Make This - Skinny Lettuce Wraps

(from my @lyndsylee instagram)

 

now that it is officially summer, i decided it was a good idea to lighten up our usual "casserole monday" with some absolutely delicious skinny lettuce wraps!

 

last night i took a chance and tried out this recipe from makeshift margaritas and let me just say the results were outstanding and a great success!  best part, they were so incredible easy to make! 

 

skinny lettuce wraps

 

ingredients:

 

*1 lb. ground turkey or ground chicken

*2 tablespoons low-fat peanut butter (i used regular)

*3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

*2 tablespoons low sodium teriyaki sauce (i used trader joe's soyaki)

*1 can water chestnuts, drained

*1/2 chopped onion (i used the entire container of trader joe's onions, garlic & shallots pre-cut)

*1 head of lettuce washed & divided into large pieces for wrapping

*i added some freshly chopped mushrooms

 

directions:

 

1. Brown ground meat until fully cooked. Drain any fat.

2. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, teriyaki, onions,*mushrooms* and water chestnuts. Mix until combined. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes (i let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes).

3. Spoon meat into lettuce and wrap.

 

enjoy!

Best Brush Ever!

 

no seriously.  this little guy is amazeballs. 

 

i have super fine hair that is a pain in the butt to comb out when i get out of the shower.  so much so that i don't brush my hair ever. 

 

for reals.  i only brush my hair when i get out of the shower.  and even then i don't actually brush it, i just comb it and it usually takes a some time and results in a loss of a lot of hair and a bit of a sore head (and god knows how many broken hairs). 

 

so imagine my delight when my new hairdresser ashley worked this nifty weird gadget through my hair in a matter of seconds (all while it massaged my head).  i immediately asked what the hell was that.  and she informed me it was called the "tangle teezer" and it was great on all types of hair, wet or dry. 

 

i was of course sold and ready to purchase only to find out that they are kind of hard to track down (i should have ordered online).  a few weeks ago i found this sparkly brush at barrington court health & beauty supply and couldn't wait to try it out at home...turns out it works just as well at home as it did in the salon! 

 

it does sometimes make me feel like i am brushing a horses tail due to the shape and sound, but i promise you, this brush is life changing!  it's the perfect brush for summer beach days, or everyday shower days!

Make These - Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

(my muffins via instagram @lyndsylee)

 

i absolutely adore our new kitchen (i can't believe it has already been a month), and have been trying to utilize it as often as possible.  trying to eat healthy and deliciously has never been easier thanks to pintrest (not sure why i was so late to joining)! 

 

i saw this picture in my feed a few weeks back... 

 

{via}

 

i immediately told b to keep his mitts off the bananas as i needed them to get good and brown to bake these banana oatmeal breakfast muffins! 

 

added bonus besides looking so tasty...they are gluten-free and perfect healthy morning treats to grab and go.  and did i mention they were oh so moist (yeah, i realize that is a disgusting word, but it is the best way to describe them - please accept my apologies)? 

 

they were a hit with b, me and the gals at work (always good about testing out my goods).  do yourself a favor and make them.  don't even second guess my recommendation, just do it!  your tummy will thank you!

 

ingredients:

*2.5 cups old fashioned oats (i used trader joes gluten free rolled oats)
*1 cup plain low fat greek yogurt
*2 eggs
*1/2 cup honey
*2 tsp baking powder (totally forgot to add this to mine)
*1 tsp baking soda
*2 TBSP ground flax seed (bought seeds from trader joes & ground them myself)
*1 tsp vanilla
*2 ripe bananas (i used 3 - mine were on the smaller side)

*chocolate chips (optional)

 

directions:

 

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees. spray tin with non-stick cooking spray or line 12 muffin tins with silicone or foil liners.

2. place the oats in the food processor and pulse for about 10 seconds. add remaining ingredients to the food processor (i used my blender - worked great).
3. process until everything is mixed together and oats are smooth.
4. divide batter among cupcake liners, and bake for 18-20 minutes (i only cooked mine for 16 minutes), or until toothpick comes out clean.

enjoy!

Make This - Quinoa Black Bean Casserole

(instagram @lyndsylee)

 

brandon and i take turns making dinner for our date nights and last monday it was my turn.  b's only request was something healthy.  thank god for pintrest!

