hot mama health

In With Autumn, Out With Healthy?

2010-09-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

The arrival of Autumn weather does something to our internal clocks that just screws with our eating. Suddenly, instead of cooling, fresh and light meals, we want hearty, filling, warm meals. Bring on the chili and the mashed potatoes! It is something that unfortunately, we cannot completely control. Our bodies are so in tune with our environments that our natural instinct is to go into survival mode...and EAT. Eat plenty of meals that will plump us up so that we can stay warm and hibernate if need be -- with stock piles of food- in the cold winter months.

How do you avoid the natural urge to overeat the seemingly plentiful, large and heavy meals? Maybe, you just move to a warm climate? OR the more realistic way might just be that you give in -- just a little bit -- with an understanding that it is only natural (and healthy) to eat a little extra with the coming of the colder months. When spring arrives next year, we will be naturally inclined to move in the opposite direction. So not too worry, just don't go crazy!

Here are some words of wisdom (I like words of wisdom) for surviving the onslaught of the colder winter months - also known as the Eating Season.

1) Accept the fact that it is only natural to want to eat more and also that you need to eat more. Unless of course, if you are already over weight...YOU NEED TO EAT LESS. Sorry.

2) Drink lots of water (this rule never changes)

3) Take a multi-vitamin AND vitamin-D. We NEED our VITAMIN-D especially in the winter time.

4) Incorporate more root vegetables (and less meat) on your dinner plate. Hearty vegetables are pretty satisfying and filling. And they are way healthier than overdoing it on the animal protein.

5) Eat your greens - spring, summer, winter and fall - without fail. The more nutrition we get, the less we crave. It's simple math.

6) Avoid Girl Scout Cookies. I'm sorry, these cookies are terrible for you! Yes, the little girls are cute. If you have to buy them, bring them into work and put the box in the lunch room.

7) Maintain your gym routine. Yes, it is cold and dark in the winter, but if you don't work off those extra calories...you know what the consequence will be. Maybe it's time to find a gym buddy?

8) Hmmm, I'm really struggling here for another. Okay....Drink hot tea instead of coffee. I love coffee, don't get me wrong, but I try to limit myself to one cup a day. The next hot beverage you should reach for should be green tea, or any old decaf tea of your liking. It's just better for you and not addictive.

9) Nosh on carrots and other veggies w/ tasty dips at those friendly gatherings. More easily said than done, right?

10) Fill up with soup before your main meal. And NO, that does not include the dairy and cheese laden soups. A nice broth based soup will be just fine.

I'd love to know if anyone has any suggestions or recommendations of their own. Please share your thoughts!

And remember, please take these suggestions in stride. I would be a BIG hypocrite if I admitted to never eating any kind of "bad for you food." I love all food. It's about finding a good/bad balance that works for you -- with the good outweighing the bad.

Quinoa Salad ON THE GO

2010-06-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

Get inspired by your local restaurants and save some money. This was my idea recently when I popped into a particular new hummus restaurant by my office in Murray Hill. On the menu was a dish called "Quinoa Salad." I thought, I can make this...don't spend $8.99 on the one dish. So, instead, I bought the ingredients for about $10 and had lunch for a week. A delicious (and healthy) lunch that is :)

Quinoa Salad

1 Cup cooked quinoa

Chopped red onion

Chopped red pepper

Cranberries

Raisins

Chopped Walnuts
Splash of olive oil (abt 2 TBSP)

** Use about 1/2 to 3/4 of the red onion and the entire red pepper. Use as many cranberries, raisins and walnuts as you please.

Eat your quinoa salad however you wish. I ate it on a bed of mixed greens and experimented with honey mustard dressing (still looking for a tasty dressing to go with -- might be good with a raspberry vinegrette). The salad is delicious on its own but would also make a really nice side dish for say, a light fish. ENJOY!

Potassium & Protein Refresher...

2010-06-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

I just got back from vacation in California where the weather was mild and the air was dry. Already one day in NYC and I wish I was back in sunny CA. In New York it's hot and humid...and the jet lag sure isn't helping. Walking home from work I developed a craving and there was no way I was going to ignore it. My body was clearly telling me that I needed something...something that could only be found in a COLD banana smoothie.

So I made one...and unfortunately fell a little short of the ingredients I planned to use, but I sufficed with what I had and it was delicious and sooo chillingly refreshing.

One banana (chopped in chunks)

About 1/4 to 1/2 C of OJ

Ice cubes

Squirt of agave nectar

About a TBSP of chia seeds

....blend away....

In my mind I had envisioned possibly using Greek yogurt and some vanilla along with my bananas...or maybe a wad of peanut butter...OR freshly chopped peanuts. Then I got to thinking...a dash of coconut oil... I was just dreaming up the possibilities. Unfortunately, I was missing most of those ingredients. I made due, and couldn't have been more satisfied. I just needed a little umbrella to bring me back to the "vacation mind-set."

What do you like with your bananas in a smoothie???

Spring Visit Blue Hill at Stone Barns

2010-05-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

A Friendly Hen

This past Saturday, Jimmy and I returned to Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, NY. We went with friends for an afternoon of walking the grounds and an evening of eating and, um, lots of um, eating. Blue Hill at Stone Barns is a working farm that feeds its restaurant with locally grown seasonal foods. All the food and animals are grown and raised humanely without the use of fertilizers, hormones or anything else you wouldn't want turning up on your plate and in your food. Everything you eat is fresh, delicious and totally REAL.

I have already written two posts on Blue Hill (see here and here) so I won't go on about how wonderful and amazing of a place it is to visit. But I will share some of the pictures we took last weekend... :)

Grazing Hens

Jimmy in one of the gardens...

A really good salad with flowers and foam.

A little blurry, but that is a fried fish on a stick!

With that, I want to announce the winner of the Vemma Give Away...Lindsey! Unfortunately, Lindsey, in your comment, I was not able to link back you your blog. So, please leave a comment and a way for me to get in touch with you. I will choose another winner when I get back from vacation in the beginning of June if we do not connect :(

Health Coaching for Women

2010-05-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

As a Health Coach I work one-on-one with women to help them reach their health & wellness goals. I focus is weight loss/management and stress reduction, with a strong passion for helping pregnant ladies lock in 9 months of healthy, balanced eating. I truly believe that eating healthy foods and being fit is FUN, which ultimately leads to greater happiness.

A major part of being healthy is finding the time. If we only had all the time in the world to devote to ourselves, life would be grand and we would be healthy and svelte, right? In this busy life, we all want to be healthier, leaner and more attractive. If we were to work together, I can support you to become the "better you", through gradual changes that work with your schedule and fit your lifestyle. My program offers the following:

Two, one-hour sessions per month
E-mail support between sessions
Session notes and handouts
Gifts, food samples and self-care items
Health food store tour
A monthly newsletter

During the course of the program you will:

Set and accomplish goals
Explore new foods
Understand and reduce cravings
Increase energy
Feel better in your body
Improve personal relationships

If you are interested in setting up a free consultation, contact me today at hotmamahealth@gmail.com

For more information on my education and training click here.

Boston Marathon & Special VEMMA Vitamin Give Away

2010-05-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

At mile 25

~~Last weekend, two weekends now,~~ Okay, so almost a month ago (I started writing this post) Jimmy and I hit the road for the Boston Marathon. We drove 3 hours north for what was to be Jimmy's 4th and final 26.2 mile run. The trip from beginning to end was a blast, especially for me, since I was the spectator and not the runner :)

Once in Boston we picked up Jimmy's bib number (27140) at the Prudential Building. In the building there was a massive Health and Nutrition Expo -- soo, for a health lover, it was like being in health heaven. Free healthy food samples everywhere -- Powerbar, Clif Bar, Odwalla, Goo and so on.

While at the Expo, I stumbled across an amazing product called Vemma, a fruity-sweet liquid vitamin supplement. After one swig I was intrigued. And after two weeks, I ordered myself some bottles. Vemma is a nutritional supplement that packs the value of 4 grocery bags worth of food in just a daily 2 ounce shot. Being that Vemma is liquid rather than a capsule our bodies are way more capable of absorbing the nutrients (think, like a sponge). We absorb about 80% -90% of liquid supplements versus 20%-30% of capsule supplements.

Vemma is packed with vitamins and minerals, but perhaps the most powerful nutritional source in this supplement comes from the added mangosteen fruit extract. Mangosteen is a dark purple fruit about the size of an peach that originates in Asia. The rind is very thick and very hard and it is in the rind that the nutrients are found. The mangosteen rind contains a group of phytonutrients (nutrients from plants) called xanthones,which are considered the most concentrated form of antioxidants (free radical quenchers) found in nature (http://www.livingbyheart.tripod.com/). The health benefits of mangosteen fruits have been known to help people overcome issues such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, depression/weight loss, diabetes, low energy levels, allergies, migraines, bloating and some skin disorders. The list goes on and so do I...

In addition to the antioxidant punch, Vemma is loaded with over 65 major trace and ultra-trace minerals, whole leaf aloe vera and decaffeinated green tea. Here is a quick look at what you would have to eat in order to get the nutritional equivalent of a 2-oz shot glass of Vemma....

2.66 Oranges

9.6 avocados

3.09 stalks of broccoli

55.55 eggs

1.78 cups of spinach

3.88 cups of peas

19.76 medium bananas

62.5 oz. of cheddar cheese (for the B-12)

5.14 large potatoes

61.54 cups of tomatoes

2.46 watermelons

17.89 oz. of cherries

37.17 medium mushrooms

That's about all I have to say about the lovely Vemma. To enter the Vemma Give Away leave a comment. The winner will be chosen at random and will receive one bottle in the mail. If you would like additional entries 1) Follow my blog 2) Follow me on Twitter @hotmamahealth 3) Tell other people about the Give Away on Twitter and/or Facebook. Make sure you also leave a link/info so that I can contact you in case you win. The winner will be chosen next Wednesday, May 19th.

If you don't win the Give Away :( and are still interested in trying out Vemma, let me know.

For additional information on Vemma and Vemma products - check out Tyler and Mimi Ford's website here.

And quickly, back to Jimmy's marathon. He was awesome, finishing in 4 hours and 27 minutes. Pretty amazing, considering that he hardly trained! He promptly celebrated with a massive Philly cheese steak. Rightly so!

Jimmy & I shortly after he finished

A Lovely Millet Mash

2010-04-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

Life is busy -- work, class, clients, love, the ups and downs and the ins and outs of everyday life. Does it ever slow down? I guess it depends, but when you really think about it, life is busy AND life is good! One struggle I deal with daily in this hectic and busy life is finding time to cook the healthy meals I love and enjoy. When it comes to finding the time, it usually boils down to Sunday evening. Sunday, with a little bit of planning, can be the best day to fit in cooking for a week's worth of eating.

This weekend I bought Andrea Beaman's The Whole Truth, a healthy eating and recipe guide. I bought her book after completing her in person cooking class: Eating for Sexual Vitality & Fertility. Yup, that's right. It was such a fun class! But that is a story for another time. Anyway, I was thumbing through her book and found a recipe that made its way onto my table last night, with enough leftovers to last 2-3 more meals...now that is time and money well saved! The dish (or side, depending on how you want to eat it) is called MILLET MASH, which was perfect because millet has been on my "to try" list for some time. Millet is considered the 6th most important grain, so being a health coach, it's simply something I must know about! And it is pretty good by the way...

Andrea Beaman's MILLET MASH

(with some additions)

1 Cup Millet

3 Cups Water

1/2 - 3/4 Head of Cauliflower

1 Onion

2 Tbsp EVOO

1 Tbsp Butter

Sea Salt to taste

Add-ons: Chopped Parsley & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

The recipe is simple...Cook the millet in water for 25-35 minutes. Saute the onions in the olive oil until translucent. Add the cauliflower florets w/ 3 Tbsp of water and cover for 10 minutes, until they are soft. Once the millet and the cauliflower are done, combine in a large bowl, sprinkle with some salt, add 1 Tbsp of butter and mash away! Add on the parsley (2-3 Tbsp) and sun-dried tomatoes (about 3 Tbsp) and mash a little more. Voila. Delicious and healthy.

Just a little more on millet, wonderful millet. As I mentioned it is considered the 6th most important grain in the world. It has been around forever, and it is even referenced in the Bible. Millet, along with rice is a traditional grain of Asia. It is gluten-free, high in fiber and protein, and has a plethora of important minerals like manganese, phosphorus and magnesium. It even has tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is needed to synthesize protein. Besides synthesizing protein, we all recognize tryptophan as a Turkey Day special. Tryptophan helps us to sleep better, it regulates our eating, and it enhances our moods (www.whfoods.com). Ahhh, isn't millet wonderful?

