Hungry Happy Healthy

Garden Update - Planting Day

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:59:00 +0000

Main Garden

My mercy what a busy weekend it was! My father did most of the planting, so I was on "Burn" detail. We had a burn pile from all the brush gathered up over the winter. Hot, hot, hot! So, as promised, here are all the lovelies planted so far, as well as some established plantings that are already popping out.

Here is the main garden. We have a row of turnips, a row of mustard, a row of Blue Lake climbing green beans, 2 Ichiban eggplants, 2 Globe eggplants, 1 cayenne pepper, 2 green bell peppers, 2 jalapeno peppers, 1 serrano pepper, and a full row of tomatoes.


Baby Tomato

Here is one of our newly planted tomatoes. This year we chose the following varieties: Rutgers, Pink Brandywine, Mr. Stripey (my favorite), Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Golden Jubilee, Mortgage Lifter, German Johnson, Sweet 100 Cherry, and a Yellow Pear. Most of these are Bonnie Plants, but if you can find Chef Jeff, they have the best variety of Heirlooms. We use a mixture of the Sweet 100 Cherry and Yellow Pear to make our "World Famous" homemade sundried tomatoes packed in olive oil. Here's the recipe I shared with you last year.

Potatoes

Down the trail we have another patch where we planted the potatoes (Red and Yukon Gold), onions (white, yellow super sweet, and red), multiplying shallots, and garlic earlier. You can see they are popping up like crazy! We also planted 2 rows of Silver Queen corn down here.


Onions

Up on the hill (yes my dad has 3 separate gardens) we planted the crookneck squash, zucchini, cucumbers, Peaches and Cream corn, and black-eyed peas. There's no pic for these since nothing has popped up yet.

The fruit trees and bushes are coming out like crazy as well. You can see here the baby blueberries, the peach tree blossoming in bright pink, and the figs are already coming on the bush! The scuppernongs are leafing out. You might know them better as muscadines. And, the strawberries apparently love the new gutter planters. You can see the baby strawberries already busting out of the blooms.


Blueberries

Baby Figs


Peach Blossoms


Scuppernongs

Baby Strawberries

Here are a few more of the blooms popping up around the yard:

Tea Olive - smells like freshly cut peaches

Creeping Phlox

Lenten Rose

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoy tending all these wonderful delights. My hope is you will get outside and have some fun in your garden this year as well. Please send along your garden pics, and I will be posting them for us to share.

Happy Gardening!

Saturday...In the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:22:00 +0000

Not sure what the weather is like at your place, but let me give you a little encouragement this Saturday to get outside and boost your Vitamin D stores. Most experts these days are agreeing that the majority of adults have low levels of Vitamin D due to our lack of outdoor activities and use of sunscreen. Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with depression and fatigue. I was recently diagnosed with low levels and have been supplementing throughout the winter. Winter is the most common time to have low levels because we are naturally inside more often. But now that the days are getting longer and warmer, take some time to get outside and get some Vitamin D the way your body was intended to...Sunshine! A mere 15 minutes a day of direct sunlight exposure will go a long way to boost your stores and improve your overall mood.

Today I have to work another wedding, but tomorrow is planting day! I can't wait to share our gardens with you. What are you planting this year?

Happy Saturday!

Five Friday Favorites - Spring Blossoms

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Since it is Gardening Week here at HHH, I wanted to share with you my Five Favorite Blooms for Spring. All of these are hardy Southeastern plants that you can easily incorporate into your landscape.

1. Azalea - But of course! What would a Southern yard be without at least one azalea? I love this miniature white variety, but I am especially smitten with the new Encores that bloom three times a year. I am always so sad when the blooms are gone and you have to wait a whole year for more. Azaleas will take full sun to partial shade and need lots of water.

2. Carolina Jasmine - So fragrant, and so prolific. You can hardly do wrong with this plant. Just plant them in an area with a lot of sun. They will continue to propagate on their own and are easily trained into a trellis or as a great cover for a fence.

