Category: Uncategorized

Welcome to the #YogawithTFM 10-Day Challenge!

Welcome to the #YogawithTFM 10-day challenge! This challenge is hosted by @twofitmoms @laurasykora @masumi_g and is sponsored by @gaiam.

Please visit our website daily for a tutorial on the pose of the day.

Day one’s pose is Uttanasana, or Forward Fold. Before taking your photo for the challenge, warm up with five rounds of Surya Namaskar A and don’t forget to stretch your hamstrings with either a strap, or try our four must-do hamstring stretches.

Here is a video with some variations. And, please check out our three tips, below, to help you get started!

[KGVID poster=”http://www.twofitmoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Video-Sep-30-10-50-41-AM_thumb18.jpg” width=”640″ height=”360″]http://www.twofitmoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Video-Sep-30-10-50-41-AM.mov[/KGVID]

– Use a block to rest your hands on if you are just beginning your journey!

– Try to keep length in your torso as you fold.

– Shift your weight slightly towards your toes to bring your hips in line with your heels.

Let us know if you have any questions! We can’t wait to see your photos!

September 30, 2014
Make Ahead Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cake

Who doesn’t love a hot bowl of oatmeal in the morning — especially as the weather starts to get a bit chilly? But, who has the time to prepare oats in the morning — aside from the instant ones that tend to be full of sugar? If you want to get your oatmeal fix, but have little time to prepare them in the morning, consider making an oatmeal cake. You can make it in advance and enjoy it throughout the week. All you need to do is pop it in the microwave to heat it, and voila, a healthy breakfast is served!

I got this idea from Cooking Light that offers a baked oatmeal recipe. However, the Cooking Light recipe includes butter and brown sugar. I wanted to lighten up the recipe, so I swapped out the butter and the brown sugar, replacing them with safflower oil and maple syrup.

By now, you probably know that I use maple syrup a lot as a processed sugar replacement. Maple syrup is a natural sugar, and I find that I can easily replace an equal amount of white sugar (or brown sugar) with maple syrup. It works really nicely in this oatmeal cake recipe.

You can flavor the oatmeal cake any way you’d like. I decided to make a pumpkin oatmeal cake, because it’s fall, and I love pumpkin! You can also use mashed banana or applesauce in place of the pumpkin puree. If you don’t consume dairy products, try making the cake with almond or soy milk. I added raisins to the Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cake, but you can throw in cranberries or currants or chocolate chips! You can also top it with a little extra maple syrup for some additional sweetness. It’s really a very versatile recipe. It’s also a great recipe for the non-oatmeal lover in your life.

If you happen to follow a gluten-free diet or have a gluten allergy, make sure to use oats that are labeled as gluten-free. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often cross contaminated with grains containing gluten during the growing process.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cake
Yields nine servings

2 cups of oats (not quick cooking)
1/3 cup of raisins
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/2 cups of milk
1/4 cup of maple syrup (grade B)
1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons of safflower oil
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8 by 8 inch square pan. Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, add the milk, maple syrup, pumpkin, oil and beaten egg. Mix to incorporate and then add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Stir well. Pour the oat mixture into the greased pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until firm. Serve warm or refrigerate it and enjoy throughout the week!

Helpful hint: You can make the oat mixture the night before, store it in the refrigerator and bake it in the morning! I found the cooking time remained the same, but all ovens will vary.

September 25, 2014
My Morning Routine

Just like other moms out there, I always feel like there is never enough time in the day to get everything done! It’s hard enough to get yourself ready, but throw two kids into the mix, and the mornings are chaotic, to say the least. I have never been a morning person. If I had my way, I would stay up late and roll out of bed around 11am! Once you become a mother though, that plan quickly exits the building. So here is a glimpse into my morning routine and how I get my day going!

5:30 am: Wake on up!

No…I do not jump out of bed for joy when my alarm goes off. There is usually some grumbling and moaning involved, and maybe a snooze button or two. But for the most part, my day starts around 5:30-5:45am.

6 am: Get my yoga on!

I do yoga everyday…EVERYDAY. Some days it’s for 30 minutes, other days I spend nearly two hours throughout the day. My main practice though happens in the wee hours of the morning before my minis get up. It’s just easier that way, and I don’t feel like a bad mommy for not paying attention to them later on in the day.

