Pepper Lynn

Let’s Talk Teeth

FYI, this is a sponsored post, but as you’ll read below, I am personally interested in this topic and am eager to share with you what I’ve recently learned regarding my teeth-straightening options. All opinions are my own. —– Up until about 6 months ago, I’d always viewed orthodontia as purely cosmetic. Sure, I would have loved to have perfectly straight teeth (who wouldn’t?), but growing up in a family in which money was tight, I accepted my good-enough alignment at a fairly young age. In fact, people often noted how nice my smile was (I even won the “Smile …

Quinoa Shrimp Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Well, howdy! I hope you’re having a good day, and if not, perhaps this little ditty of a salad will perk you up. It’s the type of dish that’s easy to prepare and perfect for summer days that are long and hot and leave you (me) wanting to get dinner on the table with as little cooking as possible. Here’s what’s going on: quinoa + shrimp pack a high protein punch while red onions and bell peppers provide bite, sweetness and texture; raw cashews give even more crunch, and the cilantro, lime, and honey flavors of the dressing bring everything …

Chocolate Zucchini Bread + How YOU Can Help End Hunger This Weekend!

Friday is upon us, my friends, which means the weekend is so close I can almost taste it! With plans for helping host a friend’s baby shower, getting my hairs cut, and soaking up the sun while it lasts, all signs point to it being a good couple days. Plus, my mom is coming to visit next week, so I have that to look forward to! Those who’ve entered my house lately will tell you that I’ve been on a mission to hide fruits and vegetables in as many treats and baked goods as possible. Bananas and broccoli comprise the …

Extract Beginnings

This week has been a mix of contradictions. Sunny skies have been lighting up these early May days, the warmth nearly tricking us into thinking that summer has arrived. We spent much of yesterday relaxing in the backyard as we donned swimsuits, enjoyed sprinkler-running and bubble-blowing, and ate our dinner in the grass. Better weather hasn’t been seen in Seattle for quite some time, and while I don’t yet know what the rest of this season will bring, it has, up to this point, completely exceeded my expectations. In contrast to the beauty of my surroundings, I’ve found myself in …

Easy Raspberry Sauce

These last few weeks, I’ve been getting back to my roots in the kitchen. No fuss or complicated blah blah blah, just enjoying the process of cooking for my family and friends, even if “cooking” means running to Safeway for a last minute birthday cake for Eowyn because I botched the homemade one (true story). Honestly, though, it’s been a good thing for me to step away from blogging for a bit and from the silly pressures I was putting on myself. Living life in the flesh is way more gratifying than writing about it, and I’ve needed to dig …

Bittersweet Surrender

This is a blog post I’ve been meaning to sit down and write for three days, but I’ve had neither the time nor the focus to make it a reality. In my last post, I told you about how God’s been working on this ragged heart of mine to bring healing and wholeness, freeing me from the bonds of bitterness, anger, and depression, and I’m grateful for the physical improvements that have also taken place. It has become evident to me that my pain is directly correlated to my activity; the more I move, the more I hurt. Rest allows …

Roasted Beet and Greens Salad with Pistachios and Goat Cheese

It’s been a good several weeks here in the Ellis house, and while I’ve shared with you the highlights of my cooking with some amount of regularity, a personal update has been a long time coming. In considering where to begin, I suppose it makes sense for me to start with myself. You all know about my struggle with depression, fatigue, and chronic joint pain, right? These issues hit me hard last summer and, when combined, were almost completely debilitating. Even “simple” things like caring for my kids at home seemed like an overwhelming task. At the time, I recall …

Sesame Ginger Cabbage with Carrots and Chicken

Have you heard about the film, A Place at the Table? It was released last month by Magnolia Pictures, and I had the opportunity to watch it about a week ago; I’ve been chewing on the content ever since. The premise is this: 1 in 6 people in this country are food insecure at some point in the year (I’ve shared this stat here before), and this means that even hardworking, employed individuals are sometimes not earning the income needed to provide sufficient nutritious food for their families. The movie addresses issues of education and how some folks are working …

Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip

Maybe you’ve got it together and can eat your fruits and veggies by the fistful without any trouble at all. Or, perhaps you’re like me and need a little coaxing. Something to make it fun, interesting, and, well, less of a chore. I hear ya. It’s in this spirit that I’ve been making so many smoothies lately, which have certainly been effective in helping me increase my fruit intake, but as for the vegetables, I find that having a flavorful dip on hand is key to healthy snacking success. I love that it’s easy to make, full of good-for-me ingredients, …

Quick Roasted Tomato Soup

We are on the precipice, friends. It’s drawing near, this season of plentiful produce and easy cookouts and salads that are bursting with so much flavor that we wonder how something so intense and lovely could be born of the earth. Grocery store selections are already starting to perk up thanks to the parts of the world that enjoy a warmer climate, and soon Washington farm stands will be bustling with activity. In my book, there’s no better (or simpler) season for eating. You see, the thing about fresh fruits and vegetables is that, per God’s design, they taste pretty …