Friday Favorites 8.31.12

Can you believe August is over? This year has just flown by! With my Labor Day weekend plans up in the air due to Hurricane Isaac I'm hoping that yours are more solid, filled with plenty of time to hang out with family and friends. I've never really spent all of Labor Day doing family-related stuff and I think I've maybe only gone to one barbecue. How un-American. What my Labor Day weekend did have in common with everyone else's was that it was plenty of time for relaxation. These three-day weekends are sometimes a godsend when your everyday is too busy. It's also a nice last-chance summer break for those who have started school again. My favorites for this week include everything you could want, need, and enjoy during a late summer long weekend, with some cool links from FitFluential Ambassadors.

Mayo-Free Cilantro Chicken Salad: This is a chicken salad I can get behind! Instead of mayo, Brenda uses Greek yogurt is the substitute. I've yet to find a recipe that didn't sound delicious when this replaced some other binder. Serve it in the bell peppers for an extra cute party dish!

A Guide to Storing Fruits & Vegetables: It may seem like old news to many but having newly moved into an apartment by myself for the first time I am gathering every kitchen tip possible. TheKitchn shows you the dos and don'ts of produce storage.

Key Lime Pie Smoothie: I'm the world's biggest fan of anything dessert-related than has been translated into a healthy meal. Thanks to Laura (@Sprint2theTable), you can chug a glass of a healthy dessert smoothie. It has spinach, protein powder, and no sugar. The guar gum is there for thickening, if you don't have it, you'll just have a thinned out drink.

Kombucha Brooklyn Kit: I don't know about you, but I'm a big tea fan. I saw kombucha here and there every time I stepped into Whole Foods and never thought I'd find a homemade kit. If you're into home brews, be it beer or even root beer, try your hand at making this fermented tea drink.

10 Healthy Summer Spritzers: What's a long weekend without drinking, right? Talia (@BiteSzWellness) has rounded up some healthy summer drinks. You can make it alcoholic (so it's semi-healthy?) or stick to sparkling water. This is perfect if you're entertaining (or even going to a party). You can bring a pitcher of your favorite cocktail and you'll know exactly what's in it.

Gluten-Free S'mores Rice Krispy Treats: I don't care how old you are, you will have a craving for rice krispy treats at some point in your life. And Danielle (@CleanFoodCF) understands. Making them healthier for you (and younger ones around you) and still taste delicious is possible with this recipe. Dark chocolate can do no wrong.

Roasted Tomato Cashew "Hummus": This is a no-fail appetizer that almost everyone seems to love. This recipe was made paleo so there are no legumes--this means no beans. Instead, you've got soaked cashews and tahini! It's flavorful, healthy, and perfect for a long weekend backyard party. You can thank Gina (@runtothekitchen) later.

xo,
k.