Chia Seed Pudding

Can you guys tell I've really been into cooking lately? This weeks recipe is chia seed pudding. I've seen so many recipes for this and came up with my combination of ingredients and toppings that taste great!

Ingredients
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 greek yogurt
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/2 tablespoon honey (or any sweetener you'd like)
1/4 granola
1/2 banana

The first step to making the pudding starts the night before. I added all the ingredients (minus the toppings) to a bowl and mixed them thoroughly. Then I let it sit in the fridge for about an hour, then took it out to stir again to make sure the chia seeds are evenly distributed. After this step, all you have to do it let it sit overnight, then take it out the next morning and its ready to enjoy! I topped mine with some coconut granola and half a banana.

I definitely want to try to out different versions of this recipe (I've seen everything from chocolate flavored, to the pudding with fruit compotes on the bottom). It's so versatile and has many great health benefits for you!

Also I have a question for you guys! Would you prefer if I included more photos in my food posts? I usually just post the finished product but if photos of the process and ingredients measured out helps, I would definitely be willing to do that.

Menagerie Coffee

If you know me well, you know I love coffee and coffee shops. As an avid lover, I thought, why not express that love on my blog! I'm going to start writing about coffee shops in the area once a month and if they're worth the hype.

This month, I decided to pay a visit to Menagerie Coffee. Located in Old City, Menagerie is on a small side street off of 3rd. I tend to go to cafes before the PHL Blogger meetups, since I get into the city early after work, and this was one was very close to where our meeting was this month.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in is how open and airy it felt. A lot of coffee shops around here can feel a bit claustrophobic, but this had plenty of seating. I've had that problem where you plan time to work somewhere and there's no where to sit, but I did not have that problem here. I opted for this cozy corner area since I was by myself.

I decided to stick with a plain latte since I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet coffees and it was delicious. It reminded me a lot of Exlir's lattes which are my favorite.

Overall if you're in the Old City area and looking for a cafe to try, I definitely recommend Menagerie (especially if you're in a larger group). I can't wait to share more cafes in Philly with you guys!

Healthy Avocado on Toast

If you're addicted to Tumblr or Instagram like I am, you'd seen a plethora of the "avocado on toast" pictures. As an avocado lover myself, I've always wanted to make this, but a substantial version that would be great for lunch. I came up with this recipe and have been eating it at least once a week since.

Ingredients
1 slice whole wheat bread
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 basil leaves
1/2 large avocado
2-3 slices beefsteak tomato
4 tablespoons egg whites
Salt and pepper to taste

To make this, I first made my egg whites. I used nonstick cooking spray and put them in a pan with some pepper. While those cooked, I then toasted my bread. When the bread was finished, I then spread olive oil and rubbed basil leaves onto the toast. This adds a ton of flavor. After that, I added my avocado and tomato slices. I then topped it with the egg whites and added some mango on the side. This was absolutely delicious and under 500 calories for the whole plate!

Thursday Night with the Flyers

Last Thursday I was given the opportunity to attend a Flyers game and try one of their new packages for this year! I'm not the biggest sports fan, but being in a city where sports is a huge part of a lot of people's lives, I figured why not (plus my dad is a HUGE sports fan so I had to).

The package I chose was the Xfinity Live Thursday Night Pack (retails for $55). This came with two tickets to the game, two $10 gift cards for Xfinity live, and 2 coupons for a free pre-game appetizer. Xfinity live is a huge building a block from the Wells Fargo center that hosts multiple bars. Every time you go there can be a different experience. Since it was my first time there, my dad and I decided to go to Victory Beer Hall (I'm a huge fan of craft beers). We shared their nachos and I got a double IPA to try, while my dad got a Golden Monkey. We got there around 6 and we had plenty of time to eat and then make the game by 7.

Overall I had a ton of fun at the game! The Flyers won (which made is even better). If you're looking for something fun to do with a sports lover, I completely recommend this package. It's a great value for what you get and I had a great time.


*Disclaimer: I was gifted this package to try out and review on my blog. All opinions are my own.*