Recipe of the Week: Spring Salad – Chickpea and Asparagus

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asparagus, chickpea, chickpea and asparagus, chickpea and asparagus salad, cook, cooking, dinner, egg, food, lemon, olive oil, parmesan, recipe, red wine vinegar, salad, salad recipe, sherry wine vinegar

(Taken from fitnessmagazine.com)

I love asparagus – it helps with bloating – which is a problem I have. I also love chickpeas, they’re great protein. The two together in this salad are delicious. Work with what you have, add any extra ingredients that you like and have in your fridge. Salads are always very versatile. Make a little extra, hold the dressing and you can pack it for your lunch the next day!

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup thinly sliced radishes
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 8 Bibb lettuce leaves

Directions

1. Place eggs in a medium saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, place eggs in a large bowl of cold water. Gently crack eggs and leave in cold water 1 minute, then peel.

2. Return water to a boil over high heat. Add asparagus and 1/2  teaspoon salt. Cook until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, Parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, pepper and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Chop eggs and add to dressing. Stir in chickpeas, radishes, onion and asparagus. Divide salad among four plates lined with Bibb lettuce.

I’m always looking for new salad ideas. So please feel free to share them with me!

L&L

Another Olivia Post

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fashion, flower, olivia, olivia palermo, outfit, prints, statement necklace, style

Here’s some more outfit inspiration from Olivia!

Flower prints and statement necklace

L&L

New Look

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blog, blogging, new look

L&L has a new look. Let me know what you think!

Spring/Summer Essentials

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colourblock, dress, earth tone, fashion, flat sandals, forever 21, gold sandals, jenni kayne, loose white tank, madewell, madewell dress, outfit, pant, pastel, ras, sandals, shopbop, shopping, spring, spring summer, sprng trend, staples, striped dress, style, summer, summer dress, summer wedge, tess giberson, tibi, tibi tank, tinley road, trouser, wardrobe staples, wedge, white blazer, white pant, white tank

Wondering what the ultimate perfect Spring/Summer staples are this year to keep your closet looking fresh? Here’s my personal take on a couple of musts you can mix and match for any occasion, day or night, work or weekend…

A little striped summer dress

Madewell

Loose White Tank

Tibi

Pastel or white loose trouser pant

White pants aren’t flattering for everybody, and I’m kind of over them. Which is why I prefer an off white, white, or pastel coloured loose trouser pant right now. You can so much with them and always look classy. These are gorgeous.

Jenni Kayne 

White blazer

Tess Giberson 

Colour block, earth tone wedge.

Wedges are a definite must. Instead of going for black look into something a little different with a neutral colourblock.

Ras

Simple light gold flat sandals

These will go with everything and can be dressed up or down.

Forever 21

Colourful Statement Necklace

Tinley Road

L&L

Item of the Week: Recent Purchase – Lucca Couture Hi-Lo Shirt Dress

Tags

clothing, dress, dress style, fashion, hi-lo shirtdress, lucca, lucca couture, lucca couture hi-lo shirtdress, maxi dresses, outfit, pastel, peachy, peachy-pink, pink, pink dress, piperlime, purchase, shirtdress, shopping, spring, spring dress, style, summer, summer dress, summer dresses

Right now I am really into summer dresses. It’s all I’m looking for when I’m shopping – perfect, light, flowy and girlie dresses. However, to my dissapointment, I realized there were no maxi dresses to be found, when I had set out to spend an afternoon of shopping specifically for these dresses! My go-to shopping destinations, Zara and Forever 21, barely had any in site. Or if they did, were quite unflattering and did not fit my taste. Luckily I came accross this adorable hi-lo dress, which made me feel a little better.

Lucca Couture – Hi-Lo Shirt Dress

I purchased it in a pastely peachy-pink. It’s perfect for any occasion and will take me from day to night. Very sophisticated and girly. And although, I am not a fan of the hi-lo hem style, I do like this version of it because it isn’t too much.

What’s your favourite summer dress style right now?

L&L

P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest!

Sporty Girl

Tags

clothing, exercise, exercise attire, exercise clothing, fashion, health, healthy, lululemon, lululemon pant, lululemon tank, reebok, reebok running shoes, reebok slimtone, running pant, running shoes, running tank, shopping, slimtone edge, style

We all want to be able to go to the gym and work out butts off while still looking cute. So, here is a cute gym outfit option I’m loving right now.

