June in Review Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom. 

Do you attend your high school reunions?

I do not. And before you get your panties in a bunch, let me share why. 

I loved high school. It was a great time in my life. I made wonderful friends, had a plethora of great times (many I know I have forgotten about) and really look fondly upon my memories of those years. Which is exactly why I do not feel the need to relive it or have any reason to revisit this time in my life. IT WAS SO AWESOME, why would I want to replace those memories with a new experience?  

This week, the senior class of 1994 is celebrating our 25 year class reunion. There are some great people organizing it and sharing some fun photos and memories on social media, which is only a small representation of our time together. Of course, I feel there is no way I have been out of school that long but I am also grateful I am. Who I was then, was only a fraction of who I am now, but I am thankful for all the people and experiences I had to get me where I am today. 

I don't want to relive high school. I want to keep my own memories special to me. I want to always have that positive feeling about my time at Harlan Community High School. So I will not attend. Who knows, maybe in the future I will think differently. But for now, I am going to hold sacred a lot of "firsts" leading me to even better "seconds" and "thirds" in my life. 

#embracethehellyeah | #lessstuffmorelife

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation.

Conversation 132:  June #EmbracetheHellYeah Conversation

What makes you say “hellyeah” at the end of the day?  For any question I am asked or I ask myself, if I cannot 100% say hell yeah as my answer then it is a hell no. I want you to embrace saying yes with your whole heart and soul by enjoying every part of your authentic life. At the end of each month, I want to get more up close and personal with you all on the other side of the airwaves and share with you more about how my podcast guests are I are doing our best to #embracethehellyeah.  This month I’m chatting about attending high school reunions and my new continuing education opportunities with my book. 

Connect and let me know what you think by emailing me or connecting with me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

Nosh Three. Monthly Hell Yeah!

June was a fun crazy busy month. It started off with my bestie Carlena and her family coming to visit!  Their son Carter had a baseball tournament in town, so it was fun to watch him play and then spend the day getting nauseous at Adventureland. 

The following week was all about blast from the high school past live music!  My favorite thing about summer. My friends Stacey, Laura, Angie, Jenny and I couldn't resist going back to some memories from our childhood by going to the MixTape Tour featuring New Kids On the Block, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Naughty by Nature and Salt-N-Pepa.   Now I wasn't the biggest NKTOB fan, apparently Stacey was because she had an official NKOTB belt growing up and the rest of us did not, but I sure was a HUGE fan of Debbie Gibson. She was the 3rd album I ever got behind Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper. My Mom even remembers me playing her record over and over.  The concert was really fun and I was pleasantly surprised by all the artist. Debbie is still rockin it and my favorite by far was Salt-N-Pepa. 

Later in the week, it was another blast from the high school past by going to another concert, The Steve Miller Band. In the summer of 1994, a group of us high school friends loaded up the mini van and went to the Iowa State Fair to attend The Steve Miller Band concert 25 years ago. Crazy how timing happens with my HS reunion and all, so my best friend from HS Jennifer and I, along with my friend Brenda headed off to relive some awesome music from the past. 

Before we headed to the concert, we stopped by for a few cocktails at Court Ave Brewing Company in downtown Des Moines and then started to make our way to the arena. As we were walking, I heard Anne???? And it was another blast from my high school past, my friend Jill who I haven't seen since 1993!  Jill and I attended Girls State (which was a camp the summer of our Junior Year in HS which focused on government and how it works). We had the best time and continued to write each other, lost contact for a while but found each other on FB years later. It was the craziest thing to see her. Big hugs, phone numbers exchanged and now forever random text messaging. I hope to get together with her to reconnect more. 

Steve Miller Band did not disappoint. He sounds amazing and we had the best time singing and dancing to those familiar songs we sang as teenagers in high school. 