These are some great links to check out if you would like to learn more about millet:

The World's Healthiest Foods

Chet Day's Health & Beyond

Foods that Heal

Pizza & Yoga & On the Go!

2010-04-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Pizza and then some yoga...that is how the night progressed. I wouldn't recommend it in that order necessarily, but nonetheless, it happened and it was very pleasing. First there was the pizza, but not just any pizza -- it was healthy pizza. Of course it was. I only had an hour to eat, change for yoga, and then drive to yoga....so the eating as well as the prep time had to be fast. For the quick and healthy pizza, I reached for a spinach wrap...and then put to use whatever veggies I could find -- minced garlic, arugula, and fresh tomatoes...

Quick, Easy & Cheese-Free Pizza

Wrap of any kind

Veggies of any kind

Tomato sauce of any kind

Salt & Pepper or spice of any kind

An oven at a high temp

I had the oven at about 475 degrees. I toasted the pita on both sides for about 2 minutes. Then I spread out the sauce and decorated the pie. Then popped it back in the oven for about 5 -8 minutes. Voila.

And then there was yoga...

My sister and I went to Yogaworks for a "Yoga Basics" class and it was fantabulous. We got some great stretching in and some very nice (and slow) instruction. When we arrived for class the lights were dimmed and there was tranquil spa-like music playing. The lights came on for class and then as class ended they dimmed again and the music came on to close out the evening. It was lovely and relaxing and oh so enjoyable. And now...with the eleven o'clock hour fast approaching, it is time to get some shut eye.

I'd love to know...what are some quick and healthy meals that you turn to when you are on the go? I think a lot of people struggle to eat healthy foods when the the clock is ticking against them. It would be so great to have options that are 1) healthy 2) easy and 3) tasty....

The End of the Eating Season...

2010-04-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

So Long, Farewell...

As the Easter holiday comes to a close, it is time to celebrate or mourn the end of the eating season. The weather is getting warmer, the birds are chirping and it is time for the animals and us humans to emerge from hibernation. It is time to shed our winter coats and the extra pounds our bodies embraced in the colder months. As we spend more time outdoors under the sun, our natural inclination for heavy, hot and filling meals declines. Thank God. Our bodies now crave lighter, cooling foods, like fruits, vegetables and of course the dreadfully irresistible ice cream.

This is the time of year to embrace our bodies natural tendencies to want to lighten up --both physically and mentally. Take advantage of the great outdoors -- soak up some of the sun's mood-enhancing vitamin-D. Go for a run, go for a bike ride, plant a vegetable garden. Enjoy lighter foods like fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, mango and strawberries. Eat more salads. Drink more water! And yes, maybe, just maybe, an occasional bowl of ice-cream. Now is the time when the body and mind actually work in our favor...

So let today be the day you eat your last jelly bean or chocolate bunny or Robin's Egg. It's time to shape up, ship out and shed some layers...

What is one food that you will say farewell to this month? What is one new food you cannot wait to enjoy in the warmer months?

Recipes

2010-03-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a Wednesday night and a little recipe reorganization...

Breakfast Foods

Green Eggs & Bacon Toppers

Jumbo Banana Muffins

Green Smoothie

Berry Oatmeal

Lunch Dishes
Quinoa Salad ON THE GO

Vegetable Dishes

Sweet & Savory Roasted Vegetables

Steamed Veggies & Sweet Tahini Sauce
Quick, Easy & Cheese-Free Pizza

Snacking Foods (Sweet & Savory)

Healthy Hummus

Nutty Chocolate Dream Balls

Desserts

Roasted Apple

Nutty Chocolate Dream Balls

Smoothies

Banana Smoothie (like a daiquiri only healthier)
Green Smoothie

Be A Fruit Whore

2010-03-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

When it comes to fruit, the phrase "less is more" need not apply. Fruit is the only food group, other than vegetables, where we can indulge and be free from the rules of portion control and calorie counting. Have you ever heard of someone getting fat from eating too many blueberries? Strawberries? Apples? I don't think so...

Why is fruit so amazing? Well, for one, it is low-fat and low-calorie.** Fruit is water based, hence it is hydrating. Because of the high water content, fruit moves through the digestive tract quickly, cleansing our system, while also nourishing it with vitamins and minerals.

Fruit does contain sugar, but if sugar were ever good for you, it is good when it comes in the form of fruit. Fruit is naturally sweet, unlike the sugar you find in packaged snacks and candy. The fiber in fruit, slows the absorption of the sugar into the bloodstream. The slow absorption of sugar keeps blood sugar balanced, rather than spiking it up high, and then dipping it down low. Candy on the other hand, is high in concentrated sugar and most of the time processed sugar. It never contains any vitamins and minerals. In fact, high concentrations of processed sugar, like high fructose corn syrup, leach nutrients from our body.

What kind of fruits should you be eating? The answer is obvious, right? -- All of them! If you are eating a lot, aim to eat fruits that have a high water content like apples, grapes, kiwis, pineapples, strawberries, and melons. And as a note, fruit is always healthiest in its natural form, either blended in a smoothie or eaten just as is.

What is your favorite fruit and/or smoothie recipe?

Yum!

**Avocados and olives are two fruits that contain fat -- and a lot of it for that matter. The fat is all healthy and good, but as we know, too much healthy fat can become bad if our body is consuming too much to burn it all off. Moderation is key when it comes to these two fruits.

** What about coconut? Coconut is not technically a fruit, but a nut. And, it sure is fatty. It contains the good fat, which the body quickly puts to use, but again moderation is best when you're dealing with a nut of any kind.

A Sunday To Recover... & PB Winner!

2010-03-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday! The weekend weather has been absolutely beautiful in NYC and those that were running in today's half marathon certainly lucked out weather-wise. I wish I had known about it because a half marathon is something I would enjoy and survive (I am not so sure I feel the same about a full on marathon). And timing worked its magic because instead of running the marathon, there was brunch to be had at the Atlantic Grill. Eggs Benedict to be exact. Breakfast was enjoyed with my sister, her fiance and Jimmy. We all thoroughly enjoyed our brunch as we were recovering from last night's 3-bottle-of-wine-dinner celebrating my sister's engagement.

Last night was a night to forget about fat, carbs and calories and a night to enjoy some of the best food in the city. We received the royal treatment at Eleven Madison Park and I have to say that there is no better restaurant in NYC when it comes to food, service and overall experience. Jimmy certainly thinks so, and he has written a review on his blog, Golden Eats. Truffles, lobster, prawns, pork, chicken, amuse-bouches, butter from France, macaroons, complimentary cognac...these are just some of the foods we enjoyed. It was a perfect night with perfect flavors and perfect company. So today is a day to recover and of course, a day to plan for a week of healthy eating!

I'd like to pose a question... Are there moments or occasions in your life when you let go of your healthy ideals? And then afterwards, what do you do to get back on the healthy track?

For me, there is nothing like the power of a green drink to get back on the healthy bandwagon. It revitalizes the system and shoots it with much needed nutrients, especially folic acid. Candle Cafe has a fantastic Green Goddess drink with mixed greens, apple, lemon and ginger. Today it is calling my name....

And with that, I want to announce the winner of the Peanut Butter and Co. Give Away! Congratulations to Naomi of One Fit Foodie whose homemade protein bars are not only creative, but also delicious, easy to make and most importantly, healthy!! I love the incorporation of the chia seeds and protein powder. My question to Naomi is, what protein powder do you recommend for this recipe? And do you have a link to the recipe on your blog for exact measurements?

Off for a Green Goddess!

Essential Oils vs. Purell

2010-03-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend at IIN I was chatting it up with some new found friends in the bathroom. As we were leaving the bathroom for the start of class, I walked over to the Purell Hand Sanitizer and pushed twice, dispensing 2 dollops of the clear liquid gel into my hands. Before I could enjoy the disinfecting bliss, I heard a loud shout, "NOOOOoooo!" My heart jumped. "NOOOOoooo!" It's 8:30 in the morning on a Saturday! Why was my new acquaintance yelling at me? What could I have possibly done? Little did I know, I was about to get a lecture on Purell Hand Sanitizer: the hows and whys that it is terrible for you. I left the bathroom thinking I was going to die because I had used it. Perfect...

So here is what my new friend told me:

1) The alcohol content in Purell is SOO high that it is toxic, especially when absorbed through your skin. She even went as far as to say that the alcohol is absorbed into our organs and poisons them.

2) Purell kills all the good bacteria on your hands as well as the bad.

3) Howie Mandel's (aka germaphobe) excessive use of hand sanitizer has made him highly susceptible to warts and other fungal bacteria on his hands.

4) Use essential oil, like lavender, or softer forms of packaged disinfectants (see Burt's Bees) to naturally sanitize your hands.

When she finished her rant, I was officially horrified by my history of Purell use and decided that some research must be done to substantiate my concerns. Here is what I found....

The alcohol content in Purell is 62%, which is the necessary amount needed to kill bacteria. "Two ounces of Purell is equal to 4 shots of alcohol" (www.homespalady.com) or 120 proof liquor...so already, if you ingest it, the alcohol content is considered potentially harmful, and more so life threatening to young children. The only information I could find about organ toxicity was on the Skin Deep website. This information was enough for me to want to do a switcheroo to more natural forms of hand sanitization. Click here to be brought to Skin Deep's page on Purell.

Purell does in fact kill both the good and the bad bacteria. While, it is good to kill the bad, it is not so great to kill the good. The good bacteria protects our body from infection as well has helping it to fight the bad bacteria. If we get rid of the good, how will we fight the bad??

As far as the Howie Mandel claim, I have not found any information talking about his susceptibility to warts due to Purell overuse. I did read that he wears rubber gloves, but only to avoid the germs from day to day contact with surfaces and people. Supposedly.

In researching essential oils as natural antiseptics, I discovered that this claim is true! And not only is lavender a natural disinfectant, but so are clove, cinnamon, rosemary, thyme and pine. There are a lot of interesting websites out there that talk about the use of essential oils for home cleaning and air purification in addition to their antiseptic qualities. I will list some of these sites at the end of this post. I do feel obligated to question whether or not a medical professional would support the use of these "natural" or "holistic" disinfectants in a hospital. I HIGHLY doubt it, and so with that said, please use essential oils as you see them pertaining to your life. For me - a person not wanting to kill the good bacteria - I tested out lavender oil and plan to try Burt's Bees product for potential use after my rides on the NYC subway.

To summarize my thoughts on this subject:

Purell = BAD FOR EVERYDAY USE
Essential Oil/Natural Health Store forms of hand sanitizers = BETTER & FUN TO TEST OUT

I now use lavender essential oil and my boyfriend likens me to some kind of witch, or potion maven apothecary. Whatever. It smells good and it is soo relaxing! I have taken to dabbing a bit behind my ears and on my neck before bed and it is lovely.

There are lots of ways to enjoy essential oils other than as sanitizing agents. They relax and energize, and can be used to support our health in many ways. This is just the tip of the iceberg - I plan on reading more and more on this subject and promise to share the interesting tidbits along the way.

Here are some of the interesting sites I stumbled across:

Stream of Consciousness

Essential Oils - Their Properties

The Real Essentials

Do you use essential oils and if so, which ones and why?

Peanut Butter Love and Special PB & Co. Give Away

2010-03-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

Yummmm, nothing conjures up memories of comfort and childhood contentment more than peanut butter...and jelly on Wonder Bread...but we don't do the refined white carbs anymore. Peanut butter is a comfort food like none other and because of its high fat content it has been dubbed by many - a food to be avoided. I'd like to argue for peanut butter, as I am sure many of my nut butter loving blogger friends would as well. So despite peanut butter's heavenly taste and obnoxious fat content, what is there to love about this vegetable based food?

Well, maybe it is just that. Peanut butter is vegetable based! It comes from the legume or bean family, which means it is a great source of vegetable protein. Peanut butter also has vitamin E, folate, potassium, magnesium and an array of other vitamins and minerals. Yes, peanut butter is high in fat, but the majority of it is the unsaturated heart healthy fat, while a small portion of it is saturated fat. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fat in peanut butter is similar to that of olive oil, and olive oil is the main component of the healthiest diet in the world (the Mediterranean Diet). In addition to ALL the vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy fat, peanut butter is SOO filling. Incorporating peanut butter into any healthy meal suddenly gives the food staying power equal to that of two meals. Enough said. Onto the PB snack...

