DZ #5: Make it Monday! Bob Harper's lentil soup

Bob's Skinny Rules book has turned into my new favorite. Obsessssed. Not only do I think Bob is an incredible person who really cares about helping people lose weight, but I ADORE his book, including (especially?) the recipes, and I've only tried out a few, two of which are soups. Sure, some of the rules are a bit trickier to follow than others (remember this?), but after reading through the book, I realized that they are all doable and beneficial, even if it does take some adjusting. I love that this book ISN'T your typical diet book but it's really just an encouragement (at least to me) to be eating healthier to match the lifestyle I want to live. And he gives you practical grocery/pantry lists, which is awesome. Not necessarily to be skinny, but to be healthy. And I am starting to adapt those rules (to a certain extent) to my own little family. I currently follow 14 of the rules and am working on the other 6... but that is a post for another time. In the meantime, GO READ it!



Back to the lentils. I LOVE lentil soups. My aunt makes a killer lentil soup but she's in Ohio, so I usually stick with the Progresso kind. Never again!!



This has turned into my favorite soup of all time... And I really like soup! With 217 calories, 10 g of protein, and 2g of fat, not only is it LOADED with flavor, savory with a little sweetness (sweet potatoes) thrown in, but it's good for you too! I usually triple the recipe (what is listed is the original, single serving recipe) so I only have to make it once to last me three days, and it actually tastes even better reheated! Even Mr. D and the little one liked it.

Bob Harper's Savory Lentil Soup

Note: If you prep the chopped veggies ahead of time, this is a super quick meal to make!

1/4 c dried lentils

olive oil spray

1/4 c chopped carrot

2 tablespoons chopped celery

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tablespoon tomato paste (which I have never had, so I have used spaghetti sauce or salsa and it has turned out good both times!)

1/2 c cubed peeled sweet potato (I got lazy and used my MiL's mandoline [best invention ever, I am stealing it when we move out] then chopped it up, which is why my sweet potatoes are bigger chunks)

1 and 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth

dash of salt and freshly ground pepper

(optional) 1/2 tablespoon parsley,1/2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese



Directions:

1. Rinse and drain lentils, set aside. Coat medium pot with olive oil spray.

2. Add carrot, onion, celery, garlic to pot and saute for 5 minutes.

3. Add bay leaf, thyme, tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.

4. Add lentils and sweet potato, stir 1 minute.

5. Add broth and bring to boil; reduce the heat and cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until veggies and lentils are tender. Stir occasionally.

6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with sprinkling of parsley and parmesan (also good without).

Make it! Weekend edition

I was looking for bruised bananas at the stop n shop "discount produce" section because I wanted to make some muffins. Unfortunately, even though there are some EVERY other time I go, I was out of luck today. While little d contented himself with sweet talking the lobsters ("it's okay hah-nee, I'm a friend!") I found some zucchini and decided to take a chance and just find something on pinterest.



Pinterest never dissapoints me! The link was to parenting magazine's recipe center, and of course I skipped out on the oil (Anna replaces oil and butter with equal amounts of applesauce) instead choosing chobani for the extra protein perks. And it's still super moist... Most info I find online has certain ratios for going from oils or butter to chobani, I find it easier to just try and use the same amount. It worked for my banana chocolate chip muffins, and it worked for this recipe! Super moist, butteryish muffins that are under 200 calories a pop... Winning in my books since most muffins are upwards of 500+ calories and loaded with heavy fats... My muffin has only

1g of fat and 5g of protein, not to mention it gets the hubby and baby to eat zucchini!



2 c flour

1 c brown sugar

2 tsp each of baking soda, cinnamon, salt

1/8 tsp each of nutmeg, ginger, ground allspice

Mix all dry ingredients.



In separate bowl (or on top of the dry mix if you're lazy like me) combine

2 c peeled shredded zucchini

1 peeled shredded apple.

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla (oops I forgot that one... And it still tasted good!)

1/2 c unsweetened applesauce

1/2 c plain chobani



Mix it all up completely without overdoing it. Bake 350' for 20 minutes.



