Hello! I'm undigging from being away for a girls' trip, and this week has been busy. But it was so, so worth it! I can't wait to share my trip details with you. But for today, let's dig into my Five on Friday ~
One of my favorite chefs, Giada De Laurentiis, has a brand new cookbook out this week! It promises more than 110 indulgent recipes using Italy's healthiest foods. Yes please! It's going on my wish list for Mother's Day (if I can wait that long to get it). Here's the summary ~
From the day Giada De Laurentiis started cooking professionally, her fundamental formula for making meals memorable has not changed: Good Cooking = Technique + Ingredients + Ambience. This same formula is the key to good health when you choose ingredients that promote wellness, cook them simply, and eat them joyfully. In her skillful hands, a pantry of Italian superfoods is the starting point to better health and longevity.
Super-Italian helps you stock your shelves with healthy Italian superfoods and create meals that are nutritionally dense, supportive of health, and still downright craveable. The superfoods featured and incorporated into every recipe are:
Olives + olive oil: Umbrian Chicken Stew with Green Olives, Kale Salsa Verde, and Grilled Swordfish with Olive Bagna Cauda
Beans + Legumes: Artichoke Dip with White Beans, Crunchy Roasted Butter Beans, and Creamy Cannellini Beans
Cruciferous vegetables: Winter Beans and Greens Soup, Orecchiette with Almond Pesto and Broccoli Rabe, and Green Gazpacho
Small fish: Caesar Aioli, Pasta Assassina, and Anchovy Pasta with Walnuts
Vinegar: Balsamic Chocolate Truffles, Grilled Endive Salad with Citrus and Pancetta, and Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola and Balsamic
Tomatoes: Sicilian Pesto, Tomatoes Gratinata, and Calabrian Pomodoro
By using carbs and fats mindfully and amplifying vegetables, lean proteins, and flavor-boosting superfoods at every meal, Giada shows how easy it is to eat like an Italian. With 100 stunning photographs of finished meals and their superfood components, Giada teaches us that when you start with truly excellent, minimally processed ingredients, simply prepared, you can have your pasta and eat it too!
2. The Americas
Have you had a chance to watch The Americas on Peacock? Eric and I are really enjoying it! The Americas is a 10-part nature documentary series narrated by Tom Hanks. It explores the diverse ecosystems and wildlife across North and South America. The cinematography is amazing! The show premiered on February 23 and airs on Sunday nights. It's a show for the whole family.
3. Desk Fan
On my trip last week, I packed my portable desk fan. I'm so used to sleeping with a fan at night and I didn't know if there would be a fan at our condo. This little gem did the trick! It's so funny, I hadn't really thought about using it anywhere except on my desk before. Now I see the possibilities are endless! With the plug being a USB port, I can use it in the car or outside with my computer. It's definitely going to be traveling with me more!
With spring break and summer coming up, many of you may be hitting the roads with the kiddos in tow. What are you going to do with those hours in the car? Prepare yourself with these road trip games! The games will help build memories and have fun, instead of just remembering the long and boring trip in the car.
5. Haven't we all been there...
Have a great weekend! We have several fun things happening - lunch with a friend, celebrating our son's birthday, our small group gathering from church, and dinner with friends. Lots to look forward to! And don't forget to set your clocks forward this weekend. See you next week.