Lululemon – Chase me Tank

Lululemon – Wunder Under Pant

Reebok – Slimtone Edge

Enjoy sweating!

L&L

Touching Feet

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beach love, beach photo, beautiful, feet, love, man and woman, photo, photography, picture, sand

L&L

Funky Pants

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Alastrina Top, chiffon, chiffon geometric print pant, colourful pants, fashion, funky pants, geometric pant, geometric print, jewelry, necklace, Neon Crystal Pendant, Noir Jewelry, pant, pants, print pants, shopbop, shopping, style, tank top, theory, theory top, washborn, washborn pants, white tank top, white top

Pants seem to be making more of a statement around this time. I’m normally always focusing on what to put on top but this season’s trends has me rethinking my style and wanting me to get funky with my pants.

Here is a pair I have my eye on:

Washborn – Chiffon Geometric Print Pant ($104.00)

These are really fun and colourful. However, they can be fairly easily matched with various pieces. Love the sort of boho-style to them.

Pair them with

Theory – Alastrina Top

Noir Jewelry  – Neon Crystal Pendant (Obsessed)

L&L

Recipe of the Week: Bethenny Frankel’s Guilt-Free Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Tags

appetizer, artichoke, artichoke and spinach dip, artichoke spinach, bethenny, bethenny dip, bethenny frankel, bethenny frankel cooking, bethenny frankel dip, cheese, cheese dip, clove garlic, cooking, cream cheese, diner party, dinner, dip, dip appetizer, food, frozen spinach, garlic, healthy, healthy artichoke dip, healthy dip, healthy food, healthy recipe, lemon juice, mayonnaise, monterey jack, monterey jack cheese, parmesan, recipe, salt, spinach, spinach dip, tablespoon lemon juice, tortilla, vegetable, vegetarian

Who does not love a good artichoke and spinach dip?! Here is one of my favourite healthier options. My mouth is watering as I am typing.

(From here)

Makes 6 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 box or bag frozen artichokes (about 9 ounces), defrosted and well drained
• 1 box or bag frozen spinach (about 9 ounces), defrosted and liquid drained (using paper towel)
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (grate it yourself)
• ¼ cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
• ¼ part skim ricotta cheese
• ½ container (8 ounces) reduced fat cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons lowfat mayonnaise
• ½ tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce

Directions:

1. Don’t worry about exact amounts for this recipe. If you can only find artichokes or spinach in slightly smaller or larger amounts, that’s fine. In this recipe, frozen is actually better than fresh because the softer texture works better for dip, so take the easy way.
2. Defrost the vegetables in the refrigerator overnight, then drain them a colander in the sink or over a bowl. You can drain them together in the same colander because they’ll get mixed together anyway, and that makes fewer things to wash. After they are drained, press on them with paper towels to get rid of any extra moisture that would dilute the dip’s flavor.
3. Preheat the oven to 350. Combine all the ingredients except 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese into a large bowl or into a food processor. Blend or pulse until mostly smooth but leave some artichoke chunks for texture.
4. Pour the mixture into an oven-proof dish or casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until heated through and just starting to bubble.
5. Remove from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve hot or warm with thin slices of baguette, raw vegetables, baked tortilla chips, or crackers.

Have it with your favourite tortilla chips, any kind of vegetables or whatever you like. Great for serving at dinner party.

L&L

Items Under $100: Hats

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$100, beach, beach hat, cheap, club monaco, club monaco hat, fashion, fashion hat, fedora, forever 21, forever 21 hat, maxi dress, old navy, old navy hat, seersucker, shopping, straw hat, under $100

A perfect hat can add that extra touch to an outfit. It can be accessory that is overlooked as most people focus on jewellery, shoes and bags, so this season take the opportunity to experiment with hats. Start off with a cheaper pair to see how you like them.

Here are a few under $100 that I’m currently crushing on:

Forever 21 – Floral Scarf Floppy Hat ($12.80)

Old Navy – Women’s Seersucker Fedora ($12.94)

Club Monaco – Jody Straw Hat ($69.50)

Pair any time with:

Old Navy – Women’s Smocked Tube Maxi Dress ($29.94)

 L&L

P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest!