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Spring Breakfast Salad

April 20, 2016 by Lindsay 6 Comments

Loaded with spring vegetables and topped with over-easy eggs, this paleo, gluten-free Spring Breakfast Salad is an easy and delicious way to start your day with more veggies!

Thanks to Davidson”s Safest Choice Eggs for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

A couple months ago I shared these Baked Scotch Eggs! They’re great for breakfast, dinner or snacks. This month, we’re switching gears a little bit and talking about how to get more veggies at breakfast!

Before you go running for the hills at the thought of eating a salad for breakfast, give me a chance to make my case for this one!

First of all, I used fresh spring veggies which are currently in-season right now and tasting their best.

Second of all, if you like runny eggs, this is definitely a recipe you need to try. We’re basically using these egg yolks as a nice little salad dressing. If you have the option to buy pasteurized eggs, I’d definitely recommend it!

Here’s how you make it:

Feel free to change things up and add your favorite veggies!

[Tweet “This Spring Breakfast Salad from @leangrnbeanblog is packed with seasonal veggies!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Spring Vegetable Frittata

April 11, 2016 by Lindsay 11 Comments

This recipe for a Spring Vegetable Frittata is packed with seasonal veggies like asparagus and peas and is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Hi Friends!

Just popping in with a quick spring recipe for you today! This year I set a goal to do a better job of embracing seasonal vegetables and so far I’m doing a pretty good job. Squish and I ate a fair amount of squash this winter and this spring I’ve been whole-heartedly embracing things like peas, asparagus, radishes and more!

This simple frittata is one that I made last time my parents were in town. You guys know I love making egg bakes as part of my weekly food prep for Squish to eat for breakfast. Most often I make some variety of this Paleo Breakfast Casserole with Chicken (either in a pan or in muffin form), but this was a fun way to change things up. Just look at all that green goodness stuffed in there!

As with most frittatas, this is totally customizable…but I’d highly suggest you grab some seasonal veggies and give it a try. I added some spiralized sweet potatoes to mine as well. I prefer spiralizing to chunks for dishes like this because they cook faster and more evenly.

So here’s how you make it:

That’s all there is too it! Make sure you have your heat set to medium or medium low, otherwise the bottom will get too crispy while the top cooks. If you’re a cheese fan, feel free to sprinkle with some additional shredded cheese once it’s cooked and like I mentioned in the recipe, you could also throw in some chicken sausage if you want to.

[Tweet “Up your seasonal veggie intake with this Spring Veggie Frittata from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite spring veggie?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes For A Single Guy

April 6, 2016 by Lindsay 11 Comments

These Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes For A Single Guy are hearty, nutritious and easy enough for even men (or women) who don’t like to cook.

Hi Friends!

Today’s post is inspired by my friend Jordan. We get along well because he shares my affinity for many things including Crossfit, dogs, tacos and craft beer. We also enjoy working out to boy band playlists and telling corny jokes. Jordan also happens to be single. He doesn’t particularly enjoy cooking but still wants to eat healthy. A few months ago, he bought himself a crockpot and since then I’ve been passing along various super-easy crockpot recipes like pulled pork with beer and pot roast. He’s a fan of any slow cooker recipes that require minimal prep work and effort but still taste good. None of this taking an extra minute to brown the meat nonsense. Just dump and go.

Last week I told him about a recipe I saw that involved just putting a pork roast in the crockpot along with some garlic and a jar of pickles (juice and all!) and he said it turned out well!

Since I figure Jordan can’t be the only single guy out there looking for easy, relatively healthy crockpot recipes, I decided to round up several for this post. They’re not all dump and go…but they’re fairly easy!

For several of them, I’ve provided tips to simplify the recipes even further. This is not in any way meant to insult the original recipe, as I know they’re all phenomenal. I just know some people, like Jordan, might not feel like spending time chopping veggies and may not have a fully-stocked spice cabinet so I provided a few tips on how to still make the recipes work!

Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes For A Single Guy

Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes via The Lean Green Bean

To simplify: Look for the super small baby potatoes so you don’t have to chop them up and skip chopping the chicken- just put the breasts in whole.

