Alli Talley

January 17, 2022

Home, Food

Smoothie Time!

Alli Talley

January 17, 2022

Home, Food

Jude’s favorite time of the day (not kidding) is Smoothie Time! Every morning we start Jude’s day by making this smoothie in our trusty Vitamix. The sound of the blending beginning is the highlight of his day! It’s the best.

We make the smoothie in our Ascent Series Vitamix, but occasionally I (Bobby) make it in a big cup with the Immersion Blender. It really just depends how much you want to make.

Here’s our recipe:

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 cup frozen mango

1 teaspoon of flax

1 teaspoon of chia seeds

1 teaspoon of hemp seeds

1 scoop of Greek yogurt

1/2 cup of Almond Milk

Lots of spinach (2 handfuls?)

3 dates

A splash of water

We more or less just eyeball the ingredients based on who’s having a smoothie. We also modify with berries and almond butter when we have them. And we also like buying bulk frozen fruit from Costco, so in general we add about a total of 1 cup of fruit. When you have this every day, it’s nice to make a few tweaks :)

This smoothie is a great way to give your kiddos all the nutrients they need to kick-start their day (and you too). Let us know what you think!

Alli Talley

January 27, 2021

Food, Home

While We’re Home - 5 Reasons We Use Our Vitamix Immersion Blender Daily

Alli Talley

January 27, 2021

Food, Home

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of our Vitamix and use it almost daily. We’ve even jokingly call it our other child (because we love it so much, and because since 2020 our humor has gotten REAL weird). But y’all, there’s a new appliance that we’re using (and loving) just as much— the Vitamix Immersion Blender!

It’s become an invaluable appliance in the Talley Household… and here are 5 reasons we use it every day!

1. Ease of Use (and Clean-up) - This is probably the most compelling reason for anybody to purchase an immersion blender. (Especially if you’re parents like us— ease is key!) It’s handheld, easy to maneuver, and takes up a fraction of the space of any of your other appliances. In terms of clean-up, you can scrub and rinse it in no time. The time that it takes to take out, press “on”, and be blending away is SO convenient compared to taking out the blender and it’s attachments. In fewer words… it’s just really easy.

Having fun with the immersion blender :)

2. Quality and Power - With so many immersion blender options on the market, you may wonder why the Vitamix is worth the investment? (Good question!) Upon opening, it’s easy to immediately recognize the amazingly high quality of the blender, built with sturdy plastic and stainless steel. It also has five power levels, which will allow you to blast through the more difficult textures like nuts and ice (most immersion blenders avoid against these… not Vitamix)!

Built with sturdy plastic and stainless steel

3. Compact - You may remember that we travelled with our Vitamix last year (With a carrying case!). What can we say, we love our smoothies! Considering we have a little more baggage on our trips thanks to baby Jude, we absolutely love how small this is. Aside from taking it on our next road trip, it takes up minimal cabinet space in our tiny kitchen. WIN/WIN!

4. Smoothies, Salsas, Soups - Between these three, we’re using the blender daily. All four of us (Sally too!) enjoy a healthy smoothie to start our day full of fruits and veggies. Switch out those sweet smoothie ingredients for some tomato, onion, garlic, and cilantro and you’re ready for chips and salsa. For those cozy nights in, butternut squash soup is our go-to (see a blog we did on it here!). We love how easily the immersion blender can whirl together a rich, creamy soup!

Jude waiting for his morning smoothie :)

It was a hit! And somehow the bowl ended up on his shoulder.

5. Waffles - There’s nothing like whipping up some waffles on a Sunday morning, (or any day, let’s be honest)! What used to be a monthly treat has now turned into a weekly meal thanks to our immersion blender. Not only does it whip up smooth, tasty batter, but it allows us to make smaller batches (Bobby may have waffles more than weekly). Thank you, Vitamix!

Point of the story: The Vitamix Immersion Blender is a new staple in our kitchen. It’s versatile, powerful, and easy to use for so many of our meals. Get one for yourself and start blending away!