A tasty, easy and healthy peanut butter treat... Nutty Chocolate Dream Balls. All you need is a jar of PB & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams and some oats!

Pour some oats and a spoonful of the Dark Chocolate Dreams in a bowl.

Mix together well and then roll into small balls.

Set to chill in the refrigerator.

Eat them as early as 30 minutes later!!

These treats are so easy to make that it's hard to believe that they taste as delicious as they do. The taste is something close to that of chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough. I guarantee that you and your family will love them, and even better, if you have kids, they will LOVE to make them :) The addition of the oats not only adds to the texture, but it incorporates whole grains and additional fiber. Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter is all natural, gluten-free, vegan, free of refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup and trans fat.

The only issue with this peanut butter is that it is soooo good that you really have to open the jar with some serious self control. Also, I recommend setting aside a small number of Chocolate Dream Balls so that you do not overeat. I like to pack 3 for my lunch time dessert.

Peanut Butter & Co. has graciously offered to give away three jars of their delicious peanut butter - Dark Chocolate Dreams, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl (A-mazing!) and White Chocolate Wonderful! Enter to win by leaving a comment with your favorite peanut butter creation, also if you are on Twitter follow the Peanut Butter & Co @PeanutButterCo.

I will contact the winner next Saturday to get your shipping info and phone number so that the Peanut Butter & Co. can send out your gifts! Please note that the gifts can only be sent to a US non PO Box address. If you do not have a blog to link back to, please leave your email address in the comment box.

Check out more flavors by the Peanut Butter & Co. here.

** Peanut Butter has a high calorie density, meaning there are a high number of calories per pound. Make sure you consume peanut butter in moderation for healthy weight maintenance.

Nothing Like A Little Nutritional Yeast

2010-03-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

I first heard of nutritional yeast when my friend Natalie mentioned it in a post on her blog, Lil Runner. Curious, but not yet convinced, I heard it mentioned again two weeks ago during class at IIN . SOLD...Two reliable sources pushed me over the edge. I hit the health food store running and bought myself a bottle of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified NOW Nutritional Yeast Powder. Always willing to test out a healthy food or food-like substance, I was in heaven with this new assignment.

First off, many of you might be wondering what is nutritional yeast? If you are female, you might ask, will it cause excess yeast to grow in my body? Gross... but, no, apparently it does not*. Nutritional yeast is a supplement, that comes in the form of powder or flakes that can be added to foods to boost its nutritional content. Many vegans and strict vegetarians consume it for the protein and wide array of B vitamins, most importantly B-12. It is also a good source of folic acid, so all you pregnant ladies, or soon to be pregnant ladies, might enjoy trying a tablespoon or two. Beside the folate and B-12, nutritional yeast has a good amount of fiber and potassium PLUS it is gluten-free. I know, I know...you just want to run out and get yourself some!!

Let me tell you about the taste. Yes...I'd love to hear from some of you on your thoughts regarding the taste of nutritional yeast. Natalie told me that it is great sprinkled on popcorn because it adds a kind of a "powdered cheese-like" taste and feel. This morning I sprinkled just a little bit into my scrambled eggs as they cooked. And it totally enhanced the flavor to be richer and yes, almost a little cheese-like! In the reading I have done, I am learning that nutritional yeast mixes nicely in liquids, so it could be great added to a smoothie or salad dressing. It can also be used to flavor grains like brown rice or quinoa. If you are a user, please do share some ideas on how and where to use this great stuff!

Nutritional Facts NOW Nutrtional Yeast Powder
(based on serving size of "2 Heaping Tablespoons")

Calories: 60
Fat: 1g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 320mg
Total Carb: 5g
Fiber: 4g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 9g

On another note, last week I received some Purely Elizabeth Apple Spice Muffin Mix thanks to last month's Super Breakfast Bowl Challenge. This is a new line of baking mixes that was founded by a fellow IIN'er, Elizabeth Stein. The muffin mix is free of sugar, dairy, wheat and gluten. In addition to the actual muffin mix, the recipe calls for applesauce, olive oil, maple syrup, an apple, water and some vanilla.

I also received a wonderful Mighty Leaf stainless steal mug. Hooray!! I promise to soon post the recipe for the Nutty Flax 'n Granola that luckily won me these fun prizes (oh, wait, you can find it in the Breakfast Bowl link above). Anyway, I will be sure to let you know how the muffin mix works out once I give it a whirl! Night all.

*Nutritional Yeast, based on the research that I have done, is considered safe for those following the Candida Diet. It is not active yeast and does not cause yeast infections/Candida albicans overgrowth.

1 Siggi's = Better Than the Rest...

2010-02-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

I recently noticed a new brand of yogurt floating around Stop & Shop and a few local health food stores. Yesterday, after weeks of curiosity, I decided that it was time to give it a whirl and with that I tossed it into my cart. I tried it today - consensus - Siggi's yogurt could be the king of all "healthy" yogurts. When it comes to taste....ehhh, I'll just say it is an acquired taste, especially if what you are used to is Dannon's Light n' Fit. The vanilla flavor, which is what I tasted today is semi-sweet and slightly bitter with deep vanilla undertones. It tastes (and is) REAL and NATURAL, which is what we should be going for when it comes to all of our food. With that said, I had no problem finishing the 6 oz container. The texture is rich and thick and impressively, the vanilla clearly has vanilla beans whipped in. Yes, real vanilla beans!

Siggi's is an Icelandic style yogurt that is low in fat and high in protein. It is sweetened with agave nectar (low glycemic index sweetener) and is low in carbs and sugar, making it a great treat for anyone on a low carb diet. The yogurt container is adorable and it comes adorned with an endless list of reasons to buy this brand over any other brand...

-All natural

-Milk from grass fed cows

-No aspartame

-No sucralose

-No gelatin

-No artificial colorings

-No preservatives

-No high fructose corn syrup

-No rBGH (which means the milk has been produced without the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone

Okay, now we know what Siggi's does not have. Here is what it DOES HAVE...

A plethora of live cultures, and to be exact:

-B. Lactic, L. Acidophilus

-L. Delbrueckii Subsp. Bulgaricus

-L. Delbrueckii Subsp. Lactis

-S. Thermophilus

This yogurt, because of all the live active cultures is a must for anyone taking antibiotics. The active cultures keep the antibiotics from killing the good bacteria that your body needs and loves :)

Nutritional information based on a single serving size (one 6 oz. container):

Calories: 120

Fat: 0g

Sodium: 65g

Carbs: 12g

Sugars: 10g

Protein: 16g !!

Siggi's takes healthy yogurt to a whole new level. Do you have a favorite yogurt that you use for baking, mixing or just plain eating? What do you love about it?

Vegetable Mash and Pretty Hearts

2010-02-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

Hellooooo! It has been way too long since I last posted anything, so I wanted to share my dish from last night. But before I do, let me explain why I have been so absent -- my sister got engaged last weekend :) So last week was one of happy distractions and wedding talk. Now, things for me are fluttering back down to reality (not so much for my sister) and the kitchen has returned as my weeknight sanctuary.

So onto last night's "kitchen creation," a combination of the vegetables that I was craving. It was less of a combination and more of a mash...a vegetable mash if you will, of cauliflower, parsnips and sweet potatoes! It actually was quite tasty and mucho healthy!

This dish comes packed with beta carotein and vitamin C (both potent antioxidants), vitamin K, folate, fiber, B vitamins (thanks to the parsnips) and an abundance of minerals.

Here's how to make the dish, but it is better (and more fun) to experiment with the vegetables that you like the most or happen to be craving at the moment.

Ingredients:
-Half a bundle of cauliflower, cut from the main stalk.
-1 large parsnip, peeled and cut down into large pieces
-2 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cut down into large pieces
-TBSP of thyme
-Parsely, finely chopped (abt 2 tablespoons)

Place the above veggies into a large pot and let the water come to a boil. Leave veggies in the boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes - OR - until they are soft. Pull a parsnip or sweet potato out and stick with a fork to test the tenderness.

Meanwhile, while the veggies are boiling, toss the thyme and parsely in a pan w/ canola oil. Let this lightly saute for 5 -10 minutes. Once the veggies and saute is done, drain the veggies, and run cold water over the top to stop the cooking. Mash the veggies together with a masher! Add the sauteed thyme/parsely and some salt and pepper to taste. Mix together and eat it up. This makes enough to last for 3 meals.

Ohhhh! And I know it has been some time since Valentine's Day, BUT.....check out this adorable beet salad from our V-Day dinner. The restaurant, Harvest, in Cambridge, Massachusetts used a heart-sharped cookie cutter to cut the beets! Sooo creative and a great way to have fun with your food!

Beet Salad w/ Blue Cheese Terrine

Green Eggs & Bacon Toppers

2010-02-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

This week I have been playing in the Green Grapes Blog Super Breakfast Bowl Challenge and it has been a lot of fun! Monday's challenge was to incorporate avocado into a breakfast, so I came up with something called Green Eggs & Bacon Toppers. This dish is pretty tasty and it would also be good for lunch or dinner, paired with a soup or salad.

To make this little creation:

1/2 avocado (mashed)

2 hard-boiled eggs (remove the yokes)

2-3 pieces of turkey bacon

Basically, you just dice the 2 hard-boiled egg whites and the turkey bacon, mix them with the avocado, add some salt and pepper to taste and voila! Serve them atop a whole wheat English muffin. Make sure you use freshly mashed avocado for this dish. I referenced Incredibleegg.org on how to boil eggs. Yes, yes I know how to boil eggs!! But I wanted them to come out perfectly and by following these directions the eggs were just that. It hurt to throw out the yokes, but in the name of health...I did. Now, if you are vegetarian, you can still make this dish by substituting some veggie bacon strips in place of the turkey.

So that was Monday's breakfast. Yesterday's (Tuesday) breakfast challenge was to incorporate flaxseed into a dish. I will my post my creation at a later date because what I really want to talk about is ALL the snow we are getting in New York!! For the first time in my career life I was dismissed early from work. It truly was a snow day, which is something unheard of in the world of corporate Manhattan! When I got out of work, I took some lovely pictures of snow-covered trees. It was so relaxing...

I was thinking the one above would make a nice computer wallpaper...

After the picture taking, I enjoyed the early dismissal with a glass of wine and some cheese & crackers, which were topped with prunes! Nothing like a little sweetness and fiber. It was a guilty pleasure (as was my afternoon) followed by a whole wheat English muffin pizza sprinkled with garlic powder.

Maybe I should have titled this post "The Power of English Muffins" with two mentions in one post. You can put so many different foods and flavors on them and they swing more toward the healthy side since they are not huge. Do you have a favorite way to enjoy English muffins?

Ahhh, with that I must say goodnight...

A Little Yoga & Some Smoothies

2010-02-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

This Saturday I went with my friends Katy and Heather to Exhale Spa for some Yoga 1/2, which we followed with delicious smoothies at the nearby Candle Cafe. The yoga session was nothing but tranquil thanks to our instructor Jerry's calm and friendly demeanor. His class is welcoming and far from intimidating for the first time yogi, or "yoga virgin" as he put it when he learned that this was Heather's first yoga class. He taught slowly and his direction was clear, making for a great environment to learn the beginnings of yoga.

Exhale Spa has a few locations in NYC and we went to the Upper East Side spot at 980 Madison Avenue. The facilities are beautiful and the atmosphere is nothing but intimate and cozy. Individual classes cost $23.00, but packages are available for multiple sessions.

Onto the yumminess that was the smoothies at Candle Cafe.... Sweet Potato Pie (Katy), Vanilla Protein (Me) and Chocolate Protein (Heather). There were lots of other interesting concoctions that Heather and I passed on for the simple and delicious Vanilla and Chocolate, while Katy definitely earned points for being the most adventurous with the Sweet Potato Pie.

The Supreme Protein Shake consisted of soymilk, banana, vanilla/chocolate and protein powder that contained a supplement of bee pollen and Katy's Sweet Potato Pie had sweet potato, hemp milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and maple syrup. Some of the other delectable smoothies on the menu included PB & J, Berries & Cream, Mocha Latte, Amazon Mania and Apple Betty. There is also a full juice bar at Candle Cafe where you can get any veggie juice of your pleasing and a little wheatgrass if you wish. Check out the full menu here. Oh, and just a side note, the food is delicious! The menu is vegetarian; all the food is seasonal and grown free of pesticides and chemicals.

Just a couple pics :)

Yummy looking Wheat-Free Oatmeal

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The counter was piled high with

plates of "better for you" cookies.

The Candle Cafe store front at 1307 3rd Avenue.