As for my yoga practice itself? Some days I wing it, some days I make up my own flows (such as the Two Fit Moms Good Morning Flow!). Other days, I take classes online so I don’t have to think too much. Unlike what most people think, my practice is done in the middle of my living room in peace and quiet. I do not practice out on my deck with a camera clicking away.

7 am: Make myself presentable!

I can’t lie, I love makeup! I will not leave my house without it! I know that probably sounds ridiculous to some people, but I feel completely naked without makeup. I do not pack on tons, but it’s a staple in my daily morning routine…foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner and lip gloss!

After my face is on? It’s time to quickly curl my hair with a 2″ curling iron. I get a lot of questions about my hair…I do not do anything special to it at all. I wash it every other night, and I never blow dry it because it takes like 30 minutes to do that.

7:30 am: Picture time!

It’s usually about this time that I’ll sneak out onto my deck and snap some pictures or videos for Instagram. Contrary to popular belief, I do not spend all day taking pictures of myself out on my deck. I usually have a list of what I want to shoot to make it easier and quicker. I use my trusty iPhone to take videos and my Nikon D5000 for the pics.

7:45 am: Coffee Break!

I like to save about 10-15 minutes in the morning to sit down and have my coffee and breakfast. I drink one cup everyday with agave and Vanilla Coffeemate. Yes, I know the creamer is not healthy…but it’s the only way I’ll drink my coffee. 🙂 Breakfast is usually in the form of a muffin and fruit.

8 am: Wake the minis up!

I’m pretty lucky right now. In my town, my kids do not start school until 9 am. My kids are sleepers too…so I usually have to wake them up around this time. This is where my rushing begins! I drag them out of bed, feed them, get them dressed and ready, and then get myself dressed and ready.

8:40 am: Out the door!

I leave my house, drop the minis off at school and head to the office on the days I work. Things will shift a bit once I am done with my office job, but for now, this is how my day begins.

XOXO

September 22, 2014
Living Your Yoga

There may come a time in your life when you are physically unable to unroll your mat and practice the beautiful yoga poses that you’ve come to know and love.

Maybe it will be an injury, a high-risk pregnancy, or a sick child that needs your attention. Maybe it will be a challenging time that you can’t even imagine right now. How will you handle this? Will your day be ruined because your routine has changed? Will your inability to physically practice destroy your spirit? What will happen to your self worth when you are unable to backbend or balance on your hands? Will you feel tremendous disappointment and anger because you have lost this part of your identity? Or will you tap into everything you know about the non-physical aspects of yoga and TRULY begin to practice?

I’ve had to face all of these questions over the past few weeks as my physical yoga practice came to a screeching halt. I didn’t want to give it up, but serious circumstances made it nearly impossible to continue.

Earlier in the month, I moved with my family to Philadelphia to be nearby the children’s hospital, where my 8-year old daughter received a kidney from my husband. Just imagine—two patients, two different hospitals, and lots of stress.

After the transplant, any free time outside of my daughter’s room in the intensive care unit was used to visit my husband in the adult hospital, take a shower and change my clothes. Arm balances weren’t happening; Inversions weren’t happening; Backbends or splits weren’t happening.

In the weeks leading up to the transplant, it certainly crossed my mind that I would probably lose strength and flexibility as I became a full-time caregiver, but once the surgeries began, these concerns slipped away. I was not struggling with a loss of identity as a yogi. On the contrary, I felt like I understood yoga in a new way! I didn’t realize it while it was happening, but over the past year, I internalized a thing or two about the non-physical side of yoga—particularly the yogic principle of non-attachment, or Aparigraha.

What is Aparigraha?
By now, you probably realize that yoga is more than a series of poses. It’s a lifestyle with a full set of philosophies behind it. Aparigraha, or non-attachment, is just one of of the principles of yogic philosophy. When we practice aparigraha, we practice the act of letting go. When we hold tight to anything (i.e., expectations, attachments, people, objects, etc.), the act of clinging weighs us down and makes us captive to whatever it is that we try to possess.

In the example of my own life circumstance, I have been able to move forward with my days peacefully, despite the loss of my physical yoga practice. I’ve been able to do this without disgruntlement or anger because I did not attach my self worth to my ability to practice yoga poses. I was able to enjoy my mat and experience it fully when it was there for me, and now that it isn’t, I’m okay. It will return. I understand that life isn’t static. It is dynamic, often changing, and always providing a new opportunity.

