The Naptime Chef

Eating lighter doesn’t have to be miserable. In fact, there are plenty of ways you can have your cake and it too! Of course, I don’t mean literally, but eating better doesn’t mean you have to give up every single thing you love like chocolate and ice cream. My recent favorite chocolate treat that manages to match my resolutions goal, yet still satisfy my cravings, is this raw cacao smoothie. It is filled with chocolate raspberry flavor, a snap to make, and perfect for everyday sipping.

The January blahs are setting in and I am doing everything I can to keep my kitchen fresh and exciting. Sometimes a little change and break us all out of the rut, it doesn’t have to be anything momentous. Just enough to make us look as something with fresh eyes. Over Christmas vacation my mother gave me some delicious chocolate zucchini bread from a friend. My kids enjoyed a few slices but then grew a little bored with it.

January is the season of resolutions and I am no different. It’s time to cut back on the sugar and pasta and focus on the healthy, lighter fare. Last fall I went to Napa Valley to attend the media reveal of the Panasonic Countertop Induction Oven. It was a wonderful trip and I really enjoyed learning more about oven and its many features. I’ve been using it a lot since I received mine and it has truly made my cooking life easier than ever. I can roast, bake, and reheat in a fraction of the time I can do any of those things in my regular oven!

New Year’s Eve is a bit of a conundrum with children. Do you get a babysitter and stay out until midnight? Do we just do a kids celebration and go to bed early and skip the hoopla? For the past few years our answer has been making punch, having dinner with friends and doing something a little inbetween. Since we don’t have an all out bash I don’t go crazy making a dizzying hard liquor punch. Instead I make a sparkly punch with a hint of booze, so it is tasty without being too over the top. It is perfect for family events and New Year’s Eve celebrations alike.

Dear Friends, It has been a busy and wonderful season around here and I hope you’ve enjoyed yours as well. I can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store! Here are some of my favorite things from around the web lately. I’ll be back next week with an amazing New Year’s Eve punch, and then a wonderful slate of recipes in the New Year!

Cascadian Farm asleep for the season.

Still one of my favorite places to visit on the web.

Balloons everyone needs!

These are on my wish list — fingers crossed!

The prettiest earrings.

It’s a little late for gift guides, but here is the summary just in case!

Today I am stopping in with a hot shopping tip for any last minute shoppers out there. GiftTree is a great place to get all kinds of awesome gifts for people and today this season they are offering Naptime Chef readers a special discount of 15% off when you use the NaptimeChef15 (code is good until 12/31). I recently selected two delicious baskets to give to friends and they are amazing!!

This Champagne & Truffles gift basket came with all kinds of chocolates and a delicious bottle of champagne. It is perfect for a sweet-loving friend or even my in-laws.

I also picked up this delicious Good Tidings to Share tower. There really are so so many amazing things you can choose from. And, best of all, there is still plenty of time to receive them all in time for the holidays.

Take a look at their website and don’t forget to use the special code to get some delicious for your family or friends! Happy Holidays!

There is still time to shop and today I am thrilled to be sharing five of my favorite gifts ideas from Minted.com. I know art can be very personal and hard to select for friends, but I think any of these things would be slam dunk. They are perfect for hanging in kitchens, pantries, dining rooms, or anywhere you entertain. I ordered my framed which means they are all set to hang right up, but you could order just the print if you’d like to frame them yourself.

Stacked Peaches: This would be so cute for a fruit-loving friend. I’d personally hang it in my dining room again my gray grasscloth walls.

Chicken Run Art Print: A chicken! You can’t beat a good chicken painting. This sweet bird comes with your choice of backgrounds, too.