4-Ingredient Mocha Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

 These delicious cookies are perfect for breakfast and snacking. High in protein and made with plant-based ingredients. So yes, you may have cookies for breakfast!

This article contains affiliate links.

 Cookies for breakfast don't sound like a healthy item to eat. Most cookies are loaded with sugar, fat, and processed ingredients. Usually, there are no nutritional ingredients in cookies so why would I be telling you to eat cookies for breakfast. Cookies for breakfast go against all the healthy rules.

 Who says cookies can't be made with healthy ingredients. These breakfast cookies are made with nutritious healthy ingredients and are a great option for breakfast. Made with plant-based ingredients that are loaded with nutrition. So grab that cup of coffee and enjoy cookies for breakfast.

4-ingredient mocha coconut cookies are so easy to make

 The best part about these delicious breakfast cookies is how simple they are to make. One bowl is all you need to mix up the 4 ingredients. You can save time by making the cookies the night before so they are ready for a grab-and-go nutritious breakfast. These cookies that are for breakfast are perfect for morning exercise recovery as they are loaded with high-quality clean vegan protein. 

Each cookie has 3.5 grams of protein. So three cookies would be over 10 grams of protein!  

 I used my favorite allergy-friendly plant-based protein powder in this breakfast cookie recipe. Nuzest vegan protein is the best for baking as it makes a great substitute for flour in recipes. I  found this recipe on the Nuzest website. While you could use a different protein powder, I don't recommend it as you will not get the same results. Your cookies may not be as moist or hold together if you use a different protein powder. I had a reader make my Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Protein Bread using a different protein powder and they said that the middle was too gooey. So make sure to purchase Nuzest protein powder. You can save 15% with my code MOMKNOWSBEST15. I love using Nuzest to make healthy recipes with protein powder.

Nuzest protein powder is

+ Dairy-free

+ Gluten-free

+ Soy-free

+ Vegan

+ Plant-based

+ Low-carb

+ 20 grams of protein

+ Allergy-friendly

+ Many delicious flavors like wild strawberry and coffee coconut

+ Mixes smoothly

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

 My favorite way to enjoy these Mocha Coconut Breakfast Cookies is with a cup of coffee. I just love the sweet taste of coffee that is in these breakfast cookies. The cookies also have a hint of coconut flavor. The coffee flavor comes from the Nuzest Coffee Coconut protein powder. This nutritious protein powder also has MCT oils in it. I love it when protein powder has additional superfoods in it. The Nuzest Coffee Coconut smells so good even before you mix it into water. When I was making these cookies, my son could smell the coconut from across the room.

 If the coffee flavor is not your thing, just use a different Nuzest protein. Nuzest protein powder comes in 9 different flavors including Vanilla Matcha, Chai Turmeric + Maca, Rich Chocolate, and more. I am sure you will find a favorite flavor or two to use in these breakfast cookies or in a delicious protein shake. Nuzest protein powder is also great for after your workout to help your muscles recover. This gluten-free protein mixes up completely in water and tastes so delicious. I find that drinking a protein smoothie right after I exercise takes care of that hunger that I get from exercising. So I don't crazy eat after I work out. 

Your body needs protein for strong muscles and more

When I turned 50, my body started to turn on me. My muscles started to sag, especially in the arms. So I added a daily Nuzest protein smoothie into my diet after I worked out, and I was amazed that my body started to firm up after a couple of months. Looking back at my before and after photos of my body transformation shows me that my body needed more protein. The first photo was from 2019 and the last was taken several months ago.

 I was already exercising when I turned 50 and I added the extra protein to my diet after a muscle injury. So I was amazed that my body just needed extra protein. My flabby muscles started to tone up. Later I did start including weights in my workouts to build my muscles further. They say that a beautiful body starts in the kitchen. Adding Nuzest protein to your recipes is a great way to add protein to your diet. Here are some other healthy recipes that use Nuzest protein.

Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Protein Pancakes 

EVERYTHING SPICE PROTEIN BREAD   

Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Pretzel Protein Bites

Gluten-Free Chocolate Mocha Protein Brownies

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

These 4-Ingredient Breakfast Cookies are

+ Vegan 

+ Dairy-Free

+ Gluten-Free

+ Sugar-Free

+ Nut-Free

+ Soy-Free

+ Sweet

4-Ingredient Breakfast Cookies are so healthy!

+ Loaded with plant-based protein ~ each cookie has 3.5 grams of protein!

