Carrot Pumpkin Muffins

I was looking for an alternative to the regular sugary treats for my husband's birthday, and my friend Ana sent me this recipe! It turned out super yummy and I think you could totally put zucchini, bananas, spinach, kale, or any other creative fruit and veggie!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup honey
2 TBL applesauce
1 TBL. canola oil
1 cup shredded carrots

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 and coat 12 muffin pans with cooking spray. Mix first four ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the egg, pumpkin, honey, applesauce and oil in a medium bowl until combined (don't overmix). Fold in the carrots and add to the dry mixed bowl. Bake for 25 minutes. These muffins freeze well.

I also made cream cheese frosting for the top:

• 1 cup (8 ounces) cream cheese
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) no sugar added apple juice concentrate or guava nectar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Beef Stroganoff

While my step-dad was visiting, I asked what he'd like for dinner, and his reply was "Beef Stroganoff"... I haven't ever made this before so I had to do some research, and this is what I came up with!

Ingredients:
1-1/2 lbs lean tri-tip sirlion steak, trimmed of all fat, cut in thin 1/4" x 2" strips
olive oil cooking spray
1 tbsp butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
10 oz of sliced mushrooms
1 can of tomato soup
1 cup of water
1 small fresh bay leaf
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup of light sour cream
Frozen Peas

Directions: In a heavy saucepan, heat pan over high heat. When pan is hot, spray with oil and add steak. Brown meat until cooked. Remove meat from pan. Lower heat, melt butter, then add onions. Cook about 2-3 minutes until translucent, add garlic and mushrooms and sauté about 2-3 more minutes until cooked. Add a can of tomato soup, mushroom soup, steak, water, bay leaf, and worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook on low about 40 minutes. Remove bay leaf and mix in sour cream and frozen peas. Serve over noodles or rice.

Sauteed Summer Vegetables

Another awesome veggie side from Skinnytaste!




Click HERE for the recipe!

Cajun Pumpkin Soup in a Bread Bowl

Not the best picture, but this was SO good. My kids brought home a pumpkin from their teacher's garden (YUM!) and so we had tons of fun cooking it up and making muffins, soup, and pasta with it! I decided this would be super yummy in a bread bowl. Click HERE for the recipe.

Zucchini Pasta with a Creamy Lemon Sauce

Another site I've come to love is the Novice Chef. This was delicious and a perfect side! You can find the recipe HERE.

Black Bean and Mango Salsa Chicken

I LOVE Skinnytaste. Another hit from her site! You can find the recipe HERE!

Chunky Monkey Pancakes

YUMMY!! We have the best peanut butter ever- and you can actually order it HERE- the coconut peanut butter is amazing!! If you want an easy way to make it- just mix some coconut oil into your peanut butter and it's pretty close! There is no real recipe on this meal- we make our pancakes using the bisquick recipe on the back (the fluffy one!) and then I coat it in our coconut peanut butter, apple bananas, and granola (I've been buying the organic chia granola with coconut flakes!). So good... try it out!