Crockpot Meatballs via The Lean Green Bean

To simplify: Skip the hemp seeds if you don’t have them or can’t find them and use a jar of sauce instead of making your own. Use a measuring cup to scoop the meat and don’t worry about forming into balls.

Beef and Bean Chili via Baked By Rachel

To simplify: Check the freezer section for pre-chopped frozen onions and peppers and buy a packet of chili seasoning to replace the spices.

4 Ingredient Shredded Beef Tacos via A Cedar Spoon

Note: You can also make these with chicken. Look for the salsa verde with the lowest amount of sodium to keep them healthy!

Slow Cooker Loaded Sweet Potatoes via The Lean Green Bean

To simplify: use leftover meat that’s already cooked or a pre-cooked chicken sausage and use 90-second rice you can cook in the microwave.

Crockpot Pizza Quinoa via Food Faith Fitness

To simplify: Leave the pepperonis whole and use frozen, pre-cut peppers

Slow Cooker Apple Pork Loin via The Kitchen is my Playground

To simplify: Skip the part where you make slits and stuff the apples inside- just put the apples and onions on the top and bottom with the pork in the middle!

Sesame Ginger Turkey Wraps via Better Homes & Gardens

Note: You could also eat this in lettuce wraps for a lower-carb option or just with a side of steamed veggies. You could also make these with chicken thighs.

Easy Crockpot Pot Roast via My Natural Family

To simplify: Replace seasonings with a packet of dry onion soup mix.

Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers via Everday Maven

To simplify: Use prechopped garlic and skip the bay leaf.

Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers via The Recipe Critic

To simplify: Use 90-second rice and pre-chopped onions.

Slow Cooker Meatloaf via Healthy Aperture

To simplify: Skip the chia seeds and throw in some breadcrumbs instead.

Honey Soy Pork Tenderloin via Add A Pinch

To simplify: Skip the ginger and red pepper flakes and just top with a little hot sauce before eating.

Crockpot Beef Stew via The Roasted Root

To simplify: Skip the thickening step at the end and it’ll just be a little more soup-like vs stew-like. You can also leave out the peas if you don’t like them.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff via Frugal Foodie Mama

To simplify: You could probably sub soy sauce for Worcestershire sauce if you don’t have it.

Ok, so that was 15 recipes. I was gonna stop at 13 but I just kept finding good ones! Pass this list along to all your single guy friends (or girlfriends!) who might need some kitchen inspiration!

[Tweet “Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for the Single Guy who doesn’t like to cook! via @leangrnbeanblog!”]

Let’s chat:

Do you have an easy slow cooker recipe Jordan would love? Leave a link in the comments so we can check it out!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Maple Apple Breakfast Sausage

March 31, 2016 by Lindsay 7 Comments

This recipe for Maple Apple Breakfast Sausage is the perfect addition to your weekend breakfast or brunch! Made with ground chicken, it’s simple, lean and flavorful!

Hi friends!

Let’s talk breakfast today, shall we? My favorite meal of the day! If I’m being honest, I’ve always been more of a bacon lover. Breakfast sausage is not usually my jam. But I like the idea of it. It just seems like the flavor is never quite right.

Since I’m always up for a challenge, I thought I’d try my hand at making my own! Since I’m partial to sweet breakfasts, I made these a little more sweet than savory, but the sweetness isn’t overwhelming. And since I’ve been loving ground chicken lately (see these Thai Chicken Meatballs that are on repeat around here), I used that instead of something a bit more traditional like ground pork. You could probably use whatever ground meat you want!

So, are you craving breakfast yet? These are perfect with some eggs and roasted potatoes! Here’s how you make them:

These would also be good on a breakfast sandwich…just saying….if you have leftovers, that’d be a good way to use them up!

[Tweet “These Maple Apple Bfast Sausages from @leangrnbeanblog are perfect with eggs and potatoes!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Brownie Bites

March 28, 2016 by Lindsay 44 Comments

These Healthy Brownie Bites require just seven ingredients, are healthy enough for a snack and also make a great dessert recipe!

Hi friends!

Super quick and easy recipe to share with you today because it’s Monday…and who doesn’t need a little chocolate on a Monday? These Healthy Brownie Bites are actually just a twist on one of the most popular recipes on the blog – my Sweet Potato Banana Bites. If you’ve made that recipe before, you know it requires just four basic ingredients!

