. 

I love this spray and it makes my mat smell amazing!

I use it about every other day depending on my yoga sessions and how sweaty I get. 

Keep Cool Fellow Tucsonans!

I have three cranky kiddos when we reach heat that is hitting record breaking temps!  What does a mom do to keep things cool?  Here are some ideas for parents in our area:

1. Mount Lemmon

This may seem like a give in but I had to put it on my list because there are so many awesome things to do and it is usually 20 degrees cooler!  What does our family do while on Mount Lemmon?  We hike, fish, picnic, explore, ride the ski lift, and eat scrumptious giant cookies from the Cookie Cabin in Summerhaven.

2. Pima County Libraries

I love this one!  We start at the beginning of the summer and sign up the kiddos for their summer reading programs. The kids can earn prizes and at the same time you win as a mom because you can get your kiddos to read during the summer!  On top of the awesome reading program there are many neat free classes that your kiddos can join, play and learn from.  They range from Minecraft times, science experiment demos, magic shows, and so much more!  Click the Pima County picture below to find events at a library near you.

3. YMCA Swimming

This one is if you are adventurous enough to go out in the heat and sun (wear lots of sun block and drink lots of water). Even if you are not a member of the YMCA you can take yourself and your kids to swim for pretty cheap.  If you are under the age of 17 you can swim for $1, over 17 is $3.  There are certain times in which open swim is so check out the YMCA website for your local YMCA and times that they are open for swimming.

4. Bedroxx Bowling

I personally love this alley the most and that is why it joined my list.  Beat the heat in a rock solid fun environment.  Here is the prices I have found that make going here even more solid...

Monday Family Movie Night--- $30 for 6 people to use a lane for 2 hrs, includes shoes, 12" pizza and soda, plus a fun family movie!

Tuesday--- 6-10 pm has $1 games and $1 shoes.

Wednesday--- $8 a person which includes the price of shoes and unlimited bowling from 7- 10 pm

5. Reid Park Summer Movie Nights

This is FREE!!!  Grab a blanket, chairs and a dinner picnic and get ready for a fun evening.  Cox puts on a movie for your family to enjoy right in the middle of the cozy Reid Park.  You can start setting up camp around 6:30 and the movie begins at dusk.  There are some vendors and fun activities for your family to enjoy while there. More information, click on the picture below.

Would love to hear from you all about any other cool events going on in Tucson.  Leave info in the comments if you have anything you would like to share with all of us.  

Yoga Revival!

Well it has been a short minute since I even thought about blogging because I was super busy with the end of the school year and all the shenanigans that come along with it. 

But here I am now and I feel awesome!  The end of the school year was not the only thing that has made me feel magnificent (AHHH a break) but because I decided to take the leap and join a 30 day yoga camp.  Cue blog point...

I wanted to share with you the amazing program that has jump started me into holding onto my health and well being.  I am pretty good at keeping on the "clean" eating band wagon but I needed an exercise routine that could go with it.  I don't like the gym, I don't like running (especially here in Tucson where we have been hitting record temps) and well I don't like exercise!  But I can stand yoga.  I have off and on gone to yoga to help with weight loss and healthy living but I found something finally that I believe will keep me going on the "workout" train.  

With the help of the amazing Adriene, I have been able to let go stress, work through problems and keep to my eating habits with more ease.  Who is Adriene you ask... she is my yogi guide.  You can find her at her blog Yoga With Adriene.  She has free yoga videos, tips and astounding advice.  I just finished day 10 today of her yoga "boot camp" and I can already feel the startling difference it is making in my life.  If you are looking for a new way to accept yourself and let go of some inner stresses you may not even know you were holding onto her camp is great with mantra's that help you understand, accept and be present in your life.  

Now you may be thinking this is a marketing ploy but I assure you it isn't.  This is just me shouting from the roof tops that I love my new found awesomeness and Adriene just happen to help me find my inner strength.  

Thanks friends!

Namaste!

