Pumpkin Muffins!

What better way to start off the fall than to eat some pumpkin!Poor pumpkins never get eaten(sp?)...just carved.I love pumpkin and  thought muffins sounded wonderful(and the idea of not cooking breakfast)So here are my wonderful pumpkin muffins....

This was all that was left when I thought to take a picture of them.

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup pumpkin

1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tspsalt

1 tsp.cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.Whisk pumpkin,oil,eggs,pumpkin pie- spice,sugar,baking soda,and salt.Whisk in flour.Put in muffin tin and bake 25-30 minutes.*tip*I use coconut oil because it is healthier and they taste exactly the same*

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Try something new...Kale!!!

I absolutely love kale!It is packed with so many nutrients.

.Here's the nutritonal facts:

Wow!So healthy and so good! Alot of people will cut it up in chip size pieces,season it with salt and bake or dehydrate them and I am sure it is good made like that but I prefer it in soup.I wanted to try kale for a while just because of how good it is for you and just wanted to try something new so I found a great recipe on allrecipes.com and slightly modified it so here it the recipe for you.I love to eat it when I am sick just to boost my immune system .Oh,and for added bonus it is meatless!
Vegetarian kale soup:
ingredients
1 bunch kale
2 cups black eyed peas(or whatever you have on hand..)
1 can diced tomatoes
3 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 clove garlic 2 tsp. olive oil
3-4 potatoes diced
8 cups water
1 tbsp.italian seasoning
2 tbsp parsley
s -n-p

cook garlic in olive oil until soft.Cut up kale and rinse off add and cook 2 minutes.Add everything else and simmer 25 minutes until potatoes are soft.season with s-n-p.Enjoy!It makes alot so eat and enjoy and freeze the rest for another night or next time you're sick.

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Tips on becoming a smarter shopper

I am all about saving money and eating healthy at the same time.Here are some tips on ways to becoming a smarter shopper:
Don't buy premade.
I have found things premade to be alot more expensive and I think I have 10 minutes to spare to cut/cook myself.I buy a chicken whole,roast it and can make 2-3 more meals with it.I buy dried beans,cook them and freeze them into 4 different containers and pop them out when I need it.I buy all my fruit whole(nothing precut).I also make my own tortillas,bread and waffles and double the recipe to freeze them and use when I need.It sounds like alot of work but if you can spare one day to do all your freezing,in the long run it makes your life easier.
Shop the perimeter
I have heard it so many times and it is very true.Most of what is in the aisles is processed,empty calories junk so get as little as you can.Not that it is all bad but the majority of it is.
Plan your meals
I think when you have a list made out and know exactly what you need,it makes things so much easier to not fall into temptation(grocery stores are the devil).Try to stick with exactly what is on your list and if you can't try to limit it to two extra items(if they are on sale,that is even better)
Eat before you shop
I have found that when I go shopping when I am hungry I am much more like to snack the whole time shopping.Also,you're more likely to buy more junk when you go with a hungry mind.-

I'm open to hear any tips you may have.So,comment and tell me your smart shopper tips!

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How do you plan your meals?

First I check my pantry and fridge to see what I have....

I would show you my fridge but I realized today that it definitely needs to be cleaned out!I like to check my freezer first and work around what we have such as a whole chicken,ground turkey,tomato sauce(lasagna,spaghetti,etc.)and use the ingredients that you have.Then I will write down snack,breakfast,lunch,dinner and a 7 day menu.On one sheet I write my menu and the other I write my grocery list.I like to buy whole chickens and use the leftover for meals throughout the week.I will also buy dried beans,make a double batch of waffles,make homemade bread,etc. and freeze them.

Why do you plan your meals?

I plan my meals because it take all the guess work out.I don't like guessing what is for dinner and having to go to the grocery store 2-3 times a week just for a couple items.I think you tend to spend more money just taking small trips rather than one big trip.It also helps me  to not overeat since I know what I will be eating for the whole week.Since I have been planning my meals,I have lost 10 pounds in 3 months..woohoo.Go me!

So..what are your meals?

So here is the menu starting monday...

snacks

grapes with mozarella cheese(eat them together and it taste like cheescake without the guilt)

handful of mized nuts

parfaits(vanilla yogurt,granola,and blueberries...yum,yum)

popcorn

apples

carrots

Lunch

Kale soup

bowtie pasta with spinach

Tilapia,baked potato,zucchini

Pita sandwiches

quesadillas(black beans,corn,chicken,cheese)

chicken salad(will be eating twice this week)

Dinner

Turkey meatloaf,fresh green beans,and mashed potatoes

Kabobs(chicken,pepper,mushrooms,and steak(for honey,momma doesn't eat steak)

Turkey burgers and sweet potato fries in the oven

White chicken chili

Super salad(may make some homemade bread to go with it)

Chicken fajitas with refried beans

french bread pizza,salad(that way I can make honey's side with meat and my side with veggies)

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