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Chicken Pasta Salad with Salsa Hummus Dressing

October 9, 2014 by Lindsay 18 Comments

“By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the National Pasta Association and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

Hi Friends!

Let’s talk pasta, shall we? Did you know October is National Pasta Month? You guys know i’m definitely not one to shy away from carbs. I’m a huge pasta fan and think it can be a great addition to a healthy diet. Pair it with lots of veggies and some lean protein and BOOM! You’ve got yourself a meal. Plus it’s budget friendly and comes in all sorts of fun shapes!

When I heard that this month The Recipe Redux teamed up with the National Pasta Association to present Redux members with a Pasta Fits contest, I knew I had to enter! The idea was to create a pasta recipe that fits into your healthy lifestyle.

So, what did I come up with?

Lately I’ve been struggling a bit with lunches. I’m 38 weeks pregnant. I’m tired all the time. I don’t want to spend a lot of time putting together an elaborate lunch. So I thought i’d come up with something I could make a big batch of ahead of time and then simply pull it out and eat it for lunches during the week.

I settled on a pasta salad. With pasta as the base, it’s easy to add lots of veggies and protein for a complete meal. The star of this recipe, however, is the “dressing”. It’s just two ingredients, but it’s so delicious.

Here’s how you make it:

See what I mean about the dressing? So simple…just hummus and salsa. But it adds so much flavor! I used Sabra Supremely Spicy Hummus and Jacks Salsa. Feel free to use your favorites, or a homemade version!

After you mix everything together, feel free to add more hummus and/or salsa if you want it creamier!

For the veggies, I used peppers, carrots and green beans to add crunch and then threw in some defrosted peas from the freezer and meant to add some tomato but forgot! For the chicken, I made a Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken and used some of the meat from that!

Enjoy!
—Lindsay–

15 Freezer Meals and Snacks

October 8, 2014 by Lindsay 57 Comments

A well-stocked freezer can make healthy eating easy during busy weeks. Here are 15 Freezer Meals and Snacks that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches, dinners, and snacks.

Hi Friends!

You guys know I love my food prep, right? Well, today we’re taking that a step further and talking about freezer prep. Over the past few weeks I’ve been making an effort to stock up on some freezer meals and snacks to have on hand for those first few weeks after Baby Bean decides to make an appearance.

A well-stocked freezer can make healthy eating easy during busy weeks. Here are 15 Freezer Meals and Snacks that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches, dinners and snacks.

Here’s the deal. I will share all the freezer meals and snacks I’ve prepped so far but there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

Some of these recipes are indeed in my freezer but I haven’t taste-tested them yet. I was going to wait to share them but many of you have been asking so I thought I’d share them now and will update you on how they turn out as I make them. I didn’t make anything that isn’t similar to things that other people have made successfully before, so I’m sure they’ll all turn out fine!
Most of these recipes don’t require exact quantities, they’re very forgiving, but I did my best to give you quantity estimates.
I chose to store things in ziploc bags so I could freeze them flat and save space. If you have a bigger freezer than me, feel free to store them in whatever containers you want.

Let’s talk briefly about how I approached my freezer prep:

I split it up over a few weekends. If you’re ambitious or in the mood you could power through it and really get a lot done in one day.
I started by making a Pinterest board for crockpot and freezer meals.
Next, I spent a few nights actually clicking through the pins and making a list of possible things I might make. I didn’t copy exact recipes. Some were general enough that I had a good idea of the ingredients I would use. For some, I jotted down some ingredients that were used and decided I would figure out quantities on my own. Keep in mind this approach might not work for everyone. If you want to follow the recipes exactly, by all means go for it. I just prefer to freestyle it in the kitchen.
Once I had my list, I went through and decided what I was going to make and split them into 3-4 different groups so that I could tackle them on different days.
Then, I started cooking. I picked a few things I wanted to make, added some extra stuff to my grocery list and worked it into my Sunday food prep. Most of these ideas use ingredients I would buy anyway, so it was just a matter of buying a little extra of some things.

So what did I make?

A well-stocked freezer can make healthy eating easy during busy weeks. Here are 15 Freezer Meals and Snacks that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches, dinners and snacks.

Round 1

Lentil Beef Bolognese Sauce (fully cooked, freezer meal)

3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups vegetables, chopped
1 1/4 pound ground beef (or turkey)
2 cups cooked lentils
2- 17oz cartons of tomato sauce – no salt added
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano

Directions:
Cook the beef, vegetables and garlic until beef is cooked through. Add the sauce, spices and lentils and stir to combine. Let cool completely, split into two ziploc bags and freeze.

Notes:
– Adding lentils helps stretch the beef in this recipe and gives you enough for two batches. You can leave them out and use half the sauce and fewer veggies for a simple meat sauce.
– Thaw this sauce out and serve with spaghetti noodles or use it to make lasagna or stuffed shells!

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Lentil Chicken Curry (fully cooked, freezer meal)

1 pound chicken, cubed
4 cups vegetables
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cooked lentils
2 Tbsp red curry paste
1 cup coconut milk

Directions:
Cook the chicken, vegetables, and garlic until cooked through. Add the lentils, curry paste, and coconut milk. Stir to combine. Let cool completely, pour into ziploc bag, and freeze.
Thaw, reheat & serve over rice or with some naan!

Notes:
– This is similar to my Lentil Veggie Curry that I make all the time.

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Cranberry Chicken (uncooked, crockpot meal)

1 pound chicken breasts
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium apple, chopped
1 medium sweet potato, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup apple cider (or another cup of broth)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp mustard
black pepper & paprika to taste

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a ziploc bag. Freeze.
When ready to serve, thaw overnight, pour into crockpot, and cook on low 4-6 hours until chicken is cooked through. Shred the chicken before serving.

Notes:
-I haven’t tried this yet but have made something with similar ingredients and it had great flavor.
-This could be cooked from frozen in the crockpot for a longer amount of time.

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Chicken Fajitas (uncooked, crockpot meal)

1.5 pounds chicken breasts
1 large red pepper, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
3/4 cup broth
1-2 tsp cumin

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a Ziploc bag. Freeze.
When ready to serve, thaw overnight, add to crockpot, and cook on low 4-6 hours until chicken is cooked. Shred the chicken and serve with tortillas and other toppings such as tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, avocado, etc.

Notes:
-This could be cooked from frozen in the crockpot for a longer amount of time.

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Stuffed Peppers (uncooked, crockpot meal)

1.25 pounds raw ground beef
2 cups vegetables, diced (I used carrots, onion, and mushrooms)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp McCormick seasoning (or your favoring seasoning)
6 bell peppers, tops and seeds removed

Directions:
Mix everything but the peppers together. Divide evenly between the peppers. Freeze in a ziploc bag.
When ready to serve, thaw, place in crockpot, and cook on low 6-8 hours or until ground beef is cooked. Top with cheese if desired and serve with rice.

Notes:
– To help the peppers stay standing, cut thin slices off the bottom to create flat surfaces.
– I’ve made stuffed peppers before but have not tried them in the crockpot yet.

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A well-stocked freezer can make healthy eating easy during busy weeks. Here are 15 Freezer Meals and Snacks that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches, dinners and snacks.

Round 2

I made the following (click the recipe names for the recipe!)

Peanut Butter Banana Oat Muffins (wrap 3-4 in plastic wrap inside the ziploc bag) Fully cooked. Just thaw in the fridge or microwave and eat.
Freezer Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (double batch, frozen prior to cooking) Just pull out the number you want to cook and bake according to recipe directions.
Pumpkin Energy Balls (double batch) Eat straight from the freezer!

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A well-stocked freezer can make healthy eating easy during busy weeks. Here are 15 Freezer Meals and Snacks that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches, dinners and snacks.

Round 3

Froyo Bites – Click to see the original recipe post. I made a double batch with whole milk yogurt, frozen wild blueberries, almonds, pumpkin seeds and chocolate chips. Freeze in ice cube trays and eat straight from the freezer!
Egg McMuffins – Per sandwich: 1 English muffin, 2 eggs, 1-2 strips bacon, cheese. Cook the eggs, top them with cheese and bacon, and let them cool completely. Then, put on an English muffin, wrap individually in plastic wrap and put in a ziploc bag. To eat, remove plastic wrap, wrap in paper towel and microwave 1-2 minutes until heated through. Tip: bake the bacon in the oven while you’re cooking the eggs. If you prefer burrito style, add some beans and veggies, scramble the eggs, wrap in a tortilla, and freeze that way!
Meatballs – I used my Crockpot Meatballs recipe, but skipped the sauce and after I browned them, I baked them in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 min or until cooked. Let cool before freezing. Thaw and add sauce and noodles for spaghetti or make a meatball sub!
Chicken Fingers – Buy chicken tenderloin strips (or cut your own), dredge in flour, dip in egg, and coat with breadcrumbs (seasoned if desired). Flash freeze raw on a tray or plate, and then transfer to a ziploc bag. Cook from frozen at 350 degrees for 30-35 min or until cooked through. (Edited to add- Tried these and they were delicious. Here’s the full recipe: Freezer Chicken Tenders.

