A Side of Sweet

Chia Seed Pudding Parfaits with Superfood Juice

Have healthy breakfast waiting for you in the morning with just 5 minutes of prep time with easy chia seed pudding parfaits made with a surprise ingredient!

Chia seeds are magical. When you put them in liquid, they swell and make a thick liquid, like a pudding. Even though there is no scientific evidence that they reduce your appetite or make you feel full, you’ll definitely find people who swear that they do! Regardless, the tiny seeds are packed healthy omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and even calcium.

You’ve probably come across chia seed pudding recipes made with almond milk or coconut milk. What about other liquids though – like juice? This is what I set out to investigate…. Read More »

Best San Francisco Views – Slacker Hill

Looking for the best views of Golden Gate Bridge? Slacker Hill in the Marin Headlands has stunning aerial views of the bridge and the San Francisco skyline!

It’s hard to plan a trip to San Francisco without a visit to admire the Golden Gate Bridge. I live here, and the bridge still takes my breath away when we drive over it. Some of the best views of the bridge are from the opposite side of bridge in the Marin Headlands. You get not only the view of the bridge, but also of the San Francisco skyline. Most of the stops along the coast are packed with tourists. The road often gets backed up with people looking for parking spots.

Did you know if you drive just a bit further up there’s a secret spot that boasts the best views of the bridge? You can stare down at all the cars crammed along the viewpoints dotting Conzelman Road and feel smug about this secret spot that is off the beaten path. High up on Slacker Hill, you’ll get the best aerial views of the Golden Gate Bridge aside from renting a helicopter. You’ll also be spared sharing the view with a dozen selfie sticks and the noise of the road and all the other tourists.

You’ll be rewarded with these views:
… Read More »

Fully Loaded Vegan Oreo Coconut Milk Popsicles

Vegetarian Vegan

These totally epic vegan oreo coconut milk popsicles, topped with everything from chocolate to edible gold leaf, will help you up your Instagram game.

You can put these epic decorated Oreo popsicles at the top of your “Most Instagrammable Foods” list. Talk about making food that will up your Instagram game! I dare you to find a more photogenic dessert.

Don’t take my word for it though, check out this Oreo popsicles recipe video I made and get the full recipe after the jump.

NEW Manchester Travel Video!

My Manchester travel video is up on YouTube now! Check it out for travel inspiration and a look at what we saw, did and ate in Manchester, UK.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this video from our trip to Manchester is worth a million! I hope you enjoy this look at what Cynthia and I did and ate during our epic stay in Manchester. I dare you to not be inspired to visit yourself.

If you liked this video, head over to my YouTube channel and give it a thumbs up. Even better – leave a comment and hit the subscribe button! Thanks so much for your support…. Read More »

A Weekend at the Midland Hotel Manchester

The luxurious Midland Hotel in Manchester, United Kingdom with a peek at The French, Mr. Cooper’s and The Tea Room, the Midland’s three restaurants.The Midland is the place to stay in Manchester. It’s the choice of diplomats, bigwigs and celebrities. It was also the obvious choice for a Manchester adventure for two avid foodies – me (duh) and my blogger BFF Cynthia! The Midland has three separate restaurants in the hotel and naturally we ate at each of them.

Read on for more about the Midland Hotel in Manchester! Don’t forget to watch my video from our trip too!

In Case You Missed It July + Where We’re Eating in San Francisco

Where to eat in San Francisco – July edition, plus some more happenings at A Side of Sweet that you might have missed!

Michael Minna Michelin Star Restaurant Review San Francisco, CA One of the highlights of the month was dinner at Michael Mina restaurant in downtown San Francisco. This Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant absolutely blew me away with the uniqueness – and deliciousness of its food. Often fancy restaurants will feature things on the plate that are just to show off but don’t contribute to how good the dish tastes. This was not the case with Michael Mina. Everything was thoughtfully done and beautiful. Definitely one of the best meals I’ve had in San Francisco. See more photos of my meal below!

But wait, there’s more!… Read More »