Category Archives: Food

palate pleasing potatoes! :) and Fitness Blender.com

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hey all…thought i’d share these yummy little ‘tators I made for dinner last night. they were really very good! paired with my grass-fed beef burger and a salad this made for a delicious meal.
**saw similar potato recipe in Prevention magazine but I doctored mine up ;) 009

i used new red potatoes, boiled them until they were fork tender. i then placed them on a parchment lined roasting pan and, using a potato masher, squished them down gently. 005

then i mixed together – greek yogurt, green onion, seasoning of your choice, i used 21 seasoning salute from trader joes, and a dash of sea salt. 006

top each potato with a bit of the mixture and add grated white chedder. 007

broil until the cheese melts and browns. 008

HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT CRISPY BACON!?! lol once these were made i thought how much better these would have tasted with some yummy bacon crisped up and crumbled into the mix…oh well, next time. <–oh and there will be a next time YUM!  ;)

**now i have to quickly mention the workout site i have recently discovered. some of you may have already seen some postings on my FB page but for those of you who didn’t…you must check out Fitness Blender.com. Link HERE. i am always on the look out for free work outs and trust me there are loads of them out there in cyber land. i get quite a few from pages i follow and most recently from the fitness blender site. i like guided w/o’s and have especially been on the lookout for upper body strength/dumbbell w/o’s. since i stumbled onto this site have found many, many upper body routines and any other routine i am after. there are so many uploaded that i could w/o everyday for a month (or 6) and not repeat a single one. i encourage you to check out their website and FB PAGE for excellent routines to fit any fitness level.004
**i was not asked to promote their site, i just love to pass on info to all of you to increase your w/o potential for free! :) …although if they wanted to send me a free t-shirt, i’d accept :p let them know i sent you their way if you ‘like’ them on FB ;)

do you love new potatoes as much as i do?

did you check out Fitness Blender.com?

in health

denise ♥

 

Eating Healthy & a Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower :)

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It’s amazing how easy it is to eat healthy. Yup, I just said that. I think we tend to over complicate things and perhaps feel inadequate to actually take on a healthy diet but if you cruise around the internet, look at food blogs and FB pages, you will see that the healthiest meals are really the ones with the least amount of ingredients and time. I am a very ‘simple’ eater. I don’t need sauces and dressings to eat my food. I like food, that’s it. I especially like good, nutrient, dense food that will help my body perform like I want it too. I make sure to eat a balanced diet overall and I don’t hyper focus on this many grams of this and that many grams of that. I just eat clean, I eat local when I can, I eat grass-fed beef, I avoid processed foods most times and keep portions and calories under control for me. My needs will be different from your needs. Just as my wants are different from yours.

It’s really important to do your research, google for information, talk to your doctor/nutritionist, scroll through some FB pages and come up with your own plan that works. Keep it mainly clean, balanced and unprocessed. Try to eat a lot of fruit and veggies, experiment with juicing and smoothies. Find something that will excite you and keep you motivated to eat well and get or stay healthy.

Eating is such a pleasure for me, I truly mean that and if you are on my FB page, go ‘like’ it if you’re not, you know I love to eat and I love to take pics of what I eat. :)

Now, the recipe. I love roasted veggies in general and have made so many pans of it that even I had become tired of them…well not really but Jeff has! ;)

I had to use up a cauliflower that was crying out in the fridge ‘eat me’ so what choice did I have <—that is why I am NOT a comedian!

I used: 1 head cauliflower
            2 TBSP’s organic coconut oil
            generous pinch of Sea Salt
            1 TBSP Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning SaluteIMG_0095

Melt the coconut oil, add the salt and seasoning and mix together
Chop the cauliflower into bite sized florets 
Coat the cauliflower with the mix and spread out onto a roasting pan
Bake at 420 celsius for 1/2 hour; broil for 30-60 seconds to crisp a bit.IMG_0097

I do this with broccoli too! It’s a healthy and an easy way to use up veggies instead of tossing them out into the garbage! <— I really dislike wasting money!