Alli Talley

December 23, 2020

Home, Food

Cozy Winter Meals - Creamy Tomato Soup Using Our Vitamix Blenders

Alli Talley

December 23, 2020

Home, Food

For those of you that witnessed our pie making extravaganza a few weeks back, we went back in the kitchen for a new adventure last night. Except this time we knew what we were in for, and it turned out the way that we hoped. Meaning it took less than an hour instead of 6 hours (for our pie). It was a chilly winter night (50 degrees in SoCal), and we decided to whip up a creamy tomato soup along with some grilled cheese sandwiches. We added a small salad to feel better about ourselves… but really this meal is all about the comfort food :)

Overall, it was a great success! We used our Vitamix blender to whip up the Tomato flavor slurry (new term for us, ha!) and then our new Vitamix Immersion blender to blend the soup. The total time start to finish was about 20 minutes on the soup, and we made our grilled cheeses during that time too… so quick and easy!

For the tomato soup, we used this recipe by Amy Cakes. For the grilled cheese sandwiches, we used a fresh loaf of sourdough and a combo of white and yellow cheddar cheese. If it was healthy, this would be my meal of choice on every cold night :)

Here’s the play by play in photos...

Alli’s favorite part… slicing the onions.

Adding salt and pepper until it’s perfect.

Recipe was a win! The blenders make it easy to whip up and clean up. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re feeling cozy inside! Enjoy!

Alli Talley

November 26, 2020

Food, Foodies

Bobby's First Time Baking an Apple Pie (And Using a Food Processor)

Alli Talley

November 26, 2020

Food, Foodies

The holidays are upon us! Being 2020, we figured that we’d need an extra helping of pie this year, so I (Bobby) decided to give baking an apple pie a go!

I thought starting at 7 PM (when we put Jude down), would be a great idea. Turns out making a pie takes MUCH longer than I realized. It was super fun though, and it definitely gives me a new appreciation for pie!

Simplifying the lengthy process was our new Vitamix Food Processor Attachment. Ironically, this was my first time using a food processor too… ha! Vitamix’s version is on brand with the rest of their products - designed perfectly and incredibly easy to use. It made the pie crust prep simple and quick, making time for the rest of the journey.

We used two recipes to put this beauty together, one for the crust and the other for the filling. Here are the links to the recipes:

Food Processor Pie Crust

Homemade Apple Pie

The following is our journey in photos! Thank you to our Vitamix for the easiest part of the process :) Happy Thanksgiving all!

Prepping our ingredients and Food Processor.

“Mise en place” if we’ve ever seen it. — *“Mise en place”* if we’ve ever seen it.

Adding a layer of butter to the pie crust mixture.

If only a photo could convey the smell or flavor!

If it tastes as good as it looks we’re in good shape.

And proud to be done… hehe. Happy Thanksgiving!

Alli Talley

September 18, 2019

Michigan, Weekenders, Food

Where to Eat (and Drink) in Kalamazoo

Alli Talley

September 18, 2019

Michigan, Weekenders, Food

Kalamazoo is one of those cities where the better question should be, “Where NOT to eat and drink?” … Because we can honestly say that we did not have one bad meal our entire time in Kalamazoo. If anything, we lived in a constant food coma, blitzing from spot to spot to just “try a few things” - because we were repeatedly tempted by the wide array of eateries!

For the sake of time and efficiency, we’ve narrowed our long foodie list down to our top 3 favorite restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops in Kalamazoo.

Warning :: this might make you hungry (and thirsty).

DINING

Crow’s Nest Restaurant :: If it’s true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, that probably means that Crow’s Nest Restaurant is the most important restaurant in Kalamazoo. Their pro’s at everything breakfast - from their decadent french toasts to their popular eggs benedicts, everything is hearty, fresh, and totally drool-worthy. Don’t be discouraged if there’s a bit of a wait… it’s worth it.