3. Creeping Phlox - A beautiful ground-cover that just begs your attention in the Spring. They come in a variety of colors: red, white, blue, pink, rose, lavender, purple or variegated. They also like full sun and moist but well-drained soil. I love this spray around my neighbor's mailbox in light purple.

4. Vinca - Another beautiful ground-cover but this one prefers shade. This is Vinca major, but you can also find vinca minor that has a smaller, more delicate bloom. These take a couple of years to really get going, but once they do you will have to keep them trained in. The saying goes, "The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap!"

5. Weeping Cherry - This beautiful tree is my favorite of all the Spring bloomers. I love the shape of the weeping branches, and the blooms are just spectacular! This is my favorite color, a deep pink, but there are other lighter varieties including a white bloomer. Because their shape allows tons of filtered light below, it makes a great spot to plant a wonderful bulb or other flowering bed underneath the branches.

I would love to see your favorite Spring Bloomer as well! Feel free to send me a picture or post it to our Facebook page or Twitter to share with all our readers.

Happy Gardening!

Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:18:00 +0000

I have been doing a lot of Spring Cleaning and came across an old recipe I had saved from Cook's Illustrated for Mushroom Lasagna. It sounded amazing, until I saw all the prep work involved! I know Lasagna takes a little time, but I was not about to spend over an hour prepping in the kitchen on a weeknight. So I thought through the ingredients for a bit and came up with this version that only requires a food processor and less than 30 minutes to assemble. All the chopping can be done in the food processor, unless you just want to dice the onion by hand. It's also a 2 dish and 1 bowl clean-up. Even better! You could always add a little diced grilled chicken between the layers to add some more protein, but the whole family loved the dish as is. Try it out and let me know what you think.

Happy Eating!

P.S. I LOVE this little whisk my daughter bought me for making pan sauces. It gets into the corners of the pans, and I haven't had a lump yet. AMAZING!

Links:

Kitties Love the Nip

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:06:00 +0000

If you have cats, you must add some catnip to your garden this Spring. I have 2 little and 1 LARGE vermin, so I had to plant two pots last year. Catnip loves direct sunlight and moist but well-drained soil. Keep it from a hard freeze during the winter, and it will come back each year.

Here are my little loveys enjoying their morning "fix". My fat boy, Duke, as you can see especially loves his "kitty crack". Does this make me an enabler?

Happy Spring Planting!

Mister Bluebird's on My Shoulder

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:39:00 +0000

My favorite bird to see flying around the garden is the Bluebird. The electric blue color of their wings just begs your attention as they flit around the yard. Once endangered, these beautiful birds are making a comeback in the Southeast, but they could still use a little help. So why not add a few Bluebird houses to your garden to invite them to stay a while?

My dad recently made a few for us to hang around the farm and at my house as well. The template is simple if you have a table or miter saw. You just need some cedar or pressure-treated wood, a few galvanized deck screws, and some finishing nails. It's a great weekend project for the family that will provide you years of bird-watching enjoyment. (See link below for instructions.)

It is recommended to hang or post the houses facing towards the South or Southeast. Bluebirds also benefit from a nearby water source, like a bird bath, as well as berries or suet for feed. They are beneficial for your garden too because they love eating those pesky grubs and other insects that love to feed off all your hard work.

So take some time while planning your Spring planting to attract those animals that are both beautiful to watch and helpful in keeping pests at bay. It's a Win-Win situation!

Happy Gardening!

Links:

Lettuce Begin

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:22:00 +0000

A neighbor of my mother's has an interesting new way to grow her lettuces, so we decided to give it a try. Take a hay bale and soak it with a soaker hose. Just leave the soaker hose on the bale and keep it moist. Then plant the lettuces in the top. It will work for mix or head lettuces, either one. We planted a flat of mixed greens. The best part is you can move it around if need be. Lettuces like sun, but not heat. As the summer progresses, you could move the bale to a place that gets morning sun only, so it will get the needed light but not the added heat. It should allow you to keep lettuces growing throughout the season. You can always get more growing from seed for later plantings. Personally, I like using cardboard egg cartons as seed starters: free and biodegradable!

