Food

Chocolate banana bread with chocolate chunks

Food

I have a theory that any day of the week is a good day to make something out of whatever left over ingredients you have at home, whether it’s making a wok out of vegetables that are borderline going bad, using dry bread for croutons, or using the ripe bananas on your kitchen counter to make a treat for yourself (and your guests of course, duuh!). I try to minimize food waste to the best of my ability, so if you have any ripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter, I suggest you should make this chocolate banana bread with chocolate chunks in. It has the perfect balance between the chocolate and banana, and the big, gooey chocolate chunks is the cherry on top – it’s the best! 🍫🍌😍

Here’s what you need to make it;

Ingredients
3 ripe bananas (the darker, the better!) – 115 g melted butter – 1 large egg – 125 g brown sugar – 1 teaspoon baking soda – 1/2 teaspoon salt – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – 125 g white flour – 40 g cocoa powder – 200 g of dark chocolate

Directions
Start by preheating your oven to 180 C/350 F. Melt your butter and set aside to cool off. Mash the bananas in a large bowl, and whisk in the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract and the egg. Mix the flour, baking sofa, salt and cocoa powder in a separate bowl and use a sifter to add the dry ingredients to the batter. Add the chocolate chunks at the end. Bake in the middle of the oven for 55-60 minutes and cool off in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing from the pan. Serve warm with a cup of coffee or a glass of ice cold milk. Enjoy! ☕️😍🥛

The best fall comfort food!

Food, Lifestyle

There are many reasons why I love fall and the food is definitely on top of the list!
Fall equals comfort food – rich stews, hearty hot meals, crisp apples, hot tea, and delicious warm soups.. So good!
Fall is the high season for root vegetables and with local vegetables in season, it would be a shame not to use them. The other day I was in the mood for something warm, nutritious, and delicious, so I decided to make a delicious vegetable soup with sausage. For a vegetation option you can drop the sausage – it’s just as good if you ask me! 🥘 🙂

Here’s what you need to make it (a full pot);

Ingredients
Vegetable broth – 4 potatoes – 7 carrots – 3 parsnips – 1 leek – 1 kohlrabi – a handful of fresh chives – sausages or your choice of protein (optional)

Directions
Start my making the vegetable broth in one large pot (I use this one from Le Creuset). You can either pre-make the broth from scratch or use vegetable bouillon squares. I like the ones from Knorr, which is filled with a delicious blend of cabbage, leek, onion, carrots, celery, garlic and spices. The rich and authentic tastes adds great flavor to your soup! Chop all your vegetables and add them to the broth. Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a broil. Once it’s boling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are tender (use a fork to check it’s status). Season with salt & pepper as needed. Add the protein at the end.

Enjoy! 🙂
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Checking of my Bucketlist! ✔️

Food, Lifestyle, My Bucketlist, Travel

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This month I finally checked off another point on my Bucketlist; a visit to Lofoten! 🚁🏔🌦✔️😊
Norway is the land of the fjords, the northern lights & midnight sun (which you can both see up north if you’re lucky!), viking history, trolls, quaint villages, and many scenic drives – some which can be found in the area of Lofoten in North of Norway!
The Lofoten Islands are draped across the turbulent waters of the Norwegian sea, far above the arctic circle. The main islands are Austvågøy, Gimsøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstadøy, Moskenesøy, Røst and Værøy. We visited my dad’s birthplace Værøy, a small island located approximately 30 km from main body of Lofoten archipelago. It’s accessible by ferry and helicopter from Bodø, the closest city on the mainland of Norway. The helicopter takes roughly 25 min, while the ferry takes either 3 or 6 hours, depending on the route you choose. We took the helicopter out which was both comfortable and convenient, but also more expensive compared to the ferry. We ended up taking the ferry back to Bodø due to some technical problems with the helicopter and it was ok, but I personally prefer the helicopter because it’s quicker and you don’t have to deal with heavy waves and the sea, as I get seasick very easily. Either way, both options are available! 🙂

This was a much needed family trip that we enjoyed to the fullest! Our days was filled with lot’s of walking and time spent outside (plus tons of rain + a little sun in between!), cozy breakfast mornings, the celebration of my sister’s 30th birthday, board games, great food & wine, and lot’s of quality time together. We ended up heading back to Bodø a day before due to stormy weather, so we spent the last night at Bodø Scanic Hotel before flying back to Oslo. Great hotel with good location + the best breakfast – highly recommend this hotel! (Ps; ask for a room with a sea view to avoid the traffic from the busy street).

As always I believe pictures says more than thousands words, so I’ll let the pictures speak for itself. Enjoy!

