Weekend Adventures

Well, we finally ventured out of our little area up here in Kentucky. We all loaded up early Saturday morning and drove the two hour drive to Lexington where there are parks, colleges, shopping, and civilization. :)

We started off with a brisk walk in the UK Arboretum. Ashamedly this is the only real picture I took all weekend. I know, not true to my journalistic nature, but we did really enjoy our weekend. But I know that pictures would go much farther to prove that to you. Now back to the walk. It was a really nice 2 mile loop. That loop will be beautifully blooming in the next month. It was a tad chilly so we bundled up Nora well. When we got finished, she was sweeting and asleep. I guess that is success.

We then followed up the walk with lunch at our all time favorite, Chipotle. Then we checked in early to our hotel and all took a nice nap. Traveling and trying to keep a baby on their schedule is challenging.
Later we explored the shopping scene by going to a neat bookstore, baby boutique, and some other stores. We got dinner at a really good Irish Pub that had legitimate Irish food.

Sunday we found this awesome breakfast and lunch place called Doodles and had a really good breakfast. I had Oatmeal Brulee and Ryan had Biscuits and Gravy and we both shared their signature beignets, which were New Orleans style donuts in powdered sugar. Um, Yes Please!!

A good time was had by all, and it was really nice to just get out and visit places we have never been before.

Spicy Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

When you have to cook almost every dinner at home, you have to try out new recipes or else you will get tired of the same old ones quickly. We love to prepare meatless meals and only eat mean once or twice a week now. This is a wonderful main dish full of healthy fresh ingredients.

Ingredients:

4 Bell Peppers (any color is good)

1 cup un-cookied quinoa

1/2 can of black beans drained and rinsed

1/2 can of organic corn drained

1 small can of rotel with green chilies

1 1/2 cup of pepper jack cheese

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp chipotle powder

1/2 tsp cumin 

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350. And cook your quinoa according to the package directions. (Some quinoa needs to be rinsed prior to cooking.) Once the quinoa is cooked. Mix all the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl, reserving 1/2 cup of cheese to top the stuffed peppers. Stuff the peppers with the quinoa mixture, packing in tight. Top with remaining cheese. Cook in the oven for 30-40 minutes. The longer you cook them, the softer the pepper will be.

Be sure and enjoy them along side a super cute baby in the sunshine for maximum enjoyment!

Green Smoothie For the Win

In my ever so valiant but often quite feeble attempt to clean up my diet and shed the last 10 lbs of baby weight, I made this Green Smoothie. I have made many and put just about any kind of fruit or vegi in it, so this is really just an example of what you can do with a Green Smoothie. I think this combination is pretty tasty though.

Ingredients:

Lots of spinach (1 1/2 - 2 cups)

1 Bananna

1 Apple cored

Ice

Liquid (ex: OJ, Almond milk, Coconut water)

My smoothie made 4 cups once it was blended, so I put half in the refrigerator and save it for tomorrow so I don't have to dirty the Ninja again. Just shake it up really well.

Enjoy!

Easy Mexican Chili

Since moving to pretty much the middle of nowhere, I have had to really get serious about meal planning. Walmart is about 30 minutes away and the local grocery store is pretty small and more expensive. This week 3/6 of our meals were soups: Classic Chili, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, and my Easy Mexican Chili. It's hard to spend hours in the kitchen, clean, read to Nora, and make it to the gym each night after she goes to bed. For that reason I am a fan of dinners I can put in the crock-pot during nap-time and SHAZAM dinner is ready! This isn't a "new" recipe, but I did make it up. The best part about this dinner is you can always have these ingredients and you can mix it up each time.

Ingredients List:

frozen corn

32 oz chicken broth

green chiles (drained)

diced tomatoes (drained)

black beans (drained)

canned chicken breast (drained)

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp Chipotle Powder

1/2 tsp Garlic Salt

1 small chopped onion 

1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro

Step 1: Put all the ingredients in your Crock-pot

Step 2: Open at dinner time, serve and enjoy!

Serving Suggestion: I made cornbread muffins (Jiffy Mix with one tbs of honey) to go along with the soup and it was amazing! Tortilla Chips would also be a great addition. Or a fresh chopped avocado for the top would be perfect! And Cheese makes everything better!

