I love a good power bowl- they're gorgeous, trendy and a great way to pack in fruits, veggies and a variety of protein. They're also a great excuse to use extra produce... aka "Everything but the kitchen sink" power bowl. I tend to do this with smoothies also... I know I'm not alone in this!

I rarely see power bowls with lamb and since lamb pairs so nicely with Greek and citrus flavors, the vision for this bowl quickly came together. I'm especially excited about partnering with Superior Farms lamb. I appreciate their passion for bringing a sustainable, nutritious and delicious change of pace to the table.

Lamb is a nutritious powerhouse, with a variety of essential vitamins and mineral, including Vitamin B12, niacin, selenium, zinc and more. And did you know that 40% of the fat in lean lamb is actually monounsaturated fats? Lamb truly is a nutrition AND flavor powerhouse- the perfect protein source for a power bowl.

I chose these gorgeous lamb chops for the power bowl, but incorporating ground lamb could be another easy and flavorful option. Plus, a single portion of lamb provides over half of your daily protein needs, making lamb an ideal choice for active individuals. This bowl is packed with bright and refreshing flavors, including this pomegranate, lemon and mint quinoa salad. I almost wanted to just serve some chops on a bed of this salad and call it a day (definitely an option for the future!), but I'm so glad I didn't stop there. I think you will be too ;). 

In addition to Superior Farms being an employee owned company, they have a long-standing commitment to the well-being and care of their flock. Their sustainability efforts are impressive and I really enjoyed getting a sneak peak into the life of one of their farmers through a short (less than 3 minute) video clip!

Since I'm all about keeping it simple, here at KISS in the Kitchen, it doesn't get any easier or delicious than generously coating a rack of lamb with herbs, then roasting it for a little over half an hour. While the lamb is roasting, you can assemble the bowls and knock out any dishes or recipe clean up (am I the only one that appreciates doing some dishes along the way?). A standard rack of lamb, about 7-8 chops, will take about 30-35 minutes depending on your personal preference (I prefer mine medium-rare or medium). I cooked these chops for about 32 minutes, but leave them in a little longer if you prefer yours cooked more*. Either way, this gives you ample time to assemble the gorgeous bowls!
*Using a thermometer is always advised and you can find the desired time and temperature info in the recipe below

Since it's National Nutrition Month and we're all about putting "Your Best Fork Forward", this is the perfect dish. There's so much color, flavor and nutrition in one gorgeous and easy-to-assemble bowl!

KISS Lamb Citrus Power Bowls (GF, DF)
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Serves: 4
Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients
1 rack of lamb (about 1 1/2 - 2lbs or 8 chops)
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 Tbsp dried rosemary
1 tsp course ground black pepper
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp roasted garlic powder

8 cups baby kale, spinach or greens of choice
1 microwaveable quinoa pouch (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup pomegranate arils
1 Tbsp fresh lemon zest + 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped mint
2 small or 1 large orange (navel or blood orange if you can find it!), peeled/sliced
1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 cup hummus

Instructions
1.) Remove rack of lamb from the refrigerator and let rest for at least 30 minutes. The closer to room temperature the lamb, the more evenly it will cook.
2.) Preheat oven to 375°. Mix all the spices (parsley, rosemary, black pepper, lemon pepper and garlic powder) together in a small bowl. Generously coat the entire rack of lamb and place on broiler rack in a shallow pan. Cook lamb for 30-35 minutes, depending on desired doneness. See temperature recommendations below.
Optional: Sear the edges of the rack of lamb for 1-2 minutes on each end prior to roasting. 
3.) While lamb is roasting, prepare lemon quinoa salad. Heat quinoa (hopefully you grabbed a microwaveable pouch- it's so much easier!) per package instructions and place in medium sized bowl. Add pomegranate seeds, lemon zest, lemon juice and mint.
4.) Place 4 bowls on counter. Create a bed of greens, approximately 2 cups, on the bottom of the bowl. Evenly divide quinoa salad, orange slices, cucumber slices and hummus.
5.) Remove lamb from oven after 30-35 minutes or desired temperature achieved. Cover lamb with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. The temperature will rise approximately 10 degrees.
Remove at 130°-135° for medium-rare (should rise to 140°-145°)
Remove at 145°-155° for medium - medium well (should rise to 155°-165°)
6.) After lamb has rested for at least 10 minutes, carve the chops and add 2 chops to each bowl. Enjoy!