 

off to my trusty recipes to try board i went, and came across this recipe for quinoa black bean casserole.  healthy, gluten-free and with a touch of cheese sounded too good to be true.  turns out it really does exist! 

 

the recipe is so easy (minus the grating of the sweet potato which was awful) to make and turns out an amazing smelling, delightful tasting casserole that leaves enough leftovers for a few additional lunches. 

 

i served it up with some aidells pinapple bacon chicken sausage and a cranberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing and both of our plates were empty in no time at all. 

 

bon appétit!

 

ingredients:

*1 cup cooked quinoa
*3 cups cooked black beans (or two
15-ounce cans, drained and rinsed)
*2 large sweet potatoes, shredded
*1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
*1 tbsp ground cumin
*liberal pinches salt and pepper
*2 eggs
*1 cup salsa (i used trader joes serrano salsa - gave it a nice bite)
*2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

directions:

 

1. preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a 9” x 9” casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. in a large bowl, mix together the quinoa, black beans, sweet potato, 1⁄2 cup of the cheese, and the cumin, salt, and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the eggs and the salsa. Pour the salsa mixture over the quinoa-bean mixture, then pour everything into the prepared casserole dish.
3. sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Garnish with the cilantro.

Gone Girl...

 

i borrowed "gone girl" from my coworker and was so excited to finally get to read the book that everyone was talking about!

 

except, every time some one saw me reading it, i head this comment "good book, terrible ending".  which left me feeling confused as to whether i should even bother reading it. 

 

the answer is yes. 

 

yes the ending was less than pleasing.  but the first 2/3rds of the book is compelling, well-written and suspenseful.  i enjoyed it immensely and didn't want to put the book down.  considering my book reading has been at an all time low, i welcomed the excitement i felt when reading this book. 

 

i cannot really review this book without giving anything away, but what i will tell you is that it is refreshing.  not refreshing like a jump in the pool, but refreshing as in i have never read anything similar or dare i say as honest as gone girl. 

 

i wish the ending had been different.  that said, i am happy i read it and am looking forward to reading another one of her books.  i am excited for the book to be made into a movie.  i am dying to see who they cast to play amy and nick.  most of all i am intrigued to see if they keep the much hated ending as is, or hollywood it up. 

 

did you read gone girl?  what did you think?  and what on earth should i read next?!

 

(ps - while i was reading gone girl, i happened upon this page in the book from b.  such a sweet surprise!  only problem is the book wasn't mine.  guess it is now!)

Make This - Four Ingredient Cookies {psst...they're healthy}

(i pinned the recipe over on my pintrest page - lyndsylee)

 

scrolling through my instagram feed (@lyndsylee) a few weeks ago, i came across this recipe from my girl natalie moser for four ingredient cookies, and those ingredients did not include sugar or flour! 

 

oh so intrigued, i decided to attempt them at home, and must say that these cookies did NOT disappoint.  the hardest part was allowing my bananas (that i was ever so tempted to eat) to ripen to the point of grossness.  once they were there, this recipe is easy as a, b, c!

 

four ingredient cookies

2 overripe bananas

1 cup of rolled oats (i used the gluten free trader joe's brand)

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 cup of chocolate chips

*honey if the consistency is a little too think and needs a little help

 

*preheat over to 350 degrees*

step 1: mix bananas with kitchenaid mixer or hand held mixer

step 2: add cinnamon (or honey if needed)

step 3: mix in oats and chocolate chips

step 4: using a tablespoon, scoop and form into a ball and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

step 5: bake for 13-15 minutes

 

that's it!  so easy, so delicious and they were quite the hit at the office.  they make a great snack, morning, noon or night! 

 

healthy sweet treats never tasted this good!

 

 

Make This - Sausage Spaghetti Squash Bake

 

i have had my eye on this recipe for quite some time and actually go around to making it this past monday.  the results...

 

so good, so good, so good!

 

this sausage spaghetti squash bake is not only healthy, but it is also so easy to make and gluten free! 

 

i follow paleOMG on instagram and honestly have saved so many pictures of items that look delicious and healthy to make at home.  based on my experience from this recipe, i have a feeling just about any of her recipes are sure to be a success! 

 

i added a smidge of parmesan cheese to the top, but have to admit that it was not required and going forward i will not add it again.  the dish is flavorful and makes great leftovers. 

 

enjoy!