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Other Ideas

And just in case you want more ideas. Here are some other things that were on my list that I haven’t gotten around to making:

Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken – I did actually make one batch of this on a random day so I have one in the freezer.
Cajun Meatloaf – My mom made us two of these while she was in town, cooked them and then we sliced them and wrapped up still in loaf shape. Just have to thaw and eat!
Burgers – form into patties and freeze raw so all you have to do is cook them.
Pancakes – Make a couple batches of my Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes and freeze them. Just heat them up in the microwave and enjoy!
Chicken Tortilla Soup – Freeze some raw diced chicken, tomatoes, beans, onions, garlic, corn, jalapeños, lime juice, cilantro, cumin and broth. Throw it in the crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

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So, there you have it: lots of easy freezer meal! Hope that helps!

And for those of you that asked: no, I don’t have a giant freezer. We have the kind of fridge that’s a fridge on top, then has a fridge drawer in the middle and then a freezer drawer at the bottom. The freezer drawer has a top drawer within it, which is where I fit all of the stuff I prepped (on the left in the pic below), along with a batch of Curried Sweet Potato Soup and some homemade veggie broth. In the two main freezer compartments (on the right in the pic) I have other things like bread, frozen fruits and veggies, etc.

A well-stocked freezer can make healthy eating easy during busy weeks. Here are 15 Freezer Meals and Snacks that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches, dinners and snacks.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Make these 15 Freezer Meals & Snacks from @leangrnbeanblog to always have healthy food on hand!” quote=”Make these 15 Freezer Meals & Snacks from @leangrnbeanblog to always have healthy food on hand!”]

Let’s chat:
Do you have freezer or crockpot meals you love? Feel free to leave links in the comments!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Baby Bean’s Nursery

October 4, 2014 by Lindsay 23 Comments

Hi Friends!

Just popping in to share a quick tour of Baby Bean’s nursery! We finally got around to taking some pictures last weekend.

Before we get to the big reveal, let’s take a look at where we started. Since we moved into our house 6 years ago, what is now the nursery has pretty much served as our junk room. It was the catch-all for everything we didn’t have a place for. Since we had two additional bedrooms for guest rooms, we really had no reason to keep it organized.

Oh, and did I mention that when the previous owners used it as a nursery, they chose Dr. Seuss characters and bright red and orange paint?

Once we cleared everything out of the room (we had a big garage sale back in May), hubby set to work sanding and priming. The murals were globbed on and it took hubby about 20 sheets of sandpaper to make the walls smooth again.

We did a lot of work on the nursery fairly early on because we knew hubby would be having shoulder surgery in June. We chose Benjamin Moore “Gray Owl” for a neutral paint color and we both love it!

Up next, furniture. First we picked out our crib. We may have gone a little overboard on a solid wood, amish-made crib….but it’s from the same place we bought our king-sized bed and the crib converts into a bed as well so we know it will be a solid piece of furniture that we can continue to use as baby grows. We picked out the one we liked pretty early because we knew it would take a couple of months to be built and delivered.

In an effort to save some money after the crib, we turned to Craigslist. We found a great deal on a three-drawer dresser that’s the perfect height for us to place a changing pad on top of and use as a changing table as well.

Then we found a Dutalier Glider and ottoman on Craigslist. It’s the oversized one and the cushions on the back part can pull down to help support baby while feeding. It’s in perfect condition and although it might not have been my first color choice and the ottoman fabric is a slightly different color than the glider itself, we pretty much scored it for half price, which was worth it!

We also found a cute little side table from TJ Maxx and a lamp at World Market.

When we moved into our house, none of the bedrooms had overhead lighting. We’ve been slowly adding lights and ceiling fans to the rooms and the nursery was the last one on the list. Hubby used his handyman skills to wire and install a new light and ceiling fan while the boys and I supervised from the glider.

Finally, we found some solid wood shelves that hubby installed on the wall to make a bookcase of sorts! I’d seen similar things on Pinterest and decided I loved the idea.

Next we started looking for wall art. We found the owls at Target.

The set of 4 prints are from Tessyla on Etsy. You can customize the colors and designs you want to go in your set of 4 and they came out great! We found wooden frames we loved at Hobby Lobby to put them in.

The Love You Forever print is from Dalloway Place on Etsy.

Hubby’s cousin has a company called Pure Token and creates adorable art! She made us the Where the Wild Things Are piece and gave it to me at my baby shower. We love it!

We also hung up a couple more shelves to hold some things!

And now for some shots of it all put together. We tried using the panoramic feature on my phone to give you a good idea of what it looks like.

This is the view to your right when you come in the door. The lamp is from Target, the chevron basket on the floor and the blanket on the crib are from Marshall’s.

This is the corner straight ahead of you when you walk in the door. Curtains and blanket are from Marshall’s, table from TJ Maxx, lamp from World Market and we bought the elephant at the art fair this summer.

The closed door is the closet which is a little hard to get to because of the glider, but you can still get in and out and we’re planning to store extra diapers, etc in there, plus clothes that are too big/too small.

And looking the other direction from the far corner you can see the bookshelf. My grandma gave us that Love wall sign on our wedding day.

And a few more for good measure:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

What Busy Moms Feed Their Kids

October 2, 2014 by Lindsay 17 Comments

Hi Friends!

Since you guys enjoyed the posts I put together about What Registered Dietitians Feed Their Kids (Click to read Part 1 & Part 2), I decided to keep it going for a while and have reached out to a few of my favorite busy moms to share some more insight! Hopefully these posts will spark some ideas for you!

Are you a busy mom looking for new meals and snacks to feed your kids? This post is full of healthy ideas your baby or toddler will love!

This is mostly a toddler edition, with a little info on younger kiddos from parents of multiple kids. Next round covers a few kiddos under 18 months so stay tuned for that!

Are you a busy mom looking for new meals and snacks to feed your kids? This post is full of healthy ideas your baby or toddler will love!

Rachel
The Avid Appetite (theavidappetite.com)
Penelope, 20 months

1. What do your children typically eat for breakfast?
Penelope loves eggs (scrambled or fried, with cheese), yogurt, cream cheese & jam on whole wheat bread, fruit, or some organic dry cereal, and of course, her whole milk.

2. What do they typically eat for lunch?
Soup, mac ‘n cheese or pasta w/mixed vegetables, organic hot dogs, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers. Always with water on the side; I don’t give her juice right now.

3. Do you all sit down as a family for dinner?
Unfortunately, I don’t arrive home from work until 7pm so Penelope has already eaten dinner by then. On the weekends, we do our best to have family breakfast together. We are typically on-the-go for the remainder of the day, so we eat together when we can.

4. What happens if they don’t like what you’re making for dinners?
Though we don’t sit together for dinner, we try to give Penelope whatever we are eating. We are lucky that she’s a champ and eats almost anything we will give her. If she doesn’t want it, then we will try something else…but usually if she doesn’t want it, it means she just isn’t hungry and I don’t force her to eat.

5. What are the kids’ favorite snacks? What are some snacks you never leave the house without?
She loves fruit of any kind and that is always a go-to, even at home. For on the go, I like to have bananas or blueberries, which can usually stand being in my bag for a few hours. Applesauce and cheese sticks are great options, too. The reigning champion snack of all time for Penelope is yogurt melts. I always have bags of them everywhere. That would not be my first choice of snacks for her, but she truly loves them so much and they are my secret weapon for meltdowns or to keep her occupied. We also like organic fruit snacks (YumEarth are great and only come with 5 or 6 pieces per pack), and organic, healthy cookies from MySuperFoods, which are packed with whole grains, chia seeds, flax seed and more

6. Are any foods off limits?
No. From the get go, I wanted Penelope to develop a real love of food…all of it. So that means she gets bell peppers to dip in hummus (she LOVES her dip!), but also bites of cake at a party. If I’m eating something that Penelope is interested in (from iced tea or steak to blue cheese or peanut butter on a spoon), she gets to try it.

7. Any tips for picky eaters?
We are lucky that Penelope is interested in food and so I wouldn’t consider her picky (yet). For those times that she isn’t, I will take her plate and start eating the food on it, ignoring her reaction. She will often come around, want to sit in my lap and try it. And if she doesn’t? I don’t push her. When she is hungry, she will eat.

8. Do any of your kids have food allergies? How do you deal with that both at home and when in public?
Luckily, no. I really feel for parents who have to deal with this. It’s a scary notion, especially when sending your kids to daycare or school!

Are you a busy mom looking for new meals and snacks to feed your kids? This post is full of healthy ideas your baby or toddler will love!

Kath Younger, RD
Kath Eats Real Food (www.katheats.com)
Mazen, age 2

1. What do your children typically eat for breakfast?
My son’s favorite breakfasts are scrambled eggs with whole wheat toast and sliced fruit or banana oatmeal with a dollop of peanut butter. He takes after his mama : ) We also do smoothies from time to time, and a green smoothie is a great way for me to sneak in some berries and veggies.

