Pumpkin Enchiladas

Today’s evening activities started with puppy play time followed by a 2.5 mile walk with Sadie.

Don’t even think about it…

Just tryyyy to take it…

It was hot outside but not Sahara-hot, so we were able to enjoy our walk around the lake near our apartment without sweating too much.

Victory!

Dinner

When we arrived back at our apartment, I got to work in the kitchen.

On the menu this evening: Pumpkin enchiladas.

Using a recipe I found on Janetha’s blog, I began making the enchiladas by chopping up an onion. I proceeded to break down in tears because onions always make me cry.

Usually onion chopping is Ryan’s job, but he was in the shower and I needed a chopped onion STAT!

Once the onion was sautéing in the pan, my tears subsided and I was able to continue with the recipe.

Janetha’s recipe called for turkey, but I substituted the meat for kidney beans.

I prepped a 9×9 pan and filled whole wheat tortillas with the pumpkin and bean mixture.

After placing the enchiladas in the pan and topping them with the pumpkiny filling, I sprinkled them with cheese and baked them for about 10 minutes, until the cheese melted.

The result was a flavorful, healthy, veggie-packed enchilada.

 

When I first told Ryan that pumpkin enchiladas were on the menu for dinner this evening, he seemed a little skeptical. I think he previously associated pumpkin with sweet treats like his favorite pumpkin spice cookies and didn’t realize it could be prepared in a savory way as well.

After asking his opinion on tonight’s dish, he replied, “They tasted like real enchiladas!” He also said he’d gladly eat them again, which is a good sign.

Oh how I love healthified Mexican food! 😀

Pumpkin Enchiladas (adapted from Janetha’s recipe)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• One 10 oz can of red enchilada sauce
• 1 can pure pumpkin (about 2 1/2 c.) 
• 1 c. black or kidney beans
• Large bunch of cilantro, chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 5 ounces 0% greek yogurt
• 3 large whole wheat tortillas

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Sauté onion and garlic in a pan sprayed with cooking spray
• Stir in enchilada sauce
• Add pumpkin and stir until combined
• Add cilantro, cumin and chili powder
• Spread a light layer of sauce on the bottom of an 8×8 or 9×9 pan
• Fill tortillas with an even amount of sauce and beans
• Roll tortillas and place in the pan with the folded edges facing down to keep them closed
• Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese
• Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese melts
• Serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if desired

You Choose: Wedding Day Clutch

“Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I’m not a fool…” (Name that movie!)

Last week was my sister’s first week back at school.

I remember feeling rejuvenated at the start of the school year. I would attend my classes determined to take thorough notes in my best hand writing in my brand new notebooks.

Throughout the year, my notes became more abbreviated and my handwriting became sloppier, but hey, as long as my grades stayed high, that’s all that really matters, right?

There’s just something about the start of something new. Whether it be a new school year, new month, new season, new job… Something about beginning a new adventure feels motivating and exciting.

I have a good feeling about the month of September. 😀 Happy September 1!

Lunch

My good September vibes carried over into my lunch today.

Chicken Salad

I enjoyed a homemade chicken salad wrap with a side of grape tomatoes and cucumber slices.

The Spread

I prepared the chicken salad by combining:

• 3 oz. canned chicken
• 1 tbsp. light Miracle Whip (mayo will also work)
• ½ Granny Smith apple, chopped

After topping a whole wheat tortilla with baby greens and the chicken salad, my meal was good to go.

Wraaap It Up

Git in mah belly! 😀

Wedding Day Clutch

I would now like to address the most unimportant decision I will make related to planning our wedding: My wedding-day purse.

I want to have a small clutch on my big day to hold little essentials like tissues and lip gloss and am currently torn between the following options:

Option A:

Option A

Option B:

Option B

Option C:

Option C

Option D:

Ariel! I Love you!

Which one would you choose?

(Totally kidding about Option D, by the way. 😉 )

Psycho Squirrels

If you follow my blog with any regularity, you know I am a huge animal lover.

I adore nearly every animal with the exception of two creatures: Catfish and squirrels.

You may be thinking, “You’re crazy, Julie. Squirrels are adorable.”

"Would You Like a Bite?"

Yes they are cute. But they are also unpredictable, beady-eyed and a little too friendly at times.

Ninja Squirrel!

I suppose I should explain my issue with squirrels.

During college I worked as a campus tour guide for UCF. I would take prospective students and their parents around campus, highlighting important buildings and answering questions.

One time a father asked me what I disliked the most about UCF.

I answered, “The squirrels.” He laughed and asked me why. I explained that the squirrels were crazy and would stalk you for food since they were overfed by the students.

About 30 minutes later, we were walking by one of the dorms on campus and we heard a chirping noise. As we all looked up to see what was causing the commotion, a squirrel came falling down right in the middle of our tour group.

Eeeeeee!

I took off running as the same dad I previously talked to about squirrels screamed the f-word nice and loud.

Once we all reconvened, the dad said, “Man, you weren’t kidding about the squirrels on this campus, were you?”

No sir.

(Just FYI, the squirrel was okay and got up and ran away after about two seconds of lying on the ground, stunned.)

Well, today my issue with the unpredictability of squirrels was reinforced yet again on my morning walk with Sadie.

It must be mating season, because all of the squirrels around the lake by our apartment are coupled up and acting especially nutty.

About 20 minutes into our walk, Sadie and I passed a tall tree. Two squirrels were chasing each other around the trunk and as they came off the trunk to cross the side walk, they literally scurried underneath Sadie’s torso.

I thought my dog was going to pee herself on the spot.

I screamed, the woman behind us jumped about three feet in the air and Sadie, once she got over the shock, jumped around in front of me like it was Christmas.

Breakfast

Holy squirrel overload! Let’s move on to breakfast, shall we?

Wednesday Breakfast

Though not as exciting as the possibly rabid squirrels, breakfast was pretty darn delicious.

Today I made myself a yogurt bowl that included:

• Cold oatmeal
• Greek yogurt
• Granny Smith apple chunks
• Sliced strawberries

Take a Bite!

The tart apples made this dish.

I can’t wait to make my first apple pie when the air gets a little cooler!

Question of the Morning

• Are there any animals that make you feel a little uncomfortable?