Showing posts with label B. in the Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label B. in the Club. Show all posts

Friday, July 1, 2011

At Home Workout Club: Month 7: How I Lost A Quick 10 lbs!


People seem to keep asking me if I've lost weight recently!  And while I'm so happy they think I have, or that it looks like I have, I actually haven't.  Even though I've been trying, I haven't lost a single pound in I don't know how long! 

So I've been thinking about it.  The only thing that is different is that I have new undergarments.  Yup!  I'm telling you, a new bra can do wonders!!!  So this month for the At Home Workout Club if you're following along with me, I hope you will show "the girls" some love and get some proper fitting bra's because {sing with me now!}...

Thursday, June 2, 2011

The At Home Workout Club: Month 6

How can we be half way through the year already???  That is craziness!

I am feeling like I got run over by a truck the last few days, so I am going to keep it simple this month.  My little sister wanted me to post what is currently on my workout ipod, so I'm going to give you my current playlist. 

These are tunes that totally inspire me with their words!  Most of them are Christian rock songs ~ when I'm working out it is my time to meditate and get in the zone with God.  It works for me.  I feel centered and healthy all at the same time.  Some of the beats may seem slower than you'd like for a good workout, but trust me, when they are pumped up loud they still make me want to jump {or run} for joy!  I just hit shuffle and off I go!

~B.'s Workout Playlist



If you haven't ever heard some of these songs, then you should definitely check them out!  I've tried to link them all up to iTunes so you can at least hear a sample of them.  They are fun with a great message!

What are your favorite workout or uplifting songs?

Send me your playlists!
I think it would be fun
to feature them on here!

P.S. ~ My cute little sister has a Shabby Apple giveaway going on over at her blog for a cute bracelet.  You should all hop over and enter!  Or don't {because then I have better chances of winning! Wahaha!}  Did I just say that?  ;)  Just kidding!  Go enter!  The bracelets are too cute!  {Love you seester!  Mwah!}  :D

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Lunch Bunch: Easy Dinner Ideas

This is turning out to be rather interesting.  This months Lunch Bunch is all about easy dinner ideas you can pull from when you just don't want to cook anything.  And the funny thing {to me} is that I really don't want to cook anything lately, and I'm even having a hard time trying to get this post finished, because frankly, I'm just not in the mood.  It must be the weather.  All the rain is beginning to affect me I think!

So!  In reality, I probably really need this post!  So without further adieu {or is it ado in this case?  See?  I'm stalling again!}, let's get to some of my favorite easy dinner ideas:

Pastas are always easy.  It just takes a few minutes to cook the noodles and it can be as simple as noodles and heating up sauce if you really want.  Here is one of my favorite pasta versions:


My Version of Olive Garden's
Capellini Pomodoro

Angel hair pasta {or spaghetti}
4-5 fresh tomatoes, chopped {or drain a can of diced stewed tomatoes if you're super short on time and don't want to take the time to chop your own}
1 clove garlic, minced
Basil, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil


Cook angel hair pasta {or spaghetti}.  Add tomatoes to cooked pasta and add 1 minced clove of garlic and sprinkle enough basil to pepper it nicely.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Mix together well into cooked pasta.

This pasta is an intuitive recipe for me and very forgiving.  Not a lot of measuring, or exact ingredients.  I just sort of wing it.  If you want more tomatoes {or less}, add them {or subtract them}. Open a bag of salad and you're ready to go!  {See?  I don't even want to take the time to wash my salad sometimes!  Pre-washed and cut can be a lifesaver!}


Let Someone Else Cook

Another easy dinner idea is to let someone else do the cooking for you!  No, I don't mean run out and grab a fast food hamburger or anything!  I mean, run to the store and grab a whole roasted chicken from the deli!  Then all you have to do is heat up some frozen veggies on the side to round it out.  Easy peasy!

Let's see, what else?

Dinner salads!  
 Like I said above,
Pre-washed and cut salad mixes are genius!
Here are two of my favorites!

Southwestern Salad

Salad:
1-2 cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Shredded or diced chicken, optional
Shredded cheddar cheese
Diced tomatoes
1-2 bags chopped romaine lettuce
1/2 bag of crushed tortilla chips

Ranch Dressing:   {do not use a bottled ranch for this salad ~ trust me!  It will taste all wrong if you do!}
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp onion salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried parsley

Combine dressing ingredients and mix well.  Combine everything in a bowl, cover with ranch dressing and mix well to coat.  