+ Full of fiber

+ Plenty of vitamins and minerals

+ Power of potassium

+ Healthy MTC Oils

Tip: Freeze bananas that are over-ripe in your freezer for recipes

  I have a son who loves bananas. This son is a college athlete in track and field, so eat eats 2 bananas a day for potassium. His coach encourages the banana thing. So when he comes home for breaks, I buy plenty of bananas for him. Sometimes the bananas ripen too quickly and rather than toss them, I freeze them in my freezer. I then use the frozen bananas in smoothies and recipes. Bananas are easy to freeze. Just peel them and place them on a baking sheet. After they are frozen, store the whole bananas in a freezer bag.

Ingredients for 4-Ingredient Mocha Coconut Breakfast Cookies 

+ Oatmeal

+ Ripe bananas

+ Rich Coffee Nuzest Protein ~ use code MOMKNOWSBEST15 

+ Vegan sugar-free chocolate chips

Make the breakfast cookies in other flavors

These delicious breakfast cookies can be made with other flavors. Simply swap out the rich coffee flavor protein with another Nuzest protein and omit the chocolate chips. Feel free to use different swaps for the chocolate chips like dried fruit or nuts, depending on your diet. Protein flavor suggestions are Wild Strawberry, Smooth Vanilla, or Rich Chocolate.

Flavor swaps for the chocolate chips

+ Dried Cranberries

+ Raisins

+ Sunflower Seeds

+ Toasted Coconut

+ Pumpkin Seeds

So make a batch of these delicious breakfast cookies and enjoy them after a workout or with a cup of coffee. Once you see how delicious they are, you will want to make a double batch next time. Enjoy healthy cookies for breakfast! When I made this cookie recipe, I doubled the recipe and made the size of the cookies big. So I made 6 cookies with the cookie batter. That meant my cookies had 7 grams of protein each! 

 There are so many other delicious recipes on Nuzest that I want to make. So stock up on Nuzest so you can make more healthy recipes that use protein powder.

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

Make sure to Pin this on Pinterest! 

Why Promoting Peace is More Important than Ever Before

 Peace and security are critical elements of human life. No nation can grow or develop economically without peaceful coexistence among its populations.  The modern world is quite complex, with new security challenges developing every day that keep big organizations and world leaders such as Gregg Roman on their toes. In most cases, fighting conflict is not the problem; addressing the root causes and drivers of conflicts is the biggest challenge.

 These conflicts have multiple drivers and often do not stop at the local borders. While there are expert peacebuilders, peacebuilding should be a collective responsibility as peace benefits everyone, directly or indirectly. Development, security, economic justice, and reconciliation are some of the reasons all of us should invest heavily in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.  In this article, we will discuss three critical reasons why peacebuilding should be a culture.

When Lives are Lost, Development is Hindered

 In 2020 alone, there were 34 armed conflicts that affected four continents: Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. That means more than 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by violent conflict.  When there is no peace, infrastructure is destroyed, thousands of lives are taken away, and human rights are abused. There is no respect for the law, and no development project can be realized.

 While new organizations and institutions are being created to prevent and resolve these conflicts, the gap between those countries enjoying peace and those in conflict grows wider. Most developing countries, particularly in Africa, continue to adopt sustainable measures to prevent disputes, but they are met with new challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and substance abuse. If these measures fail to cure the main problems, diplomacy, dialogue, mediation, or active participation don’t work.

The Conflict has Lasting Effects

 The impacts of conflict are far-reaching. Countries that have experienced conflict before continue to face the same challenges and threats of war. There is a lot of tension, instability, and little growth in such countries. When it comes to economic growth, no government wants to invest or trade with a country beset by violent conflicts. For instance, countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia continue to face the deadly consequences of peace throughout the years.  Other nations that have experienced violent conflict before, such as Rwanda, are still rebuilding 20 years after the genocide. The impact still remains a fresh sharp reminder of the value of peace.

 The main reason why conflict takes a long time to be resolved is the lack of resources to solve the root causes like poverty and the willpower of the affected to choose peace. Those forced to leave their homes due to war or persecution would rather stay where they’re than lead others into creating a healthy, peaceful environment for everyone. What is destroyed in one day takes many years of hard work to get. Violence and conflict cost the world more than 14 trillion each year.

The Military Alone Cannot Bring Peace

 Conflict affects all of us and touches everyone in different ways. Issues such as inequality, exclusion, and injustice are some of the commonly overlooked challenges that can quickly bring conflict. That’s how extremist groups crop up and radicalize over time. While military forces can be deployed to counter acts of violence, they can stop a fight, but they cannot end the conflict.

 In fact, they can, at times, complicate things. Underlying social, political, and economic issues require diplomacy and other conflict resolution strategies. Peace should be a personal choice. Everyone should be given an equal chance to complain or share ideas. Peacebuilders should ensure no unspoken issues are left behind before working on peace operations.

Be Strong Be Proud Love Out Loud With Teleflora Flowers

A tank full of gas, 500 free flower bouquets, and a pink Teleflora truck hits the streets with a mission to shower ladies with love. What happens next is truly amazing!

