Cilantro + Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes make themselves at home on our dinner plates at least once a week. They are packed with nutrients and almost always make their way onto every "SuperFood" list. We almost never eat white potatoes because their sweet orange cousins are so much better for you and, in my opinion, much more delicious. We like them roasted in the oven, pan roasted, and mashed with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of cinnamon.

Recently, I came across this post on The Bite House and my belly needed this combination as soon as possible. It wasn't the sweet potatoes that were tugging at my tastebuds, it was the goat cheese. SWOON. I remixed the recipe into my own version of a delicious mashed sweet potato side dish that paired perfectly with a roasted chicken and baby greens salad, and made great leftovers to enjoy throughout the week. This is another simple and healthy side that's perfect during the week but good enough to serve to goat cheese loving dinner guests!

Cilantro + Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes

2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 Tbsp. goat cheese

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Wash, peel and cut sweet potatoes into large chunks*. Cover with water in a heavy bottom sauce pan. Bring to a boil on high heat. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down to medium and cover with a lid, leaving a little opening for the steam to peep through. Boil for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when poked with a fork. Drain water out and leave potatoes in the sauce pan. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and mash until they are thick and creamy. Add goat cheese, and mix until it's fully incorporated. Add cilantro and season with salt and pepper.

*the smaller the chunks of sweet potatoes, the less cooking time

Chocolate Covered Sweet Tweets

You all know that I love festive little treats! These chocolate covered cuties are perfectly packaged and fun to hand out to your favorite Peeps this Easter weekend.

This is what I like to think of a mash-up of two Pinterest discoveries. I found the idea to cover Peeps in chocolate here and the free "Sweet Tweets" printable can be found here. All you need is some good chocolate (I used Ghiradelli) and colorful sprinkles. And our beloved sugary marshmallow chicks, of course. Download the free printable, print on cardstock, grab some scissors and you're ready to go.

Covering Peeps in chocolate is pretty much life changing.

Chocolate Covered Peeps

Peeps of all colors

Ghiradelli dark and white chocolate chips

Sprinkles

Using a double boiler, melt chocolate. Pour sprinkles onto a plate or into a bowl. Once chocolate is melted, dip each peep in chocolate, then in sprinkles. Set to dry on parchment paper. Once the birdies are dry, package in ziploc bags and staple the decorative package topper on each side.

Wishing you all an Easter weekend filled with love, happiness, and many blessings!

Wine of the Week: Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay

When the weather gets warm, I like to add more whites to mix into my wine rotations. I especially like white wines with hints of bright citrus that aren't overly sweet. This week, I'm drinking one of my staples. Cupcake Vineyard's Chardonnay is an easy favorite that I always have on hand. It's delicious for drinking and not too expensive to use in recipes when I need it. Cupcake wines will always hold a special place in my heart. When Danica came to Charlotte for our wedding, she arrived at our front doorstep with two bottles in hand. I'm getting teary just thinking about it.

Cupcake Vineyard wines are never more than $10 a bottle.

Stop and Smell the Roses: Volume 3

Wednesdays have become less about what color lipstick J. Lo is sporting for the week on American Idol and more about the Fabulous Stop and Smell the Roses link up! I love that this has brought me out from behind my MacBook so that you all can get to know a little bit more about me. Plus, I've met some wonderful new bloggers while stopping to notice the rosy little things along the way!

Today, I'm sharing an organization that has brought extra joy and sunshine into my life. I have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for about a year and a half and I have enjoyed every moment since! Growing up, my parents always taught us to give back to those around us and make a difference in our communities. Each of us has it in us to bring joy to others and no effort is ever too small. Being a "big sister" has truly taught me that love equals time. Watch my video below to learn more about my experience with BBBS, why I love having a "little sister", and that as much as I am having a positive impact on her life, she is doing the same thing to mine.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit their website. They have tons of information available and various ways to get involved. There are so many children in our very own communities who just need to be reminded and shown that they are loved. If you're interested in volunteering with a child of your own, click on the "Volunteer" tab at the top. The site will prompt you to plug in your zipcode and you will be taken to your nearest local chapter. There is also a link at the very top of the site that is titled "find your local agency".

Additionally, if you have any questions about my experience personally, send me an e-mail {ninalovesfood@gmail.com). I'm happy to share more details!

{via}

If you have something that you are smiling about this week and want to shoot a vlog of your own, pop over to House of Rose and link up!