Happy Gardening!

Garden Update - April 7, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 01:11:00 +0000

There is so much going on right now at the farm. We are prepping for the big spring planting this week, so there has been lots of tilling, applying fertilizer, getting the needed seeds and plants, etc. This is truly my favorite time of year!

Today, my dad ran the tiller through all the beds one more time. If you have access to a tiller for your garden, it's a must to keep the ground broken up through the late winter and early spring to make sure it is soft enough for the new plantings.

My job today was strawberry transplanting. We ordered a batch of Whoppers strawberries from Gurney's last year. From ten plants, we have a forty foot patch completely covered in runners. If you are going to transplant, make sure you use the newest runners. You only get 2-3 years production out of a plant, but you can continue to glean new ones from the young runners. I thinned our existing patch and used the new growth to plant our gutters Dad had installed down the walkway. This will allow the plants to hang down and keep the fruit from rotting, in theory. I am anxious to see how well this set up works. Hey, if it's on the internet, it has to work, right?

Baby Strawberries!

So Wednesday is the big planting day: beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn...and anything else we can find room for.

I would love to see what you are planting in your gardens. Send me some pictures, descriptions, and what zone or area you are planting in, and I will post them for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Happy Gardening!

Five Friday Favorites - On the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:42:00 +0000

I've been on the traveling for most of the past two weeks and wanted to share with you my five favorite things from the road.

1. Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Cream - When you have spent 5 days straight with someone in the hospital, your skin can use all the help it can get! This is my go-to moisturizer and skin brightener. I especially love that I can get such a great deal on it now through Amazon Subscribe and Save.

2. Community Coffee - I have never seen a more welcome sight than free Community Coffee at the Louisiana Welcome Center.

3. Crawfish - Spicy boiled crawfish make everything better!

4. Lunch with my BFF - Even though we live 300 miles apart, we can still pick up at any given time like we were just together. Priceless!

5. Coming home - After driving over 2000 miles in 13 days, the first thing I did was get in my garden, much needed mental therapy following the last 2 brutal weeks. I replanted and pruned all my herbs and can already taste more homemade Pecan Pesto!

Happy Friday!

Mexican Everyday Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:15:00 +0000

I have to say that Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. We LOVE Mexican food at our house and love even more how Rick makes everything flavorful yet still healthy. While this isn't a new publication, it is definitely one you will want to seek out to add to your cookbook collection.

Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the book:
Pork Tinga
Grilled Roadside Chicken
Creamy Queso Anejo Dressing
Traditional Tortilla Soup

Check it out and let me know what your favorite recipe is.

Link:

Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless (Amazon)

Happiness is True Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:25:00 +0000

I spent last week sitting in the hospital beside a dear friend (Mrs. P) who has been a second mother to me for the last 10 years. It has been a roller coaster of emotions: anger, sadness, confusion, exhaustion, helplessness...I made the long drive because this family has been such a blessing to me over the last 10 years. We have made an unbreakable bond, and I felt compelled to be by their sides through all of this.

But this isn't about patting myself on the back for being a good friend. This story is about 4 women who have taught me the true meaning of friendship. I drove half-way across the country, not having seen any of these people in nearly two years. Yet when I arrived I was given a place to stay, treated to unlimited coffee (a must when sitting around a hospital for a week), encouraged, and strengthened. Three friends came to the hospital and visited, not having ever met Mrs. P. One is a nurse practitioner, another is a physician's assistant. They unhesitatingly gave Mrs. P their direct numbers and have been helping with her care. Then they stayed to encourage her as well.

They say you never truly know who your friends are until the worst happens. This past week was living proof. I am so grateful to have a network of friends who are truly family, and I can only pray that one day I can return the favor.

So I challenge you today. How can you touch one person's life this week to ease their burdens?

