One Healthy Mama

gettin' on my soapbox

2011-03-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

I am about to get all judgy and controversial. Maybe you won't like me anymore. This is definitely a hot button issue in some circles, so I understand if you disagree. But, here goes.

Preschool snacks.

I remember a conversation I had with a friend of mine before I had kids. She was upset over what her kids were being fed at school, and I kind of got it, but not really. But now I have a preschooler of my own and I totally get it. We are not crazy health nuts, trust me. We are a family of donut lovers and coffee drinkers (well, not the kids - they need no help in that department). In general, though, I try to make sure everyone gets a well-balanced diet consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein. When the little guy started preschool this year we got a handout explaining the rules of snack - no peanuts and generally healthy.

"So buddy, what did you have for snack today?"
"Ooooh, it was good, Mama! Chocolate milk and chocolate pudding!"
"Uhhhh, that's it?"
"Oh, and some grapes."

Really, people? Chocolate milk AND chocolate pudding? At 10am? Really?

Those things aren't necessarily bad, but I mean, come on. Let's pace ourselves. And also, I have to deal with that sugar rush right before nap time. Geez.

Anyway, it's our snack week. I did send grapes and juice, even though my kids really never drink juice. It's a treat and it's fun to take something you like to school. I also made breakfast cookies, and I am going to share that recipe one more time, because kids do not even know it's healthy, and I did want my little man to be kind of excited about announcing his snack.

So here it is!

confessions

2011-01-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

2010 was not my healthiest year. It was a year of indulgence, actually. I cooked with a lot more butter, said yes to a lot more donuts, enjoyed a few extra mochas. I am not against any of those things... in moderation. But the problem was that instead of losing those last few pounds of baby weight, I gained eight of them back. Turning it from baby weight into regular old butter weight. And despite the fact that I was nursing my little guy up to five times a day, those pounds still snuck up on me. As the holidays approached, I thought to myself: you have two choices. You can gain another seven pounds (the average for most people from Thanksgiving to New Years), or you can kick these pounds to the curb.

So I did. I counted my calories and exercised, and now six weeks later I am ten pounds lighter. I am totally against calorie obsession, but I needed to reprogram my brain to what is normal and what my daily intake should look like.

So, I am going to hop back on this blog and hopefully keep myself accountable. I am not saying a final goodbye to butter or donuts or mochas, but I am most definitely going to keep my relationship with those dudes a little more casual.

Here is to a healthy 2011!

i am so sporadic

2010-05-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

I realize I am totally inconsistent in my posting. I am kind of thinking of giving up the notion that I will be here regularly. I have all these good intentions and take photos of my food, but then I never seem to find the time to get it together enough to post it! So, I wanted to just link you up to my newest recipe , which I posted on Tasty Kitchen. Have you guys been over there yet? It's a fun site and not yet overwhelmingly huge.

Also, I have kept this blog pretty anonymous. I think my mom might be the only reader who knows me in real life (hey Mom!). But I do have a blog that I keep up pretty regularly , full of the adventure I am living with three little dudes at my feet. You all are welcome to pop over any time and check it out!

Thanks for following me and my attempt at healthy living. I will still post here from time to time, and I will be putting recipes up a bit more frequently over at TK.

All the best!

vegetable pie

2010-04-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite dishes. It's rich and comforting, it's full of vegetables, and it's (relatively) good for you. My mom has made it for years, and I started making it shortly after I got married. It's a great vegetarian option and I swear you won't even miss the meat. Serve this up with a green salad and you'll have yourself a nice little meal.

½ medium eggplant, cubed
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon basil
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup shredded mozzarella
double pie crust

Toss eggplant, onion, green pepper, zucchini and garlic with olive oil, spices, salt and pepper in a roasting pan or large baking sheet. Roast at 425 degrees until soft, stirring every 10 minutes for about 30 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare your pie crust (I swear I don't work for Trader Joe's, but they make a really really good frozen crust).

Once your vegetable are done, layer half of vegetables, half of the cheese, and half the tomato. Repeat. Make a lattice top pie crust (or fake it like I do) and bake for 25 min at 425 degrees. Let cool about 10 minutes before serving.
And enjoy!

a little update

2010-04-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

Remember back in January when I told you about my little weight loss competition? It is finally over! I don't know if I won - I was a close second last week. But I have lost FIFTEEN pounds! I am so excited. Pre-pregnancy weight? Yes. Pre-pregnancy body? Not so much. I have to admit, most of the weight loss is from watching what I eat and drink (while still eating chocolate, of course), nursing, and chasing my children (48 trips up the stairs to replace fallen pacifiers can burn a few). Haven't quite gotten back into working out like I hoped I would. I am getting a treadmill from my generous parents, and I have had every intention of starting up The Shred again, but at the end of the day I am just not super motivated. I would LOVE some tips on getting it going from moms who have been there. Let me know what has worked for you!

cookies in the morning

2010-03-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

This breakfast cookie is one of the best I've tried. It's an adaptation from the Sneaky Chef. We eat them more as a mid-morning or after-nap snack, but they are great to grab on your way out the door to eat on the go (and much safer than the usual bowl of cereal in the car trick my husband likes to try).

And of course you can mix up what you add in. We like dried cranberries and sunflower seeds. You could try raisins, apricots, coconut, almonds, pecans - or nothing at all! Play around with fun combinations.

So, here it is.

3-4 cups whole grain cereal flakes (like Total)
1/4 cup wheat germ or oat bran
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup low fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup dried fruit (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Use a rolling pin or mallet to crush the cereal in a plastic bag. Or just stick it in the food processor. You should have about 2 cups of coarsely crushed cereal when you're done.

Mix together cereal, wheat germ or oat bran (oat bran has a more appealing flavor for kids), flours, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, stir together egg, sugar, oil, vanilla and cheese. Combine the two mixtures.

I like to make bigger cookies, so I use about 1/4 cup per cookie and flatten them slightly on the cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes, until the edges are just slightly brown. Let them cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Enjoy... And let me know if you come up with any noteworthy combinations!

it's that time!

2010-03-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

The weather isn't exactly right for planting around here yet, but I went a little crazy with my seed purchases last week. This year I am trying something new: rather than buying a bunch of starts in April or May, I am starting my own in my basement this week. Tomatoes, jalapenos, fennel, parsley, onions, carrots... the list goes on. I am even doing a seed exchange this year with a few friends to get a little variety. My husband has agreed to build me a couple of raised beds in the next few weeks, and my parents and I are going to do a "crop share". Don't I sound like I know what I am doing? This may be a huge disaster, as I am anything but a seasoned gardener. Actually this is only my second year and last year I only dabbled.

One huge inspiration was the new book Grow Great Grub which came out last month. I have just started looking through it, and I love love love it.

I'll let you know how it goes. Successes and failures and what I learn from all of it - and hopefully a few recipes along the way!

inconvenient

2010-03-05T08:56:00.000-08:00

My brand new (dumb) refrigerator broke last weekend. Not convenient. It was four days of freezing ziploc bags of ice to rotate in and out of the cooler. Four days of hoping we weren't ingesting some mutant bacteria that had formed in our jerry rigged cooling system. Thankfully we didn't, and on the plus side, my fridge is very, very clean.

On the negative, I haven't cooked a lot this week, as I didn't want to have leftovers to store and wanted to use what we had. That meant lots of grilled cheese and fruit. Oh well, what can you do? I am just thankful for the repairman that came and fixed it. I am not excited about the $250 invoice, but I am pretty sure it's covered by warranty.

One thing I've learned since we moved a couple of months ago: I really really like modern conveniences. The house was appliance free for almost a month - no fridge, no dishwasher, no washer and dryer. I had to be creative and I spent a lot of time at the sink. I was very happy every time a new appliance arrived at my door.

Now if I could just get myself to go use them...

super easy peasy teething biscuits

2010-02-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

These were so easy and simple and my little dude is just so excited to feel like he is eating real food. He feels like he's part of the "in" crowd, I can tell. He doesn't have teeth yet, so I am going to recommend this for babies who are just gumming at this point, since that's what I know works. And of course, always stay close by to watch your kiddo when they're eating. But he sucked on these for at least twenty minutes at a time with no crumbling at all. Then it'd end up on the floor... and then he'd want another one. So, I call that success!

1/2 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
1/2 cup baby rice cereal
1/4 cup baby food (I used homemade sweet potato puree)
1/4 cup 100% juice

Mix all of your ingredients together. Lightly flour your surface and the dough (it's really sticky, especially with whole wheat flour). Roll out to a little less than 1/4" (think thick cracker) and use a glass or cookie cutter to cut them (nice round edges are best). Bake on a lightly oiled cookie sheet at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

I noticed on my first batch that the dough tends to bubble. Maybe it's the flour I used. With the second batch, I checked on them after about ten minutes and pressed them with a spatula to prevent the bubbling. I also pricked the surface with a fork. After another ten minutes, I flipped them to finish off. They get a little dark around the edges, but they're nice and hard and shouldn't break in baby's mouth.

You can feel good about them - nothin' bad for your baby. I keep them in the fridge - this recipe makes 7 or 8 biscuits - perfect for the week!

valentine delight

2010-02-14T22:43:00.000-08:00

This has not been the healthiest week of my life. I have eaten a lot of really delicious, not so health conscious food. It's all about balance though, right? I've also spent the week steaming a lot of vegetables, pureeing them, and freezing them in cubes for my little pumpkin, but that wouldn't make for the most interesting post. Mamas, stay tuned this week though if you're interested in homemade teething biscuits... that's my next project.

