CHOCOLATE CHIA PUDDING

Lately, I have been on this chocolate kick which I am totally blaming it on a baby girl since she is making me crave all things sweet... So yes, I've made my fair share of cakes and desserts but I also want to make sure to make some healthy and delicious recipes as well. 

This is a great way to eat chocolate in a healthy pudding, and still be sugar-free, and good for you!  You can make this ahead, keep it in the fridge, and enjoy it anytime you need that chocolate boost, or to satisfy a craving for something chocolaty and delicious!  This is also great to share with friends, for a healthy alternative to sugary desserts.  You'll love this recipe.

CHOCOLATE CHIA PUDDING

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

2 cups of Chia seeds

4 cups of coconut milk

1 Tablespoon of vanilla

2 Tablespoons of Stevia

1/4 cup of cocoa powder

8 - 10 - 6-ounce glass containers

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

In a medium bowl, combine the Chia seeds, milk, vanilla, Stevia, and Cocoa powder.  Mix well until all ingredients are well blended.  Fill glass containers with chocolate pudding, top with chocolate chips, and chocolate shavings (OPTIONAL).  Cover containers, and place in the refrigerator.  Puddings may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  Enjoy!

Makes 8 - 10  6 ounce servings

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Don't forget, you can always sub the chocolate for a different flavor and still make this delicious dessert. 

XO, Nina

8 Healthy & Delicious Smoothie Recipes!

Breakfast is considered one of the most important meals of the day. It provides your body with the essential nutrients to keep your energy level up throughout the day. Nutrients are the substances in foods that are required to support body function and maintain health. Such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. Try adding at least 1 cup of fruit to your diet daily.

Here are 8 Healthy & Delicious Smoothie Recipes by some of my favorite food bloggers that will make your mornings much brighter and delicious:

1.  Raspberry Lemonade Smoothie

2. Orange Banana Smoothie

3. Peanut Butter Cup Protein Smoothie

4. Energy Boosting Smoothie with Papaya & Avocado

5.Strawberry Acai Smoothie Bowl

6.Mango Coconut Smoothie

7.Citrus Green Smoothie

8.Salted Chocolate Smoothie

There you have it, which one of the recipes above is your favorite? 

xo, 

Nina

 

Air Force Life: from a wife's perspective

Earlier last year, Daniel called me during work because he had an important question for me... As soon as I answered he told me that he was thinking of joining the Air Force and what my opinion on it was. Without any hesitation, the word YES came out of my mouth. And with every fiber of my being, I knew that he was making the right decision! 

You see, my dad is an Army Vet so the military life is nothing new to me... Having watched my mom go through multiple deployments and really taking care of the household while he was gone made me feel confident that should that time come for Daniel I for sure could do this! 

So back to Daniel, from the moment I met him I knew that he would be perfect for the military life. The way he carries himself, how much he cares for others, how respectful he is, how determined he is to give it his all when he has a mission in mind, oh! I can't forget how health/fitness is important to him. So yes, he is the poster child for the military I tell you. 

The military was something that was always on his radar and he did apply right out of high school but due to an injury, he wasn't able to join at the time. 

This decision also made sense for our little family... As we are going to retire in the military so with him signing up later in life made it to where we only have about 20 years left. 

This photo is from the day that Daniel swore in and signed his contract. The months leading up to this moment had been keeping us busy with paperwork after paperwork and sleepless nights... So what a relief it was to actually get to this day and make things real. 

Soon I'll be writing more in-depth posts about the whole journey from joining, to basic training, to tech- school, and drill weekends. 

For now, I will just say how proud I am of my husband and his decision to serve our country! 

xo,

5 Ways to save on your Wedding!

First comes love, then comes marriage.  After that is the huge bill for the wedding.  It doesn’t have to be that way. There are many ways you can save money on your wedding without skimping on the overall experience.  

Invitations

You don’t have to spend a ton on fancy invitations.  There are several options that you can go with that will still get the job done.  If you want to go with the most affordable option, you can go paperless. There are websites that specialize in wedding invitations that will allow you to email out an invitation to your guests.  If you still would like a physical card to be sent out, design them yourself and print. Websites like Canva.com are easy to use and you can either download and print at home or even opt to have them print and mail them to you.  Either option is affordable and completely customizable. *You could always look on Etsy.com for designs or printable invites.

The Dress

There are many ways you can save money on the dress.  A great way to find a beautiful dress without the high bridal store price tag is to shop department stores.  If you can shop for your dress around Winter Ball or Prom season, you’ll be surprised at how beautiful the dresses are, but a few zeros less on the price tag.  Another option is to shop the sample dresses at the bridal store. If you are able to find one in your size, you can save a lot of money because it won’t be custom.  *You can always search online for used wedding dresses such as Facebook Marketplace.

                           

The Venue

The venue you pick can be a huge burden on your budget.  When picking your date and location, think about what that price tag will bring.  If you really want to save some major money, skip a Saturday wedding. Most venues are marked up on Saturday because they are more popular.  If you are able to hold your wedding on another day, you can save a lot of money. When deciding on a venue, try to think of nontraditional options.  There are lots of options, depending on your area. Try restaurants, outdoor recreation areas or other local favorites. *Another great idea is to either look on Groupon.com or on Airbnb.com cheaper destination ideas.

Flowers

Flowers are a big part of the wedding but they can very costly.  When thinking about your floral arrangments and bouquets, consider what type of flowers you choose.  Lilacs are pretty but will cost you quite a bit. Choose a larger, more robust flower that is not as expensive.  Often times you can reuse your flowers that decorated the ceremony and repurpose them at the reception. Arches are great to move into the next venue and get the most use out of them.  Place vases on tables for your bridesmaids to store their bouquets during the reception. * You can also buy fake flowers from places like Joann's & Michaels Crafts.

BONUS TIP: Create a Wedding and Reception board on Pinterest to help your vision come to mind! Make sure to follow the Nina Talks Pinterest account as I pin all things wedding regularly:

We hope that these tips have helped on your journey to wedding planning. Share in the comments any other suggestion you might have!

xo, Nina

Chocolate Wine Cake Recipe

Chocolate & Wine are one of my most favorite combinations. How can one go wrong with that?

I have never been a big drinker, as a matter of fact, I am very lightweight when it comes to alcohol. Unless we are talking about wine. I can turn on sweet romantic melodies, drink wine, and make a delicious meal. Add dancing in the kitchen with Daniel, and we have the most perfect night!

Music moves my soul... It puts me in the best mood. Here are my recommendations for today's post:

1. My Girl - The Temptations 
2. Stand By Me - Ben E King
3. Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
4. I Will Always Love You -  Whitney Houston
5. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith 
6. Take My Breathe Away - Berlin 
7. More Than Words - Extreme 
8. Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden 
9. Listen To Your Heart - Roxette
10. Much Too Young, To Feel This Damn Old - Garth Brooks

Today I'm sharing with you one of my most favorite recipes. The best part about it is that even if you don't drink wine you can enjoy this deliciousness because the alcohol gets baked and you are left with a yummy combination of chocolate and wine.  A quick tip: Make sure that you buy DRY red wine (any brand will do). It won't taste as good if you get a different version.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups dry red wine ( I used Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon but you could also use 13 crimes)
• Confectioner's sugar, for dusting

How to:

1. Preheat the oven to 350; Butter and flour a 12-cup bundt pan. In a bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat for 2 minutes longer. Working in two batches, alternately fold in the dry ingredients and the wine, until just incorporated.
3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack; let cool completely.
   *Via Food and Wine

I hope that you enjoy this delicious cake! Try it for your next night in with your loved one 

xo,

Nina