Chickadee Says: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

How To: Pack a Perfect Picnic

Hello Darlings!

I am such a picnic person. Essentially, they are just a dinner party in the grass- perfection. But, packing the perfect picnic can be tricky. With so many things that can go wrong, (leaking liquids and food spoilage for starters) an improperly packed picnic can be a disaster waiting to happen. So, here are a few tips to make your picnic as perfect as possible (how’s that for alliteration!?).



Monday, July 29, 2013

Meatless Monday: Vegan Maryland “Crab” Cakes

Hello Darlings!

‘Cook’ week of Meatless Mondays from A-Z is so much fun. I love that I get to discover new recipes from fellow bloggers and make them my own. This week I chose to create Lauren's (from Oatmeal After Spinning) Maryland ‘Crab’ Cakes recipe but veganized (is that even a real word?) both the crab cakes and the red pepper remoulade that she served it with! Make sure to pop over to her post for the recipe. The changes I made to make the recipes vegan are noted below!


Friday, July 26, 2013

Summer Drink Series: French Kiss Martini (Guest Post by Mr. & Mrs. P!)

Hello Darlings!

I am super excited to welcome the darlings Cristy and Michael from Mr. and Mrs. P to the blog today! An adorable couple based in Miami, they are definitely my biggest food blogger crush! From amazing desserts (peach and raspberry pie anyone?) to hearty meals and delicious cocktails, their creations are always recipes I want to make for myself! However, their site is not just about food; they also feature great DIY projects, fun party ideas, and an adorable little Chihuahua named Joey. Today they contributed an amazing cocktail recipe for my Summer Drink Series inspired by their recent Parisian adventure, The French Kiss Martini!

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Sex on the Rockies: Guest Post Over at Mr. and Mrs. P!

Hello Darlings!

One of my biggest food blogger crushes is on Cristy and Michael over at Mr. and Mrs. P. They are a super adorable couple that does a little bit of everything; delicious recipes, (their lavender simple syrup was my inspiration for my Lavender Lemonade) fun DIYs, and a bit of their personal lives makes for a super fun blog. So when they invited me to guest post, I jumped at the chance!


I created a cocktail, Sex on the Rockies, to play at both of our hometowns- Miami and Denver- so make sure you pop over to their blog and check out the recipe!


Remember to follow me on Instagram ,  and like ChickadeeSays on Facebook to get updates, sneak peeks, and lots more pictures of Tinkerbelle!


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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Summer To-Do List Update and The Color Run Discount!

Hello Darlings!

Just about a month ago I posted my Summer To-Do List. I thought it might be fun to give a little update about what I’ve been up to this past month, as I have actually completed quite a few of the items on my list- summer in Denver has been pretty fabulous so far!

1. Explore around Denver with Tinkerbelle! This is in progress! More hikes to come!

2. Participate in a fun run 5k! I am signed up for The Color Run in Denver on August third! SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED! I was super lucky this year and was given free entries to The Color Run™, also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality, and giving back to the community!

As my first 5k I’m really pleased that this a fun run rather than a ‘get your best time’ race, and would love it if any of my darling readers joined me! Whether you’re in Denver (if so I’d love to meet up at the race!) or near any of the other race locations make sure you use the code COLOR5OFF that works to take $5 off the race in ANY CITY that isn’t sold out!


Monday, July 22, 2013

Meatless Monday: Grilled Summer Salad

Hello Darlings!

There is something about grilling that just screams ‘summer.’ So when I was gifted (thanks ‘rents!) the Le Creuset Skinny Grill that I featured on my Birthday Wishlist, I knew that I wanted to put it to use ASAP. One of my favorite summer meals is a grilled salad, which works perfectly with this week’s Meatless Monday from A-Z featured ingredient- heart of palm!


Friday, July 19, 2013

Weekend Block Party: Blog Link Up

Grab button for Creative Geekery

Welcome to the ELEVENTH Weekend Blog Block Party sponsored by the FABulous blog and etsy shop, Mama's Got It Together (blog | shop). To learn more about her shop, check out my post from a couple of weeks back. Thank you Sarah! If you are interested in sponsoring a party, please email Ellie for details. Not only will you headline the party, but your ad (for your blog or shop or both!) will be including in ALL of my posts for the following week! Let's work together! XO

Summer Drink Series: Elderflower-Hibiscus Champagne

Hello Darlings!

