Heyo, pals! Summer is here to stay in Denver and it's HOT HOT HOT. I cherish the mornings and evenings when there's a breeze and it's not a thousand degrees.
In other news, our sweet Charlie turned one and we cannot believe how this past year just flew by. My mom came to town and we had all our friends over to feast on summer fare.
For his smash cake, I made my banana bread into a little layer cake topped with Greek yogurt and Charlie was in loooove (he face-planted into it!). Cutest thing ever.
With summer in full swing, I'm soaking up extra time with the kiddos and remembering that it'll be fall before I know it.
Be sure to check out my San Diego recap for all the delish eats from our June trip, too!
Onto the eats!
Greek yogurt bowls come in handy when I have no lunch energy. I'm really digging Whole Foods' 365 brand plain organic Greek yogurt with bloobs, juicy peach, chia seeds, hemp seeds, Nature's Path Heritage Flakes and almond butter.
I made two slow cooker's worth of this pulled pork for Charlie's party and it turned out incredible! I also made my summer quinoa salad and this super easy Instant Pot mac and cheese, which was a big hit.
My favorite easy slaw is one bag of shredded cabbage mix, 1 ½ tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, ½ tbsp maple syrup, ¼ tsp salt, and pepper. Easy and amazing.
I forgot about my vegetable teriyaki stir fry and it's so good! I feel like veggies have been a struggle lately but this one is absolutely veggie-loaded.
Grilled buffalo chicken (I marinate chicken breast in a bunch of Frank's hot sauce, some melted butter, garlic and onion powder), leftover summer quinoa salad, grilled zucchini with balsamic and olive oil, and salad.
For our [almost] nightly salad we do bagged chopped romaine, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and lots of garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper.
In this season of life, mornings are typically total chaos trying to get everyone (myself included) dressed, fed, and ready to leave so I'm keeping it easy. Having hard boiled eggs and overnight oats mean zero prep which means I actually can eat breakfast!
Crazy flavorful portobello fajitas are one of the meals Jeff requests most. I double the spices, olive oil, and lime juice and marinate 1 ½ lbs of chicken with it alongside the veggies.
I made a play on this tuna salad for my mom and she said it was the best tuna ever! I basically mix a can of albacore tuna with chopped onion, celery, pepper and dill pickle, a good spoonful of mayo and Greek yogurt, squirt of Dijon, and plenty of salt, pepper, and dried dill.
Dough Counter's Sicilian hot honey pepperoni pizza on Friday night is everything. Root beer Olipop on the side, duh.
Frozen KIND bars are so under-rated. They taste like a sweet and salty Snicker's and the texture is so on point! The peanut butter is my favorite.
Wild salmon with TJ's pesto (totally undercooked it, oops) with herbed brown rice and the same salad I mentioned above.
Sourdough toast with avocado, three scrambled eggs with sautéed peppers and spinach, and Ithaca fresh salsa (un-pictured fruit salad on the side). A delish post pilates weekend breakfast!
I've made Monique's gochujang bowls (we use turkey) many times and it's always a hit. We double it (I mostly double everything so we have enough for two nights) and serve either with rice or rice noodles.
My favorite banana bread recipe as muffins (baked for 24 min). I added chocolate chunks from Trader Joe's pound plus dark chocolate bar and they were epic.
Things I'm Loving Lately
- When you comment on my recipes it seriously make my day. <3 So much of what I miss from OG blogging days is that sense of tight knit community. Working alone is isolating, but when you let me know you made something, it reminds me we're all here together cooking. I look forward to reading them every day so thank you and keep it up!
- I flew through the audio version Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of Life Interrupted, which follows a young woman's transformative journey through cancer and beyond. It really moved me and I found myself relating to her experiences in unexpected ways after my brother's death.
- "Growing Up Is Hard" is on repeat lately. I loooove Chelsea Cutler.
- My first Faherty purchase (there's a store in Denver!) was this incredibly flattering, adorable and COMFY pair of stretchy jeans. I legit haven't worn other jeans since buying these; I totally get the hype! I'm not one to spend on jeans honestly but the material is out of this world and now I can actually wear jeans and not take them off after 5 seconds... LOL.
- Our garden is flourishing and I love my new $9 soil moisture checking tool. I was apparently over-watering and one of you mentioned this gem on IG. Ever since I watered less, they're thriving!
