pure and simple

Hi, my dears! How was your weekend? Great, I hope! Mine consisted of a very welcoming three days of rest that were absolutely glorious. I had a chance to go to the bank, get my car washed (inside and out!), sunbathe, visit the Pleasantville Farmers Market, and catch up on freelance work. Speaking of the last on that list here are the link if you'd like to take a gander :)

• Seven Steps to a Solo Road Trip
• LG All-American Food News
• Your Holiday Matchmaker

I also spent some time in the kitchen, but not too much...

You see, for as much as I enjoy food, I have only mastered four things in la cocina: oatmeal, roasted vegetables, muffins, and soup. Friday night I decided to fearlessly make a plate of lightly sautéed veggies including summer squash, zucchini, carrots, and green beans alongside a generous serving of quinoa, spiced with parsley and onion. I know, I so crazy ;) 'twas delicious.

For dessert, I broke out the most delectable of all simple desserts, a Pure Chocolate Brownie raw nut and fruit bar. With only seven ingredients, it's amazing that they could make one little bar so nutritiously satisfying and sinlessly chocolatey. As Pure advises on their website, "Take a bite of the best brownie your body has ever had." Done and done, and I am so eager to taste the other flavors that they so generously sent me to sample.

Moving on to Saturday. Looking at this picture, you might assume that yesterday's lunch was on the light side, am I right? I beg to differ. Although I have been attempting to up my vegetable count like none other (thanks to my healthy detox) I am not willing to feel hungry nor deprived. I served up a mega Farmers Market salad with spinach, mixed greens, radicchio, dandelion sprouts, shaved carrots, celery, avocado, cucumber, and a flax oil dressing.

As for Sunday, the most exciting part of my day was spent at a bar, Guinness in hand, watching the World Cup. Did you know that stouts, like Guinness, actually have some health benefits? In 2007, a study found that these dark beers functioned like a low-dose aspiring in prevention of heart clots that raise heart attack risk. Anyway :) I would have personally preferred that the Dutch, the underdog, win but I am certainly happy for the Spaniards. Although not a beautiful game (yellow card mania, anyone?) the Spanish had a nice goal and earned their first ever championship standing.

To clarify, I am not a big soccer fan, or sports fan for that matter (as in I don't follow teams,) but I will root for global camaraderie any and every day. Four years to go 'til Brazil :). Tonight I whipped up yet another plant-centric dinner with asparagus, carrots, zucchini, radicchio, cauliflower, leeks, and parsley quinoa. Eater cleaner has demanded more attention on my part and has proven to be more than worth it; I feel better in every which way. And, I am so ready for the week to begin with not only  more fresh and local veggies, but a few juices from Andy's as well. Mmm, I love me some green lemonade. 

Q for you: Are you a fan of vegetable juices?