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Arugula Pesto {Nut-Free}

Last weekend, Jes and I had a fabulous lunch at one of NYC’s best restaurants, Babbo. A family friend of mine is a line chef there and invited us to experience the deliciousness of one Mr. Mario Batali.

One of the dishes (and there were many), was Orecchiette with Stinging Nettle Pesto. In case you were wondering, as I had no idea what it was either, stinging nettle is an herb that actually produces a stinging sensation when touched with bare hands (which is where the name is derived from). The chefs actually use gloves when handling it in the kitchen to avoid it’s wrath. Stinging nettle has a similar flavor to spinach and is high in potassium, iron, protein, calcium and Vitamins A & C. Pretty interesting, right?

This inspired me to get creative with making other non-traditional pestos. Traditional pesto is made with basil, but you can really use any leafy green you like - spinach, kale, parsley and many different kinds of vegetables such as beets or roasted red peppers, nuts and cheese. It is so versatile. All you really need to do is follow the method for making it, then add whichever herbs/veggies you like to change the flavor.

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Flourless, Dark Chocolate Chip Blondies {Gluten-Free & Vegan}

When I saw the picture of these mouthwatering blondies on Pinterest last week, I immediately put them in my Recipes I'd Like To Try board. Then I clicked on the picture and was taken to the actual recipe. I was quite surprised when I discovered chickpeas were listed as one of the ingredients to make these little guys.

Listen, I’m all about eating delicious, healthy food. But I have to admit, I thought it was a little strange to be adding beans to my dessert! Although, it wouldn’t be the first time. And, I’m a sucker when it comes to peanut butter and chocolate, so I decided to give it a try.

Now you must do the same! They are so good, I could die. No, seriously!

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Update: 36 Weeks Pregnant

So this is happening... I am having a baby in less than four weeks! I still can’t believe it. And, only one more week until I am considered to be “full term.” It will be such a feeling of relief when I reach that milestone this weekend. If the baby decides to come early, I’ll know he’s in the safe zone.

What Size is the Baby?

This week the baby is weighing in at about 6 pounds. However, last week my doctor said if she had to guess, she thinks Baby S is going to measure in around 7 pounds this week during my fetal weight estimate sonogram (which is happening tomorrow!).

This means he is as big as a Crenshaw melon. What is that you ask? Don’t worry, I didn’t know what it was either and my local grocery store didn’t have one. So unfortunately, I don’t have a picture for you. From what I’ve read, it is similar to a cantaloupe, has a sweet and slightly spicy taste and can be used as a breakfast fruit, in salads and in cold soups and desserts. Once these melons are in season, I will be definitely be sure to try it.

How Do I Feel?

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Side Dish: Roasted Asparagus with a Lemon Garlic Sauce

Earlier this week, I made one of my favorite meals: baked salmon and quinoa. This is a weekly staple in our household; it’s quick, easy and delicious. The only thing that changes with this meal is the side dish. In the summer I like to grill up zucchini, in the fall I’ll roast beets and in the winter I’ll sauté mushrooms. Now that it is springtime, it’s all about asparagus...

I’ve been loving all the asparagus at the farmer’s market over the last few weeks. {Quick tip}When choosing asparagus look for firm but tender stems that are bright green. The tops might have a purplish cast and should be closed tightly not mushy. If the tops are dried out or have a yellowish hue, skip it. To keep asparagus fresh for 2-3 days stand it up in a glass of water and store it in your refrigerator.

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Crab Quesadillas

Cinco de Mayo is a special day for me, not only because I LOVE Mexican food, but because it was the day I moved from LA to NYC. As of Sunday, it has been six years since I made the big move that would change my life forever.

{And Jes’ too}

To celebrate, I thought it would be appropriate to make crab quesadillas, as they are the perfect warm weather, Mexican dish. The first time I had these quesadillas was at a friend’s BBQ a few years back. I was immediately hooked on the flavors.

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Update: 35 Weeks Pregnant

We are now at the size of a melon, a honeydew melon to be exact. I now I have a 5.5 pound (approximately) baby in my belly. When I was at the doctor two weeks ago, she surprised me by feeling around my stomach like she had never done before. When she was finished she said, “he’s definitely not small!” He certainly doesn’t feel small anymore! He is snug as a bug. I don’t know how he has any room left for all the kicking and moving he does.

My doctor also surprised me during our last visit when she said, I’d be getting an ultrasound at 37 weeks to get an estimate of the baby’s weight. I didn’t think I had anymore baby viewing coming my way, but I am really excited to see what he looks like. Especially because we haven’t had a chance to see him since our anatomy scan at 19 weeks. It’ll be so fun to see what he looks like now and compare the pictures to see how big he’s gotten.

How am I Feeling?

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Banana Cream Pie

Jes’ birthday was earlier this week, but instead of making him a cake, I made him a pie. Not just any pie... Banana Cream Pie!

Jes LOVES bananas so I thought it would be appropriate to include his favorite fruit in his birthday dessert.

While flipping through this month’s Bon Appetit magazine, I found this recipe for Banana Cream Pie and decided it would be perfect for the celebration.

I love this recipe because it uses sliced bananas to flavor the custard and there’s a layer of chocolate on the crust.

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Baby Issue Event - Great Eco-Friendly Products for Moms and Babies!

I had the pleasure of attending a baby product event recently and found some very interesting eco-friendly gear for moms and babies! This stuff was too great to keep to myself so I thought I would share some of my favorites with you guys. I love these products because they come from parents who had a problem and figured out a way to fix it in a cool, stylish or fun way. Ready to get started?!

Lalaalu Kid Boxes deliver 5-7 eco-friendly retail sized products to NYC parents each month. Products include anything from toys to snacks to bath-time essentials, which are customized by age. If you have kids 0-6 they’ve got you covered! Not only are their products Earth friendly (which I love), they are also family approved. Each product is tested and approved by 15 city families to ensure they can handle the hustle and bustle of every urban kid.

Sign-up for a Free Trial Box. Pay only $13.95 for shipping and handling and get your first box FREE!

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How-To: Cut a Pineapple

I have always been fond of pineapple. I think it’s safe to say that it is my favorite fruit. There’s just something about the taste, texture and juiciness of a ripe pineapple. Especially since becoming pregnant, this tropical fruit really helped get me through some of the tough parts of my first trimester. When NOTHING looked appetizing, pineapple always did. The only problem is I would waste so much money purchasing pre-cut pineapple, some of which would still have the core in it. There’s nothing worse than biting into a piece of pineapple only to find yourself chewing on the core! I always thought cutting a whole pineapple was hard to do. It’s actually a lot less intimidating than you think.

First, cut off the top of the pineapple.

Then, using a sharp chef’s knife cut along the skin of the pineapple and remove all the prickly sides.

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Update: 32 Weeks Pregnant

Okay, I didn’t realize how big I was until I was looking through this week’s photos of me! Wow, have I grown...

How Big is the Baby?

This week Baby S is weighing in at approximately 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long! He is the size of a large jicama, kind of a random vegetable, but makes a delicious snack.

Since the weather has started to warm up in NYC, I’ve been running (and by running I mean waddling) around the city without a big coat on, which has brought attention to my growing belly that I am not used to! It actually feels nice to be recognized as a pregnant lady. This is going to sound so strange, but people are VERY nice to me when they see I’m pregnant: women strike up conversations about the baby, men hold doors for me and the lady at the deli has memorized my coffee order - small decaf with a splash of half and half. Everyone is always smiling at me and wishing me the best. It’s definitely doesn’t get old!

Eating for Two

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