Tonight was one of the best dinners I have made in a long time. I am not bragging, I am just excited to share. It was easy, if slightly time consuming, but totally worth it. And it got the response I wanted from my husband: grunts of satisfaction with every bite. And all thanks to Real Simple. I love that magazine.

So, here it is: Potato Leek Flat Bread. I used a recipe at Food Network for the pizza dough (which, by the way I have used before, using whole wheat flour, and it was a little dense. Tonight I used all purpose and it was really good). You can used ground thyme instead of fresh, and you can skip the cheese if you want to lighten it up. But you can also add a couple of slices of prosciutto, like I did, for a little something special.

All you need to go with it is a nice little salad and you've got yourself one delicious meal (we also had seared scallops, but honestly, they were secondary to this flat bread). Enjoy!

for all the little sickies

2010-02-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

The junk struck our house a few weeks ago - coughing, sniffling, sore throats, headaches... blech. By the time it made its way through all of us, we had spent about 3 weeks wiping noses, sleeping next to humidifiers, and listening to pathetic little coughs from all corners of our house.

I wanted so badly to alleviate that loud, hoarse, sad cough for my little guy. Over-the-counter medication isn't recommended for kids under 4, so apart from a little cherry scented VapoRub, chances of relief looked dismal.

Until mama did a little research. Turns out those OTC meds really only help them sleep, but don't do much for the cough so they weren't really worth pining after anyway. The more I looked into it, the more I heard that a tablespoon of honey is a natural, quick remedy for a cough. After three nights, we were more than ready, willing and able to test it out. Guess what? It totally worked! Nearly instant relief, and almost a full nights sleep.

After further research, I also found out that the antioxidants it contains are natural immune boosters. Double bonus! Since you can't give honey to babies under the age of one, the littlest guys just had to deal, but big brother definitely benefited.

So, if you find yourself stricken with the junk, or you've got sick little cuties hacking the night away, try a spoonful and you'll all sleep a little better.

even your kids will like it

2010-02-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

My husband loves coleslaw. LOVES it. I have never liked it. The only exception I make is when you can get it on your barbecue sandwich - a real southern treat. We don't live in the south, so this has happened once in my life. Anyway, I digress.

This salad is where we meet in the middle. It is kinda, sorta like coleslaw, but so much fresher, crunchier, and better for you. Not sure if you've noticed my love of carrots, but I try to put them in everything. My kid says he doesn't like them, but he is going on looks alone because I don't think he has ever knowingly put a carrot in his mouth.

This is a quick, simple side dish and goes especially well with barbecue - which is what we're having tonight. This Zesty Chicken is awesome and amazing - another thing worth trying.

OHM's Carrot Salad

6 large carrots, peeled

1/2 cup golden raisins

2 apples (I prefer honeycrisp or pink lady), peeled and chopped

1/4 reduced fat mayo

1/4 cup light sour cream

1 tablespoon (or a little more) honey

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

salt to taste

Using your peeler, or a grater, shred carrots into a bowl. Add raisins and apples. In a separate container, whisk the remaining ingredients and combine with salad. You can eat this right away, or put it in the fridge for up to three days. Mmmmm, good good good.

When I told the little dude what I was making, he informed me he would just like the apples and raisins, thankyouverymuch. But with a little coercion, even he had to admit it was pretty darn good.

man pleasin' food

2010-01-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

I live in a house full of testosterone, so I suppose some of my food should fit the stereotype. This is the meal that makes husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers, and little boys... happy. It's simple, sweet, meaty, and if you want, spicy. There are no visible vegetables. It's man food. So, in honor of the all the boys in my life, and because it's almost time for the big game, here is a recipe that should go over well. It can be football food, or it can be a very, very easy weeknight meal.

It takes about five minutes to throw all this stuff in the crock pot. Doesn't get much better than that!

Barbecue Beef and Beans

1.5 pounds boneless beef round, cut into 1-inch cubes.

2 15 ounce cans butter beans, drained

2 15 ounce cans cannelini beans, drained

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 large carrots, finely grated

1.5 cups hickory smoke barbecue sauce**

1/3 cup water

several dashes hot sauce (optional)

Put everything in the crock pot, except about 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. About half an hour before serving, stir in the rest of the barbecue sauce and some freshly ground pepper.

Fill up a baked potato with it or serve it with some hot cornbread and a big side salad (just to satisfy your girly side, of course). My husband loved it, and my two year old gobbled it right up. You don't have to tell them how easy it was.

** Almost every bottle of barbecue sauce on the shelves contains high fructose corn syrup. Despite the ads on tv, it's really, really not good for you. Read the labels and look for one without.

not so healthy

2010-01-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

I am feeling sorry for myself today. Two sick kiddos and one sick mama. It could be worse, though, so I will try to think of some things to be thankful for. Right after I finish this cup of tea.

In the meantime, I am going to share some random tips that have come in handy lately. First, my friends and I started doing that "biggest loser" challenge again this year. I am so glad, because I am not always a huge self motivator. I've lost five pounds! One thing that's helped me is Calorie Count, which is a free online tool where you track your food intake and activity and it calculates everything out for you. I've never been one for counting calories, but it was eye opening, to say the least. They have just about every activity on there from dusting to cooking indian bread on an outside stove (seriously, that is specific). And it motivates me to get moving. Yesterday was my first post-pregnancy run. It wasn't pretty.

If you're looking for a fun and delicious kid project, I am going to direct you to The Ordinary Housewife, who made Alton Brown's homemade marshmallows. We decided to try it and they are GOOD. I don't usually like marshmallows, but these are really great. They make me want hot chocolate every day, so that's the downside. But it's a really delicious downside, no? And if you want to get crazy, you can melt chocolate chips and dip those marshmallows right in, and let your kids go crazy with the sprinkles. It's a fun treat without all the additives, and they make cute gifts.

Lastly, let me tell you my latest way to get moving. Time is short these days, taken up most days by my three little darlings, so I have to be creative. Thankfully, my toddler LOVES dancing. And should I even admit that I let him bust a move to Rihanna? It gets us going together, and I feel a little bit better about those marshmallows.

a new take on tuna salad

2010-01-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

This is so good. I served it with wild rice and sauteed spinach for a nice, light dinner. It was a nice change of pace. And I just set a little tuna aside to make a plain ol' sandwich for my toddler* who probably wouldn't appreciate this particular change of pace. I was inspired by a recipe I saw in Real Simple. Try it, I think you'll like it.

4 large tomatoes

2 cans albacore tuna, drained

2 tablespoons capers

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 large carrot, grated

juice from 1/2 lemon

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Hollow out each tomato, and add the pulp to a bowl. Combine with the remaining ingredients and spoon mixture back into the tomatoes. You'll probably have some left over, and it keeps really well. Top mixed greens with it, eat it on crackers - I think you're going to like this one.

Plus, it looks cool.

*mama note: grate a little carrot and cheddar into some tuna, mix with some reduced fat mayo, and make your little one a healthy melt. Mine never noticed the carrot, I promise. If he did, I'd be in trouble. No matter how many times I compare him to a bunny.

breakfast sandwiches...

2010-01-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

... are one of my favorite ways to start my day. And they keep me full a lot longer than a bowl of cereal, which is good when you've got little guys running and crawling around, needing you most moments of the day. Plus it comes together in just a few minutes!

Here is one worth trying. Bonus: sneaking in an extra serving of vegetables for the day.

I used cracked wheat sourdough, but use what you've got - don't forget your whole grains! If you have a toaster oven, top the bread with an ounce of reduced fat cheese. Right now I have havarti, and it is so good on this sandwich! If you don't have a toaster oven, just grate the cheese into your egg and throw your bread in the toaster. Now chop up one broccoli floret and microwave it for about 45 seconds to soften it. Scramble up an egg with the broccoli, and a little salt and pepper (and the cheese if that's how you're doing it). Now make yourself a little sandwich and enjoy! And feel good about it.

a public service announcement

2010-01-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

First of all, I need to share with you how thankful I am for my latest step into the 21st century. Or maybe it's a step back in time, I'm not sure. Anyway, I had my groceries delivered yesterday. I never thought I would do it, but when you have three little kids, any spare moment to leave your house is not meant to be spent in the grocery store. Seriously. It was great - no impulse buys, plus I had to actually plan my meals for the week, and I could do it all in the comfort of my living room while watching bad tv.

Okay, but here is the deal. They really break the prices down so you can see how much you're paying per pound or pint or whatever quantitative word pertains. I realize that you can find this information on most of the price tags at the store, but I don't usually pay much attention unless I am comparison shopping.

So imagine my shock when I was buying some fresh herbs for a new recipe and I find that they actually cost $43 per pound. And that's on sale. Okay, so I only shelled out two bucks for them, but that amazed me, considering you can buy the plant for about a dollar and have yourself more than you could ever use for almost a year. I think I've found my new business.

So, here is the lesson. 1. Have your groceries delivered. You deserve it.

And 2. Run to the nursery, pick out your favorite herbs, and get planting! (and sell them to some schmuck like me to really start rolling in the dough)

welcome 2010

2010-01-01T22:38:00.001-08:00

What a crazy, wonderful year 2009 was! And I am always excited, if not a bit wistful, when a new one begins. Last January a few friends and I had a "Biggest Loser" competition to see who could lose the highest percentage of weight in 8 weeks. None of us were going for huge numbers, but wanted to drop some post-holiday pounds.