A birthday is just not a birthday without a little champagne toast! If you can give that (sometimes cheap!) champagne a little extra kick, why not? This super simple, but incredibly delicious cocktail is a fun twist on a traditional glass of champagne!


Thursday, July 18, 2013

I Made Pretty Cupcakes!

Hello Darlings!

There is really no better reason to make cupcakes than for a (your own!) birthday. I made a few (dozen) cupcakes for today and they turned out so pretty that I just had to share! The funfetti ones are (obviously) funfetti- because what’s a birthday cake without sprinkles?!


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A Healthy Living Blogger’s Birthday Wishlist

Hello Darlings!

I was one of those kids that made very detailed lists of what I wanted for Christmas. I scoured catalogs (usually the American Girl doll one) and circled and cut out the pictures of items that I wanted. Apparently I haven’t changed much. I still love making wishlists of things I love –one of the reasons I am rather addicted to Pinterest- and I realized that my actually corkboard of wishlist clippings was made up of healthy living items. With my birthday being tomorrow I thought it might be fun to share a few of the items from my board!


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Trying Out Supplements: Best Price Nutrition Review

Hello Darlings!

I’ve never really been a supplement type of person. But with my current workout regimen (my personal trainer is trying to kill me in such a wonderful way) I thought I could use a bit of a boost in the nutrition department to kick up my workouts to the next level. I was wary about trying supplements because I had always thought that protein powder tasted like chalk and green food supplements like weeds. Boy, was I wrong. The darlings over at Best Price Nutrition offered to send along a few samples of healthy products that they thought I might like, and they chose wonderfully.


Monday, July 15, 2013

Meatless Monday: Peach Aioli by Sweat the Sweet Stuff +Giveaway Winner Announced!

Hello Darlings!

It is cook week over on Meatless Mondays from A-Z! Every other week participants can choose to recreate another blogger’s submitted recipe. When I spotted Lauren from Sweat the Sweet Stuff’s Peach Aioli I knew it was a must try- garlic and fresh peach? I’m sold.
  

Friday, July 12, 2013

Summer Drink Series: Cucumber-Lime Martini with Dill

Hello Darlings!

There are very few things in life more satisfying than picking and using produce and herbs that you have grown yourself. So when Kallie from But First, Coffee told me that she was infusing vodka with cucumber, my first thought was the dill in the silly little herb bucket on my back porch. Fresh and flavorful, I thought the very fragrant herb would pair perfectly with cucumber vodka (hopefully without making the cocktail taste like a dill pickle.) I was right. With the addition of lime juice to add a bit of a zing, cucumber vodka and dill came together perfectly to create a fresh, refreshing cocktail perfect for sipping on a hot summer night.


Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Sprouts Farmers Market Denver Grand Opening

Hello Darlings!

When it comes to healthy living, nutrition is key. Convenient access to fresh, affordable produce, whole grains, organic staples, and healthy treats can really make all the difference when striving to live a healthier lifestyle. Sprouts Farmers Market is one of those (healthy chain) stores that makes it easy to grab everything you need in one place without breaking the bank or your healthy diet.


Monday, July 8, 2013

Meatless Monday: Garlic-Basil Green Beans over Mushrooms and Quinoa

Hello Darlings!

I’m quite vocal about being a list fanatic. So when it comes to recipe planning it should come as no surprise that I have multiple lists of dishes and ingredients that I think would taste delicious together. Normally, I look over all of my lists while planning a post, but this week’s Meatless Monday went a little differently. While I was browsing my lists (I do happen to have multiple notebooks of them) I was throwing together ingredients for a quick dinner, I looked down and realized that I was whipping up a simple, vegan dish for this week’s MMAZ ingredient, garlic, no lists required. Ironic.


Friday, July 5, 2013

Summer Drink Series: Blackberry-Peach Bourbon Spritzer

Bourbon and peaches is a southern match made in heaven. Add blackberries to the mix and you get a drink that tastes like summer smells, fruity with a spicy undertone. (Summer days versus summer nights, anyone?) This spritzer is simple to make and requires ingredients that are already on your summer shopping list. Plus, it’s made with bourbon, so to all you men, and ladies with men in your lives, there is no complaining about ‘girly, fruity, summer drinks.’


Thursday, July 4, 2013

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Celebrating the Fourth of July with Pets

Hello Darlings!