2. What do they typically eat for lunch?
We rely on leftovers a lot for lunch. It’s hard for my 2-year-old to eat raw veggies, and he’s usually too hungry to wait for a whole meal to cook, so I most often re-heat something from the fridge (we plan for this by making extra at dinner). Some of his favorite lunch foods are currently (because they change every day!): mini quiches, carrots and crackers in hummus, noodles of any kind, sweet potato fries, fruit, quesadillas and nut butters.

3. Do you all sit down as a family for dinner?
We try, but at age 2 this is pretty difficult. Sometimes when he takes a later nap and I’m really organized with dinner we can time it perfectly, but more often than not he’s hungry before dinner is ready. About half the time he eats while I’m cooking and then we eat while he plays, but the other half we all sit down together. I can say without a doubt that he tries more diverse foods when we eat at the same table, so I am working to make this a priority. He is also getting better at waiting a little later to eat, so that is helpful too.

4. What happens if they don’t like what you’re making for dinners?
I try to go by the recommendation to have a few things we know he likes along with 1-2 new foods. We usually offer him the new food enthusiastically and model eating it ourselves. It’s a toss up if he’ll try it, but sometimes he does! We recently had chicken and pepper kebobs with orzo salad and he decided that night that he loved roasted red peppers but wouldn’t touch the orzo! He always surprises me. J We try to go with the flow as much as we can and keep offering and modeling.

5. What are the kids’ favorite snacks? What are some snacks you never leave the house without?
One of our favorites this summer was yogurt frozen into a popsicle. I even let him have one for breakfast! I either make a smoothie popsicle with plain yogurt and a little fruit blended together or I buy the Siggi’s kids squeeze pops and freeze those. They are low in sugar, so I think it’s an excellent choice for breakfast, snack or dessert. I’ve also been making homemade whole grain bars (nut free for school) and freezing them so I can put one in the diaper bag and it will have thawed by the time he’s ready to eat it. Mini Larabars are great to keep too – the portion size is good and Mazen thinks they are a cookie!

6. Are any foods off limits?
I’ve been more laid back about what my son eats than I might have predicted, but we try to avoid anything that is heavily processed or full of artificial ingredients. If another mom feeds it to him (like at a birthday party) I’m not going to freak out, but we don’t buy those kinds of things ourselves.

7. Any tips for picky eaters?
Mazen has started to want to help me in the kitchen, so we pull up a chair and he helps stir the pancake batter or whisk dressing. The other week I had arugula in the salad spinner (which he loves to spin) and we had made a dressing, and I asked if he wanted to try the salad. He said yes and dipped about 20 arugula leaves in the dressing and eat them up. Let me pause to say: My child does not like salad! So my tip is to just be patient and involve them as much as possible.

8. Do any of your kids have food allergies? How do you deal with that both at home and when in public?
Thankfully no!

Are you a busy mom looking for new meals and snacks to feed your kids? This post is full of healthy ideas your baby or toddler will love!

Brittany Dixon
A Healthy Slice of Life (ahealthysliceoflife.com)
Hailey (3 years old), Kaitlyn (4 months old)

1. What do your children typically eat for breakfast?
Kaitlyn is exclusively breastfed and I hope to do baby led weaning with her starting at 6 months, so I’ll just answer these for Hailey!

Hailey breakfast- Plain Greek yogurt topped with honey, fruit and chia seeds (she calls these sprinkles and loves putting them on herself!) is a favorite. She also loves scrambled eggs and cheese toast or pancakes.

2. What do they typically eat for lunch?
We are big fans of snack plates around here. I find lots of little options work well for us. Some common players are boiled eggs, olives, grapes, carrot sticks, chickpeas, cheese toast, red pepper slices, hummus, cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes and leftovers.

3. Do you all sit down as a family for dinner?
We don’t currently due to my husband’s work schedule. However, I do sit down with Hailey while she eats her dinner.

4. What happens if they don’t like what you’re making for dinners?
I have a pretty adventurous eater, but she is still a toddler and her tastes change by the day. If she doesn’t like a particular item on her plate, I don’t make a big deal about it. She can eat all the other items on her plate and I’ll try the disliked item again another day.

5. What are the kids’ favorite snacks? What are some snacks you never leave the house without?
We love homemade lara balls , almonds and raisins, banana and peanut butter. I still buy the fruit and veggie pouches to have for a quick option on the go!

6. Are any foods off limits?
Nope! As far as Hailey is concerned, everything is fine in moderation. However, I do my best to keep foods with artificial colors and flavors out of the house and most of what we eat at home is non- or minimally processed.

7. Any tips for picky eaters?
Don’t make it a power struggle. Get kids involved with shopping and prepping and don’t be afraid to try foods they “don’t like” prepared in a new way! If all else fails, just keep at it. Consistency is huge!

8. Do any of your kids have food allergies? How do you deal with that both at home and when in public?
Hailey does not and as far as I know, neither does Kaitlyn. My heart goes out to those that deal with food allergies because I can only imagine how stressful that must be. I gave Hailey her first taste of peanut butter sitting in the car in the parking lot of the hospital because I was so paranoid!

Are you a busy mom looking for new meals and snacks to feed your kids? This post is full of healthy ideas your baby or toddler will love!

Liz Della Croce
The Lemon Bowl (thelemonbowl.com)
Asher, 3 years old and Jacob, 10 months old

1. What do your children typically eat for breakfast?
Both of my boys love whole milk plain yogurt sweetened with a little tart cherry juice, raspberry preserves, or applebutter for added flavor. My older son loves it with muesli cereal and fresh berries and the baby has it with fortified baby cereal. Other days we eat scrambled eggs, homemade frozen pancakes, or oatmeal when the weather gets cooler.

2. What do they typically eat for lunch?
Lunchtime is usually leftovers from dinner the night before. In the fall we love making soups like Lemony Chicken Soup with Spinach and Chickpeas or Italian Sausage and Bean Soup. It’s a great one pot meal full of protein, vitamins and nutrients. Plus, the food is already cut into small, bite-sized pieces, which is easy for the kids to eat.

3. Do you all sit down as a family for dinner?
We sit down for dinner as a family every single night. We always ate dinner as a family growing up and I hope to always eat as a family as my boys get older. Cooking dinner is my favorite time of the day because all four of us are in the kitchen listening to music, singing, making the boys giggle as we dance, etc. It’s relaxing to unwind away from technology and I like investing the time to create nourishing meals for my family.

4. What happens if they don’t like what you’re making for dinners?
If they don’t like what we are having for dinner, they simply don’t eat as much. My boys are not starving, I assure you. 😉 Some times they are hungry and eat three portions, other times they don’t eat a lot. I think adults should eat more like kids sometimes and not eat just because of habit or schedule. Kids follow their hunger/stomachs and I think we should all do more of that.

5. What are the kids’ favorite snacks? What are some snacks you never leave the house without?
My toddler loves dried fruit like figs, tart cherries and raisins. He hasn’t been introduced to candy yet and I’m thinking he is going to have a sweet tooth one day. 😉 He also loves hummus and could eat it by the tub-full! My baby doesn’t really snack much yet because he usually nurses between meals but he really loves everything we are eating so far.

6. Are any foods off limits?
Since I still create/buy all of the foods my kids eat, it has been pretty easy to control their diets. With that, I’m not buying candy bars, pop, juice, cookies, etc. Can they have ice cream at a party? Of course. Am I going to go out of my way to give them sweets all the time? Definitely not. Since I don’t eat those foods, I’m not going to serve it to my kids but I’m not unrealistic to think that they will never have a candy bar. 😉

7. Any tips for picky eaters?
I think it’s important to put a little thought into the foods we serve kids. Instead of steaming cauliflower, try Curried Roasted Cauliflower with Coconut Oil. Instead of boiling green beans, try Za’atar Roasted Carrots and Green Beans. Don’t be afraid of using spices and at the very least, be sure to properly season with a good amount of salt and pepper. Remember, no matter what, when you’re cooking foods from scratch at home you will never have as much sodium as you find in processed packaged foods so don’t be afraid of salt.

8. Do any of your kids have food allergies? How do you deal with that both at home and when in public?
So far no they don’t, knock on wood. Our baby hasn’t had nuts yet but fingers crossed he will be like his toddler and able to eat anything.

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That’s all for today! Stay tuned for part 2 coming in a few weeks!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

PS. Don’t forget to join us for the PIN IT PARTY tomorrow!!! You can see all the details in the last Pin It Party post (CLICK HERE) if you’re not familiar with how it works!

pin-it-party

5 Traits I Hope Our Son Gets From His Dad

October 1, 2014 by Lindsay 57 Comments

Hi Friends!

Today is hubby’s birthday! He’s the big 3-0! I’ve had this post written for a couple of months now. I thought of it while walking the dogs one day and rushed home to write it…but I decided to save it for a special day, like today!

Over the past few months I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about baby bean (obviously) and the things he’s going to inherit from his dad and me.

