Beyond Meat BeastBurger w/ Cheese + Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs

If you haven't already tried Beyond Meat's BeastBurger, you absolutely must.  I'm pretty sure it had a hand in me deciding to go back to being a vegetarian.  I remember the first time Evan made it, I thought, "I like this better than beef."  Not kidding, even my dad -- who's a little set in his ways in some areas, food being one of them -- enjoyed it, when he accidentally had one in place of a beef cheeseburger during a barbecue.  

I'd been craving a cheeseburger with sweet potato fries all day at work, so when I came home, I knew we had to make a veg + healthier version.  I'm a big fan of Beyond Meat because, a while back, I think read that Bill Gates' is (or was) one of their investors in some article on Silicon Valley tech giants.  There was a separate article on Beyond Meat and the future of plant protein, which I thought was a cool read and has had me hooked ever since.

This was one of the tastiest dinners I'd had in a while, and if you stick around long enough, you'll find that I have plenty of delicious dinners because Evan is low key an iron chef.  

All I did here was roast the Beyond Meat BeastBurger along with Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs in the oven at 425 degrees.  I just followed the instructions and eyeballed both for optimal char + crisp.  I added a thin slice of mild cheddar cheese from Sprouts at the end and assembled.  Persian pickles on the side are optional but of course highly recommended.  

xo, Glory

Frolicking in NYC

I was in New York City last week for Evan's sister's NYU graduation.  We flew out of SFO on Tuesday and came back Sunday.  I'm usually really happy with Virgin America, but I think that's because I only used to ever fly with them out of LAX.  Flying with them out of SFO was a pain.  Both flights (going to and from NYC) were delayed, and not for acceptable reasons in my opinion. 

They said SFO was doing maintenance on one of their runways and that delays were due to FAA regulations.  It's not that I didn't believe them, I just think they knew in advance and could've communicated the departure times better.  But hey, at least I wasn't dragged off the plane 😉

We got in late Tuesday night, and Wednesday and Thursday were NYU graduation days.  I'm proud to say we spotted Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino coming out of Radio City Musical Hall on Thursday.  My girlfriend Lauren knew we were staying in Times Square and texted me before I'd even heard about the crash that killed 1 person and injured 22 others.  I said a prayer and thanked my lucky stars that I was okay in that moment.  

Friday's breakfast at our hotel was the perfect start to our day.  I was feeling all sorts of under the weather, likely from being on a plane and somehow I'd hurt my neck, but the fact that we could just go downstairs to have breakfast was clutch.  

I went to UC Berkeley for my undergrad so I just knew I had to pop into by Chloe.  I graduated in 2008 and if I'm not mistaken, I think Chloe Coscarelli graduated in 2009.  She's an award-winning Vegan author and chef, and her by Chloe casual restaurants are just perfect.  I had the guac burger and it totally hit the spot. 

When we got back to our hotel, we stopped by the concierge desk just to see if any Broadway show tickets were available.  Seriously, I hadn't even planned on asking, but suddenly it hit me that we were basically staying right next door and there's no time like the present.  I know everyone's big into Hamilton these days, and don't get me wrong, I fully intend on seeing it -- but just when it becomes normal-people prices.  I'd seen Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages and Wicket at the Orpheum, so I asked if they could find us tickets to The Lion King. Concierge woman took a liking to me and my goofy ways and...ta da!...The Lion King tickets were procured.  

I know there's a Broadway show ticket lottery you can enter (daily, maybe?) to get discounted tickets, but I'm glad we did it this way.  We'd just been busy and, at least when we were there, it was hot and crowded in NYC and I couldn't imagine going back on a daily basis to save some money.  I could be eating my words if it's a lot of money, but in this case we had a lot of commitments and time was of the essence.  