I hope you enjoy this recipe. The best part about it is, you know exactly what is in it! NO TACO SEASONING! If you have access to all organic ingredients then it can be 100% organic as well!

Why I threw my blender away...

For Christmas, my brother and I got our parents one of the Ninja blenders. Seriously, the best gift given all Christmas (not to brag or anything). We got this brilliant idea when we saw them loosing in a fight with their 1990's food processor to make hummus. LIGHT BULB! Lets get them a Ninja. They literally had no clue what was in that box on Christmas morning, which is rare around our house, because no one can keep a secret. The next day we were blending up everything!

And then it happened.
I got Ninja blender envy.

So in the process of this crazy move I trashed our old busted up blender we bought for $20.
Guess what is on its way to our place right now!? You are good. A NINJA! Smoothies for days people! Since ordering my very own, I have been studying up on all the things I will make with my Ninja.

So if you follow me on pinterest, you may have gotten a clue that I am excited to blend and puree here in the next few days. (Kind of like when people said they knew I was pregnant because of my pinning... Well people I didn't even know I was pregnant when I was pinning those baby things, so you are good! haha)

Here is one of the first green smoothies on my list...

thegreenforks.com

found via pinterest

I will let you know how it goes and hopefully be concocting some of my own little recipes along the way.

Babymooning

This weekend we headed off to the O. Henry Hotel in Greensboro, NC to celebrate a few things actually.

Our 3 year anniversary which was on July 17th

Our last time as just us two before baby joins us really any day now

and

My 23rd Birthday which is the 28th of this month!

So many fun things going on and we really enjoyed our little bit of luxury.

 We had an early check in so we got to check out our really cool suite with an amazing bathroom and then do some browsing in stores near by. 

Now that we are about to be parents you know, we just had to go in the toy store.

It was awesome! We lost track of time in there and I am pretty sure people thought we were crazy. 

Our favorite section, the stuffed animals. If it is an animal they had it in there!

Dinner reservations were at 6 at the Green Valley Grill!

Delicious! You may notice I order a hamburger, but it was seriously one of the best I have ever had!

Ryan on the other had order rotisserie steak!

It was quite delicious too.

The next morning we had breakfast in bed! YES PLEASE!

Seeing as how I am pregnant and can basically eat all day we order pretty much everything.

I was a happy camper.

Not a drop left :)

 This is a flash back picture to our honeymoon where we had breakfast delivered every morning and Ryan would take my picture.

Babymoon complete, now we just need us a baby!

Recipe: Easy Tomato Pesto Sandwich

At our baby shower, there were these amazing little sandwich rounds from which I got the inspiration to create this sandwich! 

It is fresh, and perfect for summer. 

I know that as my garden grows I am going to need a good recipe, like this one, to use up all those tomatoes.

What you will need:

4 slices of whole wheat bread

several leaves of fresh basil

shredded or fresh mozzarella cheese

1 large sandwich tomato or 2 small roma tomatoes

1 tbs of pesto (jared or homemade)

2 tbs of light mayonnaise 

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Mix the pesto and mayonnaise together, spread semi generously on one side of the sandwich.

2. Top with chopped fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese.

3. Slice your tomato, arrange on on sandwich, salt and pepper.

Your done!!

It is so easy, but so delicious. 

You don't really even need instructions.

Change it up, add some other fresh ingredients or make a wrap!

OH and as always... ENJOY

Tofu Tacos- What to Do with TOFU?!

So if you are like me you may have always wanted to try to like tofu and learn to cook it but never knew where to start.

Well I think I have learned how to cook tofu and not end up with flavorless mushy gushy mess.
Here is a good beginner recipe!

TOFU TACOS

Ingredients

1 pack Extra Firm Tofu

Whole grain Tortillas

Chili Powder

Cumin

Chipotle Powder {optional}

Salt 

Lettuce 

Colby Jack Cheese {Shredded}

Tomato {diced}

{Any other taco toppings you may like}

Step 1: Press your tofu to remove liquid.