Have you ever been to Lofoten? 🙂

My top 5 favorite food Instagrammers

Food, Lifestyle, My Bucketlist, Travel

I love scrolling through Instagram for inspiration and probably spend more time doing that than I’d like to admit (I don’t want to know my total screen time for Instagram, hehe).. If you’re getting hungry and are looking for some new inspiration, look no further; here’s my top 5 favorite food Instagrammers – Enjoy! 🙂

What’s Gabby Cooking

Julialtermuli

Hello Healthy Eating

Half-baked Harvest

Healthy Belly

Completed points on my Bucketlist

Food, Lifestyle, My Bucketlist, Travel

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As most of you probably know by know, I’m a huge Bucketlist fan – I love a good Bucketlist! 🙂
My personal Bucketlist is long, but it also keeps growing every day.. I love reading other people’s Bucketlists as I’m always looking for new inspiration to add to my own. 2020 is the year I will always associate with the covid-19 pandemic, which hasn’t exactly been the ideal year for Bucketlist progress (and this year was suppose to be a good one!). But instead of moping around and think about all the things I should have done, I have decided to look at it from a different perspective; all the things I have done so far! As I was writing down all the things I have checked off my Bucketlist, it made me realize that I’m very proud of myself for achieving so many of my goals and experiencing so many fun things in life.. and this is just the beginning! 🙂

If you’re interested, here’s the points I have checked of my Bucketlist so far;

✔️ Voluntair for a cause I’m passionate about
✔️ Serve in the military (Air Force 08/09)
✔️ Gamble in Las Vegas
✔️ Live in another country for more than a year (The U.S. + the Netherlands)
✔️ Visit a stave church
✔️Quit a job I truly hate
✔️ Shoot with a weapon (In the Air Force)
✔️ Become an organ donor
✔️ Work as an aupair (In San Francisco, CA in 2007)
✔️ Ride the cable cars in San Francisco
✔️ Create my own personal blog
✔️ Ride a bike like a local in the Netherlands
✔️ Go to College in the United States (2009-2013)
✔️ Celebrate a local holiday (Thanksgiving + Kings Day)
✔️ Go on a road trip in the US (We drove from North Dakota – Florida)
✔️ Shop at Portobello Road Market, London
✔️ Go snowboarding in the Alps
✔️ Visit Svalbard (October 2018)
✔️ Have a campfire at the beach
✔️ Host a theme party (Great Gatsby for my big 30!)
✔️ Watch a drag show
✔️ Celebrate Halloween in the U.S.
✔️ Try Zip-lining (Down Holmenkollen Ski jump in 2014)
✔️ Visit the Auschwitz/Birkenau Concentration Camps
✔️ Visit Rotterdam Markthall
✔️ Eat a meal with locals in another country
✔️ Go to a drive-in movie theater
✔️ Stay at a 5 star hotel (Panama Jack Resorts, Mexico 2013)
✔️ Live in a big city (San Francisco 2007 – Leiden 2016)
✔️ Have a fish-pedicure
✔️ Eat a meal from a food truck
✔️ Attend an American college keg party
✔️ Go skinny dipping outdoors
✔️ Visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam
✔️ Visit Miami Beach (March 2011)
✔️ Ride a helicopter (in the Air Force 08/09)
✔️ Eat at Jamie Oliver’s Restaurant
✔️ Enjoy a dinner outside in nature
✔️ Climb Gaustadtoppen
✔️ Have an outdoor movie night
✔️ Go on a cabin trip in the Norwegian mountains
✔️ Sleep under the stars
✔️ Try plogging ✅
✔️ Live with locals in another country (Lived with a host family in San Francisco in 2007 + in college with international roommates!)
✔️ Help someone in need

I can’t wait to continue checking of my Bucketlist in the future!
Do you have your own personal Bucketlist? If so, feel free to drop it in the comment section – I would love to read it! 😀

My Fall Bucketlist 🍁

Food, Lifestyle, My Bucketlist, Travel

This is how I spent my morning today; the best ice coffee with a hint of caramel, crisp and cooler air, sunshine, fall flowers and the changing colors of the leaves.. It was a much needed moment of solitude before work today, something I highly recommend everyone to do every now and then. So calm, relaxing and definitely the best way to start the day.. 💛

Endlessly exited for fall, here’s my Fall Bucketlist;

🍁 Have outdoor bonfire nights with good friends

🍁 Go apple picking and make homemade apple jam & the best apple cake

🍁 Invite friends over for friendsgiving

🍁 Go for many walk outside in fresh, crisp air

🍁 Update my fall wardrobe (I want a new coat, a fluffy scarf and some new jeans)

🍁 Read some new books in front of the fireplace

🍁 Spend some much needed quality time with good friends

🍁 Go on a cabin trip in the Norwegian mountains

🍁 Get busy in the kitchen and try out lot’s of new recipes

🍁 Paint and decorate our livingroom for fall

🍁 Enjoy delicious coffees outside in fresh air at my favorite coffee shops

🍁 Try out at least 3 new workout classes at my gym

🍁 Visit and discover some new cities in Norway

🍁 Visit Lofoten and check off another point on my Bucketlist!

