I have lots of healthy and plant-based selections for this month, but I couldn’t not mention tequila. After all, July 24 th  is National Tequila Day – a.k.a. my birthday! A tastier gluten-free option... I love sweet potatoes so I was more than happy to receive some Let’s Do Organic Sweet Potato Flour made from the vegetables from my friends at Edward & Sons. This flour is full of flavor and fiber. It also holds moisture better than a lot of other flours. I was excited to put this together with chocolate. My  Loaded Sweet Potato Brownies  were a big hit. Tip: sweet potato flour can burn at lower temperatures than other flours, so avoid it (or mix it) in recipes that cook at high temperatures.  Then there’s Casava… I didn’t know much about casava before the flour bag came along. It’s made from the cassava root so it is gluten and grain-free.  It’s also high in Vitamin C.  Casava flour can easily substitute 1:1 for regular flour. I haven’t h...

It’s funny how my favorite holidays seem to be based around food and drink. Cinco de Mayo is no exception. While I am perfectly happy with a shot of tequila or a mango margarita, I also welcome some new uses for the Mexican spirit. Here’s some recipes to try in celebration of the fifth of May… To start your day: Bloody Maria 1 oz Tequila 6 oz Tomato juice Horseradish, tabasco sauce, worcestershire sauce, lime juice, celery salt and pepper to taste Celery stick Pour ingredients into a shaker. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with a celery stick instead of a stirrer. For the afternoon on the porch: Blue Lagoon Margarita 1 1/2 oz 3/4 oz Blue Curacao 1/2 oz Pineapple juice Splash of Lemon/lime soda Splash of Lime juice Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass. Before dinner: Mojito Lamaica 2 oz Casa Noble Crystal Tequila 2 oz Hibiscus simple...

It’s only a week until Valentine’s Day. I’m enjoying some time at home catching up, but these romance packages are almost good enough to make me give that up… Vancouver, Canada I loved my all too brief visit to Vancouver after my Celebrity Wine Cruise. One of my favorite parts was my visit to the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa. Their Valentine’s Day package is worth a trip to British Columbia even if it wasn’t on your radar. For around $500 per couple, you get one night’s accommodations; chocolate truffles; sparkling wine; a four-course dinner at their Bacchus Restaurant; and breakfast in bed.  Similar packages are available after Valentine’s Day if you can’t make it Tuesday – or you want to add on a few days. Book on their website . Cabo San Lucas, Mexico I am hoping to do my first trip to Cabo San Lucas later this spring and Capella Pedregal looks like another reason to go. This place could be romantic anytime (all suites include a private plunge pool), but the...

I’m planning on heading here for my own full report on Wine And Spirits Travel , but the rest of you might want to go ahead and make your reservations at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in. September is Pawpaw month and this super nutritious food is being used throughout the property. The Spa will feature Pawpaw treatments, the Tavern will have pawpaw infused cocktails, and the restaurant will have dishes with pawpaw. You can catch me at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls mid-September for a Girls’ Getaway with a Pawpaw Facial, Pawpaw Martini and Pawpaw Crème Brulee! To make your own plans, visit http://www.innatcedarfalls.com or call 1-800-653-2557. There’s another place I’m working on a trip to this fall offering something unique and exciting (along with the beautiful beach and award-winning resort they already have). Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico, has a new program called “Challenge the Chef.” Guests get to check out the ingredients chosen and discuss their dish...