IMG_0099

                                                                                              a perfect side dish

If you have left-overs, which I doubt ;) ,  you can add them to an omelette in the mornings or turn into a ‘potato mash’. The possibilities are limitless.

 do you think YOU over-complicate healthy eating?

in health

Denise ♥

Shifting Your Mindset: How I stopped feeling guilty when I over-indulge

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Wooo baby I ate a lot of junk food yesterday…what was that about??? lol Well, I guess for me it was a bit of ‘let my hair down’ and knowing that I have the willpower and determination to get right back at the healthy eating today! and I will, and I did… I also discovered it’s bad to have ice cream in my house!

I wrote last night on FB that I was indulging but that I had no guilt and a couple of people wanted to know how to get to that point, the eat without guilt point… It’s difficult :/  It’s definitely a mind shift and it took me a long time to get to this point. I will say that it all seemed to happen at once in Feb/March 2012. I was having a rough time judging myself and weighing myself 2 -3 times a day and letting the # dictate my mood/day. I decide one day to just stop…stop weighing myself, stop punishing myself for eating a ‘bad’ food and to take charge of that part of my life. I would love to say I have a magic formula for you to follow, or a step by step program…I could make a lot of money!!!

I literally stopped doing this and my mindset just switched…honestly. Since I started eating much ‘cleaner’ I have found for the most part, that I do not want the junk food and, like yesterday, I know if I do indulge, I don’t feel right in my skin and I won’t continue on with a week-long food binge…like I use to. I don’t feel great this morning either from all the food but it’s physical not mental. I know once I drink my juice and eat a farm fresh egg I will be back on the healthy, nutrient rich ‘diet’ I follow 90% of the time.

I started thinking this way about food…”what can this food do for me?” which made me feel in control, rather than “I better eat this so I look good” which made me feel like I was being punished. Yes, I want to look good too and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! However, once you make that seemingly small thought change, it is amazing at how much easier it is to shed the punishing, guilty thinking when you do slip up. Now when I eat something with no nutritional value, I will remark on how I feel physically, ask why am I eating this and then decide if it adds value to my health. Obviously, if it’s chips or ice cream, no, there is no value except that I just feel like eating it.

I also started to research foods and their health values. I watch documentaries on food and GMO’s and I have found that they have given me enough reasons to want to eat well most of the time. Notice I always say ‘most of the time’? That’s because I am human and I am no different from you.

I wonder how the W/O will feel this morning ;) Perhaps a little sluggish? That will be another positive for me as I will then remark how eating poorly affects my workouts. ;) Knowing that I had the December Challenge to finish up this week also gave me the power to stop the indulgence before I  really went over board. Setting these goals helps you to keep things in check.

I hope this helps a little. Sometimes it’s hard to get out the words effectively for them to be of value to some of you ;) . I can only tell you what I have done and hope that it will resonate with someone ;) .

did you indulge or play it safe this holiday season?

how are you planning to get back on the healthy eating path?

in health

Denise ♥

Fruit ‘n Nut Bars Made at Home :)

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I was cruising around FB and what did I see but a recipe for fruit and nut bars that promised to replace my beloved Larabar.

I bought Larabars for the first time last month and posted them on my FB page as a great non-GMO energy bar/snack bar. I loved the taste and texture so much that I figured it was going to be my new favorite snack. Well of course someone lets me know that the parent company is General Mills and GM were not only against labelling GMO foods but they also contributed a ridiculous amount of money to the ‘NO’ vote on Prop 37 in California. I feel strongly about labelling GMO foods so I decided that I would boycott them like a lot of other people.

All that to say that I was over-joyed to find this recipe! It comes from Maoomba ‘s website and I adapted it slightly. Stormy has a lot to offer on her site so go take a look. (but then come back here…ok?)

You will need: food processor, plastic wrap, almonds, apricots, crystallized ginger and dates

I started with 1 1/2 cups of almonds and crushed them in a food processor. I chopped 3/4 cups of dried apricots and 3 pieces of crystallize ginger into small pieces then added them to the food processor with the almonds. Once thoroughly mixed remove from processor and set aside.PicMonkey Collagedate

I put 3 cups of pitted dates in the food processor and pulverized them into a sticky mass and I mean a STICKY MASS!!! lol

Add the sticky mass to the nut/fruit mixture and work together until it is all mixed. Press into a pan of your choosing lined with plastic wrap, cover with another piece of plastic wrap and press down firmly with whatever you can find, to compact the mixture. You will want to really get the mix as compact as you can so that it sticks together like a bar once you cut them.PicMonkey Collageme

Place the pan in the fridge to chill, I left mine in over night. When they are chilled, remove from the pan by lifting the plastic wrap up. Cut into serving sizes of your choice and wrap each piece in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. PicMonkey Collagebars

I have to admit, these are very good.