Living in a small town in Iowa, we have "picnics."  These are festivals little towns have to raise money for their churches in these small communities. It is a 2 day event, with a carnival type atmosphere, live music, food and fun. As a kid growing up, we lived for the Panama Picnic and as teens, we did too. In high school, it was a time to sneak a few beers and hangout with friends from all over. The best part about the picnic this year, was getting to see my other high school bestie, Katy. Katy and I lived across the street from each other for years and were very close. Even though she lives in AZ and we don't get to see each other often (because you know, life) we can still pick up where we left off and feel just as connected. We did not get a photo together (so silly) but we enjoyed catching up and hopefully making plans to see each other again soon. So I leave you with our favorite food from the Panama Picnic - Picnic Burgers. These delicious eats were a staple in our HS years as it even was our chant in our basketball game huddles. On 3. 1, 2, 3....picnic burgers!!!!!!

Nosh Four. Monthly Mixtape.

June's Mixtape full of the MixTape Tour and the Steve Miller Band music is available on
Apple Music and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

As I close all my crazy fun memories of this month, I am still celebrating National Dairy Month. I love all things dairy and trust the dairy products I consume. Farmers love their cows and care for their animals to bring me and my family quality dairy products. I will never waiver from this because I love what is real.

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!

"Everything is Better with Cheese" Weekly Wisdom

Is milk or cheese a key component to your family meals?

They were at my house when I was growing up and still are. I remember milk was always served at every meal and for me it had to be super cold. I would make sure it was stored in the back of the refrigerator because I wanted it cold. Milk helped me get down a few veggies I didn't care for in my youth, made breakfast my favorite meal of the day by accompanying my favorite bowl of Life cereal and I always enjoyed a "special treat" of a gallon of chocolate milk (when it was on sale) and poured with 1/2 glass of white milk to make it last longer (and reduced the sugar per Mom). 

Now as an adult, I don't know if milk is always on the table but cheese is!  I think the explosion of charcuterie plates has made me the happiest human alive. I have grown to really appreciate cheese, the different flavors, how it accompanies certain foods and brings out different nuances I would have not appreciated as a child. I can't remember the last time I bought an American slice of cheese but as of right now, I have a nicely aged Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh mozzarella just waiting for me. And a fun fact for you all, during a day of podcasting, you can find me settling in for the day with a little personal sized charcuterie plate to fuel my day. 

It’s National Dairy Month – a perfect time to enjoy healthy, delicious dairy foods. Dairy is the milk in your cereal, the cheese on your pizza, the yogurt in your morning smoothie. Dairy is part of all the things you love to eat and are shared at some of the most special moments in your life. Enjoy your favorite dairy foods today and everyday. 

Did you know dairy is responsibly produced? 97% of dairy farms are family-owned and -operated. Dairy farmers are committed to caring for their cows, the land and the environment to bring you the dairy foods you love.  Did you know the chocolate milk you’re enjoying might be a part of a larger sustainability story? One gallon of milk is now produced with 90 percent less land and 65 percent less water than it was decades ago. Satisfying your sweet tooth while helping the environment? That’s a win-win. Through the use of innovative and safe technology, the dairy industry delivers exceptional animal care, quality nutrition and the freshest products around.

My favorite thing about dairy?  It is local. The dairy community has a strong, positive impact on local communities across the country. Dairy farming and the dairy industry are responsible for nearly 1 million jobs in the United States and since most people live within 100 miles from a local dairy farm, dairy products are one of the freshest items you can buy. Milk is the perfect example of a fresh, farm-to-table product, taking less than 48 hours to go from the farm to the dairy aisle. And since 97 percent of dairy farms are family-owned and operated, you can feel good about supporting your local community through dairy.

Happy National Dairy Month!

#embracethehellyeah | #lessstuffmorelife

~AE

Weekly Wisdom and Top 5 Nutrition Noshes

Nutrition Nosh One. Wisdom. 

As we near the end of National Dairy Month, I had to share one last thought provoking nutrition-ish dairy delicious wisdom that came to me when I was making my morning smoothie. My morning smoothie/milkshake (because yeah that happens sometimes) makes me happy.  It is the perfect blend of all the things I love for breakfast and I truly look forward to it. As the day progresses and my interactions with humans start, my positive vibes can tend to dwindle. I let negative talk take over my brain. What if I always chose to look for the things I liked about a situation or a person?  It could be anything or anyone I encounter at any particular moment. What if I focused on seeing only the good things, instead of the things I like? 