Folic Acid Tastes Better In A Wine Glass

2010-02-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

My sister introduced me to an easy and delicious green drink this summer and oddly enough this week, in the dead of winter, we both were craving the same green smoothie. I hit the grocery store, stocked up on the supplies and we went to town with the blender. If your kitchen is well stocked with healthy staples you probably can whip this up without a trip to the g-store. This drink is as easy to make as 1-2-3...

1) Hand full of Spinach

2) 1 Banana

3) Almond Milk

It's good to go, plus anything else you want to add...

My sister, Jenny, likes to add a squirt of flaxseed oil (which you can't taste - thankfully). This morning, I made the smoothie with a little OJ (vitamin C helps you to absorb the iron in the spinach). I know a lot of people out there like to add ground chia seeds, which I have never tried. Chia seeds would totally elevate this drink to SUPERFOOD status. But the taste, I wonder, is it goooood?

And then of course, the glass you choose can totally enhance the experience of drinking a green drink -- or any beverage for that matter :)

Check out this Women's Health link for some great info on Folic Acid and how to get it.

What do you add to your smoothies? I notice a lot of bloggers have fun names for their smoothies, do you have one?

Jumbo Banana Muffins - Vegan & Delicious!

2010-02-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

I am a muffin lover that is constantly on the hunt for a good muffin, and as always, the healthier the better. I thought how perfect would it be to find a recipe that is soo delicious and soo healthy that I wouldn't mind eating it everyday for breakfast? Well friends, last night I made Veg Webs Best Banana Muffins Ever, and so far, at least in my mind, they are the best VEGAN banana muffins ever! And they only take about 10 minutes to prepare.
I made these muffins with my new jumbo muffin tin and when the batter was done, there ended up being just enough for 3 muffins. The recipe is supposed to be good for 24 mini or 10 regular size muffins. I calculated the nutritional info and for one jumbo muffin, it boiled down to this:

Fat: 8g

Saturated Fat: 3g

Calories: 372

Protein: 6g

Fiber: 6g

I tweaked the recipe only slightly by using spelt flour instead of white flour-for the added fiber and protein, and passed on the carob and walnut additions. The muffins came out moist and chunky and I imagine next time I will try them with the walnuts for even more of a chunk-factor.

* These muffins blow past attempts at healthy muffins (Mineral Packed Molasses Muffins & Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins) OUT OF THE WATER. In fact, I would not recommend either of those muffins, but these Bananas, you've got to try!

Fast & Frenzied Eating

2010-02-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Typical Lunch: Greek Inspired Salad

w/ olives, feta, peppers & maybe some chicken or beans w/ balsamic and olive oil.

Each and everyday I eat my lunch at my desk in front of a computer screen. Each and everyday I eat my lunch alone and in about 10 minutes. Each and everyday I eat my lunch and I get interrupted. Sounds nice, right? Well, not only is it a very pleasant experience, but it is NOT healthy. Let me use myself as an example of what not to do when you eat your lunch, or any meal for that matter.

I would imagine that a lot of "nine to fivers" eat in a similar manner to the one described above. Tisk! Tisk! Today Americans eat their food on the go -- in their cars, at their desks, over the sink, even on the subway platform and in trains. To eat is to multi-task and it is sad that the experience of eating has become less of a priority and more of an afterthought. Where are the days when people would gather around the table to enjoy good food, company and conversation??

When I find myself slipping into a tailspin of hurried eating (like my lunch of most recent), I step back, breath and slooooow down. Here are some tips on how to recover from the fast and frenzied eating patterns and slip back into a relaxed and healthy routine.

1) Eat when you are hungry. Easy...Need I say more?

2) Get rid of distractions. Turn off the tv, computer, cell phone and focus on the food (if you are alone) and also your company (if you are with company).

3) Eat in good company. If you are eating with people enjoy the situation and the conversation. Try your hardest to make the experience a pleasurable one.

4) Chew slowly, eat slowly. The more you chew your food, the easier it will be for your body to digest it. It will also force you to eat more slowly. The slower you eat, the more time your tummy will have to recognize when it is full, which means in all likelyhood you will eat less. One trick you may have heard is to put your fork down in between bites. Once you are done chewing and swallowing, grab your fork and have another bite. This will help you to eat slowly.

5) Savor the taste. Relish the first few bites of your food. These early bites are going to taste the best so you might as well enjoy them while you can. After several forkfuls the food will lose some taste as our taste buds adjust. Begin to notice when you are no longer eating for enjoyment and satiation, but rather just for the sake of eating -- this is when you want to put your fork down.

6) Relax. The state of your emotions when you eat a meal will affect how it is digested. If you are angry/agitated, food will move through your stomach quickly and vice versa if you are sad/depressed.

7) Eat until 80% full. It is better for your digestive tract when you leave some room for the enzymes to do their job. It allows for efficient digestion and reduces negative side effects like heart burn, indigestion and gas. Start to practice by not eating everything in front of you. Leave some food on your plate.

8) Save room....for dessert that is. If you know you will be eating dessert, save room! It will be more enjoyable and you won't be a stuffed muffin when you leave the table.

Today's dessert!

Carob Mint Creme Cup

Ohhh....Averie of Love Veggies and Yoga, if you are listening do you think it's possible to create a yummy homemade chocolate cup like this?? That would be awesome!!

What are your dining habits and at what pace do you eat your food? What eating habits do you want to change?

Restaurant Review: Angelica Kitchen

2010-01-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

Last night Jimmy and I dined at Angelica Kitchen, a vegan restaurant that has resided on the lower east side for a solid 34 years. It is warm and cozy (except for when the door opened, which was quite frequently) and it smelled heavenly. The food at Angelica Kitchen is organic and does not contain any refined sugar or preservatives, plus the owners are committed to supporting locally owned family farms and food artisans. It seems this is a spot that every "in the know" healthy (and environmentally conscious) NYC eater already knows about and if not...they should!

The menu even has a glossary, full of ambiguous terms the average diner has probably never heard about. So say you want to know what seitan is....

Seitan
Made from whole wheat flour, seitan is a concentrated wheat protein. Succulent and chewy, it takes on the flavor of other ingredients with which it is cooked.

**Angelica's Kitchen makes their seitan fresh on the premises.

Some other foods worth checking out in the glossary are amaranth, teff, sea palm, grain coffee, mirin and kanten. Click here for the online menu.

For starters, Jimmy and I shared the Walnut-Lentil Pate with brown rice crackers.

Walnut-Lentil Pate

YUM. I should probably say now that Jimmy is not vegan or vegetarian (nor am I) and he really enjoyed our meal! He ordered the Vegetable Lasagna from the daily specials menu; it was made with whole wheat pasta and tofu cheese! He was pretty pleased and I remember him saying that it was "good" and that the tofu "tastes like ricotta."

Vegetable Lasagna

I ordered the Ole Man Seitan, which was homemade seitan and roasted vegetable mix folded into a warm whole wheat tortilla; dressed with a spicy traditional mole sauce (peanuts & chocolate), and lime-jalapeno sour cream; garnished with pimento. It was a tasty and good way to do a healthy Mexican meal!

Ole Man Seitan

And for dessert - the Pear Sundae! Vanilla ice-cream (non-dairy of course) w/ roasted pears and hazelnuts. It was a perfectly delicious (and guiltless) way to end the meal.

Pear Sundae

Jimmy plans to write a review of Angelica's Kitchen on his blog Goldeneats and title it Ignorance Is Bliss. By this he means, if you are vegan this is going to be the best food you will ever eat. We both agreed that if we were vegan this food would be to die for delicious. We are not vegan, but we enjoyed our meal, the friendly service and we definitely plan to go back!

Roast Me An Apple

2010-01-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have really been spending more time in the kitchen since I ended the cleanse. It is time well spent though!!! I need to be experimenting and whipping stuff up -- not only is it fun, but cooking, and especially baking relaxes me. And relaxation is much needed after a not so enjoyable day at work.

So last night after I finished the leftover Steamed Veggies & Tahini Sauce , I sought out something sweet. I still haven't hit the grocery store, so again, I worked with what I had to get some dessert into my stomach. Source of inspiration: A lonely apple!

Roasting is my favorite ways to prepare veggies and apparently, now fruit! This apple, which I roasted with some canola oil, agave nectar, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar really hit the spot!! It is a great treat for anyone, especially someone on a dairy and gluten-free diet. Healthy and delicious... it's the way I like to roll!

Ingredients:

1 TBSP Canola Oil

1 1/2" TBSP Agave Nectar

Cinnamon (amount your heart desires)

A small dash of vanilla (it is just one apple!)

Brown Sugar (a sprinkling if you will)

Roast at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Check and stir. Roast for 5 more minutes!

Transfer to a bowl and sprinkle with more brown sugar baby!!

Oh, and I believe I used a Gala apple, but use whatever you have in the kitchen. It will work :)

Roasted & Ready

What are some of your quick go-to dishes when there is little left in the kitch?

36 Hours Later, A Delicious Dish Is Born

2010-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

Delicious Dish: Steamed Veggies w/ Sweet Tahini Sauce

Thirty-six hours -- the amount of time I lasted on The Master Cleanse. It was supposed to be 240 hours or 10 days, but a mere day-and-a-half after I started, I stopped. I am a little disappointed but very happy to be eating solid food again. As much as I would like to beat myself up over not lasting very long, we all know that self-rejection is not the way to go. I am very proud of myself for committing to this "exercise" and trying it out. And because I took it seriously and prepared myself properly, I ended up achieving some of my other health goals.

1) I no longer crave caffiene or need coffee in the morning.

2) I went solid vegitarian for a week and I honestly felt "clean" on the inside. Now, I plan to eat more vegetarian down the road.

3) I learned a lot about the Master Cleanse and I can forsee recommending it to clients one day -- if it is something they can truly benefit from.

So after 2 days and lack of a decent meal, I had an overwhelming desire to cook.   But with a limited amount of food in the kitchen and without a solid idea in my mind, I was left to choose from what could be found. My source of inspiration: Tahini! A little internet research (like less than 3 minutes) on what could possibly work with tahini and not congeal and I was on my way. The result was rather tasty and sister approved! I am calling it Steamed Veggies w/ Sweet Tahini Sauce. It really is the easiest thing in the world, perhaps the trickiest part might be having the ingredients in your house.

Steam your favorite veggies. I steamed broccoli, carrots and spinach. Make sure you have at least one color contrast with your veggies and there must be some greens amongst them.

Cook up a favorite whole grain. I suggest brown rice with this dish.

Make the Sweet Tahini Sauce.

-1/2 C Tahini
- 2 TBSP Tamari Sauce
- 2 TBSP Olive Oil (Extra-Virgin, always)
-2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
-1/4-1/2 C leftover water used from the steamed veggies- pour enough to get the consistency you like
**(contains extra flavor & vitamins/minerals from veggies)
- 2 TSP Agave Nectar (more if you like it a little sweeter)
- Salt to taste (sea salt, if you have it)

My advice is to stir each ingredient in as you go along.  This way you can taste it and adjust as you like.

Put your veggies on a bed of the brown rice and drizzle with the desired amount of Sweet Tahini Sauce. Enjoy :)

Oh and by the way, Jimmy is still on the cleanse. Yes, he lasted longer than me. He is awesome, and he is trying to make it until Friday!!

*Contemplating switching to a smaller font...thoughts/concerns/comments? :)

An Everyday Gourmet Breakfast

2010-01-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

I made the final pit stop this morning at A Matter of Life to pick up the remaining essentials for our cleanse. I figured, while here I should pick up a healthy breakfast muffin of some sort. To my delight I discovered a new muffin made by Everyday Gourmet. These muffins are vegan, dairy free, made with spelt flour and have no hydrogenated oil. BINGO. I chose my flavor, Cranberry Orange, and took off to pay.
When you make a new health store find, you are taking a risk that it could taste gross, so I proceeded with caution and decided to taste the muffin in the cab ride over to the west side. If it wasn't any good, I would have a bagel or find something else. Well, not only was this muffin edible, it was phenomenal and definitely better than any non-vegan cranberry orange muffin I have ever tasted! To cut to the chase of this story....I looked at the back ingredient label upon finishing the muffin as any health-conscious eater might do. And what do you know, there was also some nutrition info....