Make These - Butterscotch Pudding Double Chip Cookies

 

a few weeks back my work hosted a bake sale for our "light the night walk" in l.a.  we raised over $800 from the bake sale alone and seeing as a few weeks later one of my girlfriends was diagnosed with lymphoma the bake sale meant that much more to me. 

 

the cookies i made for the bake sale were an absolute hit!  i had numerous people email me for the recipe at work and instagram and thought the best place to share it was here on the blog! 

 

these cookies are easy to make, taste incredible and really have a fall attitude to them!  i am sharing the original recipe i found and will note the substitutions i made next to them. 

 

enjoy!

 

Butterscotch Pudding Triple Chip Cookies

fabulous recipe found via two peas and their pod

 

{ingredients}

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 (3.4 oz) package butterscotch instant pudding mix
• (my store was out of butterscotch instant pudding, i substituted 1 (1 oz) package of sugar free butterscotch instant pudding mix + 1 (3.4 oz) package of vanilla instant pudding mix (less 1.4 oz)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose Gold Medal flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• (i hate white chocolate, so i removed this portion and upped the butterscotch & semi-sweet chips up half a cup each)
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

{directions}

 

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat and set aside.
• 2. Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add in butterscotch pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla extract. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips.
• 3. Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until slightly golden around the edges and set. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet for two minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

{a few variations}

 

*surprisingly i think the pudding substitution worked in my favor.  the cookies were sweet without being overly sweet

*parchment paper is key!

*i baked the cookies for 8 minutes and 45 secs and then watched them closely for about another 15-30 seconds.

*after sampling the first batch i realized they would greatly benefit with a dusting of kosher salt before i baked them.  the cookies with salt on them were most definitely the best of the group. 

 

so if you are looking for your next sweet to bring for the fall holidays, go ahead and give this one a try.  i promise it will leave them all raving and craving another one!

Instalife Lately

blogging has been a bit of a difficulty for me lately and i hate it!  i feel like i am constantly writing things down to blog about and then never actually getting to them because of life.  and i realize it is good to live life and not be a slave to the internet, but i miss blogging.  i miss sharing things about me, things that i love and most of all i miss reading things about all of you. 

 

so in an attempt to catch up a little, here's a glimpse into my life these past few months via instagram (@lyndsylee)

 

 

a sleepy w / place setting / wedding debauchery / a lovely gift

 

a day in topanga / products to review (stay tuned!) / sweet little treat / buns all around at the whaler

 

weekends with christy!

pulled out the red lipstick finally / broken glass at brick + mortar / go cougs!

 

harvest celebration in napa / apple cider margarita / scenes from downtown l.a. / best game ever

still loving the accent nail / some tasty tequila with b

 

small wineworld in napa / a fitting sky for a tribute to an incredible guy

holy guacamole late night burrito / uggs are back / cakebread cellars is my favorite

 

i know i have said it before, and i am sure i will say it again, but i am hoping to find some more time to get back to posting and making blogging a bigger priority in my life.  here's hoping y'all are still checking in and reading it! 

 

xoxo

Instalife Lately

forever young/cw with mrs. r/aperol spritzes/gongolo at hostario del picollo/forever young friends/insane sunset

estes park wedding/night clubbing it/hanging out on the porch

all in colorado

girlies at brick + mortar/rosenthal wine tasting/colorado rockies/sunday funday in hermosa/row 14 in denver

i am really working to try and share more pictures and life events. what's been happening lately in my life!  follow me on instagram (@lyndsylee)

xoxo

Buddy Bands

{via}

this picture on starbucks instagram made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

it made me think of all of my amazing friends and how i adore them so much. 

it made me reminsce about getting crafty and making bracelets for my besties when i was younger. 

then it made me want to give all of my gf's a bracelet to show them all how much they mean to me. 

the bad news...i am so not crafty anymore. 

the good news.  there are so many darling frienship bracelets available to buy out there that i have a plethora to choose from - all of which are better than i could ever try to create!

{clockwise from the top}

roberto neon friendship bracelet  / link frienship bracelet / bfrend bracelet / bracelet

then i got to thinking that my girl mrs. r would look pretty styling up in san francisco wearing this bff charm necklace.

which got me to remembering that awesome saved by the bell episode where a.c. sold buddy bands...

  

which just made me smile and be grateful for the absurdity of that show. 

what's your take on the whole friendship bracelet trend?  are you in or are you out?