 If we chose to always find the positives in people and situations, the world would be full of strawberry milkshakes.

If you start the day by looking into the mirror at yourself...the gorgeous and brilliant human being you see staring back at you...and looking at all the things you like about yourself, is exactly where to start. It is then, you can continue the momentum to do the same with everyone else who graces your day. Positive thoughts undeniably equal positive vibes others can sense and feel.  Kind of like the feeling you get when you drink a delicious milkshake. 

Nutrition Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation.

My conversation today is with Registered Dietitian Amanda Kruse.

While I was continuing my adventure in Indianapolis, then president-elect of the Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Amanda Kruse just got done putting the final touches on their annual meeting. It was about 9:30 pm and I knew upon first meeting her, passion is everything to Amanda. Amanda learned a lot about being a collegiate athlete, but also being a college student and how important food is where the student is dining. She started her career being a resource for college students in dining services and quickly advanced her career in management in K-12 for the Indianapolis Public Schools. She values conversations like I do and finds her best ones come when talking with students about food. She not only works a full time job, but volunteers for her state affiliate, the Academy and loves being a preceptor.

Please click here to enjoy my conversation with Amanda 

Connect with Amanda:  kruseama@gmail.com

Nutrition Nosh Three. Week in Review.

This summer has been a little different and I think a little delayed. I have had baby birds all over my backyard this year and Lil g has been in heaven!  The best part is, she loves to look outside but not so excited about actually going outside. This week, we had a baby robin working really hard on his flying skills but just quite couldn't get off the ground. He spent about 24 hours sitting on the patio trying hard to get going. Lil g spent all 24 hours monitoring the situation. She seriously did not leave the back door all day or night. Finally, he found his wings!

I had Friday off this past week and my friend Jason and I had a local day of adventure by doing a little shopping, getting mani's and pedi's and attending happy hour at a new local brewery. When I went to the Barn Town Brewery website, I was hooked with the opening line of their "About" section. 

"Barn Town was built on one word - Passion."

The atmosphere of Barn Town Brewing is very much Iowa. It has a cozy barn feeling and is bright and airy. The back wall has a mural made of beer cans into the shape of the State of Iowa with the infamous Des Moines area code "515" in the middle. I can't believe I forgot to get a photo!  Next time. Barn Town Brewing provides homemade, full -flavored, artisanal ales and chef-inspired elevated America style pub fare. They try to locally source ingredients from Iowa farms and pride themselves in the freshness, quality and origin of their food and drink.  My kind of place!  It was Des Moines Beer Week, so even more reason to jump into a flight of beer. There is an extensive menu of their own beers, with clever names, so it was very difficult to choose! My favorite was The Real Slim Shandy and the Iowa Gold. But with names like Millennial Disco Party and Wagon Wheel Wit, I will be making another trip. 

Since we were there during happy hour (3-5 pm Monday-Friday), we took advantage of $6 appetizers. In honor of National Dairy Month, Cheese Curds and Bavarian Pretzels with Iowa Gold Cheddar Sauce were chosen. Both were very delicious and a perfect compliment to my beer selection.     There are also items such as Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Craft Mac & Cheese, a variety of salads and sandwiches, including burgers. I am excited to have a new watering hole in my neighborhood!

I ended my weekend with a quick trip to Omaha for some Frista time with Carlena. It has been too long in between our visits so I needed my fix and a bonus was getting to have her hubby Doug come with us!  When you are busy parents of 2 boys, it is hard for both of them to get away, so it was an even more special night out on the town!

Nutrition Nosh Four. Workout Playlist of the Week. 

Sharing with you my "Undeniably Dairy" Playlist to get your fitness on this week.  I even discovered a song I had never heard by Elvis. 

Nutrition Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

A few weeks ago, I got a wonderful package from Land O' Lakes filled with their new Less Sodium Butter and I am a fan!  It is great to use with almost everything I do and is easily spreadable after leaving it out for a few minutes on the counter-top. The other day, I had a craving for Alfredo pasta and I wasn't sure what I had for ingredients and I also really did not want to head out to the grocery store. Luckily, I was able to put together this recipe with what I had and it simple and fast. 