This recipe adds just three more ingredients and voila! You’ve got dessert. These bite-sized treats are a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth and in my opinion, they’re still healthy enough for Squish to eat as the occasional snack! So that’s a win-win in my book.

I enjoyed them topped with a little extra nut butter but it’s not necessary! Like I mention about the Sweet Potato Bites, these aren’t super sweet. If you’re looking for a dessert that’s a bit more indulgent, but still healthy, you might like these Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies.

Anyways, here’s how you make them:

So there you have it! I definitely add the chocolate chips to mine and just use 3 T maple syrup. You could also use honey instead of maple syrup.

[Tweet “These Healthy Brownie Bites are a simple way to satisfy your sweet tooth! via @leangrnbeanblog”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs

March 23, 2016 by Lindsay 13 Comments

You only need one pan to make this recipe for Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs because the spaghetti cooks right in the sauce! Your weeknight dinner just got even easier!

Hi friends!

Are you totally shocked that I’m back with another skillet dinner? In reality, I actually made this back in December, took pictures, the whole shebang. But for some reason I thought it was a good idea to sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese all over the skillet when it was done. Bad idea. Tasted good. Looked terrible.

In any event, it took me until last weekend but I finally remade it. This time, I opted to garnish with parmesan and parsley and the photos turned out much better 🙂 So now I can finally share it with you guys!

I know spaghetti and meatballs is not an original recipe…but it is a favorite. And this is the first time I’ve tried cooking the spaghetti noodles right in the pan and I gotta say, I love it! It’s super easy and I think it helps the sauce stick to the noodles better which is a bonus in my opinion.

So here’s what you do:

So what do you think?! Can you handle it? As usual, if you don’t have a lid for your skillet, just cover it with a big baking sheet! Works like a charm.

This meal is fancy enough for dinner guests and simple enough for a weeknight family meal! Feel free to sub your own favorite meatball recipe….just make them all similar sized so they cook evenly.

[Tweet “Only one pan required for this Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Almond Crusted Salmon Nuggets

March 21, 2016 by Lindsay 20 Comments

These gluten-free Hemp and Almond Crusted Salmon Nuggets are a great recipe for getting your family to eat more fish. Made with just six ingredients, they’re simple enough for a quick dinner and they’re kid-friendly too!

Hi friends!

It’s time for another month of Recipe Redux. This month the theme was 7-Ingredient (or less) recipes. This recipe is just six ingredients and two of them are spices! Can’t beat that. I’m always looking for easy ways to add more fish to our weekly meals and although I haven’t quite gotten Squish on board with salmon (yet!) this was a fun way to change things up for hubby and I!

I used pre-cut filets and cut them into roughly 4 nuggets each but you could easily get a large piece and cut into several nuggets yourself. Mine also had skin on one side and although I was able to get it off relatively easily, it would definitely save you some time to buy some that already had the skin removed!

And finally, if you’re not into nuggets, you could just use this coating on salmon filets of whatever size you desire! I used hemp hearts instead of flour in the dredging process to keep them gluten-free…but you could easily use regular flour, or even almond flour if you’d like.

Here’s how you make it:

There you have it! Don’t worry if the not much of the hemp mixture sticks…it’s mostly just to give the egg something to grab onto. And like I said, feel free to use flour instead.

[Tweet “Eat more fish! Try these Almond-Crusted Salmon Nuggets from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

An InLinkz Link-up

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet

March 16, 2016 by Lindsay 9 Comments

This gluten-free Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet recipe is the perfect dinner for a busy night. It’s quick, healthy and packed with protein and vegetables.

Thanks to USA Rice for sponsoring this post. I was asked to participate in the “#ThinkRice ” campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network.

Hi Friends!

Are you getting tired of my skillet recipes? I hope not. My cast iron skillet is pretty much my favorite thing in my kitchen right now. I just can’t seem to stop using it! But enough about the skillet. For this post we’re actually focusing on the lovely wild rice you see mixed in there! As you may know, March is National Nutrition Month and rice is a nutritional powerhouse! U.S.-grown rice is full of essential vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, selenium, fiber, iron and zinc. Added bonus- it’s super affordable!