 Fresh flowers have a magical power when they are delivered to someone. A bouquet of flowers can brighten someone's day and bring a smile to their face. Flowers can brighten a room with the pretty colors and their awesome smell. From the garden to a vase, Teleflora knows how to say I love you with their beautiful flower arrangements. 

 Teleflora, the world’s leading floral delivery service with other 10,000 florist shops in their network throughout North America has launched its Valentine’s Day campaign. Teleflora partnered with Emmy Award-winning host, comedian, and author Loni Love to encourage women to #LoveOutLoud this Valentine’s Day and uplift others in their lives. Throughout our digital lives, we overshare everything, except our feelings for the ones we love. In its newest campaign, "Love Out Loud Truck,” Teleflora is encouraging you to go overboard and shower the special people in your life with love - one handmade, hand-delivered Teleflora bouquet at a time. 

This Valentine's Day, think beyond your boyfriend, husband, or the one you love and instead send a beautiful bouquet of flowers to encourage another lady in your life. Think beyond a love relationship and instead think about a special lady in your life who could use an uplifting floral arrangement.

Ladies need to support each other

 This special lady could be your best friend. It could be your mother. It could be a woman who you just met or a stranger on the street. Just Love Out Loud and brighten someone's day on Valentine's Day with some pretty flowers. We ladies need to let other ladies know that they are special. 

Women know that a compliment from another woman is real stuff.

Watch what happens when ladies receive flowers 

In the ad spot, Loni takes to the streets of Los Angeles in Teleflora’s Love Out Loud truck to surprise women and share unexpected compliments and bouquets. We see heartwarming moments of how flowers and a special gesture can bring people together and start a movement. As Love journeys around the city, something beautiful happens — women start complimenting one another and the rest is all smiles and tears. 

Flowers are amazing

 Think about the last time you received a delivery of flowers. How did it make you feel? I remember my last flower delivery and how they made me very happy. I remember my doorbell ringing and seeing the beautiful flowers arrangement. I was excited that someone took the time to think of me with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. From the moment the flowers were placed into my hands to the day I had to place the flowers into my compost pile, the Teleflora flowers made me smile every time I saw them.

 I placed the white and red flower arrangement on my dining room table and the smell was heavenly. I sure did enjoy the smell of the flowers that were in my beautiful flower vase. Just ask my kids as they will tell you that every time I passed the flowers, I said "these flowers smell wonderful!" The arrangement of flowers not only brighten my day but they also made my dining room look special.

 Teleflora has the best Valentine’s Day flower arrangements and the prettiest flower vases. Teleflora's Valentine's flower arrangements are filled with red, pink, and white flowers. The flowers are hand-arranged in vases that were selected for Valentine's Day. The vases are as pretty as the flowers! So long after the flowers are gone, the vase can still be used for other purposes. I like to use my flower vases from Teleflora in my bathroom to organize my beauty items.  

 Make someone's day a little bit sweeter with a Valentine’s flower delivery from Teleflora! Bouquets are arranged and delivered by a local florist right to your door. So think of that special lady in your life and send them an uplifting vase filled with pretty flowers. Let that lady know that she is amazing and make her day the best with a beautiful Valentine's Day bouquet of flowers. Happy Valentine's Day and Love Out Loud!

Valentine’s Day arrangements can be found here: https://www.teleflora.com

 

Will A Sunnydaze Mini Greenhouse Help My Garden Grow Better?

 Gardening in the Southwest has its challenges but the use of a greenhouse may be the answer to growing beautiful vegetables, fruits, and flowers in your yard. 

I received a greenhouse from Sunnydaze to facilitate this post. This post may contain affiliate links.

 Two years ago, I finally decided to give gardening a chance and I am glad that I did. For many years, I have wanted to grow vegetables in my yard but for many reasons never started a garden. I was busy raising my 5 kids and just did not have the time to start a garden in the backyard. Then there was the challenge of living in a desert area of the Southwest. Growing food requires plenty of water and New Mexico gets very little rain here. 

 For many years before I started my garden, I enjoyed receiving excess vegetables from my neighbors who had gardens in their yards. I so wanted to grow organic vegetables in my yard but I just never gave gardening a chance. Then the pandemic of 2020 left me with extra time on my hands and a strong feeling of food insecurity. My youngest boys were older and no longer needed my attention. Seeing all my online friends starting gardens made me want to start a garden. The gardening bug got me and I started a garden.

Two years later ~ I am addicted to gardening

 Growing food in the Southwest has its challenges but I quickly learned how to grow veggies in a garden. The first year I grew simple plants like beet greens, kale, and tomatoes in a small garden plot near my house. I was amazed at how well my beet greens grew and I loved eating fresh green vegetables for dinner. So the next summer, I expanded my garden and made a swingset garden. I planted many varieties of vegetable seeds like chard, cucumbers, zucchini, and even watermelon! 