Happy Living!

Healthy Tagalongs Recipe Review - Chocolate-Covered Katie

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:33:00 +0000

What an awesome recipe from Chocolate-Covered Katie! These are truly a great treat, without the added trans fats in the Girl Scout's version. Only problem is they are still high in total fat, due to the use of almond flour. While it is healthy fat they are still high in calories. At least you have the satisfaction of knowing you are getting some nutrition in your splurge.

Katie says she makes 20 cookies out of a batch, at 46 calories a piece. Those must be some tiny cookies. I made a double batch, and it was only 18 cookies at 260 calories a piece. I used more peanut butter than she called for, plus more chocolate. This teaches the lesson that portion size makes a BIG difference. Still, one of my cookies is wholly satisfying and under 300 calories. You won't find any junk food snacks that filling and under 300 calories.

Lastly, my cookies did not end up crunchy, but I really prefer a chewy cookie. That was probably due to the fact I was a little short on almond flour to completely double the batch.

Head on over to check out more great recipes from Katie. Also, check out my version for variations in portions and cooking times.

Happy Eating!

Links:

Skinny Eggplant and Chicken Parmesan

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

This recipe lightens up the traditional in a big way by baking instead of frying all the slices. Plus, you can do it all in one batch saving cooking time. The secret is Panko bread crumbs which help keep it crunchy, even after freezing. In the picture I used globe eggplants, but I have found that the Japanese variety cook more evenly and generally do not have bitter skins. Serve the dish up with marinara and a little extra cheese to finish it.

This past summer we grew oodles of tomatoes, and I made my first homemade marinara sauce. How amazing it is! We have been rationing the last of it to try and make it through till summer. I used a mixture of Heirloom tomatoes, and I truly think that is what made the sauce so wonderful. There is such a sweet and savory blend of flavors that is intoxicating. It was definitely worth the effort.

Happy Eating!

Links:

Skinny Eggplant and Chicken Parmesan

A Little Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I went for a walk along the river with my husband was struck how just a few months prior I was not able to walk to the bus stop and back. Yet, here I was walking four miles.

So often we are tempted to get in a bad place and give up: on our health, on a relationship, on life. There is nothing so far beyond our reach that isn't worth one more try. Giving up is always an option, but regret is the most bitter pill to swallow. There were times when I was in pain and did not feel like even getting out of bed to go to therapy. There have been times when hurtful words were said to me that I wanted to never forgive. There have been times when all seemed lost.

Still, here I am fighting for my life and my family. Because giving up is simply not an option. When the race is over, I will know I have given it my all for myself, my family, and others.

I walked a little further into the woods, and pain started to return to my body. I had to take a break and stretch on a nearby bench. This is what I found: a tribute from one lover to another. They undoubtedly walked many miles together in his 88 years of life and obviously never gave up on one another, even after he was gone. As I stood up to walk another mile with my husband at my side, all I could feel was an overwhelming sense of thankfulness and love.

So today, let me encourage you to Never Give Up, not on your health, not on your body, not on a loved one, not on your dreams.

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe

Cajun-style Mixed Bean Stew

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

This is so hearty and satisfying. Depending on what type of meat you choose to you use, if any, it is also low-cal! It starts with a packet of Cajun-style Hurst beans mix. I am a big fan of Hurst beans. They are always tender, never old, and the flavorings are wonderful plus gluten-free.

Next add the blessed Trinity (onions, bell pepper, and celery), some parsley, and about 2/3 of the spice packet. For the meat, add 2 small smoked turkey legs. Simmer in the crockpot all day and add some sliced, sauteed Turkey Andouille before serving. Yummy, filling, and nutritious! Serve it up with a side of cornbread and dinner is served.

