Fun In Frisco

At the start of the summer, Golan and I decided that we were going to make more of an effort to explore Colorado. We live in this wonderful place and we might as well see all that we can see! 

The first stop was the town of Frisco, Colorado. I have driven past Frisco too many times to count on my way out to other cities in the mountains. It always seemed like a pit stop on the way to bigger places. After walking down Main Street and sitting on the edge of the marina, I'm not quite sure how I ever overlooked it. This little town is brimming with charm, friendly natives and good food.

Last weekend was Frisco's Fall Fest- a little festival where local artists, craftsmen and restaurants showcased their wares. We saw some beautiful work but we found the perfect place just past the fest. And that place was the marina. 

I mean just look at it. Sitting at the edge of the dock was so calming. Golan and I both realized just how much we love being lakeside. As we reluctantly left late in the afternoon, we made a plan to one day own property on a lake, complete with a little boat and some Adirondack chairs on the shore. Doesn't that sound divine? 

Take some time to explore your own backyard. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Let me know if any of you have been to Frisco and leave suggestions for more Coloradan mountain towns for us to visit! 

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Chocolate Drizzle Salted Popcorn

September has always been a transitional time of year for me. You get the final days of summer mashed up with the beginnings of fall. Thanksgiving and Halloween decorations invade stores, pumpkin spice everything returns and the temperatures begin to cool. 

During this transition, it can be a little bit difficult to pick what sorts of foods to eat. At least it is for me. Part of me still craves light and fresh summer cuisine but another (slightly stronger) part of me is totally ready for the savory and warm-your-belly goodness of autumn. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you will have already gotten a sneak peak of this deliciousness. This snack is my current go-to for curbing my "fall" cravings. 

Popcorn is such a versatile snack and you can really customize it to suit your preferences. While it isn't particularly nutritious, it is better than greasy potato chips. This particular recipe reminds me of the Moose Munch I used to eat by the bucket-load as a kid. The mix of sweet and savory has always been a favorite of mine and this chocolate drizzle salted popcorn really hits the spot. 

The best part is that while it feels like I'm eating something very special, it is so easy to make. In less than five minutes you are left with a seriously delicious and filling snack. 

In the past, I have tried to drizzle melted chocolate and have failed. Miserably. I ended up with a clumpy mess that was less than pleasing to look at and therefore less appetizing. But I have come up with a solution.

The secret ingredient: Coconut Oil.

By adding coconut oil to the melted chocolate, the chocolate becomes smooth and silky and perfect for drizzling. But if you're not careful, you'll over do it (if it is possible to over do chocolate). What was a light and healthy snack will turn into basically a bowl of chocolate with a little bit of popcorn mixed in. While I'm sure that would be delicious, it isn't really the goal here. You've been warned!

The second secret ingredient is a handful of pepitas- shelled pumpkin seeds. Not only are these delicious enough to eat on their own but they add the perfect amount of crunch and texture. Plus, these little guys are packed with health benefits. They contain magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fats, protein and free-radical fighting antioxidants. And that's just the start. Google "health benefits of pumpkin seeds" and you will be seriously amazed. 

AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...



Chocolate Drizzle Salted Popcorn Recipe
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Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 5 Minutes

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Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking the popcorn)
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• Handful of roasted unsalted pepitas; approximately 1/8 to 1/4 cup
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. Place olive oil and popcorn kernels in a medium sized saucepan (with a lid). Stir around to be sure that each kernel is coated in oil. Cook on medium heat. Everyone's stove is a little bit different but the key is to give enough heat to pop the kernels without burning the pieces on the bottom of the pan. Shake the saucepan to keep the kernels moving to avoid burning.
2. In a small bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave for approximately 30 seconds. Stir. Place the mixture in the microwave for another 30 seconds, or until completely melted. 
3. Drizzle the chocolate mixture over the freshly popped popcorn to your heart's content.*
4. Sprinkle pepitas and sea salt over popcorn and chocolate
5. Enjoy!

Notes:

* If the chocolate mixture begins to thicken, place the bowl back in the microwave in 10 second increments until desired texture is achieved. 

I'd love to see your popcorn creations! Be sure to tag me on Instagram or send me photos on Twitter. I rarely hear from you lovely readers but I love it when I do.

Also, leave a comment down below with your favorite snack recipe and I can do my best to recreate them.

Thank you for reading- I can't wait to hear from you!

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Protein Banana Bread

Well, it's happened again. As it's been a while since my last recipe and I was going through some pretty severe baking withdrawals, I decided to do some experimenting. Banana bread has always been one of my favorites. You can have banana bread for breakfast. You can have banana bread for a snack. You can have banana bread for dessert with a little cup of tea. It is basically the king of all (sweet) breads. 

