Peach & Walnut Smoothie

I think I may have hit the mommy brain trifecta! It all started a couple Friday's ago, when I made these lovely peach pie bars and without realizing until after they were in the oven, I put 1 tablespoon of BAKING POWDER instead of 1 tablespoon of CORNSTARCH in the peach filling. What the heck. The result wasn't pretty, the peach filling was gray and as expected the taste was completely off. I didn't beat myself up about it because the baking powder and cornstarch containers were quite similar looking. I only knew it wasn't cornstarch because I had recycled that container, and had opened one that comes from a bag. Oops!

Last week I did a lot of cooking/baking, because it was Michael's birthday, I also cooked for a family who recently had a baby, and baked a cake for the church picnic, etc. I guess my brain was a little fried from all the planning, prepping, cooking, and eating because my mommy brain (or maybe Jessica brain would be the correct term here) was back in effect this Sunday. We went straight to the grocery store after church, and I got more Brita filters and smoked salmon from Costco thinking we ran out of both. Michael insisted we still had both but I was positive we didn't. As soon as we come home and were putting away our groceries, he finds both an unopened box of Brita filters in the cabinet and vacuum sealed smoked salmon in the fridge. All I could say was "at least we don't have to buy either for a while..."  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Now that all of that is out in the open, let's focus on this Peach & Walnut smoothie that I like to believe redeems me of my Jessica/mommy brain tendencies. We received gigantically beautiful peaches from our CSA, and I used a couple to bake with, devoured whole ones with Lydia, and froze the rest for smoothies. When ripened aren't peaches the most succulent and delicious summer fruits you've ever eaten? Messy but so worth it. I especially love them in this smoothie! I added walnuts because I like a thick smoothie that will keep me full and satisfied, two admirable qualities in a smoothie if you ask me.

Peach & Walnut Smoothie (vegan, gluten-free*)

• 1 peach fresh or frozen, sliced 
• half banana, peeled and frozen overnight
• 1 medjool date, pitted or 1 tablespoon maple syrup for sweetness
• 2 tablespoons rolled oats*
• 1 handful raw walnuts (about 2-3 tablespoons...)
• A dash of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2-3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

*Use gluten-free oats if necessary. Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until thoroughly combined. Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately!

The Reasons Why I Exercise!

Hey!

For a little while now I have been wanting to have a regular feature on my blog that focuses on fitness and health. The last post I shared that was fitness related was back when I was pregnant with Lydia! I thought it would be fun to kick start this feature by listing the reasons why I exercise.

1. It physically and mentally helps me feel less anxious and nervous

2. It keeps my energy up which motivates me to tackle on the rest of the day

3. It makes me calm and less moody

4. It helps me feel more connected to my body
5. It is challenging and rewarding at the same time
6. It helps reduce inflammation in my joints caused by my autoimmune disease (Ulcerative Colitis)

7. It’s fun and even relaxing at times

8. It has effectively improved my sleep habits

9. It helps me with my flexibility and balance with everyday activities which is a win because I am naturally extremely clumsy *blush* 
10. It has also improved my posture tremendously

11. And lastly it keeps me in shape and leaves room for me to indulge a bit!

And those are just some of the reasons why I exercise!

mid jump squat!

Why do you exercise? 

Next time I'll be sharing my favorite workouts of the moment! 

Lydia Renee's Food Adventures

Hi everybody! I thought it would be fun to share a little bit of what Lydia’s been eating these days. We started her on solids a couple weeks before she turned 6-months-old, and boy has she eaten a lot of food since then!

In the beginning we started her on homemade pureed kabocha squash, sweet potato, carrots and the like which were all successful. Then as the weeks went by she was onto more mixed purees and my beef stew. Before having Lydia, I had done research on baby-led weaning and liked the idea of feeding her foods that we were eating. It seemed like a great way for her to explore her food, play with it a little and experience mealtime as a family. 

So starting her on purees wasn't my initial plan but I'm glad I did them. It was a good introduction for her and it helped me see if any allergies were present, and fortunately there has been none so far! We do however avoid certain foods like honey, processed food, and conventional dairy products. She was eager to be fed at 6-7 moths and during that time she hadn't quite mastered using her fingers to feed herself, a.k.a. the pincer grasp which is developed at around 8-12 months old.

She was about 8 months old when she began to use her pincer grasp and that's when I knew we could successfully commit to the baby-led weaning process. Once she started to feed herself there really was no turning back! As someone who is passionate about eating and being married to someone who is also passionate about eating, we were blessed with a little human who, you guessed it, is passionate about eating! Letting Lydia feed herself is a little messy and there are certain foods that require a little assistance from us, like soup! But her enjoyment, little "mmm's" make it all worth it. 

People are always surprised to see Lydia eating because there isn't much she won't eat and she still has no teeth. My mom was shocked because on Thanksgiving Lydia was going to town gumming her dad's spicy chicken wings and guacamole! Lydia can handle the heat and likes things that pack on the flavor, a real epicurean in the making. I love it!

