Green Smoothie

Who really likes raw spinach?  I mean I can pretend to like it, but if it' s not covered in salad dressing, accompanied by feta or goat cheese... puh-lease.  I'd rather eat a hot dog- and I absolutely cannot stand hot dogs.  So there. 

Even though I don't really like raw spinach- this smoothie is amazing.  I got this recipe off of Pinterest- and the weird thing is, it's not really green.  I've tried and tried to make it green by adding more & more spinach- but it still turns out kind of a pink-ish green-ish purple-ish color.  Oh well, who really cares about the color.  This smoothie is awesome...and so full of nutrients. 

Let me review:

1. Spinach: contains lots of fiber- great for digestive health.  Contains flavonoids -- a phytonutrient with anti-cancer properties has been shown to slow down cell division in human stomach and skin cancer cells. Furthermore, spinach has shown significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.  Lots of other vitamins- vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium present in spinach all serve as powerful antioxidants that combat the onset of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Eating one cup of spinach contributes to this process that fights atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke.   And so much more.  Just google "benefits of spinach."

2.  Mango:  Also contains flavonoids which protect against  various cancers.  Mangoes have high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C which help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein (the bad stuff.)  Mangos have been shown to hlep clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples.  One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.

3.  Blueberries:  The highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit.  Neutralizes free radicals which can affect disease and aging in the body.  Blueberries have also been known to reduce belly fat, reduce cardiovascular risks & have also been know to increase urinary tract health. 

4. Raspberries:  loaded with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins & minerals. 

5. Greek Yogurt:  lower in added sugars & higher in protein than other types of yogurt.  Also good for your gut.

6. Banana: good source of Potassium and vitamin B6, has been shown to decrease risks of kidney cancer & is good for stomach health. 

See?  I'm not crazy...this smoothie is good for you.  And VERY filling.  I make a huge batch of the green weird pink-purple color stuff and freeze it in an ice cube tray.  I don't measure, I just throw all the ingredients in- and I'd be lying if I said I always stick to just this list.  Sometimes I add peaches if the mangos don't look good at the store.  Sometimes I add lemon juice.  It's kind of a free-for-all.  Then I just throw the cubes in my blender with some water, ice cubes & the greek yogurt...makes for easy mornings! 

{clearly I was using blackberries instead of blueberries this time}

The first month...what we're loving

It's amazing how life changes once you bring your little bundle home.  We love how much our baby has changed us- everything from our sleeping habits to the mountains of baby "stuff" we now have in our home.  Most of our gifts have gone un-used as of yet; but I thought I'd share some of our "1st month essentials" seeing that our little guy will be 1 month on Thursday!!


I am not exactly sure what these things are called.  A sleeper maybe?  Regardless, these make diaper changes, hands DOWN... 1,000 times easier (especially in the middle of the night.)





Summer Infant sponge bath mat.  Our baby HATES 2 things: being naked & getting a bath.  This absolutely, hands down makes everything easier. 


On the topic of bath time, we started using California Baby.  Although nothing is as sweet as a Johnson & Johnson smelling baby- after using the products twice; my baby's skin was flaking off.  And he really only smelled great for like a day.  So I did a lot of research & read a lot of reviews.  So far, so good.  His skin isn't as dry.  And the lotion (which claims to be "calming") smells really good.  My baby still screams during bath/lotion time though, so I'm not sure how calming it really is...oh well!


This little gem...oh, what I would do without it I am not completely sure.  This is how I have a cup of coffee, shower, fold laundry or sit and stare at the wall in complete exhaustion (just kidding...well, maybe not.)  The Snug-a-bunny bouncer is the best...he loves to sit in the bouncer & vibrate.  Yes, the seat vibrates.  He starts to cry when the vibration turns off.... I'm not sure what to make of that, but we're going with it for now. 



Gotta love Dr. Browns bottles & Mylicon gas drops.  A friend of mine is a pharmacist & made us a little "baby pharmacy kit" as a shower gift.  One night, on a whim I opened the box before making a Walgreen's trip (at like 11pm...we were desperate.)  These drops are great!  They are part of our nighttime routine. 

And lastly...



When we first brought our baby home, he loved to be swaddled at tight as he possibly could be. 

Within 1 week, this is how he started sleeping...

He only likes to be swaddled from the waist down...and he sleeps with his arms above his head.  So cute!

Chicken Salad Sandwich

I hate Mayonaise.  SO MUCH.  I've never liked it all that much, but the older I've become- the thought of putting mayo in anything churns my stomach.  The 2 exceptions I have are my grandmother's creamy cucumbers & my this recipe my mom makes that has pasta & chicken with raw veggies in it.  That's it.  Anything else...totally disgusting to me.  When I found this chicken salad sandwhich recipe (on Pinterest...go figure) I was so excited because 1. it has cranberries in it (LOVE) 2. it uses mostly greek yogurt to replace most of the mayo, removing most of the mayo taste. 
Win-Win. 

