More chili? Yup, always more chili. If you happened to read my Fall Bucket List, you might know that we are basically obsessed with chili and cornbread, and pretty much have it every chance we can throughout the Fall season! And while I absolutely adore my family’s recipe that we have used since before I was even born, I really like to spice things up. I need change, and I crave trying new things. I have done quite a few variations, including this delicious vegetarian chili, but I can honestly say I have never loved a chili so much as I do this harvest chicken chili….
clean eating
Pumpkin Oat Pancakes
The world knows it by now… I love Fall with my whole heart. I was just telling my husband that I feel like all is right in my world when the leaves start to turn colors and the air cools down. Every day feels like a dream come true to me in the Fall. As L.M. Montgomery says, I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.
If you read my Fall Bucket List, then you already know this, but every year we have a party to celebrate Fall. We just recently had our Happy Fall party, and good grief, I wish we could do that every single day of the entire season. This Happy Fall party may have been my favorite so far. We played festive music, drank our own homemade pumpkin spiced coffee, and had an absolute FEAST. Every year it’s a little bit different, but with some similarities. This year’s feast was pumpkin oat pancakes with toasted pecans, maple syrup, and maple glazed apples. All God’s people said… AMEN.
These pumpkin oat pancakes were unlike any other oat pancakes I have ever made. They were seriously the fluffiest and most filling pancakes we have had in quite some time. They also held together like no other oat pancakes I have made. If you like pancakes, but need to actually feel full, these are for you!…
Triple Berry Baked Oatmeal
I can’t think of a better way to start the week than with a good breakfast. I also can’t think of anything better than sharing. So today I am sharing a recipe from my very own ebook, 30 Clean Breakfasts! This triple berry baked oatmeal is one of my absolute favorites, so when I was deciding what to share, it was at the top of my list!
First of all, if you know me, you might know that I just absolutely love oats. Not only are they super warm and comforting, they are also packed full of nutrition. If you are looking for a clean and healthy carb to fuel your morning, turn to oats. They keep you full for a long time and have a great amount of protein for being a grain.
I have been playing with various takes on baked oatmeal for a few years now, and I can honestly say I love them all. Give me all the baked oatmeal. It’s like a healthy breakfast casserole dessert… sort of. But it’s baked oatmeal….
6 Simple Steps To Clean Up Your Diet
I talk about clean eating a lot. Almost all of my closest friends know that it is something I am passionate about, and most of them are willing to humor me and talk about it from time to time. When I am talking to my friends, I am not quick to tell them they need to eat clean or discreetly suggest ways they could eat cleaner. I have a “you do you” policy. I will never tell people how they should or shouldn’t eat.
But when people ask me, whether it be my friends or my readers, I am happy to give a little direction.
In last few weeks I have been asked the same question seven times. “How do you eat so clean?”
Well, the truth is, it’s just a decision and a commitment. Eating clean is not a fad diet, it is a lifestyle change. When I choose to eat clean, I am choosing to fuel my body in a way that only works and makes a difference when I do it consistently.
“But how?” That’s the next question that six out of seven of those people asked….
Tropical Smoothie Bowl
Anytime Daniel and I travel, I search every travel and food site for the best smoothie bowls.
I’m sure there’s lots of smoothie bowl places right in my back yard, but let’s be real. I do not want to pay $9 every time I want one- which is A LOT. I feel a little bit better about it when it’s in the name of “vacation.”
But what about all the times I just need a yummy bowl at home?
Obviously I have to make my own, but that’s not always the easiest.
Can we just talk for a second about how touchy smoothies and smoothie bowls are? Am I the only person that has made the exact *same* smoothie with the exact same ratios only to have it turn out completely different? That’s just plain annoying.
Smoothie bowls can be even more touchy. You want them to be smooth and creamy, but still thick enough to eat with a spoon- and you need to accomplish that without them being grainy.
I say all of that to say, it is important to always start out with smaller amounts of liquid and work your way up to the recipe amount. You can’t take away liquid, but you can always add more!
Do you want another fun tip?
Layer your bowl with toppings in the middle! You won’t end up with all your toppings gone with half of your smoothie left!
Oh, one more tip?
Get creative. As long as the base of your bowl is good, you can really add whatever toppings you want! You can also easily swap out ingredients as long as they are equal substitutes!
For this particular smoothie bowl, I wanted it to be grain free, but you can really use any granola or combination of seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. If you are looking for a good clean granola, try this one!
Enjoy!
Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Have y’all ever had the broccoli cheddar soup from Panera?
If so, you’ll understand the urgency behind coming up with this recipe. My bank account can’t keep up with my desire for that soup, and my body is uncertain of it’s real nutritional value. I simply could not take it anymore. I had to come up with one at home.
The thing about a broccoli cheddar soup is that, well, anything that is loaded full of cheese is not going to be the healthiest thing out there. But I did want to do my part to lighten it up. I tried to keep this soup as clean as I possibly could.
The first thing I did was obviously make sure the entire soup was gluten free… Because I didn’t want to die over a bowl of soup….
Banana Berry Popsicles
Any other popsicle lovers out there?
Confession… When I was a kid I LOVED push-pops. Bonus points if they were the orange Flinstone push-pops. Gosh, those were good.
Someday I will make those, but I think it will demand a lot of self control on my part to not eat twenty of them, so I’m holding off on that one for now….
Perfect Stovetop Popcorn
If I could only have one snack for the rest of my life, it would definitely be popcorn.
Or cake.
But I would argue that cake is dessert, and then I could have both….
Homemade Peanut Butter Laura Bars
I absolutely love Lara Bars. I think they taste like a candy bar, and I love that I don’t feel guilty after eating one.
I also love that they are called Lara Bars, because when people are confused about how to say my name, I can just say, “it’s pronounced like Lara Bar.”
Honestly, y’all, I feel a little torn about whether to write about the bars or write about my name….
Peanut Butter Cookie Pancakes
Okay, actually these are peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookie pancakes.
But that’s a mouthful right?
EXACTLY. It was a mouthful….
