Is it fall yet? {2 Recipes to Get You in the Spirit}
Is it fall yet?
Seriously, I’m so ready.
With this 90+ degree heat wave in Boston, I’ve been daydreaming about boots + leggings, pumpkin (everything) and crisp afternoon strolls in the park.
Unfortunately, my daydreaming isn’t making the season change any faster, so I decided to bring fall to me! Try these 2 pumpkin-themed recipes for a little taste of fall in your summer home.
Autumn Rosemary Pumpkin Hummus
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 TB olive oil
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ c. pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
- dash of maple syrup
- 1 tsp. fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- pinch of sea salt
- Blend all ingredients except rosemary in food processor until smooth.
- Stir in the rosemary, and add any additional spices or salt to taste.
Serve with warm pita bread, apple or pear slices, crackers, carrots or other fave veggies!
Pumpkin Pie + Dark Chocolate Energy Balls
- 12 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/2 c. raw pecans
- 1/3 c. pumpkin puree
- 1/4 c. unsweetened coconut flakes (+ another ¼ c. for rolling)
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ c. chia seeds
- dash of raw honey or maple syrup,
Half Marathon Training + City Sports Brand New Fall Fitness Apparel
Good morning ladies, hope you’re all having a great week! (Can you believe it’s already Thursday?) Time is sure flying by for me lately. Not only am I getting married in 29 days (eek!) but I’ve also been busier than ever with work and did I mention I’m training for a half marathon?
Some may call me crazy to run a half marathon just 12 days before my wedding, but honestly for me running is one of my favorite ways to de-stress and spend time with myself + for myself. So I signed up for the Newport Half Marathon held on October 12th, and haven’t looked back since.
Aside from having the proper fuel, upbeat music and a whole lot o’ stamina (especially for those long runs), having the right workout attire makes a huge difference too! I’m a firm believer that if you feel comfortable and fabulous in what you’re wearing, you’ll have a better day, and well a better run too.
That’s why I was ecstatic when City Sports kindly offered to send me some items from their new fall fitness collection for me to try out. It could not have come at a better time…smack dab in … Read More!
5 Things to do Right Now!
1. Throw on a cute fall outfit:tights+boots+fall skirt+scarf=my go-to trendy fall outfit. It makes me feel fall-esque and that I love.
2. Go buy your most favorite coffee or tea from your fave coffee shop (or have your dad buy it): My dad bought me a black pumpkin spice coffee and I added in my own chocolate soy milk to make it the perfect fall drink. Buy your perfect drink!
3. Light a yummy fall/winter-y candle: Light up that Jack Frost candle you’ve been saving for winter, or a yummy pumpkin or apple pie scent. Your house will smell of happiness in a few minutes.
4. Go for a long walk/run sans music: I went for a 40-minute walk this morning, and although it was a little chilly for my liking, I loved being by myself with no iPod, simply soaking up the fall scenery. Gotta love foliage!
5. Search for festivals in your area: This post is extra-short ’cause we’re about to go to the APPLE FESTIVAL! It’s an annual festival in the neighborhood I grew up in, with anything and everything fall! They’ll have apples, pumpkin butter, kettle corn, crafts and music. Sorry to cut you short but … Read More!
Apps-Solutely Fabulous “Apple Crisp”
This is a perfect quickie substitution for fall-favorite Apple Crisp, and you barely have to do any work! Now doesn’t that sound nice? Enjoy as a light dessert on a cool fall evening, and feel app-solutely guilt-free about it!
*serves 2
-1 large apple, cored (I like Macintosh)
-4 TB Light Cool Whip
-2 TB honey or agave syrup
-2 tsp. cinnamon
-2 TB low fat granola of choice
1. Preheat oven to 350. Core the apple, then cut in half, making 2 halves.
2. Sprinkle granola onto each half, then drizzle honey or agave, and top each with a tsp. of cinnamon.
3. Bake for about 15 minutes on baking sheet. Top each apple half with 2 TB Cool Whip and enjoy as a yummy, cozy treat on a chilly fall evening with your hunny!… Read More!
