Great ideas for easy breakfasts.

We all know how important it is to eat breakfast, but it’s hard enough to get everything going in the morning when you don’t have to wonder if you’ll be able to get out of bed. It’s all about planning ahead and making it easy, while still making healthy choices.

Read More & Get Recipes at Somebody Heal Me

Lowfat Chocolate Truffle Kefir

It’s good for you. It tastes delicious. What more could you want?

“The drink we now call Kefir (it is sometimes pronounced Kee-Fur) originated in ancient times when Eastern nomadic shepherds discovered that fresh milk carried in leather pouches would occasionally ferment into a deliciously effervescent beverage. Once the accidental process was discovered, this bubbly refresher became popular throughout the known world. It is thought to originate from the Turkish word “Keif” meaning “good feeling”, for the sense of well-being experienced after drinking it.

“Similar to yogurt but far more beneficial, Lifeway Kefir contains seven to ten billion CFU’s of 10 strains of bacteria, plus ProBoost, our exclusive pair of clinically proven probiotics to balance your body’s ecosystem, support digestive health and immunity – that’s 12 live and active cultures per cup. These friendly, probiotic bacteria fortify your body and help to boost immunity, improve digestion, ward off side effects from antibiotics, fight lactose intolerance and may even aid in weight loss.” (Lifeway)

I’ve yet to find a flavor of Lifeway Kefir that I don’t like. The fruit flavors are enhanced by the thick liquid, and the holiday flavors, like cranberry creme brulee, are rich and delicious. The chocolate truffle flavor is made with real cocoa, making it my new chocolate-craving solution.

Frontier Soups

I’m busy and I like to cook. I don’t have the time to chop vegetables and make broth, but I love soups and stews. Frontier Soups is my go-to soup mix for busy days. The other night I made their Indiana Harvest Sausage Lentil Soup and it was a big hit. Quick and tasty.

What I like about these soups is that I still feel like I’m cooking because I’m standing over the pan of wonderful smelling browning sausage, and I’m making the little decisions, like adding regular chopped tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes (pro-tip: fire-roasted!) but all the hard work is done for me. The website offers recipes for both stove-top and crockpot cooking.

(Photos under the cut.)

ding-ding

I’ve always had this picture in my head of “real” New England. I was born and raised here, I know how amazingly wonderful and varied this region is, but, still, there’s a part of me that narrows my dream to rocky coasts, cold waves, and fisherman’s shacks. I see myself there, a cross between Jessica Fletcher and the Owens women, solving crimes, reading and writing books, and making magic.

You’d be surprised how clear this dream is. I can see myself on a bright sunny morning, riding my bike to the local farmer’s market and stopping at the post office, book stores, and galleries along the way. The bike is blue with a removable wicker basket between the handle bars and one of those old-fashioned bells that goes ding-ding when you move the lever. I can smell the sea air and hear the gulls. I can feel the damp, salty ocean spray on my skin and hear the waves crashing on the rocks.

Over the past few years I’ve come to set this dream in Rockport, Massachusetts, specifically around Bearskin Neck. Quaint doesn’t begin to describe the strip of land cluttered with old, weathered homes converted to galleries, stores, and ice cream shops. It’s a lovely walk down to the edge of the sea where you can look out over the harbor and watch the sailboats bob on the waves or look overhead to see the stars, though you need to dodge the foraging baby skunks who come out after dark. Don’t worry, they’re not interested in you, they’ll fade away by the time you finish your shopping and dinner.

Rachel’s® Wickedly Delicious!

I like dairy products, I like interesting and different flavors, I like using foods and herbs to soothe and revitalize my body and mind, and I like healthy eating that tastes good. So, naturally, I really like Rachel’s^® Wickedly Delicious yogurts and cottage cheeses.

The yogurts are thick and creamy and the cottage cheeses come in flavors that make you wonder why no one thought of that before. The cottage cheese is especially versatile and fun because it comes in both sweet and savory flavors.

There’s a good-sized collection of recipes on the site and I’m looking forward to trying them, especially the Individual Spinach Pies and Savory Stuffed Squash.

Rachel’s^® Wickedly Delicious