Category: Food

Gearing Up for Valentine’s Day!

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From what I can tell, Valentine’s Day can be rather polarizing. People either observe it or are repelled by it. I celebrate it!

I get the- “it’s a Hallmark holiday” perspective. But my response to that is- God forbid you tell someone you care about them. In addition to celebrating it in the traditional sense, I love spreading to love to family and friends too. Sometimes February can be a little bleak so I use the holiday as an excuse to send a card or a small care package to hopefully make someone’s day. I’ve started shopping already because I know if will be here before I know it, and I want to be ready! Here are a few of the things I’m thinking about this year:

For the grandparents:

I like sending a small box of chocolates or some cookies along with a festive tea towel to my grandparents. Everyone can use a new tea towel (they are usually less than $20), and Crate and Barrel, Williams and Sonoma, and Paper Source have some good V-day kitchen options.

Best Girlfriends:

How about a funny card and an empowering little trinket? I love the idea of giving someone a little heart shaped ring dish, or a mug with a girl power message. A pretty journal or notepad would also be fun. Paper Source has all of the above, and West Elm has some good options too. And there’s always a little gift set from Sephora, the classic scented candle, or a festive pair of earrings. You will make her week!

Friends with young kids:

I like the idea of sending a little craft or baking mix. You can include a couple festive accessories like fun stickers or cupcake cake liners with hearts.

Mom:

Gotta cover the bases in case Dad is one of those “it’s just a Hallmark holiday” people. Once when I was in college my mom sent me a Valentine’s Day care package. It was my favorite piece of mail, maybe ever. I think I still have most of the contents (minus the candy). One of my favorite pieces was a pink, fluffy bathrobe, so I think it’s only fitting that I give my mom some V-day PJs. Plus, PJs falls into the category of “things she needs but never thinks to pick up for herself”.

Me:

Because, why not?

How are you celebrating this year?

Brotein Shake

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This year, so far, I’ve tried to emphasize protein in my diet. Why am I trying to emphasize protein?

  1. I’m not a big meat eater, so I’m always looking for alternatives that actually have a significant amount of protein.
  2. Since I’m a gym rat, I know that eating protein will help support my workouts.
  3. I’ve realized that I physically feel better when my meals are protein focused rather than carb focused. I feel fuller, longer and I have more energy.

To supplement my real food sources of protein, I use protein powder and bars. Here are my go-tos:

My morning protein shake has Metabolic Nutrition Protizyme whey protein powder in the vanilla cake flavor. Something about metabolic protizyme screams delicious, right? It has 25 grams of protein per 122 calories which is one of the best ratios I’ve seen out there. And it only has 1 gram of sugar per serving. Plus the flavor and texture work well in my smoothie.

Sadie Dishes- Brotein Shake

For my occasional post workout protein shake snack is Vega Protein & Greens in vanilla flavor. It’s a plant based protein powder that includes 2 servings of greens per scoop. The protein to calorie ratio is 20 grams per 110 calories. It’s not quite as delicious as my morning smoothie, but I think it really does the trick! Even just half a scoop helps out a lot! Pro tip- mix it with almond milk, never just water!

Sadie Dishes- Brotein Shake

And lastly, when I’m traveling or on the go, I’m partial to thinkThin High Protein Bars. They are not extremely delicious, but very palatable and they do the job. They have 20 grams of protein for 240 calories which makes for a solid recovery snack or mid afternoon, I don’t know if I can make it to dinner, travel snack. It’s a real happy medium between the high calorie protein bars, and the dinky granola bars with 4 grams of protein and tons of sugar.

Sadie Dishes- Brotein Shake

What are your creative, or not so creative, protein options?

Putting Cookies in the Mail

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Over the last few years I’ve gotten in the habit of sending my grandparents cookie care packages about once a quarter. I don’t live very close to my grandparents in Long Island or my grandmother in Georgia, so sending them cookies is my way of telling them that I’m thinking about them and reminding them that I’m a fantastic baker.

Sadie Dishes- Putting Cookies in the Mail

I’ve probably sent somewhere between 50 and 100 baked good care packages through the mail over the past five years to my grandparents and other assorted friends and family, and I’ve developed somewhat of a formula. When it comes to packages for the grandparents I usually include three things:

  • about a dozen of a seasonal cookie
  • about a dozen of a heartier (perhaps more nutritious) cookie
  • a couple mini loafs of a quick bread

The purpose of the seasonal cookies is obviously to make the package festive. In December it’s a Christmas cookie; in the spring it’s heart shaped shortbread, Hamentashen, or coconut macaroons; in the fall it’s something pumpkin oriented; and the summer is kind of a wild card. The heartier choice is sort of the same idea as putting vegetables in your kid’s mac and cheese. Cookies with oats, dried cranberries, nuts, or bananas add a couple little nutritional elements to my grandparent’s limited daily diet. I know that my cookies are better for them than any of the baked goods they buy at the grocery store. Lastly, I throw in one or two mini loaves of a quick bread. I usually do banana bread because it’s just so easy, but I’ll also do cranberry nut bread or zucchini bread. I just know my grandparents all love quick bread so I try to always include it.

Sadie Dishes- Putting Cookies in the Mail

This past weekend I baked for a care package for my Grandfather in Long Island. He’s turning 94 next week! Keeping that in mind, I made two of his favorites- Hamentashen (it’s Purim season) and banana bread. I also added chunky lola cookies (adding Craisons to the recipe) for a little extra something.

Sadie Dishes- Putting Cookies in the Mail

Here are a few pro tips to remember for mailing cookies:

  • do bake as close to mailing as possible (I usually bake Sunday afternoon and mail first thing Monday morning)
  • don’t be shy with the bubble wrap, peanuts, newspaper, etc.- cookies need cushioning
  • do include a quick note that identifies the enclosed items
  • don’t make anything too fancy, delicate, or perishable because it will not hold up in the mail- btw cookies covered in powdered sugar do not usually look great when they arrive, but they probably still taste good
  • do allow everything to cool completely before you package them

Happy Baking!