MUST TRY :: The Banana Nut Bread French Toast and the Modern Eggs Benedict

Nonla Burger :: We’re suckers for good branding - and if we’re being honest, that’s exactly what led us to this retro order-at-the-counter burger joint. Nonla Burger serves up juicy burgers, delectable sandwiches, piping hot fries, and specialty shakes, and you better believe that everything on the menu is awesome. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a frosty bottle of Coke!

MUST TRY :: The Cheeseburger and Handcut Fries

Food Dance :: This downtown Kalamazoo restaurant is a favorite among locals and visitors alike, as it was one of the pioneers in the “Farm to Table” culinary movement - and the menu at Food Dance is still as fresh, locally sourced, and delicious as ever! They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and if we’d had more time we would’ve tried all three!

MUST TRY :: The Food Dance Pad Thai and the Chicken Dance Sandwich

We always start the day with a hearty breakfast - thanks Crow’s Nest!

Nonla will maybe be the main reason we head back to the ‘Zoo

BREWERIES

Bell’s Brewery :: Arguably the most iconic (and eccentric) brewery in Kalamazoo, Bell’s Brewing is a must-visit. With ample indoor and outdoor seating, an extensive tap beer and food menu, and a welcoming staff, it’s easy to see why Bell’s is so popular. If you’re lucky, you might even catch some live music playing in their beer garden! See their events schedule for more information.

MUST TRY :: The Official and the Lager of the Lakes

Arcadia Ales :: Located on the banks of the Kalamazoo River, we’re not sure what we love most about http://arcadiaales.com - their stunning riverfront views or their craft beer and gourmet food menu! (Oh, and did we mention their beer garden is dog friendly?!) We suggest rolling up just in time to catch the sunset, enjoy a cold beer (or two), and sample some of their famous BBQ or wood fired pizza. We know you’ll love it just as much as we do!

MUST TRY :: The Cheap Date and the Hop Rocket

Kalamazoo Beer Exchange :: If you love games, good beer, a bustling ambiance and cheap prices… go here! Everyday at 6pm the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange rings their opening bell, and up-to-the-minute popularity sways the price for each brew, similar to the stock exchange! (If you’re lucky, you might even experience a Market Crash - where prices plunge ridiculously low!) And don’t forget to venture downstairs to take advantage of their pool tables, pinball games, and more!

MUST TRY :: The River’s Edge Laser Raptor and The Hop Concept Citrus & Piney

The beer at Bell’s is delicious, and the charcuterie board is insane!

COFFEE

Factory Coffee :: Situated in a (surprise, surprise) old factory, Factory Coffee boasts a modern and quirky ambiance and a sophisticated and cultivated coffee menu. It’s a little off the beaten path, and that’s exactly why we like it - it’s quiet and unpretentious. Plus, they have a quaint (and dog friendly) patio that’s perfect for soaking in some Kalamazoo sunshine!

MUST TRY :: The Pour Over and Chai Latte with Almond Milk

Civil House Coffee :: The folks at Civil House Coffee focus on quality and education, and it shows. With every cup they serve, they aim to make the most out of their customers coffee experience, and the baristas are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to chat! Bobby could have spent all day nerding out over pour over techniques with their staff, but we were on a little bit of a time crunch. Next time, Bobby. ;)

MUST TRY :: The Cortado and the Cappuccino

Fido Motors Cafe :: Have you ever been to a coffee shop that specializes in electric scooters too? We hadn’t - until we stopped by Fido Motors Cafe! This industrial coffee shop meets electric scooter warehouse is unconventional in every way, and that’s what makes it so cool! If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t leave without one of their vegan no bake cookies!

MUST TRY :: The Cold Brew and the Cafe Miel

Factory Coffee has a great outdoor area!

Getting creative at Fido Motors Coffee :)

Did we miss one of your favorite Kalamazoo spots? Leave a comment and let us know!