I made this for lunch quite a bit when I was preggo- it was quick, easy & light.  I buy the larger cans of chicken at Costco in bulk to keep around just in case I want this little gem for lunch!

{Chicken Salad Sandwiches}
recipe adapted from inspiredbycharm.com

1 large can chunk chicken (premium, packed in water; drained)
1/4 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
1/3 cup granny apple, diced into small chunks (1/4-1/2 inch)
1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
1.5 tablespoons onion, minced
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons light mayo (I use Duke’s but use your favorite)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or champagne vinegar)
1 tablespoon rosemary, minced

Toasted bread, sliced thick

Mix together greek yogurt, mayo, apple cider vinegar, and rosemary.
In a large bowl, combine, chicken (about 2 cups), pecans, onion, green apple, and cranberries.
Toss with dressing until well combined.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Chill for at least an hour until ready to serve.

The past 9 months....

Where have I been? What have I been working on?

This little guy!!

Meet our sweet baby boy, Brooks!

I haven't felt like cooking, Pinterest-ing, cleaning, shopping.  Nothing. I'll admit it...I was lazy.
We ate all of our tried & true recipes.  I didn't have cravings, I didn't try any new recipes.  In the end...we ended up with a pretty great little addition to our family.  And something new to blog about!

Lazy Sunday

Lazy Sunday by kategriffin09 featuring a fringed shawl

Zoe karssen top
$80 - net-a-porter.com

MOTHER DENIM faded jeans
£146 - farfetch.com

Tory Burch flat heels
$792 - jildorshoes.com

Balenciaga bag
€1.190 - veryeickhoff.com

Michael Kors resin jewelry
£220 - harveynichols.com

Old Navy fringed shawl
$17 - oldnavy.gap.com

Scrabble Tile Valentine's Day Cookies

Do we celebrate Valentine's Day around our house??  Sometimes- yes.  Sometimes- no.  I'd rather celebrate the fact that I have an amazing hubby, who is going to be a great daddy & who is an amazing friend...all year long.  We are going out tonight- but we are keeping it pretty low-key.  Just doing stuff that we'd normally do if we went out on a date.  Nothing extravagant- just how we like it :)

So before he left for Dallas on Sunday, he said...."how about we go out to dinner & I take you to buy some new clothes."  {Note: I've been pulling at my t-shirts CONSTANTLY for the past 2 weeks...darn growing belly.}  So that's the plan.  We are headed to Osteria Marco & to Motherhood Maternity!  Hot date night!  Osteria Marco is probably our most favorite restaurant in Denver...I'm excited!!  Motherhood Maternity...not so exciting.  Oh well :)

I was planning on making these cookies last night after I got home from work while I waited for my hubby's plane to land.  What was I thinking- after working 12 hours in an ER, I was going to make Scrabble/Valentine's Day cookies...crazy person!  Anyways, I laid on the couch watching the Bachelor and willing the splitting headache I had to go away. 

So my cookies wil look a little something like this:

photo/idea compliments of Bake at 350

Only with Todd & Kate...

I'll be using my mother's sugar cookie recipe. 

I'll post the recipe & pictures later! 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! 

Sweet Chili Cheese Cornbread

Superbowl Sunday should be considered a holiday at our house.  After months of watching enough football to drive me crazy; basing our weekends around it, coordinating multiple televisions in order to "not miss a thing," & switching cable providers so we can get the NFL ticket channel we've made it.   We made it to the final day of football.  That next Monday...my hubby usually sighs & says "now I have to wait months for it to come back" while secretly I'm jumping up & down for joy.  No football for months!  Yes! 
...and then I see my hubby sitting on the couch watching basketball.  Oh great.  More sports. 

Can't a girl get some Real Housewives or Tori & Dean?  Even once?? Nope, not going to happen.  Oh well :)

Anyways, the usual Superbowl dinner at our house in chili.  This year, we had a few friends over to watch the game.  Usually I make a red chili, but I decided to mix it up & make White Chicken Chili {recipe here.}  To accompany the chili, I decided to make a corn bread.  I know, I know...usually I shy away from cornbread because its so dry & crumbly.  So I set out to find a good, moist cornbread.  Where did I find the best?  Our Best Bites of course.  The best recipe, hands down.  The bread was moist & flavorable & a little sweet- no massive amounts of butter & honey needed. 