This week, I invite you to practice non-attachment. Let go of your expectations, and see what happens. Enjoy each moment, but do not become a prisoner to the joy of that moment.

-Can you function and thrive, even if your well-laid plans become derailed?

-Can you exercise without expectations for your body?

-Can you lighten your load by ridding your house of physical attachments that weigh you down—old clothes, textbooks that haven’t been used in years, kitchen appliances that don’t fit your lifestyle, etc?

-Can you enjoy your relationships and love fiercely without feeling the need to own or control the people in your life?

Begin practicing aparigraha, and watch your life transform. Good luck!

September 18, 2014
Apple Raisin Clafoutis

One of my favorite fall activities is apple picking. Not only do our kids love apple picking, but so do my husband and I. Needless to say, we end up leaving with tons of apples.

Apple pie, baked apples, applesauce and apple crisp are usually the first recipes that come to mind, but I like to use the apples to make a really delicious, light — and not too sweet — cake called Apple Raisin Clafoutis.

Clafoutis is a french baked dessert that involves fruit and a custard-like filling. Traditionally, cherries are incorporated, but my version is made with apples, raisins and topped with sliced almonds.

Generally, the cake is made with butter, white sugar and white flour. I’ve modified the recipe, replacing the white flour with brown rice flour, the butter with safflower oil and the white sugar with natural maple syrup. And, to be honest, you would never know the difference!!

The beauty of this cake is that it doesn’t require a lot of effort — not much more than peeling and slicing four apples and making a quick batter in the blender. It’s a no-fuss cake that’s perfect for any day of the week – but it’s also elegant enough for a dinner party or holiday gathering.

I like to serve the cake with whipped cream — or ice cream. If you are limiting your dairy, try cashew cream, or our Banana Maple Walnut Ice Cream! However, you can totally forgo a topping since the cake itself is so delicious!

Apple Raisin Clafoutis

Serves eight

4 apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons of safflower oil
1/2 cup of raisins
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 cup of maple syrup (*I prefer Grade B for baking)
1/2 cup of milk
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup of brown rice flour
1/4 cup of sliced almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-cup shallow baking dish or a 12-inch pie or tart pan.

Add the safflower oil to a large skillet on medium/low heat. Add sliced apples and cook until lightly browned and tender. Add the raisins, 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/4 cup of maple syrup. Mix to incorporate; turn off the heat and reserve.

In the base of a blender add the eggs, milk, 1/4 cup of maple syrup, brown rice flour and vanilla extract. Blend on high for one minute. If you are using a Vitamix or other high performance blender you might want to reduce the blending time. At the end of the day, all of the ingredients should be well incorporated.

Spread the apple/raisin mixture in the greased baking dish/pan and pour the batter over the apples. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top of the cake. Bake one hour and serve warm.

September 17, 2014
Practice Yoga with Two Fit Moms!

We have some exciting news to share! Our new digital series is available today! It’s called, It’s Never Too Late, and it is part of Gaiam’s Yoga Rising series.

Now we can share our teaching with all of you!

All you need is a computer or mobile device and you can take our classes wherever and whenever it is convenient for you — whether you are on the road or at home!

Included in the series are five practices which we designed for ALL yoga levels. They include a Good Morning Flow, Balance Practice, Backbends Practice, Inversions Tutorial and a Good Evening Flow.

You can purchase them exclusively on iTunes now.

Thank you to Gaiam for giving us this amazing opportunity! We hope you download our yoga practices, and, if you do, please let us know what you think!

September 16, 2014
Make Ahead Breakfast: Easy Baked Frittata

I’m not a morning person. It’s hard enough for me to get up and ready and out the door, but squeezing in a healthy and nutritious breakfast is nearly impossible. However, you know what they say — breakfast is the most important meal of the day! So, over the next few weeks we are going to offer you some suggestions on healthy breakfasts that you can make ahead of time and, in some cases, ones that will stretch throughout the week.

We are starting with our Easy Baked Frittata. I make mine in a pie dish so it’s easier to divide and portion. Baking the frittata is so much easier than cooking it on the stovetop. You just pour the ingredients into a greased pie plate and pop it into the oven for approximately 20 minutes. I suggest making it on Sunday and slicing it throughout the week. Or, plan to make one when you know you will have leftovers to incorporate into the dish.