Again, the amounts are more to taste rather than specific amounts.  This is also a very forgiving recipe.  The ingredient list looks longer than I like when I'm not in the mood to cook, but it really doesn't take much time to throw this one together.  I like the crunchiness the crushed tortilla chips give to this recipe.    

Want an even easier ranch dressing for this salad?  Then just use the dry buttermilk ranch dressing packets you can buy at the store ~ just don't use a pre-made bottled ranch dressing, I'm begging you!  Just don't do it! 


Apple Tomatillo Dinner Slaw

Salad:
1-2 bags premixed coleslaw {without dressing in it}
2-3 apples, chopped in pieces
1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Diced chicken, optional

Dressing:
1 pkg dry buttermilk ranch dressing
3 tomatillos
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup cilantro
1 clove garlic
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix salad ingredients together in a large bowl.  Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a blender and blend.  It will thicken gradually.  Pour dressing over salad to coat it, and mix well.

This salad looks like it has a lot of ingredients too, but it is super fast because you just throw the dressing in the blender and let the blender do the work.  You don't even need to chop the cilantro before throwing it in, just measure it and push the start button!  The hardest part of this recipe is chopping the apples!  Love that!

~ ~ ~

Ok, that's about all I've got right now besides grilled cheese sandwiches and popping a can of tomato soup open!  So now it's your turn ~ help a girl out!  Meet me in the comments and tell me your favorite easy don't want to cook dinner ideas!  Please!  I'm begging you!  :D

Monday, May 2, 2011

The At Home Workout Club: Month 5

 As I was trying to think what I wanted to add to my fitness library this month, I immediately knew that I just had to do something to help celebrate Cinco de Mayo! There's nothing quite like shaking your hips to a latin rhythm!  So since this whole idea is to add things to my own workout library that will help wean me off my gym membership I thought of ZUMBA!

Zumba is so hot right now!  And the class is always packed at my gym.  So packed that I hate going to the class even though it is such a blast!



So hopefully by adding this to my collection, I can still have fun shaking my booty to the beat and  not end up getting annoyed that I am bumping into my neighbor because there is no room to move!   Yipee!  Now hopefully it will get here before the 5th so I can par-tay!  That's in like three days ~ yikes!  I'm not sure I want to pay overnight shipping though!


Have you tried Zumba before?

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lunch Bunch Linkup: Seasonal Spring Recipes

I like to eat seasonally, but things aren't necessarily growing out in my garden yet.  Depending on where in the country you live, you might have different seasonal spring crops to choose from.   Here are some pretty basic spring things to look for in the grocery stores, or farmers markets if you're lucky enough to have them open yet:




I may have forgotten a few items on the list, 
so if you see something missing, then let me know!

Due to my traveling and of course, the craziness that ensues afterwards as you try to get back to normal, we didn't meet for our Lunch Bunch group, but I still want to hear about your favorite seasonal spring recipes!

Me?  I adore the fresh asparagus when it is in season {drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with a wee bit of sea salt and roasted until just tender ~ minced garlic is also tasty with it}.

But one of my favorite ways to eat asparagus is a recipe from Georgeanne Brennan's book Potager: Fresh Garden Cooking in the French Style.



Savory Bread Pudding Layered with
Asparagus, Fontina and Mixed Spring Herbs

12-16 thick slices dry bread {baguettes or mixes of specialty breads ~ I have used just plain ol' French bread before}
2 1/2 cups milk
1 pound asparagus
5 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
4 ounces Fontina cheese, slivered
4 ounces Swiss cheese, slivered
1/2 cup chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as chives, parsley and tarragon, OR sage, thyme and marjoram
1 tbsp butter, cut into small bits

Place bread in a single layer in a shallow dish.  Pour milk over the top and let soak about 30 minutes until bread has absorbed the milk and is softened.  Press the bread slices to extract the milk.  Measure the milk to about 1/2 cup after squeezing, if you don't have that much, then make up the difference as needed.  Set the milk and bread aside.

