Best view ever while I made dinner last night:
Last night’s dinner had more vegetables in it than I ate throughout my entire pregnancy.
Pre-pregnancy I was REALLY good at eating vegetables all of the time. Pregnancy happened and the thought of them made me pass out. I really got out of the habit of eating them regularly and I feel like I am finally starting to actually crave them again like I used to. Good thing because it is just about time to start Brooke on veggies… this way we can eat them together.
There are a lot of ingredients in this recipe but it is all super easy/cheap stuff and it makes a ton!
Minestrone Soup!!!
2 tbs olive oil
3 carrots chopped
1 onion chopped
1 zucchini chopped
3 stalks celery chopped
3 garlic cloves minced
1 can kidney beans
1 can white beans
2 cans garbanzo beans
2 cups frozen green beans
1 can diced tomatoes (with sauce, next time I am adding 2-3 cans)
4 cans of chicken broth (14.5 ounces per can)
3 cups hot water
1.5 tsp dried oregano
1.5 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1.5 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp salt
1/2- 1 cup small pasta noodles
1 small bag of spinach
Saute the veggies in olive oil and garlic (4-5 minutes). Add the green beans, beans, tomatoes and seasonings and stir. Add the chicken broth and hot water. Let simmer for 25 minutes. Add noodles and let them cook for 8-10 minutes until the noodles are done. Add the spinach and serve!
Serve with garlic bread for ultimate happiness. THIS BREAD would be delicious with it too!
It is Bangs Friend’s BIRTHDAY TODAY!!! Feel free to wish her happy bday in the comments;)
NYC Running Mama sent me an email yesterday informing me of the best thing ever. I absolutely loved the movie Spirit of the Marathon (and have watched it approximately 1 million times) and now there is a Spirit of the Marathon 2 coming out this year. Running movies are better than normal movies.
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Ever seen Spirit of the Marathon? What running movies have you seen?
Are you in the habit of eating a lot of vegetables? Do you naturally eat a lot of vegetables or do you have to remind yourself to eat them? Most common vegetable that you eat?
Favorite day of the weekend…. Saturday or Sunday?
The ingredient list on that soup makes me scared! Hah the bread on the side looks pretty delicious though!! I guess I need to see spirit of the marathon 1 first but I didn’t even know running movies existed! I’ll get right on that ;)
Happy Birthday to your friend!!
I’ve said to this others when they’ve posted the recipe – minestrone soup is my FAVE soup ever.ever.ever. Yum!
Saturday is my favourite day of the week!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANGS FRIEND! I’m pretty good about eating vegetables. Broccoli and brussels sprouts are my favorite! My favorite day of the week is Saturday! Have a great Friday :-)
You guys should have a double birthday party this weekend!
Happy birthday Bangs!!! It’s impossible for me to choose a favorite day of the weekend. Any day that I’m not at work is instantly the best day ever:)
I really loved the movie!! And your minestrone soup looks to die for!
Happy birthday bangs friend!
A friend of a friend made a docu-film called “runing to the limits” following his journey as an overweight smoker to try and qualify for the beijing olympics. It’s really inspirational, and just goes to prove that EVERYONE has the potential to be a great runner!
ps. check out the trailer here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImPjDugVCwY
I love Spirit of the Marathon!! I’m so excited they’re making another one!
Other running movies: Chariots of Fire, Running on the Sun, Saint Ralph, Without Limits, The Long Run
I try and make a point to make some kind of veggie on the side for every dinner… doesn’t always happen though. I also eat baby carrots almost every day for lunch, if that counts.
Saturday is my favorite day of the weekend :) In the fall there’s college football, it’s traditionally my long run day (lately that’s been Sundays, though), and you still have another whole day to go for your weekend when it’s Saturday.
i LOVED spirit of the marathon, even though I’ve never run a full, it is SO inspiring. I cried some happ tears for that one- can’t wait for #2!!!
i love weekend days equally, i think, but they always go by so fast! as a teacher, long weekends and summer are THE BEST!
Spinach is probably the most common veggie I eat. hehe!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
My favorite running movie is “Chariots of Fire”. I watched it the week before I ran my first half marathon and it immediately jumped to the top of my “favorite movies EVER” list!! :)
Happy Birthday, Bangs friend!!
WOW that soup looks so great, may have to try it this weekend!