I told you on Facebook that this is my all-time favorite cornbread recipe, and I mean it! Skillet Custard Cornbread is a recipe from Bay Leaves, the original Junior League cookbook from Panama City, Florida. They celebrated their 100,000th printing last year (since 1975), and it is truly a great book to add to your collection. I give my husband credit for finding this recipe. We had always made the Granny Russ recipe, which is just above this one, but one day Brent read it and wanted to give it a try. We fell in love with it! It is just barely sweet, not like Jiffy, and has a creamy custard layer that is divine! We still love Granny Russ' version. It is the only one we use for Cornbread dressing, but the Skillet Custard Cornbread is our go-to recipe when we want a little something extra. Try it and let me know what you think.

Happy eating!

Links:

Grilled Chicken Adobo

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:28:00 +0000

This is such a ridiculously easy recipe. A few simple ingredients in a pan to simmer and a quick sear on the grill or in a skillet makes for a wonderful, quick weeknight meal. Alternately, you could leave the chicken marinating in the fridge all day and put it straight on the grill for an even quicker version. Just reduce the marinade as called for in the link below. Pair it with a quick stir-fried rice and steamed vegetables, and the meal is complete and nutritious.

Check out the calorie count.

Total Calories per thigh: 150
Fat: 5.7 g
Carbs: 4.7 g
Protein: 16.5 grams

Happy eating!

Links:

Grilled Chicken Adobo

DDPYoga...Bang!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

I have struggled with my workouts since another back injury sidelined me in 2010. It was one of those defining moments for me. I was down to 20% body fat, in the best shape of my life, and feeling great. That back injury put me out of the gym for the next 2 years. I would try light exercise off and on, cardio, yoga, you name it, but kept having pain and setbacks. Then we moved in 2011, and everything went downhill from there. My body just gave out from all the stress, over-lifting, and lack of nutrition. 2012 was a hard year for me coming to terms with my limitations and how to overcome them.

After months of chiropractic care I was finally out of pain but had no strength. In my heart I wanted my body back. I wanted to be able to run after my son and hike with my husband. I wanted LIFE!

Through all the doctors, therapy, rest, and de-stressing from the past year I came out a wiser and stronger woman. The one thing I learned more than anything is to Never, Ever Give Up! Arthur Boorman and DDP taught me that. If you never watch another YouTube video, please watch Arthur's amazing transformation.

I made the decision to give this crazy DDPYoga a shot, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. All three bulged discs are holding stable. I have not needed an adjustment in 5 weeks. I have gone from not being able to do one push-up on my knees, to big girl push-ups. I am down just a few pounds, but my strength gains are incredible. I'm not just maintaining; I'm thriving! This past Sunday I spent all day doing farm work, something I could not have dreamed of 4 short weeks ago. While I am not back to where I ultimately want to be, I am well on my way. I have DDPYoga to thank for that.

DDPYoga isn't just for us recovering from injuries, either. Elite athletes are using the more advanced workouts to stay in shape way past their prime and recover from their own injuries. Anyone from beginner to advanced can find benefits in the program.

Yes, I am an affiliate for DDPYoga, simply because I believe in the program and DDP who has a heart to help others. See for yourself how he is helping ex-addicts and hurting people regain their lives. This isn't just a business; it's a mission!

So let me encourage you to check out the program. Email me with any questions you have. But most importantly OWN YOUR LIFE and NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

P.S. I will be sharing my progress along. My first 30 days are up soon, and I can't wait to see my accomplishments so far!

Chiropractic Care and Braincore Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:26:00 +0000

I have been plagued with low back problems since I was 21. Last year I was diagnosed with L 3-5 herniations, meaning three of my lowest vertebrae had the discs between bulging out of the side of my spine. Yes, it hurts as bad as it sounds. Sitting was nearly impossible. Stairs were a nightmare. I was in constant pain with no mobility.