Here we are in January again, and here I am seven weeks postpartum. I have a beautiful baby boy (actually I have three, but he is the newest) and 15 excess pounds to prove it. So, what better time to get some goals set for a healthy 2010?

I am nursing, so I am not going to do any crazy dieting (not that I would anyway!). And I have three boys under the age of three so my workouts and the time I schedule them in will have to be creative, but I am ready to get this show on the road. Since it's been so long since I have been consistent with my blogging, I thought this would be a good way to kick start it and keep me accountable. Log my progress, how I stay active, what healthy (and hopefully tasty) meals I cook up.

And I want you to share your experiences, too! It doesn't have to be with weight loss... what are your goals for this year? Eat better? Exercise more? Kick a habit that's bogging you down? Read more? Train for an event? Spend more time with your kids? Learn to garden or speak another language or...? Fill me in! And if you want some support, let's do this together.

To a happy and healthy new year!

my life now

2009-10-13T07:43:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Thamesarino, for asking how things are! I have often thought I need to get back to posting, especially as fall rolls in and my desire to cook takes over.

Life has been busy! As you all know, we found out we are having a baby next month. The other news is that we adopted a beautiful baby boy in June, so days have been full as we adjust to having a newborn in the house again. We are going to be old pros come November! He is a wonderful, easy baby and we feel truly blessed. And before too long I am going to be back to pureeing baby food and filling my ice cube trays, so stayed tuned for such excitement.

On the topic of being a healthy mama (though my pregnancy instincts have led me to eat more chocolate and butter than I can really justify), I pulled out my Sneaky Chef cookbook yesterday, as my toddler as developed a very specific palate that needs some expansion. Stay tuned for that, too!

In the mean time, want to try something that just exudes fall and is absolutely delicious? It's decadent, I warn you, but since the main ingredient is a vegetable, don't feel bad about the butter - it is soooooo worth it. Leave it to The Pioneer Woman to do squash right: Butternut Squash Puree.

I hope you all are staying well this fall season - and I promise to whip up something tasty soon!

heirloom tomatoes are amazing

2009-07-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

This isn't really a recipe, so much as a hope to inspire. It is so simple and it has been my new addiction this summer when it's hot outside and I need something fresh and light. Or when I've eaten 12 brownies in a row and need to make myself feel better.

If you haven't had heirloom tomatoes before, I really think you ought to try them. They are delicious - every one that I have had tastes like it came fresh from the garden, rather than the produce department. If you don't want to venture into that realm, you can use the tomatoes of your choice - no judgement.

Here's what you need:

2 large heirloom tomatoes

7-8 fresh basil leaves

1 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. good balsalmic vinegar

kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

Slice the tomatoes about 1/4" thick. Place evenly around your platter, along with the basil leaves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (I like pepper, so I use kind of a lot). Drizzle with oil and vinegar.

Last night I made this to go along with our barbecued chicken breasts and roasted red potatoes, and I let it sit out for about 30 minutes before dinner so the flavors could sort of meld. It was the perfect summer evening side.

So, try it! And if you have some tomatoes starting to ripen in your garden, even better. Mmmmm, I think I know what I am having for lunch.

simple summer vegetables

2009-06-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

I love simplicity. It usually provides the most pleasing results. Last night I was whipping up a pretty easy dinner - grilled chicken and flat bread, and decided I wanted vegetables instead of salad (we've been eating that a lot lately). This is a great recipe for you gardeners with an abundance of squash! Eat it as is, toss it with some pasta and parm, load up a baguette and broil it with some havarti or provolone - these roasted vegetables are so delicious and so easy, you're gonna love them as much as I do.

All you need:

3 medium zucchini, thickly sliced

8 oz crimini mushrooms, sliced in half

2 tablespoons olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Toss everything together in a pie plate. Bake at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes. Toss gently, and return to the oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Make it even simpler and do it in your toaster oven, like me.

**For older babies, you can just do zucchini, blend it in the food processor, and mix it up with avocado and even a little wheat germ for a super nutritious meal!

a new treat for the boy

2009-05-13T14:11:00.001-07:00

If there is one thing that I could get him to eat everyday, it's yogurt. Up until now, it's been Yo Baby, which he absolutely loves and I feel pretty good about. It's organic, so that's a plus. The drawbacks, two years into his yogurt eating, is that it's pretty pricey and has 13 grams of sugar per serving.

So this week I tried something new. I bought my favorite yogurt, Nancy's Honey Yogurt. It's made with whole milk and has less than half of the sugar of other yogurts. It is not at all sweet, so for my little one, it needs a little doctoring.

I add less than a teaspoon of blue agave syrup (use honey if you'd rather), and 3-4 large strawberries, chopped finely, to about 1/2 cup of yogurt. You can use any fruit your kiddo prefers. If they like yogurt, they are going to gobble it up, and it is sweet enough without being overly so, and has half the sugar of any yogurt you'll find on the shelf.

Want to make it a meal or an extra special treat? Add some plain cheerios (I used the generic Trader Joe's brand). That is a favorite breakfast around here.

Got any other mix in ideas - let me know!

my new (old) love... and an explanation

2009-04-26T22:46:00.001-07:00

I know I have been MIA for awhile... and I can finally explain. I have made three fully homemade meals in the last 7 weeks. Isn't that pathetic? Thank you, Lord, for the creative genius behind Trader Joe's and their frozen food section. Otherwise, I would be ridden with guilt.

I am 11 weeks pregnant. And the thought of cooking has been, well... bleh. Thankfully, things are looking up. The heartburn has yet to die down, but the nausea is dwindling. Again, thanks Lord.

So, enter my new (old) love. I am not a regular partaker of protein bars. But in my baby's interest, I picked up a few this week so that I am eating something besides fruit and noodles. And cereal. Tonight I opened up a Carmel Nut Brownie Luna bar. Oh heaven. Crispy, chocolatey goodness. With protein, folic acid, the whole nine yards. Everything good for the little one. And man, they are tasty.

healthy hobbies

2009-04-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Spring is here. Finally. We have had consistent sunshine for three whole days here in the northwest - is that a record for April? And for those three days, I have been to the nursery, prepping my garden, and getting my containers ready.

I have never ever been into gardening. I definitely wouldn't say I have a green thumb. But last year I decided to try my hand at a few flowers, some herbs and a tomato plant. I was pretty successful. I give some of the credit to a book I picked up, You Grow Girl, which is also an extensive gardening blog. Totally inspirational!

This year I am stepping it up a notch: strawberries, beets, zucchini and carrots. We'll see what happens! I'll try to keep you updated - maybe I'll even incorporate some of my goods into some recipes.

Being healthy extends beyond diet and exercise. How do you unwind? Express creativity?Get involved in the world around you? Are you a knitter? A seamstress? A cook or a baker? Do you teach classes, volunteer, try to learn something new on a regular basis? I want to hear from you and what keeps you going.

And if you want a little more gardening inspiration, you can also check out the Pioneer Woman... she is good at giving you the lowdown on the basics. Growing stuff is easy - and it's so fun to watch it happen!

helpful articles

2009-03-31T13:09:00.001-07:00

Wondering what to eat when you're out an about? I read these articles online today and found them pretty helpful:

America's 10 Best Fast Food Restaurants

The 15 Worst

Foods for a Flat Belly

healthy snacks - preschool edition

2009-03-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know about your kids, but mine has made up his mind about what he likes, and what he doesn't. He doesn't even need to taste something to know his aversions. While we encourage him to try new things, it's hard to talk to a two year old logically about the benefits of eating carrots. This can make mealtime frustrating. Anyone else been there?

I used to stand in front of the fridge and think, "What in the world should I feed him?" I decided to sit down and make a list of the things I know he likes (it actually was a lot longer than I thought it'd be). That made mealtime a lot simpler.

But I also needed to get creative. So I wanted to share some snack ideas that have gone over well, and they are sneakily healthy.

Smoothies. He would drink one everyday and they come together in less than 5 minutes. I start with about 3/4 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of fruit (usually 1/2 of a banana and some frozen berries), one teaspoon of nut butter, a teaspoon of wheat germ and some kind of vegetable. This week it was 3-4 florets of raw cauliflower. Sometimes it's a few tablespoons of frozen spinach. The trick letting it blend for 3-4 minutes so that it is smooth and velvety and no veggies are detected.

Avocado and cottage cheese. Protein, vitamins, and calcium. This is a power pack. Add a teaspoon of wheat germ for an extra boost. He won't even try cottage cheese on it's own, but if I mash it up with 1/2 an avocado, it's gone in a flash.

Monkey Sandwich. This one is pretty obvious, but the name is what appeals the most to my kiddo. Whole wheat bread (crusts removed, if need be), organic peanut butter + thinly sliced banana. Protein, potassium, fiber - and it's a naturally sweet treat!

I have more to share, but first - what works for your kids? Are they picky or will they eat whatever you put in front of them? What tricks do you have up your sleeve?

my favorite... couscous

2009-03-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

I love this dish. I found it on allrecipes.com and adjusted it to our taste. I've made it several times over the last year or so - it is so refreshing and light and good for you... I think you're gonna like it. This time I stuffed roasted red peppers with it, just for a little flair. Pretty darn good.

1 cup of uncooked couscous (I used whole wheat and you can't tell the difference)

1 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

3 T olive oil

2 T fresh lemon juice

1 t red wine vinegar

1/2 t ground cumin

4-5 sliced green onions

2 medium tomatoes, diced

1/4 cup chopped cilantro or fresh parsley

1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup reduced fat crumbled feta (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Pour hot chicken broth over couscous and stir well. Cover and let stand for five minutes.

Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and cumin.

Add onions, tomatoes, parsley, black beans and bell pepper to the dressing.

Combine couscous, vegetables, and feta. Stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

If you are stuffing peppers, slice in half and fill with couscous. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

This tastes even better the next day - it's sorta hard for me not to eat the whole batch.

a meatloaf makeover

2009-03-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

My newest obsession is library cookbooks. I could spend hours looking through them for ideas. I don't, because I have a two year old and my time of pouring over books leisurely is limited to nap time. And because our trips to the library usually consist of me running after him as he explores the ins and outs of every row of books. But I digress.

Awhile back I checked out a copy of one of the Cooking Light cookbooks and found a lot of recipes I wanted to try. The only one I actually did was the Barbecue Meatloaf. I have never been a huge fan of meatloaf (I mean, just the name is enough to scare you off...), but this was really good.

As usual, I changed it up, mostly by adding a few nutritious extras to make it even more worth eating. This is a really good dish - my husband absolutely loves it (he asked me today if it was okay to eat for breakfast). So here it is, folks. Enjoy!

1.5 lbs extra lean ground beef (ground turkey is great, too)

1/2 cup breadcrumbs (I quickly put one large slice of multigrain bread in the food processor)

2 T wheat germ (optional)

1/2 large onion, roughly chopped

1/2 cup shredded carrot

1 garlic clove

1/2 cup barbecue sauce, divided (watch labels for high fructose corn syrup)

1 T prepared mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 large egg white + 1 whole egg

cooking spray

Put onion, garlic and carrot in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Or mince by hand if you don't have one.

Combine meat, crumbs, wheat germ, onion mixture, mustard, salt, pepper, eggs and 2-3 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce.

Line an 8x8 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Shape mixture into a loaf.

Pour remaining sauce on top and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until a meat thermometer registers at 160 degrees in the middle.

Let stand about 10-15 minutes. Slice into 10-12 slices and serve!

(makes great leftover sandwiches... or breakfast)

Enjoy!

blogging with a purpose

2009-03-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you, 5th Sister! I am honored that you gave me this award!

And now I shall pass it on to some of my favorite blogs.

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude.
3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received the award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received this award.

Our Daily Blessing...Life

Yesterday's Tomorrow

Domestic Fashionista

Restyled Home

Pam-Fried Family Life

The Ordinary Housewife

Check these blogs out - they all offer something different... and they will all bless your day in some way.

a really satisfying sandwich

2009-02-25T19:19:00.000-08:00

This delicious baguette was inspired by one of the many consumed on our trip to Paris. Today is Ash Wednesday, which for us is a day of partial fasting and abstaining from meat (apart from the spiritual significance, of course). This sandwich was the perfect end to my day - so simple, and so delicious. You don't want to miss out on this one.

Here's what you need.

1 fresh baguette

3 hard boiled eggs

1 medium tomato

12-15 thin slices of cucumber

3 green leaf lettuce leaves

3 oz sliced provolone

3 tablespoons hummus

salt and pepper to taste

Slice the baguette lengthwise. You can hollow it out a bit to make room for the fillings, if you want.

Spread both sides with hummus (you can also use mayo - that's what we had in France. Hummus gave it great flavor, though - and it is much better for you).

Layer cheese, cucumber, and tomato.

Thinly slice eggs with a sharp knife. Layer on top of the tomatoes.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with the other half of your baguette.

Slice into quarters and enjoy!

Mmmmm.

jet lagged

2009-02-23T03:17:00.000-08:00

I just returned from ten fantastic days in London and Paris. It was a last minute trip that we couldn't resist when we saw the price of tickets ($350 roundtrip!).

So here I am, up at 3am, keeping my fingers crossed that toddler jet lag soon subsides and we can go back to sleeping through the night. Oh, that will be a sweet day indeed.

It was a great trip; we basically ate our way through Paris. The french know how to cook - crepes, croissants, baguettes, 350 kinds of cheese, soup, stews, salads, sandwiches... I didn't want to leave. And the best part? We walked miles and miles every day, so all guilt was erased.

And I am feeling inspired. The food was so simple and satisfying, I am going to try to recreate some of our favorites... and if it's good, I'll be sure to share.

chicken with a whole lotta garlic

2009-02-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

When I bought a new crock pot this year, I flipped through the little cookbook that came with it. Included was "Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic". I was intrigued and filed it away for a later date.

Last week, I did it. Well, kind of. I figured two heads of garlic was enough, so that's what I used. Let me tell you, it was good. Really, really good. And not overwhelmingly garlicky, either. The garlic made it almost sweet, and because you leave them unpeeled, they are perfect for spreading on warm, crusty bread when dinner rolls around.

So, here it is:

Chicken with 26 Cloves of Garlic

1 4.5-5 lb whole chicken, giblets removed

26 cloves of garlic (or two large heads), unpeeled

1 large lemon, cut into thirds

rosemary

tarragon

basil

(or whatever combo of spices you prefer)

4 stalks of celery, washed and trimmed

1/2 large onion, roughly chopped

salt and pepper

Wash chicken and pat dry.

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Line with celery and some of the onion, like this:

Sprinkle inside of chicken with salt and pepper. Stuff with lemon and remaining onion.

Place the chicken on top of the celery and sprinkle generously with spices and some salt and pepper. Place garlic all around chicken. It should look something like this:

Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours. Mine was done after 5 and basically fell apart upon removal from the pot. It was so tender and so juicy and was absolutely delicious. Even if it didn't look perfect.

* to reduce fat intake, we don't eat the skin. And really, it's not that appealing when it's been in a crock pot. Just slice your chicken up, and it'll come right off.

as promised

2009-01-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

I totally had fun with the pizza challenge. I am cooking up some more fun recipes (delicious and sneakily filled with vegetables). But for now, let's get down to it.

Greek-Inspired Pizza, a.k.a Flavor Explosion

the dough: I used this recipe. I substituted two of the cups of flour with whole wheat flour, increased the water to 1 1/4 cups, used olive oil and used honey instead of sugar. You can let it rise for 30 minutes - I didn't. I just rolled it out really thin and pre-baked for about 5 minutes. You can also buy ready made dough at Trader Joe's and that makes everything a little quicker.

1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella

1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

6 artichoke hearts (frozen or jarred), quartered

20 cherry tomatoes, quartered

10 calamata olives, pitted and diced

1/3 cup lowfat or fat free feta, crumbled

Layer everything atop your pizza dough in the order listed. Bake for 8-10 minutes (if pre-baked) at 375, or until the crust is slightly golden.

Slice and eat up! This TASTY pizza is one you can feel good about - iron, protein, calcium, fiber, antioxidants galore, plus loads of vitamins.

If you've got picky eaters, you can do what I did: halve the recipe (I even slice the dough in half before topping it), and slather one side with this sauce (super easy and even more antioxidants and nutrients! And you can freeze what you don't use) and top with 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella and 2 tablespoons of parmesan. Now everyone is happy!

**correction: I totally left out the olive oil! Oopsie. Just drizzle the dough with a little less than a tablespoon of olive oil before topping it.

light, healthy, delicious...tortilla soup

2009-01-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

I love all the ideas coming in - and I am going to work on some good pizza recipes very soon, I promise. In the mean time, here is some soup I whipped up last week that I think was a big success. I hope you think so, too...

Tortilla Soup (and it's good for you!)

1 lb. cherry tomatoes

2 med. carrots, peeled and cut into chunks

2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos**

32 oz chicken broth

2 cups water

1 t. salt

2-3 T taco seasoning (this is what I use - so easy and no MSG)

1.25 lbs ground turkey breast

1/2 lg onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

15 oz. frozen corn

15oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 avocado, sliced

shredded reduced fat cheese (I use a mexi-blend from TJ's)

4 whole wheat tortillas, toasted and crumbled (I did this in my toaster oven, but you can also do it under the broiler)

1 lime, sliced into wedges

**Before we get to it, I used 2 tablespoons of jalapenos from the jar in the fridge. This was one spicy soup. You can use one fresh jalapeno (seed it if you want to cut down on the heat) or if you don't like too much spice, dice up 1/2 of a bell pepper instead.

Place tomatoes, carrots and jalapeno in the food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely blended. Make it as smooth as you'd like. (I like to see little bit of tomato and carrot in there, but use some creative freedom.)

In a stock pot, brown ground turkey (I used ground turkey breast because it's lower in fat and calories, but use what you like) with onions and garlic. Once cooked through, add taco seasoning and let simmer for one minute.

Add in tomato/carrot mixture, broth, water, beans, corn and salt, if needed.

Simmer 30-45 minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls, and sprinkle each with toasted tortilla strips, 2 tablespoons of cheese, and 3 slices of avocado. Serve with a wedge of lime, and squeeze over the top just before serving.

This is one of our new favorites - enjoy!

what do YOU want?

2009-01-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

I have a few ideas rolling around that I am trying to decide on for my next attempt, but what I really want to know is:

What do you want to see on here?

Is there some recipe you'd like to see get a healthy makeover? Do you want to see more kid-friendly recipes? Main dishes? Soup? Apps? You decide what comes next.