Weekend Shenanigans With the Daughter :)

This past weekend I took a morning to hang with daughter.  We decided to visit a local Farmer's Market but I decided to surprise her with a stop for a quick breakfast at Roadrunner Cafe.  It was the first time either of us had been to this certain little cafe.  I was taken back by how sweet and homey it felt.  There were clearly regulars hanging out and talking and the owner (I assume he was the owner) was involved with the conversation.  He also was so nice to daughter and she loved, for the first time ever, the strawberry smoothie she got.  I say the first time ever because usually she hates the smoothies from coffee shops but she loved this one and the impressive whipped cream on top!

I got a caramel macchiato that was the best thing I have ever had!  I decided I even liked it better than Starbucks!!  

If you are ever in Tucson I highly recommend this local cafe :)

After we ate we took our drinks to go and headed to the Heirloom Farmer's Market up at the Steam Pump Ranch.  I was super excited because I LOVE the Rillito Park one.  When we got there I noticed immediately that it was so much smaller.  I do not know if it is always like this but it was this past Saturday.

I got some gigantic cucumbers (made a cucumber salad with those) and some pretty plump carrots (which I am eating right now with hummus).  
I do have to say though I will probably stick with the Rillito one though because it is closer to my home and it had more options.
Either way though I am a firm believer in Farmer's Markets because they are local people just trying to make a living with great ideas and stupendous food!

Lemon Hand Pies Turned Tarts

As promised yesterday on my Twitter, here are the amazing lemon tarts that I made over the weekend!  I adapted a recipe that I found on another pretty awesome blog called Pixel Whisk.  On her blog she made lemon handpies!  They looked so tasty and flaky and well all around amazing, I decided to try and make the recipe.  

I have tons of lemons on my lemon tree still.  If you all recall I made Organic Lemonade with these lemons and let me tell you the picture below doesn't even do this tree justice!  We still have so many lemons I don't even know what to do with them all.  I think I am going to have to start juicing them and freezing the juice and/ or giving them away to family and friends.

Also, yes I do know that the tree is over grown but we don't like to cut the tree when there are lemons still growing on it. 

Anywho...  Back to the tarts...

Like I said above the amazing Pixel Whisk made these beautiful handpies and I knew right away that I was never going to be able to replicate them fully for several reasons but the main one is because I have never made a lemon curd before.  Even now after making it, I still don't think that I made it right but my tarts turned out super tasty and one of my good friends, The Bubbly Brunette, tasted them today and she gave me the yummy approval so I decided that I would for sure share my experience and what I think I will do differently next time.

To start it all off I followed the Pixel Whisk recipe for the lemon curd to a T!

I squeezed my lemons (using my handy dandy juicer from IKEA) and set aside for when it was time to add it.  I put the sugar (organic granulated) and the yolks together in the saucepan and heated till combined.  Then I added the juice and zest of the lemons.  Here is when I think I went wrong...

I believe I did not let the curd mixture thicken enough because I was super worried that I would get some weird cooked eggs.  But I rolled with it because at this point I didn't know that it mattered how long to cook it, I thought it was thick enough and as it cooled with the butter it would thicken more.  Next time though I will for sure cook it a bit longer.

I also do not have the correct whisking apparatus for my pots so I used this cute egg spatula (figured it was fitting and it is small) and rolled with it.  Can you tell that I am a first timer or what?!

As that cooled I began the wheat flour crust.  I used the same recipe on the Pixel Whisk blog but I did not add the walnuts (boyfriend doesn't like them).  After everything cooled and sat in the refrigerator for the allotted time I began the process of putting the tarts together.
This is when I really noticed that the lemon curd was too thin because it would not stay put in the middle of the bottom half of the pies.  So in a leap of faith I used the dough not for hand pies but for tarts.  I used a muffin tin to form the crust (I used a regular muffin pan and only filled the cups with dough but only half way) and filled the tart crust with the curd.
I continued to follow the recipe, with out the egg wash, by putting the tarts in the oven at 400 for about 16-20 minutes.

Then VOILA!

My first lemon tarts were born!

Since my lemons are super sour I decided to add half a blackberry to the top of the tart (my own twist) to cut some of the tartness.

Also because most my pictures didn't turn out that well (like the one above) I made sure to get a yummy side angle to show you all the amazingness that were these tarts (that's right folks, they are all gone).

So if you are in the mood for some pretty amazing little hand pies or in my case tarts you can find the recipe at Pixel Whisk.

Thanks friends!

Oh and I wanted to mention that I also shared this with