This is the most important step in preparing tofu because it removes all that flavorless water and makes your tofu ready to accept flavors.

I put it between a clean towel and set a plate on it, or just something heavy.

Step 2: Cut and Season the tofu.

First Cut your tofu how ever you would like. It can be cut into strips or cubes.

I used a combination of mexican flavors to season my tofu, but you can decide what you would like to season it with. The more flavor the better!

Step 3: Heat a nonstick pan with NO OIL!

This is key! You dont need oil to cook the tofu. 

If you use oil your tofu will just taste like the oil.

Any time you cook tofu cook it in a dry pan then add any liquid flavoring you would like.

Pan sear your tofu until browned.

Step 4: Pepare your tofu tacos with all the fixin's!!

Enjoy!

Tofu can be scary, but I challenge you to try it! 

It is loaded with protein and super cheap!

Email or comment if you have any questions.

I am not a tofu expert but I'd love to help you try it!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!

I love you all so much that I am sharing my chocolate chip cookie recipe!  This is big! 

I have been making these cookies since I was in high school for friends, family, teachers, bosses, you name it! These can get you out of trouble, into trouble, a date, a spouse actually ;) , and well they are just pretty darn good!

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

{Self-rising four can be used but baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt must be omitted, still use just about 1/4 tsp of salt with the self rising flour}

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 bag of semi sweet or milk chocolate morsels

Step 1: Mix first four ingredients with a stand or hand mixer on high until fluffy and whipped consistency forms. The sugar should almost be disolved and the mixture should almost have doubled in size and be very light in color. {THIS IS KEY TO THE RECIPE!!}

Step 2: Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix well. 

Step 3: Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix. Then add in the four mixture slowly to the butter mixture and mix till combined, no longer.

Step 4: Finally just add in your chocolate chips and scoop out cookies onto a cookie sheet. 

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 min {give or take, based on the cookie size}.

ENJOY SOME YUMMY GOODNESS!

Let me know what you and your friends and future boyfriends and husbands think!

{Black Bean Burgers}

It's a recipe post guys! I want to apologize because I feel this week I have not been on my blogging A-game, so if you would be a "doll" and forgive me that would be awesome. I have had in my mind that I would do a "home" {apartment} tour, but every time I try to take pictures I feel like it is a disaster! Epic Blogger Fail!! I promise it will happen!


But I do have a really good recipe for you today. I have tried about 3-4 recipes for Black Bean Burgers and these are the #1 best!!

Black Bean Burgers

1/2 onion

2 cloves garlic

handfull of cilantro

1 tbs red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

2 cans black beans

1 egg

1 toasted hamburger bun

Step 1: Put toasted bun in food processor and make bread crumbs. Put crumbs into large mixing bowls.

Step 2: Combine onion, garlic, cilantro, red pepper flakes, pepper, and salt in food processor.

Finely chop and add to bread crumbs in large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Combine egg and beans in food processor. Put in mixing bowl.

*there can be a few whole bean but you want it to be pretty smooth.

Step 4: Mix all ingredients well, divide into four patties. 

Step 5: Fry in pan over med-high heat.

Serve with chipotle mayo

3tbs mayo

1tbs mustard 

{spicy brown is good}

1/2 tsp of chili powder

a couple dashes of tabasco sauce

Serve with Sweet Potato Fries 

*Trader Joe's Frozen Sweet Potato Fries Shown

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe! 

I love it because it tastes so fresh with the cilantro in it! 

ENJOY!!

Summer Weddings Make Me Feel Fine

Ok, so that is now exactly how the song goes, but I think it sounds pretty good. 

Don't you?

I promised you more pictures of the wedding cake is did for this beautiful bride and groom, 

and here they are.

I apologize because I only had a point and shoot to take the pictures with, so they are not the best, but they do give you a look at the cake!

This is my Dad's Mom who I could not have do this without!!

These pictures are from our other friends', Laura and Jordan Bunce, Wedding!

Dress: Belk

I hope you all enjoyed these more detailed pictures of these fun weddings we have been to this summer! 

And speaking of weddings, my beautiful best friend and cousin by marriage got engaged this past Saturday!
Check out her bling!

More wedding fun to come!! 