While I do love banana bread, I sometimes feel a little guilty after chowing down on a big slice. Traditional banana bread recipes have a lot of sugar and butter. So what I've done is take this recipe from Pinch of Yum (one of my all-time favorite food bloggers) and I have made it my own- I replaced the butter with olive oil + swapped some of the flour for protein powder. Now I will admit that these changes made the bread a little dry in comparison to traditional banana bread. But overall, it was a delicious success! 

Let's talk protein powder for a minute. There are so many out there that it is virtually impossible for me to know if your specific protein powder will react the same when baked. From what I found in my research, whey protein powder is the best for baking. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to add more protein powder, you will need to add some sort of liquid to balance it out. When you use too much whey in a recipe the result is a rubbery, chewy mess. Not good. You can avoid this by making sure the amount of protein only makes up about 1/4 of your batter. This might not seem like enough protein, but in my mind it was just enough to get rid of the "banana bread guilt" in the morning.

Now, you're probably asking yourself "Why would anyone in their right mind use olive oil instead of butter?!". And normally I would agree with you. I was the kid who ate butter right off of the tray. Trust me when I say I love butter. Whenever Golan and I get butter, we get a higher quality Irish butter and it is amazing. But when I sat down to create this recipe, we had enough butter for about half a slice of banana bread. We did, however, have plenty of olive oil. If you have never baked with olive oil- try it. In every recipe I have used it in, the result was a fluffy and delicious baked good. It didn't mess with the texture much and it didn't leave an overpowering olive oil taste either. You can find a handy-dandy conversion chart here. Plus, olive oil has about 25 percent less fat (non of which is saturated) than butter and has zero cholesterol. Win, win in my book.

Now that I've covered all of the technical stuff, can we all just take a moment to appreciate the fact that this photo of the batter is just screaming "fall"? If you are in fall fever like me then this recipe will be perfect for you. Cinnamon, walnuts, vanilla, warm bread? What more could you need?

Now without further ado, the goods...

Protein Banana Bread Recipe

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

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Ingredients:

- 2 large very ripe bananas

- 1/4 cup milk

- 2 teaspoons vanilla

- 1 1/2 cups flour

- 2 scoops whey protein powder (roughly 60g)

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

- 4 tablespoons olive oil

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 2 large eggs

- 1/4 crushed walnuts

- cinnamon to taste

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. In a separate bowl, mash bananas and combine milk and vanilla. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.
4. In a small bowl, mix olive oil and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. This mixture will be much more of a liquid than what you may be used to because of the olive oil. Don't worry, it's meant to be that way.
5. Slowly incorporate each of the small mixtures into the large bowl with the dry ingredients. You can use an electric mixer if you'd like but hand mixing works just as well.
6. Add crushed walnuts
7. Spray your pan with olive oil to prevent stick. You can use butter here or another type of oil if you prefer. 
8. Bake for 35 minutes. Watch for a nicely browned, springy top. 

Now you have a delicious, "guilt free" breakfast treat to enjoy all week long. If you are looking for more breakfast options that don't taste or feel like breakfast then check out my Five Ingredient Breakfast Cookies. They are vegan, clean and can be eaten like candy. 

Have you ever baked using olive oil? Let me know in the comments- whether it worked for you or it didn't, I want to know! If you decide to give this recipe a try, be sure to take a photo and tag me on Instagram (@fashionablymfrench) and Twitter (@meagan_french). 

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5 Patio Garden Essentials

Meet my humble little garden. It resides inside three planter boxes on my cozy patio and consists of tomato plants, basil, African marigolds, ornamental peppers, zucchini, and rosemary. This is my second attempt at gardening and it has been much more fruitful. Last year wasn't terrible, just nothing to write home about. With four tomato harvests of about thirty to forty snacking tomatoes each, handfuls of basil, and all the rosemary I could ever want for cooking, you could say that my previously murky brown thumb has turned a nice shade of green. 

Creating a lovely patio garden of your own isn't always easy. It takes more time and planning than most people realize to get the results you see on Instagram and Pinterest (#homegrown, anyone?). I am by no means an expert, but I would like to share a few things I have learned along the way. A garden is only as good as the gardener. And a gardener needs the right tools to get themselves started! 

I have compiled a list of five essentials for building a strong and healthy patio garden. You might be asking yourself if some of these essentials are absolutely necessary for what you have planned. There is only one way to find out, which leads me into my number one essential...

