Whole Grain Pumpkin Bread

If you bake it, they will come. 

That's what I really wanna call this post.  And by they I mean little. grubby. hands.  How Jude decides what he'll put in his mouth, I'll never know.  But, I'm guessing this time the smell of warm pumpkin spice wafting through the house for a good hour while I baked did the trick.  Seriously, I couldn't even set this hot pan down without him watching my every move.  And when I walked away from the bread without cutting off a slice?  Tears.  Full-blown toddler tears.  

This bread is just slightly sweet, which is just the way I like it.  

Spread on some butter and a little honey.  

Serve it warm.  

Heaven sent, I tell ya.

Recipe below

Easiest Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Over the weekend, I made pumpkin spice pancakes.  'Tis the season, right?

  I make 'em just like I make my banana pancakes--which is the 2nd easiest thing ever (1st being pouring cereal into a bowl).  

And, yup, of course I made extra to freeze for later.
It's a healthy little pancake with whole grain and antioxidant rich pumpkin and that I like.

I just use the Krusteaz whole wheat pancake mix, throw in about one cup of pumpkin, a few shakes of cinnamon and nutmeg, and then add water until I get the desired consistency.  Easy right?  Even better is that I used the leftover pumpkin to make these.   Winning!

Let's talk meal planning.

Cuz, I'm horrible at it!  The thing that stresses me the most, I wanna think about the least.  It's not that I hate cooking.  It's just that I'm absolutely-a-follow-everything-by-a-recipe-kinda-girl or throw-something-in-the-microwave-kinda-girl and I can only serve Jude chicken nuggets and frozen peas so many nights a week.

I'm thinking I'd like to do 2 vegetarian meals/week, 1 fish meal/week (even as I type that out, I know that one's NOT gonna happen), and 1 meal big enough for another night a leftovers.  Sounds easy enough, yeah?  That's only four dinners!  Only I'm horribly unorganized.  My grocery lists are usually scribbled on the back of a receipt.  And I usually run to the store 2 more times than I ought.  You see, it's a vicious cycle.

{I hate grocery shopping, I hate list making, and I feel guilty when I eat too much processed food}

{I end up eating processed food, because I hate grocery shopping, because I hate making lists} 

Anyway, I pinned this and I'm hoping to make a legit effort to bring it to fruition for my meal planning.  I like because you can use your tried & recipes an it's all typed up and ready to go when ya need it.

Source: littlenannygoat.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

BASICALLY: just make a list of the top 30 or so recipes you use most often; create a spreadsheet with the recipes along the side and the ingredients along the top; plan a week ahead for the recipes you want to make; circle ingredients on the spreadsheet, and you've got your shopping planned! Boom. That just happened.

What do you think?  A go?  I'm curious if you're a meal planner, and if so what works for you??  I need help!  

Whole Grain Banana Pancakes

Here's an idea for the next time you make pancakes.  

Make extra.
Then freeze.

Guaranteed cheaper than the store bought toaster waffles.  

And guaranteed healthier (if you go for the whole wheat pancake mix). 

Makes breakfast time a breeze. 

Plus, I've been doing this so that Jude has some healthier snack options around that are as easy and mindless as graham crackers. 

I sometimes throw in a banana and some cinnamon to add flavor, which is exactly as easy as it sounds.  Yay!

Spread on a little peanut butter to add in some healthy fat and you're good to go.

I've been playing around with this idea a lil bit--and so far have also come up with:

Cinnamon Apple

&

Pumpkin Spice

Any other combos you're tried or think might be worth trying?

I'd really love to know. :)

The Vegetannual

If you liked yesterday's post, thought you might also like this.  A bit more detail, a bit more interactive--but also harder to hang on up in your kitchen (which I'm framing and doing!)  Not to keep going and going on this subject, but such a great way to remind us what we should be buying and when!

"in season"

Source: onedarlingday.tumblr.com via Lisa on Pinterest

i liked the visual on this.

since i'm always a bit outta the loop of what's "in season"...

this seems simple enough

i had a huge "duh" factor come into play when i saw this.

of course green leafies would be in season before green beanies which would be in season before eggplanties, which would be in season before melons and pumpkins and the like.

what's closest to the ground, what requires the lesser amount of energy to grow, grows first.

duh!

in my defense:

now that this concept is in my brain, it'll never leave.

well, at least not for awhile...