In late 2012 I began treatment with Dr. Capoferri at Precision Pain Relief Center in Norcross, Georgia. A seated MRI showed the three bulging discs were made worse while seated than in an upright position, which was a critical piece of missing information in previous therapy. Armed with this knowledge, Dr. Capoferri was able to begin treating me using a computer aided precision spinal adjuster, the ProAdjuster. This was a new type of chiropractic treatment for me, but I immediately began to see results. By Christmas, I was truly a new woman. I was able to travel to Florida to see my family with little pain. My last checkup was nearly two weeks ago, and I did not need ANY adjustments, just some ultrasound therapy to help with some tight muscles due to my exercise regimen.

The other problems I had addressed while seeing Dr. Capoferri were fibromyalgia and insomnia. I know you are tempted to close the tab now and stop reading, but please hear me out. I have dealt with fibromyalgia symptoms off and on since 2003. For those who still think it is a only seen in lazy or out of shape people, I was working out five days a week with free weights, no sissy stuff, when my first flare-up occurred. My then-chiropractor told me I needed a hobby! I told him I didn't have time for a hobby. I WAS WORKING OUT TOO MUCH!

Waking insomnia was another, even more plaguing, problem. On good nights I would wake up 6 times, on bad nights 2 dozen or more. By the time I went to see Dr. Capoferri, the insomnia had gotten so bad I could not drive without having micro-sleeps while at the wheel. The insomnia was exacerbating and driving the fibromylagia pain creating a vicious cycle of no sleep - pain - less sleep - more pain.

His suggestion was Braincore Therapy. It is a type of neurofeedback that is "designed to retrain dysregulated brainwave patterns. The goal of all neurofeedback is to transform an unhealthy, dysregulated brainwave pattern into a normal, healthy, organized pattern. By doing this, the brain becomes more stable and is able to operate optimally and efficiently." According to my EEG results, I was actually exhibiting sleep or pre-sleep brainwaves during the day and then waking at night. Great for a shift worker, not so great for me. I went through 30 total sessions of therapy, but really had no marked differences until around session 13 or 14. Then one night I woke up around 4 am realizing I had been asleep all night. It was honestly a miracle for me. The more I slept, the less pain I had, and the more I was able to accomplish throughout the day.

Today, I am sleeping nearly every night, waking maybe 2 - 3 times a night on bad nights. The fibromyalgia pain has not returned at all, and I have been able to begin working out again for the first time in over a year. In fact, I have been working out solidly for a month now with no relapses, just some muscle tightness. I am truly back to my old self and even better!

My take-away, if you are also experiencing neck and back pain, it might be beneficial for you to find a chiropractor in your area who also uses the ProAdjuster or computer aided precision spinal adjuster method. It seems to be a much more precise and effective treatment, at least in my experience. Also if you have any kind of neurological issues (insomnia, fibromyalgia, ADD, ADHD, PTSD, Migraines, etc.) do some research into Braincore Therapy. It has honestly saved my life.

Feel free to email me with any questions you may have on either treatment, and I will do my best to answer or send you to more information. Stay Healthy!

Links:

Biscoff Chocolate Chunk Blondies

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:54:00 +0000

Many of you know my obsession with Biscoff. If you are still new to the Biscoff craze, let me encourage you to run to your nearest grocery store and find a jar of Biscoff spread and cookies to try. You will be addicted! Biscoff is made by Lotus Bakeries, a European company best known here in the States for supplying their lovely little cookies on Delta flights. The best description I can give is they are somewhere between a graham crack and gingersnap, but they really have a taste all their own. They are best with a fresh cup of coffee for dunking.

Well, let me take that back, they are best in these Blondies! I mean, these really are obscenely good. I took a recipe from Mother Thyme and added a decadent Biscoff Cream Cheese Frosting. This recipe needs a bit of tweaking (see notes on the printable link), but since I have some folks begging for it, I will post it "as is" for now.

I also made another batch of those wonderful Mini Lemon Chess Bites to take to a promo event at my local chiropractors office. Can't wait to hear how well they did!

So the rest of my weekend is going to be engrossed in house hunting/planning and work on my folks' farm. What are your weekend plans? Happy eating!

Links:

Special thanks to CMRS Photography.