Our frittata has a few basic ingredients — eggs, milk, veggie/meat, cheese, salt and pepper. The picture you see to the right is made with leftover roasted vegetables and goat cheese. One of my favorite versions incorporates leftover roasted potatoes and onions and parmigiano-reggiano cheese. You can nix the cheese altogether and throw in more veggies. You can also add meat to the frittata. At the end of the day, you can really modify the frittata to your liking but the point is that you are making it in advance — and hopefully getting rid of leftovers in the process!

Additionally, a frittata is not only something you can enjoy for breakfast. It can be eaten for lunch or dinner alongside soup, such as our Roasted Potato Leek Soup, or alongside salad, such as our Shaved Fennel Salad.

Easy Baked Frittata
Yields 8 slices

8 large eggs
1/4 cup of milk
1/3 cup of cheese
1 cup of veggies (or meat)
1/2 teaspoon of salt
pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In the meantime, grease a 9 inch pie plate. Beat eggs and milk until thoroughly combined. Add cheese, veggies and/or meat, salt and pepper. Mix until incorporated and pour into the prepared pie plate. Bake in the oven 15-20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Helpful hint: We used a ceramic pie plate. Cooking times may vary depending on what your pie plate is made out of — metal or glass may take more or less time.

September 12, 2014
Q&A with Laura: Part 2

Continuing on! Here are some more questions that you asked me to answer!

@dana_nicole11: What steps did you take to become a yoga instructor?

It took a long time for me to finally have the balls to do my teacher training. I am a very shy person when it comes to public speaking. Suffering from TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) for most of my life, I am very self conscious of the way I speak. It really was the inspiration from Instagram and my followers that finally pushed me to get certified to teach last year. As far as steps? Grow your yoga practice and seek out a teacher/school that fits your style. YTT is expensive but it’s totally worth it if that is the path you want to take. Good luck!

@ewer_rosalind: How do you get balance when doing a handstand? Would you please post a basic pose to do a handstand?

Check out my articles on this subject HERE.

@lesleyacooper: How do you balance being a wife, a mommy, a job, a yoga practice, yoga classes, plus all the other things you do?

I would love to say that this is easy…but it is not! I either wake up early to get my yoga practice in or do it with the hubby after the kids go to bed. I am a very laid back person, so honestly…I usually just go with the flow.

@itiajones: How long did it take you to become a certified teacher?

My YTT was a bit different than most…My teachers were very flexible when it came to working around my schedule. All in all though, it took about five months to complete my 200 hour certification.

@stephaniejnsn: I want to self teach, where should I start?

When I wanted to grow my at home practice, I bought some DVDs. Nowadays there are some awesome online websites for classes. We will also be releasing classes soon…so stay tuned!

@theyogaichef: I would like to know about your diet…

Already answered this in my last post…but in short, I am not vegetarian or vegan. I eat everything in moderation.

@julieannnie: Did you still practice yoga when you were pregnant?

I did prenatal yoga once or twice a week. I did not have the practice I have now when I was pregnant.

@yogafanatic: When are you practicing yoga? Evening or morning? What type of yoga do you practice? Do you have another job or are you a full time yoga teacher?

I prefer to practice in the morning…sometimes it doesn’t happen, so then I will do it at night. I mainly practice Vinyasa flow. Currently, I work part time for a software company, but I am slowly transitioning to a full time yoga career.

@franziiiii001: Do you dance ballet?

No. Never danced. I only practiced gymnastics.

@vianagels: When are you coming to Amsterdam, Holland?

Um…Whenever you’ll have me!

@malgiac: What other forms of exercise do you regularly do? Is most of your strength training done through yoga? Or do you do other forms of exercise to help with your yoga poses?

For more than two years, I have been strictly yoga. I used to lift weights and do crazy cardio which made me a different kind of strong. However, since making the leap to only do yoga…I feel like I am the strongest I have ever been.

@amandadolanyoga: Do you feel that with your increase in followers it’s put pressure on you or your practice?

Absolutely. In the early stages of my Instagram, I felt a ton of pressure to do crazy shit that I probably wasn’t ready to do yet. Nowadays, the pressure actually just helps to inspire me…to be a better yogi on the mat and off. I don’t force poses anymore…I just practice harder!

@yogalu123: Have we seen the last of your office yoga?

No, I’m still in the office part time…but we hired more people so I haven’t busted any out yet in front of them!

@breadpuddin: Best advice for yogis teaching themselves at home?

Take pics/videos to check your alignment. Be patient and mindful because you do not want to injure yourself. Make it a point to seek out an actual class a few times too to get some hands on experience!