Everyday Gourmet Cranberry Orange Muffin

Calories: 529

Fat: 33.6g

Sodium: 302mg

Carbs: 65g

Fiber: 4g

Sugars: 28g

I was horrified! This is like eating a McDonald's Double Cheeseburger! Granted the fats are non-hydrogenated, but still, this is way more fat than one person should be consuming for breakfast on a medium sized muffin. The calories and sodium are up there too for a muffin marketed as a "healthy." Geeesh! So...just because something is in a health food store, doesn't always mean it is good for your waistline. I will still probably try out another flavor down the road....but definitely on a day that involves a bit more physical activity!

Reduce Cravings w/ A Sweet & Savory Roasted Delight

2010-01-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

Did you know that eating sweet vegetables can ward off cravings for sugary sweets? It's true! These foods give you a sweet fix without spiking your blood sugar level. The sugar contained in veggies/fruits is au naturale. It is not processed or refined, and it doesn't contain any form of high fructose corn syrup. Plus, vegetables/fruits have lots of fiber, which slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. When sugar is slowly absorbed by the body, the blood sugar levels stay nice and even preventing the high spikes and lows dips.

Here is a tasty recipe for a sweet and savory dish that is sure to prevent any post dinner cravings for dessert. It is great on its own or as a side kick to protein.

Roasted Pears & Sweet Potatoes w/ Agave & Cinnamon

Ingredients (4 servings)

2 Bosc Pears
2 Medium size Yams or Sweet Potatoes
1-2 Shallots
3 TBSP Olive Oil (Extra-Virgin of course)
2 TBSP Agave Nectar
1/4 TSP Vanilla
Cinnamon
Salt & Pepper to taste

Heat oven to 375 degrees

Slice the pears, sweet potatoes & shallots. Toss with olive oil, agave, vanilla, the desired amount of cinnamon, and salt & pepper in a bowl.

Spread out on a pan w/ built up sides. Put in the oven for 35 minutes, checking and tossing every 12 minutes. Finito!

I promise you, you will not be craving dessert after a meal with this dish. It is sweet and salty and packed with fiber.

** Agave Nectar is a natural sweetener that rates very low on the glycemic index. It will not cause your blood sugar to spike since it is absorbed slowly into your bloodstream.

The Lemonade Taste Test

2010-01-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

It's a lovely Monday night in Manhattan and I thought I would do some cooking and while at it test out the lemonade beverage I've committed to drinking for ten days straight. If you happenend to read the Master Cleanse Me post from a few weeks ago, well, this is the drink that will be "master cleansing me."

I whipped out the ingredients and went to work, well aware of the time alloted to me before The Bachelor starts....

2 TBSP Fresh Sqeezed Lemon Juice

2 TBSP Grade B Maple Syrup

8 oz good, filtered water

1/10 TSP Cayenne Pepper

A spoon to mix! Voila...And I have to admit that I actually enjoyed the taste. Sweet and spicy! I can understand why Pure Food and Wine has a Master Cleanse Martini now!

Lemonade and Maple Syrup

Kitchen after making just one glass of lemonade

I feel a little better now knowing that the Lemonade Drink actually tastes pleasant. But I am having serious fears about this cleanse. The whole part about going 10 days without eating solid food has really got me. I learned that it is actually better not to tell people that I am planning to do the Master Cleanse. They just look at me like I am crazy and the conversation ends with me doubting my abilities to endure the full ten days.

Despite my doubts, I have managed to do the necessary prep work for the cleanse. I have weened off my morning coffee, eliminated my post-lunch chocolate, and plan on eating vegetarian for this week. I wish I could say the same for Jimmy though -- right now as I type, he is out eating some of the best fried chicken the city has to offer at The Red Head. I keep telling him that he is going to have it rough with this cleanse, but he thinks he'll last longer than me!

Alright, I am off to enjoy my dinner while I can...

Just A Little Decaf...

2010-01-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

I spent my 10 block walk to the office wondering "should I, or should I not, should I, or should I not?" Well, I did. I got myself just a little (tall) cup of decaf from Starbucks. I have been off the juice for 3 days now and I am pretty proud of myself for not needing to take any pain medication for a withdrawel headache. All of last week I enjoyed a half cafe (half caffiene, half decaf) and this is definitely the way to ease off the good ole caffiene. There is also teeccino (herbal coffee), which can help with reducing caffiene intake through coffee, but it really is an acquired taste. Anyway, so today I failed in that I had to have a cup of coffee, but at least it is decaf! And it tastes sooo good by the way.
I am eliminating coffee from my daily routine all in the name of the Master Cleanse that is coming up quickly (9 days left to the start). I have also decided that today I will not have my post lunch chocolate fix -- Adora chocolate calcium and chocolate covered goji berries...ahhh sadness :( But I need to get rid of the good stuff (addictive) so that I crave less of it when I am on the cleanse.
Just a little status update on the cleanse...I have not made a lot of progress on gathering supplies. I still need to buy the pH strips, but I may end up ordering them online. Does anyone know what kind of store could possibly sell these? Home Depot? I did discover that I have the juicer attachment that hooks up to our Kitchen Aid. But Jimmy needs to get a juicer of some sort for his cleansing. Ahh me...okay, so glad it is Friday. Off to enjoy my oatmeal and do some work :)

Oatmeal w/Bananas, Cranberries,Walnuts, Cinnamon & Maple Syrup

Ohh, and how could I forget? Tonight Jimmy and I are going to a cooking class at Rustico Cooking Studio! It is an Italian Home Cooking class, check out the menu!

-- Butternut Squash Ravioli w/ Sage-Scented Butter

-- Filet Mignon w/ Leek & Chianti Glaze

-- Cauliflower Gratin w/ Smoked Mozzarella & Pancetta

-- Hazelnut-Chocolate Cakes w/ Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce

Sounds healthy right? It will be lots of fun, we will take pics :)

Tasty Calcium

2010-01-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

Heyyy friends! Sorry it has been so long since I have been able to blog. Work has been quite hectic, and unfortunately the office beckons me away from my dream to be a full-time health blogger ;) Oh well, what can you do? Anyway, I had long forgotten about one of my favorite health store finds which recently reappeared on a shopping excursion to A Matter of Health on the Upper East Side. Adora calcium supplements, or rather, "calcium the gourmet way" as the packaging proclaims, are chocolate disks that are delicious!! They actual remind me of a Russell Stover chocolate bunny! Adora chocolates come in either milk or dark chocolate and they contain 500 mg of calcium per disk, plus some Vitamin D and K to boot (which help in the absorption of the calcium). The disks have 2 grams of fat and 30 calories per serving...Not bad.

Eat up to 3 a day

When I praise Adora chocolates, I do not mean to suggest that you shouldn't worry about getting your calcium elsewhere, because you totally should be getting your calcium from other natural sources, say from your greens, like broccoli and kale. I think Adora supplements are a perfect alternative for the person who stuggles to get her/his calcium needs met and needs a little boost thoughout the day. Adora is also good for the chocolate-lover looking to control their intake. One disk is all you need to meet your post-meal sweet tooth. And just one because you know you don't want to go overboard on the calcium! Too much could mean kidney stones and constipation ...among many more serious conditions.

MASTER CLEANSE ME

2010-01-07T11:18:00.000-08:00

On the final day of 2009, I picked up a copy of The Complete Master Cleanse by Tom Woloshyn, vowing to myself that 2010 would be the year of my first full body cleanse. In the past I have only dabbled in thoughts of what it would be like to detox, but now with the new year-new decade upon us it is time to take the bull by the horns! I am almost done with the book, but it was only after a few pages that I swiftly postponed my start date.

A cleanse is not something that should be done on a whim and I learned that there is A LOT of physical and mental planning that goes into the process. Besides making sure that you buy top notch, organic ingredients, it is recommended that you wean yourself off caffeine, chocolate, medications, and meat a week before you start. In addition, you must mentally prepare for the “withdrawal-like” symptoms that you will probably endure during the ten days of cleansing. The more toxic your body is before you start, the more likely you will have a rough experience. And by rough, I mean there is a strong chance you might just quit. Some possible cleansing symptoms are headaches, hunger, nausea, acne, aches, body odor, bad breath, and cold sores. Sounds like fun, right?

You are probably wondering why on earth anyone would ever want to subject themselves to such a painful process. Well, despite the outwardly awful side effects there is actually a lot of lure surrounding the benefits of the good ole Master Cleanse. The cleanse promises to “increase energy, balance your body’s pH, reduce swelling, alleviate allergies, flush the colon, improve skin and hair, rid the body of parasites" and of course help you lose weight. In the book there are tons of testimonials that go as far as people ridding their bodies of life-threatening diseases.

You might also be wondering if subsisting on a lemonade beverage for ten days is safe. According to the book and the endless testimonials in it, it is safe. The lemonade drink consists of fresh squeezed lemon juice, grade-B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and good water. The maple syrup will be supplying the bulk of vitamins and minerals, as well as the energy you need to make it through the day. The lemon juice and cayenne (which also contain vitamins) will be acting to purify and detoxify your body and organs. The two together stimulate a natural cleansing process, ridding the body of toxins and excess mucus. It’s gross, but it’s true.

It is recommended that you stay on the program no less than 10 days to ensure a proper cleaning of your body. If you were to end halfway through the process it would be incomplete and all benefits would likely be negated. Some people stay on the plan even longer. I read about some people remaining on the diet for more than 30 days! When the full 10 days are over, there is a 3-day re-introductory phase to food, which involves drinking orange juice and vegetable broth. Also sounds like fun, but I bet these foods taste absolutely heavenly after 10 days of the cayenne pepper lemonade.

In the time that I have been reading this book, I have managed to recruit a partner in crime. Jimmy will be joining me on the cleanse, which we plan to start on January 25th. He is training for the Boston Marathon, and he hopes that the cleanse will jump start his body into full on marathon mode. There is a lot of prep work that we need to do, for instance, we do not have a juicer! I was thinking a manual lemonade juicing utensil might do the trick, but I need to do more research. I also need to make sure the pH of my Brita-filtered water is appropriate, and stock up on organic lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and herbal laxatives. Yup, the diet calls for herbal laxatives. It will be one interesting experience! I promise to keep you posted on our progress starting January 25th!

The Holy Grail of Eating Guides

2010-01-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

The dieting season has arrived and whether you are ready or not, prepare to be bombarded with infomercials, print ads, and book displays pushing new food fads and meal plans in your face. Afterall, there is no better time than the beginning of the year to start a fresh.  A new year, a new you, right? Well, it certainly is the best time of year for the diet industry and author's alike to reap the benefits of the "new year, new you" philosophy.

I was in BORDER'S this morning and I was absolutely horrified by the sea of brightly colored books flashing the same message in various fonts and titles.  I instantly felt sad for the average American looking for a new year's diet plan. Are we just viewed as a bunch of suckers in need of a new diet book to set us straight on the road to health?  It is true that as Americans we have lost our way with food, and now we must be told what to eat in order to lose weight and be healthy.  And it is sad to say that just looking at the busy BORDER'S book display only contributes to the confusion around food and eating.

So luckily, after perusing the display after several minutes, my eyes fell upon a small and simple book, a copy of Michael Pollan's latest writing Food Rules: An Eater's Manual. Michael Pollan's name was enough for me to reach for the final copy. I knew before reading the back of the book or flipping through the pages that I would buy it. Let's get serious...Michael Pollan books are like the holy grail of eating. After reading In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma, I know what to expect -- books that are not flashy, but simple in design and writing that is intelligent, direct and witty.

Food Rules highlights 64 rules around eating and along the way brings us back to the basics, simplifying what has become a complex world of food. Pollan doesn't tell you what to eat or how to eat, but he makes suggestions that you will want to follow rather than feel forced to follow. For instance, rule #36 says, "Don't eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk," and #51 says, "Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it."

I genuinely believe that Food Rules will help alleviate any anxiety surrounding a new year's eating resolution. It will remind you of what you should already know about food.  So as we enter 2010, if it is just a little guidance that you are looking for this book will set you straight, feeding you full of priceless advice that will last a lifetime.

HELLO CHESTNUTS & Homemade Chicken Broth

2009-12-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Every winter it seems my family finds a new soup recipe to enjoy for the season. And this past week my sister found an amazing one in Chesnut Soup, right out of the Fine Cooking magazine. OH MY GOD, was this delicious and worth the hours or soaking, scoring, roasting, peeling and crushing the chestnuts! It was like we were living in the olden days (which is actually the way it should be when it comes to food)! We all believe that the soup was so delicious because my mom made a homemade chicken broth for the soup base, a recipe straight from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook. We in the Huwer household are not strangers to homemade broth, but Ina Garten's recipe tops them all. We took her recipe, "organified" it, and it was the most amazing, richest broth that we all have ever tasted.

