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She Says: Return of the Pumpkin Dinner
Looks like you all like soup too! Keep entering the contest.
After school the sun emerged and Mark and I went for a long walk. It was so nice to walk, chat and enjoy the fall weather. After, I went to yoga at my gym, which I explained last week that I do not really enjoy for the full yoga experience, but do like for a quick stretch. It was really perfect for that. It was an hour of time that I had to stretch and focus on yoga, something I rarely have time or energy for during the week anymore.
When I got home I made one of my favorite blogger recipes last night. This one, Black Beans and Rice with Pumpkin Vinegarette, comes courtesy of Megan and I love it. It has everything I love about a meal – simple ingredients, quick to make, full of fun flavor, meatless and goes in one bowl!
I’ve made several variations using different grains and beans along the way. This version was kind of like the lazy person’s risotto. So yummy!
I am excited because I reserved some of the pumpkin and froze it to try to use it in some Banana Soft Serve soon.
Luna Bars … So Far
Remember last weekend my friend Joelle gave me a bunch of Luna Bars she received but could not eat due to a soy allergy? Well, I’ve tried few and thought I’d share my thoughts before they escaped me.
Luna Bars are marketed toward women and made by Clif Bar & Company. So far I’ve tried two flavors and I think Luna Bars are less dry and stale tasting than I remember. Perhaps it’s the new recipe? I love Clif Bars, but they are sometimes too big and caloric for my snack needs, and I must admit that I have a hard time eating some and saving some. These are not quite the same or as good as Clif Bars, which are more moist, dense and chewy.
Looks good, right? Yeah it is! It’s very sweet and dessert like, and I really enjoyed that it was soft and chewy. One bar has 170 calories, 4 g of fat, 13 g of sugar, 3 g of fiber and 9 g of protein. All the Luna Bars have similar nutrition information.
I love lemon things, but I am a tough lemon bar critic. I’ve had some really good ones and some horrible ones. This one is somewhere in the middle. The lemon flavor is definitely there, but something was a little off to me. It could be the fake frosting layer on the bar. I am adamantly against frosting on bars. Or, it could be the mismatch between flavor and texture. For some reason, I prefer smooth or fruity lemon bars that are more reminiscent of lemon squares than lemon granola bars (think Clif’’s Lemon Vanilla & Cashew Nectar Bar or Kardea Bars, but on the other hand, I did enjoy the Lushus Lemon Bumble Bar which is entirely seeds and nuts). Like the Dulce de Lece, it was really moist and I enjoyed the consistency, but I think I would pick a different flavor if making my own purchase.
Have you tried Luna Bars? What are your thoughts? I still have several flavors to try and because both of these were texturally more pleasing than I remember, I am excited!
Pumpkin Vinegrette! Genius!
[...] For dinner I had leftover Black Beans and Rice with Pumpkin Vinaigrette. [...]
[...] was feeling so hangry, that I hit up Heather for a quick recipe: Black Beans and Rice with Pumpkin Vinaigrette. Too easy and sooooooo [...]
I think you hit the nail on the head with why I don’t generally like lemon food bars either – I’m looking for that lemon square consistency, not a granola bar texture. Plus I find they sometimes remind me of lemon scented cleaners.