Happy Bday Bangs :)
Happy Birthday to Bangs!!
Are you going to be making her food today? You should check out the Ice Cream cake I made for my husband yesterday. AMAZING and so easy!
I think I eat veggies pretty regularly. Most common is probably… arugula! It’s my go-to salad base at present. Though potatoes technically are a veggie too, right? If so than I guess those chips are healthy after all.
That soup looks delicious! I try to eat lots of veggies, but only if they are readily available to me, haha
I think I have seen it. Is it the one that chronicles the Chicago marathon?
I eat a lot of vegetables. And I love most everything except the soggy-lettuce category (spinach, kale, turnip greens, etc).
Sunday is the best because it is usually more relaxed.
The Kidless Kronicles
That soup looks delicious!
What’s your plan for introducing Brooke to solids? We took the ‘baby-led’ approach and gave our girls what we were eating. So much easier (and cheaper) than jarred baby food.
Happy Birthday Bangs! I hope someone is making YOU an amazing cake. All your dishes look so good. I don’t cook, much….
The soup looks amazing. As said above, I don’t cook much. Anything over 5 ingredients really intimidates me. :-o
I’ve never seen it, but I NEED TO! I’m signed up for a May marathon and that looks like some major inspiration.
I can feel it when I don’t eat any veggies for a couple days. There is just something missing…. it always feels good to eat a homemade veggie-packed meal after a couple restaurant meals.
Happy B-day to Bangs’ friend! Those giant bags of the Kirkland tortilla strips are one of the best deals at Costco, in my opinion. I haven’t really seen any movies about running, maybe I should start watching them for inspiration. I think I don’t eat enough veggies, and when I do, it’s because I consciously have to remind myself to eat more of them.
Mmm.. this soup looks great! I love soup.. and in the winter it is by far my favorite meals! There are so many good options :) My favorite is spicy thai coconut soup!
Happy birthday to bangs friend! She and I share a birthday! That soup looks really good and pretty easy!
Ahhhhhhh happy happy happy bday Samantha! I hope you have the best day ever!
Thanks! :)
Does Run Fatboy Run count as a running movie?!? :) I really would like to watch a few – may have to look these up!
We eat Corn and Green Beans fairly regularly, and I am on a mushroom kick lately. But I know we really need to kick up our leafy green intake.
I miss my old saturdays of lazying around and watchnig TV until 11am before getting dressed, but my hubs has been in a ‘going out to eat on wknds’ mode and it really kills that.
I recently watched “Run For Your Life” during a long run on the treadmill. Very inspiring. I will definitely check out Spirit of the Marathon. Thanks for the recommendation!
Saturday! Sunday means Monday is coming around the corner, but Saturday you can sleep in AND stay up later :) I love minestrone soup! The broth always tastes so good from all of the veggies in there. I haven’t eaten enough veggies lately. I used to eat TOO many veggies (salad beasts galore) so now if I do eat them, it’s usually a snack or side dish. Happy Birthday to Bang’s Friend!
Happy birthday to your bangs friend! And I watched Spirit of the Marathon the day before I ran the Chicago Marathon, it was great! Can’t wait to see the new one!
That trailer just almost made me cry. Legit.
Happy birthday to your friend!!
oh my goodness Janae you just started my weekend on the right foot. That movie is one of my favorites and to think that there will be a second one just makes my day :)
I like the entire weekend. Cause I’m not at work. I Ihave been at work 12 days straight now and ready to go on a mini vacation with the man this weekend.
ps. Brooke is way too darn cute! She’s BEAUTIFUL :)
That soup looks awesome- thanks for sharing the recipe! I think I’ll just switch out the chicken broth for veggie- I’m sure it’ll still be great!
I LOVE running movies! Have you seen Unbreakable (http://www.ws100film.com/)? Sooo amazing!
Saturday! On Sunday inevitably thoughts turn to what you need to do on Monday (though I try really hard to fight this).
Love that movie! I always get a little teary during it, haha!
I like Saturdays… We are really involved in church on Sundays (we enjoy it but it can be tiring)!
Oh, that’s so exciting! I loved that movie… I’ll be on the lookout for the second one. That is an adorable view when cooking! We sometimes put our daughter in the bumbo seat up on the counter while cooking… I don’t think you’re “technically” supposed to have it off the ground, but it kept both of us happy. She always had to know what was going on!