I may be biased, but I think my hubby is pretty much the best, so here are 5 things I hope baby bean gets from his daddy (in no particular order).

1. Handyman Skills

My husband is quite the handyman. There’s not a project he’s afraid to tackle…in fact it seems he always has a to-do list a mile long of improvements he wants to make around the house! He has a huge tool collection (with more on his wish list) and he’s a regular at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Although he can be a bit of a perfectionist, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been grateful that he knows how to fix a toilet, unclog a drain, paint the walls, remodel the bathroom, etc so that we don’t have to spend the money having someone else do it. I know he’ll be anxious to teach our son all about tools and DIY skills and I can’t wait to see what sorts of projects they do together.

2. Musical talent

Hubby grew up playing drums and guitar and he plays them both very well. He knows immediately when things are out of tune, can recognize almost any song pretty much as soon as it starts playing, and has a great appreciation for a wide range of music genres. We’ve spent many a night just hanging out on the couch or the deck listening to music, singing along, discovering new artists, etc. He’s also a huge fan of making up his own songs and loves to serenade me with silly, yet charming, tunes about everything from pooping to how much he loves me. It never fails to make me smile.

3. Intelligence/Creativity

My husband is, hands down, one of the most intelligent people I know. I mean, he has a college degree in Physics! Who does that?! But beyond being school smart, he’s just smart in general. He keeps up on current events, he’s well-spoken and opinionated and he makes intelligent financial decisions. He’s constantly on a quest for new knowledge- always asking “why?” and figuring out how things work or how to make things work. He’s great at thinking outside the box to come up with creative solutions to problems and always does his research to make sure he makes the best decisions possible. Bottom line, he just KNOWS lots of stuff. I hope our son is the same way.

4. Sense of Humor/Lack of Modesty

Mr. Bean has a great sense of humor and is constantly making people laugh, but he’s also not afraid to laugh at himself. He’s 100% comfortable in his own skin and is not afraid to walk around naked, talk about poop, etc. While this isn’t always desirable (namely the constant bodily function discussion and expressions), it’s part of who he is and I love him for it. He’s constantly coming up with ways to keep me entertained and not a day goes by where I don’t appreciate his wonderful personality and all the smiles he brings to my world. I hope our son inherits that same personality.

5. Respect for women

The two of us have been together for a long time….like 10+ years. In all those years he’s never once treated me as anything less than his equal. He’s never told he me I couldn’t do something because I was a girl. He respects me, appreciates me, tells me I look beautiful and encourages me to follow my dreams. His parents did a great job raising him and I hope we can instill the same values in our son.

————

I could go on and on…but i’ll stop there. Happy birthday hubby. Baby bean is lucky to have you as his dad.

As far as which traits I hope he gets from me?
My good looks of course 😉

But for real- I hope our son inherits my love of reading, my cooking skills and my multi-tasking abilities!

Let’s chat:
What traits from either parent do you see or hope to see in your kids?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

10 Minute Sweet Potato and Apple Saute

September 30, 2014 by Lindsay 37 Comments

This 10 Minute Sweet Potato and Apple Saute is an easy topping that helps bring fun new flavors to leftover pork or chicken.

This post is sponsored by Pompeian. I was compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi Friends!

Today is the latest in a series of posts as part of my partnership with Pompeian. In case you missed the first few, be sure to check them out:

Broccoli with Olive Oil Cheese Sauce
Sweet & Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges
Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

Today’s recipe uses one of their new OlivExtra Special Blends-

Their OlivExtra California Select is a blend of Safflower Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It has a super high smokepoint (500 degrees) which makes it great for high-heat cooking.

This recipe came to mind when I was looking for a way to repurpose some leftover pork tenderloin. Hubby and I love to grill pork tenderloin. It’s easy, healthy and makes a lot of leftovers so we can use them throughout the week. I try to get creative with the leftovers so we’re not just eating slices of pork every night.

This time I decided to make use of some of my Fall produce and make a quick saute that I could use as a topping for the pork. Since apples and pork go really well together, I started there…and then I added some leeks and sweet potato that I had on hand, along with some apple cider!

The benefit of being able to heat the oil to high heat means that this comes together quickly and dinner was ready in no-time!

Here’s the recipe:

The key to this recipe is dicing the sweet potatoes fairly small. You want them to cook quickly so little chunks are best!

This topping would work well on pretty much any protein. It adds some Fall flavor without being super labor intensive. Quick and easy is what it’s all about at 37 weeks pregnant!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Foodie Penpals September 2014

September 30, 2014 by Lindsay 1 Comment

Hi Friends!

It’s time for another foodie penpals reveal day!

fpp

I took the month off- trying to focus on getting ready for baby, but if you want to participate next month, here are the details:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written.
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers.
-Foodie Penplas is open to US, Canadian & European residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. Same with Europeans.

If you’re from the US or Canada and are in participating for October, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions.

You must submit your information by October 4th as pairings will be emailed on October 5th!

If you participated this month, link up below and go check out a few other posts to see what they got!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

5 Ways To Make Sandwiches More Fun

September 24, 2014 by Lindsay 24 Comments

Tired of eating the same sandwich every day? Here are five creative ways to make sandwiches more fun to eat for lunch. Perfect for both kids and adults!

Hi Friends!

Just popping in to share a few ideas with you. When I originally thought of this post idea, it was geared towards kids, since it’s back to school season and lunches have to be packed again in many households. But, by the time I was done, I realized that these ideas aren’t just fun for kids, but adults, too!

If packing a plain old sandwich is getting boring, here are 5 ways to make your sandwich more fun!

Instead of a sandwich, try:

Cutouts

This one is mostly geared towards kids. Use cookie cutters or just freehand with a knife. Cut into fun shapes, animals, etc to make the sandwich more appealing. Hint- this also works with other things like fruit slices, cheese, etc. Fun shapes make everything more exciting!

Rollups

Instead of making your sandwich on two pieces of bread, put your choice of fillings into a tortilla, roll it up and slice into segments. It works great for things like tuna or salmon salad, but also works well for a deli meat and cheese combo. Add a spread of hummus to the tortilla to help it all stick together!

Stackups

Kids and adults alike will enjoy making these mini sandwiches. Use crackers, pita bread etc as the outsides and pack with slices of meat, cheese and veggies. When it’s time to eat, assemble like lunchables!

Quesadillas

This is a great way to use up leftovers. If you serve chicken or pork for dinner, cut some up while you’re putting the extras in the fridge and throw them in a quesadilla with some cheese, beans and veggies. Cook on a panini press or simply microwave to melt the cheese. Once they cool, pack them for lunch! They can be eaten cold or easily reheated in the microwave.

Sliders

Let’s face it, mini-sized things are more fun to eat! Slider buns make the perfect portion size for kiddos and adults can easily pack two or three for a full lunch. Get creative and make three different sliders for the same lunch if you have lots of leftovers to use up, or make them all the same!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Try one of these creative ideas from @leangrnbeanblog to make sandwiches more fun!” quote=”Try one of these creative ideas from @leangrnbeanblog to make sandwiches more fun!”]

Let’s chat:
Are you a sandwich lover? Do you ever get bored with them?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy Dehydrated Mushrooms

September 21, 2014 by Lindsay 9 Comments

These Dehydrated Mushrooms are easy to make and great to have on hand to add to homemade broths and stocks for flavor!

Hi Friends!

We had to switch things up a little this weekend. Be sure to check out yesterday’s post if you’re looking for food prep inspiration. Today is Recipe Redux day!

This month’s theme was:

Get Your Dehydrator On

Whether it’s extra garden bounty or a sale at the supermarket – dehydrating food is a budget-friendly way to stock up for later. You can use a food dehydrator, a low slow oven, or natural sunshine to preserve natural healthfulness. Show us how you like to dehydrate, or a healthy recipe for how you enjoy using dehydrated fruits, veggies or other bounty.

Some of you may remember when I found a dehydrator at Costco last year. I gave it a little break these past few months but was excited to bust it out again for this challenge. I’ve made my fair share of fruit chips in the past so this time I wanted to tackle vegetables. I debated trying some hot peppers, but I read that they give off some fumes while they’re drying and didn’t want to risk doing anything crazy while pregnant and sensitive to smells.

Make your own dehydrated mushrooms in a dehydrator or oven. They're great for adding flavor to stocks and broths.

So, I started thinking about what other dried veggies I’ve used in the past and I landed on mushrooms. Someone gave me a package of dehydrated mushrooms last year and although I’ve never rehydrated them to use in an actual dish, I did discover that I LOVE adding them to my homemade veggie broth! I tend to make a lot of homemade broth in the fall and winter so I thought it would be fun to dry some mushrooms of my own to have on hand!

You can do this with any kind of mushroom…I chose to use baby portobellos.

The process is super simple:

Buy mushrooms
Clean them gently with a damp paper towel
Slice to desired thinness (You could cheat and buy pre-sliced if you wanted, or you can simply cut them in half, or dry them whole! Just adjust drying times as needed)
Place on dehydrator trays and dry on low for about 6 hours, until all moisture is gone, rotating the trays occasionally for even drying.
Store in a sealed glass jar.