For any of you darlings that have been following ChickadeeSays on Instagram, Twitter, or right here on the blog for any amount of time, you are well-aware of the extent of my obsession with my sweetheart of a Samoyed, Tinkerbelle. I bring her everywhere with me. She’s been to brunch, the farmer’s market, Denver Pride, on road trips, and for drinks in the park. Needless to say, she is great with crowds, noise, and other strange things that pop up when a mob of people is around. She won’t, however, be coming to celebrate the Fourth of July fireworks with me.


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Fresh Herbed Potato Salad

Hello Darlings!

A red, white, and blue potato salad- how patriotic! Ok, I know it is actually more yellow, peachy-yellow, and purple, but a girl can dream right? Either way, no Fourth of July picnic is complete without a kick-butt potato salad. And while I love the versions made with mayonnaise, my body (and eating philosophy) doesn’t exactly agree with their fat content. So I decided to create a potato salad recipe that doesn’t make you miss the mayonnaise. I found out that it is all about the fresh herbs.


Monday, July 1, 2013

Meatless Monday: Blueberry Salsa Served with Food Should Taste Good Chips + Giveaway!

Hello Darlings!

I am loving prepping for the Fourth of July, so I knew I had to do a special patriotic Meatless Monday this week. And is there anything more American than red, white, and blue salsa made with blueberries grown in the US? I think not. This recipe is both super simple and very delicious, perfect for whipping together the morning of your Fourth of July Barbeque! (Giveaway at the end of this post! (now closed))


Ingredients:

- 1 Pint Blueberries
- 2 Red Peppers, Diced
- 1/2 Red Onion, Diced
- 2 Jalapeños, Diced (Wear gloves while cutting these- their oils can burn!)
- 3 Tablespoons Cilantro, Finely Chopped
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- Juice of One Lemon

Combine all ingredients, mix well, making sure to squish some of the blueberries- it’s as simple as that!

The best way to serve a delicious homemade salsa is with a brand of chips known for being made with high-quality ingredients and by a health conscious company. I was lucky enough to receive a sample box of four varieties of Food Should Taste Good chips just as I was dreaming up the blueberry salsa, perfect timing if I do say so myself!

I served the blueberry salsa with Food Should Taste Good’s Cantina tortilla chips. Made with only three ingredients, they are simple but incredibly delicious and have a super satisfying crunch! Certified vegan, you know you’re not putting something harmful into your body.


Of course, I couldn’t just stop at serving one variety of delicious chips; I had to try the additional three flavors I was sent. Thank goodness I did! Here is a quick rundown on my thoughts on the Multigrain, Olive, and Kettle Cooked Sweet Potato varieties!





This is the variety that that originally got me hooked on Food Should Taste Good chips. I tried them out at my local store and loved that they were certified vegan, gluten free, and all natural. I know that some people assume that when you take gluten and animal products out of some foods they can taste bland, but with Food Should Taste Good the opposite effect is achieved. The chips are flavorful, slightly sweet, perfectly seasoned, and like the other Food Should Taste Good varieties has that all-satisfying crunch.







I hadn’t tried Food Should Taste Good’s Olive variety until this week. Boy was I missing out! These are my new favorite! Made with black, green, and kalamata olives, garlic, and sea salt, they have a delicious, savory Mediterranean taste that would go perfectly with hummus. (Or you can eat practically the whole bag, by yourself, plain, like I did.) This variety is also all natural, gluten free, certified vegan, low sodium, cholesterol free, and has no trans fats; how is that for being super healthy on top of being delicious!?






I am a bit of a sweet potato connoisseur. If I am going to eat something that is made with sweet potatoes it has to be top notch. Often, I feel that many brands of sweet potato chips I’ve tried have been overly greasy and not very fresh tasting. Leave it up to Food Should Taste Good chips to break the mold! Being kettle cooked cuts the grease, and leaves a crunchy, crisp chip. Made only with sweet potato, sunflower oil, and sea salt, the Gluten free, certified vegan chips taste fresh in their simplicity, really letting the sweetness of all natural sweet potatoes steal the show. These are, by far, the best variety of sweet potato chips I have ever tried. Officially addicted.


Now that I’ve raved about how great the Food Should Taste Good brand chips are how would you like to win a sample box of your own? The folks at Food Should Taste Good are graciously providing a sample box of chips for one of my readers (US Residents only, sorry!) to win! To enter follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Widget below! Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


I was not compensated for this post, however I was provided with a sample box of Food Should Taste Good chips for testing. The opinions are all my own.
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