@dat_panoramic_dude: What’s your horoscope?

I’m a Gemini…on the cusp with Taurus. So I’m a stubborn psycho! LOL

@trinitysantosha: How do you incorporate your mini into your regular practice?

Usually I just start playing around, and she joins me in a few things. She’s four so her attention span is still…um…short. LOL

@jezreelfaith: I’m 24. Is it late to start making a goal of flexibility through yoga?

UM…You’re a young buck compared to me! So nope! It’s never too late!!

@jooleeeah: What do all the terms mean? (Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, etc.) As a beginner, how can I choose the right yoga path for me? What apps do you use to edit your photos/speed up your videos?

The terms you mentioned are just different types of yoga. Traditional Ashtanga and Bikram are set sequences you practice…Vinyasa is more flexible in terms of flows. The only way you can choose which one works for you is to try them all out!

For photos, I use Snapseed and PS Express. For videos, I use iMovie.

@alfreulicesto: How did your little one start doing yoga with you? Did she want to do it or did you include her?

She started because she saw me doing it everyday! Kids are very receptive and learn quickly… so it wasn’t a huge leap for her to start trying to “be like mommy”. Kids copy what they see…

@lydiamakokha: What has been a recent difficult experience you’ve had to face and how did you get through it?

A recent difficult experience…hmm…probably filming yoga classes. I’m extremely shy in front of a camera. I got through it by just being brave and doing it. LOL

@queenjanette: Have you ever taught in the San Jose/ San Fran area? Would you come if I can organize a group?

I’ve never been to Cali yet…It’s on my list for next year!

@yogadaisuki04: What would you recommend a complete beginner to do in order to improve their flexibility and strength?

Practice every day! You will only get more flexible with a consistent practice. Of course genetics plays a part with how your body may be built…but you will definitely see progress no matter how much you think genetics is against you.

@minnich29: Any suggestions on overcoming the fear of headstands after having upper cervical spine issues?

I would definitely recommend seeking out a really good yoga teacher to guide you in your attempts. Someone you can trust and who knows the correct alignment for headstands. In supported headstand, most of the pressure should be in your forearms, not your head… keep that in mind when you practice them!

@mumblesofabumble: How do I break from following videos to building my own flows?

Honestly? It just takes experience and taking A LOT of different classes. Eventually it’s just second nature to the different poses you can build on from a posture.

@arielle_fischer: What motivated you (before IG) to practice daily?

I decided to start working out daily in 2003 when I got engaged…So having a daily fitness routine has been something I’ve been doing for over a decade now. It’s become such an integral part of my day that I’m just used to doing it daily.

@mamomalley: What is the most challenging thing you have found with parenting and if you could go back in time, what would you tell your 20 year old self now that you are older and wiser and more worldly?

The most challenging thing I have found with parenting is having patience sometimes. LOL. I definitely have some days where I need to stop myself from yelling my head off at the minis when they are misbehaving!

I would tell my 20 year old self to have more confidence…I lacked that when I was younger.

@nekokai: How do you get into the no hands headstand?

It’s simply a pop up or clap. I don’t recommend even trying this until you have a very solid headstand practice. Even then…be very careful.

@chelseakyann: How often do you work on flexibility and how often do you work on strength?

To me…they are one in the same. During my daily yoga practice, I include both.

@luvdoggies: Do tight hips, groin and spine ever improve with regular practice? What type of mattress do you use?

Yes…flexibility will improve with a daily practice. And not sure what kind of mattress… It’s nothing special!

@choclat_beautee720: What are the best yoga moves to do to help lengthen and loosen up my hamstrings?

My faves are HERE.

@msfischh: Do you not have body hair or do you shave everywhere everyday?

LOL…UM, I shave pretty much every other day. Even if it’s longer, it wouldn’t show up in a pic from that far away!

@chapis_nbp: Is there any chance that you would make a YouTube channel to teach yoga? How many years have you practiced yoga? If I want to start yoga, what is the best advice you could give me?

I do not use YouTube but we will have classes available soon to download!

I’ve practiced yoga for about 18 years now.

My advice to you…Be patient! Try not to get frustrated…and STAY WITH IT!

XOXO

September 4, 2014
September: A Time for New Beginnings

September marks the end of the summer and generally brings with it a flurry of activity. Whether you are preparing your kids for the first day of school or preparing yourself to dive back into work, it’s a busy time of year. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, remember that September can also be invigorating. The new season brings new beginnings.