Meanwhile, trim your asparagus, removing the woody ends.  Cut the stalks on the diagonal into thin slivers about 2 inches long and 3/8 inch thick.   Steam asparagus for 2-3 minutes until barely tender.  Immediately place under cold running water then drain and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter a 3-qt mold or casserole dish.

In a bowl, beat together the eggs, salt, pepper and the 1/2 cup milk until well blended.  Now you are going to make three layers of everything in your casserole dish.  Layer 1/3 of the bread in the dish, then add a layer of 1/3 of the asparagus, then a layer of 1/3 of the herbs, then 1/3 of each of the cheeses over the top.  Repeat layers, topping the casserole with a few asparagus slivers and cheese over the last layer of bread.  Pour the egg-milk mixture over the layers and dot with butter. 

Bake until top is crusty brown and knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Mmm, mmm, good!  Come to think of it, I haven't made this recipe in a looong time, but it is oh so tasty!  I think I will be adding it onto my menu again very soon.  It's a little more involved that I usually like to cook everyday but it might be a lovely addition to our Easter dinner I'm thinking!  The April/May issue of Clean Eating Magazine also has a tasty looking Creamy Asparagus Soup I want to try out soon. 

And speaking of new recipes to try out, the April issue of Whole Living Magazine has a few recipes for fresh spring carrots like Roasted Carrots with Garlic; Shaved Carrots, Watercress and Cashews with Orange Vinaigrette; Moroccan Braised Chicken with Carrots and Golden Raisins; and Cinnamon Carrot Muffins to try out soon.  Plus, their website has a handy little section for seasonal recipes to check out. 

So, what are your favorite seasonal spring recipes?  Link up and tell us from your blog, or share with us in the comments!  Can't wait to hear your fav's!




Friday, April 1, 2011

The At Home Workout Club: Month 4

Wow!  I know I say this every month, but I can't believe another month has flown by already!  The weather has  been warming up, the sunshine coming out more often {well, if it's not raining ~ but at least it hasn't  been huge snowstorms for us anymore} and I am so enjoying being outside again!

We have some lovely trails around here that I intend to take advantage of now that it is warming up again.  So this month I wanted to add something I can use while working out outside.
So this month I've decided to make an investment in a brand new iPod Shuffle that I plan to load only with upbeat, kicky little workout tunes!  The iPod takes up most of my monthly budget for this month, but I'm pretty sure I already have tunes to make a fun little mix for it.

What are some of your favorite workout tunes?

Friday, March 11, 2011

Lunch Bunch Linkup: Breakfast Recipes

Our lunch group had a hard time getting together again this month due to school field trips, dentist appointments and various other things going on at the same time.  So this month I am going to give you some of my favorite breakfast recipes.  I hope you will post your favorite breakfast recipes and link them up to us so that we can all drool ~ er, I mean, be inspired with something new!  ;)

This recipe is a favorite of mine when the strawberries are in season. They're not growing in my neck of the woods yet, but they were on sale at Walmart for $1.88 today! A month ago they were like $4 or $5 a basket! So yeah, I had to snap them up! 