We had tickets to the 2 p.m. showing and I was ecstatic.  I love a good matinee because I don't like eating dinner at 10 p.m. (what are we, in Argentina?), and I also don't like feeling like I have to rush at dinner to make an 8 p.m. show.  The matinee lets you have dinner afterward, at your leisure, and I'm big into leisure #foreverleisurely

The show was amazing and the money we spent on slightly marked up tickets was well worth it.  When I got back to work, I told one of my friends that I saw my first ever show on Broadway and she was shocked.  Turns out, she thought any Broadway show was "seeing a show on Broadway," and didn't realize that seeing a show not on Broadway in NYC is considered off Broadway, ha 😎

At this point I was really tired so we decided to have an early bird dinner in the Theater District.  We went to a little spot called B Squared, the sister restaurant of B Side Pizza & Wine Bar.  I'm now a huge fan because (a) we were seated right away, (b) service was delightfully attentive but not annoying, and (c) the food + drinks were well priced and absolutely scrumptious.  Behold, 🍻🍕🍝

We had the Black Duck Porter, though I'm not sure that it's still on their menu.  I'd venture to say they rotate their selection somewhat frequently, but feel free to ask your server for a recommendation or taste of something.  

We got their housemade rigatoni (big fan of the bread crumbs) and roasted broccolini to start. 

And we finished off with their carbonara pizza, sans pancetta because #veg.  We then walked around until my dad's best friend's daughter met up with us for some dessert at Schmackary's.  The story here is kind of random -- my dad grew up in Iran and his best friend now lives in Stockholm; best friend's daughter, whom I'd never met before, is completing an internship in NYC.  My dad's best friend commented on my check-in at The Lion King that I should text his daughter, so I did!  Anyway, she was an absolute sweetheart and I'm glad we could meet up with her, even if we couldn't hang very long since we had an early flight home the next day.

And with that, I'll leave you with this iPhone shot from an earlier night when Evan and I hung out with my girlfriend Lauren on her rooftop in Williamsburg.  Parting is seriously such sweet sorrow but there's no place like home!

xo, Glory

SB Wedding Vibes + Solvang Jaunt

Remember my girlfriend whose birthday/bachelorette bash I attended last month?  Well, she got married this past weekend! The venue was in Santa Barbara so Evan and I decided to make a weekend of it. I worked from home on Friday and then picked him up from downtown Sacramento at around 1pm.  

Side note: I became a vegetarian again shortly after Cinco de Mayo.  I was a vegetarian in mid 2010 but didn't stick with it for a lot of reasons.  I'm back to it now and this time I think I'm sticking with it for good.  Evan's been a vegetarian now for more than a few months so he got us sandwiches from Beach Hut Deli for the road.  We happily road tripped down for the next 6 hours before finally arriving in SB and attending my gf's rehearsal dinner.  Santa Barbara is a beautiful little coastal town and so worth a trip if you're into sun, sand, wineries and microbreweries.  It's got all that and more, plus it's near a cute little town called Solvang.  

The next morning (and my gf's wedding day), Evan and I decided to have a breakfast down by State Street with our friend, Greg.  I've known Greg since college when he used to date one of my very best friends. They've since gotten married and ​live in LA, so I don't see them nearly enough and try to spend as much time with them as I can when we all do get together.  Greg's wife, Anna, was one of the brilliant ​masterminds behind ​last month's bday/bachelorette weekend​. Anna's a lady lawyer like myself and 

​an ​all around girl boss + planner extraordinaire. Greg picked the breakfast spot and, as you can see, it did not disappoint.  

After breakfast, Greg ​left to go to a charity police event in Calabasas while Evan and I met up with two of ​our other friends. We went to a couple wineries o​n State Street and a microbrewery in​the Funk Zone. I don't recall the Funk Zone being around when I used to visit SB in high school, so if you haven't been in a while, I highly recommend you check it out. There's a lot more to do than I remember.  Later that day, my gf Elena and her fiancé Kevin got married!  The beautiful couple got hitched at an intimate little place called Cold Spring Tavern. The historic mountainside saloon was the perfect backdrop 💕

The wedding was a blast and the "after party" was ​planned in advance at the bar next door. Elena and Kev had pizza waiting for us which I thought was a really nice touch. You seriously cannot go wrong with some grease and heavy carbs​ after a few (or several) cocktails.  

The next day, Evan and I had breakfast at the nearby IHOP with several of my girlfriends and their fiancés/husbands.  It was really sweet ​seeing all the families there for Mother's Day.  Once we finished, Evan and I checked out of our hotel and headed toward Solvang.  He'd never been before so I definitely wanted to take​ him on our way home.  Solvang is about 30-40 miles outside of Santa Barbara and is all things Danish.  Really.  It's so fun and a must see (at least once) if you're at all close by.  There's museums, restaurants, shops, people dressed in Danish garb, and ebelskivers galore! 