Happy Birthday Bangs!!!
I used to love veggies but completely over did it on them when I did Weight Watchers. Really have a hard time with them now. Darn!
Guess I would pick Saturday for fave weekend day. I usually run long then work part of the day.
I just watched Spirit of the Marathon for the first time last weekend – I’m so excited they’re making a second one!!! I totally cried when the runners crossed the finish line. What an inspiring movie.
Happy birthday Bangs!
Hal Higdon posted on Twitter yesterday about Spirit Of The Marathon 2, I am So excited, the first is one of my favorite movies. It’s free on Hulu, so I watch it a lot!
I’m not good about eating my vegetables, my kids (thankfully) love veggies, me…not so much.
Favorite day: Sunday, Saturday is always way too busy.
Look at that gourmet soup! Looks delicious!
I love minestrone soup especially from Olive Garden! Happy birthday!!
Happppy birthday Bangs Friend! I love veggies…a little too much ;)
Happy birthday Bangs! I watched Spirit of the Marathon earlier in the week actually because one of your readers posted about it and I was interested! I loved it! So glad they’re making a second one :D. And yup, I’m a veggie lover! No need to remind me there haha. That soup sounds amazing! And I love Saturdays!
Love the Hood to Coast movie and Without Limits. Rome is one of my favorite cities so I’m really excited for this one to come out! I need more running movies in my life. :)
I am so excited for the second Spirit of the Marathon!! I just saw the first one and as a non-runner it was really inspiring! I started the couch to 5k program 3 weeks ago :)
I absolutely love when I check your blog & Brooke is wearing the exact same outfit as my daughter. I really think they could be BFFs if they didn’t live on opposite coasts!
I used to be really good about eating my veggies, but then my stomach started complaining about having them too often and in too large amounts, so I’ve kind of fallen off the bandwagon and tend to keep things pretty simple. More room for the good stuff, I guess? :mrgreen:
Happy Birthday to your friend!
happy birthday bangs!!!
those cupcakes in the bottom of the pic made me lick my phone screen.
Spirit of the Marathon II! What! I could not be more excited!!!!!
Happy Birthday Bangs! I hope your year is filled with many more recipies to feed HRG with!
Best comment ever. Agreed.
Happy Birthday Bangs Friend!
I am excited for that movie! I love spirit of the marathon! The only other running movie I’ve seen is Chariots of Fire. I didn’t like it that much though. I do eat veggies a lot, I need to be better about eating fruits though.
Happy Birthday Bangs!
That soup looks delish. I probably eat spinach the most.
What an awesome and easy recipe. Totally making this soon!
And I still have NOT seen Spirit of the Marathon. Need to rent ASAP.
One of my friends is in that film! Ylenia, the Italian girl running her first marathon! This year she’s running rome Marathon again!
Happy birthday, Bangs! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Of course you and Bangs would have birthdays close together your friendship was destiny! Happy birthday Bangs! I hope she gets to eat lots of yummy food/treats today.
I love that soup recipe. I made it just a little while ago. Only I didn’t have bread to go with it. Ross let me know that was not OK for future meals. Lol. I eat vegetables, but I could definitely stand to eat more of them and less treats. I would say that I eat spinach the most (I get the pillow sized bag and put it in everything) but asparagus is my favorite to eat. Mmmm.
I haven’t seen a lot of running movies. I have seen the prefontane one and I think.that is it. I need to change that pronto.
Saturdays.
Happy Birthday Bangs friend……and a Friday b-day you and Janae should go out and get a little crazy! :)
i love veggies! I have big salads for lunch and always some steamed or roasted for dinner. Delish! I love mixing up the veggie combinations too. Half the fun to think of different combos.
i saw that movie two years ago when it came to st. louis! really good.
I LOVE veggies and eat a ridic amount daily. I’m def gonna try that soup this wknd. Question….how do you think it would be with shredded chicken added to it? My husband would not consider that soup to be a meal unless a meat is added! Ha!!
I think that would be amazing and I will have to copy your idea and try that next time!
That soup looks and sounds amazing! I will have to try it out! :)
Happy birthday Bangs!!!!! :)
Hey HRG!
