Food Friday- Sunday Night Feast

Food Friday

Great Food and Great Company

Do Sunday's bring your family and friends together for meals?  We kind of like to think that Sunday's give us a great reason to wind down the week with friends and family and this past Sunday, this was our feast so I had to share as it was not only so warming but also so delicious and so nutrient dense. 

 White Bean and Kale Stew and Brussels Sprout Salad

White Bean and Kale Stew

Total time to make 30 minutes!

Serves 6

(this recipe was in the November 2012 issue of Whole Living)

2Tbs of extra virgin olive oil

1 onion diced

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 carrots peeled and diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

1 15oz container of chopped tomatoes

1/2 lb sweet potatoes, scrubbed and diced (you can also use small red potatoes)

1 15 oz container of white beans. Rinsed and drained. 

1 bunch of kale (1lb)

1/2 cup of fresh grated parmesan

Heat oil in a large pot. Add onion, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook and season with salt until tender. 

Increase heat to medium high and add tomatoes and their juice. Cook, stirring until mixture starts to caramelize.  Add 7 cups of water (I used 5 cups of water and 2 cups of vegetable broth) add sweet potatoes and beans and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until potatoes are tender (about 10 minutes) Stir in chopped kale. Cook until tender (about 2 minutes.) Season with salt and pepper. Top with parm. So yummy!

Brussels Sprout Salad

I wanted to try a new salad as we often default to the same old greens.  We had a bunch of brussel sprouts in the fridge and figured why not give it a try.  The hardest part about this salad is peeling each leave of each brussel sprout but it is so worth it in the end. This is a new favorite "green" with so many endless possibilities. 

separating the leaves is so worth your time for this salad!

1lb brussel sprouts, trimmed, leaves separated.
2Tblp roasted pumpkin seeds (You can also use any other nut of your choice to mix it up)
1 avocado sliced
I also added a handful of cranberries to add some color and a little sweet and tangy flavor.

For the dressing, I kept it simple. 
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 also added one chopped clove of garlic
salt and pepper.  I blended the dressing ingredients up and tossed.

These two paired nicely and I can't tell you how much my girls and our friends loved it.  Did you also catch how many of those hearty greens you are getting in along with some beans for protein and a little sweet potato for a great complex carbohydrate. This really has it all. 

Let me know what you think and enjoy!

Get Fit. Live Fit. Be Fit and EAT Well!!

Food Friday- Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Food Friday 

and 

Happy Valentines Day!

Wild Orange Chocolate Torte

What a great day for a sweet treat. Who doesn't love a little bit of chocolate on Valentines Day.  This Wild Orange Chocolate Torte has been a hit this week. I made two and played around with the flavors but I have to say that mix of orange and chocolate is amazing!  Not only is this dessert gluten free and dairy free but it used some heart healthy 70% chocolate in it (of course always in moderation:)) and I thought I would try my hand at using some of the essential oils I use and try the Wild Orange added to the chocolate.  I wish you could taste it from here but it is super subtle put yet you that hint of orange is just the right amount.

Ingredients:
14 oz of 70% dark chocolate. I am definitely purchasing organic and not Hershey's:)
3/4 of a cup of melted Ghee (you can also use butter)
2/3 cup of sugar. I used coconut sugar
2/3 cup of almond flower
3/4 cup of coconut flower
4 eggs

The How:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
oil and dust with coconut or almond flour a dark tin cake pan (8")
Melt the ghee or butter and chocolate in a dbl boiler. I used a glass bowl over my pot filled with boiling water.

I added all the remaining ingredients to my mixer and poured in the ghee and chocolate once it was melted. I mixed it on high for 3 minutes.

Pour into pan and bake for 15 minutes.
Take it out immediately and flip it over to cool sprinkle with powdered sugar or cocoa powder and enjoy!

We didn't get very far post cooling before digging in.  This made an excellent treat for the Valentines week and holiday but really who couldn't use a little hit of sweet goodness every now and then.  Of course everything in small doses can be a good thing so enjoy!  I know I did!

Get Fit. Live Fit. Be Fit and Eat good desserts every now and then:) 

I have to point our my favorite glass bottle that made an appearance in my Valentines day photo. mybkr.com is a great site for picking up one of these trendy bottles that have been a favorite of mine and my athletes.  Check out their website or shoot me an e-mail and  you can purchase one through me. 

Happy "HEART' day everyone!

Workout Wednesday-Powerful Legs

Workout Wednesday

Powerful Legs!!!

It is cold and wet here today so what I took things indoors and made a fun little HIIT workout that anyone could do.   This 30 minute workout will leave your legs feeling strong and sculpted, but also feeling fresh and not like you spent for-EVer at the gym. 