12 perfect muffins

Proud mommy moment

As I was getting the diaper bag ready this morning for a quick trip to the grocery store, little d grabbed my attention as he plopped his bum in his BOB stroller.



"no car mom. I watt a go da stwooyer!"

(translation: he didnt want to take the five minute drive, instead he wanted me to run to the store with him, which is 1.5 miles or 20 minutes each way)



This wouldn't be such a big deal since we do it all the time. The store is also right next to the gym so sometimes we run to the gym and back. But jeez, I had to pick up a gallon of milk, we had exactly 40 minutes to do so (or risk mr. D not getting his milk, so that was a bit of a time crunch as the rolling hills and 80year old pavement makes for slower miles than usual.), AND Fridays are my absolute favorite super killer 75

Minute muscle pump class. Plus, he woke up early! 5 am-ish early and I was tired! Did I mention it was a thousand degrees of humidity, was raining a little still, and I was tired?!



Try telling that to a two year old.



So we went. I got in a tough three mile run, but it felt good. No excuses. That's why I love this age. Little d is the best running partner ever.



Of course as we were leaving the house post breakfast to the gym, he once again requested the stroller. It was a good thing we were running late. :)

try not to cry

Within a week, my in-laws home has gone from filled to the brim with family... 

to basically empty. As of monday, it will be little d, uncle cory and me for a week.

This wouldn't bother me so much if everyone wasn't in utah (without me), and if Blake wasn't going to be gone for two years in Milan, Italy. I am still unsure if I am more sad to see him go or more jealous of where he gets to go. Here are some sweet gems from last summer. Best buddies doesn't begin to describe it.

As I try not to bawl my brains out, keep in mind, Blake was the only BiL who was not rude and at least five inches taller than me when I married Mr. D in 2006. He now stands as tallest of all the boys, but to be honest in my mind he still looks like this: (far right)

Ahhh... and the kahki pants on my wedding day, don't think he will ever live that one down. :)

Blake was one of the first people I told I was pregnant, was most excited about me having a baby, was there for little d's baby blessing, first birthday and second birthday. It is hard for me to think about little d spending his 3rd and 4th birthdays without his "Ah-koh Bate", not to mention having to deal with little d asking where he is for the next 700 plus days. But he is a wonderful example to me, and is doing a truly wonderful work. {From what I have heard}, Mr. D's mission molded him into the person I fell in love with, and I certainly hope the same for Blake, that serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints will turn him from a wonderful 19 year old boy into a man.

I'll post more recent pictures when I can stop crying long enough to download these pictures without completely losing it. Off to the airport!

365 love letters week 25: June 17-23

photo a day june @fatmumslim

For those of you who don't know (or) remember, I am obsessed with instagram. It is the most incredible thing to hit my life since the blog. Snap a photo a day that matches the daily word/phrase? Easy.

morning, empty, on your plate, close up

 sign, hat, drink, six o clock

 my view today, best bit of my weekend, door, from a low angle

 art, time, yellow, out and about

 in my bag, something you don't know about me, imperfect, favorite photo ever taken

 where I slept, from a high angle, movement, on my mind

 something cute, where I shop, bathroom, on the shelf

 soft, a friend (or "AAAAAHHH boy" as little d would say)

365 love letters week 24 (june 10-16)

Classic family photo

One of many to come :)

Celebrating goodbyes

Blake's farewell is tonight and in an effort to keep it together till he leaves next week I've told myself I'm not allowed to have a linden deli sub or ANY dessert unless I promise not to cry today. No promises for after today, but I do love my Isabella sub and brownies so we shall see if foodie love really can conquer all.



Have I mentioned how much I am going to miss him?!?!?

Two is looking pretty good

730 days old

A 430 am wakeup to play "take me out to the ball game" for 90 minutes on his red sox bear musical mobile? Someone must know its his birthday :)

365 Love Letters week 23: June 3-9

wordless wednesday

365 Love Letters week 22: May 27-June 2