(Paleo) Chocolate Mug Cake

I won’t deny it, I love me a snowstorm.
I love waking up on a cold snowy morning, watching the snow fall and accumulate. When all the surroundings are beautifully quiet — not only does everything look as if it is covered with a big white blanket, it also sounds as such.
A snow day means I can stay in my pajamas, drink hot tea and being lazy on the couch all day.
No running, no biking, no swimming, not even yoga — though I could take a yoga online class or do my own thing I just don’t feel like it.

Baked Tortilla Espanola

Tapas are Spain's gift to the world of great cooking: a fun way to eat with friends and family.
Everyone can share tasty food, try different things, and fight over the last morsel of that delicious croquette (it’s MINE btw!)
If you’re not familiar with tapas, they’re small dishes or plates which are traditionally given in bars in Spain when ordering a drink.
Originally tapas were slices of bread placed on top of the glass in order to protect the drink from flies or dust (the word lid is 'tapa' in Spanish). Eventually the slices of bread were then topped with some cheese or vegetables to make a tasty snack.
Tapas have evolved and gained popularity, nowadays they’re more than just a snack.
If you’ve been to Spain, you’ve probably experienced the tapa-hopping thing.
Going around town with friends and stopping in at several bars to have a glass of wine and sample the tapa specialities. Slowly and steadily.
One of the best experiences ever.

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Casserole

Are you guys as pumped as I am for the NFC and AFC championships this weekend?
Probably not.
Maybe you live outside the US and you don’t know the first thing about American football.
Or maybe you do know about American football but couldn’t care less.
Or maybe — just like my friend David — you care only about College football and don’t give a damn about the NFL.
Whatever that may be, this weekend it’s time for the Conference finals and I DO CARE and I feel the need to talk about it. Alrite?
Since the Giants didn’t make it to the playoffs this year (I mean, what’s new…) I’m rooting for the Broncos — if for no other reason that I adore Peyton Manning, so GO BRONCOS!
The chances that Denver will make it to the Super Bowl are slim, but the game of football is unpredictable.

Chicken Souvlaki Grilled Veggie and Quinoa Bowls with Tzatziki-Feta Sauce

Though I’m reasonably certain that the internet doesn’t need another recipe for chicken souvlaki — I did my fair share of research and there are thousands and thousands of different recipes for the seasoned Greek kebabs, including mine.
I still feel that the interwebs (as mom calls it) might benefit from just one more souvlaki recipe that includes chicken (obvs) but also grilled veggies, quinoa, and a delicious tzatziki sauce made with feta; everything served in a bowl.
I know you’re drooling, so am I — and I just had it for lunch.
That’s the only acceptable reaction one can have at the sight of so much awesomeness.

Easy Salted Mayan Chocolate Pots de Crème

Look, I know all too well that January is the time for resolutions.
I get it, I totally do.
You just signed up for a gym membership?
Good for you.
You swore off carbs, sugar, and all edible food like substances (aka junk food)?
Even better.
I’m all for new year resolutions and I love the notion of a fresh start.

Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops

I don’t know what has happened to me, but since the beginning of the new year but I’ve been craving red meat like crazy. Chicken and turkey don't satisfy. I want steaks, lamb chops, beef sashimi, sausages, jerky, pork chops.
I have to admit that it’s sort of awkward, because I’ve never considered myself as a “red meat kind of a guy”. To the contrary, I’ve always been proud of my self-proclaimed status of “lean meat kind of guy”.
These days however, it’s all about red meat.
Yeah, I hardly know me either.
How could this have happened? The person who considered chicken and turkey the only viable meat protein source? He who said that beef and pork are okay to eat only in moderation?
This road I’m walking down scares me.
How long will it take before you spot me scarfing down a couple of burgers at Shake Shack every day for lunch? Gnawing ribs or sucking marrowbones?
I dunno, I dunno...

Broccoli and Cheese Mashed Potatoes

And it’s a new year.
I hope you guys had a great start to the fresh and brand new year so far.
I like New Year for one specific reason: It’s a holiday that doesn’t have any religious overtone whatsoever. Therefore it’s something we can all celebrate without needing any beliefs in anything.
Whether or not you take New Year seriously — I don’t take it particularly seriously — it’s a nice marker to have. I like the feeling of wiping the slate clean and starting a fresh, new beginning. Though in a sense we mustn’t forget that we’re always starting over, we’re always changing, not only on January 1st.

Top 10 Recipes of 2015

It’s the end of 2015 and well, WHOA!
Are you guys ready?
I am definitely not.
I keep hearing my friends saying things like “Next year I want to skydive in the jungle” or “I want to wrestle a lion” or “ I want to write a novel” - and I’m more like “What’s for dinner tonight?” or “Running or yoga tomorrow?”
Apparently, I’m not ready for 2016.
The only thing I know is that the new year will be filled with delicious food. Just like 2015, maybe even better...if that’s even possible.

Anyways, with the year coming to a close, I thought I’d put together a collection of the 10 most popular recipes on the blog during 2015 (in terms of pageviews).
Now mind you, these recipes are ones posted from January through December 2015 — basically this an annual roundup.
It’s quite an awesome bunch and you won’t be surprised that all of the most popular recipes are savory ones.

Quinoa Avocado and Apple Detox Salad

I’ll admit it, I tried to be virtuous but I totally went overboard with eating last weekend. Faced with homemade Christmas treats, it was hard to say no.
Yesterday morning I woke up feeling absolutely terrible. I actually felt like a Thanksgiving turkey: overstuffed, bloated, and even nauseated.
I was SO ready for a major detox.

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas

I can’t quite believe it’s Christmas Eve and I’m here writing my Christmas blog post.
Roaring fires, good food, and the air filled with warmth.
Oh man, I love Christmas.

I love it even if every year at Christmas I'm reminded how bad I am at wrapping gifts.
The presents are usually “wrapped” in some sort of way and then I pile on the tape.
Tape is amazing.
Another option is the Tootsie Roll Twist — doesn’t matter the size or shape of the present.
If all else fails: Gift bag. Gift bags are magic.

Anyways, I’m also busy whipping up a feast for my family.
This year the menu includes a beef roulade stuffed with all sorts of delicious things (I know, awesome), Garlic Thyme Potatoes Anna, Baked Spinach, Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash, Chocolate Avocado Chia Pudding, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
I come from a large family where everyone loves to eat well (and drink good wine).
So yeah, a lot of pressure on Mike...

As I look back at the year gone by, there is one thing that stands out the most: YOU GUYS!
I am so very grateful that you guys read this blog, enjoy it, share it, and engage with me on here, Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, and Pinterest.
I really hope that in some way it enriches your life as much as it enriches mine to write it.
Thank you.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!