Undeniably Simple Alfredo Sauce

Serves 2

2 tablespoons Land O' Lakes Less Sodium Butter

1 cup fat-free half and half

3 ounces of whipped cream cheese

1/2 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

1 clove of minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano 

1/2 pound of your favorite pasta, prepared per directions on package

1. Heat a large sauté pan to medium heat adding butter, half and half and cream cheese. Stir or whisk continuously until melted. 

2. Add in the rest of the ingredients and whisk for another 2-3 minutes to blend and thicken. 

3. Add in your prepared pasta and blend with the sauce. 

4. Serve and eat immediately. 

I topped my pasta with fresh chives from my herb pot in the back yard for some pretty green color and an additional layer of flavor. 

~AE

Top 5 Nutrition Noshes and Weekly Wisdom from Minneapolis

Nutrition Nosh One. Wisdom. 

The element of surprise has been a little lost in my life. I think when I was younger it was simultaneously used with the word discovery because I was learning and experiencing new things all the time. As I get older, I do not have the opportunity to experience surprises as often and I miss it. I always give people a weird look when they say they hate surprises. Who hates surprises, really?  I think it is so important to be open to what could happen, not what we expect to happen. You see, when we have expectations, the only person we disappoint is ourselves. No one else. I have learned to be open. Open to being surprised, trying something new, letting someone surprise me and then in return being grateful for the experience. It is a healthy swap; not only in our personal and professional lives but even with our food and nutrition.  Get out there and take a walk on the wild side. Try a new veggie, go on a vacation to no where you have ever been, jump out of an airplane. Expect nothing out of any adventure because the littlest surprises can bring something life changing.  

Nutrition Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation. 

My conversation today is with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jessie Hatch

Jessie has such a beautiful and poetic dietetic journey so far. She found an interest in nutrition at a young age with her family having a garden and always eating her fruits and vegetables. When she went to college, she took nutrition and fell in love with the class, navigating her way to her dietetics degree with the help of a few very important professors. She sheds some light on getting a masters degree, always being open to opportunities and embracing the importance of being a life-long learner. She is currently working passionately with moms and babies, including neonatals, being in the media providing education and serving as president of the Utah Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Please click here to enjoy my conversation with Jessie.

Nutrition Nosh Three. Week in Review.

After my conference, I decided to stay in Minneapolis for some extra fun for a few days. I had some plans with family, which unfortunately fell through but I had a completely different adventure. I stayed at the snazzy and modern Radisson Red Minneapolis which is right by the new U.S. Bank Stadium. I loved the simplicity of the room, the bed was very comfy and there was a table in the room for all my work and personal things. Nice little gym and hip bar/food in the main lobby. A lot of downtown Minneapolis is also accessible by walking from this hotel, which is how I love to experience a city. A  really fun thing about this hotel, when you walk through the front entrance, there is a large wall with a screen/camera you can take your own selfie on. Proof below! 

I was so luckily surprised by friend Jason who came down to help me create a Minneapolis experience after my change of plans. It was so fun!

We found ourselves grabbing a quick bite before heading out downtown at Eastside Minneapolis. This was the second time dining here because I really wanted to have more fresh oysters. I have found myself on a oyster eating adventure too and because I am surprised by how much I like them.  Eastside has a nice little appetizer of oysters in the half shell, 3 from the east coast and 3 from the west coast accompanied by cocktail, lemon, horseradish sauces and a Barrel Aged Mignonette. I am quickly finding out I am a fan of the east coast brine and saltier flavors. 

During my Midwest Dairy conference, I received a beautiful memento from my friend Jen Haugen. I opened it up during oyster #2. Another surprise! We shared a booth at FNCE this past year showcasing being new authors with our books. Her book, The Mom's Guide to a Nourishing Garden, is what inspired me to complete my own book and is a beautiful read connecting family and food. Our friendship of support and fun has been a incredible surprise in my life. She inspires me every day and I am so very thankful!