If you don’t have a dehydrator, this could easily be done in the oven using low heat. I haven’t tried it myself but I’ve read that about 150 degrees F would be a good temperature.

Make your own dehydrated mushrooms in a dehydrator or oven. They're great for adding flavor to stocks and broths.

When you’re ready to use them, you can either place them in a bowl of warm water to rehydrate them and use in things like stirfrys or do what I do and just add a handful to the pot while making broth to add additional flavor.

If you choose to rehydrate and use them, be sure to save the soaking liquid. You can add that to your homemade stocks, broths and soups for added flavor!

Make your own dehydrated mushrooms in a dehydrator or oven. They're great for adding flavor to stocks and broths.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Homemade Raisin Newtons

September 17, 2014 by Lindsay 52 Comments

Like Fig Newtons? These homemade Raisin Newtons are made with real ingredients and taste even better than store bought. They make the perfect afternoon snack and your kids will love them.

This post is sponsored by California Raisins. I was compensated for my time and received free samples of the California Raisins used in this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi Friends!

I am SUPER excited to share today’s recipe with you guys!

As part of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network, I was selected to have the opportunity to work on a campaign with California Raisins! We were asked to develop a recipe using raisins and as a life-long fan of this little fruit, I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble coming up with something delicious. Plus, you all said you wanted to see more snack recipes. So….I decided to tackle a homemade version of one of my favorite childhood snacks!

First, a few fun facts about California Raisins:

They’re are an all-natural, dried-by-the-sun fruit you can feel good about sending with your kids as they head back to school, as an after-school snack, or to beat that 3pm craving. The ingredient list says it all: Raisins.
They come by their sweetness naturally and the nutrition label rocks: Zero fat, no cholesterol and no added sugar. Plus, raisins offer 9% of your daily fiber and potassium, and 6% of your daily iron. (per quarter cup serving)
They are a great value! According to the USDA, raisins are the most economical dried fruit.

And now, the recipe! If I’m being honest, this recipe is a little tedious. You need to plan ahead to make sure you have time for the dough to chill and rolling/shaping the actual cookies takes a bit of time…but I think the end result is worth it! I actually had to make two batches of these because when I went to write up this post, I could barely decipher my own chicken scratch so I thought I should re-test to make sure I got it right for you guys 🙂

Anyways, the second batch was a success as well. I actually increased the amount of raisins from 1 cup to 1.5 cups so that I could get a little more filling in each one and I liked it better that way.

So here’s what you do:

I know the directions sound a bit complicated. Hopefully these pictures will help:

If you have a lot of extra scraps after trimming, let them chill for a bit then re-roll and make a few extra!

I stored these in a ziploc bag. They stay nice and soft but they’re also kinda moist so after a few days I just left the bag open so they wouldn’t get moldy.

PS…I made these a few weeks ago and when I shared them on Instagram you guys went CRAZY! Here’s to hoping you enjoy them!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

White Plum Giveaway

September 16, 2014 by Lindsay 172 Comments

This post is sponsored by White Plum. I was compensated for my time and sent items to review free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Hi Friends!

I’ve got a special treat for you today! We’re taking a little break from food and fitness today and talking FASHION! As you may have guessed, I haven’t been buying too many new clothes lately as I’m trying to wait until baby arrives. However, Fall is my favorite time to go shopping, and it’s been hard to resist! So, when the lovely folks at White Plum reached out to see if I would be interested in reviewing some of their items, I immediately hopped on their website. I was thrilled to find a huge selection of clothing, shoes and accessories that I loved. Even better, there were tons of options that I knew would be able to accommodate the bump!

White Plum is a family-owned company started by a busy mom who was looking for a way to make great products available at a great price to people who were just as busy as she was, but still wanted to be fashionable and fun! I love their motto: “We believe the best deal for you is the best deal for us.”

Honestly, I had a hard time narrowing down the items I wanted. I have no doubt you’ll have the same trouble after you check out their site, so to help with that, they’re offering all of you 20% your entire order if you use the code “LEANGREENBEAN” between now and September 26, 2014! As for what I picked? After much deliberation, here’s what I chose:

tshirt

V-neck Boyfriend Tee

This shirt is the best. I love a good v neck and this one is loose enough that I could wear it comfortably at 35 weeks pregnant. But it’s stylishly loose, not boxy, so I know I’ll be able to wear it after baby is born as well!

green sweater

Shasta Open Cardigan

Fall is the time for sweaters and they have tons of options that are open and loose enough that I could wear them while pregnant, but will also be just as stylish and comfortable when I’m back to regular clothes. I love the color of this one- works great with black pants or jeans!

leggings

Diamond Tricolor Leggings

Guys, they have SO MANY LEGGINGS! I love leggings and there are so many fun patterns to choose from. The best part? They’re one size fits most…so they were comfortable when I put them on at 35 weeks pregnant and they’ll be comfortable during my journey back to my pre-pregnancy size! And they’re so soft. SO SOFT. I have a feeling these will be getting a lot of wear this winter!

boots

Portland Booties

I love boots! However, most of mine are tall and I’ve been searching for a pair of ankle boots for a while now. I was thrilled to find these cute little guys. Unfortunately, my swollen pregnant feet are saying “no thank you” to them right now…but once baby comes, they’ll be great to throw on with leggings when I need to run errands! I got the brown ones but also love the gray!

two necklaces

Chevron Charm Necklace
Into The West Necklace

Because a girl can never have too much jewelry right?! Bonus- the chevron charm kinda looks like the state of Ohio! I love the long length of the chevron necklace. It’s great to throw on with tank tops or t shirts and I wore the Into The West necklace with a maxi dress when hubby and I went out to dinner the other night!

white plum

So, in case you haven’t picked up on it yet, I absolutely loved all the items in my White Plum order. I already have several other items on my wish list, including a few more sweaters and some dresses that were a bit more form fitting and will be better for after baby arrives.

–Lindsay–

Don’t Be Fooled By The Sugar-Free Label

September 11, 2014 by Lindsay 64 Comments

More and more often, recipes and products are being incorrectly labeled sugar-free. Don’t be fooled!

Hi Friends-

This is a random little blog post…but it’s been something that’s been on my mind a lot lately so I feel the need to just throw it out there. I’ve noticed an irritating trend, in the blog world, on pinterest, etc about incorrectly using the term sugar-free to describe recipes and label products.

Sugar-Free labels are often misused. Just because something is labeled sugar-free doesn't mean they don't contain any sugar. Read to learn more so you're not fooled!

Here’s the thing:

As an RD, I’m a definite proponent of eating less sugar. As Americans, we’re eating too much of it. Research is showing that it could be more to blame for the obesity epidemic than things like saturated fat. I’m all for reducing the amount of sugar in your diet….so are a lot of other people. In fact, similar to the low-fat/fat-free craze that swept the nation for many years, sugar-free foods and recipes seem to be a hot trend right now.

I just want to point out that even though many things are labeled sugar-free, it does NOT always mean that there is no sugar in the product or recipe.

This article hits the nail on the head. When you see the “sugar-free” label on a recipe or product, it could mean a few things:

1) It’s free of added sugar like white sugar or brown sugar.
Great…but check the ingredient list. You could very well see other sources of sugar like honey, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar, date puree, molasses, etc on the list, meaning it’s not sugar-free.

2) There’s no added sugar.
Again, does not always mean sugar-free. Many foods contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, fructose is the naturally occurring sugar in fruit and lactose is the naturally occurring sugar in milk. So, say you’re drinking a glass of orange juice. It may be made from just one ingredient- oranges- and therefore have no added sugar, but there’s still 20+ grams of sugar in that glass.

3) It’s made with sugar substitutes.
While the product technically may be sugar-free, it does contain artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, etc. It’s up to you to make the choice whether you want to consume these products, but you should, at a minimum, be aware of the ones you’re consuming so you can do your research.

————–

So, the main point of this post is just to serve as a reminder to read carefully. Food labels, packaging and recipe titles can be confusing and misleading. It’s up to you to be diligent about reading recipes and ingredient lists and making the best choices.

Do I actively make an effort to reduce the amount of sugar in my own diet and the recipes I create? Yes.
Do I often create recipes that use natural sources of sugar (like fruit), instead of processed forms, as a sweetener? Yes. But I do not label those recipes as sugar-free.

So, when you see a recipe for Sugar-Free Granola Bars on Pinterest, read the recipe. If it contains bananas, raisins and honey then, while they may be a much healthier choice than a store-bought bar…they are not, in fact, sugar free.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

PS. On a more serious note, please take a moment to reflect on the terrible events that occurred 13 years ago today and forever changed our country. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who lost a loved one in connection with the attacks.

911 never forget

Pumpkin Buckwheat Porridge

September 10, 2014 by Lindsay 43 Comments

This Pumpkin Buckwheat Porridge is a delicious, filling breakfast made with whole grains and lots of Fall flavor!

