Healthy Lemon & Dill Dip

During the Superbowl, I wanted to create a dip that would allow me to indulge without feeling regret afterwards. My boyfriend happened to be making homemade chips at the same time, which inspired me to use lemon and dill with greek yogurt.

This combo turned out to be exactly what I was hoping! It was light, creamy and tasted great on several of the snacks we set out, including the zucchini skins I made as an alternative to potato skins (recipe found here)

For the dip you will need: 

1/2 juice of a lemon

1 tsp. salt (more or less to taste)

1 tbsp. Dill

1 oz container Non-Fat Greek Yogurt

Directions: Mix ingredients until fully combined.

You can find the recipe for the baked potato chips here

Gift Guide: Valentine's for your guy

Sometimes coming up with gift ideas for your man can be hard, and for those procrastinators (like me) last minute gift items are even more difficult. So I've compiled a last minute gift guide for your guy. 

1. These Hershel Supply backpacks also make a great gift for the guy on the go. For school, road trips, or any outdoor adventure these cool packs look great and have plenty of space for all his loot. 

2. I recently stumbled upon these neat printed tee's that showcase various out of print covers of fiction. These are neat and despite being a shirt, are still super thoughtful if you chose a favorite title of his. 

3. Another thoughtful gift is A copy of a movie you went to see and liked when you first started dating. (In my case Where the Wild Things are was our first date!)

4. If he's a beer geek, get him a selection of a few bottles of different craft brews as well as a subscription to a magazine all about the stuff like Beer Advocate  or Draft Magazine 

5. Sentimental and personalized trinkets like this handmade copper money clip. I love this because it's an thoughtful alternative to a bulky wallet.

6. Watches are nice gifts for your guy, but more often than not, they come with hefty price tags and the potential for failure as a gift. This Nixon Time Teller however, is an alternative that is stylish (28 colors!), durable, and won't break the bank (75$). 

Casual Stripes

I have a tendency to overdress when it comes to going out to concerts. I'm always wearing my highest heels or wearing an outfit I can't stand by the end of said show.

Last week I went to see Geographer in San Francisco and decided against my normal choices for outfits.

I went with something comfortable and laid back, which included a striped tee, black jeggings and TOMS wedges which are one of my favorite items to wear in any circumstance.

Jacket: Forever 21 Old (Similar Here), Top: H&M, Watch: Nixon Necklace: Forever 21

Jeggings: 7forallmankind Shoes: TOMS Wedges

How do you wear your favorite striped shirt?

xo

Siobhain

Zucchini Skins

This year for the Superbowl I wanted to lighten up snacks that are generally feel like one million calories a bite. In honor of my love for potato skins (oozy cheese c'mon!), I decided to take away the starchy element, and replace them with zucchini for a lighter but still scrumptious option:

(Recipe Makes 12 'skins')

You will need: 

1/4 cup low-fat mixed cheese 

3 green onions

3 slices turkey bacon

2 medium to large zucchini

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

salt to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

6oz Lemon Dill Non-fat Greek Yogurt Dip (I will post the recipe later)

1. Begin by cutting the zucchinis into thirds, and then halving those thirds. 

2. You will need a spoon to scoop out a pretty large portion of the inside of the zucchini leaving behind what looks like a little boat. 

3. Cook slices of turkey bacon in a pan and set aside on paper towels to drain. 

4. Preheat the oven to 350°

5. Mince bacon into desired consistency (I like mine chopped finely, but some might enjoy theirs more chunky!) 

6. In a large bowl, toss the zucchini, paprika, cayenne pepper, olive oil and salt until evenly coated. 

7. On a baking sheet line the zucchini boats up evenly and place in the oven for 15 minutes. 

8. Take the zucchini out of the oven and add the cheese and bacon to each boat, placing back in the oven for another 25 minutes (cooking time can vary based on preferred doneness of cheese and zucchini)

9. While you're waiting go ahead and chop your green onion and set aside to use as a garnish.

10. After 25 minutes in the oven take skins out of the oven and plate, finishing with chopped green onion and a dallop of greek yogurt. 

What are some recipes you lighten up for game day?

xo Siobhain

Grandma's Teriyaki Marinade

One of my favorite things growing up was my Grandmother Juneko's chicken teriyaki recipe. My mom always prepared it using chicken wings and drumsticks, but now that I'm older I have found it to be delicious as a marinade for everything (Tofu, steak, pork etc.).

This marinade is so simple, and great for those days where you have very little time to prep dinner without sacrificing flavor.


(Please pardon the paper plates -- I was cooking for the Superbowl and was aiming for minimal cleanup!)

You'll need:

1/2 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 Cup Water (or if you're in a hurry you can use sprite and just omit the sugar)
2-3 Garlic Cloves Minced
1 Tbsp. sugar, or to taste.
1lb "Party" Wings


Mix together in a bowl with your chicken wings, cover and let sit for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. (For the best results allow chicken to marinade overnight!)

Preheat oven to 350° and bake for roughly 30 minutes, or until wings are done and juice runs clear. This recipe is also awesome on the grill if you've got the time and know-how!

Voila! I'm telling you, despite the simplicity it really does pack a punch.