 My garden did well and I enjoyed eating organic food that I grew. I even started a compost pile with an old kiddie pool. I learned many things about growing plants in a garden and I even learned about garden bugs. I discovered squash bugs on my zucchini plants so I only grew 2 zucchini. I also discovered that grasshoppers love eating kale plants. Thankfully the grasshoppers did not touch my beet greens and tomato plants. My garden gave me plenty of tomatoes, basil, and beet greens. 

All-Natural Homemade Weed Killer Spray That Works In A Day

 In the past two years, I also discovered many fruit trees in my neighborhood and even learned how to harvest prickly pears. My husband and I became leaders of our church's food pantry and I loved being able to take home the excess produce from the monthly food drives. So my two deep freezers are filled with beets and carrots. I learned how to make carrot juice and beet powder. I was also blessed with a case of Roma tomatoes and you have to try this recipe for Roasted Tomatoes Made In The Air Fryer.

Will A Mini Greenhouse Help My Garden Grow Better?

 Now I am in the stages of planning my garden for the summer and I am investing in some new garden items. Since I will be traveling more this year, I will be adding a water drip system to my garden. That way I don't have to rely on my boys to water my plants. Another garden tool that I have purchased is a mini cloche greenhouse. I have wanted a greenhouse for a while but I just could not find one that would work well for my needs. So many of the greenhouses that I saw online were either too big or too expensive. I was concerned about the bigger greenhouses being destroyed by the winds of New Mexico.

 So when I discovered a Sunnydaze Mini Greenhouse, I knew right away that this was the perfect greenhouse for a garden. This mini garden greenhouse has many benefits to help with gardening. The greenhouse would create the perfect environment for my vegetable plants. From protecting the seeds from the birds to keeping the grasshoppers off my kale, I was glad to have a greenhouse for my garden.

About Sunnydaze Mini Greenhouse

+ Portable cloche mini greenhouse for flowers, vegetables, and plants

+ Made from a durable iron tube frame with a UV-protected polyethylene cover

+ 3 zipper doors allow airflow in and out of the greenhouse

+ Creates the perfect growing environment for plants

+ Protects plants from inclement weather

+ Includes 4 metal stakes

Save 10% Off Sitewide With Code AFFILIATE10

Setting up the Sunnydaze Mini Greenhouse

The greenhouse was simple to set up and I loved how easy the iron frame connected. The included metal stakes would help keep the greenhouse from blowing away on a windy day. I chose to place the greenhouse in the garden area near my house so it would have additional wind protection. I liked that the mini greenhouse had zipper doors so I could access my garden plants. In the heat of the summer, I could open the zipper doors to lower the temperature inside the greenhouse. 

The benefits of using a mini greenhouse for a garden

 Using a greenhouse for my garden had many benefits. I would be able to start my garden sooner as the greenhouse would create a warmer space for the garden seeds and garden plants. Keeping the garden soil covered with a greenhouse would keep the birds away from the vegetable seeds. Last year, I had to replant many of my vegetable seeds after the birds ate them. In the summer, the greenhouse will protect my kale plants from hungry grasshoppers. Kale is supposed to be a vegetable that gives a great yield. 

8 benefits of using a greenhouse with a garden

~ Extends the garden season

~ Protects plants from predators

~ Stops birds from eating the seeds

~ Creates the ideal temperature for growing plants

~ Grow a wide variety of plants

~ Protects plants from bad weather

~ Keep the beneficial bugs inside, like ladybugs

~ Saves water

~ Organic vegetables

How I will make my greenhouse look attractive in my yard

 Some people may not want to install a greenhouse in their yard as they may not like the way it looks. So my advice for those folks is to look beyond the appearance and realize the benefits of growing organic food in a greenhouse. Then use outdoor decorations around the greenhouse to make it look nice. I love shopping at Riverside Designs for outdoor steel metal art. The Coastal Collection from Riverside Designs has a wide variety of durable metal wall art and metal home decor. These unique metal pieces are made from steel and are designed to be used outside. 

 I have many of the Riverside Design metal art pieces inside my home. The Wacky Sun metal wall art and the alligator steel wall decor add a nice touch to my beach-themed bedroom. So I purchased additional metal art to add to my backyard decor. The coastal metal art will make my mini greenhouse look awesome. 

