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Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

May 14, 2015

Homemade Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream for Simple As That Blog-14Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream //

Howdy, friends! Nicole and I had the privilege of sharing a delicious dessert recipe on one of our very favorite blogs… Simple As That! I hope that you’ll make the jump over to Rebecca’s lovely site to take a peek! 

Homemade Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream for Simple As That Blog-9

The recipe is an all-time childhood favorite of mine, recreated for my own kids to enjoy! If you have an automatic ice cream maker, this dish is quick to make and you won’t believe the flavor combination – creamy cheesecake ice cream with a thick ribbon of crunchy graham cracker crumbs and delicious homemade blueberry sauce! It’s a keepsake recipe… for sure! I hope you enjoy it! 

Homemade Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream for Simple As That Blog-11

sarasignature3 copy

 

Filed Under: Food

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

May 6, 2015

Easy to make and perfect foe Mother's Day, Pineapple Angel Food Cake:: Pineapple Angel Food Cake ::

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our friends, family, and readers! Do you have something special planned? So far, all I want to do is relax. April was a busy month….speaking of which, it was someone special’s birthday!  Unfortunately, she slipped under the radar; it was Sara’s birthday! She is one amazing mama and friend.  She keeps her 4 kiddos going while doing the BEST to be patient, and is always above all KIND.  If we lived closer together I would make her this Pineapple Angel Food Cake.  It’s a WAY……oldie but one of the best goodies that I have saved in my Recipe Organization.

The simple ingredients for Pineapple Angel Food Cake. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

Protein Packed Energy Bites

April 28, 2015

Protein Packed (No-Bake) Energy BallsProtein Packed Energy Bites //

There are few things I enjoy more than whipping up something delicious for my four little ones. I love knowing the ingredients that go into the foods that nourish their bodies. I also love the sweet smiles on their cute little faces when they bite into homemade treats! 

Protein Packed (No-Bake) Energy Balls

This recipe is a simple one that the kids can even help with. With only a handful of healthful ingredients — this snack can be made in minutes. Their little hands are perfect for rolling the (no-bake) mixture into bite-sized balls. 

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks-19

I must admit, once you take your first bite, you may feel a little guilty! It’s sort of like eating a ball of cookie dough… only this time, you don’t have to sneak it!

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks #kids

Oatmeal, flaxseed, chia seeds, natural peanut butter, unsweetened coconut, raw honey, and chocolate chips make up the ingredients. The kids will have no idea that you are really filling up their bellies with protein-packed energy food!  

Protein Packed Energy Bites (recipe on Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks

These energy bites are great served as part of breakfast, packed in school lunches, eaten as an afternoon snack, prepared for upcoming road trips, for a fun day hiking, or an outing to the beach. (In fact, these little goodies will be accompanying my little girl on her field trip today!)

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Recipe via Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks

There are so many ways that you can customize these energy balls to make them your own! Try adding nuts, pretzels pieces, dried fruit, white chocolate, peanut butter chips, and/or endless other ingredients! (Just make sure to add enough nut butter and honey to bind it all together.) Enjoy! 

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake 

Print Recipe

Protein Packed Energy Bites

Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Course: Healthy Snack
Servings: 20 -25
Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry oatmeal
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
  • 1/2 cup ground flax seed
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup raw honey
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1/2 hour.
  • Once chilled, roll into balls (I used a 1" cookie scoop to make mine bite-sized for the kids). If the mixture isn't forming/staying in a ball, simply add a bit more honey to bind it all together.
  • Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Recipe adapted from: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/

 sarasignature3 copy

 

 

Filed Under: Food

Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds

April 21, 2015

peanut butter smoothie with chia seeds

:: Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds ::

Mondays come around far too quick for me, so breakfast at the beginning of the week has to be something that picks me up with a ton of energy and taste.  This Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds is just that. Packed with protein and the right amount of sweetness, this smoothie makes me rethink my mornings!

healthy peanut butter smoothie with chia seeds

I think I have the notorious cause of the Mondays.  How do you get over that? Yoga, mantras for having a better Monday? No matter how hard I plan and prepare for the week ahead… something gets lost in the mix. Since I can’t help that (the kiddos not being responsible for their own stuff is part of it), I can take control of making myself a healthy breakfast to start the week off right!

I drink smoothies daily. I am constantly changing the ingredients and swapping them out to create new smoothies.  This Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds is actually one of my favorite staple smoothies.  It gives me the energy boost that I need in the morning, while it’s peanut butter taste makes me forget that it’s a smoothie. I like to think it’s a peanut butter shake (which makes me very happy to pretend, especially if it looks to be a long week ahead).  I made this Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds yesterday, and I am proud to say one thing started off right this week {wink}!

Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds
Print Recipe

Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds

Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time2 minutes mins
Total Time7 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast
Servings: 1
Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon chunky peanut butter
  • 1 scoop protein powder
  • 1 banana
  • 1/4 cup spinach
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • ice

Instructions

  • In the base of the blender fill with almond milk, peanut butter, protein powder, banana, spinach, and ice.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Top with a sprinkling of chia seeds.