Challenge me!

homemade grahams

2009-01-15T22:19:00.001-08:00

I have been wanting to make these for a long time. I am so glad I finally did - they are delicious! My kiddo loves graham crackers, but they all have high fructose corn syrup in them (I know there are some ads out there that say it's okay, but it really isn't. There may be more on that later.). So I looked for a recipe to try, and this was just the ticket. I found it on a few different blogs, and they were pretty much all the same. This is the version I made, a collaboration of them all.

3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat graham flour (you can use reg. whole wheat flour, if you want)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (keep it in the fridge 'til you need it)

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons molasses

1/4 cup cold water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together the flours, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Add the cold butter and mix or process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs (this took my kitchen aid a few minutes).

Add the honey, molasses, water, and vanilla. Mix until the dough comes together in a ball.

Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick between wax paper or plastic wrap.

Chill for 1 hour, until firm. Lightly flour the dough and roll 1/8-inch thick.

Cut into 2-inch squares (I used my pizza cutter).

Arrange on a nonstick or parchment lined cookie sheets.

With a fork, prick several holes in each cracker.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, until lightly browned at the edges (mine actually took 8).

Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan.

You'll never go back to the box. These are SO good and rich and satisfying and you can feel good about eating them. Try it!

some thoughts on fitness

2009-01-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

I was never really that into "working out". Some of my friends in college were runners (and still are), some visited the gym, and I was always sort of "meh" about the whole thing. I think most of it stemmed from being self-conscious about my lack of coordination, not being as fast as them, worried about wearing out quickly... basically I had a long list of excuses. Blah, blah, blah.

After college I moved to Washington, DC to intern in a house with inner-city kids, and my roommate was a cute little Norwegian (not little in the sense that she was a kid, but active, stylish and dainty). She worked out every single day at 5am. Talk about subconscious guilt. So I decided to join her. It took about 2 days to realize that I am not friends with the early morning, but I did get into a routine of going most days of the week in the afternoon.

I have had ups and downs as far as my dedication goes, but all in all, I get a deep satisfaction from a good workout. These days, I get in at least three per week, but the goal is four or five. They usually consist of a 3 mile run on the treadmill or some time on the elliptical. But the latest workout that I love and definitely feel the burn from: Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I love it! It's three workouts, each 25 minutes, and it's a combo of strength, cardio and abs. My husband even does it with me, which is a bonus. Plus, who doesn't have 25 minutes of spare time? So there really is no excuse for me to miss out.

Another discovery yesterday: On Demand. We haven't had cable for 2 years. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision to get it again, and the guy came yesterday to hook it up. Now we have On Demand and it comes with an exercise channel with at least 50 workouts. If you have OD, you should check it out, because The 30-Day is on there for a few more weeks. It will kick your tush!

It's a new year... never a better time to get motivated. It is really hard to do on your own. I certainly wouldn't have started without the help of my favorite European. Don't get discouraged if you've hit a slump - find a friend, some online buddies, a partner, spouse, sibling, parent - whatever it takes to get you moving. Something my husband tells me whenever I hem and haw about it: you'll never regret doing it, but you'll definitely regret not doing it.

So what gets you going? What's your routine? Who keeps you motivated? Do you have an end goal? I love hearing what keeps people moving!

roasted cauliflower

2009-01-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmmm.... This is one of the simplest, best tasting side dishes I have eaten in recent history. I have never been a huge fan of cauliflower - not that I had a distaste for it, but it just seemed so boring.

Until I tried it like this. I wanted to eat the entire pan (I practically did). It is so delicious and so easy and, of course, SO good for you. One serving supplies almost all the vitamin C you need for the day, plus a bunch of other good stuff (vitamin K, folate, fiber, etc.) and it has cancer-fighting properties. So go grab some and let's get started!

I had a 12 oz bag of fresh cauliflower, already washed and chopped from TJ's. If you are buying it whole, just aim for about 1 pound of it.

Wash it and cut it into bite size pieces. Blot dry and throw it on a cookie sheet.

Drizzle it with about a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.

Toss to coat and spread evenly on the pan.

Roast for 15-20 minutes at 425, until golden and tender.

Try not to eat it all straight from the pan. Try to share it.

And enjoy!

power salad

2009-01-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

This salad is packed with nutrients and major flavor. Talk about starting the year off right! One serving of this delivers a healthy dose of iron, protein, fiber, calcium, vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K, plus potassium, maganese, folate and tons of antioxidants. Plus, it can lower cholesterol.

Oh yeah, and it is deeeeeelicious. It's based on yet another recipe discovered on allrecipes.com, with some additions and subtractions, and my own dressing, of course.

Here's whatchya need:

2 cups shelled edamame (soybeans)

1 cup shredded carrots

1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 10oz bag frozen sweet corn

1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon cumin

kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

Combine edamame, carrots, tomatoes, corn, beans and onions.

Whisk lime juice, oil, honey and cumin. Toss with salad.

Sprinkle with about 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a few grinds of pepper.

Cover and refrigerate for about an hour to let flavors meld.

Eat up!

You could fill up on this as is, throw it in a tortilla, or serve it with grilled chicken or shrimp for dinner. It is filling and fresh, and you really ought to try it.

Happy new year!

how about a giveaway?

2009-01-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

"The Secret is in the Sauce" is having a fantastic giveaway. Check it out here!

You can win a Keurig Platinum Brewing System, plus $50 worth of K-cups... and it's not just for coffee - you can whip up tea, hot chocolate, chai... something warm and toasty to melt away winter. Go enter - don't miss out!

may i direct your attention to...

2008-12-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! As most of you, I have been happily busy enjoying time with family and friends over the holidays. Blogging has taken the back burner, but I have been thinking up some healthy and tasty treats that I will bring in the new year. Another day of indulgence, right? (In moderation, of course).

I wanted to point you in the direction of some really great recipes I've run across lately.

First, I'd urge you to try this locro soup. I spent several months in Ecuador when I was in college, and I practically lived off of this stuff. I was a vegetarian at the time, and that didn't seem to translate there, but this soup was a staple. It's a creamy, delicious potato soup - and it is healthy, too. I like to use yellow potatoes and top it off with a little reduced fat feta and sliced avocado. The recipe calls for achiote powder, but feel free to substitute paprika. It really is worth a try!

Secondly, the CrockPot Lady saves the day again! I made a batch of her chicken and rice the other night - and it was absolutely delicious. I wanted an easy, healthy, tasty meal, and that's what we got. If you still haven't taken to brown rice, don't worry - it cooks up perfectly tender. And say goodbye to cream-of-whatever soups in this version - you make your own, and it comes together in a snap! *Just a note from me: it needs some salt, and I threw the chicken breasts in frozen, under the rice, and they cooked in under 4 hours on high.

I wish you all an enjoyable, safe, and happy new year! Bring on 2009!

a new take on chicken noodle soup

2008-12-21T11:41:00.001-08:00

It is cooooold outside. The ground is covered in beautiful, sparkly snow and I am house bound while my husband is off rescuing people who couldn't drive in the snow. He is such a good man.

I thought I'd whip up some soup while he is away so that he has something warm and hearty to come home to. I found a recipe on my favorite recipe site and changed it up a bit, using what I have on hand and making it a bit healthier. I think you're gonna like it. And if you don't, don't tell me.

Chicken Vegetable Ravioli Soup

1 tsp. olive oil

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

1 cup shredded carrot

1 clove garlic, minced

4 cups chicken broth (I used 2 cups of my chicken stock + 2 cups water)

1 cup dried cheese ravioli

1 14.5oz. can diced tomatoes

2 med. zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried basil

1/2-2 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onion in oil 'til just tender.

Add carrot and garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.

Add broth and bring to a boil.

Add ravioli and reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes, zucchini and basil. Simmer until vegetables and ravioli are tender.

Add chicken and parsley 5 minutes before serving (this way it doesn't dry out, as can happen with chicken breast in soup).

If you want, sprinkle with a little parmesan and serve. Healthy, hearty - and it'll warm you right up!

look what i made!

2008-12-17T20:21:00.000-08:00

This is a proud moment. While I love to cook, I am just getting my feet wet as a baker. (Maybe I shouldn't talk about feet and baked goods at the same time. Sorry). Anyway, as a tribute to my recent jaunt to New York, I tried my hand at bagels today. And I was pretty pleased with the results.

If any of you are interested, here is the recipe I used. The only thing that I did differently was substituting half of the white flour with whole wheat. They turned out great!

If you want to make them "everything" bagels like I did, just sprinkle the top with poppy and sesame seeds, diced onion and garlic and just a touch of kosher salt. I actually toasted my onion and garlic before baking, but I don't really think you need to.

And I wanna know - have you made bagels before? What'd you put in them? I'd love tips and ideas. They take a little time, but they're worth it - I am looking forward to more experimenting!

one of my most favorite foods

2008-12-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

My experimenting was postponed. Busy schedules, changed plans and snow storms intervened. I promise a new and interesting recipe this week. In the meantime, how about an old classic? At least it is in my family. This recipe is simple and quick to come together, and sure to please a crowd. And I have loved it since I was a little kid, requesting it on every birthday. Now that I am all grown up, I make it at least once a month.

This meat sauce cooks all day in the crock pot. We usually top off a big pile of spaghetti with it, but it's great in lasagna, atop ravioli, over grilled eggplant - whatever your heart desires. And please don't be scared off by ground beef. I use the leanest kind you can find (you can, of course, use ground turkey, but it's actually not that much better for you - they grind the skin and fat right in). This rich, thick sauce is low in fat and extremely high in antioxidants (hello, tomatoes!). It'll do your body good, and it'll make a cold day comfy.