Let the gardening begin

 Spring is still a couple months away so I have not built my mini greenhouse yet. My garden plot is not ready to grow plants yet. I have a couple steps to do to prepare my garden for spring growing with a greenhouse. Right now I have cardboard on the garden dirt to kill the weeds. The cardboard will allow me to start my garden using the no-dig method. Then I will have to buy some soil and mix it with my compost soil. The garden will be ready for the greenhouse and plants in March. I will make sure to update this post with my mini greenhouse photos and my review of the mini greenhouse. 

 Sunnydaze has a wide variety of greenhouses to select from. So make sure to purchase your greenhouse before the gardening season. That way you will have the best selection of greenhouses to choose from. Sunnydaze sells so much more than greenhouses for the garden. They have outdoor items like furniture, fountains and so much more. Go take a look as I know that you will find plenty of items to buy from Sunnydaze. A Sunnydaze greenhouse is a must-have product for a successful garden!

Save 10% Off Sitewide With Code AFFILIATE10

How to use a greenhouse

+ Place seedlings inside to prepare for your garden

+ Keep potted plants outside year-round

+ Place over your garden to keep birds and small animals out

+ Use over your garden before the seeds sprout to keep the birds from eating the seeds

+ Use over plants in the spring to maintain the ideal temperature

+ Use to grow tropical plants

+ Protect plants from frost

About Sunnydaze Decor

Sunnydaze Decor provides thousands of high-quality indoor and outdoor products that bring relaxation and comfort into people’s lives. This includes outdoor fountains, fire pits, hammocks, and much more. Our goal is to transform our customer's living space into a relaxing and stylish area through excellent customer service, fast shipping, and top-quality products.

Save 10% Off Sitewide With Code AFFILIATE10

Teach Your Child About Responsibility With These Helpful Approaches

  

 As your child learns and grows, you may want to do as much as you can to help them get by in the world. There are a number of things that you may do for them in the early years that, given enough time, might become tasks or means of care that they should deal with independently. By teaching your child to be a more responsible person, and using age-related activities to support this learning, they may struggle less in the future. You may also find that, should your child encounter a new challenge or opportunity, they’ll be able to use some of the other skills you have taught them to figure out a solution.

 Financial responsibility can be incredibly important for adults and children alike. When you are the person paying for the bills and keeping your child alive, they may not fully appreciate the cost of food and having a roof over their head. Likewise, when given an allowance, children may want to spend it all in one go. Teaching a child how to budget and save money might seem tricky, however, you may be able to use your own experiences here. Discussing the four main types of ISAs with your child, and showing them the savings accounts that you have, can allow you to lead by example. Within this, you may also want to consider telling them why you have saved money, such as for a vacation or in case of emergency, and how you decide how much to save each month.

 Being responsible can also involve how you look after yourself and your family. Once your child ventures out on their own, they may not be able to return to the family home for meals or to get their laundry done for them. It can be important to adequately teach your child how to cook healthy meals, and even complete a load of laundry. Otherwise, they may struggle to be independent or spend copious amounts of money on takeout. Depending on the age of your child, you may want to start off with small meals or tasks, such as making toast or how to fold underwear, and then further their knowledge as their skills develop.

 It can be tempting to help your child out at every turn, but they also need to learn that their actions come with consequences. By getting your child out of every mess they get into, they may feel like they can do what they want without repercussion. Therefore, the next time your child forgets their homework, it may be better to not take it in for them, and allow them to get that detention so that they are able to correct their mistakes in the future.

 While you may not want to overload your child with responsibility, a little bit may help them to feel like a true part of the family dynamic. In addition to this, they can then start to develop important skills which could be vital in adulthood.​

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Is Celebrating 50 Years

 Looking for a unique travel destination this year? Consider the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It is a must-see event that happens in October.

 Every year my family attends the best event ever in New Mexico. This event may just be the best event in the whole world. The event that I am talking about is an event with over 500 spectacular hot air balloons floating in the sky. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a once-in-a-lifetime, must-see event that needs to be included in your vacation plans this year. 

While the Balloon Fiesta happens every year in New Mexico, this year's hot air balloon event is even more special this year. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Is Celebrating 50 Years and you need to make plans to travel to Albuquerque. You won't want to miss seeing over 500 hot air balloons being launched into the colorful skies of New Mexico.

The hot air balloon fiesta is more than just seeing hot air balloons floating in the air. This is a magical event that allows you to participate in the hot air balloon magic. Over the course of the nine-day event, you will have the opportunity to walk the hot air balloon launching field and get an up-close look at the hot air balloons. I am not talking, about having to stand behind a barricade while the balloons are preparing to go up in the sky. You are right next to the colorful hot air balloons, so close that you can talk to the balloon pilots and chase crew. You might even get a collectors card of the hot air balloon.

People from all over the world travel to New Mexico to attend the Balloon Fiesta

 The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is an event that has people from all over the world in attendance. Even the hot air balloons come from around the world. From rainbow-colored hot air balloons to balloons that are in special shapes, like the Creamland Cow and my favorite the bee balloons, you will see so many awesome hot air balloons in the sky. 