Have you ever wondered what kind of rice you should choose? Long grain rice is great for pilafs, salads, casseroles, stir-fry and jumbos. Medium and short grain rice are perfect for creamier dishes like risotto and rice puddings, as well as sushi!

I chose to use wild rice for this project because I feel like it’s often overlooked, but I love it! It adds a bit of chewy texture to dishes, as well as a protein punch! I combined it with chicken because that’s a weeknight staple in our house and threw in some veggies as well. The sauce is yogurt-based and super easy to make!

So let’s get cooking!

If you’re not a fan of mushrooms or green beans, feel free to swap in some of your favorite veggies. When cooking your wild rice, do a taste test every so often. I’ve found that when I cook it, it usually doesn’t take as long as the package says. You could also cook the rice ahead of time to help cut down on prep time.

So next time you’re at the grocery store, look for the “Grown in the USA Rice” logo on packages of 100% domestically-grown rice. It’s an easy way to boost the nutritional value of a dish and reduce food miles!

[Tweet “This Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet from @leangrnbeanblog is a must-try!”]

For more delicious USA Rice recipes, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy Chicken Pad Thai

March 14, 2016 by Lindsay 13 Comments

This quick and easy Chicken Pad Thai makes a great weeknight dinner. Full of Asian flavors, this recipe is gluten-free and ready in 20 minutes.

Hi friends!

Hope your week is off to a great start! This recipe for Chicken Pad Thai is quickly becoming a weeknight favorite. I’ve made it a couple times in the past couple weeks, including over the weekend while my sister was in town! It tastes great warm, but in my opinion, it tastes just as good cold…which makes it ideal for leftovers.

You could easily make this vegetarian by using tofu instead of chicken and using tamari instead of soy sauce keeps it gluten-free! It would also be great with shrimp! Make it spicier by adding some sriracha like I do, or leave it out if that doesn’t float your boat.

Here’s how you make it:

Feel free to add extra veggies if you want! And if the noodles aren’t your favorite part, you could just use half the package!

Let’s chat: Are you a fan of Asian flavors? What’s your favorite dish?

Need another quick dinner idea? Try this Healthy Beef and Broccoli.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Wild Blueberry Kefir Smoothie

March 11, 2016 by Lindsay 21 Comments

This Wild Blueberry Kefir Smoothie is packed with protein, greens and probiotics and makes a great breakfast or afternoon snack.

Hi friends!

Allow me to introduce you to Squish’s favorite snack. We’ve been enjoying afternoon smoothies for a while now, but a few weeks ago he finally learned how to drink through a straw and lemme tell you, that was a game changer!

When it comes to smoothies, I’m a creature of habit. If I find a combo I like, I stick with it. So I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the exact smoothie I’ve been making for weeks now. Well pretty much. I never actually measure anything when I make it…but I took some measurements for you guys. Just keep in mind that it’s very forgiving. There’s really no need to bust out the measuring cups.

You guys may remember I’ve done some sponsored recipe series with Wild Blueberries the past couple of summers (These Wild Blueberry Energy Bars are one of my favorite recipes!). But this isn’t a sponsored post. I just happen to really love them and they sell a giant bag at Costco that I can’t seem to resist buying.

Let’s talk about the other flavors in this smoothie. In my never-ending quest to get my child to eat more veggies, I always through a few Frozen Spinach Cubes into my smoothies. Since I’m not a huge fan of actually drinking green stuff, wild blueberries are perfect for hiding the green color. I also always try to add some healthy fats to my smoothies. In this combo, I chose peanut butter. Blueberry and peanut butter is actually one of my favorite combos ever!

As far as liquid, I opted for kefir. I’m sure you guys have heard about the growing popularity of probiotics and fermented foods. I’m trying really hard to get onboard because I’m well aware of the benefits…the problem is a lot of fermented stuff just doesn’t agree with my tastebuds- think sauerkraut, kimchi, etc. But give me this drinkable yogurt-type thing that’s loaded with probiotics and I can handle that in a smoothie! And finally, I threw some whole milk yogurt in there. I usually use a mix of plain and vanilla and alternate between regular and greek based on what I have on hand.

If I’m feeling like going a step above and beyond, I’ll throw in some chia or hemp seeds. But that’s pretty much it!

