Woza Friday | Five Food Blogs I Follow

I've been thinking about food quite a bit. Since I have quite a number of food allergies, it's sometimes hard to find recipes that are suitable for me. Finding inspiration for what to cook or eat can also be tricky. It's taken me a while but I've stumbled on some blogs that are really helpful. Some of these are new, others I've been following for a few years now. If you need inspiration for what to cook and how to prepare it, take a look at these five food blogs:

Hydrate with Cold Brewed Hibiscus Tea

Summer is officially here (and by here I mean New England)! With rising temperatures, hydration should be at the top of your summer to-do list. My daily fluid intake is about 3 liters (around 100 ounces). Drinking only water to get to 3 liters can be a drag. This is where cold-brewed hibiscus tea or sorrel comes in. This tisane is full of antioxidants and other goodies. Plus it's a flavorful, spicy alternative to plain ol' H20. Meeting your hydration goal doesn't have to be so bland!

Woza Friday Five | June 10, 2016

Welcome to Woza Friday Five! This is a weekly list series of things I enjoyed/experienced/thought about/felt etc. It's my version of 5 Things Friday. Here's what rocked my world this week:

My Food Allergy Story

Here's the thing, living with food allergies is really taxing. Food is meant to nourish your body and bring joy. When you're allergic to a lot of things, you quickly learn that food isn't so straightforward. The simple acts of grocery shopping, cooking and eating became muddled with confusion and frustration. I found out about my food allergies about two years ago. Up until that point, I'd lived my life thinking chronic headaches were my portion. That's over 20 years of pain and of eating all the wrong things!

I'm allergic to ALL THE NUTS

Earlier this week, my allergist informed me that I should stop eating nuts. ALL THE NUTS!! I'm no stranger to food restrictions, I've been through the whole elimination process before. I'm back to square one and struggling. My lists of forbidden foods is growing and I can't help but pout. It's not easy to stomach news that the foods that I love are in fact hurting me. It sucks.

Recipe | Oat Waffles for One

 I love waffles and other deliciously wheat-full breakfast foods and baked goods. But i’m gluten intolerant, so even the occasional indulgence can be dangerous. Luckily, there are plenty of gluten free flours available - my favorite OATS! Naturally, since waffles are a breakfast staple, I’ve tested a few flour combinations and found one that sticks.

Cocktails with Nanju | The Ginger Gimlet

I take limes seriously. I rarely make cocktails without some not-so-subtle hint of lime. Just like my caipirinha, this beverage - The Ginger Gimlet - has more than just a touch of lime. It also has a special guest star: ginger syrup! Ginger is one’s also got three ingredients: liquor, lime juice, syrup. This gimlet's special because of the instead of using a simple syrup, I use a homemade ginger syrup. 

Cocktails with Nanju | The Caipirinha

I've got spring fever! The calendar says it's Spring but Mother Nature hasn't quite caught up yet. The cold temperatures aren't stopping me from indulging in springtime cocktails. Meet the Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail and one of my personal favorites. A caipirinha is made with cachaça, sugar or simple syrup, and lime. 3 ingredients and a whole lot of flavor!

Exploring Minimalism | 5 Resources to Help You Eliminate Clutter

Accomplishing a goal doesn't have to be a solitary adventure. I've transformed my closet and simplified my life with the help of online resources. Here are the tool’s that have indispensable to me over the last few months:

Recipe | 3 Pepper Black Beans with Garlic and Lime

Last night, I came home from yoga class famished and exhausted. Power yoga is no joke and it kicked my butt and took all my energy. I needed to get some food in me and I needed it quickly. Hangry me glanced around my kitchen, spotted some key ingredients and added some nice flavors.

My Blog Bucket List

I have a case of writer's block (as I'm sure you can tell by my silence). The last few weeks have been emotionally and physically tormenting. I'm still trying to get over them and am on the rebound. I haven't had much time to write or think really, so I thought I'd have a brainstorming sessions. Below are a few of the things I want to write about or do for my blog. Here's my blogging bucket list or a list of blog post ideas.

Exploring Minimalism | Developing My Personal Style

While I value embracing minimalism, I don’t think I have to sacrifice my personal style. I’ve been working on developing a personal style for quite some time now, and have finally settled on a look that I’m happy with. It includes a lot of black and some colorful accessories. I’m working on investing in quality items of clothing that I can keep around for a while. My motivation for creating a personal style has come out of years of frustration with fast fashion and some hoarding on the side.

Recipe | Thai-Style Green Papaya Salad

I was recently introduced to the wonderful Thai delicacy that is green papaya salad. My taste buds and stomach are in love! With just a handful of ingredients, the whole meal comes together in about 20 minutes. It's refreshing, simple, delicious, and super easy to make. This green papaya salad is so savory, tangy, sweet, appetizing and absolutely delectable. Get ready to be amazed!

Exploring Minimalism | Changing Why & How I Shop

Less means more. I've been trying to define what enough means to me, and that first sentence is my first guide towards the right direction. I’ve made a conscious decision to reevaluate my shopping habits and my attachments towards my possessions. By changing my approach to consumption, I'm hoping to end up with fewer items, but a much deeper appreciation for what I have left.