I hope the summer is filled with similarly jam packed weekends! ✭

xo, Glory

Cinco de Mayo at Home: Sheet Pan Nachos + Light Beer

Now I know what you're thinking -- Cinco de Mayo is for margaritas, not light beer.  You would be right, but Evan and I weren't going out (a total crime when Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday, if you ask me) and beer was easy in a pinch.  My light beer of choice is usually Michelob Ultra or Bud Light Lime.  Michelob Ultra is great if you don't want the added lime flavor, and it's low in both calories and carbs. 

My absolute favorite light beer used to be Michelob Ultra Amber until they discontinued it.  Even though it looks like it's back now, I haven't been able to find it anywhere.  And aside from my beloved Michelob Ultra Amber (I miss you, MUA), it's really hard to find a light, dark beer.  Suggestions are welcome if you know of any!  

Since we were staying home, we decided to make sheet pan nachos to go with our beers.  The nachos came out really well and they weren't all that unhealthy either.  

Here's a list of ingredients and the steps we followed. Hope you enjoy. Olé!

Ingredients:

• 1 can refried pinto beans (preheated on the stove top or in your microwave)
• 1 can whole black beans
• 1/3 container of white mushrooms, sautéed (for just one side)
• Salsa
• Fresh cilantro
• Avocado
• Tostitos Cantina salsa 
• Diced red onion
• Chopped green onion
• Mexican blend shredded cheese
• Jalapeños
• Sour cream

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees
• Line your sheet pan with some foil (less clean up!)
• Spread out your tortilla chips (preferably thicker ones that won't break as easily)
• Add your preheated refried pinto beans evenly on top of the chips
• Add your whole black beans evenly on top of the chips
• Sprinkle Mexican blend shredded cheese all over
• Add your sautéed mushrooms (you stick to one side like we did, or add them all over), as well as your red and green onions
• Bake for about 10-12 minutes and then remove
• Add salsa and extra shredded cheese
• Bake for another 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and then remove
• Garnish with diced avocados, fresh cilantro, jalapeños, and sour cream

xo, Glory

How to Earn Your Rosé (A Hike in Auburn)

Last weekend, at the end of our friend's birthday/bachelorette extravaganza, my dear friend, Steph (hi esteph!), and I were chatting about getting together the following weekend before boarding our respective flights home.  Auburn seemed like a good choice because both of our boyfriend's enjoy hiking, and we'd all get to spend time together while getting a good workout in.  Plus, my boyfriend Evan is really into hiking and I almost always refuse him.  In fact, I think the last time he had asked me to go was the weekend after his birthday.  I'd agreed to go, but we ended up staying in because it started raining.  

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy nature and a nice, brisk trail walk as much as the next person, but I also get kind of anxious about not knowing how long we'll be gone, where exactly we're going, or if there'll be bikers.  And I always wonder, "will my shoes get dirty?!"  I'm serious, and yes, I'm told that's a terrible reason for refusing to go on a hike.  My boyfriend's always like, "just wear whatever shoes you don't care about!"  To which I reply, "but I care about them all!" 😉 

So imagine Evan's face when I told we'd finally be going on that hike.  Steph and her boyfriend, Casey, met us at our house around noon this past Saturday and we headed toward at 12:30 pm.  I'm told you normally start a hike earlier in the day to account for the heat, and the wildlife (e.g. mountain lions, when we used to live in Costa Mesa and hiked near Laguna Beach), but I think we knew we wouldn't have those problems here.  

We got there around 1 p.m. and hiked until about 4 or 4:30 p.m.  I honestly thought we were hiking a black diamond course but was gently informed about the toddlers on our trail.  I think at one point I told the rest of the group to, "just leave me," but thankfully no one listened.  I did manage to save us from certain death, though, when I spotted a baby rattlesnake by a boulder Steph had just jumped over.  Needless to say, we got out of that area slowly.  We had our hiking snacks by the water (and away from the baby rattlesnake) before heading back up to my car.  I have to say I did a lot better on the way back up than I did coming down.  Once we got to my car, we started bumpin' the 90s jams on our way to dinner.  ⇝