1. Research, Research, Research

This has to be the most important part of growing your own garden. If you just go buy a bunch of plants that sound and look good, you will more than likely end up with one of two things- an overgrown mess that you won't enjoy or the more likely option of a patio full of wilted and dying plants. Make a list of the plants that you think you might want to grow and then do your research. Find out if any of the plants on your list would make good companion plants- or alternately, if they would not do well sitting in the same pot. Research your region to decide what would grow well in your climate. Research preferred soils, water requirements, etc. 

The internet is a good resource, as is your local library, but remember that there are experts- real people - who have made it their job to know all of this information. Utilize your local nursery or garden center! There will be plenty of staff who will not only be able to help you, but most of the time they are excited to help you. Small Plug- if you are in the Denver area, go to Tagawa Gardens. They are absolutely wonderful- they will walk around with you and help you plan your garden, give you tips and tricks,  and they even have weekly classes (most of which are free). And if you sign up for their Purr-ferred members program (free) then you get 20% off a full-priced item. Oh and you can find August's coupon here.Tagawa has become my little happy place and I love it. Gushing over. 

Once you have your game plan solidified, you can get on to the really fun bits! 

2. Basic Tools

Because we are talking patio gardens, that means that everything is on a smaller scale. There is no need for big heavy spade or even a garden hose for that matter. All you need are a few simple, compact tools that will help you properly take care of your plants. Look for a set, like the one pictured above, that includes a hand trowel, a small rake (sometimes called a cultivator, from what I've found), and a small hoe. You might also want a pair of gloves for any not-so-soft plants or plants that react to the oils on our fingers as well as a pair of sheers. For added comfort, you can find knee pads or a kneeling mat at your local garden center. And don't forget a hat for sun protection- a few minutes a day in the bright sun can do its damage.

One of the most important tools is a good watering can. You might be saying to yourself, "Oh, I'll just use a cup or a pitcher. Water is water, right?" Unfortunately, no. Using a watering can is much better for your plants. If you use a watering can, you will not only avoid drowning your garden but you will also be sparing them the beating of a waterfall coming out of your pitcher. Watering cans are inexpensive and last a while- get one for the plants.

If you aren't sure where to look for these tools, you can head over to my shop where I have found some great options. I threw in a few cheap options and a few that are a little nicer and will last longer.


3. Age Old Bloom

Age Old Bloom is a little powerhouse, as is its sibling below. This is a natural fertilizer that is high is phosphorus- which will aid flower and fruit production as well as develop a stronger root system. According to the product description, it encourages flower and bud formation, increased fruit set and will help overcome stress. I have no reason to displace these claims. This product has been great! Not only does it follow through on the claims, but it lasts forever. It is a concentrated formula that you can add to water and can even use as a treatment.

One thing to bear in mind is that you can over-fertilize your garden. If you use too much fertilizer or the wrong fertilizer, you can essentially burn out your garden. This goes back to the number one essential, research, research, research.

4. Age Old Grow

 As I said, this little guy doesn't disappoint either. This is a natural based fertilizer that is high in nitrogen- which aids in healthy plant growth above the ground. According to Age Old Organics, Age Old Grow encourages early growth, greater flowering and better fruit set for indoor and outdoor plants. They recommend you use Age Old Grow on your plants during the vegetative stage.

This is also a concentrated formula to be used with water. If you plan on using both Age Old Grow and Age Old Bloom, stagger their use and follow the instructions on each bottle. Remember that less is more- you don't want to over do it.

5. Stakes and Poles

Now that you've nurtured your little loves, it's time to give them a little support. Even the strongest plants can be susceptible to wind and even a day without water can have a drastic effect on a garden in a planter box or pot. Coming home to find your tall and proud tomato plant snapped in half is devastating. Trust me.

That's where stakes and poles come in. You can use either one, it depends on preference. If you use poles, be sure to tie the twine securely and in a place where it won't hinder plant growth. I prefer to use these little metal stakes with open hoops to support my tall plants. They are easy to move to different areas and loosely hug the stalk of the plant to help keep it upright. These are small and often forgotten but are an important essential to have on hand.

I would love for this to be a very interactive post- as I said before, I am no expert. Please do comment down below with any tips and tricks you may have for a successful patio garden. There is very little that is more informative than someone else's experiences. If you decide to use these essentials in your own patio garden then take a picture and tag me on social media. If you are looking for more patio garden inspiration, check out #homegrown #patiogarden and even my own Instagram for beautiful mouth-watering snaps.

Also, don't forget to head on over to my shop to find great patio garden essentials!

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