In my family, we always try to use homemade organic chicken broth to avoid the MSG, preservatives and the salt that you get with canned broth. It is hard to find a brand that actually makes MSG-free broth besides Swanson, but we still love to make our own because the homemade flavor is BA-zillion times better.

Check out the recipe for chicken broth that we made here. Note, the recipe calls for 3, 5-pound chickens. We used one 5-pound chicken and left all of the other ingredients as is.

*Super important for all and everyone out there -- Let the stock chill and sit overnight, so that you can remove the excess fat that accumulates on top. You do NOT want to eat all of that blubber!!

I suggest you also check out the recipe for Chestnut Soup. YUM! It is such a hearty and sophisticated soup for a cold winter day. Actually it will be perfect for the Nor'easter that is heading our way for New Year's!!

Chestnut Soup

And thanks to Chestnuts On Line I discovered that chestnuts have a high water content which makes them unlike any other nut. They are considered very "unnutty" because they are low in calories and fat. Chestnuts On Line dubs them the nut for the "nutrition-conscious person." They are also low in cholesterol, high in Vitamin C and the mineral Magenese. Can I say YES?!

Chestnuts!

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Health Store Heaven & Some Favorite Finds

2009-12-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

Yummmm...a dinner in the life of a bachelorette girl. I am enjoying a Trader Joe's Vegetable Burrito dinner here. I don't know what I would do without healthy pre-made meals. Don't get me wrong, I love to cook, but as I recently mentioned in my Oatmeal post, convenience and budget often come into play. Anywho, speaking of health food, let me segway into my love of health food stores. Do you mind listening to yet another spiel? (As I wipe some bean curd off of my keyboard.)

I could spend hours wandering the aisles of a health food store. When I spot a new store, my eyes light up like a child stumbling upon a carnival and I long to be inside walking amongst other health foodies and foodettes. It is almost like I am on a quest to discover that ultimately healthy food that still tastes amazing. One day I wish I could say that I have visited every health food store in NYC, much like that crazy man who has made it his life goal to visit every Starbucks in the world (true story). Alas, I have not even been to Westerly Market, the king of NYC health food stores. I have only experienced it vicariously through my sister's stories. I will get there though... one day. Laura's Wholesome Junk Food (an amazing treat my sister, Jenny, discovered in Westerly's aisles), has not turned up in any of the health stores I have encountered. Sadness!

Let me diverge...

Here are some of my favorite health store finds!

1) GNU Bars - fiber packed deliciousness!
2) Spirulina Balls
3) MarryMe Tofutti Vanilla Ice Cream Bars (truth be told you can buy these in Stop & Shop)
4) Babbo's Garlic Hummus -- couldn't find a link, but I buy it in Grand Central Market
5) Liz Lovely Vegan Cookies
6) Laura's Wholesome Junk Food
7) Vegan Turkey Salad -- and I am not vegan
8) Kollar Cookies
9) Smart Treats
10) Good Earth Green Tea
11) Gnosis Raw Chocolate
12) Boston Cookies
13) Jala Bars

This is a running list by the way... What are your favorite health store finds!?

My lunch today, fyi, was the yummy vegan turkey salad :)

Delish!

Can You Resist the Holiday Binge?

2009-12-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

Today's Holiday Breakfast at the Office

(I resisted, stuck to my Nature's Path Optimum organic cereal)

Happy Friday Blogsters. I am enjoying my salad-of-a-lunch on this cold and blistery afternoon. You would think I would go for some soup, but after a week-long flirtation with the holiday goodies my body is craving some serious greens. I write this and wonder how are all of you faring this season? Are you being good or are you being bad?

Some ravaged See's Chocolates up above (yes, I did have some).

December is the danger month and if you can make it through this time of year you can make it anytime of the year! Unfortunately, it is normal to gain some extra poundage around the holidays. If you can keep it under 5 lbs (or no lbs), it will be a lot easier to shake off come January.

Some Candied Pecans sitting around in our office

(AMAZING)

So here are five quick (no brainer) tips to help you avoid the holiday binge (because sometimes it's hard for me to end a post without a tip or two)!

1) Make sure you eat a balanced breakfast (as well as other meals) to avoid excess hunger throughout the day.

2) Give into your sweet tooth. One or two goodies will not kill you. If you do not satisfy intense cravings, they can easily escalate and cause big time repercussions later i.e. when your boss brings in her annual batch of mint chocolate brownies.

3) Hit the gym a little more frequently than you normally would. I know! You are soo busy this time of year. I am just saying...this will give you a little leeway.

4) Drink lots of water.

5) Hold your liquor. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. If you go overboard it is going to be stored as fat.

Share your binge-control secrets here! Also, what's the one holiday goodie that gets you? For me it is my mom's black and white cookies that come filled with raspberry jam!

Someone just dropped this off at my desk!!

A halved avocado!

Who do these people think I am?

Last Week's Oatmeal

2009-12-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

I have a habit of finding a food and eating it over and over again, either until I deplete all the needed ingredients or until I tire of the taste. I know, I know, variety (especially in one's diet) is the spice of life. But sometimes budget and convenience come into play. Last week's daily breakfast was a rather tasty rendition on the somewhat often bland oatmeal. Growing up, I used to be satisfied with warm oatmeal topped with a splash of whole milk, brown sugar and cinnamon. It was delicious, but a little sugary and I definitely didn't need the cow's milk. So today, my grown-up version (or last week's version) of this oatmeal is a little healthier and a little more interesting...I think. I am quickly learning, as I make more bloggee friends, that you can do almost anything with oatmeal! And I look forward to experimenting more down the road.

1) Cook your oats, 5 minutes in the pot (I use Quaker Oats)

2) Transfer to bowl, splash w/ some almond milk

3) Sprinkle desired amount of cinnamon, tiny dash of vanilla (abt a teaspoon or less), and pour on some agave nectar (abt a tablespoon or a bit more)

**(Agave nectar has a low glycemic index so it won't spike your blood sugar and cinnamon helps to slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream).

4) Sprinkle with dried fruit medley of your choice! I love Trader's Joe's Mixed Berries w/ strawberries, blueberries and cherries. Also, get a little omega-3 by tossing in some chopped walnuts.

Badda-Bing-Badda-Boom!

What is your favorite way to prepare oatmeal?

Holiday Dinner: Return Trip to Blue Hill at Stone Barns 12/12/09

2009-12-15T07:54:00.000-08:00

Dan Barber signed our menu and circled

the ingredients that made up our meal :)

Okay folks, Jimmy and I had our third dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns this past Saturday and it was even more amazing than our last visit in September. If you caught my briefing on Blue Hill last week, I explained that this restaurant aims to serve farm-to-plate local, seasonal and organic food. However, I did not mention that the chef, Dan Barber, was named the best chef in the country for 2009 by the James Beard Foundation. We caught a peek of him in the back of the restaurant with his chef outfit on, which made us excited! Even more exciting, upon finishing our meal, our waiter brought us into the kitchen for a tour! Dan Barber signed our menu and circled the foods that we ate throughout the evening.

The menu at Stone Barns is unlike any menu I have ever encountered. Instead of listing dishes by name, there is a long and varied assortment of fresh ingredients printed on a page. After perusing it the waiter asks if there is anything on the list that you prefer not eat. He also makes sure to ask if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies. Jimmy and I do not, and we decided to pass only on the venison and organ meats. Everything else on the menu we fervently agreed to taste. After the waiter walks away the food that follows is a complete surprise! I was there with a pen and notebook (as well as camera) to document it all :)

Jimmy and I did not shy away from choosing the 8 course Farmer's Feast meal. It lasted a little over three hours and, yes, we were stuffed. But stuffed in the best possible way!

What we ate.....

Appetizers

Veggies from the Field

Salsify w/ Pancetta & Buckwheat

Smoked Kale, Adirondack Sage & Beet Chips

Beet Burger

Coppa on Adirondack Blue Potato Frittata

Tuscan Salami & Bologa (from Berkshire pigs on the farm)

Hudson Valley Veal Marrow w/ American Caviar

Main Course

Grilled Wahoo w/ Parsnips & Brussel Sprouts (from the field)

Roasted Carrot (from the field) w/ Spiced Bread Crumbs & Carrot Puree

Braised Hake w/ Crispy Squid & Pig's Ear

This Morning's Farm Egg w/ Dehydrated Vegetables & Lettuce Broth

Squab w/ Rutabaga, Cranberries & Leafy Greens

Berkshire Pork w/ Stuffed Squash (and something) & Spinach (from the field)

Dessert

Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait

Chocolate & Graham Souffle w/ Prunes (and something else)

After Dinner Bites

Vinegar Chocolate

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

Marshmellow

Pictures

Fresh Vegetables from the Field

Braised Hake w/ Crispy Squid & Pig's Ear

Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait

I apologize for such dimly lit photos. We did not want to be that crazy couple with the camera flashing every 10 seconds. I would have attached more but it is hard to see them with the lighting. Jimmy will be writing a review of our meal today at his blog Golden Eats. He is much more elaborate and his review is sure to have just a wee bit more detail, plus there will be more pics :)

I highly recommend that anyone within driving distance of Blue Hill at Stone Barns make a trip out to Pocantico Hills and enjoy the gardens, the animals and the food!! It is a once-in-a-life-time, food-altering experience.

The Skinny on Health & Happiness

2009-12-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

Whoever said that you have to be skinny to be healthy was telling a big fat farce. Everyone is designed differently and we are supposed to come in various shapes and sizes. What would life be like if we only had skinny-minis walking around? Pretty damn boring if you ask me! If we could start to focus a little more on our health rather than our weight (which would ultimately lead to a gradual loss of extra lbs) we would be more than a wee bit better off.

The road to optimal health begins with accepting yourself. Once there, the next step would involve setting achievable goals as they relate to your physical and emotional well being. Physical and emotional health work hand-in-hand and if one is out of whack it can mess things up, big time, which can lead to over-eating, depression and general unhappiness.

Here are ten quick tips in no particular order that will get the ball rolling towards a more balanced, happy and healthy you!

1) Surround yourself with good people; friends and family you love and trust.

2) Drink more water. It cleanses your body, clears your mind, and helps to ward off cravings.

3) Get physical. If hitting the gym is uninspiring, find creative ways to be active i.e. trapeze school, dance lessons, kayaking, wall-climbing etc.

4) Eat less meat. May I suggest a flexitarian diet? By this I mean incorporating more plant-based foods and less animal protein. You will likely find you have more energy and feel less "weighed down."

5) Love your job! If not, take steps to find a new one.

6) Go organic with dairy products. Non-organic milk is loaded with hormones, primarily estrogen, which certainly does not do a body good.

7) Find "you" time. It is important to relax/decompress at least once a day. It may be as simple as reading, cooking or playing with your pet.
Pet Therapy (Pardon the outfit!) -->

8) Eliminate chemicals/preservatives and highly processed foods from your diet i.e. high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and artificial sweeteners. Studies show HFCS interrupts the hormone signals that tell us to stop eating even when we are full!

9) Soak up some sun and get your vitamin D. The U.S population is deficient in vitamin D and just 15 minutes in the sun can give you 15,000 IUS!

10) Allow yourself to be bad. Indulge in a decadent dessert or treat yourself to an expensive gift. It is in moments like this that we appreciate our "good" behavior.

Holiday Dining!

2009-12-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Hi Bloggee friends! I hope you're having a great Wednesday. Weird weather up in NYC! I awoke to the smattering of sleet hitting my window and wind wrapping around the building. Now it is quite mild and pleasant for a near mid December evening. Anywho, I wanted to write a quick post on holiday dining plans.
Jimmy and I are heading to one of our favorite restaurants this Saturday, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York for our holiday dinner. The food here is locally grown, seasonal and organic, not to mention it is absolutely amazing! Blue Hill Stone Barns is the epitomy of eating well; the food is 100% sustainable, respecting both the land and in turn our bodies. We loved it so much when we visited last spring that we vowed to go back every season in order to experience the different food and flavors. This visit will be our third and our first winter meal. I am so excited to share the food and photos with you next week. I took pictures from our visit in early June and I still look at them in amazement. Here are a few that I hope you enjoy!
What are your plans for holiday dining? Staying in and cooking, going out? Hitting up a favorite restaurant?

Vegetable Fields

The largest turkey I have ever seen!

Sheep Field

A rogue lamb

A tiny, but beautiful salad

Fresh Farm Egg

Turkey

There are flowers on the plate!

Pretty

Okay! This was just a whistle wetter of more pictures to come after our meal on Saturday :)

Healthy Homemade Hummus!