Happy first day of Spring y'all! I love Spring for many reasons, but my favorite part is definitely all the yellow. I'm a yellow fanatic. Anyone that knows me, knows when there is a color choice to be made, the answer is almost always yellow. My dad's favorite color was yellow and whenever I see that bright cheery color pop up, it makes me think of him. BUT you know what else is yellow? Lemons! Lemon is my jam. Seriously. From Strawberry Banana Lemon Smoothies to Blueberry Lemon Pancakes to Slow-Cooker Lemony Chicken and Veggies, I think there may be just be a favorite flavor at KISS in the Kitchen ;). And these Creamy Cashew Lemon Bites are the latest lemon addition.

These are little creamy bites of heaven. Personally, I find cashews to be one of the creamiest nuts so they were the perfect choice for the flavor and texture profile I was going for. ​

I also incorporated hemp seeds into the recipe for an extra protein boost and some healthy fats and fiber.

Quick enough to whip up as an afternoon snack or perfect for meal prepping, these luscious lemony bites are sure to be a hit with the whole family.
​
KISS Tip: Add some dried cranberries, blueberries or even goji berries for an added fruity burst to these delicious snack bites!

KISS Creamy Cashew Lemon Snack Bites
Time: 20 minutes
Makes approximately 18 snack bites

Ingredients
1 cup raw cashew butter (preferably unsweetened, no added oil)
10 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, pitted*
1 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
2 Tbsp Navitas Organics Hemp Seeds
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 Tbsp water, more if needed

Instructions
1.) Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and set aside.
2.) Add all ingredients into a food processor and process until you get a smooth, dough-like texture. Scrape the sides of the food processor bowl, as needed.
3.) Place bowl in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to help "dough" becomes less sticky.
4.) Using your hands, roll mixture into 1 inch size balls (about a tablespoon) and place on parchment paper.
6.) Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week and enjoy!
*You can soak the Medjool dates in hot water for 3-5 minutes to help soften them, then decrease the total water from the recipe, if desired.

If you're an energy bite fan, make sure and also check out my Spicy Chocolate Cherry Snack Bites!

Happy St. Patty's Day-ish. I kinda felt obligated to post something green and after the overwhelming response to my Layered Banana Split Smoothie, I wanted to create more of that layered smoothie goodness. Honesty confession here- I was totally skeptical of my idea for this one.... like, legit concerns I would make it, toss it out and pretend that didn't just happen. But, I'm thrilled to say this weird smoothie totally works! The two layers are quite different in flavor/texture, featuring a sweet creamy bottom layer and a tropical, slightly sweet second layer. Who would have though these two would complement each other so well. Opposites attract, perhaps?

You're probably already wondering what's in each layer, so here's the breakdown:

Bottom = Avocado + Banana
Top = Kiwi + Banana + Spinach

It was about this time in taking pictures where I literally stopped caring about getting smoothie shots and wanted to focus on my spoon. This little guy is just the cutest. I got it and it's cousin spoon, which says "Rise and Shine", a few weeks ago and am obsessed. Surprisingly, I grabbed these precious utensils at Family Christian Bookstore. The store is closing nationwide which is such a bummer, but I picked up these spoons and practically bought out their entire greeting card section a few weeks ago. 2017 is the year for snail mail. Okay, back to the green smoothie action.

That cute little spoon also inspired me to add some whipped cream to these babies. I actually used this new "Whipped Rice Topping" I found that's dairy and soy free and was surprised and it was the perfect addition to this creamy tropical creation.

KISS Creamy Tropical Smoothie
Serves: 2
Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
Bottom/First layer:
1 small avocado
1 large ripe banana, preferably frozen
3/4 cup milk of choice (my favorite is Ripple Plant-Based Milk, original flavor!)

Top layer:
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 small (or half a large) banana, peeled
3/4 cup milk of choice

Instructions
1.) Place bottom layer ingredients in a Vitamix or high-spend blender and blend until smooth. Pour evenly into two smoothie glasses. Repeat with second layer and remember, there's no need to rinse blender in between if you create the lighter colored layers first! Enjoy!

In case you missed it, make sure and check out this Layered Banana Split Smoothie!