So here’s how you make this smoothie:

Ta da! It’s smoothie time. I like mine thick enough to eat with a spoon but I just add a little water to Squish’s to thin it out enough that he can drink it through a straw.

Now let me let you in on a little secret. I HATE getting out the blender. I understand it’s really not a big deal but when you have an impatient toddler, it’s really just a big hassle all around. So here’s what I’ve been doing lately:

Doubling or tripling my smoothie recipe on Sundays and pouring it into ice cube trays to freeze. Then, in the morning during the week, I just put a few smoothie cubes in a glass and stick it in the fridge. By the time snack time rolls around in the afternoon, I just have to pop that glass in the microwave, defrost for 10-15 seconds and BAM! Smoothie is ready. It’s almost fast enough to satisfy Squish…and there’s no clean-up for me! Win win!

So there you go friends! I know there are tons of smoothie flavor combos out there but I think this one is worth a try! It’s certainly a big hit in our house!

[Tweet “This Wild Blueberry Kefir Smoothie from @leangrnbeanblog is packed with protein, greens and probiotics!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

RDs Who Blog

March 10, 2016 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Hi Friends!

Just popping in with a quick post today. Turns out yesterday was National Registered Dietitian Day. For the past several years I’ve published a post to celebrate and highlight some of the amazing RDs out there who are doing great things in the blogging world.

This year I kinda dropped the ball. I had grand plans, but I thought RD Day was tomorrow….not yesterday. SO, I just wanted to take a second to direct you to last year’s post:

Registered Dietitians Who Blog

If you’re looking for some new blogs to follow, click the link or image above and check out some of the great blogs my friends and fellow RDs are writing. Tons of great, healthy recipes, nutrition information etc from reputable sources! And be sure to read the comments on last year’s post as well for links to even more RD blogs!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Skillet Chicken and Dumplings

March 9, 2016 by Lindsay 8 Comments

This recipe for Skillet Chicken and Dumplings makes an easy weeknight dinner. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s healthy comfort food packed with protein and vegetables!

Hi friends!

Just popping in with another quick and easy dinner idea for you! This is kinda like chicken pot pie, without the hassle of the pie part. Also, I debated calling this Chicken and Biscuits because the dumplings are a bit more biscuit-like in my opinion….but either way, they’re delicious. The dumplings cook right in the skillet so you don’t even have to worry about turning on the oven.

Basically, this is comfort food made easy. You just plop everything in a pan and let it simmer for a while. You can handle that, right? For my version, I made homemade dumplings. They’re fairly simple, but if you’re looking for a shortcut you could make an even easier version using something like Bisquick!

So here’s how you make it:

That’s all there is to it! Feel free to add some cayenne pepper or extra spices if you desire! I didn’t have a lid for my cast iron skillet so I just laid a large baking sheet across the top of it!

[Tweet “This Skillet Chicken and Dumplings from @leangrnbeanblog is the perfect weeknight dinner!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels + 6 Brunch Recipes

February 25, 2016 by Lindsay 19 Comments

These Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are easy to make at home and taste way better than store-bought! Perfect with peanut butter for an afternoon snack!

These Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are easy to make at home and taste way better than store-bought! Perfect with peanut butter for an afternoon snack!

Hi Friends!

Today it’s time for another recipe group round-up! This month we’re focusing on brunch! In case you missed any of our past round-ups, be sure to check them our themes and links to my recipes below:

6 Healthy Ways To Eat:

Cranberries (Cranberry Clementine Salsa)
Sweet Potatoes (Sweet Potato Protein Bars)
Apples (Caramel Apple Bread)
Pumpkin (Pumpkin Yogurt Dip)
Zucchini (Grilled Zucchini Rollups)
Almond Flour (Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies)
Black Beans (Mexican Layer Dip)
Citrus (Small Batch Raspberry Lemon Bars)

Ok, so back to this month’s recipe. I made you bagels. And you guys, they’re really not hard at all to make! I even made them twice in one week. After round 1, I made a few tweaks to the recipe and made them even more delicious.

These Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are easy to make at home and taste way better than store-bought! Perfect with peanut butter for an afternoon snack!

If you’ve been holding off on making homemade bread, bagels, etc because you’re afraid of yeast, I encourage you to give it a try. It’s a simple process and the results are so much better than store-bought, without any crazy ingredients!

