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!

Make This - Chicken & Black Bean Green Enchilada Rice Bake

(photo from my @lyndsylee instagram)

 

in keeping up with casserole monday as b and i have coined it, i pinned this delicious recipe and it was a major hit!  the casserole is easy to prepare and leaves you with loads of leftovers (which totally taste better the next day)!  best part, it's relatively healthy and gluten free!

 

chicken & black bean green enchilada rice bake

 

ingredients:

 

*2 cups white long grain rice

*2 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (i cheated and used a rotisserie chicken)

*One 15-ounce can mild green enchilada sauce (i used a spicy green salsa)

*One 4-ounce can sliced black olives (i used two cans)

*One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (i used the flavored ones and i would use 2 cans next time)

*1/2 cup sour cream (i used greek yogurt)

*1 teaspoon kosher salt

*1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

*1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Roasted Ground Cumin

*One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed (i used 2 cans)

*2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (i used less)

*i also added 2 corns of can, 1/2 cup of extra spicy salsa, 2 cans of green chiles, pinch of cayenne*

 

directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Cook rice according to package directions.

3. Place chicken, enchilada sauce, olives, tomatoes, sour cream, salt, pepper and cumin into a large bowl, mixing to combine. Pour cooked rice into prepared baking dish and layer beans on top of rice. Pour chicken mixture over rice and top evenly with cheddar cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cheese is melted and rice is hot.

 

enjoy!

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.

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

Make This - No Bake Peanut Butter S’mores Squares

{photo by me}

a few weeks back it was b's big dirty thirty b*day.  b and i have a shared love of sweet treats and therefore i went all out on his b*day desserts. 

per his request i made slutty brownies which turned out quite amazing and were definitely a hit at the party.  only problem is they do not photograph well at all, but are so easy to make (and can we just talk about how stinking darling rosie is?) and totally an indulgence everyone will appreciate.

i also made his favorite funfetti cupcakes which were a hit with just about everybody. 

my third dessert were these no bake peanut butter smores squares.  i'd be lying if i told you i made them for brandon.  nope.  these puppies were my treat to myself for b*day planning and also a dream since the oven is not required!  these bars were had everyone at the party asking me what they were and going in for seconds.  it helped that the birthday boy enjoyed them as well! 

the recipe makes a lot and i was able to bring the remaining treats to work for a wedding shower the next day and again, they were quite a hit. 

if you are looking for a no brainer, wow them at your next summer bbq dessert - look no further!  these treats will make you the most popular guest around!

Gift Giving Guide ~ Mother's Day

mother's day is this sunday and you still have time to show that favorite mom in your life (whether it is your actual mom, your best friend, sister, aunt, whomever) how special she is to you.

below are some great gifts to share with that amazing woman in your life.

help mom step into spring with this darling bold geo dot scarf.  not only is it trendy with the polka dots, but the red/lavendar combo is sure to get her noticed!

what better way to say i think you are wonderful than to give a gift that says just that?  the philosophy "i think you are wonderful" set is just too cute and perfect for any mother in your life.

my mom adores candles and often has to put herself on "candle restriction" as she accumulates so many.  however i think she would love to add the capri blue mercury glass jar candle and/or the  glassybaby in big sky to her growing collection. 

my mom is quite the suzy homemaker and is constantly baking cupcakes for various events.  i am pretty sure any mother would love a little help in the frosting department and the williams-sonoma frosting is sure not to disappoint.  pair it with the mothers little book of home-baked treats cookbook and you are sure to be rewarded with a tasty treat!

we all know that growing older doesn't always help with one's vision.  what you can help your mom with is looking good while she helps her vision in these darling kate spade jodie readers.  available in a variety of colors, you'll be sure to find the right one for your favorite visually challenged female.

handwritten notes are a favorite from my mom, and i think just about anyone now a days loves receiving a little piece of mail addresses to them (other than a bill).  the receiver is sure to be flooded with love and affection when they open up one of these many thanks and lots of love foldover cards.

i want to thank my own mama for being such a fabulous role model and raising me with lots of love, support and smiles.  i wish i could be there this sunday to celebrate and spoil the heck out of her, but will have to wait until wednesday to give her a proper squeeze she deserves. 

gifts aside, be sure to thank a mother around you and make her feel a little extra special this week! 

xoxo

I'm Lovin' It ~ Summer Lovin'

happy may gray day!  even though the gray skies continue to rule over los angeles, my recent spray tan appointment and vacation in 15 days has me in a summer lovin' kind of mood. 

even though my vacation isn't to anywhere tropical, i am dreaming of blue skies, warm sun on my shoulders and all the fun that summer brings today. 

the items that currently haunt my summer dreams include:

jo malone vanilla & anise cologne - smells just like a root beer float.  yum!

every summer my flip flops take a beating and need to be replaced and every year i almost cave and buy those $50+ capri ones and every year i am saved by a cheaper pair.  this year gap nailed it with their leather flip flops available in a variety of colors and even come with a little extra cushion for your footsies.  awesome.

like the ray of light  kissing my shoulders, my toes will be sporting deborah lippmann's version of ray of light.  perhaps i will even listen to madonna's take on "ray of light".  that's cray, cray.

fringe benefits this summer - yes please!

in order to fully get the most benefits from my fringe, i plan to snack on these tasty little that's it. bars that give you two servings of fruit in one bar.  two fruits, one bar - much better than that other two girls one cup business (do not google it).

lastly a sweet little tumbler to enjoy a variety of light beverages from - although i am heavily leaning towards a calimocho or sangria - yum. 

what are you craving for summer?