Here's what you need:

1 lb. ground beef

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 32oz. can stewed tomatoes

2 6oz. cans tomato paste

1/4 cup fresh parsley

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, brown the meat with the onion and garlic.

Drain fat.

Add meat mixture to the crock pot, along with the rest of your ingredients.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

How easy is that?

Try it, love it, pass it on.

it's been awhile, folks.

2008-12-11T23:31:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! I just got back from four glorious days in New York with some good college friends. It was days of eating good food and feeling just fine about it because we walked everywhere. Definitely got in those 10,000 steps!

I promise you a good recipe coming right up. I was inspired by a few things I saw on my flight (six hours with directTV = a lot of the Food Network), so I am going to experiment tomorrow. I'll letchya know how it goes. In the mean time, hope you all are enjoying the wonder of the season! Peace.

green bean casserole minus the soup

2008-12-02T23:50:00.000-08:00

I love green bean casserole. We didn't have it for Thanksgiving this year as we had about a million other things, so I am holding out for Christmas. I made some this week, and the recipe was inspired by my friend, Sample Lady, at Trader Joe's. I love that place.

This dish has fewer calories and less sodium and no weird ingredients from canned soup (not that I can really bag on the stuff, because the original is so darn tasty). But this is a very, very good alternative. Really, you should try it. Really.

OHM's Green Beans

1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and rinsed (you can use frozen if you'd like)

salt and pepper to taste

2/3 cup grated gruyere cheese

1/2 cup sliced almonds

2/3 cup canned fried onions (I used TJ's and they don't have any weird chemicals either, but use what you can)

Put your beans in a pan and cover with water. Add a dash of salt.

Simmer for 5-7 minutes, 'til tender-crisp; drain.

In a baking dish (I used my pie plate), toss with cheese, almonds and onions.

Cover and bake for about 15 minutes at 350.

Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and voila!

I promise this is good. All those textures and flavors together give you a nice fresh alternative to the ol' standby. Give 'er a go!

merry SITSmas!

2008-12-01T23:02:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, there is a great blog out there called The Secret is in the Sauce - it's a community of bloggers who have a lot of great stuff to say, cute creations to share, and alotta love to give. And all day Tuesday they are doing giveaways in the spirit of Christmas (every hour!! grand prize: target gift card. oh yeah.). Gotta love it.

This is my cute little elf last Christmas. Oh man, I love him. And I love this time of year. It doesn't get any better than December. A time to be thankful for our abundant blessings. A time to for appreciate small joys (lights, hot chocolate, Christmas music) and huge gifts (a loving family, a roof over our heads).

I hope this season finds you full of love and joy and a deep gratitude for all that we've been given. Peace be with each of you this day and every day!

Much love,

OHM

do you wanna win?

2008-12-01T21:25:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't want to win something? Well, if you have a blog and you want to be in the running for 200 bucks at Target (ooooh, I love that place), you might want to look here.

baked oatmeal

2008-11-30T23:18:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you all have heard about the CrockPot Lady, but her blog is pretty amazing. She has been making something new in her crock pot every day this year and from what I have seen, it all looks super healthy, and tasty to boot.

I was browsing through it tonight and came upon this recipe for baked oatmeal, which I am going to try this week. As if oatmeal could be any easier, she comes up with a very convenient way to prep it for the week. And she says it tastes like cookies, so really, how could you go wrong?

Shall we try it together? Let me know what you think if you do try it. I know one kid who is going to love it.

12/14/08 update: LOVE IT!

exercise of thankfulness

2008-11-27T08:26:00.000-08:00

What are you thankful for this year?

here's mine (in no particular order):

husband

baby

home

family

sesame street

chocolate

neighbors

health

faith

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Enjoy every moment of today.

holiday mind games

2008-11-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

I read a disturbing fact the other day. On average, we consume an average of 619 extra calories per day between Thanksgiving and New Years. Yep, that's about seven pounds when it's all said and done. Yowsas.

On a more positive note, I read an article this summer that helped give me a better outlook on how much we eat. Whenever the author was in front of something she really liked, like brownies, she always (as I do because I am normal) wanted to eat as much as she could. Then one day she realized it wasn't the last brownie she was ever going to eat (or cookie or chip or slice of pie or beer or...). That thought made it much easier for her to eat one brownie rather than four (or eight, whatever). Her thought made so much sense!

I don't have a lot of willpower. But from that perspective, it has been a lot easier to have a small portion of whatever it is that is being served. Studies are starting to show that you can actually train yourself to have willpower by making small daily choices in the right direction. No better time to put that into practice than this week. We are about to enter into a world of temptation!

I really believe in moderation. No, fudge isn't good for you. But oh man, it sure is good. And stuffing? It's not a holiday without it. So don't deny yourself the pleasure of good food, just remember it's probably not the last time you're going to eat it. What other tricks can you try to limit the high calorie intake?

drink a lot of water. At least one glass between other beverages, and one full glass before you start snacking.
don't be afraid to load up on raw vegetables at the appetizer table. (but watch the dip)
take a walk during halftime (or during the game if you are as bored by it as I can be)
grab a seat as far from the snacks as possible

And if all else fails, just get in a good workout (speed shopping, anyone?) on Friday.

Got any tips or tricks up your sleeve? Share them!

delicious baked salmon

2008-11-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

Warning: If you have an aversion to mayonnaise, read no further. I always use light mayo to cut the fat and calories, even though I know it's isn't totally pure in it's ingredients. I rarely use mayo at all, but I used it for my salmon, so there you go.

Salmon is unbelievably good for you. It does amazing things for your heart and is one of the best sources of omega-3's that you can get. If you want to read just how good it is, I found a great article here. Check it out. Now, let's get down to business.

This is a super quick and easy way to get delicious salmon that I think even fish-haters would enjoy. It is so so good. I got the recipe several years ago from a couple of friends, who happened to be brothers, that were avid fishermen. So I trusted them with my salmon. They knew what they were doing!

Creamy Baked Salmon

serves 3

1 lb. fresh salmon (I used atlantic)

1 lemon, sliced in half

1 1/2 tablespoons light mayonnaise

salt + freshly ground pepper

Drizzle your pan with just a touch of olive oil.

Place the salmon skin side down in the pan, like this:

Squeeze half of your lemon all over the salmon and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

Sprinkle with salt (I like Kosher) and freshly ground pepper.

Spread mayo all over the top, like this:

(yes, I switched to a pie plate, sorry for the inconsistency)

Now just pop in the oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until it's light pink and flaky.

Squeeze on the rest of your lemon and voila!

Creamy salmon goodness. By using light mayo, you're only adding about 15 calories per serving. With butter, you'd be adding closer to 50-100. And trust me, this is good. (And if you're worried, it really tastes nothing like mayonnaise - my husband complimented the "sauce", so you don't even have to tell people what it is).

Serve this up with some steamed asparagus and some oven fries and you've got a quick, healthy, delicious dinner. Enjoy!

wholesome homemade chicken stock

2008-11-20T20:48:00.000-08:00

I am a reformed vegetarian. For ten years, I stayed away from the flesh. But then, one fateful night my love interest enticed me with a chicken burrito. I ended up marrying him, and have been eating meat ever since.

Even though that was almost exactly five years ago, I still had a major fear of cooking a whole chicken. A fear and a fascination. I was determined to cook a whole bird - bones, skin and all. And this last weekend, I did it - faced that big, pink, bumpy bird right in its decapitated neck. It kinda grossed me out, but once it was all said and done (and fully cooked), I was proud, satisfied and ready to eat. I followed this recipe, and it truly was Real Simple.

I can't believe I haven't done this before. It's so cheap and so delicious - and you can literally use the whole chicken. The next day I made chicken stock with the leftover carcass (pardon the gross word). You can do it, too! Here's how it started:

And here's what you need:

Chicken Stock

1 leftover chicken carcass

1 large onion

2 stalks celery

1 large carrot (optional)

fresh parsley (I had a ton in my herb container, you can throw in whatever herbs you prefer)

salt + pepper

water

Stick the chicken, vegetables (roughly chopped) and parsley in a large stock pot.

Add just enough water to cover the ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmering and allow to simmer uncovered for 4-6 hours.

If there is any fat on top, skim it off.

Strain into a container and allow to cool completely before you cover and put in the freezer or refrigerator.

It'll keep in the fridge for 3 days. Otherwise, you can put them into individual bags and freeze for later use. This is what it ended up looking like:

All that cooked down to four little cups of rich chicken goodness. Perfect for soups, stews, sauces...

So, if you haven't done it already, you really ought to try it. A whole chicken for $5 and multiple meals? Can't beat it.

the pantry...

2008-11-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

I used to go to the grocery store like five times per week. I am not kidding. Sometimes daily. I am not an organized person by any stretch, but this is one area I needed to get my act together in. I don't think it happened 'til after my little one was born and I couldn't just "run in" - I had to carry a carseat, which was carrying a baby and then that baby became a toddler... you get the idea.