I typically don’t comment, but this movie just reminded me of two things: a documentary I just watching called running on the sun and it was AWESOME! It’s about the Badwater Ultramarathon through Death Valley… wow. I just signed up for my first trail marathon after that. I also started reading “Eat and Run” by Scott Jurek — the amazing ultra runner who is also a vegan — and it’s so addicting. Anyways, thought you’d like em!!
Thanks so much Casey!!!! I am going to have to find that movie and book!
Sandrine likes Saturdays because it is the first day that is different from the rest of the week. Rhonda likes Sundays because she works Saturdays. But we both love veggies!
I LOVE spirit of a marathon and now I’m so excited to see the second!
SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON 2!! You just made my day! YIPEE!!!
Brooke seems like the happiest baby on earth!
Happy Birthday Bangs Friend! Today is my dad’s birthday as well :) My favorite day of the weekend is definitel Saturday!
Just burst into tears at the trailer. The woman running to raise money for a cure for pancreatic cancer really hit home. Mi abuela was recently diagnosed with it. Running has helped me escape the thoughts of it, helping me lose myself outdoors with only thoughts of races and my working body. I can’t imagine running a marathon with her goal in mind but totally admire her for it <3
I haven't seen any running movies but I know I'd enjoy them.
Being very very cold right now, I could use some minestrone soup. Yours looks so yummy and full of veggies. I try to eat veggies everyday. Love them. I don't even want to think about the day I wouldn't be able to handle them due to pregnancy. Eep. Carrots, brussel sprouts and snap peas are the most common ones I eat.
Happy Birthday Bangs Friend!!
How funny! Just yesterday I was looking up recipes for minestrone soup! I was actually trying to find a clone or stand in for Olive Garden minestrone, to keep myself from going there and spending money. You’re recipe looks really good, I might use it!
I go back and forth with veggie, but generally I’m really good and eat huge salads and lots of veggie packed soups.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANGS FRIEND!!!!!
That soup looks amazing!!! Usually we cook veggies into dinner, but I’m really more of a fruit person, so that’s the only time we eat them.
I also made minestrone soup and a chicken taco pizza with TJ’s garlic pizza crust to prep for the blizzard we are getting today! Your soup looks good. I am pregnant now and in the first trimester could not touch a vegetable, but its getting better now!
OMG, I am SO excited about Spirit of the Marathon 2! I’m not a marathon runner, but I love watching running documentaries. I wonder when exactly it will be out?
My NY’s resolution was actually to eat at least a serving of veggies every day because I am normally not much of a veggie eater (I LOVE fruit!). So far, I’ve only missed a day or two, and I’ve really grown to love them.
Thanks for the info about “Spirit of the Marathon”, I’ve never even heard of it! Probably because it doesn’t have Zac Ephron in it.
I loved Cool Runnings but it’s not really about running. But it’s good.
I really liked Forest Gump. ;)
I normally love veggies and big salads, but when I am pregnant the thought of salad makes me gag. It just sounds like slimy leaves to me. Minnestrone is awesome! My daughter loved to eat the veggies and beans out of the minnestrone when she was a baby.
Your baby is so cute!!!
Happy birthday bangs!
Happy birthday, Bangs Friend!
I do eat a lot of veggies, but not nearly as much as I do when our garden is in season. When we have zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers coming out our ears, we don’t have much choice except to eat a plethora of veggies!
Yum, that soup looks delicious! Happy birthday to your friend!
I’m a vegetarian, so I LOVE vegetables. I actually get a lot of comments from people saying “oh, you’re a real vegetarian. I knew so-and-so and they only ate chips and carbs. they got fat.” The most common vegetables I eat are spinach and mushrooms. They don’t sell a bag of spinach big enough to satisfy me.
Happy birthday, Bangs Friend!
Spirit of the Marathon II looks awesome! Spirit of the Marathon was an amazing movie – by far my favorite running movie ever. So inspirational. I also watched Dean Karnazes 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days – good one, but not as good as Spirit. So excited to hear about 7 more runners journeys.
I eat a salad every day for lunch, usually loaded down with romaine, green pepper, spinach, cucumber, tomato, avocado, garbanzo beans, etc… I also put spinach in just about anything (chili, pasta, etc…) and I always make sure we have a vegetable side item with dinner.