Checking off my Bucketlist! ✔️

Food, My Bucketlist

Earlier this week I checked off another point on my Bucketlist; I ate a meal from a food truck!
As many of you know, I’m a big fan of Bucketlists and I use it as a drive to do all the things I want to do. However, having a Bucketlist also made realize that your points doesn’t have to be grand and major, because it’s often the small things in life that gives you great joy.. And enjoying a delicious meal in the sun with my amazing husband was just what I needed! 😍

Whether you’re a local or a tourist visiting, you simply must pay Alex’s Food truck a visit!
This business is run by Alex and his family, a bunch of warm and wonderful people from Portugal. They specialize is gourmet hotdogs and skewers marinated with homemade Portuguese seasoning, all paired with the best crispy french fries, salad, delicious toppings and and tasty dressings.. You can simply choose your favorite! They focus on using local vendors, so their gourmet hotdogs and fresh buns are from a local butcher and bakery, which is a big plus in my book! 💯

Upon our visit, we were greeted with a warm welcome by Alex himself, who were very eager to inform us about their menu and the products they use.. It’s clear that he is very passionate about his business and the food they serve and with good reason; this food is the best! We tried a couple of dishes; the beef skewers marinated in delicious Portugese seasoning with french fries, salad and dressing + Alex’s Hot Dog paired with french fries, coleslaw, choritzo, manchego cheese and chipotle mayonnaise – two dishes that definitely satisfied our taste buds! 😋💥🤤 This food is not only super tasty and filled with lots flavor, but it’s also very affordable. Unfortunately Alex’s Food Truck is only in Stavern during the summer and the next weekend (August 15-16th) is the last weekend they’re open, so if you want to give it a try (which you should!), you must hurry up! 🙂

Ps; if you visit, make sure to follow them on Instagram and don’t forget to rate & review them on TripAdvisor!




Interesting links from around the web #13

Food, Lifestyle, My Bucketlist

“Life inside” is a weekly series of first-person essays from people who live or work in the criminal justice system – it’s definitely worth a read!

I definitely want to make some of these summer cocktails

This Southampton home is true perfection – an absolute dream home!

The 25 best romantic comedies of all times

I love Aubrey’s before + after pictures of her colonial kitchen renovation

These melon + prosciutto + fresh basil + mozzarella skewers are the perfect summer snack

Netflix documentary Athlete A delves into the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal

Joanna’s top picture of weekend citrus just make me really happy

How cool would it be to wake up in a tree-house?

Taco bowl with the BEST avocado dressing!

Food, Lifestyle

Any taco dish is my go-to any day, but today I topped it with a little extra something – the best avocado dressing! It’s the perfect balance between the sweetness of the honey, the fire of the jalapeños, and of course the creamy avocado.. Paired with taco seasoned cauliflower rice, grounded beef, and your choice of veggies this taco dish with a twist is a must try – you will not be disappointed! 🌮💥🥑

Here’s what you need to make it (3 persons);

Ingredients
400 g grounded beef – taco seasoning – red onion – bell peppers (different colors) – corn – cherry tomatoes – salad – cucumber – cauliflower rice – lime – green scallions

Dressing; 1 avocado – 4 tbsp sour cream – 1 ts honey – a pinch of salt – 1 tbsp water – 1 garlic glove – a dash of olive oil – jalapeños

Directions
Make the grounded beef and add taco seasoning, set aside. Fry the peppers on medium heat with a splash of butter in the pan. For the cauliflower rice, you have two options; 1. you can make it yourself by cutting an half cooked cauliflower into pieces and pulse in a food processor until it turns into rice, or 2. you can buy it ready made (which is what I did). Gently fry the rice in the pan with sprinkles of salt, pepper and taco seasoning. Cut up all the vegetables and layer on a plate. To make the dressing, mix the avocado, lime juice, honey, olive oil, water, salt, sour cream and jalapeños in a food processor, blend until a smooth texture.

Enjoy!

Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate

Food

Got a ripe banana or three sitting on the counter? You’re in luck, because there are several ways to use them! Overripe bananas are perfect to use for baking, because it keeps baked goods moist while adding lot’s of flavor and natural sweetens. Earlier this week I made the most delicious banana bread – full of flavor and filled with with dark chocolate chunks, this is a safe winner! 🍌🍞🍫

To make one loaf, here’s what you need;

Ingredients
3 ripe bananas (the browner, the better!) – 3 eggs 2 tbsp honey 1/2 dl skim milk – 2 ts baking powder – 200 g oat flour – 2 tbsp cocoa powder – 1 plate of dark chocolate

Directions
Preheat oven to 180 C/350 F. In a bowl, add the bananas and mash until smooth. Add the eggs, milk and honey, mix together. Add the dry ingredients and the chopped chocolate chunks at the end. Pour batter into a loaf pan and bake for 50 min. Cool of completely before serving. Ps; it tastes even better the next day, preferably with a glass of ice cold milk.. Enjoy! 😀