 For other smoothie ideas check out these smoothie recipes:

Avocado Mango Smoothie

Blueberry Pear Smoothie

Banana Almond Chia Smoothie

Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

nicole signature via simply happenstance

 

 

Filed Under: Food

Strawberry Tropical Cocktail

April 14, 2015

Strawberry Tropical Cocktail

:: Strawberry Tropical Cocktail ::

It was a big birthday week for my family last week during our spring break.  To celebrate I made a few of these Strawberry Tropical Cocktails.  The taste of this tropical drink will take you back to your last vacation, or make you think of taking one real soon.

strawberries and pineapple for Strawberry Tropical Cocktail

This Strawberry Tropical Cocktail is definitely on the skinny side so you can enjoy one or two.  Sip them over appetizers in the late afternoon, or share them with a couple of girl friends and count down the days until schools out for summer!

Refreshing and light this Strawberry Tropical Cocktail reminds us of summer.

What makes this drink feel like it should have a tiny umbrella in it is the mixture of coconut vodka with the muddled strawberries and pineapple. I have made this Strawberry Tropical Cocktail by either simply muddling the strawberries and pineapple with Stevia at the bottom of a cocktail glass or I have placed the strawberries and pineapple with Stevia in the blender.  Either pureed or with fruit on the bottom, this recipe is easy to make and it will transport you to a quiet moment beach side with a cocktail in hand.  Cheers to celebrating birthdays, counting down until schools out, and to enjoying these cocktails on a sunny day.

Strawberry Tropical Cocktail
Print Recipe

Strawberry Tropical Cocktail

Prep Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Course: Cocktail
Servings: 2
Author: Strawberry Tropical Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups sparkling water I used lime flavored
  • 3 ounces of Coconut Vodka
  • 1 ounce Cointreau
  • 1 packet of Stevia
  • 4 strawberries sliced
  • 1/8 cup pineapple fresh or frozen
  • a splash of orange juice

Instructions

  • Divide the strawberries and the pineapple and place in two cocktail glasses.
  • Add half a package of stevia into each of the glasses.
  • Muddle the fruit and Stevia with a back of a spoon.
  • In a cocktail shaker add the Coconut Vodka, Cointreau, and sparkling water.
  • Shake until mixed but be careful to shake too hard as the sparkling water is carbonated.
  • Pour the mixture into the two glasses.
  • Top each glass with a splash of orange juice and serve with ice.
  • Serve and sip cold

 

Cheers!!

nicole signature via simply happenstance

Filed Under: Food

Beet Caprese Salad

April 7, 2015

Beet Caprese SaladBeet Caprese Salad //

Oh, don’t you just love that summer is approaching rather quickly? Even though we are only in the midst of this spring season, I am eagerly awaiting pretty summer days… filled with lazy pajama mornings, no frantic schedule, loads of time with the kids, endless amounts of sunshine, and light tasty dishes enjoyed alfresco! How about you?

Beet Caprese Salad Recipe via Simply Happenstance #capresesalad #beets

This light Beet Caprese Salad is the perfect dish to accompany a warm day! I’ve had variations of it recently, while dining out. I decided to start lunching on this homemade salad during our Spring Break, since I had a little more time to focus on healthy meals. The combination of fresh vegetables, flavorful basil, creamy burrata cheese, crunchy pine nuts and slightly tangy balsamic dressing is brilliant! Your tastebuds will surely do a happy dance! 

Beet Caprese Salad via Simply Happenstance

Beet Caprese Salad with a Balsamic Dressing (recipe on Simply Happenstance)

The preparation takes mere minutes if you start with pre-cooked beets (that would be my recommendation to you). I bought them in the refrigerator section at Trader Joe’s. The rest of the ingredients you can slice and layer into a bowl or platter to serve. You can omit the spinach leaves altogether, and serve this deliciousness as an appetizer (by itself), or as a topping on warm grilled bread to make bruschetta. 

Beet Caprese Salad (via Simply Happenstance)

Regardless of how you decide to serve/eat it… you will be delighted! The freshness of the ingredients and robustness of flavor really shines through! 

Print Recipe

Beet Caprese Salad

This deliciously fresh Beet Caprese Salad makes for an excellent first course or light lunch during the warmer months of the year!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: Salad
Servings: 2
Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

  • SALAD //
  • 1/2 pound beets approx. 2-3 medium // scrubbed, steamed, cooled and sliced
  • 1 ripe avocado // skinned and cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes or 1/2 pound heirloom tomatoes // sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil // chopped or left whole
  • 8 oz. fresh burrata cheese //drained and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 1/8 - 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
  • 2 cups of fresh spinach // rinsed and dried
  • BALSAMIC DRESSING //
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • DRESSING //
  • Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper together in a glass jar with a lid. Replace lid on the jar and shake vigorously until thoroughly combined OR mix in a small bowl using a fork to combine. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
  • SALAD //
  • In a medium-sized bowl or platter, layer salad ingredients starting with the fresh spinach leaves.
  • Add the sliced beets, avocado, tomatoes, basil, burrata cheese, and pine nuts.
  • Drizzle on the balsamic dressing.
  • Serve and enjoy immediately!

Notes

* You can omit the spinach leaves and serve as an appetizer using the remaining ingredients. Eat this tasty beet caprese salad on its own, or serve with warm grilled bread (to make bruschetta).
* To make this recipe even easier, I purchased my beets all ready cooked and ready to eat from the refrigerator section of Trader Joe's.

 Enjoy, friends! The warm days of summer are drawing near! 
sarasignature3 copy

Filed Under: Food

Breakfast Power Bowl

March 31, 2015

Breakfast Power Bowl  Simply Happenstance-105Gluten-Free // Breakfast Power Bowl

Breakfast… it’s hands-down, my favorite meal of the day. I honestly wake up each morning, excited for my cup of coffee and ready to eat! I typically start my day with a healthy protein shake or smoothie. However, if I have a little more time, or if it’s the weekend, I get a bit more creative. Thank goodness for those days! They’re truly my favorite!

Breakfast Power Bowl  Simply Happenstance-21

This satisfying dish is one you can whip up the night before. (Sure… that takes a little more planning, but some days just call for a special morning treat!) If you are already having quinoa for dinner… make a little extra! When the kids go off to bed, add some chia seeds and almond milk to it, give it a stir, and place it in the refrigerator until morning. Simple, right?

Breakfast Power Bowl  Simply Happenstance-43

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

Blue and Gold Succulent Pots

March 24, 2015

DIY Blue and Gold Succulent Pots for Boyscout Blue and Gold Dinner

:: Blue and Gold Succulent Pots ::

Spring has sprung and I am all about being practical.  A couple of weeks ago we celebrated The Blue and Gold Dinner for our Boy Scout Troop.  Instead of making an impractical centerpiece; our den along with some parental guidance {hmm, hmm} created these lovely Blue and Gold Succulent Pots. Perfect for a spring display both inside or out.  These succulent pots take very little water and what is best of all, an added tent, pictures, and a small fire {made out of sticks and tissue} make these Blue and Gold Succulent Pots a fantastic desert survival themed centerpiece!

Blue and Gold Succulent Pots for Boyscout Blue and Gold Banquet [Read more…]

Filed Under: Lovelies

Craft Easter Eggs

March 20, 2015

Easy Craft Easter Eggs perfect for Spring and a fun activity with the kids.

:: Craft Easter Eggs ::

Welcome to the first day of spring! Sara and I are excited to be contributing over at Simple As That today with these fun Craft Easter Eggs.  They are perfect for spring decorating around the house and they make for a fun craft for the kids. These Craft Easter Eggs are simple to make and what makes them oh so fabulous is that they don’t go bad! They are made of plastic, they don’t open, and they are dye able!

Easter is just around the corner. These Craft Easter Eggs are a simple diy

I have our Craft Easter Eggs displayed in a large clear vase.  You can pick up these craft eggs at Michael’s. They work just like dying real eggs but with half the mess.  No more broken eggs here, and what’s even better, is that the kids helped and can display their artful eggs for the Easter holiday.

Craft Easter Eggs for Simple As That.

We would love for you to jump on over to Simple As That, in order to get the how-to for these Craft Easter Eggs. You will find Rebecca’s site chalk full of kid’s activities, simple DIY, and beautiful inspirational quotes. We hope you have a wonderful and sunny first day of spring!

Filed Under: Family, Lovelies

Cucumber Mint Green Juice

March 17, 2015

First off, HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY, friends! To be completely honest, I was posting this green juice today — without thought of the holiday! How perfectly fitting! (I love when that happens!) Now on to the recipe!

Green Juice  cucumber + mint {simply happenstance}Cucumber Mint Green Juice //

A few months ago, I bought my first juicer (after watching the fabulous documentary… Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead). I did my online research, as I wanted a juicer that got the job done well, without a huge mess to clean up afterwards. I also didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on my first one (in case my new found obsession became short lived). I ended up purchasing the Breville Compact Juice Fountain, after reading some excellent reviews. (For sure do some price comparison shopping because I found a site that offered 10% off your first purchase + free shipping, so I only spent around $85! I think I got a huge bargain!) I am happy to report that I’ve been using my juicer a few times per week ever since it arrived! 

refreshing and energizing cucumber mint green juice  simply happenstance

I put a lot of consideration into whether or not I should post a ‘juicing’ recipe on here, as I understand owning a juicer is somewhat of a luxury. For those of you that already own one… this is a delicious green juice recipe to add to your mix. For those of you that are considering a juicer… I say GO FOR IT! (It is such an excellent way to add fruits and vegetables into your diet!) For those of you wondering why you may want to juice, check out this lovely post on the site, Simple Green Smoothies, for information on the difference between juicing and blending. What I personally love most about juicing, is the instant boost of energy I feel after drinking a glass! It really helps in the afternoon when I am in the mid-day slump (which for me, is around 3 p.m. when the kids come home from school).  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food

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About

bioSara and Nicole are sorority sisters that simply “happened” to end up in the same small town. They have many things in common, which have set the tone of their blog. They hope that you will join them in their journey of motherhood, dreams that may be, the daily life, and their passion for cooking, yoga, fashion, and design!

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