2009-12-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

Hummus is just about my favorite snack food of all time. I have my favorite brands and my favorite flaves, but for the longest time I have been wanting to make my own at home that actually satisfies me the way some store bought brands do (minus the preservatives). This weekend I did just that, only I ended up exceeding my expectations. This hummus is the bomb and I plan on making it again this week since it is already gone!

Ingredients:

-1 can garbanzo beans (15oz) -- Organic if possible
-1/4 C tahini
-Juice of 1 lemon
-1 clove of garlic
-3-4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
-1/2 C water
-Fresh parsley (finely chopped) about 1-2 Tablespoons
-Cumin -- shake to a flavor of your liking - I estimate I shook 10-12 times (added it as I went along to taste)
-Ground Red Pepper, 2-3 shakes
-Crushed Red Chili Peppers, 4-5 shakes
-Paprika, 1-2 shakes on finished hummus for added flavor and a pretty finish
-Salt & Pepper to taste

The Goods

Wash and drain the beans

** Note, because I have a mini food processor I had to mix everything in a separate bowl before adding the ingredients to be processed. If you have a normal size processor you can just throw everything into it without blending, mixing or chopping. Lucky you!

So here is what I did....

I put the beans in a large bowl, added the tahini, the clove of garlic (I had to chop it), the lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, cumin, crushed chili peppers, salt and pepper.

Mixed it all up. First batch is in the processor!

-Looks kinda gross in this phase-

In between mixing, I added 1/4 C water, chili peppers

and a dash more olive oil. I followed the same suit w/

the the 2nd batch in my little mini processor.

Mixed!

This is the amount of parsley I used.

Shredded it!

Added it to hummus and mixed it up.

Finished product- sprinkled paprika,

a drizzle of olive oil & parsley garnish

DONE!

**After I chopped the garlic, I used the discarded lemon shell to "clean" the cutting board. The acid in the lemon removes that awful garlic odor from the board. Lemon also helps get rid of food stains left behind.

There you have it! This homemade hummus is loaded with healthy fats, fiber, protein, folate (folic acid) and minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hummus is a delicious and healthy way to snack between meals. For a controlled portion, scoop 2 spoonfuls into a bowl and enjoy with whatever food your heart desires!

Lulu's Bounce Control Bra: It's Real and It's Spectacular

2009-12-05T19:47:00.000-08:00

I love Lululemon. I could spend my entire monthly paycheck just on their moisture wicking workout pants, colorful headbands, and figure flattering fitness tops. However, this is not a tale about Lulu's pants, tops or headbands or how much money I spend in the store. This little spiel it is about Lulu's miraculous sports bras. In my opinion, these sports bras are the best in the business and they are what keep me going back for more.

The quality of the Lululemon bras is unmatched when you consider all they have to offer women today, whether she is an athlete or a lounger, whether she is young or old. The design, variety, breathability and support are spectacular! Oooooh the support! Never before in a bra have I experienced such a happy medium between comfort and restrain.

Lululemon sports bras are designed for your desired activity level. If you are a yogi, there is a bra for you. If you are a runner and a bouncer... well, there is a bra for you as too. I fall into the latter category. I run and I bounce - and by bounce I mean any kind of physical activity that requires some up and down movement i.e. aerobics, jump rope or say, the elliptical machine, which can be very bouncy!

If you are a runner/bouncer (or a woman looking for a flattering bustline at the gym) I highly suggest the padded sports bras. Now, I don't know if these have a particular name, but I do know that they are the bras that come with the molded, nude-toned, moisture absorbing, removable pads.

These pads are amazing. I love them and I believe that this is what makes the sports bras so comfortable, not to mention flattering. My only caution would be to resituate the pads after they have been through the washing machine. Washing the bra causes the pads to shift and bend, which if not corrected, the bra when worn can give the illusion of a lumpy chestal region. It is not pretty and it can be quite embarrassing, especially if multiple men staring at your chest is something that makes you uncomfortable. Trust me...I have been there, done that.

I feel now that I am done venting about Lululemon's wonderful sports bras. If you have not experienced the joy that comes with owning a Lulu bra then I highly suggest you indulge in one. They are not cheap that's for sure, but the days that I pull one out of my drawer always (for some reason) brings a little smile to my face!

Obscene Cravings: Pregnancy and Food Fears

2009-12-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

My beautiful friend Julie at 37 1/2 weeks!

I am not pregnant, nor do I plan on becoming pregnant in the near future. I mean, I would like to have a baby, but that is neither here nor there as I am missing a few of the key components at this point in my life. As much as I hate to admit it, the idea of becoming pregnant is just a wee bit scary to me. There is the weight gain, the acne, the aches, the mood swings, the nose-shape change (yes, I have actually heard of this) and the CRAVINGS. While these side effects are part of the pregnancy ride, I feel like some of them can be controlled. I most certainly hope that this is the case because one day I hope I can look just as good as my friend Jules! And JoJo! And Liz!

JoJo

Liz

Let us focus on cravings for this post, shall we? Cravings are one of the most feared pregnancy symptoms, but I also believe they are the easiest to control. Call me crazy and I have not been there to know for sure, but I believe that by properly nourishing your body (and your baby) you can quell massive munchies. I have heard of some obscene cravings as I am sure many of you have, which only heightens the fear surrounding food and pregnancy. One of my goals upon graduating from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition is to work with pregnant women to help alleviate such food fears along with cravings and excess weight gain. I believe that through counsel and suggested diet and exercise, the 9 month run can be healthier for the mommy and the baby, as well as less stressful on the mind and body.

As I enter the last two months before my classes at IIN start, I find myself wondering more and more about the cravings and the changes that happen to women's bodies both inside and out. I would like to reach out to all the ladies out there that would like to share their experiences in a comment on my blog. My hope is that your comments can help me as well as others begin to understand more on the subject of pregnancy cravings :)

Here are some questions in no particular order:

What are some of the most common cravings?
Weirdest cravings?
What time of day do these cravings take place?
What are your pre-pregnancy fears?
Post-pregnancy fears?
What was the biggest struggle surrounding your pregnancy?
Do you think you would have appreciated having a health counselor during your pregnancy?
What do you wish you had known going into your pregnancy?

** Julie has since given birth to a beautiful baby boy named Carter. JoJo an adorable angel named Juliet, and Liz a handsome little guy named Harrison!

A Healthier Salt

2009-12-01T18:33:00.000-08:00

If you are a salt user I beg you to switch to a Sea Salt or Himalayan Crystal Salt . Why you may ask? Well, we all know that too much salt is not a good thing. True, our bodies need salt to maintain a functional sodium potassium pump, but really our bodies need less than half a teaspoon of salt a day! Most people consume WAY more than that just by eating pre-packaged foods or sprinkling lunch and dinner with a little flavor flavor.
Himalayan crystal salt and sea salt are healthier versions of table or kosher salt because they contain natural minerals from the sea. They also are lacking the chemicals and additives like potassium iodide found in typical table salt. These natural sea salts also have a better flavor and are "prized by good chefs" (Jared Koch, Clean Plates).
So if you use salt, it is wise to use it in moderation and equally as wise to use a natural salt that holds nutritional benefits. You can find sea salt/himalayan crystal salt at your local health food store or specialty grocery store. I actually found my French sea salt at Home Goods!! I love the container it came in too...Oh, and I believe it was $3.99 :)

The bad stuff.

Thanksgiving Detox

2009-11-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

Oh sadness, the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday has come to a close and now we are left with only memories and muffin tops. The snug fitting jeans and the extra rolls make for an uncomfortable Monday as we get back to our regular weekly routine. It is time for a little detox to cleanse our systems and get ready for another holiday hit coming down the road. Together we can de-puff our bodies, clear our food-fogged minds and reclaim the fit of our denim! Here are ten easy-to-follow tips that make detoxing easy to incorporate into your diet, starting right now!

1) Focus on eating raw, fresh foods. By this I mean mostly fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies have a high water content and are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Most importantly, fruits and veggies do not have chemicals, preservatives (go organic!!) or fat-- all substances our bodies need a break from after such heavy eating.

2) Drink water! Aim to drink room temperature water as it is easier for our bodies to assimilate. Cold ice water can shock the system. Add a slice of lemon to your glass, which has an alkalizing effect in the body.  As for the amount of H2O you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half and that number in ounces is the amount you should be consuming.

3) Hit the gym. Not only will this help burn some of the extra calories consumed this holiday, but you will sweat out nasty toxins and speed up digestion for a faster removal of, um, the waste that is sitting inside our bodies. Gross, I know...sorry!

4) Consider a shot of wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a superfood that is EXTREMELY nutrient dense and cleanse-worthy. Just one shot glass is the equivalent of eating 2-3 lbs of vegetables!! How is that for healthy?   Wheatgrass also oxygenates and purifies the blood and by doing so it removes any stagnant toxins sitting around.   In addition to cleansing and feeding the body, wheatgrass has an energizing effect and reduces cravings! Check out your local juice bar or health food store and give it a whirl.

5) Avoid extreme foods. By this I mean, foods with a lot of sugar, salt, dairy, fat and caffiene. This is all in the name of giving your body a rest from the heavy eating that took place over the course of Thanksgiving and the leftover days that followed. Focus on incorporating low-fat and natural versions of the foods you normally eat. Aim to get the fiber you need, which is about 26 grams a day for women and 30 grams a day for men.

6) Drink green tea. Green tea is loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants, which will help boost your immunity and neutralize free radicals inside your body. Not to mention green tea is a known metabolism booster.

7) Don't eat foods late at night. Choose a cut-off time that works for you, but it should be 2-3 hours before you hit the hay. This is the amount of time it takes for food to go through the initial digestion process. Also, night time/sleepy time is when our bodies repair and recover after a long day of work, so having an empty stomach allows your body one less chore and makes over-night recovery a lot easier.

8) If you can, go vegetarian for a week. Give your body time to recover from the turkey and tryptophan coma. Meat is a heavy, protein-dense food and it requires more time and energy for your body to digest. Treat your body and digestive tract to a rest.

9) Floss. I hope you floss on a daily basis, but if you don't please, please, please make sure you floss this week. You do not want the food to settle and embed itself into your gums. It is here, through the gums that bacteria can seep into the body. Not to mention, unflossed gums contribute to gum disease and halitosis -- permanent bad breath!

10)  Eat garlic! Incorporate garlic into your diet as a seasoning (or if you wish, eat it raw).   Garlic helps your liver produce enzymes that detoxify the bacteria in your digestive tract.

So there you have it -- tips and foods for you to consider as you aim to cleanse your body and rid that inescapable feeling of Thanksgiving fullness.  Now that one holiday has come to an end there are more just around the corner.  So use this week to de-puff and de-fog in prep of the holiday eating that lies ahead.   Cheers!

Vitamins & Supplements Galore

2009-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

This is a view inside my top desk drawer at work. Seriously, this it what it looks like. Forget about paper clips, envelopes, extra pens and paper, this drawer is gladly and quite messily devoted to my daily vitamin routine. I try to keep it hidden from most of my coworkers, but for those that work closely with me, they have gotten used to it and they know that I am a health freak. I have been caught in the act many times - organizing, sorting and swallowing - my vitamins everyday after lunch. It is a process and a habit that I am glad I keep. Oh, and yes, that is a spare REESE'S Peanut Butter Cup in the drawer buried under my vitamins. You never know when you're going to need it! I am saving it for a bad, bad day.
The story of my vitamin intake begins many years ago when I stumbled across a copy of The Perricone Perscription by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. This book is devoted to saving your skin and body through the foods you eat and the supplements you take. I devoured the book, walking away with a grocery store list of vitamins and supplements. Thankfully, shortly after I decided it was too pricey and too unrealistic for a 20-something to be taking so many vitamins, so I whittled it down to about three of Dr. Perricone's recommendations: DMAE, Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Coenzyme Q.
A few years later, I thought it would be good practice to start taking some healthy fats in a capsule, so I added an Omega 3-6-9 complex (which when I finish my current bottle I plan to switch strictly to Omega-3 fish oil). And most recently, upon becoming an upper-twenty-something-year-old in my childbearing years (yes, I just said that), I decided I must make sure that I am getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals (especially folic acid). To achieve this, I incorporated a women's multi-vitamin called Simply One by Super Nutrition. I feel much better now knowing that if I were to become pregnant my body can properly support and nourish the baby. In the meantime, I might as well be nourishing myself, right? RIGHT!