For the past couple of months I have been consistent with feeding Lydia breakfast, lunch and dinner, and that seems to work well for the both of us. Because she is only 10 months old, I'm still nursing her in between meals and she finds comfort in nursing periodically throughout the night. Once she turns one, I don't want to rush her into weaning but rather have her gradually rely more on solid food for nutrients than me. The comfort nurses are something I do cherish and I will part with when she feels prepared to do so.  On that note, here’s a little break down of what she's been eating!

//Breakfast// 

Depending on her last feeding in the morning, I don’t typically nurse her as soon as she wakes up for the day. 

she doesn't typically eat off of the floor but every now and then she eats breakfast in our room while I make my bed... it's all about multitasking guys!! :x

In the early stages I was feeding Lydia oatmeal that I grounded in the food processor and cooked it with fresh apple cider or organic applesauce, and a little ground cinnamon and cardamom or sometimes mashed banana mixed in. Initially she seemed to enjoy this but now that she's more independent her breakfast varies from homemade waffles cut into bite size pieces with fruit (chunks of ripe pear or roasted cinnamon apple), cheerios/rice chex, or fruit and yogurt smoothies in her reusable squeeze packs. She is currently in a cheerio kick! I give her about two ounces of apple or cranberry juice diluted with water to drink with breakfast. 

She typically wants to nurse 2-3 hours after breakfast time. 

//Lunch//

little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; so cute!

a little sandwich in hand

cut up omelette with sliced avocado 

1 falafel and roasted carrots seasoned with turmeric + smoked paprika

avocado smiles are the best 

Lydia usually will take a nap prior to lunchtime so this gives me a little time to prepare our meals. She loves to share what I'm eating or have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, avocado toast, leftover soup/stew in her reusable squeeze packs, roasted veggies with leftover chicken or salmon, and occasionally nitrite-free deli meat when we're in a pinch.

She gets a little annoyed when I have to feed her so putting soups in the squeeze packs makes my life a little easier! Plus it's an easy way to blend spinach and kale into her soups which are otherwise a choking hazard. 

//Snack-time// 

blueberries! she likes to inspect her food before eating...

having her applesauce

she really likes her applesauce 

When she first started feeding herself, I would just give her organic puffs and her juice but lately I have been trying to give her more whole foods. Ie: blueberries cut in half, organic apple juice in her reusable squeeze pack, fresh fruit or a favorite of ours: blended frozen banana and berries with chia seeds. 

//Dinner//

here lydia is gumming down a tostone, embracing her puerto rican roots

sundried tomato pesto on pasta with  a little chicken for protein

This varies from week to week since, I like trying new recipes every week and she typically eats whatever we're eating for dinner. She seems to be keen on pasta dishes, chicken pot pie, and actually really liked the stuffed eggplant with lamb and tahini yogurt sauce that I made last month. There are some nights when Michael has to start feeding her before I'm even done serving us our dinner because she gets a little impatient and hangry. For the most part dinnertime is really nice, enjoyable, and I would definitely say my favorite time of the day because I'm with my two favorite people!

Having written this post, I had a lot of fun with it. I hope it can be somewhat resourceful and inspiring to you. I definitely would love to share more of Lydia's meals and actually put effort into the pictures. As you can see most of the pictures are quick snaps from my phone and that's usually the case because I have a little child wishing I'd hurry up and let her eat already. ;)

Until next time,

Cabbage, Sweet Potato and Kielbasa Stew

It’s been a long time since I've last posted a recipe on here, and I hope this one is worth your while! It is a humble little soup that’s got sweet potatoes, red potatoes, savoy cabbage and kielbasa. Quite honestly, I found this soup so comforting to eat on cool spring nights. I love the heat of the kielbasa, smokiness of the paprika, the tender bite of the cabbage and of course the mild sweetness that the sweet potatoes bring to the table. In other words this soup is notably flavorful! I know what you’re thinking, soup in May? I love soup all year around! If you do not, reserve this soup for a chilly night and allow it to comfort you with its tastiness. 

inspired by this recipe.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound nitrite-free turkey or pork kielbasa

2 medium onions, medium dice

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

3 garlic cloves, finely minced

2 large sweet potatoes , quartered lengthwise cut crosswise into ¼”  thick slices

1 pound small red potatoes, halved lengthwise cut into 1/4” thick slices (I used a bag of mini potatoes; a mix of purple, red and white.)

6 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 small savoy cabbage, sliced thin

Salt + pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add kielbasa, cook until brown, stirring often about 8 minutes. Transfer the kielbasa onto paper towels to drain. Add onions and garlic to pot and cook until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add all the potatoes and smoked paprika, cook until beginning to soften, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until potatoes are softened, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Using a potato masher, mash some of the potatoes in pot. Add browned kielbasa to soup, stir in cabbage and let simmer until completely tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, divide among bowls and enjoy!

Pregnancy Update: 37 weeks !

