A Side of Sweet

9 Iceland Travel Tips for Planning Your Trip

Planning a trip to Iceland? There’s so much you need to know! Read on for some helpful Iceland travel tips and advice before you go.

Iceland is incredible. There is so much to see, so much to absorb. The connection with nature is raw. It’s like no other place we’ve visited.

When we were planning our trip, it all felt a bit overwhelming. There is a lot of information on the internet, but it’s of variable quality and usefulness. Add to that all the unpronounceable names and…phew.

Now that we’ve come out the other side of this amazing adventure, here is some practical advice before you go.

Read on for my Iceland travel tips and Iceland video!

Mixed Fruit Cobbler with Brown Sugar Ice Cream

A super easy fruit cobbler recipe with peaches, cherries, and berries that takes 20 minutes to make! Brown sugar ice cream is the perfect finish.

Nothing says summer like a fruit cobbler. And ice cream. Obviously, our entire summer is topped with ice cream. You’ve seen all the pies and galettes around here, right? And this cobbler! Ice Cream. Our ice cream maker is constantly running and I’ve developed an arsenal of recipes to support our habit.

Read on for the recipes!… Read More »

Hidden Hot Springs in Iceland

Ever visited a secret hot springs at the base of a mountain? Read on for this and more hidden hot springs and geothermal pools all over Iceland Guide to Hidden Hot Springs and Geothermal Pools in Iceland

When we were planning our trip to Iceland, Pat had one request. Hot springs.

His perfect Iceland trip would involve visiting a hot springs every day of our trip. While we didn’t quite make all of his dreams come true, we did manage to visit a hot springs every other day – so not bad! In total, we visited four hot springs in Iceland over the course of eight days.

Looking back, I think these hot springs visits will be some of our best memories of Iceland. Each one was completely different and beautiful in its own way. One was at the base of a mountain, one was a tiny hot pot just big enough for two people, one was a misty green wonderland right out of a fairytale and of course there was Iceland’s most famous (and not secret) Blue Lagoon.

Read on for my hot springs guide and video!… Read More »

How to Make Chilaquiles Verdes – One Pan Recipe

How to make Chilaquiles Verdes in just 15 minutes with ONE PAN. This traditional Mexican dish will be your new favorite breakfast recipe.

First things first. Let’s learn how to pronounce your new favorite breakfast food. Say it with me, “Chee-la-key-lays”. Easy peasy.

Chilaquiles are the bomb. Fried tortillas, simmered in salsa and topped with all things good – chiles, crema, cheese, and avocado. Om nom nom. It’s comfort food, but with a bit of heat and so much flavor!

Making chilaquiles from scratch is no joke. There are frying and chopping and simmering and a whole bunch of work involved.

This easy version tastes just like the real thing and it will only take you 15 minutes – start to finish. It’s the “I don’t want to spend three hours making breakfast” version of this traditional Mexican food.
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Lemon Parmesan Popcorn with Infused Algae Oil

Gluten Free

An easy Lemon Parmesan Popcorn Recipe with infused Meyer lemon algae oil and cracked pepper. Makes a guilt-free healthy snack!

You might be surprised to know that I have a full-time job outside of A Side of Sweet doing something completely unrelated to blogging! I actually work nights in the pediatric ICU here in San Francisco as a pediatrician. It’s a busy job, but one that is super rewarding.

With shifts that average 13 hours, I need high quality food to keep me going. Part of my routine is popcorn for a midnight snack every night. It’s high in fiber, low in calories and I don’t have to feel guilty eating it.

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Things to Do in Reykjavik, Iceland

Everything you need to know before visiting Reykjavik, Iceland! A comprehensive restaurant guide, hotel recommendations and even day trips to do from the city!Reykjavik is such an interesting place. Despite being relatively isolated from the rest of the world, it has a surprisingly trendy vibe. Its residents haven’t let the extremes in daylight and darkness, or weather for that matter, cramp their enjoyment of life. There are great bars, amazing restaurants, cute boutiques and an overall feeling of nationalism.

Reykjavik is a bit of a mystery – unless you’ve visited for yourself, chances are you don’t know much about it. It isn’t a darling of the cinema like Paris or Rome. You really have to see it for yourself to get what it’s all about! It’s a sea town with a proud viking heritage.

Reykjavik also feels extremely safe. There are no guns and they have no military presence. Crime is almost nonexistent. It’s small and safe enough to feel very walkable and pretty enough that you’ll want to walk everywhere.

Read on for my Reykjavik, Iceland travel guide and video!

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