By posting this recipe I’m entering the Make the Switch Recipe Contest. I did not receive compensation for this post but am eligible to win prizes associated with this contest.

Hi Friends!

Did you know that September is Whole Grains Month? If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I’m a big fan of whole grains (hello more protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals than refined grains!), so when Oldways and the Whole Grains Council reached out to ask me to enter their recipe contest and help spread the word about the benefits of whole grains, I jumped at the chance!

For this contest, 16 bloggers were asked to create a recipe starring whole grains to encourage people to add them to their diet. Then the Whole Grains Council shared all 16 recipes on their website to celebrate Whole Grains month, giving the public a chance to vote for their favorites and hopefully inspiring people to try some new whole grains!

While some bloggers chose to revamp a recipe that traditionally uses refined grains, I used this as a chance to explore a whole grain I don’t eat all that often- buckwheat! I wanted to create a breakfast using buckwheat that might encourage people to break away from their typical sugary breakfast cereals and try this instead!

Confession- I developed this recipe back in June when it was not anywhere close to pumpkin time. Might have to make it again now that it’s fall!

Here’s how you make it:

I used apples in mine to double the fall flavor but bananas would also work well to add sweetness! If your porridge gets too thick, just stir in a little extra milk.

I encourage you to head over the check out the rest of the recipe contest entries and vote for the ones that look best to you! CLICK HERE to see all 16 Make the Switch recipe contest entries! Bonus- Once you register and vote, you’re entered into a drawing to win $500!

To entice you, here’s a list of the other recipes in the contest:

Apple Pie Smoothie
Barley Risotto with Kale and Squash
Amaranth Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches
Lightened Up Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Grilled Ratatouille Quinoa
Millet and Lamb Tagine
Chicken and Farro Whole Grain Empanadas
Wild Rice and Fall Fruit Salad
Spiced Jonnycakes with Apple Compote
Chewy Quinoa Monster Cookies
Spiced Ginger Citrus Millet
Amaranth Crab Cakes
Corn Chowder with Wild Rice
Baked Spelt RotiniCurried Spelt

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite whole grain?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Frozen Yogurt Pumpkin Pie Bites

September 5, 2014 by Lindsay 77 Comments

These Frozen Yogurt Pumpkin Pie Bites are a healthy pumpkin dessert made with yogurt, pumpkin, almonds and dates. Tastes like pumpkin pie!

Hi Friends!

How’s that for a title? These were not what I intended to post today, but this week I was bitten by the pumpkin bug. I know some of you still think it’s too early for pumpkin, but at least I made it to September. I found a can of pumpkin in my pantry and I just couldn’t get over the need to make something with it. I thought about making one of my pumpkin recipes from last year, but I decided I wanted my first pumpkin recipe of this fall to be a new one.

So I put on my thinking cap and here’s what I came up with. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to call these. They involve homemade frozen yogurt. They also have a crust. They’re like a mini pumpkin pie…but frozen…and made with yogurt and nuts.

Call them what you wish. I call them delicious.

Here’s how you make them:

When I made these, I poured the yogurt mixture into an ice cream maker first and let it thicken, and then pressed into the muffin tins…but now that I’m looking back on it, I don’t really think it’s necessary to use the ice cream maker. You could probably just spoon the yogurt mixture into the muffin tins on top of the crust and freezer. Since I was kinda working on a whim while making these, I used mine…but when I make my froyo bites I just freeze yogurt in ice cube trays so I’m sure it will work just fine.

Like I mentioned above, this is a taste as you go recipe. I gave some of the quantities in ranges because they will depend on other factors. For example, if your dates are nice and sticky, you may need less milk than if they’re a bit dried out. If you don’t want the frozen yogurt part to be super sweet, you’ll need less maple syrup. Just remember that the crust part is quite sweet, so you might not need to make the frozen yogurt part as sweet as you would if you were eating it on your own.
As I said in the notes, I used Honeynut Cheerios, mainly because I was out of graham crackers and I had a box I’m trying to use up. You could try subbing a couple of graham crackers for the Cheerios, or using oats instead. Just remember if you use oats that the crust will be a bit less sweet.

These are a bit tricky to get out of the muffin tins, but let them sit a few minutes and then if you can get a knife down the side, they should pop right out!

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Sausage and Vegetable Egg Bake

September 3, 2014 by Lindsay 58 Comments

This Sausage and Vegetable Egg Bake is an easy, make-ahead casserole that’s packed with protein and veggies. Prep the night before and bake for an easy breakfast or brunch.

Hi Friends!

Here’s the best thing about long weekends – we’re already halfway through the week! Woohoo! Today I have a recipe to share. When I had my baby shower a few weeks ago, my mother-in-law made an egg casserole that was a big hit! I asked her for the recipe, made some modifications, tested it out a couple of times with hubby and then decided to share it with you guys!

It’s perfect for throwing together the night before and then baking it in the morning. Plus it’s packed with veggies and protein and it tastes great!

Here’s how you make it:

Like I said, super simple!

Feel free to customize by using your favorite veggies. For the bread, I used a whole wheat baguette one time and an italian loaf the other time. Both are great!

Dig in!

[Tweet “Need an easy make-ahead breakfast? Try this Sausage & Veggie Egg Bake from @leangrnbeanblog”]

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

10 Things That Surprised Me About Pregnancy

September 2, 2014 by Lindsay 82 Comments

A list of things that went differently than I expected during my pregnancy.

Hi Friends!

Well, I’ve made it to the 33rd week of pregnancy. A while ago I started thinking about some of the things I’d heard about pregnancy vs. how things were actually going for me. I thought it might be fun to make a list of some of the things that have surprised me about my pregnancy journey. Since everyone’s journey is different, I’m sure that people will disagree with me on some of these. and agree with others. This is a recap of my experience so far and I think it’ll be interesting to look back on this list when it comes time for kid #2 and see how it changes!

So, here they are (in no particular order):

1. How “not tired” I was until about 30 weeks.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been tired. I’ve taken my fair share of naps. I get tired more quickly. However, before I got pregnant, I was prepared to be bone-crushingly, in bed at 8pm every night, kinda tired….and that hasn’t been the case. I did notice starting at about 30 weeks that I’ve been needing a few more naps and definitely have been more tired than I was earlier in the pregnancy.

2. How slowly my bump has grown.
This is probably the biggest one. When I think pregnancy, I always have the image of the hugely pregnant lady with the giant midsection. I was super surprised how long it took for me to actually “look pregnant”. I’d say it took until week 27 or 28 before I really looked clearly pregnant when wearing a non-form fitting shirt. Up until then I personally could tell my bump had grown a lot, but it wasn’t clearly evident to strangers/people who don’t see me everyday. Even now, at 33 weeks, I definitely feel pregnant and definitely have a bump, but it still doesn’t quite match up with this image I had in my head of how I thought I was just going to feel gigantic the whole time. I’m sure this will change in the last 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, but it’s been interesting to watch and wait for the first 3/4 of my journey.

3. How hard it is to explain what it feels like.
In my opinion, unless you have been pregnant yourself, you will never truly understand what it feels like. It is almost impossible to find the words to describe some of the things you feel, why you’re so uncomfortable and what’s going on inside of you. Trying to describe baby kicks, this burning I feel when my ab muscles are stretching and ripping, the enormous amount of pressure on my bladder all the time, how yes- I felt sick yesterday, and the day before and still do today….when I try to explain these things, I feel like people look at me with no clue what I’m talking about.

4. That it’s possible to feel sick for so many days in a row.
I had a feeling that I would struggle with nausea when I got pregnant and I was correct. What I didn’t think was that it was possible to feel nauseous every.single.day. for so many days in a row. Certainly it improved from my earlier weeks to later, but there has still been at least one point in every day where I felt nauseous. Couple that with other pregnancy pains, heartburn, etc and there hasn’t really been a day since I got pregnant that I’ve felt what I would call “good”. Just bad or average. But I know it’s worth it.

5. How excited hubby would be.
I knew he would be excited to be a dad. I just didn’t have a clear picture of HOW excited. He got excited the first time he felt the baby kick…and he got excited every.single.time after that. The smile that lights up his face each time is absolutely priceless and I’ll never get tired of watching his reaction. He was excited to decorate the nursery, help me pick out the baby gear we needed and put together things like the carseat and stroller. He’s been to every single doctor’s appointment and paid attention in our classes so he’s ready to support me during labor and delivery. It’s a beautiful thing. Love him.

6. How much I didn’t read about what to expect.
Before I got pregnant, I figured I would want to read and know every little detail about my pregnancy journey. But once I actually got pregnant, I found I had very little desire to do so, even though I bought a bunch of books. I read the basics but I found I wasn’t very interested in reading how things changed week to week with the baby and what I should/shouldn’t be doing. Maybe that’s weird, maybe it’s because there’s so much info out there that it can feel overwhelming, I don’t know. I just feel like this parenthood journey is different for all and I don’t want to have a huge number of expectations about how things should go, because then if they don’t go that way, I’ll just get all stressed and worried. I’d rather just tackle things as they come.

