Sweet & Clean Nachos!

Alright all, last week was crazy! Getting back from vacation, then going straight into a week of hard deadlines, but the week ended by going out with some great people to celebrate St. Patty's, and I am on a more even keel going into this week (minus possibly POSSIBLY being sick .... I refuse to  accept this possibility)

That being said I have been a little MIA from my blog here...so I present you with *drum roll* 

Sweet Potato Nachos 
Inspired by Paleo Grubs

1 medium tomatoes, diced and seeded

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1-2 tbsp lime juice

2 tbsp green onions, chopped

For the sweet potato chips

3 large sweet potatoes

3 tbsp melted coconut oil

1 tsp salt

For the meat

1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 green chili, diced

1 lb. ground beef

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp tomato paste

12 oz. canned diced tomatoes

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Peel the sweet potatoes and slice thinly, using either a mandolin or sharp knife.

2. In a large bowl, toss them with coconut oil and salt. Place the chips in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, flipping half way through.

* For the last ten minutes, watch the chips closely and pull off any chips that start to brown, until all of the chips are cooked.

3. While the potato chips are baking, melt the coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and chili to the pan and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the ground beef and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and remaining spices and stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and then turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook, covered, for 20-25 minutes, stirring regularly.

4.Stir the chopped tomatoes, lime juice, and cilantro into the beef mixture. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

5. To assemble the nachos, form a large circle with the sweet potato chips on a platter. Add the beef mixture into the middle of the circle, and then top with green onions.

These were so delicious! I topped mine with hot sauce because I love spicy food, but you can make this a mild or hot as you want by adjusting some spices. I made a similar dish last week and just threw some chili powder and red chili flakes into the mix for that extra heat! 

Let me know what variations you all make!! 

Until next time...

The Art of Giving

Yesterday I was walking into a Panera where a woman asked me for some change. I didn't have any so I offered to buy her something from Panera. When asked what she wanted she responded " a steak sandwich and a soda." My first thought was " whoa... I was thinking a bagel." However, I agreed and bought her the sandwich and soda. As I handed it to her a man from across the parking lot, who turned out to be her long term friend, said " That was really sweet. I've known her since I was in elementary school and she is a really good person." 

It was in that moment, and the many moments after, that I realized how jaded and blind by my privilege I am sometimes. In that moment I had totally forgotten, SHE IS A PERSON. I was annoyed that this woman for answering my question honestly of what she wanted. This woman who is at the mercy of strangers, and organizations, that provide what they can, and she must take what is given because she is viewed as "in need" and therefore beggars can't be choosers. 

In this moment I realized that there are so many stigmas and individualized programmed responses that I have adopted consciously and unconsciously. I'm happy I gave her that choice, a choice to dictate her "wants" not her "needs." Every human should have the ability to have a choice, even in something that to some of us is such a simplistic seemingly minute choice. 

I called this post the art of giving because the truth is it is an art. We give in different ways to different people, and sometimes we are exceptionally talented at it, while other times we stumble to say or do the "right" thing. When we do give financially it is a coin in a cup, and a feeling that we have done "enough."  

Before I go any further I want to make it clear that this is not a political thing, it is a human thing. We are all in this together, we have all had hard times, and sometimes just need someone to show us the kindness that will get us through to tomorrow. God did not place us here to exist like passing ships, but to be a support when others are falling, because we need support when we are falling. What an outstanding demonstration of faith, trust and love to sit with another that the world has cast aside. What an outstanding protest to challenge society, and make them take off their blinders, to see the story, to see the person. 


I want to challenge myself and my readers to do two things:

1.  The next time you give to a person who is experiencing homelessness don't just put the coin in the cup, but ask them how they are and really mean it. Talk to them like you talk to the person at your coffee shop or walking into your office. Talk to them like a human because that is what they are.

2. Start seeing the person behind the stigma 

Until next time... signing off from sunny St. Louis

Let's Go Bananas!

This week I have spring break which means it will be filled with three things:

1. Attempting to do a mass amount of work 

2. VACATION 

3. Cooking everything and making you all look at photos! 

So I present you with...

Banana & Cinnamon Oat Breakfast Bars
Inspired by Faith Durand @ the Kitchn

2 large, very ripe bananas

1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) 
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 
1/4 cup pitted, chopped dried dates 
1/4 cup chopped nuts — such as walnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans
Grated nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)

1.Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9-x9-inch                square baking dish with olive oil or butter.

2.Peel the bananas and mash their flesh in a medium mixing       bowl. Mash very thoroughly until no large chunks remain;       the bananas should be essentially liquid. (You will have             between 1 cup and 1 1/4 cup.) Stir in the vanilla, if using.         Add the oats and stir them in. Stir in the salt, dates, and           nuts.

3.Pat the thick mixture evenly into the baking pan. If desired,     sprinkle the top lightly with nutmeg or cinnamon. Bake for     30 minutes or until the edges just begin to crisp up.

4. Place the baking pan on a rack to cool. When the pan is           mostly cool, cut into bars and enjoy with a glass of milk or       tea.

Store leftover bars at room temperature. They will keep for about 5 days.

More delicious recipes to come in the coming days before I jet off for the heatwave of St. Louis! 

Until next time... just keep running! 

Mission Vacation: Burnout Ain't Yo Friend

For those of you who know me, and as the title of this blog implies, I love to be on the run. 

I love to be involved in events, causes, organizations that promote action. Here is the thing though, when you are doing a bunch of things, no matter how important, you get exhausted and need a break. 

This is so hard for me. 
The idea of sitting still, being calm, and present in the moment is really difficult. Often I stop when I feel completely overwhelmed and I crash, physically incapable of functioning anymore. Yes, I know this is horrible and not healthy, but it is how I have been functioning for years...so it can't be so bad .... right? 

COMPLETELY WRONG!

According to the American Psychological Association burnout can cause HORRIBLE THINGS

(LOOK BELOW!!!!)

"...recent research has found that burnout--and the related concept of "vital exhaustion"--increases the risk for cardiovascular disease as much as such well-known risk factors as body mass index, smoking and lipid levels. Specifically, burnout increases people's likelihood of developing myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, stroke and sudden cardiac death. Studies also point to an increased likelihood of type II diabetes, male infertility, sleep disorders and musculoskeletal disorders among those with the extreme physical, mental and emotional fatigue."

BLAHHH!!! 

Ok so, friends  how do we prevent these horrible things?!

My answer is: GET OUT OF THE CITY. 

Often I don't think we realize how fast paced Chicago really is compared to other places. Chicago residents drive, walk, and talk at a faster pace than their Midwest counterparts. We expect results and emails to come faster, we are on our phone and capitalizing on our time on the train, bus or in a cab. We do important things for good people, and we are hard workers. 

But people who work the hardest are not energizer bunnies, they need breaks too and sometimes must be forced to take them. This week I am headed to sunny St. Louis for Arch Madness. I cannot wait to catch up with friends, cheer on my Ramblers and of course indulge in some down home Missouri cookin'!

This is how I am avoiding burnout this month.

How are you staving off burnout?

Until next time...