We decided to go to Milestone in El Dorado Hills because Evan used to work there and is still friends with the owners.   We shared two bottles of rose, the crispy brussels, blistered padron peppers, and parmesan and bread crumb mac & cheese.  I also had the chef's burger for dinner (divine), and Steph and Evan both had items off the daily specials menu while Casey ordered the ribs.  I ended up leaving (and losing) my beloved sunglasses at the restaurant, but the good food (and fact that they were only $7 from amazon) made up for it.  I'll sure miss them, though, since they were polarized and looked more expensive.  On our way back, we decided to stop for coffees and a quick trip to H&M.  You'll never be quicker than when you're dirty, can't really try stuff on, and have two tired boyfriends waiting for you.  Steph and I even managed to score a few pieces .  We ended the evening and decided that our next hike would be somewhere in SF.  Til next time 💕

xo, Glory

Hemp Protein Cacao Smoothie with Flaxseeds + Dates

This hemp protein cacao smoothie with flaxseeds + dates is one of my absolute favorites.  It fills me up for hours and actually tastes great.  Before I figured this combo out, I'd constantly be making smoothies and only drinking some before dumping the rest out because none of them tasted this good.  I'll usually have this after a 6 a.m. yoga or spin class, when I'm hungry (but not that hungry) and feeling all kinds of responsible since I just exercised and all. 

If you haven't tried unsweetened cashewmilk in your smoothies yet, you need to!  Way better than almond milk in my opinion, and it basically tastes as close to regular ol' milk as you can get.  I know some people prefer the taste of almond milk, but I always choose cashewmilk because it's creamier and milder tasting, and I can even use it in my cereal!  I've also always loved dates and the fact that I can sweeten my smoothies with them -- and it's my firm belief that two Medjool dates will act as a natural thickening agent, no Xantham gum needed!

I choose hemp protein because it's easier to digest (for me) and doesn't compete with other flavors. Hemp protein's also a good source of fiber and magnesium.  Cacao powder is a great source of antioxidants, too, and, quite honestly, I can't even really tell the difference between it and Hershey's powder.  And I'm always hearing great things about flax/chia, so I like that I can get a blend of the two from Carrington Farms.

Top that bad boy off with some guilt-free/fat-free Reddi Whip + sprinkle some sweet cacao nibs on top and you've got yourself a hemp protein cacao smoothie ➳➳ enjoy!

Here's what I used:

• my Blendtec from Costco 
• 8 ounces Unsweetened Silk Cashewmilk (25 cals)
• 3/4-1 cup ice
• 1 rounded dessert spoon Navitas Hemp Protein Powder (< 30 cals)
• 1 rounded teaspoon Navitas Cacao Powder (< 20 cals)
• 1 rounded teaspoon Carrington Farms' Flax Chia Blend (< 30 cals)
• 2 of the juiciest of Medjool dates, try Natural Delights (regular, organic, or pitted) (~ 130 cals)
• 1 medium to large banana (~ 110 cals)
• Fat-Free Reddi Whip (optional and < 10 calories, even if you go wild)
• Navitas Sweet Cacao Nibs to taste + top off your smoothie (optional)

Directions:

• Pour 3/4 to 1 cup ice in your blender of choice (I use a Blendtec)
• Pour 8 ounces of Unsweetened Cashewmilk over your ice
• Add 1 rounded/heaping dessert spoon of hemp protein powder
• Add 1 rounded teaspoon of cacao powder
• Add 1 rounded teaspoon of flaxseed (I use a flax chia blend, more superfood bang for your buck!)
• Add 1 medium to large banana
• Add 2 Medjool dates (remove the pits, if any!)
• Select the "smoothie" function if using a Blendtec (or blend on medium/high until you reach a smooth consistency if you're not using a Blendtec)
• Top with Fat-Free Reddi Whip (optional)
• Top with sweet cacao nibs (optional -- the regular nibs have a slightly bitter taste)

xo, Glory

Joshua Tree Bday + Bachelorette is Always a Good Idea

One of my best friends is getting married in a few weeks, and we threw her a bachelorette party in Joshua Tree this past weekend.  It was also her birthday, and I'd never been to Joshua Tree or a bachelorette party.  I was excited but also kind of nervous because I wasn't going to know half the girls. Half of us were best friends from college, and the other half was going to be new girls my friend had met throughout the years. Two of my girlfriend's were flying into LA from SF, and I was flying in from Sacramento. I grew up in LA but live in Sacramento right now because of my job.