I can’t believe it’s been 8 weeks since I last updated, where the heck does time go? I know my last post was pregnancy related and I’m sorry for the redundancy, I just wanted to do one more update before Lydia is here! Today I am 37 weeks and 2 days, and right now I’m feeling comfortable and at peace with everything that’s been going on with my body. Days tend to drag longer due to discomfort; especially in my hips, pelvis and back. And unfortunately I tested positive for GBS which means I'll need to get antibiotics through an IV during my labor and delivery. I am praying that my water will break after I go into labor, so I can enjoy early labor at home and avoid further medical interventions. People keep asking Michael and I about the nursery, and all I can say is we have a crib, it's assembled and so is the changing table. Painting the room will come later. Our main focus was finishing up our bedroom since Lydia will spend a few months with us in this co-sleeper bassinet; then we will transition her into the smaller bedroom with her crib.

Without further ado, here's the latest!

How far along: 37 weeks!

Gender: Still a girl :) 

Total weight gain:  30+ pounds which was suggested by my midwife. It sounds like a lot but I feel it more in the front (although my mom says I have a big butt now) which explains why I've been getting reoccurring back pain. Ouch!

Maternity Clothes:  Still been wearing the same two maternity jeans and a few shirts; but lately I've been most comfortable in non-maternity joggers, sweat pants and of course leggings!

Sleep: Surprisingly better; yay! Michael finished painting our bedroom and put back all the molding (I’ll post pictures once all our furniture is back!) so we are back in our comfy bed.

Miss Anything: Exercising! I still can manage four days but the exercises are much lower intensity than they were a few weeks ago. I’m listening to my body though and make daily stretching a priority.

Cravings: Right now I could go for a juicy burger right off the grill… I can’t wait until the warm weather. I still love my popcorn, but not so much eggs!

Symptoms: Where do I start? Just kidding, it’s not that bad but I often get pain in my hips, pelvis and a dull feeling in my spine. This artic weather is no help… But other than that things have been A-okay!

Belly Button in or out: It’s still a cinnamon bun!

Mood: Happy.

Best Moment this week: Going to small group yesterday and having a surprise mini baby shower thrown to celebrate baby Lydia! The people in our small group have been such an encouragement to us through this exciting time.  :)

Looking forward to: More childbirth classes! We started a couple weeks ago, and it’s been a fun time of learning and relaxing. And of course Lydia’s arrival! Less than three weeks to go; if she decides to come on time of course…

Exercise: Still the same as before but lower intensity. I notice that my body feels better when I spend less time on the intense stuff and more time on stretching so that’s where I am right now.

On My Mind: I guess I’ve been thinking about labor and how everything will go down. I can’t really picture what will happen but pray that it loosely follows my birth plan, that my labor can come together naturally without the need of an induction and that Lydia and I are healthy when everything is happening. It’s all in God’s hands! Spring has been on my mind a lot too. Lydia will be here, the weather will be less evil and I can go for walks with her in the stroller.

That’s all I got. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

xo, Jessica

Tahini & Sweet Potato Smoothie

Michael and I have a weekly ritual of eating smoothies, I say eat 'cause they're so thick you need a spoon! I like to call this ritual "Smoothie Sundays" but have never actually said that aloud. This became our thing sometime last year when Michael and I started attending church at HBC; we needed something quick and nutritious for breakfast. So each week, I've been waking up a little earlier to get ready for church and make Smoothie Sundays possible. Through these weekly endeavors, I've learned my share of smoothie techniques and how smoothies differ from one another and which flavors work and which don't. In my opinion, one that didn't work for me was blending turmeric, frozen pineapple and fish oil all in one smoothie. It was the first time I didn't finish a smoothie! Anyhow, while I do believe smoothies are a healthy, convenient and equally delicious little breakfast they don't always keep Michael and I's bellies full for the entire morning... 

So this week, I've been playing around with our lovely blender and blending up some smoothies, and came across one that I really enjoyed. And it's filling too! Because I promised to post more recipes this year, it would be criminal of me not to share this smoothie with you all.

It's called Tahini & Sweet Potato Smoothie and it's packed with complex carbohydrates, fiber and beta-carotene. It features a few of my favorite ingredients too! Oats, sweet potato and tahini. Tahini gives the smoothie richness, boldness in flavor and a healthy dose of both calcium and fat. And the addition of the oats and sweet potato effectively prevent the epidemic today that is known as mid-morning hunger! Plus once blended you get a beautiful orange smoothie that is velvety smooth.

Tahini & Sweet Potato Smoothie 

• 1/2 medium cooked sweet potato (The night before I usually roast a whole sweet potato in at 375 F for 45-50 minutes)
• 1/2 frozen banana 
• 1/2-1 cup almond milk (Add more milk depending on your desired level of thickness)
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon tahini paste
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• optional add-ins: 1 scoop vanilla protein powder; 1 tablespoon chia seeds

In a high speed blender place in all ingredients and blend until ingredients are smooth and thoroughly incorporated. For a sweeter smoothie try a teaspoon of maple syrup or a pitted date. Pour into a small glass and enjoy with a spoon. Mmm!

xo, Jessica