About Jodee

After thinking about various ways to share my memories, I began to write my blog, Learn from yesterday, live for today..... I started writing this blog, for the most part, to share my life experiences with family and friends, a journal of my experiences, but gradually the idea grew into sharing it with everyone. It's just about day to day living and sharing with loved ones the ordinary things that make every day memories. My blog covers everything from cooking family recipes to travel memories and more. Throughout this journey called life, each of us experience many things and what we take away from those experiences makes us who we are today. My journey has had its up and downs like so many of us and as a result, what I have learned from my experiences has shaped my perspective of life. I invite you to take a look and see what I have shared so far. Hopefully, you will enjoy the experience and share this new adventure with me! Jodee

Garlicky Great Northern Pesto Bean Dip with Veggie Chips

By Jodee Weiland

We all know that fall is the time for football games and football parties with family and friends to watch our favorite teams win. Sometimes we lose, too, but it’s still fun to get together and cheer our team on with our friends. Another part of celebrating our team is the appetizers we eat while watching, and sometimes those appetizers are not all that good for us. We usually end up calling them a meal, in order to make up for all those extra calories. Well, I love a good bean dip, and beans are healthy. Thinking about this, I decided to make a bean dip that would both taste good and be healthy at the same time. My Garlicky Great Northern Pesto Bean Dip with Veggie Chips is both healthy and delicious!

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I decided to use great northern beans as a base for my dip because of their great flavor. Also, these beans will take on the flavor of whatever you add to them, so they’re great for this purpose, but they are nutritional as well. After thinking about it, I wanted to create a garlicky basil pesto flavor, so I added fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh garlic. The best part about this dip is that it is so easy to put together, and it doesn’t come in a jar from the store. All you need is your ingredients, a food processor or blender, and you can make this delicious dip in just a few minutes. How easy is that!

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Garlicky Great Northern Pesto Bean Dip with Veggie Chips

  • 2 – 16 ounce cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped (more or less to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

https://learnfromyesterday.comDrain and rinse the cans of beans. Chop your garlic cloves and fresh basil. Put the beans, garlic, basil, and olive oil in the food processor. Blend together thoroughly until smooth and creamy. Add sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Blend again briefly. Put the bean dip in a bowl and serve with all natural veggie chips.

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My Garlicky Great Northern Pesto Bean Dip with Veggie Chips is both healthy and delicious! I like to serve my dip with Mediterranean Herb Veggie Chips, or any other all natural veggie chip that will complement the flavor of my dip. This way I continue to keep my appetizer on the healthy eating track. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be bland. In fact, healthy eating can have awesome flavor, and this dip is packed with flavor, especially if you like garlic. If you’re not a fan of garlic, put in less garlic or even none, if you prefer. It’s your choice. So give it a try at your next party, and enjoy!

Awesome Banana Mango Spinach Smoothie

By Jodee Weiland

There is nothing as good as a fresh smoothie in the morning or after a workout! Smoothies are a great way to stay healthy because you get so many essential nutrients in one drink when done right. I love a good smoothie for this reason and for the great flavor. My Awesome Banana Mango Spinach Smoothie is not only a nutritional smoothie, but a delicious smoothie as well!

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Most people know that bananas are a great source of potassium, an essential mineral which helps maintain normal blood pressure and healthy heart function. Mangos contain over 20 vitamins and minerals. Possible health benefits are mangos may reduce the risks of colon cancer and macular degeneration, while they may improve digestion and bone health plus more. Spinach also provides proteins, iron, vitamins, and minerals, which means it has the possible health benefit of improving blood glucose control in diabetics, lowering the risk of cancer, lowering blood pressure, improving bone health, and more. Together, these ingredients bring together a delicious smoothie that will be both enjoyable and healthy!

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Awesome Banana Mango Spinach Smoothie

  • 1 to 1 and 1/2 cups pf fresh mango cut up
  • 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
  • 1 medium banana
  • 2/3 cup pure unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 teaspoon organic honey (optional for those who want additional sweetness)

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Prepare and place all of the above ingredients into a blender. Blend the ingredients together until smooth. Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve. This recipe will be enough for about two ten ounce servings.

https://learnfromyesterday.comMy Awesome Banana Mango Spinach Smoothie is a great option for getting great nutritional value in one delicious drink!  One serving made without the honey is only about 176 calories, has 4 grams of fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals that will all benefit your health. This smoothie will not only taste great, it will make you feel great. I love having this smoothie before or after a workout. But whenever you choose to have it, you will love it, so enjoy!

It Started with HELLO: Sweet Connections with Lindt HELLO Chocolate!

By Jodee Weiland

This article is sponsored by Lindt HELLO. Thanks to Lindt HELLO for sponsoring today’s discussion!