 I met a client at the gym today and while I was waiting I had 40 minute to kill. I decided to get on the treadmill (Yes, I have a love hate with the treadmill, but I also figured why not) 

I warmed up for 10 minutes and that was about all I could handle of running in place. I jumped off and immediately went into the above workout targeting the legs. 

The workout:

A Round means you go through all 7 exercises one after the other without stopping. A rest is set after each round. 

•  Round #1- 30 seconds of each. After the 7th exercise, rest 1 minute. 
• Round #2- 45 seconds each. Rest 45 seconds.
• Round #3- 30 seconds of each, Rest 30 seconds. 
• Round #4- 45 seconds of each, rest 45 seconds. 
• Round #5- 30 seconds of each. Finish or Repeat!

You can repeat the 5 rounds again OR you could jump back on the treadmill or my favorite fixed piece, the StepMill (like a set of revolving stairs:) for 10 minutes and then repeat. 

You could even substitute the treadmill or stepmill for a jump rope, a quick jog/run around the block etc.  

You have all the means to get this done but the question is, will you? 

Give it a try! What do you have to lose!?

Get Fit. Live Fit. Be Fit. 

Get out and MOVE!

Food Friday!

Food Friday! 

Vegetarian Jack Burgers

Thank you Vegetarian Times for this delicious recipe!

On a cold Friday night what better way to end the week than with a delicious burger! Since we don't do a whole lot of meat in our house (Kiva Sun Bison is the exception) this burger has found its way into our hearts and home. 

I found this yummy recipe on Vegetarian Times and knew right away I had to try it out.  I am so glad I did and I am super excited to share it this week. 

My girls loved it. My husband loved it and well I think you can guess what I thought:) Plus how much easier can it get.  Check out the recipe below.  I made a few modification as I ended up making our own lentils with onion and bay. and In lieu of the Bob's Red Mill gluten free pancake mix, I used Pamela's as that is our normal brand we keep on hand.

• 1 15-oz. can Eden Foods lentils with onion & bay leaf, rinsed and drained
• ½ large onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 2 medium carrots, shredded (1 cup)
• ¾ cup prepared marinara sauce
• ¾ cup walnuts, finely chopped
• ¾ cup Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free pancake mix
• 1 Tbs. Bob’s Red Mill nutritional yeast

1. Combine all ingredients in large bowl.
2. Spray large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Scoop batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto hot skillet, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until bottoms of patties have browned. Flip, cover pan, and cook 5 to 7 minutes more, or until browned on both sides and vegetables have softened.

We served our burgers over a huge kale salad. The girls had their favorite hamburger buns  and we even melted a little goat cheddar over them for a little more fun. 

Honestly unless you are a burger connoisseur, you will not miss out on all the beef of traditional burgers plus you are getting some serious healthy protein from the lentils. 

Let me know what you think and enjoy! This is definitely a keeper!

Get Fit. Live Fit. Be Fit and Eat Well!

Workout Wednesday

Workout Wednesday

Move that booty!

As many of you know I was traveling last week.  Well being in a hotel and having limited resources to workout I did what any desperate fitness lover did and I made my way to the hotel gym.  

Seriously!?!?

  I was about to turn around and walk out as cardio equipment with fans and TV's are not my cup of tea.  I always refer to them as "resort" equipment. You know the type of workout you do while on vacation to help you feel better after indulging in the second piece of key lime pie on vacation or after a day of lounging at the pool sipping drinks out of a pineapple. OK, so I think you get the picture.  

Well I decided that I was going to take on that treadmill and own it.  I love pulling new workouts out of my head and thankfully I had my brother there to help.  (Thanks Cheetah for the pics) 

I listed it up above but if you "challenge"  yourself this is one booty kicking workout.  I had limited time so this was a perfect way to get a serious workout in 50 minutes.  This also is a great cold or snowy day workout for those not wanting to brave the cold.   

Here is a list of the 5 exercises I did for one (1) minute (without rest) right after each treadmill interval.

Jump Squats

Mountain Climbers

Push-ups

Tricep Dips

dumbell bicep curls

Skater lunge hops

 Remember to increase your treadmill speed each 5 minute run interval. On a side note I always run my treadmill at least 1.5% of an incline for a more accuracy to running outside. 

Get out and move. If you are not sweating at the end of this workout, perhaps you need to find your sweat lounging by the pool:) 

Get Fit. Live Fit. Be Fit.

Love the threads?  Check out www.splits59.com
Designed and Created in the USA.

Ashley Ribbed Tank 
in so many fun new colors

Pants are from last season but my favorites this season are:
Nova Classic Capri Tight in Monaco
#splits59