So here’s how you make these bagels:

This recipe makes 8 small-medium sized bagels. You could also choose to make 4-6 larger bagels or 10-12 mini bagels! If you make them smaller, you may need to adjust the baking time accordingly.

They’d be perfect for brunch. Put them in a cute little basket and let people top their bagel with peanut butter, cream cheese or whatever floats their boat!

These Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are easy to make at home and taste way better than store-bought! Perfect with peanut butter for an afternoon snack!

[Tweet “These Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bagels from @leangrnbeanblog are way better than store-bought!”]

Now, let’s see what my lovely friends are bringing to the brunch party!

6 Delicious Recipes To Make For Your Next Brunch

So much deliciousness for you to go check out:

Flourless Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

These are getting me in the mood for spring:
Flourless Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
via Sarah at Making Thyme For Health

Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Can never go wrong with a classic!
Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
via Julia at The Roasted Root

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Pizza

Who says pizza is just for dinner?
Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Pizza
via Alexis at Hummusapien

Cinnamon Bun Breakfast Cake

I’d venture a guess this is better than cinnamon rolls:
Healthy Flourless Cinnamon Bun Breakfast Cake
via Arman at The Big Man’s World

Breakfast Banana Splits

Let people go crazy topping these:
Breakfast Banana Splits
via Kylie at Imma Eat That

Pretty much I want to eat them ALL immediately.

Let’s chat:
Breakfast, brunch or lunch? Which do you prefer?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Salsa Verde Pork Enchilada Casserole

February 24, 2016 by Lindsay 10 Comments

This recipe for Salsa Verde Pork Enchilada Casserole is gluten-free and easily makes two dinners. Serve the slow cooker salsa verde pork with rice one night and turn the leftovers into enchilada casserole later in the week.

Hi friends!

Here’s a quick and easy two for one dinner idea for you! I’m always looking for ways to transform leftovers and this Salsa Verde Pork Enchilada Casserole certainly fits the bill.

But before we get to that, let’s first make the pork:

This super easy slow cooker pork is full of flavor and can easily be served on its own with rice.

Salsa Verde Pulled Pork

1 cup chopped onion
2 cups tomatillos (roughly chopped)
3 serrano peppers
2 Tbsp garlic, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 cup orange juice
juice from 1 lime
5-6 pound pork roast (i usually use boneless boston butt)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except pork in a high powered blender or food processor and process well.
Place pork in a slow cooker and pour sauce over top.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
Shred with forks and serve with rice.

So there you have it! Easy dinner idea #1. Now, if you’re not a fan of eating the same dinner a few nights in a row, here’s how you transform your leftover pork into something new and equally tasty:

This enchilada casserole satisfies my seemingly endless craving for Mexican food for at least a few days!

Here’s how you make it:

If you have a few extra minutes, I’d recommend making a batch of homemade enchilada sauce to cut down on the sodium!

So there you go! Two easy dinner ideas that are full of flavor. Make one or make both and enjoy them for lunch or dinner! Or even breakfast! Some leftover pork would be great on a sandwich for lunch or in an omelet for breakfast.

[Tweet “Transform your leftover pork into this Salsa Verde Pork Enchilada Casserole from @Leangrnbeanblog!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Green Smoothie Pancakes

February 21, 2016 by Lindsay 24 Comments

This recipe for Green Smoothie Pancakes has all the healthy ingredients from your favorite smoothie in pancake form so you can prep them ahead of time and reheating for breakfast during the week!

Hi Friends!

It’s time for another month of Recipe Redux! This month the theme was breakfast – my favorite meal of the day!

Break Out of Breakfast Boredom

Cooks aren’t always pressed for time in the mornings – they just need new ideas. Think mug cakes, smoothie bowls, breakfast cookies and more. Show us the healthy way you wake up your breakfast – or wake up just for breakfast!

While I’m fairly happy eating the same thing for breakfast every day, I’m doing my best to expose Squish to a variety of new foods so I’m always looking for new breakfast ideas for him.

I like simple recipes that are packed with nutritious ingredients and I especially like breakfasts that can be prepped ahead of time so I can get breakfast ready quickly in the morning.