Easy Lunch Time Recipe

I told you I was on a roll this past week with some good and new recipes!

This one is perfect for a saturday lunch or a bridesmaid luncheon {I know there are lots of those going on these days!!}

ENJOY!

Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich Spread

1 block low fat cream cheese, softened

1 cucumber, seeded and diced

1 cup of roasted red peppers diced

Garlic Salt and Pepper

Spinach

Wheat bread

Mix the first four ingredients together

Spread over bread

Top with spinach 

Viola! Your sandwich is complete!

{This is a very light sandwich. Perfect for summer time!}


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I have a poll on the on my left side bar that I really would love for you to take!
I want to always make my blog better so you tell me what you like!
:)

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

It has been a while since I have done a recipe post but todays recipe is out of this world!

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

2-4 Portobello Mushroom Caps 

{just depends on how many people you are feeding}

Hamburger Buns

Mozzarella Cheese

Light Mayonaise

Roasted Red Peppers

Arugula and Spinach Mix

Salt and Pepper

Olive Oil

Step 1: Mix 2 tbs of Mayo and 1/3 cup of Mozzarella cheese to make the spread for the burger.

Step 2: Put about 1 tbs of olive oil in a non stick pan and salt and pepper the portobello caps.

Saute on both side for about 4 minutes.

Step 3: Pull out two large pieces of red pepper from jar and cut into strips. 

Step 4: Layer cheese spread, mushroom, arugula and spinach, and peppers on bun and serve with home made fries!!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know what you think!

It was better than a regular burger in my opinion!!

~/~

by the way!

We now have internet, so I am going to get back to some normalcy.

Thanks for all your support and sweet messages always!

Vegetable Pizza

Another Recipe coming straight at you from little Mrs. Chef herself.
Ok, so I am not a Chef, but I do love to cook!
And I am on a roll these days...

Its a rainy Saturday here and what better way to spend a day like that than in the kitchen.
Here is a recipe I made up a few nights back and I have something in the oven right now that I plan on writing up for you all!
{Am I turning into a recipe blog? hehe}

Today we are talking Pizza and it doesn't get much better than this!!

Here is what you will need to make this oh so healthy goodness!
Don't let the ingredient list scare you, it is easy and you will have the spices in your cabinet and if not just leave one out! It will be A-O.K.

A pre made Pizza Dough

{if you are going 100% organic, preservative free you can get good ones at 

Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, but Pillsbury also makes a great one in the tube}

*For the pizza sauce*

15 cherry tomatoes

{use cherry because they have less of that slimy stuff}

1/2 tsp Oregano

1/2 tsp of Morajam 

1/2 tsp of Basil

1 clove of minced Garlic

Salt

A 1/2 tsp of Sugar

1 tbs butter softened

1 tbs of parmesan cheese 

*Toppings*

Mushrooms

Bell Peppers

Mozzarella Cheese

Parmesan Cheese 

Salt and Pepper

{whatever you like!}

Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients for the pizza sauce in a food processor and blend until well pureed and set aside.

Step 2: Spread your pizza dough out on a cookie sheet

{I always grease it}

Step 3: Saute your toppings of mushrooms, peppers, and anything else you add on there.

Step 4: Spread you sauce on the dough

Step 5: Put the sautéed toppings on the pizza and top with the ever so yum mozzarella cheese and parmesan!  

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. 

I always finish with a few minute on low broil to get some bubbly cheese!

Enjoy!!!

Pasta Bean Salad

Another Recipe?

I feel like my life has been rather boring lately and for that I apologize, but I have had some serious creative juices flowing in the food and recipe category. So why not share right?

This Recipe is called "PBS" because while eating our dinner last night, I asked Ryan what this meal should be called and he said that it should be called PBS, which would stand for pasta bean salad, because it is a mixture of, well all of those ingredients.

So here it is...

PBS - Pasta Bean Salad

1/2 Bag of Penne Pasta

1 can of white kidney beans {drained}

1 cup fresh spinach {medium chop}

15 cherry tomatoes {cut in half}

Skim milk or Olive oil for "sauce"

Feta Cheese

Parmesean Cheese

Garlic Salt {to taste}

Step 1: Boil and Drain the Pasta

Step 2: Heat the drained beans with small amount of water to keep from sticking

Step 3: Toss the Pasta with either 1/3 cup milk or 2 tbs olive oil over low heat

Step 4: Add in heated beans, fresh spinach, tomatoes, and garlic salt.