1) DMAE (Dimethylaminoethenol) -- acts as an antioxidant in the body by neutralizing toxins, increases energy levels and cognitive capacity, supports immune system

2) Alpha Lipoic Acid --found naturally in the body and helps convert glucose into energy, supports immune function, an antioxidant that rids body of free radicals

3) Coenzyme Q10 -- found naturally in the body and is a strong antioxidant that helps convert the food we eat into energy that is used by the body. CoQ10 is useful in maintaining a healthy metabolism, promotes cell division and tissue repair, supports heart health and immune function.

4) Omega 3-6-9 -- a blend of fatty acids that the body needs to function properly. They support heart health and healthy cholesterol levels. Also good for skin tone and nourishing the body at a cellular level.
Omega 3s - fish oil, walnuts, flaxseed oil. Omega 6s - vegetable oils (soybean, safflower, canola). Omega 9s (oleic acid)- olive oil, olives, peanuts oil and avocados. ** Omega 6 and 9 are readily available in the foods we eat, unlike Omega 3, which is why I plan on switching to an Omega 3 fish oil supplement.

5) Simply One Women's Multi-Vitamin -- a good mix of vitamins and minerals, plus organic green foods and herbs

You may have also noticed a container of spirulina in my desk drawer. This supplement upsets my stomach so I have stopped taking it. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that has been called a superfood. It contains a number of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals including a wide range of B-vitamins. The spirulina link above makes a call out to possible dangers associated with bacteria that can be found in this algae...so needless to say I am glad I stopped taking this supplement, especially since supplements of any kind are not regulated by the FDA!

What are your crazy vitamin and supplement habits? What do you take and why? I'd love to know!

Foods with MSG

2009-11-24T04:09:00.000-08:00

-Morning Star Black Bean Burgers

-Joseph's - Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Cheetos
Doritos chips
Fritos chips
Lay's potato chips
Tostitos Hint of Lime/Hint of Jalapeno
Pop Chips
Wachusett's brand chips
Ken's Salad Dressing - Ranch Healthy Options
** Check all Salad Dressing's
Progresso canned soup

See post MSG: Our Daily Poison
for ingredients that indicate MSG

Sunday Baking: Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins w/ Coconut Flour

2009-11-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday I did some baking and tested out coconut flour for the first time. Coconut flour is a gluten-free alternative to regular flour and it is full of fiber and protein, making it quite the healthy alternative to the regular white refined flour. Healthy it is, but its consistency makes baking with it a bit more complicated in the kitchen. I decided being the newbie that I am, I would adhere strictly to a recipe and not make any substitutions (okay, I made only one, wait...two).
I found a tasty looking recipe for Coconut Blueberry Muffins at Gluten-Free Bay. It is short and simple, making only 6 muffins, which is a good number for the first go-around.

Here is the recipe:
1/4 C plus 2 TBSP of coconut flour
3 eggs
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP canola oil (or melted butter) *i used canola - it is healthier!
2 TBSP unsweetend coconut milk
3 TBSP honey (here I substuted agave nectar)
1/4 TSP salt
1/4 TSP baking powder
1/2 C frozen blueberries (I went with fresh blueberries)

Mix together the wet ingredients first

(eggs, vanilla, canola oil, coconut milk, agave nectar)

Once nicely mixed add the flour, baking powder and salt.

Mix well, trying to get rid of the lumps

Then fold in the blueberries (frozen or fresh)

Voila

Fill the muffin....

Throw in the oven for 15-18 minutes at 400 degrees.

Enjoy!

These muffins are pretty good. Mild and not too sweet. Although, I suppose a little more sweetness never hurts in the taste category. In the future, I may end up supplementing a recipe with a little coconut flour to get the added fiber and protein, while saving the overall consistency of the muffin batter. Hopefully, this way I won't have to use so many eggs! Does anyone have any tips and or recipes on baking with coconut flour?? I would love to know!

** Note, if you decide to give this recipe a whirl and want to use agave nectar...agave nectar is 25% sweeter than honey, so you will need just under 3 TBSPs. :)

MSG: Our Daily Poison

2009-11-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday all!! I have some upsetting news that put a slight damper on my gleeful Friday afternoon. Apparently, it is a lot harder than I thought to avoid the problematic food flavoring MSG. As most of you hopefully know by now, MSG stands for monosodium glutamate, and it is a natural ingredient extracted from a Japanese seaweed known as Kombu. MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in Chinese food and at McDonald's -- or at least that is what I thought until today. Boy was I WRONG!! MSG is in many foods and its presence is hidden behind descriptive phrases and lengthy unpronounceable words. How cruel is that?
MSG is believed to promote adverse physical, emotional and psychological side effects within our bodies. There is a running list of ailments associated with MSG intake ranging from asthma and migraines to bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder.

Here is a list of MSG laden ingredients to look out for... (www.naturodoc.com, www.truthinlabeling.com)

Monosodium Glutamate
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Hydrolyzed Protein
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
Plant Protein Extract
Sodium Caseinate
Calcium Caseinate
Yeast Extract
Textured Protein
Autolyzed Yeast
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
Yeast Nutrient
Yeast Food
Glutamic Acid
Monopotassium Glutamate
Glutamate
Gelatin

** Note, watch out for hydrolyzed protein of any kind!

The scarier part is that phrases such as "natural flavoring" are often an indicator of MSG presence. So weekend homework y'all...chuck any poison (MSG) that might possibly be sitting in your kitchen cabinets. This is what I will be doing for sure! Oh, and definitely check out the Naturodoc website for more information on MSG and how to avoid it!!

Mineral Packed Molasses Muffins

2009-11-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

The smell and taste of molasses carries me back to my childhood and reminds me of baking gingerbread cookies with my mother. In my freshman year of college, my basketball team called me "hermit," after my insatiable appetite for the dining hall hermit bars. There is something about the robust, distinct sweetness of the molasses flavor that imparts comfort and warmth in the cold winter months. It was not until I started reading more about healthy foods that I discovered molasses is the most nutritious of any sweetener. In fact, the darker the color, the healthier the molasses! The darkest and healthiest of all molasses varieties is Black Strap Molasses, containing super high concentrations of iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium!!
This week I put black strap molasses to the test and baked some tasty VEGAN FEEL FULL MUFFINS. This recipe comes to me via a recommendation by Your Daily Vegan and it is a recipe by Jennifer McCann of the Vegan Lunch Box (her blog is full of tasty looking vegan dishes). What I love especially about these muffins is not their vegan-ness, but they are oil free!!! Never before have I had such a delicious home-baked muffin that did not contain any butter, oil or eggs!

FEEL FULL MUFFINS

1/2 C spelt flour
1/2 C barley flour (or can use a combo of 1/2 cup white flour and 1/2 cup wheat flour in place of the spelt of barley) -- I used spelt and whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ripe bananas, peeled
3 TBSP black strap molasses
1/2 C apple juice, plus more as needed (I needed to add abt 1/4 C more)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 zucchini, finely grated (abt 1 1/2 C)
1/2 C finely chopped or ground walnuts (I didn't have walnuts :( but would be delish!)
1/2 C currents or raisins (optional) -- I added a TRADER JOES mixed medley, see below

1) Combine dry ingredients in a bowl - flours, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda

2) Combine bananas, molasses, apple juice and apple cider vinegar in a mixer -- see picture above

3) Combine dry and wet ingredients in the mixer - see above picture

4) Add zucchini, walnuts (if you have them) and raisins/currants

I didn't have raisins, but I did have TRADER JOE'S Golden Berry Blend w/ golden raisins, cherries, cranberries and blackberries (YUM!)

Use an ice cream scoop or a large spoon to fill the muffin pan (grease the muffin tin w/ non-stick cooking spray)

Batter filled muffin pan!

Muffins are done! Just 20 minutes on 375 degrees.

I enjoyed my muffin still steaming and it was delicious! It is crazy moist and perfect for all you molasses lovers out there! Better yet, I worked out the calories and fat for these very muffins (w/out walnuts) and it comes to 95 calories and less than 1 gram for each!! Enjoy :)

A Friendsgiving Feast

2009-11-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

It is Saturday November 14th and it is Jimmy's annual Friendsgiving bash. He hosts a Thanksgiving-esque celebration for all of his friends. We gather round the tv, watch football and eat lots and lots of food. Lots of unhealthy food that is. I tried to throw in some healthy bites: insert organic grapes and whole wheat crakers. My efforts were sadly in vain as you will see.

Although, Jimmy did buy an organic turkey from Wholefoods. Check!

Depsite some organic herbs and vegetables here and there the rest of the food is completely butter and cream laden. But what would life be like if you didn't let yourself be bad every once in a while?
The turkey is in the oven and it smells heavenly. I would bottle this smell if I could -- fresh rosemary, thyme, garlic, lemon, onion...mixed together with olive oil and turkey juice!! Ohhh....how I love Friendsgiving. And the great thing about today is that two weeks from now we get to celebrate the real deal.

Skip ahead to today, Sunday November 15th. I stopped writing mid-post yesterday when the first set of friends arrived. It is better now to be writing and reflecting upon the meal. It was absolutely amazing!
Here is the menu:

-Turkey stuffed wth Bell's Stuffing (Jimmy's favorite), roasting atop onions, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, shallots and carrots.

-Garlic Mashed Potatoes w/ fresh chives (involved roasting a whole garlic w/ olive oil, which was mashed into the potatoes!)

-Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread (Barefoot Contessa -- Oh, Ina Garten, this cornbread was the best I have ever had!)
-Cranberry pineapple sauce
-Roasted Brussel Sprouts
-Green beans sauteed in garlic and olive oil.
-Parmasan Crisps

And for dessert:

-Apple Crisp (Barefoot Contessa) --sadly no photo :(
-Pecan Pie (Gourmet --the last issue)

-Pumpkin Pie (Gourmet-- the last issue)
-Birthday cupcakes (Magnolia Bakery Cookbook) Golf Inspired--thank you Martha Stewart! Claire baked these as well as the apple crisp...these were delicious!!!

Unfortunately, everyone was a bit too full to enjoy more than the apple crisp, which was fantastic! We enjoyed it a la mode (alamodee as Jimmy's friend Ryan likes to say) with Haagen Daaz FIVE Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. One brave soul, Eric, powered through a piece of pecan pie and another, Ryan, the birthday boy, enjoyed 3 plus of his delicious birthday golf inspired cupcakes.
It was a meal to be proud and now as Jimmy and I sit on the couch with some Sunday coffee and leftover cornbread....I am planning a trip to the gym and a week of healthy detox eating! On my agenda for the week -- baking some Feel Full vegan muffins and 3 visits to NYSC!!

Green Tea with Taste

2009-11-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

I know that a lot of people struggle to enjoy the taste of green tea. This is unfortunate because we all know that green tea is extremely good for us. It is especially important to drink right now in the colder months for a little immune boost. Um, hello? Swine flu!! Some people may manage to drink green tea but suffer through each sip, while others may choose not to drink it at all. I was one who chose to suffer through my cup...but not anymore! There is now a solution for all the green tea haters in the world!! I discovered it last week wandering the aisles of my neighborhood health store and I have been drinking it ever since. The tea is called Good Earth and the flavor is Lemongrass!! This tea is shockingly tasty and you do not need to add any sweetener. It has a naturally sweet taste that I guess is the Lemongrass, however, to me it tastes a little like passion fruit. It also smells devine. I drink it in the office to de-stress and to warm my stomach in between meals. Yummm! I am already excited to pick up another box (and maybe check out a few more flavors)!

The Things We Do For Love

2009-11-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a tiny excerpt from a conversation I had with my bf, Jimmy, over Gchat today. It is in regards to our dinner reservations on November 20th at Maialino, a new italian restaurant in the Manhattan. Note, I have chosen to omit our nicknames for each other for both your sake and my own!

Jimmy: ____, question for you
Me: Yes, ____
Jimmy: Maialino is Italian for little (or baby) pig.
And the specialty at Maialino is "Maialino for two."
Can we get that?
Me: Hahahaha
Awwwww
____, you are too cute.
[It is] a little pig?
A baby pig.
Do you think it's a piglet?
Jimmy: I'd rather not speculate.
Me: Does it sound delicious ____?
Jimmy: I'm sure that if they have the balls to serve something that's named for the place, it's gotta be good.
Me: That's true.
____, I will probably say yes to you ____ (which means I will say yes).
Jimmy: Oh, ____!
You're so wonderful to me.

The things we do for love! Jimmy does have a food blog after all (Golden Eats) dedicated to eating New York whole. I will let you know how this meal turns out. However, I doubt I will make any nutritional discoveries a la the chicken liver at Falai.