sharing is caring
There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. Really.
First, the disclaimer: I don’t often share services or products on this site. This is my space. I don’t offer advertising. I’m making an exception, for some services that have improved my life and that have missions I can get behind. Plus I have discount codes for you (for which I receive a discount as well, just so we’re clear).
1. Farm Fresh to You. I signed up for this CSA box about a year ago. I’m terrible at shopping for vegetables and I almost never buy fruit, so I jumped at the chance to have them delivered to our home. It’s all organic, seasonal and locally grown, and really reasonably priced. We get a box every couple of weeks and every time I open it I feel like I’m doing myself a giant favor. It leads to more creative recipes and obviously healthier eating. Essentially, good habits in a box. Plus my dollars help fund more local, organic farms which is the best way to fight the evils of Monsanto if you ask me.
You want $10 off? Use the code 6164 on your first order.
2. Codagogy. I’ve been blogging for years now and through everyday use I’ve picked up some basic html and the like but have never been instructed in anything. When I found out about Codagogy I got super excited about taking one of their classes because I felt like I could finally solve some coding mysteries. Codagogy is created by Web Start Women which aims to help women learn programming skills. So obviously they’re awesome. I took the CSS basics class and was really challenged by it in the best of ways. The class was well designed and I didn’t feel cheated because I was learning online (actually for me this was a perk). I can’t wait to take the next class.
If you’d like to try one of their classes, get $17 off by clicking here.
veggie heaven
This week we got our first CSA box and I’m possibly a little over excited about it. The truth is I’m really awful at shopping for vegetables, and it’s rare that I buy fruit ever. So having someone else pick out some perfect organic fruits and veggies and deliver them to my door is the best. I feel like this is the impetus for my diet to be transformed from 90% carbs to maybe a little bit lower percentage. Granted, I am already dreaming of making cherry tarts and zucchini bread (I blame these ladies for posting zucchini bread instagrams for that) which isn’t quite the healthiest way to prepare these fruits and veggies, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
Mostly I’m just happy to have really fresh and delicious foods. It’s easy to forget how good simple foods can taste when you’re used to drowning them in sauces and seasonings. Yet it’s entirely pleasing to just eat a peach or a cobb of roasted corn.
The other perk is getting creative with foods I wouldn’t normally buy. Celery for instance. While I’ll occasionally purchase celery for a recipe, it’s not on my usual slate of vegetables. Since we got some in this box, I was inspired to make some chickpea salad. It’s a recipe I make all the time, but leave out the celery. Who knew that the celery actually makes it taste way better. So here is to expanding my vegetable vocabulary. And to celebrate, here is my easy chickpea salad recipe.
Chickpea Salad
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
1/4 cup vegenaise
1 Tbsp mustard
1 1/2 tsp rice vinegar
salt & pepper to taste
In a food processor, mash the chickpeas until they are sort of mushy. Add the other ingredients and blend until combined. I like my chickpea salad on the smooth side, but you can go chunky too.
