Lazy Memorial Day: Gardens, Ducks, Strawberries and Beans!

This weekend was pretty low-key (hey, remember when this was an exciting running blog?). We did some gardening (are we a boring married couple, now?)

And I had a complete photo session with the baby ducks (as I have said before, my neighbors already think I am weird…)

Which turned into my avoiding these little guys’…

parent…

He (or she) is very protective.

They all got revenge for the photo shoot by eating my strawberries.

Speaking of strawberries (as in Strawberry Fields, that is), I happened to catch Across the Universe on TV and I loved it.

Source

I have heard it called “the worst movie of all time,” but I disagree. It was pretty cool in my opinion and had some great artistic and musical elements to it! Across the Universe is a 2007 musical romantic drama film directed by Julie Taymor. The film’s plot is centered around songs by The Beatles. I highly recommend it.

I ran some errands and scored a major deal at Big Lots! Who knew!? All of Bob’s Red Mill products were on sale.

Yesterday, I made the Quick Cooking Oats with a little bit of the Natural Granola and Ground Flaxseed with a touch of Almond Milk. It was so good.

In my attempt to get back to eating clean, I picked up the June edition of Clean Eating and came up with a clean creation of my own. It was delicious, as a matter of fact. My body was really craving the spinach most of all. It was super quick, super easy, super good.

Sara’s Healthy Bean Blend

Ingredients:

1 Can Organic Tri-Bean Mix (or any type of beans), drained and rinsed
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed and stems removed (I personally do not like them)
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or healthy oil of your choice)
Pinch of Kosher salt
1 teaspoon of toasted Sesame Seeds
2 cups whole grain brown rice, cooked

Recipe:

Cook the beans and rice accordingly and set aside.
Heat oil in a skillet and add spinach leaves. Saute until slightly wilted, but sill vibrant in color. I cooked them for 2-3 minutes.
Add a pinch of salt and mix well with spinach leaves.
Remove spinach leaves from heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Serve with rice and beans.

According to the rice and bean serving sizes, this dish has 309 calories. I saved the leftover rice and beans for the next day and just sauteed more fresh spinach when I was ready to eat it. I was surprisingly content and satisfied after eating this meal. It has quickly become one of my favorites.

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Do you have any favorite, fast and simple clean eating recipes to share? Tell me in the comments!

Until the next mile marker,

Comments

runningperseverance says

May 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm

ahhh! im loving all your pictures! the garden looks lovely and those duckies…sooooo cute!!!!!!!!

Suzanne Westenhofer says

May 29, 2012 at 8:23 pm

The ducks are so cute!

Elle says

May 30, 2012 at 2:44 am

I love this new twist your blog is taking! And I am loving the different broods of ducklins we have across the street in the park… so fun to watch them grow! And you beans look goooood.

RunningMandy says

May 31, 2012 at 6:01 pm

I’m always impressed by people that can create their own recipes! That sounds tasty and healthy! Bonus!