Random Acts of Foodness

Here's another round of Random Acts of Foodness (aka good news about food) to star your week out on a positive, tasty note.

1. Talk about a win win for NWA locals- An Indian dinner to benefit Indian farmers.

2. Fashion + Bloggers + Travel + Helping people= BlogABLE is doing some really cool things. Read about this blogger's, What's Gaby Cooking, trip to Ethiopia with them.

3. It's No Kid Hungry Month! Here's how you can help and how Joy the Baker helped.

4. This week, I learned about NatureBox, a company that sends you a box of healthy snacks every month...and they're working to fight hunger and poverty.
(Enter Cup of Jo's NatureBox giveaway for a year of snacks and get $10 off your first box.)

5. And finally, fight those fall allergies with food!

Have a great week!

Simple Saturday: Black Bean Sweet Potato

Do you ever have an idea that's just brilliant? (I know that you do.)

And you think, "Wow, I've got to share this because it's so great and exciting and people are going to love it!"

And then you purposely avoid googling it because you want it to stay your original idea for as long as possible.

I feel that way with my food ideas and recipes a lot. But the good thing is food is all about sharing. Food and recipes are not to be invented then kept to one's self. They are to be put into as many welcoming tummies and on as many plates as possible.

Greek Yogurt + Biscoff Cookie Spread

This post is not sponsored by Biscoff (but I'm thankful to have received a free jar of cookie spread in my Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged swag bag). All opinions are my own.

So, I mentioned recently that I competed in an Iron Chef competition during the Foodie Friday event at Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged a few weeks ago.

I was super nervous about the competition. I mean I love to cook and do it all the time, but in front of people?

Eek! (Confession: I'm still learning how to hold a knife correctly.)

But it actually ended up being a really fun group activity.

Guest Post: Homemade Empanadas

Today I have a really special treat for all of you readers. I'm welcoming my first guest post on the Fruitful blog and it's from Sam Dinger, who is a lover of food and words. He blogs at The Plumstone and I think you will really enjoy his fantastic and detailed storytelling style of writing about food. Enjoy and thanks, Sam!

I spent the better part of June in Costa Rica this past summer with my friend, Jose, and his family. Jose’s mother, Margarita, was wonderful to me while I was there, offering me coffee and things to eat around every corner of the day.

Before I left, I asked her to teach me about cooking a few of the things she had made for the family and me during my stay. The night before my flight we convened in the kitchen. There was a towel over her shoulder, her hands were wet from constantly washing them and the stove was hot.

Simple Saturday: Cauliflower Soup

I've got the soup bug.

Do you have the soup bug?

It's something inside of you that makes you want to make and consume soup during any season and in any weather. And it's a way to make comfort food seasonal and healthy.

A Different Sort of Crisp

Have I mentioned that this has been the summer of crisps (or crumbs or crumbles- not even sure what the difference is)?

I've baked a strawberry rhubarb crumble, blueberry crumble and apple crisp.

And then I saw this recipe for Savory Tomato Crisp.

AWBU Recap

As I mentioned in my post last Monday, I recently attended Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged 2013 Conference.

It was my first blogger conference, and even though I was nervous going in not knowing anyone, it was a fantastic weekend of learning, laughing and meeting lots of fellow bloggers who are inspiring and amazing!

Here are some of the highlights:

Simple Saturday: Brown Bagging It

We probably all know that the best way to eat healthy and on the cheap at lunch during the workday is to bring your lunch.

I set a goal of bringing my lunch to work at least 4 out of 5 days and save quite a few dollars and know that the food I'm eating is tasty and healthy.

And you can totally get on the lunch train, too!

Here are some ideas to hopefully get your homemade lunch wheels turning.

A Spiced-up Snack

I've never been one who liked bland food, although most international people I know think American food is pretty bland.

It's crazy how one Indian meal can have like 10 spices in it.

Random Acts of Foodness: Local Love

In this special edition of Random Acts of Foodness, I'm giving a little local love to some amazing companies that helped sponsor Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged, my first blogger conference that I just came back from! These sponsors stood out to me for their ability to influence communities, offer great products and give us some sweet swag (aka gifts). Please feel free to click on the links to give them some love on social media.

Fire Roasting and Making Salsa

I saw some smoke rising from the stove top, when the stove top wasn't even on and I began to worry.

Especially as the smoke starting coming in larger, continuous streams.

And I cracked open the oven to see what was going on and was met with toxic, black smoke and deep orange, rising flames.

Chocolate Chip Cookies on Vacation

I hope everyone is having a great day.

I happen to be having a great one because I am on a beach vacation with some of my best girlfriends.

It's a girl's vacay and it's a lot like a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie.

Simple Saturday: Banana Ice Cream

Ya'll...today I'm giving you the key to 1 ingredient ice cream! (Excuse the southern accent coming out there, I'm excited!)

This is not a trick.

This is not a gimmick.

It's totally real and amazing!

And it all comes from one little frozen banana. A speckled squishy banana is the hero of this cold treat tale.

And you're going to love it!

So here's how you make this amazingness:
1. Peel a ripe banana and cut into about 1/2-inch thick coins. Put on a plate and freeze for at least a few hours (overnight is ok, too).

2. Put the banana pieces in a food processor and blend until it becomes smooth ice cream.

Optional: Add in other flavors like peanut butter, chocolate chips or other treats to make your ice cream even more unique!

Thanks to The Kitchn for the inspiration on this one!

Dinner is Served

If you're like me, when you get home from work, you're already super hungry and ready to get a quick, home-cooked meal on the table.

It's really rare that I ever cook a meal that takes longer than 30 or 40 minutes from start to finish, unless it's on the weekend and I have more time.

This dish is the epitome of easy, filling, fresh and healthy cooking.

Make a Mojito Party

Limes, mint, some fizz and just a little rum.

These remind me of celebrations and summer nights.