Serve and top with either or both cheeses!

Enjoy!

Super Easy

*I am sorry I didn't end up getting a good plated picture before it was devoured. 

Good sign I guess! 

Kale Chips Recipe *Warning may cause addiction

Kale Chips

Hey blogging friends! I have one EASY, and DELICIOUS snack you will not want to put down.

I am sure you have been hearing all about kale chips and maybe you have made them, but today was my first try at them, and lets be honest, Ryan and I at a whole pan of them straight out of the oven they were that good!

So how do you make them? 

Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Ingredients:

1 large bunch of Kale

{I bought a large bag at the Raleigh Farmers Market}

1-2 TBS of Olive Oil

Garlic Salt

Black Pepper

Step 1: Clean The Kale 

Dry with Salad Spinner or Paper Towels

Step 2: Cut Leaf away from Center Stem 

and Cut Leaves into Chip size pieces

Step 3: Spread the Kale "chips" over baking sheet 

and drizzle with Olive Oil and sprinkle with seasonings

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes!

Take them out and try them! 

YUM!

*hint: go easy on the salt because the leaves with shrink significantly, so you need less than what you think when you are salting them pre-cooking.

I hope you get to try this healthy snack soon and you enjoy this Sunday!

My own Personal Rx: All Natural

I decided about 2 weeks ago that I was going to prescribe myself a no preservative, all natural diet and see how that influenced my headaches. 

I have read before that preservatives can trigger headaches and so I told myself that I would act as though I was like those who were testing out gluten intolerance, and completely cut out preservatives.

Well, coincidence or not, I have not had one headache or even head pain in two weeks!

~insert hallelujah song~

Trader Joe's has been my life line!

I have been eating various renditions of my green monster smoothie {which you can find here}.

All natural, preservative free chicken
All natural energy bars:

         

Lara Bars

That's It Bars

I also eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables!

You know they are fresh! I do buy organic: the thinner the skin of the fruit or vegetable the more likely I am to opt for the organic option.

I get nice and full and I really havent changed what I cook in terms of recipes, because I have always been health conscious, but I have changed the ingredients I use in what I cook.

I am very careful about seasonings and flavor packs.

I looked at what was in the some of the seasonings, like the ranch packs, and taco seasonings, and you can't even pronounce some of that stuff!

So I replaced those with an all purpose grinder from Trader Joe's and it is quite flavor full and yummy!

I am convinced that what we put into our bodies has a direct impact on how we feel and I am so thankful that I have found this one way that I can reduce my headaches drastically!

I am not trying to say that eating all natural will cure everything, but I do believe you will find more energy and possibly some relief from migraines or other things.

I have also remembered this verse:

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 

~1 Corinthians 6:19-20~

I would love to hear any of your secrets!

I am all about some new recipes or even your favorite energy bar or Trader Joe's product!

Today's Menu!

Sunday evening Ryan and I made a trip to Trader Joe's to get the groceries for the week. 

I was proud of myself, because I meal planned the whole week out and we only bought what was on our list!

Grand Total: $74

As long as we stick to our meal plan we will be doing really great this week!

Eating Healthy!

Eating Delicious!

AND IN BUDGET!

I got the great idea to make a Green Monster Smoothie from Bethany's Blog {go check her out here}

I used the following ingredients and just blended it up in the blender. 

1 cup spinach

1/3 cup green machine

1/4 OJ

1 Pear

1 Banana

I ate this for lunch Yum!!!

For dinner I made organic chicken fajitas in pita

and 

this salsa with Trader Joe's Spicy Flaxseed Tortilla Chips!

{Sorry about my horrendous misspelling of banana}

I am no good at spelling!

Happy Eating!

Today in Photos!

Went a little wild and crazy with the camera, the great weather, and some delicious food. 

AND THIS ONE IS FOR LAUGHS
{me and my dad}