Dinner-on-the-Run II

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:11:00 +0000

I hear your concerns. There just isn't time or energy left at the end of the day to cook dinner. You are right! With our busy schedules it is so hard to find time to prep and prepare nutritious meals for our families. But where there is a will, there is a way.

Earlier in my Dinner-on-the-Run series I taught you about having cooked chicken prepared to morph into any number of quick meals. There are so many options, and I cannot stress enough how great it is to cook in bulk and freeze for those crazy days. But, today I want to talk about when carry-out is your only option.

Please, skip the pizza. Once in a while is not a crime. Those of you who have been following me know I am all for indulging from time to time. But, frankly, pizza is seriously devoid of nutritional value. Here are a list of healthier alternatives.

Rotisserie Chicken - I know my Kroger makes great Rotisserie chickens. Remove the skin before eating to cut calories. Pair with a salad mix or frozen vegetables that can be quickly steamed in the microwave for a complete meal.
Asian Take-Out - There are some stipulations. Go for restaurants that leave out MSG. Most can if you ask up front. Go for stir-frys full of vegetables with lighter gravies. Skip the fried and sweet dishes. Pair it with plain brown rice if available or keep frozen brown rice at home to prep in minutes.
Restaurant Curbside - Here I am talking about the chains like Chili's, Carrabba's, etc. Salads are great but can be tricky. (LOVE Carrabba's Insalata Johnny Rocco pictured above.) Look for excess dairy products that will add unwanted calories, and watch for unnecessary starches like tortilla strips or sides of garlic bread. Just ask them to leave anything you don't need off the dish. Next, look for grilled dishes with vegetable sides. So many chains now offer complete calorie information online. So do a quick check before ordering.
Mexican - Fajitas are great! Forget the flour tortillas and just eat the meat and veggies. If you need something creamy, add guacamole. It adds calories, but unlike sour cream or cheese, it gives you a dose of those healthy fats that are great for your brain, skin, and hair.
Diner Food - If you are craving breakfast for dinner, try an egg white omelet with plenty of vegetables. Ask them to hold the butter. Add a side of grits or whole wheat toast for some carbs. If you must eat the burger, mind your portion. No one really needs a half pound or more fatty beef. Leave off the cheese and mayo and you will save yourself a minimum of 200 calories.

The key to eating out is portion control and willpower. When you are exhausted you will tend to opt for the Double-Bacon Cheeseburger. Just think of how you will feel afterwards though. Fuel your body with the right things, and it will repay you a hundred fold! Happy eating!

Pork Tinga Tacos

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

This is by far my favorite taco recipe on the planet. The flavors are so intense...Mexican oregano, chipotle, fire-roasted tomatoes. Genius! I took a recipe by my favorite Mexican chef, Rick Bayless, and simplified it a bit using techniques I have learned over the years. I also lightened the dish a bit by using pork tenderloin instead of shoulder. I had just over an hour to have dinner ready but with a few adjustments it was quicker and just perfect for a spicy Valentine's.

I served the Pork Tinga on corn tortillas with crumbled Queso Fresco cheese. If you have not tried Queso Fresco, imagine a salty, crumbly version of mozzarella: subtle but luscious. I also had some leftover frozen Rice with Pigeon Peas (Arroz con Gandules) that I simply thawed and mixed with cheese, sour cream, and salsa then stuffed into poblano peppers for a quick side dish. They cooked at the same temperature as the pork so I just added them to the oven the last 20 minutes. A quick guacamole and the meal was complete. Savory, satisfying, and healthy as well.

I want to stress again how it really pays to cook in bulk and freeze when possible. The Rice with Pigeon Peas and Pork Tinga both freeze wonderfully, so make a point to cook extra and freeze portions for more weeknight meals. Happy eating!

Links:

Veggie-Full Stir-Fry with Rice Noodles

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:21:00 +0000

This is another chance to hone your cooking skills. I am not going to give you a set recipe to follow, just a guideline to make awesome stir-fry at home with fewer calories, made the way you like it, and less expensively than take-out.

