Roasted Sweet Potato

So you may or may not have noticed that both recipes posted contain sweet potatoes...I promise this is in no way related to a weird obsession...but rather an excess. During Thanksgiving break I went shopping with my dad and as per usual bought a bunch of stuff we didn't need.... of which was an entire bag of sweet potatoes (my mom already had a bag at home).  And so... I was given the task of using said potatoes before I left for school.  And thus we have this lovely roasted sweet potato, onion and black bean salsa dish laid on a bed of steamed rice, inspired by a recipe from OHSHEGLOWS.  I hope you enjoy it! My family devoured the entire batch :)

Ingredients:

3-4 sweet potatoes

1 onion

4-5 cups of cooked rice

2 cups black beans

1/2 cup Cilantro

2 garlic cloves

2-3 limes 

1 tsp. Cumin

3 tbs. olive oil

Recipe: 

Cut the sweet potatoes into cubes and dice the onion, then spread both onto a cookie sheet.  Coat veggies with olive oil before baking to prevent sticking and create a golden brown exterior and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake at 400 for 15 minutes then remove and flip to ensure even baking then place back into the oven for another 20-25 minutes.  

To prepare the dressing, mix 2 tbs. olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 minced garlic cloves, 3-4 tbs. of fresh lime juice, minced cilantro and cumin.  Then mix-in the washed and drain black beans.

When the veggies are done cooking, remove from oven.  Place cooked rice on each plate followed by the roasted veggie mixture and top it off with the salsa (add a sprig of cilantro if you're feeling especially adventurous), and you are finished!

Shades of Pink

Sorry for the poor quality...just a little instagram post from the other day. I love the idea of pairing pieces in mixed shades of the same color as seen in this peach blazer (forever21) and bright coral belt (anntaylor). 

Sweet Potato and Pear Soup

Sweet Potato and Pear Soup...I promise it is delicious!! Recipe to follow!


Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup chopped carrot

1/4 cup chopped celery

3 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

2 pears, peeled and diced

1 teaspoon paprika

5 cups vegetable broth

1/3 cup coconut milk

2 teaspoons lime juice, or to taste

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Recipe:

In a pot, heat butter on medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and sauté for 1 minute. Add sweet potatoes, pears and thyme and sauté for about 2 minutes. Add paprika and veggie broth. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until sweet potato is soft.
Puree in a blender or use an immersion blender until smooth. Return to pot. Add coconut milk, maple syrup and lime juice. Simmer for about 5 minutes, (if the soup is a bit too thick  you can always add a little more broth )
Season with salt and pepper, adding more syrup or lime juice as needed. Can be made up to 2 days ahead of time.

Intro To Fitness

My love for fitness began at the ripe age of 5 as soon as my dad put a tennis racket in my hand.   I have loved being active and doing sports since then competing in USTA tennis tournaments throughout high school as well as playing on my high school team. In college, however, my ability to participate in team sports has pretty much disintegrated and as a result I tend to prefer gym workouts and running. But... as per my life philosophy... I try to switch up my routine just to keep things interesting ;)

Layers, layers, and more layers....

Something you should know about me.... I am rather addicted to layering. Something about going outside without layers upon layers of clothing, and without the possibility of getting heat stroke, seems so wrong to me.  And so... on this balmy 65 degree day I present this mess of color and texture.  Shirt from Ann Taylor, sweater The Loft, blazer Target, pants The Loft, and shoes Zara.

In Introduction....

The first entry of any diary, tumblr, or blog is never easy... and yet, for those of us who choose to embark on such a journey, it must be done.  And so, here I sit in an attempt to summarize that which I hope to accomplish through this blog... the creation of an outlet for all that I am passionate about in life; Food, Fashion,  and Fitness.  

Let me begin by introducing myself.  My name is Aubrie Payne and I am an East Coast 20 something-year-old college student trying to make the most out of life while infusing my personality into it's every element.  See, I have this philosophy that every facet of life should contain a special something.  Whether it's an the addition of an accent piece to an outfit, the use of fresh basil or lemon to enhance a dish, or the daily switch up of a workout, life is too short to exclude spontaneity.  And so... I present this blog as a means of recording my attempts to make life special and worth living every single day without taking myself TOO seriously.

And with that, dear reader, I leave you to it....ENJOY!