Strawberry Banana Breakfast Bowl

Slice into your bowl as many bananas and strawberries as you like.  Then drizzle with your favorite sweetener.  I used a little drizzle of agave because it is low glycemic, but you could sprinkle sugar, honey or maple syrup on it if you wanted.  You could probably add some crushed walnuts or your favorite nut of choice if you wanted!  Enjoy!

~~~

This next recipe is a family favorite at our house.  It is the first breakfast my mother-in-law ever made me when I went home to meet my husbands family.  It is the one breakfast my daughter always requests whenever we visit Grandma.  And a fall favorite when the apples are in season.

I need to play around with this one a little bit though ~ I haven't figured out a totally healthified version yet.  I'd like to make it more whole grain and figure out how to make the apple syrup without as much sugar and other stuff.  There is definitely room for improvement, but it is pretty darn tasty the way it is.


Apple Pancakes with Apple Syrup

For the pancakes:
3 cups flour
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1/3 cup olive oil
2 small apples, peeled and diced

For the syrup:
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 cups apple juice
1/4 cup butter

For the pancakes:  Mix together sugar, eggs, milk and oil.  Add flour, baking powder and salt.  Fry on a griddle.

For the syrup:  Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Cook until thick.  Serve over pancakes.

So there you go!  Now over to you!  Show us or tell us about your favorite breakfast meal!


Next month we are going to do:

Favorite Seasonal Spring Recipes!  

So start thinking!



Monday, March 7, 2011

Lunch Bunch Reminder and Breakfast In Bed

This is just a friendly reminder that this month's Lunch Bunch will meet on Thursday for my local friends and we will post the linky on Friday for anyone else who might want to join in from afar {and you totally should because we want to see your tasty creations too!}.

This months focus is on:


Healthy Breakfast Foods



My cute neice made this french toast for my daughter when she turned 13 ~ complete with 13 strawberries and 13 blueberries {oh and super~duper healthy green candy sprinkles! ~wink~wink~}


So before I sign off, I want to know, if the breakfast fairy was coming to bring you breakfast in bed . . . what would be on your tray?

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The At Home Workout Club: Month 3

Wow, I can't believe it is March already!  Time is really flying by for me this year!

I thought last months selections were really fun but holy cow!  I've got some practicing to do!  I feel like I got a lot of the basic hip movements down but when you start adding in the arms and some of the walking type steps at the same time?  Yikes!  I feel like my coordination flew out the door!  But I think with regular practice it will get easier ~ and I plan to keep trying because it is just so fun!

But now it's March and it's time for me to add some new selections to the workout library.  I know it's not officially spring yet, but once the calendar flips over to March I pretty much consider it springtime anyway!  I'm so finished with old man winter!

One thing I noticed this winter was that I tend to hunch over a lot in the cold ~ it's that huddling up to get warm thing I think.  But it's horrible on my posture and a healthy spine and back are so important!    Not to mention you just look better when you have healthy posture.  It can even make you look thinner and who doesn't want that?

So this month I am going to add Back Care Yoga for $12.99.

I've heard that yoga is great for back injury patients
{though check with your doctor first
if you're in that situation please!}


Since I am still within my budget I also plan on adding some basic yoga props since I'm a beginner and I know my flexibility isn't as great as it used to be.






I already have a yoga mat, but if you don't you might want to pick one of those up as well.  They've got some pretty cute designs these days.

So there you go!  Yoga is my selection for this month!  I also plan to start taking more walks outside as the weather continues to warm up.  I love the sunshine on my face!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Lunch Bunch: Foods for Romance



This turned out to be a tricky month for our group to get together, so my apologies!  But if you have blogged a healthy recipe you would like to share then please feel free to link up to us!

What did you have for Valentine's Day?
What foods say romance to you?

Tell us either in the comments or link up to us with a post of your own!  I will leave the linky open for a week!

Next month we will do 
healthy breakfast recipes, 
so start thinking!



Friday, January 14, 2011

Lunch Bunch Linkup: Beans and Legumes

This months Lunch Bunch turned out so fun!  We had a wide variety of different bean dishes that came.  Who knew you could do so many fun and different things with beans!

And here is the next part of all the fun . . . you get to linkup your own favorite bean dishes if you want!  C'mon, you know you want to!  Linky parties are so much fun and you get to meet a lot of other talented bloggers this way!

Here are the recipes from our get together.   I'm waiting for a few recipes from our gathering to be emailed from my friends still {HINT~HINT guys!} and I really wanted to get the linky up in case anyone else wanted to post and link up to us today.   I will update this post with the recipes as I receive them.  But at least we do have the pictures from our gathering for your viewing.  The pictures aren't the greatest since The Hubs took my good camera on a listing appointment that day ~ so enjoy the lovely camera phone pics!  :D