So I started to think about the basics - the things that should always be in my pantry or freezer or fridge so that I could cook dinner without running out to the store. Now it's like second nature and I only go to the store once a week, sometimes twice if I really need to. And I don't make lists! Well, sometimes I do, but they usually get forgotten in the car. I am going to share with you my essentials, things that make a healthy meal come together fairly quickly.

beans (black, kidney and cannelini)

canned tomatoes (diced, stewed, sauce, paste, etc.)

rice (jasmine, brown, wild)

pasta

whole wheat multigrain bread

tortillas (whole wheat and flour)

low sodium chicken broth

oil (olive and canola)

frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts

frozen peas

frozen spinach

frozen fruit (mangoes + various berries)

milk

cheese

yogurt

lots of fruits and veggies

oats

There are a million combos just from that little list. Tacos, spaghetti, stir fry, fried rice, rice and beans, dirty rice (I love rice, okay?), soup, smoothies, endless pasta dishes, and on and on... We have other stuff, too - crackers and sauces and everything you need to bake something tasty, but you get the idea.

So what are your essentials? The stuff your family can't get enough of? What is always in your pantry? Are you a grocery store junkie? I want to know...

why i am not big on artificial sweeteners

2008-11-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, first let me say that I love diet coke. And I'll throw a packet of Splenda into something maybe once or twice a month. But that's where it ends, people. And the diet coke thing - that's only once a week, at most. I used to use artificial sweetener daily. Like multiple times a day. But those days are in the past. Let me tell you why.

We've all heard that most artificial sweeteners are bad for us. And then they came up with Splenda. And now they sell it in the baking aisle. So why not? Well, for one thing it isn't natural. It is made using chlorine. Last time I checked, that's not something you want to ingest. Whole Foods won't even sell it, or anything that contains it (there are 3,500 products on the market with it as an ingredient) because it isn't natural and there have been no long-term studies done to see its effects.

Secondly, studies are now showing that artificial sweeteners do not yield the same response that natural sugars do. So when we're craving something sweet and we eat something sugar free, we aren't going to experience a satisfaction for that desire. In other words, we're still gonna want the chocolate. Plus, there have been no connections between eating and drinking sugar free products and weight loss.

In short, I won't use it when I bake. And I am trying not to use it in my drinks. And I definitely definitely will not let me child eat anything made with it. And if I don't let him eat it, I probably shouldn't either.

So, what can we use instead? I am all about the real deal. I like to keep things wholesome, even if that means a little sugar. I try to use evaporated cane juice (organic sugar), but I'm not above a little C&H. I also use honey, blue agave nectar (it has a lower glycemic index so it prevents a crash), unsweetened applesauce, or mashed banana to make things a bit more nutritious. Don't be afraid of the real stuff! Remember, "you can't get somethin' for nothin'" has been quoted by parents the world over for a reason - it's true.

an award for me? wow, thanks!

2008-11-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you thank you to my friend, The Ordinary Housewife. She gave me this very special award, and it's my very first!

Now it's my job to pass it on. I have recently discovered a blog that I think is really cute.

Little Snails and Puppy Tails

They have really cute stuff and monthly giveaways. Check it out!

As part of receiving the award, I need to list six things I love.

traveling.

artsy projects.

my family.

a good magazine.

tea.

whenever my kid says something i didn't know he knew how to say.

Enjoy your Sunday - rest, relax, be with people you love.

the 80 calorie cookie

2008-11-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

I am pretty excited about this one. Mostly because I love chocolate chip cookies and I want to justify eating them. On average, a chocolate chip cookie has about 125 calories. Some have a lot more, some have a little less. So maybe it's not an average. I never liked math.

Anyway, this cookie recipe is easy and chances are your kids won't be able to tell the difference between this one and the butter-laden cookies they're used to.

Don't Feel Guilty Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large egg whites

3/4 cup chocolate chips (I like semisweet)

Preheat your oven to 350. Combine flours, baking soda, and salt.

Combine sugars, butter and sour cream. Beat on medium until well blended.

Add vanilla and egg whites and beat for 1 minute.

Add flour mixture and beat until blended.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoon onto baking sheets (which should be sprayed with Pam since you don't have tons of butter in these babies to keep them from sticking).

Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned.

Cool on pans for a few minutes before transferring them to a rack or plate, or wherever you cool your cookies.

Should make 48 cookies.

Enjoy!

one of our favorite things

2008-11-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

Since he was tiny, my kid has loved books. I don't know if it's the snuggling that accompanies it, the stories, the pictures, our voices... whatever it is, he can sit and listen to four or five books at a time. We do it everyday before his nap and every evening before he goes to bed. He is getting to an age where he likes to pick the books out, and has most of them memorized so that he can "read" them to us. It's little moments like this that completely make my day.

One story in particular is requested almost daily. It's to the point that he recites parts of it when we're driving because he thinks it's so funny. And we love it, too. It is a cute story with great illustrations.

If you don't already have it, get it. It is good for toddlers probably through age 5.

So this is just a time out to remind you to grab some quality time with your kid(s). They will cherish your undivided attention, and it will bring peace to your day. Whether it's reading, coloring together, singing, playing a game - give them your all for a little snippet of their day - they'll thank you for it (eventually).

healthy breakfast = scones?

2008-11-11T22:51:00.000-08:00

Yep. These little babies are good for you. And they have less calories than the new mini scones they offer at Starbucks. Seriously, I got one of those, thinking, "Well, it is petite". Yeah, not so petite in the calorie department. Anyway, here is a healthy and tasty alternative. Have them for breakfast, have them for tea, have them whenever - they're good.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 egg, beaten until kinda frothy
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup skim milk
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper (or just spray it with some Pam).
Mix the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, and dried fruit.
Make a well in the center.
Add butter, milk and applesauce to your frothy egg (sorry, I know that sounds a little unpleasant).
Pour into the well, and mix until you have a soft dough.
Pat into two 1/2" thick circles and put them on your cookie sheet. Score 8 wedges into each circle.
Bake 15 minutes until they rise a bit and turn golden. Split them into wedges and serve.

And be proud of yourself when you eat them! My kiddo loves these "cones" - I hope yours does, too!

absolutely the best chili i've ever had.

2008-11-06T19:08:00.001-08:00

Not only is this chili low in fat and calories, full of protein, and absolutely delicious, it's also super easy. So pull out the crock pot and get going. You aren't going to regret it.

Chicken Corn Chili
3-4 chicken breasts
24 oz. tub of fresh salsa
2 cloves minced garlic
scant tablespoon chili powder
2 heaping teaspoons cumin
2 cans black beans
2 cans kidney beans
10 oz. bag frozen corn

Put chicken (can still be frozen - even easier!), salsa, garlic and spices in the crock pot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. It pretty much falls apart at this point, and doesn't take much effort. Add remaining ingredients, give it a quick stir, and cook for another 2-3 hours on low. We like to add a dollop of non-fat plain yogurt or sour cream and sprinkle a little cheese on top. This has less than 200 calories per serving and about 2 grams of fat before you add your toppings.

I whipped up a batch of heart healthy cornbread to go with it. I am working on perfecting the recipe, so stay tuned for that addition soon. I even made enchiladas out of the leftovers, using whole wheat tortillas... You can use it for burritos, too.

This has become a staple at our house - let me know how you like it!

10,000 steps

2008-11-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

That is the recommended amount we're supposed to take each day. On average, that's about 5 miles. And it means that unless you are on your feet all day long, chances are you are going to have to get in at least 30 minutes of concentrated exercise.

Okay, so there is no scientific data behind it - some woman in Japan came up with the idea as a way to get people up on their feet and get moving. And it isn't a bad one, is it? I mean, the average person walks about 5,000 steps per day, which isn't terrible, but it's only half of what is considered ideal.

I bought a pedometer this week to get an idea of how many steps I am taking. Keep in mind I have a toddler who likes to walk and climb and move and climb and explore and climb. You get the idea. So I figured my steps were up there. Plus, I try to get a little extra movement in there - walking, ellipticalling (did I make that word up?), etc. On a good day, I got to 8,000. On a slow day, I got to 4K. I definitely had to put in the extra mile (literally) at the gym to hit the ten thousand mark.

How many steps do you think you take? What is your goal? Hourly, daily, weekly? What can you do to go a little further each day? Want some ideas?

go for a walk (okay, kinda obvious). did you know you burn 20% more calories pushing a stroller?

dance with your child. or for your child. mine thinks it's hilarious (as would most witnesses).

go shopping. grocery store, farmers market, the mall (most have great play areas), main street - whatever

park (much) further from your destination than you normally would. (do you really need to be right near the entrance?)

Now I want to hear your thoughts. What motivates you? What creative things do you do to get moving?

i promised you chocolate...

2008-11-02T10:54:00.001-08:00

Okay, so this might not be classified as "healthy" but it is most definitely healthier than any frosting you are going to find on the shelf. Have you ever read the labels on those little jars? Trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and a bunch of other indecipherable ingredients that don't make me feel very good about putting it in my mouth (though it is incredibly tasty)... So this is my go-to chocolate frosting that is super easy and I promise tastes better than anything in a little plastic tub.

The Best Chocolate Frosting

2 1/4 cups powdered sugar

6-7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

6 tablespoons butter, softened (not quite to room temperature)

5 tablespoons non-fat evaporated milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sift sugar and cocoa together and set aside.

Cream butter with electric mixer.

Gradually beat in sugar mixture, alternating with evaporated milk.

Beat in vanilla and continue mixing until fluffy.

Mmmmm... chocolate. It doesn't get any better. See how I made it healthy by putting it on some fruit? But don't be fooled, I ate cake.

coming soon...

2008-10-31T22:12:00.000-07:00

My oh my. My computer has been out of country for many days (long silly story). But I have fun recipes coming! Scones, chili, chocolate frosting... Stay tuned!

did you know?