Food Matters

Source: popularmechanics.com via Rhonda on Pinterest

We watched Food Matters tonight, and while I'm still sorting through the information and forming my opinions, I'd like so say that I really enjoyed it.  

Regardless of what legit science literature currently may say...

food matters

and that is something I believe we all inherently know...

that what we put into our bodies directly influences how we feel 

today...

tomorrow...

and 30 years from now...

Like most documentaries, it really makes you think.

It makes you wonder about what things in your own life you could do to create a healthier lifestyle.

I know this, next year, my backyard garden will be bomb.

Go watch it.  You can stream it instantly on Netflix (or watch it at the link above).
I bet you anything, you'll be gob-gob-gobling up your whole foods with love and devotion.

Spinach Strawberry Banana Smoothie

click to enlarge

 

Are you guys making these smoothies that I put up?

Wha?  

You're not?  

Oh, you meant to, but just haven't gotten around to it yet.  

I see.  

Oh cool, you're trying it out this weekend?   

No, wait. Tonight??  

That's weird, I never make smoothies at night.

But, to each his own...

You won't be sorry.

Promise.

 

 There are several recipes out there for green smoothies, and basically the secret to them all is to throw some greens in there.   

Whamo! 

There it is.  

I am the worst at keeping secrets, and that one was a really hard one to hold onto for so long.  Feels good to let it out.  But, I've gotta be honest, it always feels good letting secrets out.  It's like crack.  

Seriously, don't tell me anything.

Quin n' Cheese

 

You see what I did there?  Quin n' Cheese??  Like Mac n' Cheese but 'cept without the Mac?  

#1totalgenius.

Can I admit to you that I literally felt like a genius when I came up with this idea? 

For a long while I've been thinkin' about the Mac n' Cheese conundrum:  seems like all kids eat it, because let's be honest, it tastes good.  And we moms make it because it's cheap and easy and fast.  

But does it ever make us feel well?  Ugh.  Brick in the stomach.  Do we ever want to pick up and go for a nice run after a bowl of Mac?  Or at least do something other than lay on the couch and snooze it off?  

No, no.  No, no.  

And I'm choosing to give this to my kid?  

You see the conundrum? 

So, I wanted to come up with an alternative.  Something just as simple.  Something with ingredients I always have on hand.  Something just as economical.  But better.  

You see where I'm going with this?  Quin n' Cheese.  

(Note:  everytime I type that I really just want to type Quin 'n Ivory Wayans..., but pretty sure that wouldn't taste the same).  

Here's what I do:

Cook 1 C quinoa (follow package instructions).

Once done, add 1 T butter & 1/4 C milk.  

Grate in some cheese as desired.  Not much needed.

Stir.

Grate some cheese on top. 

[+]

*Getting a whole grain, and something other than wheat.

*Getting in some protein. Legit.

*Nutty flavor of quinoa adds to the overall flavor.

*Using real cheese, and not that powdery crap.

*Jude can still feed it to himself and therefore I can be busy doing other things (most likely cleaning up the mess).

*I can eat some of the leftovers and not beat myself up completely the rest of the day.

Jude's totally happy with the switch, which really ups my genius factor, if ya think about it.

But, I'm curious if an older little one might also like this knowing just what they're missing?

Try it, and let me know.

Salmon Cakes with Lemon Dill Tartar Sauce

Another recipe for ya.  Our cute little salmon cakes.  We love them so.  I got this recipe years ago from a friend at work, and it's now a classic.  Have you ever tried salmon cakes?  They are legit. 

Can you guess that they're simple and easy?  And cheap!?  Thus tripling the legit-factor.  We make them with canned salmon.  Umm, have you ever wondered what exactly people make with canned salmon?  I know I still do.  But here's at least one idea.

We make these on nights that we haven't really thought about dinner until it's dinner time.  You know, those nights...when 5 o'clock rolls around and you'd rather lie on the couch because you're sorta sleepy?  And your kid is happy as a clam playing around, but you know as soon as you start cooking he'll want to be held?  And then he'll be hungry so you'll have to give him a few crackers to hold him off for a bit?

Yeah, file this recipe away for those nights. 

Click on recipe to enlarge

*****************

And if you're new in the canned salmon department, here's how I choose my canned salmon:  

wild because it contains up to 4x the omega-3s vs. farmed/Atlantic plus less toxins, 

regular (as opposed to the "light" canned salmon) because the fats in salmon are the goods,  

with bones because they add calcium (this last one is a bit gross, I admit, but we pick the hard ones out, and most of them just blend right in)...all in the name of health, right?   