7. How much things didn’t change week to week.
I know there are bloggers out there who write weekly updates while pregnant, but for me, I felt pretty similar each week. I didn’t have a ton of cravings that changed week to week or varying symptoms – I pretty much felt crappy every week from week 5 on 🙂

8. How much “baby” stuff there is out there.
Trying to put together a baby registry was by far one of the most overwhelming things I’ve ever done. Everyone has their opinion about what you need, what products are best, etc. It’s exhausting to sort through and pick what’s best for you. And it’s super hard to resist buying baby clothes 🙂

9. How I’ve dealt with my weight gain.
I’ve had my fair share of body image issues and before I got pregnant, I was really worried about how I would react to gaining 25-35 pounds. I’ve been super proud of myself for a) staying motivated and eating as well as I could b) staying consistent with my workouts while pregnant and c) how accepting I was of each pound I gained. It think my motivation and commitment to a healthy pregnancy helped me gain weight slowly, which made the overall weight gain seem less overwhelming. I also didn’t spend a lot of time on the scale. I tried to only get on once every couple of weeks or so and I think that helped me not panic as much. Still, even though you know the weight gain is normal and necessary, it can be overwhelming…but I’m proud of myself for keeping my diet balanced and working out, but also enjoying treats and letting myself rest when necessary.

10. How excited others are about baby bean.

I knew that close family and friends would be excited, but I’ve honestly been overwhelmed by how excited pretty much everyone in my life is for us and our pregnancy journey. From family and friends, to acquaintances, to my readers, to people I’ve never met – they’re all filled with genuine love and excitement over the baby I’m carrying and I’m so grateful for it!

———-

So there you have it! And just as a little add on, I thought I’d answer some of the typical questions others answer in their weekly bump posts since I haven’t really been doing anything besides a little blurb in Bean Bytes occasionally.

How far along: 33 weeks + 3 daysTotal weight gain: about 20 pounds I’d guess. I haven’t weighed myself in a couple of weeks but I was at 17 last time I did.

Maternity clothes: Pretty much all I wear now. I have one drawer full of the only clothes I can wear now and there’s not a ton in it so laundry every week becomes extra important! Mostly one pair of shorts, one pair of yoga pants and lots of maternity tank tops…plus a couple maternity shirts.

Stretch marks: Not yet. I’m prone to stretch marks and already have lots on my inner thighs and hips from before I was pregnant, so I won’t be surprised if I end up with some but for now I’m just putting on my cream and hoping for the best.

Sleep: Not too bad. I sleep sitting propped up with a bunch of pillows, which I’m used to since that’s how I slept when I got super bad coughs as a kid.

Best moment of this week: The ultrasound we had last friday. Always fun to see him on the screen.

Miss anything: I miss lifting heavy weights. And I miss workouts being hard just because they’re hard…not because I’m pregnant!

Movement: All the time. He moves around a ton but this past week it seems he’s slowed down during the day and then really picks it up at night after dinner.

Food cravings: We were just talking about how I haven’t really had any weird cravings. Although for the past week, I’ve been craving apples. I think that’s partly because I’m just ready for Fall!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating too much or not enough makes me feel sick. I still feel nauseous each day at some point but it’s not really tied to certain foods.

Have you started to show yet: Yep, you can definitely tell I’m pregnant.

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: None yet.

Belly button in or out: Was just talking about this yesterday too! It’s in, but pretty much flat. I’m hoping it’ll stay that way and not pop out, but we’ll see.

Wedding rings on or off: I haven’t been wearing mine lately but that’s mostly because I have to take it on and off everyday to workout and I usually just forget.

Looking forward to: Him coming! It feels like we’re finally in the home stretch.

Latest Symptoms: I’ve been having a ton of pain in the muscles in my upper back, between my shoulder blades, which makes it uncomfortable to sit for a long time…but when I stand, I’ve been having some pain in my pelvis/pubic bone region…so there’s really no comfortable position. But as long as I don’t overdo it on my workouts and avoid certain things that seem to make it worse like lunges, it’s manageable. Plus of course nausea, heartburn, being tired, etc 🙂

Current Baby Prep: We don’t have much left to do. The nursery is done…we just need to wash the sheets and clothes. Last night we put together the stroller and carseat. Hubby has installing carseat bases in cars on his list of things to do.

————-

Let’s chat:
Moms, what was one thing that surprised you about your pregnancy?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Wild Blueberry Ice Cream

August 29, 2014 by Lindsay 31 Comments

Treat yourself to this Wild Blueberry Ice Cream. It’s easy to make at home for dessert with your favorite mix-ins.

This post is sponsored by The Wild Blueberry Association of North America. I was compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi friends!

It’s Friday! Let’s celebrate with ice cream. This is the last in the series of recipes I developed for the Wild Blueberry Association. In case you missed the first three, I also made:

Wild Blueberry Turkey Burgers
Wild Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwiches
Wild Blueberry Zucchini Bread

And this month, it’s all about ice cream! I actually developed this recipe several weeks ago so it could be included in the ebook they’re giving away to everyone who entered their Taste of Summer Sweepstakes, which ends today! (Go check it out!)

And now it’s finally time to share the recipe with all of you. So let’s chat about ice cream for a little bit.

For me, there’s something about summer and ice cream that just go hand-in-hand. As a young child, we used to visit a place called Cup & Cone almost weekly. It was a small free-standing shack that served ice cream during the Minnesota summers and it shared its parking lot with a retired train caboose. I can still remember the thrill of ordering and devouring my ice cream cone and then spending endless hours climbing on, running around and wandering through that caboose with the other local kids.

As I got older, I spent my summers working for a landscaping company. We worked long hours in the hot Kansas sun and let me tell you, there was nothing better than getting off work and heading straight to the local ice cream store where we could sit in the air-conditioning and enjoy some ice cream.

As an adult, my husband and I often ride our bikes to our favorite ice cream store to enjoy a summer treat, and with a baby on the way, I can’t wait create our own family ice cream tradition!

Yet, while going to get ice cream brings back a lot of memories for me, sometimes it’s not the most economical choice. Especially during the summer when I seem to crave it all the time! So, to ease the burden on your wallet, the next best option, in my opinion, is to make your own! With the help of a relatively inexpensive ice cream maker that pretty much does all the work for you, you can spend your summer dreaming up and creating dozens of your own ice cream flavors that are customized just to your liking!

I’ve had a lot of fun with my ice cream maker over the years, both recreating store-bought favorites and coming up with new ones. As I started brainstorming for my newest flavor, I knew I wanted to include Wild Blueberries for several reasons:

The color- so vibrant and pretty to look at.
The flavor- wild blueberries are smaller and more flavorful than regular blueberries making them ideal to use in recipes like this where you really want their flavor to shine!
The health benefits – ice cream is not always the healthiest dessert option but the addition of Wild Blueberries means your ice cream gets a healthy dose of antioxidants. Wild Blueberries have been shown to have positive effects brain and eye health, heart health and more!

As for the mix-ins, I’m a huge proponent of pairing blueberries and chocolate together, so I added some dark chocolate chips. I also added in some crumbled graham crackers for a touch of added sweetness. To keep the ice cream making simple, I kept it egg-free and instead of all cream, I used some 2% milk to make it a bit healthier without sacrificing flavor or creaminess!

Here’s how you make it!

Pretty simple right? My apologies to those of you who don’t have an ice cream maker. You could try just blending and pouring into a pan and stirring every so often while freezing but I make no guarantees!

Grab a spoon, friends. It’s time to dig in!

Let’s chat:
Have you ever made homemade ice cream?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

August Foodie Penpals Reveal Day with Erin’s Inside Job

August 29, 2014 by Lindsay 4 Comments

Hi Friends!

Time for another Foodie Penpals Reveal Day!

fpp

This month I was lucky enough to be connected with Erin who blogs over at Erin’s Inside Job! I got to meet her in person a couple months ago at Fitbloggin and she’s a total sweetheart. Here’s what she sent me:

foodie penpals

She’s getting me ready for fall and I couldn’t be happier about it! My package included:

Pumpkin Fig granola- haven’t tried it yet but I just know it’s going to be amazing in my fall yogurt bowls
Cranberry Almond GFB bar- I hadn’t tried these bars yet and I actually really liked it!
Maple & Pecan Kind bar- I don’t eat a lot of bars but when I do, KIND is one of my top choices. Hadn’t tried this flavor yet- it was yummy.
Homemade cookies- YES. Amazing. She made Oh She Glows Trail Mix Cookies. They’re GF and vegan and holy cow are they delicious.

Thanks so much Erin for a great package!

————-

If you want to participate next month, here are the details:

If you’re from the US or Canada and are in participating for September, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions.

You must submit your information by September 4th as pairings will be emailed on September 5th!

If you participated this month, link up below and go check out a few other posts to see what they got!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

An InLinkz Link-up

Fitness Friday 68

August 22, 2014 by Lindsay 34 Comments

A recap of the crossfit workouts I’ve been doing during Weeks 23-31 of pregnancy.