2008-10-23T09:19:00.001-07:00

Did you know that the acidity from a lime or lemon is a natural deodorizer and germ-killer for your wooden cutting boards? Just slice off the end and rub it around on your board. It will kill all the gross bacteria that lingers and get rid of any funky garlic/onion smells hanging around. Plus you get that fresh citrus scent!

want some fries with that?

2008-10-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

My kid's newest culinary discovery is french fries. Since a recent trip to California where we made two stops at In-N-Out, he makes regular requests for fries. I considered picking some up in the frozen food aisle the other day and then thought to myself, "Why?" I mean, it takes about 3 minutes to prep your own, so that's what I did.

Here is what you need:

2 russet potatoes, scrubbed

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.

Cut potatoes into 1/2 inch strips.

Put them on a cookie sheet and toss with oil, sprinkle with salt

Lay them out all nice and neat, give them their personal space so they can crisp up.

Cook for 12-15 minutes and then flip each of them over with a spatula, and make sure they stay nice and spaced out.

Put 'em back in for about 10-15 minutes.

Mmmmm....fries. Or as the kid likes to call them: fwies.

Russet potatoes are high in vitamins C and B6, and are even better for you if you keep the skin on. Sweet Potatoes can also be prepped this way, and they are definitely a superfood, full of vitamin A and beta carotene.

Either way, you can feel pretty good about this side dish, and they are a snap to prepare!

the best dip ever

2008-10-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Some people call it Cowboy Caviar, some people call it salsa, some people call it dip. I just call it amazingly good. Not just because it is really good for you, but because it tastes so good, so fresh, so tasty. It tastes so tasty? Anyway, you really should try this as soon as possible. It's so good you'll probably want to have some on hand all the time.

Here are your ingredients:

(actually this photo shows how much you need to double it, so just pay attention to the recipe)

1 lb. bag of frozen white corn

1 15.5 ounce can black beans, rinsed

2-3 roma tomatoes diced (or 1 15.5 oz. can diced tomatoes)

1 bell pepper, diced (I used orange because it was on sale and it completed my rainbow, but any color will work)

1 large, semi-ripe (still kinda firm, no mush) avocado, diced (optional)

1 4 oz. can jalapenos (optional. you can also use fresh or pickled)

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

1/2 red onion, diced *this was missing from my photo - oopsie.

1/4 cup italian dressing (I like the light balsamic vinaigrette myself)

juice from 1/2 lime

salt to taste (I don't use it because the chips are usually salty enough)

Combine all ingredients and chill for at least an hour to let the flavors kind of meld and marry and get prepared for delighting your palette to no end.

I serve mine with the blue chips because they are better for you than regular old corn chips. You choose what works for you and yours. This is so good, you could just use a spoon if the situation was right.

What makes it so beneficial? Corn has vitamins B1, B5, folate, and vitamin C. Black beans have antioxidants and are full of fiber, plus they maintain blood sugar levels. Tomatoes contain iron, vitamins A and C, potassium, and can seriously reduce the risk of cancer. Peppers contain more vitamins, plus thiamin, beta carotene and folic acid. Onions can also reduce your risk for cancer. Even cilantro is known to help control blood sugar and lower cholesterol. And I've already told you about the avocados.

So don't just make it because it's so delicious, do it because your body needs you to.

And let me know whatchya think.

really really healthy (and delicious) soup

2008-10-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing recipe. I adapted it from a "fat-burning" soup I found on my favorite recipe site - changed it up here and there to our tastes, and I think it was well worth the effort! (Okay, it didn't take that long, but still.)

This super hearty, vegetable laden, semi-stew is so filling and only has about 170 calories per serving! It's a great lunch and makes about 10 servings, so you can freeze a bunch for later. Don't be intimidated by the chopping - it took about 30 minutes of prep time.

3 carrots, chopped

1 large onion, sliced in half, then sliced into thin strips

5 stalks of celery, chopped

1 head of green cabbage, chopped

3 yellow squash (like zucchini), sliced

1/2 lb. fresh green beans, chopped

1-1.25 lbs ground turkey breast (optional)

1 bottle (1 qt + 14oz) low sodium V-8 juice

32 oz low sodium chicken, beef, or vegetable broth

1 packet onion soup mix

1 28oz. can whole tomatoes

pepper to taste

Don't all those vegetables just make you feel healthier? Get chopping!

Now brown the turkey with the onions until cooked through. Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes.

I know something this good for you doesn't seem like it would be very satisfying, but this is seriously delicious. And what better time of year for a hot, steamy bowl of soup?

good for you granola

2008-10-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Granola is packed with hearty, filling, nutritious goodness. It can also be packed with calories. I looked at a few recipes, did some tweaking, altered some ingredients and came up with this delicious alternative to the high-fat, expensive stuff in a box.

As usual, you can adjust some things to your liking. Switch up what nuts/seeds you use, alternate the dried fruit. Do what you want. A little of this goes a long way. One serving is about a 1/2 cup with 230 calories. Sprinkle it on your yogurt, douse it with milk, warm it up on a cold morning for a hot treat.

4 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)

1 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup flax seed, slightly ground in food processor or blender

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped

Preheat your oven to 300 F.

Mix oats, wheat germ, flax and nuts. In another bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, applesauce, honey, vanilla and water.

Combine wet and dry ingredients until well coated.

Spray 2 9X13" pans with cooking spray and divide mixture evenly.

Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.

Once the granola has cooled a bit, add in cranberries and apricots and keep in an airtight container. Makes about 18 servings.

This is a fiber-rich, protein packed, hunger-curbing breakfast that will keep you going all morning. Did you know cinnamon naturally keeps your blood sugar from crashing? And the flax seed has omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy heart, clearer thinking, and beautiful skin. Every ingredient does something good for your body - and how fun is it to say you made it yourself?

i've been tagged.

2008-10-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to The Ordinary Housewife, I've been tagged. Watch out - you might be next!

Here are 7 little known facts about me:

I love green tea. I wish I loved it as much as I love chai, but I really do like it.
I love fun projects: from gardening, to sewing, to cooking, to painting. Anything I can create that's "me", that's what gets me going.
I have been to 5 out of 7 continents.
I think reality tv makes us less intelligent, but I really like it.
I met Punky Brewster when I was little. I know that's not her real name, but that's who she is to me.
I wish I was a good swimmer, but I'm really not.
I don't like bananas. Unless they are baked into something or in a smoothie (see post below).

If you have been tagged (ha ha, gotcha), here are the rules of the game:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog. Some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving there names and links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are some of my favorite blogs (I admit most of them don't know who I am). Check them out and let them know how much you love them, too:

Growing a Family

Angry Chicken

Becky and Bjorn Livin' Large

smmmmmoothies.

2008-10-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

Something I've realized lately is that I just don't eat enough fruit. Vegetables I can eat until the cows come home, but fruit is just sort of meh. My husband and kiddo down it like it's going out of style, and that just makes me feel guilty. Solution?

Smoothies. I love them and it's basically a fruit salad by straw, which I can handle. I throw in a few extras to make it more filling and even more nutritious.

Here is my recipe, which can be altered to taste. This version has about 120 calories per serving, and makes about two servings.

1 banana

1 cup frozen fruit (I mix it up. blueberries + strawberries, mango + blackberries, etc.)

1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/2 cup low-fat milk

2 tablespoons wheat germ

Put the bananas and frozen fruit in the food processor or blender and give it whirl to break it all up, but not pulverize it. Add in the yogurt, milk and wheat germ and blend 'til smooth. Taste it. If it's too tart, depending on your fruit, add a little less than a tablespoon of honey to sweeten the deal.

For my toddler, I cut this with milk for a thinned out sippy cup treat. He slurps it down in about 30 seconds.

The frozen fruit makes it nice and icy without being annoyingly slushy, which is what happens with ice. Sometimes I even throw in a little frozen spinach for extra iron (you can't taste it, I promise). You can sub juice for the milk if you like, but I like the extra calcium and less sugar that comes with milk. But, like I said, mix it up to your liking and share the love with your kids.

quite possibly the perfect snack

2008-10-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

I love avocados. I really, really love them.

Do you know how good these are for you? They have vitamins A, C, K, E and B6. Not to mention niacin, biotin, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium and protein. Oh yeah, and they cover 30% of your fiber for the day. It also has plant compounds that help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. What more could you ask for? Plus they are creamy and delicious.

They can also be a great snack for the little ones. You can mash it up and throw in a teaspoon or two of wheat germ for an extra punch of protein. Sometimes I'll throw in a hard boiled egg yolk. Even a little pureed spinach for extra iron. It's all masked by the buttery goodness of that yummy avocado. My kid will eat just about anything smothered in it.

Yeah, I know, they run about 3 bucks a pop at the grocery store right now. But, you can buy a 4 pack for about 4 dollars in most stores (we get ours at Trader Joe's). The beauty of bulk.

I am so thankful for the first guy that cracked one of these things open and dug in. The world is a better place.

let's start with the basics

2008-10-01T10:13:00.001-07:00

Water. We all know we're supposed to drink it. Our parents, doctors, teachers have told us our whole lives: drink 8 glasses a day. Did you know your body, which is 60-70% water, needs 64 ounces of water per day? It doesn't want it, it needs it. Did you know it helps circulation, digestion, concentration, energy levels, complexion and diet? And no, coffee, caffeinated tea, juice, soda, alcohol, and milk don't count.

So get going! Fill up that bottle or glass and drink drink drink all day long. You'll feel better, trust me.

(disclaimer: this does not apply to babies - breastmilk, formula and milk - that's what the little guys need)