PS--I'm curious.  What do you make with canned salmon?  Do you like canned salmon or does the thought make your stomach churn?

Homemade Blueberry Jam

Look at me getting all domestic and cooking at home and stuff.  You guys, I jammed.  All by my big bad self.  Which might not be much to you, but I never have before and tried it on a whim.  I followed this recipe.  It was soooo easy (I did it while Jude crawled around after lunch one day).  Plus, it only uses 1/2 C sugar, as opposed to the 5+ cups I've seen for other recipes (I did a quick google search comparison).  Yet, still comes out tasting sweet, delicious, but way more natural than store bought jams (obvi). 

The best thing about this recipe?  OK, the best thing about this recipe is the amount of sugar--can't deny that.  But, the second best thing??  Now I know what to do with the dredges of my blueberry pack.  Does this happen to you?  We buy the big pack from Costco, and after a few days--the berries aren't quite bad, but they're not as plump and pretty as they used to be.  More like slightly shriveled.  We just can't eat 'em fast enough.  Well, I just threw them in this recipe (ended up cutting the actual recipe in half) and was none the wiser.

Here's Jude coming down off of his post blueberry jam buzz...or seriously distressed that I'm not giving him the smoothie.  You decide.

Oatmeal Ginger Berry Smoothie

Just another smoothie I tried this past week and decided to throw some oatmeal in it for extra measure.  You know how I just love my oatmeal!  But, if I'm honest, what I really liked in this smoothie was the hint of ginger... 

Anyway, I think this type of smoothie could be a great thing for those who just can't quite talk themselves into plain old oatmeal in the a.m.  Which happened to be me on this particular mornin'.  If you think you wanna try,  just blend the oatmeal in it first thing.  I read other recommendations online to let it soak in some water for 15 minutes--but doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of a smoothie??  By that time, you could have pancakes and eggs on the table.  Ya know?  

Happy Monday, y'all.

Quinoa

picture from wikipedia....

OK, so I'm cooking a lot with quinoa these days.  

Mostly because it's a healthy alternative 'grain' and partly because I bought a *GIANT* bag of it from Costco.  

Here in this house, we're cutting back on our meat consumption..and that means coming up with other ways of getting protein in our meals (of course we still enjoy a burger now and then, but for the most part we're sticking to eggs, fish, beans, and some dairy for our go-to protein sources). 

My sis asked me why I traded out the couscous in a recipe for quinoa.  And the short answer is because it does offer a better "nutrition profile" than couscous or other grains.  

But, more specifically, here are some things I like about quinoa:

-not really a grain, but a seed.

-fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked

-actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. 

-high in protein

-includes all 9 essential amino acids

-great source of the amino acid lysine, which is needed for tissue growth and repair.

-very good source of manganese and a good source of copper, two minerals that help antioxidant enzymes scavenge for free radicals in our bodies. 

So there it is.  The short and the long of it.  And if the next few weeks are filled with recipes involving quinoa, now you know why. :)

Lemony Shrimp Salad with Quinoa

Click on picture to enlarge

Adapted this recipe from Real Simple--(I opted for quinoa instead of couscous).

'Twas soooo easy, but felt gourmet.

One of those recipes where I actually had everything on hand and didn't have to make a trip to the store.

Hurrah! 

PS: if you're not a shrimp fan, I think chicken or more veggies could easily be subbed in.

Try it!!

Carrot*Pineapple*Banana Smoothie

Do you smoothie?  I've been making these for the fam in the morning and we love them so much it makes me wonder why it takes the summer sun to bring out the blender.  Basically any which way you mix a smoothie it turns out delish, but I particularly like this one because it helps us get some veggies in the morning.  

What do you think--veggies in your smoothies a go?  

Or a no?  

All I can offer is that when Jude sees me and my magic bullet, he is alllll squeals of impatience!  He loves these things and it's one sure fire way I know his veggies will end up in his mouth and not on the floor, in his hair, etc.

Sweet. 

Nutrition Gatekeepers

Source

I read something recently and thought I'd share it with you all.  Being a mom is the best of the best, but of course not always easy!  This is just another reason why being a mom is challenging, but rewarding...

Spring*Cravings

Craving spring in the form of one of my new favorite snacks.  You know how they say once you go Greek, your knees will go weak?  I can't walk.  

Yup, I'm still hooked on that Greek yogurt stuff.  