We started setting up for the other girls as soon as we got there.  Once we were finished, we headed out to get dinner and drinks at the Joshua Tree Saloon.  I thought their food and service were both really good, and the number of stars they have on yelp (only 3) totally doesn't reflect either.

We stayed at the cutest not-so-little house -- the Boulder House. If you're looking for somewhere to stay in the area, I definitely recommend checking them out on Airbnb. They say the house can accommodate/sleep up to 14, which it did, but you have to be willing to share beds.  

The first day/night, we just hung out by pool and had lunch/drinks/cocktails. I knew right away that I'd be friends with the new girls because they all just felt familiar to me. For dinner, we made shrimp tacos and kale/corn salad and ate at the outdoor tables.  For dessert, we had the above unicorn birthday cake, courtesy of my girlfriend's who's an absolute pro at recreating Pinterest finds.  

The next day we got up to go to the sound baths at the Integratron. I didn't get any pictures, but essentially you get to hear some interesting info before listening to some crystals. The whole reservation is an hour long and it's definitely a relaxing experience. Once we got back, we spent the rest of the day having apps and drinks by the pool again. We started getting ready for dinner at Pappy + Harriet's around 4pm. If you don't know, Pappy + Harriet's is a well-known spot that offers live music and food in the area.

One of my other girlfriend's, Eliana, was kind enough to play DD and drive a few of us over to Pappy + Harriet's ♥ Once we got there, we grabbed some drinks at the bar and then went to our table, which just so happened to be in front of Scarlett Johansson's table! The rest of the night's a blur, but I do remember absolutely loving the skirt steak and cheesey potatoes that I had for dinner. The next day, we got up and got ready to check out before road tripping back to LA. We made a pit stop at the Cabazon outlets (the best) on our way back, and ended our day at The Black Cat on Sunset before heading back to the airport. Until next time, I have to say this was the most fun trip I'd ever been on and if you're at all on the fence about attending a friend's bachelorette -- I say do it! And if your gf is as laid back as mine is, you (and your liver) won't have much to worry about 😚

xo, Glory

Mondaze + How to Get Your Chicken Caesar on the Cheap!

Hi there ⇝ I don't know about you, but Monday is without a doubt my least favorite day of the week. The weekends always go by too fast, and I always end up wishing I could just spend the day catching up on t.v. (and Pinterest during the commercials, anyone else do that?) and maybe go to the gym...maybe. Coming in at a close second is adulting, and also lawyering, both of which seem exponentially harder on Mondays. 

Since I'm usually riding the struggle bus on Mondays, I was without lunch and good ideas.  Luckily for me, we have a Sprouts by my office.  I'm actually lucky that my firm is surrounded by a lot of good options, and Sprouts never fails me.  I'm also lucky that I get to keep a mini fridge in my office so I'm able to stock up.  I ended up getting a pre-made caesar salad (a steal at $2.31), a container of "just shredded chicken", a turkey sandwich on multigrain, a snack box of mixed cheese/grapes/crackers, a bottle of Rebbl Reishi Chocolate, a bottle of Daily Greens Renew, and a box of Sprouts Blend kcups for the week.  I found out that it's a lot cheaper to add "just shredded chicken" to a plain caesar salad than it is to buy Sprouts' pre-packed chicken caesars.  Plus you can customize how much or how little chicken you add, for just the right chicken-to-salad-greens ratio.

I had a second cup of coffee around 3 p.m. and also drank the bottle of Daily Greens Renew I bought.  I'm happy to report it didn't have a lot of added sugars and was delicious.

I ended my day at 5:30 p.m. and met up with one of my girlfriends at the gym.  We did 30 minutes on the StairMaster, and another 30 minutes on the Precor elliptical.  I hear StairMasters are apparently really effective at torching calories and keep your core engaged + is easy on your joints. So basically, #triplethreat and #winning.  

When I got home, I watched the new episode of Southern Charm with my boyfriend.  Anyone else addicted to reality t.v.?  Seriously, no shame.  I like Naomie the best this season and hope they keep her on as a regular cast member.  What do you guys think about Shep?  At times I think he's being a genuine/true friend, but then other times I think he should stop asking Craig if he ever intends to take the bar/become an attorney.  Sure, Craig's not being entirely honest, but Shep keeps pushing it, too. And I absolutely can't wait to see how things unfold between Thomas/Landon/Katherine...now there's some drama with a capital D, y'all.  

xo, Glory