That soup looks incredible!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANGS!!! :)
xo
HAppy birthday to bang’s friend! :)
That soup looks awesome! p.s. I eat spinach smoothies almost every morning–so I get my veggies in EARLY! hah
Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday Dear Bang’s Friend…Happy Birthday to you. Birthday’s are special thanks for letting us share. As to the soup – yummy – it looks so great in the pre-cooked picture that I am going to tweak it a little as a salad also. Thank you. I really enjoy your blog.
That is a great idea!!!!! Thanks for your sweet comment!
I’m a huge fan of broccoli, and also really love spinach and cauliflower. I’ll eat them raw but really enjoy roasted vegetables or veggies and cheese (and there are a lot of good healthy kinds out there).
Favorite weekend day is Saturday. By Sunday, I’m already thinking about the upcoming week and getting ready for it, which isn’t usually fun.
Happy Birthday Bangs!
totally made my day with the spirit of the marathon II trailer!! so pumped!!
Oh that’s so exciting! I loved Spirit of the Marathon! It was so good. Can’t wait to see the second one.
I also loved spirit of the marathon! you’re right running moves ARE the best.
Have u seen Without Limits? It’s definitely a good one.
Happy birthday to your friend! I used to live in the same apartment complex as her husband in Utah. Small world!
No way!!!! That is so so cool!!!
I can’t wait for Spirit of the Marathon II to come out. I own the Firestone and watch it several times a year!
The soup looks delicious too. Perfect for a cold day like today.
I’m very impressed by this recipe! Looks delicious!
Ummmm does it make me weird that that trailer almost made me ready eyed?
Sometimes i have a hard time getting all my veggies in. I think i just need to learn new ways to cook them. Unless its with ranch i love veggies with ranch :) low fat of course…
Happy Birthday Bangs Friend!! Hope you have a great dinner planned for tonight with lots of Janae desserts!! :)
Happy birthday Bangs Friend!! And Spirit of the Marathon IS one of the greatest movies ever!! SO excited for part II!!!! Have you seen Running the Sahara?? Also, an incredibly amazing and inspirational movie. Getting a blizzard in NYC so not many plans this weekend – except a snow run in Central Park. Don’t know how you survived Utah snows!
Spinach! What a great addition to minestrone! It happens to be my most-frequently eaten veggie :) That first pic is so adorable!
That trailer gave me the chills! Can’t WAIT to see it! Brooke’s eyes are GORGEOUS and I can’t believe how big she’s getting!
I try to be good about getting my veggies in, at least 2 servings a day. But it’s hard for me to keep a ton of fresh veggies around while cooking for just one person because they go bad so quickly!
Happy Birthday to your friend!! :) :)
looking forward to the “Spirit of the Marathon part 2!” :) love ya & have a great weekend! btw I’m still w/o my phone. :( :( miss talking to you. xo
Ill have to watch this movie- signed up for my first half, obviously not a full but still a big deal to me :) Soup looks delicious! http://www.colorushealthy.com
We watched spirit of the marathon before some big race of mine but DARN it if I didn’t forget which one! Must not have done too well, lol.
Happy Birthday Bangs!
Brooke is way cute, although she should be reaching for the brownies :)
I would love to hear how Billy’s running is going! Does he also use your awesome treadmill deck? How does he fit it in with school?
I’m excited because Girls on the Run (I coached this year for the first time) is having a movie night at a local theater and they’re showing:
There is no Finish Line
Running the Rockpile
A Runners Life
I haven’t ever seen a running movie and I think this is a great fundraising event for them!
Happy Birthday Bangs friend :)
Happy birthday Bangs friend!!!! :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANGS. I eat cherry tomatoes, peppers and carrots daily. Yes I realize 2/3 of those are fruits but I count them as veggies. Saturdays are my favourite because Its right in the middle of the weekend and I still have one more day of rest and studying.
OMG – I am so excited about the new spririt of the marathon movie! I watched the old one a couple of years ago with my then boyfriend and was super inspired by the stories. I watched this trailer with my mom and she looked at me and said – “now tell my why is it that you’re not running the Rome Marathon?” :P I want to sign up for it next year!!! Thanks for sharing :)
That soup looks mouth-wateringly fantastic!!
Just made the minestrone soup yesterday, it’s really really good!
Happy belated, Bangs Friend! :)
Did you use frozen or fresh spinach
I use fresh!