These Green Smoothie Pancakes fit the bill. We’ve been enjoying them for breakfast AND lunch. I actually like them even better the second day and even sometimes prefer them cold, straight out of the fridge! Squish likes them smothered with peanut butter.

Here’s how you make them:

These pancakes are packed with healthy green ingredients like spinach and kiwis, plus hemp hearts, nut butter and greek yogurt for added protein and healthy fats! We’ve been loving smoothies as a snack lately, but I just can never seem to get into them for breakfast. I think I just like chewing my breakfast. Green Smoothie Pancakes are the perfect compromise! All the delicious smoothie ingredients in a form you can eat with a fork!

Plus the green color makes them fun to eat and all the flavors covering the spinach makes them kid-friendly! One thing I did notice is that if you eat them hot straight out of the pan, you can taste the spinach a little more than when you let them cool down a bit or eat them cold!

[Tweet “Make these Green Smoothie Pancakes from @leangrnbeanblog to enjoy for breakfast all week!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

For more creative breakfast ideas, check out the links below:

An InLinkz Link-up

Screenshots

February 19, 2016 by Lindsay 8 Comments

Hi Friends!

Just popping in with a little bit of Friday randomness. Today we’re talking screenshots!

First of all, I’m kinda addicted to taking them. I’m constantly screenshotting stuff on my phone that I like/what/need to remember.

Second – did you know if you have an iphone there’s a screenshots album in your photos? Only took me like 4 years of having in iphone to discover this, but it’s nice to be able to go there and look through all my screenshots without other pictures in between.

Third- My girl Courtney has done some fun posts where she shares some of the fun stuff she’s taken screen shots of lately, so I thought I’d jump on board and do the same. I tried to organize/group them at least a little bit for you! Enjoy!

Quotes

IMG 0483 e1455827918492

Yessssss.

IMG 1139 e1455827960294

AMEN.

IMG 1042 e1455827995237

[Read more…] about Screenshots

Baked Scotch Eggs

February 17, 2016 by Lindsay 24 Comments

This recipe for Baked Scotch Eggs makes a great high protein breakfast. Enjoy them warm or cold and serve with guacamole for some added healthy fats!

This post was sponsored by Davidson’s Safest Choice Eggs. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi Friends!

Today we’re talking about one of my all-time favorite foods- eggs! If you follow me on any form of social media, you’re probably well aware that I eat eggs pretty much every single day. They’re healthy, versatile and I just never seem to get sick of them!

So the first recipe I cooked up for you guys are these Baked Scotch Eggs.

Eggs are one of my go-to breakfasts and snacks for Squish. He’s a fan of them pretty much any way I cook them but I’m always looking for new ideas. He’s also a growing boy. And he eats a lot. It actually truly baffles me how much he can eat for such a little person. But I’m doing my best to feed him real, well-balanced meals and snacks. Lately, I’ve been focusing a lot on breakfast and making sure to give him a protein-packed plate to kick off the day.

This recipe definitely fits the bill and it’s fairly simple to make.

Here’s how you do it:

Pin this post so you can give it a try later!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Savory Vegetable Pancakes

February 15, 2016 by Lindsay 10 Comments

This recipe for Savory Vegetable Pancakes is an easy, kid-friendly way to add more vegetables to lunch or dinner!

Hi friends!

It’s been so long since I made these little veggie cakes that I almost forgot to share them with you! That would have been tragic because they were actually quite good. I had a tough time deciding what to call these – they’re kinda like cakes, kinda like pancakes, kinda like fritters…you get the idea. I went with pancakes because they’re a little more fluffy than crispy…but they’re not the kind of pancakes you’d want to top with syrup.

Basically, these were an attempt to create a healthy vehicle that could be used to transport hummus into Squish’s mouth. I think I’ve mentioned before that Squish will eat pretty much ANYTHING that’s covered in hummus. Right now that’s the easiest way to get some veggies into him…but steamfresh veggies dipped in hummus gets a little old, even for me.

So, I set out to create a pancake-type thing that I could top with hummus, cut into pieces and let him go to town on, while still getting some veggies at meal time. If you or your kiddos aren’t fans of hummus you could try a different sauce like tzatziki!

