Five Things I’m Loving Right Now

…in my kitchen.

Hi guys! Today’s post is all about my current obsessions. I have food, beverage, my favorite tea towel and a dynamite book for sangria lovers! (that’s me.)  

The perfect pair

I’ve been on the hunt for healthier snack alternatives for a while, I finally found them. First, the Hi I’m Skinny Quinoa Sticks. I have to say, I’m not a fan of quinoa, but these taste incredible. It’s made with whole grains and chia seeds. There’s no preservatives or artificial flavors. They’re gluten-free and vegan for those of you that are. I love them and shock horror, I don’t miss potato chips! And I love eating them with hummus!

Speaking of hummus, I just discovered Hope Hummus. In a word: Yum! My favorite is the Black Garlic; they also have jalapeño cilantro and Thai Coconut Curry. The snack packs are super convenient because I just throw one in my bag in case I get hungry, or leave them in my office fridge for the afternoon. It’s so filling, but I don’t feel like I’m going to crash afterward. It’s an easy and healthy satisfying snack.

Tea towels and Sangrias

Next, I have a book, 101 Sangrias and Pitcher Drinks by Kim Haasarud was a gift from my mother in law. When she comes over for dinner we like to make her sangria, so she thought we would enjoy this book. The recipes are delicious, and the photos are beautiful. My favorites are the Summer Melon, the White Peach, and the Blueberry Pomegranate sangria. 

There are tons of other beverage recipes, non-alcoholic ones too. There’s a great recipe for Strawberry Basil lemonade, I’m not a big alcohol lover so I just leave it out. I think this book is an excellent addition to any cookbook collection.

So I love tea towels. In case you don’t know and are curious, here’s an article that explains what makes them different from other towels. This particular one was given to me by my dear friend Pamela Palma. Pamela is a talented fiber artist; she doesn’t know I’m mentioning her, so she’s probably blushing right about now. You can see her work on her website Pamela Palma Designs. 

Pamela’s designs are exquisite, all her tea towels are hand woven and one of a kind. Most importantly, the towels are durable and well made. I’ve probably washed mine a hundred times, and it’s still going strong. I can’t be without it in the kitchen. There are many items in her Etsy shop. If you love tea towels pick one up, they make a lovely gift too!

Aguas Frescas

My beverage favorite was partly inspired by the Sangria book. I’m horrible at drinking water. I know how tremendously important it is, but I tend to ignore it and forget to drink it altogether. So I decided to make my water more interesting and add some flavor to it.

Aguas Frescas are popular in Mexico, and it means ‘cool or fresh waters’ in English. You basically add fresh fruit to water. You can also add sugar to make a soft drink. Personally, I don’t add sugar to mine. On occasion, I’ll add honey. The combinations are endless; my favorite is a citrus version with fresh oranges, lemon, and lime. You can add mint as well. 

Lady Marmalade

I LOVE marmalade, jam, and jelly. Think Joey in Friends when Monica makes jam. I pretty much have it every morning for breakfast, and there are two that I’m currently loving.

First, the Blueberry Lavender Jam by Gables Delight. This jam smells heavenly and tastes even better. Their products are made with fresh, all-natural ingredients. And they’re local, so I’m thrilled to support them. They offer many unique and delicious flavors; I can’t wait to get more! If you live in Miami, you can buy these in MIAM Cafe in Wynwood or the Gables Farmer’s Market.

The Mark & Stephen’s Blood Orange Cognac Marmalade. It’s to die for! This was a gift from my sister in law Rose, she bought it at a local HomeGoods. I loved it so much, I went to get more and couldn’t find any. So I immediately purchased back-ups from their website.

Yes, I love this marmalade so much I was willing to pay the shipping. It was worth it; the quality is outstanding. I would love to try their mustards and vinaigrettes too. If you happen to find their marmalade at your local farmer’s market or at a store, give it a try. It’s yummy stuff!

Do you have any lifestyle or food favorites? Please share them with me down in a comment!