Mango Cucumber Salsa

Salsa doesn't have to be limited to enjoying by way of a chip. I mix up fresh new combos every week to enjoy with grilled chicken, pork, steak, fish and even the occasional straight into the bowl with a spoon method. When I make homemade salsas, I always stick to the same ingredients: cilantro, lime, red onion, and jalapeno. All that changes is the base ingredient. Tomato serves as the base for a classic pico de gallo, but fruits work so well with these flavors. It's fun to play around with flavors and make it a party for your tastebuds.

This mango cucumber salsa's bright and bold color is matched with fun flavor! Enjoy it with grilled chicken, pork, or on fish tacos.

Mango Cucumber Salsa

1 mango, diced

1/2 English cucumber, seeded and diced

1 jalapeno, diced (remove the seeds for less heat)

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped

1 lime, juiced

Salt + pepper to taste

Drizzle of honey

Mix all fresh ingredients into a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. To highlight the sweetness of the mango, I like to add a quick drizzle of honey. Depending on how juicy your limes are, you may need more than one. Don't be afraid to taste your salsa until it tastes just right! Let the flavors hangout with each other for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Lemon + Dill White Bean Hummus

Hummus, in my opinion, is one of the most overpriced items at the market. In most cases, a tiny tub can cost anywhere from $3.00-$6.00 and if you love it as much as I do, it barely lasts a few days in the fridge. Luckily, hummus is one of the easiest things to make yourself! Two cans of beans, some olive oil, and garlic, and you already have your base. Plus, when you make your own, you know that you are getting real, fresh ingredients.

A lot of hummus recipes call for garbanzo beans, but in our house, white beans are the winner. They are super smooth, extra creamy and make for an extra tasty dip! I like to add fresh herbs and citrus to amplify the flavor even more. Hummus makes a great afternoon snack with vegetable dippers, or a nice addition to a lunchtime lettuce wrap with turkey, tomato, and avocado. We'll be enjoying this Lemon + Dill White Bean Hummus all week long!

Lemon + Dill White Bean Hummus

2 cloves garlic

2 cans no-sodium Cannelini or Great Northern white beans (rinsed and drained)

1 lemon, juiced

2 Tbsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped

Kosher salt

In a food processor, pulse garlic until minced. Rinse and drain beans, and add to the processor with 1 Tbsp. of olive oil and lemon juice. Pulse until the beans start to become smooth. Add dill, a pinch of salt, and another Tbsp. of olive oil. This is where you have to sort of eyeball it. (ie: the lemons I had were not as juicy as normal, so I juiced two) You may need more olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. Adjust it to what tastes best to you. Pulse until the mixture is a smooth and creamy consistency then you're ready for dipping!

*This recipe has been tested and approved by Mark. "Oh whoah, you really can just eat it with a spoon".

Happy Little Gems

1. My West Coast Sister recommended this documentary to us last week. She demanded I skip my Monday night shows to watch this 70 minute film. I'M SO GLAD THAT I DID. The warm and glittery feeling has not left my heart and I am highly recommending it to all of you. Being Elmo is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Uplifting, inspirational, and just full of GOOD, this is a great story with applicable lessons for life that anyone will enjoy! Go watch it. Now. (we watched it on Netflix)

2. Another gem from Danica- chocolate covered pomegranate seeds that she included in my birthday package! I cannot get enough of these. They're chocolatey, tart, and oh so addictive. Pomegranate + dark chocolate equals an antioxidant packed treat, wouldn't you agree? I'm also happy to have a treat in my kitchen from her beloved health food store, Sprouts!

3. Thanks to this post on one of my favorite blogs, Cupcakes and Cashmere, I was inspired to make some simple stationery this week. I like to keep plenty of notecards on hand so that I never run out of snail mail happies to send to family and friends. Plus, as my little love muffin Crystal says, "nothing says I love you like lined envelopes".

4. The April issue of Southern Living has an entire section of bite sized Southern favorites. I want to host a party that revolves around these small Southern bites. Mini grits and greens! Are you kidding me!? Meghan and I are already thinking these need to be on the menu for the already anticipated 2012 Moore-McConnell New Year's celebration.

5. Lionel Richie. Like I need to say more. I have always been a fan but as of late, I may be a little obsessed. To further feed my obsession, Lionel released a new duets country album last week, Tuskegee, and every song is a winner. He collaborated with some of my favorite pop-country artists and I'm loving belting out all of my favorite Lionel songs set to a little country beat.

6. It's another swoon-worthy Spring weekend! Being the gem that he is, Mark helped me with a few Pinterest inspired projects that have been on my to-do list for awhile. I can't wait to share the finished products.

7. My sweet and perfect little lovie nephew, Jack, turned ONE today! Jack, I love you so much. I speak for myself and your two other Aunt Lovies when I say that you make the world a sweeter place just by being in it! (and your parents are pretty fantastic, too!)

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!