Here’s how you make them:

Pretty easy right? Be sure to finely dice any veggies you’re using and if you shred veggies like carrots and zucchini, wrap them up and give them a good squeeze to remove excess moisture!

Thanks to all the veggies, these won’t be completely fluffy and dry inside like a traditional breakfast pancake but leave them in the skillet long enough to brown nicely on both sides and cook through the middle. We enjoyed these both warm and cold. Take your pick!

[Tweet “Serve these Savory Vegetable Pancakes from @leangrnbeanblog topped with hummus at lunch or dinner!”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

$250 Minted Giveaway

February 12, 2016 by Lindsay 6 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 9.23.09 PM

This post was sponsored by my friends at Minted and contains affiliate links. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Hi friends!

Just popping in today to share a little bit about a fun website I was recently introduced to! You guys know I love photos…as evidenced by the fact that I take about a million a day of Squish! I store them all on my phone and computer but I’m absolutely terrible about printing them all out and updated our framed photos. When the lovely folks at Minted reached out to see if I’d be interested in ordering a few things from their site, I jumped at the chance!

What I love about Minted is that it’s a community of independent artists. Here’s how it works. Independent artists submit designs. People vote on their favorites. Minted sells the winning designs on their website!

[Read more…] about $250 Minted Giveaway

A Day In The Life – 15 Months

February 11, 2016 by Lindsay 24 Comments

Hi Friends!

Somehow as I sit here and write this, I have a 15 month old baby. Not quite sure how that happened but excuse me while I go cry! As promised, I’m doing my best to write one of these posts every 3 months. I just went back and read my 12 month post and it’s crazy how much things have changed!

In case you missed the past posts, here they are:

Day in the Life – 12 Months
Day in the Life – 9 Months
Day in the Life – 6 Months
Day in the Life – 3 Months

So here’s how our day looked yesterday. I tried to link to some of the things in the pictures people might ask about. Some of the links are affiliate links:

4 AM – Wake up and feed the animals.

5 AM – Wake up to make sure hubby is up. Like I mentioned the other day, there have been some changes at the gym and he’s currently coaching the 5:30am classes during the week before he goes to work. He’s doing great, but it’s been an adjustment to get used to waking up at 4:45 instead of 7:45 like he was previously. So, we both set alarms to make sure he gets up and out the door.

6 AM – Up and at ’em. Squish’s wake up and nap schedules have been less than predictable lately, which means it has been increasingly hard for me to get work done during the day. He typically wakes up around 7 so I try to get up by 6 to get a solid hour of work in before that. This is typically when I do a lot of social media stuff, as well as a lot of my daily tasks for Healthy Aperture, etc. I do my best to focus on Squish when he’s awake but I do occasionally need to answer work emails throughout the day.

7:30 AM – Hubby gets home around 7:15 and Squish wakes up around 7:30. He gets him up while I get breakfast ready. If Squish wakes up earlier, I get him up myself and breakfast gets delayed a bit…but this morning it was nice to have a few minutes to get his breakfast together in peace. He doesn’t always need to eat right when he wakes up…but when he decides it’s time to eat, food better be ready in about 30 seconds or total meltdown ensues. My go-to breakfast for him is a baked egg muffin, a sweet potato bite and some fruit. Plus Cheerios and a glass of milk. (This is the cup he uses and these bibs are dishwasher safe!). I cram down a fried egg and some Cheerios myself while feeding him.

7:45 – 9 AM – Playtime. Hubby heads to work and Squish and I play. He watches some PBS, plays in his kitchen, we read books, etc. (Rainbow Stacker, Magnet board + magnets, wooden blocks)

Spring Breakfast Salad

Spring Vegetable Frittata

Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes For A Single Guy

Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes For A Single Guy

Maple Apple Breakfast Sausage

Healthy Brownie Bites

Almond Crusted Salmon Nuggets

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet

Easy Chicken Pad Thai

Wild Blueberry Kefir Smoothie

RDs Who Blog

Registered Dietitians Who Blog

Skillet Chicken and Dumplings

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels + 6 Brunch Recipes

Salsa Verde Pork Enchilada Casserole

Green Smoothie Pancakes

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Baked Scotch Eggs

Savory Vegetable Pancakes

$250 Minted Giveaway

A Day In The Life – 15 Months

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