Chicken & Avocado Spaghetti with Garlic Bread

"Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti"- Sophia Loren 

Growing up in California, I was exposed to some of the freshest produce around, especially avocados. My mom and most of my closest friends were all avocado addicts, but something about them freaked me out... I think they were too green with an odd creamy texture that just threw me. However, during my freshman year of college a friend of mine forced me to eat an avocado. Since then I have become the biggest advocate of avocados. I'm always looking for new ways to incorporate avocados into my diet (smoothies, grilled cheese, etc.) because they are so ridiculously good for you. 

 A couple months ago, I came across a recipe for an avocado pasta that I had to try. With a few minor tweaks and additions avocado pasta is now one of my favorite recipes. You all need to try this, you won't be disappointed. 

And honestly, what Italian inspired meal is complete without garlic bread? 

Avocado Spaghetti:

What You Need: 

• 1/2 pound spaghetti 
• 1.5 ripe avocados 
• 1 spoonful of lemon juice 
• 1 spoonful of lime juice
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil 
• 2 tablespoon of pesto
• 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend
• red pepper flakes for seasoning
• chicken breast 

How to Make:

• Cook your spaghetti until done
• Cook your chicken on medium heat seasoned with garlic and lemon 
• Blend the peeled avocado with the olive oil, garlic, lemon/lime juice, and pesto until smooth

 

• Coat the spaghetti with the avocado mixture and season to taste with cheese and red pepper flakes

Garlic Bread

What You Need:

• French or Italian loaf of bread cut horizontally 
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 4 cloves of diced garlic
• 2 tbsp of parsley
• 1/4 cup of italian cheese blend (I use fontina, parmesan, and mozzarella) 

How to Make:

• soften your butter and mix in the garlic and parsley
• cover your bread in the butter mixture

• preheat your oven to 350 degrees
• cook the bread in the oven for 10 minutes
• sprinkle the cheese over the bread and cook for another 5 minutes (wait for the cheese to start to bubble and the edges of the bread to darken)

• Let it cool, cut it up, and serve 

Enjoy!

Cheers X

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread

“If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens.” -Robert Browning

Happy Easter Everyone! I am unfortunately unable to go home for Easter this year, but I am there in spirit with my insanely wonderful family! 

This morning I realized that my bananas were starting to get overripe. That's one of the great things about bananas; they are versatile. Overripe banana's are the key ingredient to one of my favorite recipes- chocolate chip banana nut bread! Anytime someone is having a brunch I recommend banana nut bread since it's delicious and easy to make and keeps well overnight. 

Don't throw out your brown bananas!

 What You Need: 

• 1/2 cup oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 4 tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup egg whites
• 2-3 bananas (ripe)
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 3 tbsp. milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 spoonfuls of brown sugar
• 1 spoonful cinnamon

Ingredients!

How to Make: 

• Beat oil and sugar together
• Add eggs and mashed bananas to the mixture; mix well

I mash bananas in a separate bowl with a fork

• Mix in all dry ingredients (except the cinnamon and brown sugar) 
• Add in milk, vanilla, and honey; mix well 

• Add in nuts and chocolate chips

• Pour mixture into a greased loaf pan
• Top mixture with the brown sugar and cinnamon 

• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour

Enjoy! 

Cheers X