Hi friends!
I’m heading to Maine this weekend for my future sister-in-law’s bachelorette celebration. I leave tomorrow morning and will be back Monday night. I’m staying over Sunday with a college friend who lives nearby—what a nice coincidence!
Because I’ll be spending time with my friend on Monday, I won’t post my usual weekend recap that day. Instead, I’ll share a fun recipe and some easy meal ideas. To read the full account of the trip and our baking competition, you’ll have to wait until Wednesday, though I’ll likely share previews on Instagram and in my stories. 😉
Now, some things I’m loving lately:
1) Meatloaf
Earlier this week fellow dietitian and friend Sarah and I had another recipe-testing session. This time our theme was meatloaf. We tested a vegetarian meatloaf with tofu, mushrooms, and lentils (Sarah will finish tweaking that recipe and post it on her blog soon), turkey dijon meatloaf bites made in muffin tins (we swapped ketchup for Dijon mustard), and a classic beef meatloaf with a fun spinach swirl twist.
The spinach swirl worked really well. We sautéed some spinach and then added extra raw chopped spinach when we realized we needed more; both preparations were fine. To form the swirl, we flattened the meatloaf mixture on a silicone baking mat and rolled it up using the mat to help. It looked a little messy but tasted great. If you want to try it, flatten your favorite meatloaf mix, scatter chopped spinach on top, and carefully roll it up on a baking mat. Bake on a sheet pan and enjoy.
I’ll post the turkey Dijon meatloaf bites recipe soon—those were so good I want to get additional photos and give it a dedicated recipe post. Stay tuned.
2) Kale chips
I made kale chips this week to use up a big bunch of kale, and they were delicious. Toss torn kale leaves with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, spread them on a baking sheet, and bake at 275°F for 15–20 minutes, or until crisp. I offered tiny pieces to Riese (greens can be tricky for toddlers without a full set of teeth), and she loved them—total win.
3) Run dates
Heather and I enjoyed a run date over the weekend and liked it so much we met again early on Wednesday morning. I felt a bit sluggish that day, but chatting made the miles fly by. Side note: it was my first workout before feeding or pumping that morning because I left early enough to be back before Riese woke. Later that day I had some pain in my right breast that felt like the start of a clogged duct. I used heating pads and hope that helped. PSA for breastfeeding mamas: avoid wearing a very tight sports bra when your breasts are full of milk—trust me on this one.
For context, I’m down to nursing about 2–3 times a day now—first thing, around the morning nap, and maybe once in the afternoon. I thought about weaning completely before this trip, but neither of us seem ready. We’ve naturally tapered the feeds. Part of me is ready to be done for logistical reasons, and part of me gets emotional thinking about nursing ending—it’s a unique cuddle time.
4) The book “Year of Yes”
I picked up Shonda Rhimes’s Year of Yes after hearing glowing reviews on one of my favorite podcasts. Her writing is fun and engaging, and she mixes entertaining stories with thoughtful reflection. I especially appreciated her observations about motherhood. If you’re looking for a new read, this one is worth checking out.
5) A blog post about school food advocacy
I loved this post on how one mom became a school food champion. It’s an inspiring example of how one person can make a meaningful difference in their community.
That’s all for today. I’m enjoying a mommy day with Riese, then I’ll finish packing the warmest clothes I own and head north for the bachelorette weekend. Have a fabulous weekend—see you Monday with some easy meal ideas. In the meantime, check Instagram to see how my cake turns out. 😉