Be sure to enter the sweepstakes at the end of this article every day for their chance to win* sweet experiences from Lindt Chocolate.

Most of us know that all of the relationships in our lives, be it friendship, romantic, professional, or otherwise, usually started with a simple “Hello!” Even a new mother will whisper lovingly to her newborn something like, “Hello, my sweet baby!” The important connections we make in life with others, for the most part, are sweet connections. Lindt HELLO Chocolate just made it easier for each of us to make “sweet connections” with those we care about or even with someone new when we want to say “Hello” in a special way! That’s right and here are just a few ideas on how to do that. Remember It Started with HELLO: Sweet Connections with Lindt HELLO Chocolate!

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Our wedding anniversary is coming up next month, and I always like to do a little something special for my husband. Lindt HELLO Chocolate gave me the perfect idea for a sweet connection with the man I love. We both enjoy sipping a fine wine with the sweet flavor of chocolate. It really is delicious together and a great treat for us! So I decided to make him a gift of Lindt HELLO Chocolate and one of our favorite bottles of wine.

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I found a plaque at the store that was created to look somewhat aged and a metal container that went with it well. I put an assortment of the Lindt HELLO Chocolate bars, sticks, and one of the mini-stick bags in the metal container and added a bottle of our favorite wine. With the plaque set behind these items, it will make the perfect way to say “Happy Anniversary!” It surpasses any card and is such a sweet connection for us. By the way, look at the plaque carefully. It says it all: “You are my favorite HELLO!”

https://learnfromyesterday.comThat’s not the only idea I came up with for hip trendy new Lindt HELLO Chocolates. What about for Halloween? Do you have someone special you would like to give a great treat while making a sweet connection? With such a large family and so many good friends, I always have someone I want to make feel special. So why not put on that witches hat and “Surrender the Treat,’’ a Halloween mesh basket filled with Lindt HELLO Chocolate! Anyone would love a great treat like this one!

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But don’t stop there! What about Christmas? How about an oversized coffee mug filled with Lindt HELLO Chocolate and a cute reindeer for that special secret Santa gift you’ll need? Or what about that special person you would love to share a big mug of hot chocolate/coffee and sweet chocolate with on Christmas Eve in front of the fireplace? Buy two mugs and put Lindt Hello Chocolate in both and share! Wouldn’t this be a great way to make a sweet connection over the holidays?

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No matter how you decide to make a sweet connection of your own, Lindt HELLO Chocolate, a hip, trendy brand in premium chocolate, will make it fun. This new collection from Lindt of sinfully delicious premium chocolate is inspired by classic American treats. Say “hello” to the enticing flavors, of the Lindt HELLO collection:

  • Caramel Brownie: Discover the irresistible combination of smooth milk chocolate, hazelnut and caramel brownie filling.
  • Strawberry Cheesecake: Satisfy your cheesecake craving with rich milk chocolate and a light, fluffy strawberry cream cheese filling.
  • Crunchy Nougat: Smooth milk chocolate, now that’s yummy!
  • Cookies & Cream: Chocolate, cookies – and a crunch!  Savor a chocolaty experience like no other, with chocolate chip cookie pieces and cream filling.

Be sure to check out the Lindt HELLO Sweet Connections Sweepstakes for the chance to win some great prizes. Also check out the “It Started with HELLO” web series here on Youtube with new episodes weekly through October 9, 2014. And remember It Started with HELLO: Sweet Connections with Lindt HELLO Chocolate! So enjoy!

Lindt HELLO is the hip, trendy brand in premium chocolate, that inspires connections and conversations everywhere it goes.  Be sure to enter the sweepstakes every day for a chance to win* sweet experiences from Lindt Chocolate.

To enter the sweepstakes, visit the Lindt HELLO Sweet Connections Sweepstakes Landing Page and enter your email address. Entries can be made daily for additional chances to win the below prizes.

Weekly Prizes – Connect with Someone You Love, or Someone New!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (9/24 – 9/30)

  • Enjoy a shopping spree with the girls + yummy Lindt HELLO Chocolate!

Sweet Staycation (10/1 – 10/7)

  • Lindt HELLO treats you to a pampered night in – movies, books + chocolate!

Besties Reunion (10/8 – 10/14)

  • Reconnect with your bestie at the spa for a day + Lindt HELLO chocolate to sweeten the deal.

* No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 years or older (19 in AL or NE and 21 in MS).  Void where prohibited. See Rules for weekly sweepstakes entry periods, prize descriptions, odds and other details. Ends Noon on 10/14/14. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) Inc., One Fine Chocolate Place, Stratham, NH  03885.

Many thanks to Lindt HELLO for sponsoring today’s story, and giving my readers a chance to win really sweet prizes!