Hi Friends!

It’s been two months since I shared my workouts with you. Uh….whoops! Good news is I’ve still been fitting them in! Let’s recap what I’ve been doing lately during weeks 23-31 of pregnancy:

ff1

23 Weeks:

1. Rough one all around. Used 55# and finished 4 rounds + 24 reps
2. Finished the wod in 6:22 Rx
3. 5:37 with 75#, ring dips with a red band and 24″ step ups
4. 85# sumo deads, knees to elbow/chest, push-ups 8:31

ff2

24 Weeks:

1. Brutally hard. 9 rounds with 55#.
2. Skipped class today so I could mow the lawn, so I went in during open gym & did back squats and this #wod! Finished in 10:25.
3. Wasn’t feelin’ it, but did a quick garage #wod! 9:33 with a 25# plate
4. Morning #wod! Back squats, then 15:30 for the wod with 24″ stepups, 25# snatches, regular push-ups and 20 pull-ups + 20 ring dips for the muscle ups

ff3

25 Weeks:

1. Long family walk on the 4th of July
2. 4th of July Hero WOD – “Whitten” – used a 35# kb and did 24″ stepups. Feeling pretty darn proud of myself for finishing this one!
3. Did this wod @yourinnerstrong posted last week during open gym. Used a 14# wb and 35# kb and finished in 13:50
4. We redid open workout 14.1. In march I was 7 weeks pregnant and got 252 reps. Today I’m 25 weeks pregnant and got 225 reps- only 27 double unders short of my last score! Feeling pretty proud of myself!

ff4

26 Weeks:

1. Lots of squat cleans, then 9:05 for the wod with 65#. Rough on the wrists!
2. 2.5 mile walk with the dogs, then a quick, light-weight garage wod to work up a sweat! Used 20# dbs and finished in 10:17.
3. Redid 14.2 – fact: things get harder when you’re pregnant…like trying to do chest to bar pull-ups quickly! During the open I got 77 reps, today I got 37 reps…but still proud of myself!
4. Holy effing legs. 3:58 for my 1k row, then 5 + 66 for the #wod with assisted pistols. #babybean14 has gotten too big for me to do legit pistols anymore!

ff5

27 Weeks:

1. Saturday morning #wod with @yakattack7, then a 2.6 mile walk with the boys
2. Basement #wod while hubby did his shoulder PT. I used 20# dbs and a 35# kb. Finished in 15:30!
3. Not many wods lately that I can still Rx but I crushed this one! Got to the round of 80/40 and finished my 80 DUs + 2 hang cleans Rx!
4. Brain says crossfit. Body says rest. Body wins. Took these two on a 3 mile walk, now time for a snack.

ff6

28 Weeks:

1. Snatch complexes, then a wod. I did 55# thrusters and subbed push-ups for TTB. Finished in 5:45
2. Three partner wods + an individual. Did pull-ups for Angie but subbed ring rows in Helen and subbed knees to chest for sit-ups. Finished in 39:35
3. Shoulder burner! Finished 7 + 22 with modified box dips.
4. Had to change things up tonight. Here’s what I did: 5 RFT – 5 DB burpee box step overs (20#), 4 DB snatches (20#), 9 pull-ups, 5 deadlifts (85#), 5 push-ups. Finished in 12:26.

ff7

29 Weeks:

1. Squats and sprints, then a quick wod. I subbed 55# push press for hspu, regular pull-ups for c2b and ring rows for the 20 pull-ups in the middle. Finished in 4:54.
2. Double wod. 4:07 Rx for the first one, then 6+6 with 55# for the second.
3. Burpees made this one rough! I did 25# DB snatches, knees to chest, 55# thrusters and 55# push press for hspu. Finished in 8:33
4. Grace. Not as fun when you can’t PR, but still one of my favs. 2:10 with 65#

ff8

30 Weeks:

1. Finished in 5:35 with 75# and stepups.
2. Holy sweatfest! Best leg workout I’ve done in a while! I pulled a 1:50 & hit 55-56 seconds for all 8 rows and did strict press instead of bench press. Then we had an odd number in class so I did the partner wod with just my built in partner baby bean. Finished 11 rounds with stepups!
3. I did 85# sumo deadlifts. Finished in 9:49.
4. Busy night so I opted for an at-home workout today: 2.5 mile walk with the dogs & a basement wod that I finished in 9:11

ff9

31 Weeks:

1. Did 65# and modified burpees and finished 12 rounds + 5 reps
2. So many pull-ups! 6:38 with step-ups and a 15 pound built-in #babyvest for those pull-ups 🙂
3. All smiles!
4. Bump be walkin…

ff10

Other than that, the boys and I have been taking lots of walks. We usually walk about 3 miles per day. If it’s cooler we go longer in the afternoon. If it’s super hot, I’ll usually take them a mile or so before crossfit and then for another walk once it gets dark after dinner.

Overall I feel pretty good about my workouts. There are some weeks where I find myself doing a few more at-home or on my own workouts vs. class and that’s usually because the programmed workouts aren’t the most pregnancy-friendly. Other times I just go and modify what I need to modify.

This was the first week where I had to modify burpees by eliminating the pushup part and pullups are getting harder, but I’m still doing them. I usually sub strict press for handstand pushups, I’ve been doing my pushups on parallettes and I try to make sure I’m not squatting down past parallel for anything sqaut-related. I do sumo deadlifts instead of regular to give my belly more room and try to avoid running more than 800 m at a time because it’s uncomfortable. I can still do double unders without much trouble.

Sometimes I struggle mentally with the light weights, like having to do Grace with 65# instead of 95#, but I know it’s only temporary. Other days I feel super proud of myself for doing the workouts that I’m doing and staying so active. Mostly I’m just happy that both baby and I are healthy and that I’m able to workout! I would guess that within the next few weeks I may start using dumbbells more often than the barbell but I’m just taking it one day at a time.

Let’s chat:

How have your workouts been lately? Any new favorites?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Sweet Potato Energy Bites

August 21, 2014 by Lindsay 76 Comments

These Sweet Potato Energy Bites are snack-sized bites packed with protein and healthy fats!

Hi Friends!

It’s time for another Recipe Redux post. The theme for this month was a fun one:

Bars & Bites for Brown Bags

Whether you pack your lunch in a bento box, a brown bag or a retro cartoon character lunch box, don’t forget the bars and bites. Small squares or round bites can pack nutrition into a sweet or savory taste. Show us your favorite way to jazz up any type of lunch box.

When I started thinking about what flavor combo I wanted to make, I decided to get a little crazy.

You guys know I love my Sweet Potato Banana Bites– I make them pretty much weekly for a pre-workout snack. However, they require baking…and in honor of the warm weather we’ve been having lately, I thought it might be fun to try a no-bake version! I also decided I wanted to make a batch of bites without using dates. I love dates and use them in my go-to energy bite recipes, but since not everyone always has dates on hand, I thought I’d attempt to forgo them.

Here’s what I came up with:

As usual, you guys know I don’t like things super sweet. I made mine without the maple syrup/honey addition, but I think most people’s taste buds might enjoy a little added sweetener. If you have dates and want to throw some in, go for it. If not, adding a little maple syrup or honey should sweeten them right up.

Since they’re no bake, you can taste as you go. Start with no sweetener and then add some as needed!

[Tweet “Need an energy boost? Make a batch of these Sweet Potato Energy Bites from @leangrnbeanblog!”]

I love keeping mine in the freezer, but if you’re going to pack them in your lunch they should still be fine at lunchtime if you throw them in frozen in the morning!

Check out the links below for more tasty bites and bars!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

An InLinkz Link-up

blog

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Other Ideas

Let’s chat: Do you have freezer or crockpot meals you love? Feel free to leave links in the comments!

1. Handyman Skills

2. Musical talent

3. Intelligence/Creativity

4. Sense of Humor/Lack of Modesty

5. Respect for women

Let’s chat: What traits from either parent do you see or hope to see in your kids?

Cutouts

Rollups

Stackups

Quesadillas

Sliders

Let’s chat: Are you a sandwich lover? Do you ever get bored with them?

I just want to point out that even though many things are labeled sugar-free, it does NOT always mean that there is no sugar in the product or recipe.

Let’s chat: What’s your favorite whole grain?

Let’s chat: What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe?

Let’s chat: Moms, what was one thing that surprised you about your pregnancy?

23 Weeks:

24 Weeks:

25 Weeks:

26 Weeks:

27 Weeks:

28 Weeks:

29 Weeks:

30 Weeks:

31 Weeks:

Let’s chat:
Do you have freezer or crockpot meals you love? Feel free to leave links in the comments!

Let’s chat:
What traits from either parent do you see or hope to see in your kids?

Let’s chat:
Are you a sandwich lover? Do you ever get bored with them?

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite whole grain?

Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe?

Let’s chat:
Moms, what was one thing that surprised you about your pregnancy?