Lovely Meals Lately: 09-02-2020

G'day, friends!

We celebrated Hummusapien's 9th birthday this weekend. Can you BELIEVE it's been that long? This blog is such a huge part of who I am that I can't begin to imagine life without it.

There's no better way to celebrate than with bagels, plenty of sunshine, and a Sunday stroll with my baby daddy. Onto the eats!

Lovely Meals and Snacks Lately

Can't get enough of my fluffy zucchini muffins for a pre-breakfast treat with coffee before we get the day started. Reader Jaclyn said, "I have been making a lot of zucchini muffins this summer with a bumper crop of zucchini and this is one of the best recipes I followed." Woop!

I made these summer risotto stuffed peppers (LOVE Jessica's blog, so gorgeous and fun!) and they were fab. I went rogue and used brown rice that I had on hand and also added mushrooms. The parmesan definitely makes it!

Savory for breakfast lately all the way! TJ's whole wheat English muffin with avocado, salt, red pepper flakes, and arugula plus scrambled eggs has been my go-to. Sometimes I'll add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. This baby loves cheese!

I crack the two eggs right in the pan and then gently scramble them on medium low heat just until they're set. Not over-scrambling them keeps them soft and fluffy.

I was majorly craving a tuna melt for dinner on Saturday. I mixed a can of drained tuna with a spoonful each of mayo and Greek yogurt until it was nice and moist. Then I added a good squeeze of Dijon, chopped onion, salt and pepper. Served on an English muffin broiled with cheddar on top plus a pickle and chips on the side (BBQ + salt and vinegar because I couldn't decide).

Oh She Glow's Thai cauliflower and butternut curry is a staple for us. I use frozen squash and cauliflower so it comes together extremely quickly---no chopping! I made it over the stove and cooked the brown rice in the Instant Pot. Have you pre-ordered Angela's new dinner cookbook yet? It comes out in October and I can't wait!

We grabbed bagels from The Lox on our way to a Sunday walk in Whetstone park. I'm obsessed with the herb sea salt bagel with beet cream cheese. So chewy and delish.

Fajita night! We've been making these every other week. I love them with portobellos; Jeff does chicken.

Peanut butter banana smoothies are my jam right now for an afternoon snack, which is funny because usually I don't want banana in my smoothie. Frozen banana, frozen spinach (or ice or frozen cauli so it's extra chilly), peanut butter, cacao, chocolate plant protein, a pinch of salt, vanilla, and unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

I did do a sweet breakfast a couple days when I had a hankering for my mango steel cut oatmeal!

Go make these peanut butter cookies immediately. The dough is very sticky and annoying to work with BUT they are seriously the best cookies I've had in a looooong time. I think the shredded coconut makes it, so don't skip that!

This oat milk in coffee is great. I get the small one since I only use it for coffee. The key is to get one that has at least 5 or so grams of fat per serving, since the oil is what gives oat milk its token creaminess. I like the mild, slightly sweet flavor versus the stronger taste almond milk has.

Alchemy Meal Prep shiitake bean burger with potato wedges...OMG so good. Use code MEALPREP20 for $20 off your first order! Orders are due Thursday at 3:59pm.

We tried Chapman's, a new restaurant in our neighborhood, for dinner on Friday. I got the shrimp and rice cakes with greens dish and it was amazing. I also tried the red bean nigiri---simple, playful, and delish. Jeff got the double smash burger and fries and said it was great. They have homemade ice cream I want to try, too!

Things I’m Loving Lately

WEARING: Loving these distressed black side panel maternity jeans for $29.99. They're great if you're looking for low-rise versus the kind that goes over your belly! Still loving this $20 camo dress, great for maternity or not. Just got this black zip-up and I've been wearing it every day. I love how it's more fitted at the bottom for some shape. I've needed a casual black one for a while and this one is perfect, also 30% off right now! Also snagged a couple tops from Target, including this long-sleeve one in white. I can't find the other ones online but I'll keep looking.

READING: I'm devouring The Last Flight on Audible. Definitely more of a page turner, which I love! I'm reading The Vanishing Half on Kindle and while the beginning didn't pull me in right away, I'm more in the middle now and loving it.

LISTENING: A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins.

CRUSHING: This strawberry almond breakfast cake made with olive oil is gorgeous. Buffalo Cauliflower and Chickpea Casserole couldn't be more perfect for an easy Sunday dinner. Thai butternut quinoa salad for lunch, please!

Have an amazing week, pals!