Avocado and Grapefruit Salsa

Every week (most weeks, anyway) I plan out a menu and a grocery list.  But it never fails, when I get to the grocery store I find something that wasn't on my list but that I want anyway.  Sometimes this is something small, a snack or a sweet, but sometimes the result is inspiration for a meal.

Today's dinner was the result of such an inspiration.  I know its not summer yet, and I don't expect my favorite foods to be in the grocery stores.  But Fresh Market had blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, peaches AND grapefruit all on sale.  I didn't know what to do with myself!  The summer fruits made me want to eat something summery.  And how can you not be inspired by something so pretty?

BEST Granola Bars

The last few weeks, I've been struggling with breakfast.  I like to cook something on the weekend to last me through my weekday mornings, but I'm normally in the mood for sweets and I just can't have a cinnamon roll every morning before breakfast.  I used to make a protein smoothie every morning, but with the weather being so cold lately, I've wanted my hot coffee in the morning instead of a cold smoothie.  I remembered I had this recipe for granola bars, and remembered how much I like having these for breakfast.

I discovered this recipe about a year ago, when I was looking for a good granola bar recipe.  My issue with store-bought granola bars is that I typically turn to them as a pre-workout snack or a quick breakfast, and they are never big enough.  Plus, I couldn't find a good all-natural granola bar at all.  They were either too hard or had some bizarre ingredients in them that caused a funny flavor.  I just wanted something basic, then I found this recipe and it blew me away.

Caffe Frappe

There are a lot of things I miss about being in Raleigh, but one of the things I miss most on a daily basis (or a weekly basis, anyway) is Global Village coffee.  This was my twice-weekly homework/study/break spot.  And their house Cappuccino is the best I've ever had.

It wouldn't be so bad if we had a good coffee shop up here, but there is only one coffee shop that isn't Starbucks, and its nothing to write home about.  They serve some good loose-leaf teas and local beer, but that's their only redeeming quality.  We're talking cheap (and not in the good way) espresso and powdered Chai tea mix.  Plus, there is something just not right about a coffee shop owned by a man that doesn't drink coffee!