 As a local, October is the most beautiful time of year in New Mexico. I never get bored with seeing the sight of colorful balloons punctuating the skyline. My family attends the balloon fiesta every year. It is our favorite fall activity and this year we are even more excited about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta as they are celebrating 50 years of launching hot air balloons into the sky. 

The 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta countdown is underway! Mark your calendars now to attend the event, scheduled to occur October 1-9, 2022!

History of the Balloon Fiesta

 2022 will mark the 50th time that the Balloon Fiesta has filled Albuquerque's crystal blue skies. The first gathering of 13 balloons happened in 1972 in a shopping mall parking lot. Now 50 years later, the event features about 600 balloons and 700 pilots. In 1972 there were about 10,000 guests that viewed the first Balloon Fiesta. Now there are hundreds of thousands of guests who visit Balloon Fiesta each year. Hundreds of thousands more fans watch the balloons from outlying areas and on TV.

 Event Information

 The Balloon Fiesta is the premier international ballooning event, powered by the typically perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box," (a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, the box allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventure) that is great for spectators and pilots as they can possibly take off and land from the same location.

 The 360-acre Balloon Fiesta Park includes 100 acres of grass and booths that will be filled with balloons and concessions. During the 49th event, Balloon Fiesta launched more than 540 hot air and gas-filled balloons. The event also hosted pilots representing 7 countries and more than 70 food and merchandise vendors. It’s been said that the breakfast burrito, the perfect grab-and-go meal for our pilots, gained its prominence at Balloon Fiesta.

25 years of seeing hot air balloons in the sky

While I was not in attendance for the very first Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, I have seen the Balloon Fiesta hot air balloons for 25 years. From attending the Balloon Fiesta to seeing the hot air balloons float over my house, I have fond memories of the event. I remember the first time I walked the Balloon Fiesta Park field. It was a cold morning. With a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a burrito in the other, I was so excited to see all the balloons. My oldest 2 kids were only 3 and 7 years old. 

 Now 25 years later and three kids later, I am excited to see what the Balloon Fiesta has in store for their 50th celebration. This year my husband and my two teen boys will be attending the Balloon Fiesta with me. 

 The boys and I attended the Balloon Fiesta last year. Now that the boys are older, they are having fun helping me take pictures for my website. It is such a joy to see the hot air balloon through their eyes and through the photos that they take on their phones. I remember many years past, when the Balloon Fiesta sold rolls of film for your camera and Kodak was a sponsor. I also remember when the balloon launching field had no grass. So it was a muddy mess on days when it rained. 

One year we biked to the Balloon Fiesta of Albuquerque

 I also remember the year that we biked to the Balloon Fiesta Park. My middle son and I rode our bikes with the two younger boys in the bike trailer. It was a fun bike ride that was in the dark. Read about our bike trip to the Balloon Fiesta HERE and see how easy it is to get to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta by bike.

 The Balloon Fiesta of New Mexico is an event that I look forward to every year. It is a family tradition to attend the Balloon Fiesta events, both day and night. In the morning, you get to see all the hot air balloons launch into the sky. Then at night, the balloon event has the famous balloon glow. If you have never seen a balloon glow, you will be amazed. The balloon glow is an event with the hot air balloons staying on the ground. The sky is dark and the balloons light up when the pilots fire their burners.

 History of the balloon glow

 The event now known as balloon glows were invented in Albuquerque in 1979 when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a thank you to local residents. The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is breathtaking and glow events are now held all over the world. Balloon Fiesta launched its Balloon Glow, the world's biggest, in 1987. Balloon Glow all burns, when all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time are perhaps the most spectacular single moment in all of Balloon Fiesta. 

So much to see at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

 The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event that is filled with so much more than hot air balloons in the sky. From walking the field to seeing all the hot air balloons to buying a breakfast burrito, there is plenty of fun. The balloon event offers so much more than hot air balloons in the sky. You can buy food and merchandise from the many concession stands. There are entertainment and learning events. You can also purchase items from a craft fair tent. 

 At the night events, you can see skydivers and fireworks along with the balloon glow. Make sure to allow for plenty of time to explore the city of Albuquerque too. A typical day at the Balloon Fiesta is several hours in the morning and several hours in the evening. So the afternoon is when you can check out the delicious food from the New Mexican restaurants and explore the city. For more information about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta ~ Click HERE!

Check out these articles about the Balloon Fiesta

The Best Ways To Get To The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Will Leave You Speechless 

Biking To Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Insider Tips 

Davila's BBQ Now Ships Its Famous Barbecue Nationwide

 When you have a taste for mesquite-smoked BBQ from Texas and don't live in the Lone Star State, there is always food delivery. 