- I needed new non-slip pilates socks that weren't too thick and these striped ones are perfect for summer. So, so cute.
- Max loves these biggie fuse beads, and I love when he's quiet in the morning at the table independently doing it! He thinks it's so cool to watch me iron them. They're bigger than the classic ones and easier for his little fingers.
- Love these gold chains huggies earrings (pictured in the first photo). This cute blue button tank (also wearing in first photo) is fab because I desperately needed warm weather tops!
- I wear these Align shorts almost every day in the summer. There's just nothing more comfortable! I have two pairs in black.
Happy summer, everyone! Tell me something delish you're making this week in the comments.
Kat says
Been reading your blog since 2015- love the life updates! I’d love to hear more about how you made friends in a new city. As someone who moved to a new town it’s been a struggle to make new friends and also keep up with the old!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Hey Kat! I got so lucky because all of my good friends here I actually had a connection with before we got here--one was younger than me in my sorority (not friends in college), another is a food blogger I knew, another I'd talked to a lot on IG and we both happened to move here, another couple moved from Cbus when we did and a friend connected us...I also got really lucky with great neighbors! It takes time but we're huge relationship people so it was a big priority for me to find friends and nurture those relationships when we moved 🙂
Elle says
Happy Birthday sweet Charlie!!! I love the quinioa salad need to make a batch!! xox
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Thanks Elle!
Nyla says
When I’m in a cooking rut I always love reading your meals lately posts! They always inspire me. Added a bunch of these ideas to our meal list this week. Love your creativity and philosophy to nourish the body and the soul!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Awwww I love this so much, Nyla! I’m thrilled they can be a source of inspiration 🙂 totally feel you on the ruts.
Lori says
Hi Alexis! I love your updates! They're such a great inspo for what my "meals lately" can become. My husband has requested an oldie but REAL goodie of yours for brinner this weekend...Shakshuka! It's definitely one of our favorites, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
OMG I haven't made shakshuka in foreverrrr! We used to make it on the weekends all the time. Enjoy, Lori!
Whitney Long says
Forgot to include this in my previous comment. Mom brain is real lol. I have an 8 week old which is my first! Happy bday to Charlie and also love the kind frozen bars. Have you tried the chocolate cherry flavor? So good! I recently found that flavor at my target.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Awww an 8 week old, how sweet!! I have not tried the cherry but not I need to!
Whitney Long says
I always look toward to reading these posts! Do you take reformer Pilates? Adding these socks to my wish list!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yes I do! I did Butcher Shop in Columbus and in Denver I do Fierce 45 🙂
Amy Loner says
Hi! Oh my, my family and I genuinely LOVE so many of your recipes. These are just a few that I make on repeat - almond flour pumpkin bread, almond flour banana bread (will definitely be trying the muffin version), banana zucchini oatmeal cups and zucchini brownies. I know there are more, but those are off the top of my head. Your website is a go to for me when I’m looking for recipes because they’ve all been so good! Thank you! I also love your “Lovely Meals lately” posts:)
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
That's so sweet, Amy! I'm def gonna make an almond flour pumpkin muffin this fall 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing the love!
Alison says
Your Lovely Meals Lately posts are my favorite- thanks as always for sharing! I'm adding the quinoa salad to my meal plan for next week!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Awww Alison that seriously means the world. I love writing them! It feels like old school, casual blogging and I love that. Thanks for letting me know you appreciate them, too!
Libby says
I love your summer quinoa salad!! Two favorite desserts this summer that I’m making lately — your chocolate zucchini cake, and Monique’s GF strawberry shortcake 🙂 both can’t be beat!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
OMG I must try that strawberry shortcake, love Monique so much. Yay for choc zucchini cake!!
Grace says
Looks so yummy! What age do you think is right for the biggie beads? I have a 2 year old and I’m wondering if he’s getting to the age… or still too young? Thank you!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Hey! I think 2 may be too young; they still require a good amount of dexterity. We started at almost 3.5!
Sarah says
So nice to see what you’re making lately!!!! I’ve got to try the Gochujang bowls & your veg stir fry looks incredible! I made a Lupo in Upper Arlington dupe tomato summer salad: sliced farmer’s market tomatoes, sliced cucumber, melon (whatever you got), feta, basil, balsamic vin, olive oil, salt, pep, balsamic glaze if you like as well as pesto if you’ve got it. INCREDIBLE!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
OK YUM!!!! Must make immediately.