Personally, my mental calendar resets in September. Once I finish mourning the end of summer, I get back into the swing of things, ready to move forward and start fresh. I look at this time of year as an opportunity to recommit to my goals — those that fell by the wayside throughout the course of the year. So, here are a few suggestions to give September your all and to successfully move through the rest of 2014.

1. Accept where you are in the process. You may be well on your way to achieving the goals you set at the beginning of the year, or you may not have made any progress at all. Wherever you are in your goal process, accept it and move forward. Don’t beat yourself up. This month offers the opportunity to start new! Believe in yourself. Remember, it’s never too late.

2. Re-set your goals. Use this month as an opportunity to re-affirm your goals — or, possibly, adjust them. Over the course of the year, your goals may very well have changed. Take a look at where you are in your life NOW to help determine what you can achieve by the end of the year.

2. Start small. Maybe you decided to change your diet as part of your resolutions for 2014. Maybe you decided to start exercising. Maybe you decided to change your career. Maybe none of these things happened. If that’s the case, now is the time to get back on track and try to make a change. Start small. Rather than completely overhauling your diet, eliminate one unhealthy item. Rather than jumping into a daily exercise regimen, start out by exercising once a week. Rather than quitting your job, start researching new career paths. Small steps will make the path to success more manageable.

3. Make a daily “to do” list. Make a daily “to do” list to help organize your goals and the steps you can take, daily, to work towards them. Wake up each morning prepared to cross something off of your list.

4. Surround yourself with positive people. We all need a positive support system — people who build you up and encourage you to move forward. Positive energy is productive, negative energy is not. Eliminate the negative. Surround yourself with people who genuinely believe in you and support you. Friends and family that cheer you on are not just important, they are essential.

5. Track your progress. Whether you keep an old-fashioned, hand-written journal or track your success and progress on social media, being able to look back at what you’ve accomplished is exhilarating. In fact, it will motivate you to continue on a path to success, whatever that may be.

6. Take pride in your success. Remember, you are ultimately in charge of motivating yourself. So take pride in even the smallest victory. Share your success and be proud.

7. Inspire others. What better gift can we give others than inspiration? Living and succeeding by example is motivating, so share your journey with others. Your success may very well inspire someone else to achieve their goals, or to at least set themselves on a path towards achieving their goals.

September 2, 2014
Tomato, Peach & Watermelon Panzanella Salad

Earlier this summer my husband and I had a delicious panzanella salad at a local restaurant. Most panzanella salads incorporate tomatoes and bread; however, this version was interesting. It featured not only tomatoes but also peaches and watermelon.

It was really an unexpected combination — but so delicious. I thought I would try to re-create the salad, and I was inspired by the over-abundance of peaches in my house (from a recent peach picking trip). Panzanella salad is also a recipe I’ve been meaning to make, so I was excited to finally try my hand at it!

What I love about this salad is that it allows you to use day-old crusty bread – which I always seem to have lying around my kitchen. It also offers the chance to incorporate seasonal fruit in a new and innovative way. It’s not your typical salad — it’s like a savory fruit salad.

In addition to the fruit, it features thinly sliced red onion, tangy feta cheese, fresh basil and crisp croutons. It’s simply dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The croutons eventually soak up the juices from the fruit creating a nice combination of textures which really helps set this salad apart!

It can also easily be modified. If you follow a gluten or dairy-free diet you can omit the croutons and the feta cheese. You can throw some veggies into the salad as well — perhaps cucumbers or peppers. Whatever fruit or vegetables you add, try to keep it roughly the same size.

Enjoy!

Tomato, Peach and Watermelon Panzanella Salad
Serves 4-6 people

2 large tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 peaches, cut into 1-inch pieces
1-1 1/2 cups of watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 small red onion, sliced thinly (in half moon-shaped slices)
1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese
15 basil leaves, cut finely
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
15 large croutons (see recipe below)
salt and pepper to taste

Add tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, red onion, feta cheese and basil to a large bowl. Mix the olive oil and vinegar in a separate, small bowl and pour over the salad. Incorporate croutons and toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Helpful hint: You can make your own bread croutons with day old bread. Cut the bread into cubes and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, toss and bake at 400 degrees until crisp and slightly browned. The croutons will harden as they cool.

August 20, 2014