Allow me to tempt....

You'll need:
½ a pear, sliced
~1 T honey

a handful of chopped walnuts

1/2 C Greek yogurt

Drizzle & sprinkle as desired.  

Then eat.

Simple.

Delicious. 

And good for you too!

With the walnuts you're getting some vitamin E and some omegas.  The yogurt offers protein & calcium.  The pear has antioxidants and fiber.  And the honey because it's sweet.

Mmm.  Mmm.  Qual-ity.

**Sidenote:  remember all those ideas I had, but not enough time??  Well, this was one of them.  A really good one of them that I liked a lot.  We had colors picked out for each week.  And recipes too.  I'm sad to see it go, but more sad to see my seester go.  All the way to Chicago. 
Thanks for indulging me, Rach.

Fast Food Tutorial

Alright guys.  I used the word tutorial to really reel you in and make you want to read this post.  Did it work?  Hook-line-and-sinker? 

Sweet, alright.

Originally, I was going to do a post on the healthiest things to order when you go to (fill in the blank) fast food joint.  But, I realized (as I kept scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling...and scrolling!) that there are just too many options to really go ahead and pick the healthiest items.  Not to mention that we each have our own preferences and while I may say order this, you might say, "yeah, probably not."

So, instead here are my Top 6 Fast Food Tips to help you get through even the trick-trick-trickiest of drive-thrus (turns out, I'm still searching for that ever elusive 4-piece chicken nugget option.  I'll keep you posted).

Order a salad.  Avoid using all of the dressing.

The tried & true salad dressing-on-the-side bit.

Order a la carte.

As in, "Would you like to make that a meal?" and then you say, "No."  

Thus avoiding the I-just-ate-a-whole-thing-of-fries-and-I-don't-even-like-them scenario.

Drinks = calorie-free. 

And if you don't like diet drinks, opt for water.

Grilllllll It!

Choose the "grilled" option.

Hold the mayo

Or wipe it off yourself.

Eat your burger/sandwich open-face. 

This can be a messy endevour, but I believe it makes the actual meal taste better.  

Combine all these tips and you save anywhere from 900-1100 calories!

These are the things I typically do.  But I'm curious, anything I left out?

PS: Kids these days.

True*View: Drink Packets

Hey Lis, what about those drink packets?

These days it seems little drink packets are everywhere--energy, vitamin, greens, teas, some all-natural, some with antioxidant rich ingredients and most with claims to great taste...these products are designed for those of us "that just can't seem to consume all the good stuff that we know we should everyday."

But can healthy really come in a small plastic packet? 

This isn't a sponsored product review, nor is it a product hate-a-thon.  

But, if you're wondering if I would walk in to a store and buy these, I'd likely say no.  Yet, if someone had one and offered it to me, I'd likely say yes.  

And here's why:

To me, health and convenience meet up by throwing an apple in your purse (plus they're all-natural).  There's something about whole foods that just can't be recreated.  We know so much about the good things in fruits and veggies, but we don't know everything.  So while it's possible in today's world to extract the good things and put them into a powder, by doing this we miss out on all the other components of an apple that might be beneficial to us, but that we haven't discovered yet.  Not too mention the feeling of fullness that's naturally found in fruits and veggies. 

It's hard to outsmart nature.

But I get it.

Drinking straight-up water all the time can get boring.  

Sometimes it's nice to switch it up.  

And that is where I'd say these packets fit.  At least in my mind grapes.  

 As a drink flavoring, not as a nutritional supplement. 

Almonds in Oatmeal = New Fave.

Not like this is a revolutionary subject or anything (hello, have you been to my blog before?), but it is sorta revolutionary for me because although we always have raw almonds on hand, I completely spaced that we own a nut chopper (it’s for choppin’ nuts, yo!).  It’s amazing what unpacking all of your boxes will do for your kitchen.  Anyway, now I just chop a bunch of almonds for the week and heap on a spoonful to my oatmeal each morning.   

And if you’re wondering if I made the switch, I totally did!  There is something to be said about those steel cut oats.  Taste and texture are totally worth it.  And as a bonus, I really don’t think they take that much longer to cook in the mornings.  I just heat mine up in the microwave, and then let them sit a bit while I feed Juju.  Easy-peasy.   Steel-cut oats are a breezy.

Sorry.  Couldn’t help myself on that last line.  Cuz' I'm cheesy!!  Boo-yeah--snuck in another.