Lemon Glazed Raspberry Zucchini Bread

Well, my mom was in town for the week and we got to bake together, which was really fun and helpful, since I only have one hand to bake with now that I have a nursing newborn who loves to eat as much as his mommy does. 

This was by far the yummiest recipe we made while she was in town.  In fact we had to make it twice because the first one went so fast, I couldn't even get a photo of it.  It is super moist and perfect for the upcoming springtime :)  Hard to believe that it contains fruit, veggies and whole grains!

Lawson is doing great, eating a ton and growing even more.  He is very active, expressive and verbal, constantly kicking, making faces and all kinds of sounds.  Can't wait until those sounds become words someday.

I'm doing pretty good, still trying to adjust to my new life as mommy.  Hard to believe how fast your whole world can change once you have a baby.  I pretty much live in what I call my nursing chair.  I try to get Lawson out for a stroll every day but some days it just doesn't happen.  Everything right now totally revolves around him and his timeline which is really hard for someone like me who loves to plan and have things in control, but I'm getting used to it. 

I just have to say nursing is no joke and I commend any woman who does because it takes serious commitment.  That being said I love my little Lawson more than anything, but I am really looking forward to when he gets a little older and things get a little easier, hopefully :)

• Preheat oven to 350.  Put 1tsp. distilled white vinegar in 1/2 cup almond milk and set aside, stir together just before adding to the batter.
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• Combine in large bowl and mix by hand with a whisk:
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached regular flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking powder

• Then add all ingredients below all at one time into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and stir together until combined:
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 TB lemon juice
• 1/2 cup almond milk (with 1 tsp. distilled white vinegar)
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cup grated zucchini

• Gently fold in with a spatula:
• 1 cup raspberries

• Pour into sprayed 9x5 loaf pan and bake 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

• Combine in a small bowl and then pour over warm baked loaf:
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 TBSP lemon juice

35 calorie meringues!

Hooray, I have found my new favorite recipe for my gorgeous new cake stand (thanks Grandpoppy and Grandkay)!  These soft melt-in-your-mouth pillows of guilt-free goodness are a total of a whopping 35 calories each and only require 3 ingredients.  I think I might be in love.  With a breastfeeding newborn on my hands, I only have so much time to bake and these little beauties are quick and easy to make.  

Lawson is doing great! He is a constantly hungry boy, so I pretty much stay glued to my "nursing" chair with baby in arms.  Therefore, when he actually allows me to put him down, I know I have a finite amount (like 30 minutes or less) of time to get showering, laundry, cleaning, cooking, (and if I'm lucky) baking done, lol!

Anyway, here is the recipe and some cute photos of my expressive boy's many poses :)

Recipe:

4 egg whites

1 cup sugar

1 cup mini chocolate chips (or topping of choice)

Preheat oven to 300.  Line 2 baking trays with parchment.  Whip egg whites until soft peaks form.  Add sugar. Whip until stiff peaks form.  Fold in mini chocolate chips (or mini Reeses pieces or whatever you want to add - sprinkles would be fun or even crushed Heath).  Use a mini scoop and scoop onto parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Eat up to 3 for a quick 100 calorie snack ;)  

Newborn Photoshoot!

40 Weeks!

Well, my wish came true and my 40 week photo is of me with baby in arms :)  Lawson is 3 weeks today, hard to believe!  He is doing great, such a little stud.  I am doing pretty great, lol, almost fully recovered.  I think another week and I will be back to normal, but I have to admit, the recovery is almost worse than the birth!  At least with the birth it doesn't last a whole month AND you get to have major pain relief with the epi, but once your home, those ibuprofen pills they give you just don't seem to do the trick.  

My past few weeks have been wonderful getting to know my baby and hold him and nurse him, but they have also been very painful and chock full of burning, itching, sweating, crying and all that fun postpartum stuff.  I am really looking forward to getting back to normal and being able to get into a real routine with Lawson.  We are getting there, just in baby steps ;)  In fact yesterday we walked the loop twice (each day, I have tried to walk a little further from home, but it is scary with a newborn... what if he cries, what if he gets hungry, what if he has an explosion down below, what will I do???  But I have slowly come to realize that he will survive and we will manage.  Now, if I can just get out of the house with him and stroll around Target with a frappuccino in hand, that is my next goal.  I'm hoping it will be a successful adventure.  

I will keep you posted, in the meantime, here are some snapshots from our first few weeks at home with our newborn :)

Uh oh, daddy fell asleep with me... can you tell we are tired?!?!

All dressed up for mommy's birthday :)

I sleep on my strolls (let's keep it that way!)

The cutest little baby feet I ever did see.