After some oyster fuel, Jason and I took off for our walking, eating and cocktail adventure. Just down from the Eastside is the bridge going overlooking the river and I got this pretty photo in the afternoon. 

While taking in the scenery, we consulted some friends and got a great recommendation for happy hour at Barrio. I am not a huge tequila drinker but there was a flight available on their menu and I thought why the hell not! I did learn after this experience, I do enjoy an aged tequila A LOT!  It is very tasty and perfect for sipping. Why in the world did I ever do shots of tequila?  No bueno. I will be sipping from now on. 

The happy menu is VERY happy. A plentiful menu of delicious and creative appetizers ranging from $3 to $5. I chose the guac with house made chips and salsas. It was the perfect compliment to the tequila flight (and my water and Dos XX). 

After we bathed in happiness at Barrio, we went on another walk to the Warehouse District to a recommended speakeasy, Marvel Bar. I have been to a couple of speakeasy's and at each of them we had to ring a doorbell and know a password. That is not the case at Marvel Bar. Jason and I made it to the well-know "purple door" and rang the door bell and stood there. As we had confused looks on our faces, I thought, why don't we try the door. Completely open. I think we laughed about it for 10 minutes. And we laughed about it again today! Marvel Bar had a great vibe, comfy and cozy seats and an extensive list of craft cocktails. They have a great list of creative original cocktails and also some classics available (I enjoyed a few Manhattans). It is definitely worth the trip to experience this trendy speakeasy.

We had a fun night of new experiences, all because I let someone surprise me! Thanks Jason!

While I was away, I had more surprises!  My Mom and cousins Christine and Denis, asked if they could come to my house for a little weekend getaway. Of course, B&B Anne Elizabeth is always open to my heartbeats. I thought they would come down, relax, explore Des Moines. I am not quite sure how much of that they did because I was surprised by LED lights underneath my kitchen countertops!  They are the coolest! They are small and put out a ton of light, without using a lot of energy. It was such a great gift!

Another great surprise were these beautiful pots from Earl May. I have a beautiful Bird of Paradise and a Ponytail Palm Tree in my living room. Each are around 38 years old and have been re-potted a few times because they have grown so much over the years. The Bird is from Hawaii when we use to live there and the Palm was a gift at my Dad's new job when we moved to Iowa. A LOT of history with these plants and they look great in my house. The plants are totally busting out of their current pots so now they will have a new happy home to live in. I am going to have to reserve a room for Mom and Christine and Denis at my B&B to assist with the move. I hope I can persuade them with food and cocktails (and maybe a back rub). I will be sharing with you how this all unfolds in the weeks to come. 

Nutrition Nosh Four. Workout Playlist of the Week. 

This weeks playlist is inspired by all my adventures with my friend Jason.  

It can only put a smile on your face when you are doing your deadlifts!

 Nutrition Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

If you haven't noticed by now, I love writing. Back in college when I took creative writing, I had no idea it was something that would bring me joy. It is also great to see your name in print. I am very grateful for the opportunity to write for different entities and had to share one of my latest this year. There is some great information about pineapples and one of my most favorite recipes. Head over to Best Foods Facts for a quick and fun read I am proud of.

Each week this month, I am going to share a dairy delicious idea or recipe with you to celebrate National Dairy Month. This week, I am really enjoying all the fresh fruit in the Midwest. Raspberries are one of my most favorite fruits and Siggi's Dairy Raspberry Yogurt is always found in my refrigerator. I usually do not have yogurt for breakfast, but enjoy getting creative with it for lunch or even a quick dinner, especially when it is 96 degrees outside!  I like to add in different things for crunch and added nutrition. This week, I partied with fresh raspberries, a chopped up KIND Madagascar Vanilla Almond Bar and 1/3 cup of JollyTime Simply Popped Popcorn. Sounds completely random right?  It was very filling, crunch, sweet and surprisingly delicious. Almost all my favorite things in a perfect package. Remember:  the littlest surprises can bring something life changing, even in a cup of yogurt. 

~AE