I'm Lovin' It

{via}

just finished breaking bad season two on friday...eagerly awaiting the arrival of disc one of season three.  i love that walt. 

oh yeah, and don draper's back...what's not to love about that? 

zou bisou bisou

i had a little time to wander around third street before easter brunch, and happened upon these amazing steve madden studlyy flats that i just cannot stop thinking about.  in fact, just typing that sentence out reminds me of how sad i am not that i do not own them...just may have to fix that problem...

um, anyone been in the gap recently?  i want every single item they are currently carrying.  if the third street store wasn't out of my size in this dot sateen dress you can guarantee i would be the proud owner of it. 

seriously people.  get into the gap.  every single thing is awesome and lustworthy. 

{via}

in an effort to stay paleo, healthy and energized i stumbled upon these bars by go raw and am smitten.  i have not tried the live granola bar, but all of the other four and while some are better than others, they are truly all tasty and fulfilling.  my faves are the banana bread flax bar and the spirulina energy bar. 

l.a. residents...they are currently on sale for $0.99 at ralphs...go stock up!

i have been on the hunt for the more affordable version of this look for a few weeks now and surprisingly have had zero luck.  i love these two simple pieces together really leave an elegant and yet casual look.  i also just may have to splurge on the pieces to get my dream look.

a few years back i bought the h&m version of these tuleste market rosette earrings for less than $5 and wore the shit out of them.  i received compliments almost every time i wore them and was sad to retire them after b told me they were looking very tarnished and not so nice. 

i miss them so very much and would have bought every single pair in the store if h&m carried them still, but alas they do not.  instead, i may just need to hunker down and buy the original inspiration for my knockoffs which are way prettier and actually very affordable. 

what are you currently lovin'???

Happy {Easter} Weekend!

{via}

i didn't participate in any easter egg dying this year...but if i had you can definitely bet i would have tried to replicate the gorgeous eggs above!  i mean how guilty would you feel cracking those things open?

hope you all have a fabulous weekend full of food, family, friends and fun! 

i am looking forward to another delicious brunch at sonoma wine garden with the girls after a fantastic experience last week with live.to.the.point.of.tears, simply shannyn and sweet nothings. bottomless mimosas, brunch pizza and sun...who could ask for anything more?

don't forget to enter to win a $100 shopbop gift card here.  winner to be announced thursday the 12th!

xoxo

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself - February

{via}

so i had a bad february, it's in the past and time to move along.  my resolutions took a bit of a dip in accomplishments, but i thought it best to document it regardless and aim to get back on track and kick ass this march (and the rest of the year for that matter)!

goal #1 ~ workout 75% of each month

results:  worked out 15 of 29 days = 52%

goal #2 ~ stick to a pure, healthy, clean diet

results:  i slipped a bit this month.  birthday and surgery mostly to blame.  i would say i followed the paleo diet about 60% of the month.

goal #3 ~ save, save, save!

results:  well, i did try to save and didn't splurge on any new items, but the unexpected cost of two new tires (at $200 a piece) did not help with my savings plan.

goal #4 ~ travel

results:  no travel this month.

goal #5 ~ take more pictures

results:  did a pretty good job last month capturing pictures, below are a few of my faves from the month (follow me on instagram @lyndsylee)

new b*day bracelet from girlies at work

b*day blooms that made me smile

b*day wishlist item completed courtesy of b

absolutely incredible bruch (twice!) this month at mb post with carebear, live.to.the.point.of.tears, sweet nothings, and this is not your life.

got to see mrs r - twice this month!  what a treat!

sweet b

the morning after my b*day collection

finally got to try ink. - awesome experience

my new pumped up kicks from mom, dad & sister that i designed!

pinz in studio city - bowled the best game of my life!

incredible sunset from my work parking lot - gosh i love california!

waldo just knows how to melt my heart

greatest invention ever

embracing coffee and pastels one early monday morning

goal #6 ~ read a book a month

results:  got through 37% of a place of yes - now much finish that book in march as well as another.  must remember to stop watching televsion so much and start reading. 

my results for february are nothing to be too proud of, but they are reminders for what i need to fix in order to suceed this march and the rest of the year. 

how are your goals going? 

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

{via}

the first of february is here and it is time to compare my results to my goals i set for 2012.

here goes nothing...

goal #1 ~ workout 75% of each month

results: worked out 21 of 31 days = 68%

goal #2 ~ stick to a pure, healthy, clean diet

results:  pretty proud of my dedication to paleo.  b and i following it together makes it much easier to stick with.  besides the occasional weekend cheat, i can confidently say, goal achieved.

goal #3 ~ save, save, save!

results:  i would give myself a c for the month of january.  i did cut back on spending a bit, but did not place any money in savings. 

goal #4 ~ travel

results:  hit up palm springs with b for a little getaway and explored a new hiking trail that i highly suggest to any of you LA locals.

goal #5 ~ take more pictures

results:  instagram (@lyndsylee) made taking pictures a lot more fun, and while i took some (see below) i can definitely afford to take more!

cheers to mrs. reynolds being in town

L2

Waldo

collage of palm springs trip

typical morning bfast for me

new year nails

cutest babe ever

one of the perks of my 5:30 am workout

goal #6 ~ read a book a month

results:  finished the art of racing in the rain by garth stein. 

this book is set in seattle (loved all the references to various parts of town) and told from the perspective of the dog.  i really liked this book, but must warn, i cried my eyes out at the end.  if you have a dog, you will love it, but may find it difficult at times to continue reading (not giving anything away).  it took some turns i didn't expect and had some moments that were very heavy, but also moments of hilarity and happiness.

on to reading my first book using the kindle app on my ipad, a place of yes.

overall i am pretty happy with my results achieved and have established a game plan for february to be more successful!  hopefully march 1st will have better results!

how are your resolutions coming?!