DIY Spray Deodorant

Let's talk about sweat and body odor. If you have a body and you move, chances are you sweat and have a distinct body odor. I'm not particularly bothered by sweat, but don't like smelling musty. Enter witch hazel and tea tree oil! I've been using both to make my own deodorant for a little over two years. Since I made the switch I haven't looked at any other products. My DIY spray deodorant is a cheap and effective way to keep body odor and a few other things at bay!

Practical Uses for Mason Jars

I’m addicted to mason jars and glass containers. I use them around the house for just about everything I can. If it fits and can be stored in a mason jar, I will put it in a mason jar. Mason jars are affordable, fairly easy to find, and versatile. What’s not to love?

Exploring Minimalism | Enough vs. Excess

Growing up, my parents always made sure I had just enough to get by on. sure I didn’t live a life of excess. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of the value and meaning of having enough. I became greedy and obsessed with filling my life with things. After amassing so many possessions, I realized that I felt stifled and didn't value the items. But, I don’t have to be enslaved by my possessions. I own my stuff, it doesn’t own me. So, I’m taking stock of what enough means to me and finding ways to enhance it.

The Amazing Benefits of an Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salts are a natural remedy for a lot of ailments. In fact, Epsom salts are an essential part of my DIY spa day/general body maintenance. I take a bath with Epsom salt once or twice a week to find some chill and heal some ailments. I have stumbled on a super powerful natural remedy and beauty aid. If you’re sleeping on Epsom salts, don’t worry I’m here to enlighten you.

10 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Eating healthy is more than just a habit, it’s a lifestyle. With a few modifications to food routine, you can be on your way to a healthier you without having to rob a bank. Eating is necessary for life, so why not hack your diet and save some money in the process? My guess is that you don’t have an endless supply of food money and are looking for ways to nourish your body on a budget.

10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Mood

I’ve been struggling to write this post.  I’m not feeling 100% and need reminding that beauty exists in the world. If you’re in the same boat as me, you’re in luck. I’m sharing ten tips for coping when you feel like the universe is throwing all the struggles at you. I’ll get straight to the point:

Moisturize and Get Rid of Acne with A Greek Yogurt Mask

My skin rebels against me a few days every month. PMS is not polite, least of all the evidence of hormonal changes it leaves on my face.  To combat and prevent the offending spots and bumps, I make myself a Greek yogurt face mask whenever I see signs of their arrival.  Since I love to share, I'm going to give you my go-to recipe for a face mask. I use this mask and a few other tricks to keep my skin glowing, moisturized and blemish free. 

How to Fall in Love with Your Life

A dear friend shared this quote and it resonated with me. The last year or so has been rocky. Right now, my future doesn't seem to be any smoother.  When faced with uncertainty, I am usually negative, anxious and obsessive about fixing things. If you don’t know, being pessimistic and anxious is both depressing and freaking exhausting. I think there’s a way to find balance and Kerouac is onto the formula.  I’m pretty fed up being unhappy, I'm choosing to invite more unconditional love into my life. 

Make Your Own Coco-Shea Body Butter

I have a skin/hair care secret: my body loves being lathered with a blend of shea butter and coconut oil. I try to use products that multitask and my homemade coco shea body butter does exactly that. It soothes and heals my dry, acne prone skin and helps keep my hair strong, moisturized, and soft.

Recipe: Berbere Chickpea Stew

Earlier this week, my sister-in-law lent me her kitchen for a few hours. We made a deal,  I could play with her fancy slow cooker if I made enough food to feed the family and some friends. I have a baby slow cooker that's no where near as big or powerful as her's. Naturally, I was giddy with excitement - so many possibilities: soup, stew, curry, maybe even a whole roast chicken! I went into her pantry and rustled up some ingredients: chickpeas, carrots, garlic, a can of tomatoes and some spices. That settled it: Chickpea Stew was added to the dinner menu!

Process and Reflection: Creating Kwa Nanju

I am a perfectionist. My strive for perfection affected the process for creating this blog. As I'm sure you can tell, I'm new to blogging. Turning my idea into a reality has been such an adventure already. I went from a clueless dreamer to skilled newbie blogger. I've created a masterpiece that I can admire and build on some more.

My Favorite Sugar Scrub

I am a summer baby, I love heat! New England winters do not agree with me. The cold dry air always wreaks havoc with my body, especially my skin. Since I can't have a summer glow year round, I've adapted and found ways to make winter more tolerable: DIY sugar scrubs!

Meal Plan 101

This year, I’m determined to get back into menu planning. Growing up, Amayi (mother in my native language), had all of our meals planned. I haven't been very organized lately, and it's come at a cost. So, I’ve taken Amayi’s plan and am repurposing it. I’ve also developed a few tricks and tips to help me accomplish my goal. I'm doing my brain, tummy, and wallet a favor and getting back on track.

How I came to love cooking

I love cooking. That wasn’t always the case. Up until a few years ago, I never set foot in a kitchen except to eat, clean, or observe. I left food preparation to the pros – my mother, sister, brother and just about anyone else who would feed me. 

Welcome

I am a creator. I like experimenting and making things. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing about all of my random projects. I experiment a lot with food and DIY beauty. For various reasons, I rely on improvisation and firmly believe that necessity is the mother of all my creations. Enter Kwa Nanju – a space for me to catalog all of my experiments and the discoveries I make along the way.