I received samples of BBQ meat to facilitate this post.

 Many of you know by now that I choose to follow a mostly plant-based diet, mainly due to my many food allergies. Animals are fed soy and I am allergic to soy protein. So to keep my asthma symptoms under control, I eliminated meat from my diet. My husband, on the other hand, is a huge meat eater as well as one of my younger boys. 

 So when a Texas BBQ place offered me a BBQ dinner in exchange for a review, I surprised my husband with a box of BBQ meat. When the box of barbecue meat arrived at our house, my husband was one happy man. It was so fun to watch my husband open the box of mesquite-smoked BBQ from Davila's BBQ.

Davila's BBQ Now Ships Its Famous Barbecue Nationwide 

The box of mesquite-smoked barbecued meats was filled with an assortment of meat. The box contained Mesquite Smoked Brisket, Texas Hot Links, and Pork Ribs. The BBQ meat was packaged in a cooler bag with ice packs so the meat was cold on arrival. My husband saw the meat with mesquite-smoked BBQ and was ready to have a BBQ.  I, unfortunately, had to bear the bad news to my husband and tell him that his BBQ dinner would have to wait as I had to first take pictures of the food. My family knows by now that if I get something through my website, it is put aside until I have time to take pictures. That is the life of the blogger. 

 So I placed the vacuum-sealed packs that contained the BBQ food into the freezer. That night, I headed to Davila’s BBQ website to gather the instructions on how to prepare the BBQ items. Since the barbecue food was pre-cooked, all I had to do was warm the food up. I like when food delivery is simple. I don't want to spend way too much time in the kitchen preparing the meal box subscription item with a recipe card. The reason I order food is to take a day off from cooking. Davila's BBQ is as simple as opening the package and place in the oven. Just like Wildgrain Sourdough Bread is a box of ready to cook homemade bread. I was thankful that I still had a loaf of sourdough bread from Wildgrain in my freezer as I knew that this delicious homemade sourdough bread would be perfect for BBQ brisket sandwiches if there were any leftovers of the Mesquite Smoked Brisket.

Davila’s BBQ ships its famous barbecue nationwide on Goldbelly!

 Davila’s BBQ in Sequin, Texas, has been putting out some of the best barbecues Texas has to offer since the doors first opened in 1959. From the get-go they’ve been doing things the hard way; breaking down the meat for the sausages in-house, crafting their own unique sauces and rubs, and blending the flavors found along the Mexican-American border. Their house-made sausages are their trademark item, with Davila’s founder Raul Davila learning the craft in the 1940s and grandson Adrian Davila working as the pitmaster today. Davila’s has been featured in Texas Monthly Magazine and Adrian Davila has been featured as a food judge on The Travel Channel’s “American Grilled.” Adrian also competed and won on the Food Network’s “BBQ Blitz” competition show.

 The BBQ meat box arrived on Sunday and the next day was a holiday. So everyone was home for the day. I decided to surprise my husband with a BBQ lunch. So while he was at the dentist, I pulled the Davila’s BBQ mesquite-smoked BBQ meats out of the freezer. The BBQ meats were already seasoned with Davillia's house-made spice blend and had been smoked for 4-6 hours, so they just needed heating up. I was happy to see that I could cook the BBQ slow-smoked, fully cooked meats straight from the freezer.

 So the mesquite brisket and pork ribs went into the oven. It was as simple as opening up the vacuum-sealed bag and turning on the oven. That is my kind of cooking! The Texas Hot Links cooking instructions were even simpler. The hot links stayed in their vacuum-seal bag and cooked in a pot of boiling water. My husband decided to finish off the Texas Hot Links on the indoor grill. 

Photo of the BBQ before it was cooked

The taste of BBQ brought to New Mexico

 While the BBQ meats were cooking my husband had to sample the Davila’s Dry Rub Spice that was included in the box for extra seasoning of the cooked meats. This dry spice rub is was Raul Davila Sr.'s secret weapon rub spice blend. My husband quickly found out that it had a kick of heat after he placed some of the BBQ spice rub on his finger for licking. The label of the spice rub did indicate it had Cayenne Pepper in the ingredients. This spicy spice rub was perfect for adding additional flavor and heat to the BBQ ribs. The dry rub BBQ spices would also add some awesome flavor to things like corn on the cob and other meats that my husband would cook in the future.

 The barbecue meat cooking only took about 45 minutes. The mesquite-smoked BBQ meats look delicious. The slow-smoked, fully cooked BBQ brisket had a nice crispy topping of the BBQ spices. The BBQ meats were easy to slice after I cooked them in the oven. I called my teen son down from his bedroom, so he could enjoy the BBQ feast with my husband. The teen saw the brisket and was amazed at the size of it. He told his dad that the leftovers would make great BBQ brisket sandwiches and asked me if we still had some sourdough bread in the freezer. 