Managing Overeating & Finding a Healthy Balance
[source]
It’s fall and while the weather’s getting a little cooler ‘n’ the leaves are a-changin’ colors, you’d rather your body not change as well (for the worse). But we’ve all been there. When it’s colder outside and sweatpants become your go-to get-home-from-work outfit, it’s so much easier to finish off that leftover pasta or have just one more slice of pizza or only a bite of the melt-in-your-mouth cookie (which quickly turns into eating 4). Trust me, I know how hard it is, and how easy it is to get a little off track when you no longer have to worry about public trips to the beach in you teeny-weeny bikini. You find yourself letting go and giving up on your exercise routine because it’s just soooo much easier (and more fun) to cuddle up on the couch with a good movie and some sweet treats.
My good friend came to me with such problem the other day. Being a nanny by day (God help her, she’s a champ), she’s constantly surrounded by “kid food” i.e. frozen pizza, leftover birthday cake, extra-frosting cupcakes, and chicken nuggets. Thankfully for her, the mother of the family is rather … Read More!
Super-Stuffed Red Bell Peppers
I went home to Connecticut for the day to celebrate my mom’s birthday. We headed to the grocery store after some fabulous apple-picking and what do you know: she was picking up ingredients to make one of my very own recipes. Wow I’m famous (or just let me think that for a day). My mom making one of my recipes? Wow, that feels good. Anyway, these stuffed peppers suffice for a meal on their own or can be served with a side salad or extra veggies. Enjoy…it’s definitely a fall favorite!
*serves 2
-2 red bell peppers
-6 oz. lean ground turkey
-1 c. cooked quinoa (may substitute brown rice)
-1/2 c. yellow onion, chopped
-1/2 c. black beans (optional)
-2 small Roma tomatoes, diced
-1 c. spinach
-1/2 c. organic Marinara sauce
-1 clove garlic, crushed
-1 tsp. basil
-1 tsp. parsley
-1/4 c fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
-2 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for cooking)
1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a medium skillet with olive oil, and cook turkey burger until lightly browned. Add in your vegetables (aside from the peppers and black beans if you choose to use them), and cook on medium heat.
2. In … Read More!
Autumn Chicken Veggie Soup
Yesterday was totally one of those soup days; it was dark, rainy and chilly outside. That to me calls for a soup day, particularly a yummy chicken ‘n’ veggie creation. I whipped up a large pot of this warm fall soup, went for a long run and came back to find my apartment smelling of fall (and my soup ready to eat). Enjoy with a piece of toast or side salad!
-1 container low sodium chicken broth
-1 c. water
2 TB olive oil
-1 sweet onion, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, crushed
-1 large zucchinni, chopped
-1 large sweet potato, chopped
-1/4 to 1/2 c. baby portobella mushrooms
-large handful baby carrots (10-15)
-4 medium skinless boneless chicken breasts
-2 TB parsley
-1 TB oregeno
-1 1/2 TB dill
-salt to taste
1. Sauté the onion and the garlic in olive oil over medium-low heat in a large soup pot for about two minutes. Add in the chicken broth and water, and stir.
2. Add in the rest of the veggies, and bring to a boil. In the meantime, boil the chicken in a separate pot for about 5 minutes. Drain chicken and add it into the large pot with … Read More!
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Sunflower Muffins
Now that it’s officially fall, one thing in particular has been on my mind: pumpkin. Pumpkin picking, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin carving, pumpkin everything. But since I can’t have everything all at once, I decided to make do with what I could and bake some pumpkin muffins. But this isn’t just your ordinary recipe; these babies are unique, perfectly soft ‘n’ fluffy and delightfully tasty. Enjoy with a glass of milk or hot cup of tea!
*Makes approximately 12 large muffins
-1 c. canned pumpkin puree
1/8 c. chocolate soy milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 c. plain greek yogurt
1/3 c. applesauce or vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. whole wheat flour*
1/2 c. all purpose flour* (*substitute 1 1/2 c. gluten free flour for regular flour for those with wheat sensitivities)
1/3 c. agave syrup
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
1/4 to 1/2 c. Ghirardelli Semi Sweet chocolate chips
½ c. sunflower seeds
1. Preheat over to 375. Mix dry ingredients together, then adding in all the wet ingredients slowly. Mix well, being sure all the flour has dissolved but do not … Read More!