There are so many variations to this simple recipe and I plan to make several more batches. I think a chocolate variety is in the cards next. ;)

have you made an at-home energy bar?

in health

Denise ♥

 

Chia – My Super Food

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I love my chia mix. I take 2 tbsp’s to work everyday and mix it up with my tea/ACV hot drink 5 minutes before I eat it and it gels up quite nicely. :)

I first heard about the wonders of chia when I read the book ‘Born to Run’ completely awesome book by the way!!!  :D The Tarahumara Indians chew on chia during their long endurance runs and the energy they experience is second to none. I actually took it with me on my Perseverance 10.5K trail/mountain run in October and it came in handy!

Chia is packed full of minerals, fibre, antioxidants and protein! It also has the highest levels of Omega 3 essential fatty acids of any plant, and some studies suggest, even higher than salmon! The gel works through your intestines like a ‘cleaner’ picking up ‘sludge’ and helping to eliminate this toxin carrying sludge out of the body. Gotta like that, right?

           Chia means “strength”

I add chia to my oatmeal, greek yogurt and salads. I especially like it on its own especially when it’s combined with dried fruit ;) .

       chia added in to the oatmeal ;)

 

One hazard you must know about eating chia…the gelled buggers literally lodge between your teeth so have your floss handy! lolol NO JOKE

have you tried chia yet?

no? what are you waiting for?

in health

Denise ♥

 

Chocolate Bark and Thoughts on Homemade Gifts

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I like edible gifts for both giving and receiving as it takes the consumerism panic down a notch. I’m not one for buying gifts just because it is Christmas. I think making something for someone is a nice touch to a holiday that has lost its true meaning for a lot of people. I feel it shows thought and love more so than a store-bought item that we just do not need. I’m not trying to be all Scrooge like but we have gone too far to the consumer driven mentality with Christmas don’t ya think?

I also like to give knitted gifts however…I have not picked up my knitting needles in 2012 once!!! How did that happen…or not happen I should say.

Chocolate Bark:

750 gr’s semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup crystalized ginger, diced
1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
pinch of sea salt

A variation of this recipe has been floating around facebook this week and because Christmas is coming up I figured I would make some for nice little treats and gifts. Very quick and easy to make and tastes very good too!

Melt chocolate in the microwave in 45 seconds increments. Once the chocolate is melted, spread it out onto a parchment lined cooking sheet. Use a rubber spatula for easy spreading. Scatter the ingredients over top then sprinkle with sea salt for a ‘sweet and salty’ taste. Gently tap the pan onto the counter to ‘settle’ the toppings into the chocolate. I put mine in the fridge to harden.  

Once hardened, cut into pieces and divide into gift bags for an easy hostess or last-minute gift. Makes for an excellent treat to serve at one of the many social events you may have planned throughout this holiday season.

Also good for teacher, coach or friend gift giving.  Easy cookie exchange option too or, as my husband proved, for simply swiping off the cookie sheet while I am trying to cut and bag them ;)

Do you like to receive edible or homemade gifts?

Do you make your own gifts too?

in health

Denise ♥

 

More Pumpkin Recipes :)

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Still have pumpkin on the brain…or the veranda as it were ;) ? There are so many ways to enjoy pumpkin beyond the jack o lantern! Here are two more easy recipes for you, to use up the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Soup made easy! I made a batch of veggie broth on Saturday when I was making the pumpkin puree. I also had some home-made tomato sauce left over from our pasta dinner so I threw together a delicious pumpkin soup. I combined  the roasted puree, veggie stock and tomato sauce into my blender and hit puree! That’s it! I heated it through in the microwave, garnished it with grated carrot and it was done. No seriously…it was so easy and so delicious.

I don’t like to waste any food so I made roasted pumpkin seeds too! They were an awesome salty, spicy snack! You can come up with so many different combinations of flavours like lemon pepper, salt and pepper, chipotle, or salt and honey for a kettle corn type taste.

I think Pumpkin Bread is up next…

in health

Denise ♥