It almost the first day of summer!!!!  We have had some sun, but New England is getting hit with a lot of rain.  Since planting my garden, I have only had to use the sprinkler once, and that was right after I planted it!  Now we need some sun and the wonderful veggies will sprout right up!  There are already a few peppers on my little red pepper plant.  Must be the daily conversations I have with them! 

So lately in my diet I have been lacking carbs.  Carbs in paleo aren't easy to come by.  You have to eat a TON of veggies and then of course carbs in fruit.  In an effort to get more carbs, sweet potatoes are a wonderful thing.  Theres are so many different ways you can make them:  baking them, mashing them, boiling them - then theres making them into hash!  This is an easy recipe that you can make as much as you want and it will stay good in the fridge for a weeks worth of carbs for your breakfast, lunch, dinner or post workout! 

A note about the maple syrup...... I would highly recommend using one from a local farm, not the commercial brands.  The commercial brands have a TON off added ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup.   They do sell the real stuff  at whole foods, trader joes, some supermarkets should have it as well (but it will be much more expensive!) So support your local farmers and see if they have some!! 

So I think Summer is OFFICIALLY here!  I have not been to the beach yet, but I've spent some time outside. Our team competed in the Crossfit Regionals a few weeks ago and we had GORGEOUS weather.  It was really fun, our team did GREAT.  Crossfit Centermass came in 16th our of the 30 teams that made it.  Next year, I want to be on the team……  DO WORK!

I planted my vegetable garden for the 2nd year and a row – FINGERS CROSSED!  Last year, it just wasn't a good experience.  We think it was due to the lack of sun because of so many trees in our back yard.  This year its in a NEW and IMPROVED location. Growing up, my mom planted a HUGE garden every year, so I can't imagine not carrying on that tradition.  Just because I love veggies now, doesn't mean I always have – but I do remember them tasting "better" when I was picking them out of my moms garden (I do believe this is where my love for tomatoes started).  We would go in the backyard, salt shaker in hand, and eat tomatoes!  A few years in a row, my mom also jarred tomatoes.  These made the BEST sauces and snacks.  I don't think I have quite that many plants, but hey – maybe they will be very fruitful. Ive been trying to talk to it and coax it into growing lots of veggie goodness.  (Im not crazy – there has been studies showing that if you talk to your plants they grow faster. !)

For the recipe today, I decided to come at you with a little snack – Chocolate covered bananas!  These are something that you can bring to a BBQ, or just keep in your fridge when your having a chocolate moment. This recipe was derived from a almond butter cup recipe and can easily be adapted back!

Here are a few pictures from the Crossfit Northeast Regionals!