These are a few of my favorite things! When the bee stings, when the dog bites .. etc, we all know the song! I'm really not sure as to why that's a Christmas song, but I was listening to it to celebrate "Christmas in July" and it hit me that I should start writing about my favorite things on my blog! I wanted to start this series because there are so many items in my kitchen and home that I love!
I've collected many of these items along the way and others were gifts! Without further adieu, let's get started!
a few of my favorite things
Ground up Nut butter
Ground Up reached out to me in June of this year. They were featuring their limited edition flavor of match latte cashew and coconut butter and wanted to know if I wanted to give it a try. After reading the flavor, I undoubtedly said "YES!". They also sent their Cinnamon Snickerdoodle Almond, Cashew, and Coconut butter. I received the package in late June and remember opening both jars and trying them with pretzels. Both of these flavors were sensational! My favorite was the matcha latte flavor. The matcha flavor with the coconut truly made this butter something that I want to keep in my pantry year round!
I'm hoping that Ground Up decides to keep this flavor around! We have since added this butter to oatmeal bowls, smoothies, toast, and have used this as fruit dip!
I love supporting Ground Up because they are a woman owned business that employs other women who are overcoming adversity. They provide individualized training and provide women with job skills so that they may one day get back on their feet!
When the Founder, Julie Sullivan, returned from overseeing a program in Uganda that helped women overcome poverty, she brought her skills back to Portland to help women in her own community. She then met Carolyn, the co-Founder, who was perfecting a menu of sugar free and peanut free butters. They combined their skills and together found Ground Up. Check out Ground Up at https://grounduppdx.com/ and support their mission!
malabella Jewels
Where do I begin? I cannot say enough about Malabella Jewels! Their jewelry is stunning and I have been wearing their earrings and necklace ever since I received them in early July! They sent me Pearl + Moonstone Dew Drop Hoop Earrings and the Moonlight Gold Necklace and I have been receiving so many compliments on both pieces. These two pieces have become my favorite pieces of jewelry in my collection.
Malabella Jewels began in 2014 when the owner began doing yoga and found Mala Beads. These beads helped her to overcome "anxiety, depression, and the feeling of being stuck." She launched her first set of jewels on Etsy and sold out the first week!
Why is this one of my favorite things? Malabella Jewels plants a tree for every piece that is purchased. They donate to Trees for Future and actually go out and plant trees. They uphold every aspect of their manifesto which is "Live Intentionally, Love Beautifully, & Chase Your Dreams" - and that is something that I firmly stand behind. Also, they are currently offering 20% off of your first order!
russell's gourmet coffee
I want to state outright that I am NOT a coffee drinker. My Husband drinks coffee twice per day and if given the option, would probably choose coffee over me. When I tell you this man takes coffee seriously, I mean it. He watches youtube videos on what degree angle to pour water over your coffee to get the best roast, has a specialized grinder for his beans, and even has a coffee corner in his office so that he can make his cup undisturbed. It's serious.
Recently, he discovered Russell's Gourmet Coffee, which is a Black-Owned coffee and beverage service and distribution company. Russell's is based out of San Francisco and Atlanta and have been operating for 8 years. My Husband purchased their Tipsy Beans (Scotch Whiskey Flavor) and when he received it, you could smell the coffee beans before we even opened the box. We were super excited to try it at this point and when he brewed the coffee, the smell permeated the house. My home smelled like a warm Fall day!
I took a sip and instantly could not believe that I was drinking coffee! This cup surpassed anything that I've ever had from any coffee shop, big or small! I added a touch of cream and some Lakanto sweetener (to keep the sugar low of course), and it was heavenly! We look forward to trying new flavors from this company and highly recommend that you give them a try too!
the storied recipe podcast
Last, but certainly not least! I wanted to spotlight The Storied Recipe Podcast this week for several reasons. The biggest reason is because of the host, Becky Hadeed, who's grace and bravery is unparalleled. Recently, Becky was hacked and lost her Instagram account and Facebook page. She decided that this would not deter her and made a new account and is starting anew and building her base from scratch.
Becky is a talented photographer who takes stunning photos of food scenes that are just out of this world. Her podcast is a series of interviews that delve into the stories behind the recipe which are often close to the heart, cultural, and truly pull on your heart strings.
Last week, I had the honor of appearing on her podcast and we talked about my own personal journey that led to Britney Breaks Bread and about how my family truly helped mold me into the person that I am today. In talking about these things, it was truly a cathartic moment for me because I seldom think about the things that we spoke about. Talking to Becky was so organic and fun and I felt at ease the entire time. It was the conversation that I didn't know that I needed, especially during the pandemic, that helped me to continue this blog with fervor and intentionality.
I am so excited for this episode to be released. In the meantime, go to Instagram and follow Becky's new account @thestoriedrecipe.podcast and listen to all of her episodes on the podcasts app as well as on her website, https://thestoriedrecipe.com/.
My favorite recipe this week
Spiced Rum Mango Cobbler No-Churn Ice Cream
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