{Sweet Chili Cheese Cornbread}
recipe compliments of Ourbestbites

1 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 eggs at room temperature
1 4 0z can chopped green chiles
1 can cream style corn
1 cup flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoons table salt
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup grated Monterey jack Cheese
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (I like medium or sharp)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add in eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Add green chiles and corn and mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Take a spoonful of flour mixture and toss with grated cheeses (this will help prevent the cheese from sticking together in a big lump.) Add remaining flour mixture, and cornmeal to bowl and stir to combine. Lastly, add grated cheese and mix until well distributed.

Pour mixture into a 9×13 inch baking pan. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center of pan comes out with no goopy batter on it.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

In my early stages of pregnancy...when I still didn't know I was preggo- I had this weird craving for buffalo sauce.  Between eating my hubby under the table, constantly making buffalo chicken tacos {recipe here} & covering everything in Frank's Red Hot sauce...I should've known. 

So let's talk football.  Unless you've been living under a rock, this weekend is the SuperBowl!  Who are you cheering for?  I think I'm going to cheer for New England.  Only because the one person I can name from either team is Tom Brady...and well, he's Tom Brady.  Yes, my choice really has nothing to do with football.  I'm ok with it. 

This is a perfect dip for a SuperBowl party.  I've been saving it so I can post it for this weekend- nothing screams football like a combination of buffalo chicken wings & a dip...am I right??!?  Now, this is quite possibly the UGLIEST dip I've ever made.  There is nothing pretty about it....except that it will taste pretty good while you're eating it!

{Buffalo Chicken Dip}

recipe compliments of www.thegirlwhoateeverything.com

1 1/2 cups cooked and shredded chicken or 1 (12 ounce) can chunk chicken, drained

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup Ranch dressing

1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot, not to be confused with their pepper sauce. Start with less if you want and add more to your desired hotness.)

3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat chicken and Buffalo sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Make sure to break up the chicken so there are no big chunks. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in shredded cheese & cook until melted. Pour into a shallow dish. (At this point- you could sprinkle blue cheese on top & microwave to melt- but I skip this step.)

 Serve with chips, carrots & celery for dipping.

 

ENJOY

Guacamole

I've been wanting to try making my own guacamole for a while now.  Every time I've had the opportunity to make some- the avocados at the grocery store are like the size of pebbles & hard as rocks.  So I was very happily surprised when I actually went to the store to buy some & they were really good. 

So onto dinner:  we decided to make quesadillas with the guac & chips. 

This is the huge plate of food I consumed:

quesadilla recipe here

After eating half of the guac out of the bowl, I ate 2 whole quesadillas & a TON of guacamole & chips (they were baked- so I feel a little bit better about the situation.)  The thing is... I was STILL hungry.  SO I asked my hubby to make me another quesadilla.  He said no. He said I had eaten enough.  I was mad.  Really mad.  I went on this rampage about withholding food from preggo people & how mean it was...blah, blah, blah.

About 10 minutes later- I was rolling around on the floor with this huge stomach yelling "help me!, help me...my stomach is blowing up"  My hubby just stood overtop of me shaking his head.  Eating the rest of the guacamole.  Lesson learned.

Anyways, this guacamole was really fresh tasting & spicy.  We really liked it.  I've found that guac stays better longer if you rub the inside of the container with a cut lime (thank you Pinterest for the tip.)  With the Super Bowl coming up...we'll be making this again soon.

{Guacamole}

recipe adapted from www.thegirlwhoateeverything.com

3 ripe avocadoes; peeled & pitted

Juice of 1 lime (I added a little more- I like lime)

1/4 cup finely minced red onion

3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 jalepeno; seeded & ribs removed; finely chopped

1 clove garlic; minced

1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Halve the avocado & remove the pit by gently hiting the pit with a large, sharp knife & twisting the pit out.  Remove the avocado from the skin.  In a bowl, combine the avocado & mash it with a fork (to your desired consistency- we like rather chunky guac.)  Mix in remaining ingredients. 

Rub inside of the container it's being stored in with the cut lime.  Cover & let sit for about 1 hour prior to serving.  Serve with chips!

Enjoy!

 

Where have I been?

Oh my goodness.  I have been M.I.A...but I have a good excuse, I swear.  See, my hubby & I are expecting our FIRST baby!  With that said, for about 1 1/2 months the only thing I could stomach to eat were cherrios, yogurt & oranges.  Weird combination, but come near me with anything else- and I'd go running in the other direction.

It was so gross.  I couldn't even look at Pinterest because seeing the food made me run for the bathroom.  I was so nauseated in the afternoons I couldn't even sit at my computer & scroll the screen without getting sick.  I was a hot mess! 

But recently, I thought to myself "wow! today was a good day..." and then next day I thought the same.  It's been a few weeks now that I feel better, so I think I'm back in the game. 

So there's my excuse....hopefully good enough for now!