I hope some of these dishes will inspire you to use more beans in your cooking!


Fennel Pizza
What?  Pizza as the first bean dish?  Yep!  With white bean puree!
It looks intensive, but it's really not



Dough:
2/3 cup lukewarm water
1 pinch sugar
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 tsp salt

Pizza:
1 large fennel bulb
4 tbsp olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups white beans cooked (or 15 ounce can, rinsed and drained)
2 balls of pizza dough {from above}
cornmeal, to sprinkle on pans

To make dough:
Stir together 1/3 cup water and sugar in a large bowl.  Sprinkle yeast over the mixture and let stand until foamy {about 10 minutes}.  Stir in the remaining 1/3 cup water, the olive oil, flour and the salt.  Knead the dough by hand on a floured surface for about 10 minutes or in a food processor for about 5 minutes.  Put dough in a deep, oiled bowl and turn to coat it with oil.  Let dough rise, covered with plastic wrap in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.  Punch down the dough and form into four balls.  Each will make a serving size pizza.

To make the pizza:
Preheat oven to 400.  Trim the fennel bulb, leaving only an inch or two of the stalk.  Split bulb in half and cut out the hard inner core.  Slice the fennel thin and put in a bowl with 2 tbsp olive oil, the garlic and salt and pepper.  Toss to coat and put in a roasting pan.  Roast for 10 minutes, or until fennel is tender.  Keep oven on and increase to 450.

Meanwhile, put the beans in a food processor or blender with salt, pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp of water.  Blend until a chunky puree {just not totally smooth}.

Roll dough out on a floured surface to approximately an 8-inch circle.  Place on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.  Spread bean puree on to pizza dough and place roasted fennel on top.  Bake in lower third of oven for about 10 minutes or until crust is firm.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Cut into slices and serve.


Ham and Bean Soup


1 lb Great Northern Beans
Salt
Ham
Water
Salt and pepper, to taste


Rinse beans, cover with water.  Bring to a boil.  Cover, turn off heat and let sit for 1-2 hours.  Drain water and rinse beans, add salt as desired, then cover with water again.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to low.  Add ham ( I use an old bone from a spiral cut ham with some meat still on it.)  Let simmer until beans are the desired texture. Remove bone and cut any large pieces of ham as needed.  Season to tatse.  3-6 hours.



Lentil Soup


12 C water
2 Tbsp Chicken Bouillon
2 cups lentils
1 chopped onion
1 1/2 Tbps each  Rosemary, Basil and Oregano
Vegetables of your choice

Bring the water, chicken bouillon, lentils, onions, herbs and vegetables to a boil ( she had put in chopped onion, carrots and broccoli).  Boil for 20 minutes and simmer for about 45.   Delicious and Nutritious!


Sundried Tomato Hummus
and Homemade Pita Chips


Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

2 cans garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic, crushed and minced
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil with their oil
1-3 Tbsp olive oil, to taste
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp salt
1/4 water ( this can vary, add as mixture is being processed to make the desired consistency)

Combine all in the food processor, adding water to thin to desired consistency


Pita bread

1 1/2 tsp Yeast
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp salt
3 cups Flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water ,add the rest of ingredients, let rise about 35-45 min then divide into 6-8 balls and roll out into pita flat bread. Let sit and rise a bit before putting them in preheated oven at 500 for 5-6 minutes.


Rice and Bean Bar


1 small onion
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 cans black beans
Rice
Toppings like:  cheese, avocados, tomatoes or pico de gallo, cilantro, sour cream you name it. 

Sauté small onion in olive oil. Addt the cloves of garlic, Cayenne pepper,  Cumin, and chili powder.  Add two cans of black beans ( drained) and 1/2 cup of water.   Simmer 10 minutes.  Serve over rice.  Pile it on with whatever toppings you like and your kids won't even know they're eating beans.



Black Bean Brownies
We had two versions of brownies that came.
Both recipes were fairly similar in technique though.



1 15 oz can black beans
1 brownie mix

Rinse black beans, refill can with beans and clean water.  Pour into blender and puree.  Add to brownie mix.  Bake according to package directions.


  
Moist Cocoa Lentil Cake




2 cups boiling water
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup washed lentils
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup olive oil
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups sifted flour
4 tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt

Add lentil and salt to the boiling water.  Cover and simmer for 40 minutes.  Drain, reserving liquid.  Add 1/4 cup of liquid back to lentils and puree in blender or food processor.  Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.  Mix sugar, oil, eggs and beat well for 2 minutes.  Add vanilla and pureed lentils to creamed mixture.  Sift and add remaining ingredients.  Beat for an additional 2 minutes.  Pour into prepared cake pan.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.  Cool, frost and eat.  Makes 12 servings.



Ok, now over to you!