Order your first box of Wildgrain sourdough bread now! ~ Get $10 off your first order with code MOMKNOWSBEST  

 My husband took a bite of the BBQ brisket and said " this is good meat!" After my husband sampled the BBQ ribs and the hot links, he said that the BBQ meat reminded him of his favorite BBQ restaurant that is in Albuquerque. While Albuquerque is known for New Mexican food, we do have a couple of BBQ places here. 

 My husband continued to enjoy his BBQ lunch of mesquite-smoked BBQ meats and was happy that he had plenty of leftover meat for future meals. They say a way to a man's heart is through his stomach and this delivery of famous barbecue helped me show my husband some love. Head HERE to get your box of Davila's BBQ meat. Davila's ships nationwide and has a nice selection of BBQ meats to select from.

 

Heart Healthy Orange Glazed Carrots Using Baby Carrots

 These lightly sweet glazed carrots sparkle with the sweet flavor of orange. They are delicious and coconut oil makes them a heart-healthy vegetable.

 The new year is a great time to focus on healthy diet changes like eating more vegetables. vegetables are loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals as well as plenty of fiber. Eating several servings of vegetables is good for your gut and can also help prevent things like constipation. Whether cooked or raw, eating vegetables are also good for preventing diseases like cancer. Vegetables are loaded with antioxidants which are natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. Research has shown that people who eat more vegetables and fruits have lower risks of several diseases.

So how does one eat more veggies when they don't like the taste of most vegetables?

Making changes to your diet and the foods that you eat is not always easy. You are used to eating certain foods and then you realize that they may not be good for your health. So eliminating your favorite foods, like greasy french fries, and replacing them with healthy vegetables can be hard. Fries taste good and carrots may not taste good to you. So my first word of advice with getting used to eating food that is better for your body is not to eliminate your favorite foods but instead add the new healthy foods to your dinner plate. 

 The next part of learning to enjoy eating vegetables is discovering new ways to cook them. Cooking vegetables and adding flavors to them will make the veggies taste better. Raw vegetables are not better for the body when compared to cook vegetables. In fact, cooked vegetables may be easier for your body to digest. It is a matter of preference when it comes to how you eat or prepare your vegetables. Vegetables can be eaten raw, cooked, steamed, or even roasted. My kids like roasted vegetables the best.

Baby carrots are a family favorite vegetable for meals

 Baby carrots are a simple vegetable to start with when introducing vegetables to your meals. I love baby carrots as they are ready to eat. The bite-sized carrots are peeled and washed, so they are ready to eat, straight from the bag. Orange baby carrots also need chopping when using them for recipes. You can simply cook the carrots in water or add the small carrots to your recipes. 

Baby carrots are:

+ Loaded with vitamin A

+ Full of fiber

+ High in antioxidants

+ Low in calories

+ Good for eye health

+ Low in sugar

+ Crunchy

+ Plant-based

A sweet orange glaze adds delicious flavor to cooked carrots

 A simple way to add flavor to cooked vegetables is with a sweet glaze. This sweet orange glaze is added to the carrots after they are cooked and adds a nice sweet orange flavor to the cooked carrots. While most glazed carrot recipes use butter, this recipe uses heart-healthy coconut oil. Coconut oil is a healthy fat and is also rich in antioxidants. Made from fresh coconut meat, coconut oil adds a nice flavor to recipes like cooked carrots and homemade granola. Coconut oil is good for sauteing vegetables and baking. Swapping out your current oil for coconut oil is simple and delicious.

 These orange glazed carrots are healthy and easy to make. They are sweet, tangy, and downright delicious. Even picky eaters get excited about these carrots! Your family will love them and will ask for seconds. 

Recipe Ingredient Notes

+ Carrots: While this recipe calls for baby carrots, you may use whole carrots. Just peel the carrots and cut them into desired small pieces that are similar to baby carrots.

+ Brown sugar: For a different flavor, use maple syrup. To make the recipe lower in sugar, use a brown sugar substitute.

+ Orange Juice: The acidity of the orange juice brings such a bright, refreshing flavor to the glaze on the carrots. 

+ Butter: You may use butter in place of the coconut oil or use vegan butter to make the carrots dairy-free.

Recipe Tips

+ Glazed Carrots can be prepared up to 2 hours before serving and taste delicious at room temperature as well as warm.

+ Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. I don't recommend freezing the carrots once glazed.

+ The recipe can be easily doubled.

More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes

Roasted Beets In The Pressure Cooker 

Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Rainbow Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Tomatoes Made In The Air Fryer