Start with about 2 cups of sliced or diced vegetables per person. If you want meat, add 1/4 pound per person of thinly sliced chicken, beef or pork, or substitute chopped tofu or seitan. You will also need about 2 ounces (dry weight) rice noodles, or any other kind of noodles, per person.

Marinade Ingredients:

light soy sauce or Tamari (for gluten-free)
rice wine or cooking sherry
sesame oil or vegetable oil (sesame will add more flavor)
garlic cloves or powder
Hoisin sauce (optional)

Preparation

Marinate the meat, tofu, or seitan in equal parts soy sauce and rice wine with half as much oil, making just enough to coat the meat. (i.e. 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons rice wine, 1 Tablespoon sesame oil). Add one clove of crushed garlic to the marinade for each serving, or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder per serving. Allow the meat to marinate at least one hour but preferably overnight, especially for beef and pork.
Note: You could also use a store-bought marinade. I prefer the Korean BBQ flavors.
Heat salted water for noodles.
Heat a wok, cast-iron, or heavy skillet to high, starting to barely smoke. Add enough oil to the bottom of the pan to coat and cook meat to a slight sear and completely done. Cook in small batches if necessary, draining and saving liquid between cookings, to ensure you sear the meat instead of steaming it. DON’T CROWD THE PAN! Cooking time will vary depending on type of meat used. Remove meat from pan and set aside. Return cooking liquid to pan.
Drop the noodles in boiling water before beginning to cook remaining vegetables.
Stir-fry vegetables beginning with onions, garlic, and anything else that will take longest to cook (i.e. cabbage, carrots). Splash in 2 teaspoons of soy sauce and 2 teaspoons of rice wine per serving. Continue to toss vegetables until nearly done, then add any last minute vegetables that only need a quick cooking, like pepper slices and bean sprouts. When vegetables are cooked the way you like (still crunchy or wilty, your choice) add in 2 teaspoons of Hoisin sauce per serving and toss to coat. Hoisin is slightly sweet, so use as you wish. You could also put in some hot sauce, like Sriracha, at this point.
Add meat back in, tossing to incorporate.
Drain noodles and toss with a little oil and soy sauce just to coat. Serve stir-fry atop a serving of the noodles.

My version pictured above used green onions, garlic, that beautiful Savoy cabbage we grew, sliced peppers, and shredded carrots with beef. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand and substitute at will. My goal is to teach you to see that you have more options for dinner at your disposal than you think you do. This recipe hardly takes any longer to prepare than going out of your way for carry-out and is certainly healthier and fresher. Please send me pictures and variations you try at home so I can share them with our readers. Happy eating!

Links:

Veggie-Full Stir-Fry with Rice Noodles

Honey Sesame Shrimp

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:34:00 +0000

I just love Steve Raichlen! If you don't know him, he is the author of The Barbecue Bible, Barbecue USA, and other great cookbooks. He truly is a master of all things grilled. I started watching him years ago on PBS on Saturday mornings and have cooked almost everything I saw him make. Check out my post where I used his Best Ever BBQ Beans recipe for Labor Day!

This is another home run, but you all know I can't leave well enough alone. I have to change things up a bit. In this case, I wanted to lighten the dish up a bit by omitting some of the sesame oil. More importantly, the changes I made were in an effort to give you a quick cooking lesson in substitutions. How many of you keep fresh ginger in the house? What, no hands? How about green onions? Sometimes, but not all the time. So what I want you to learn to do is look at a recipe and be able to accommodate it with what you have on hand. No fresh ginger? Simply use a little less in powdered form, about 1/4-1/3 as much. No green onion? Heck no onions at all? Go for some onion powder, again about 1/4 as much. I also added a little soy sauce to darken the marinade and add the needed salt.

Just because you don't always have what you need for a recipe doesn't mean you have to either run to the store or scrap it for another day. With a few substitutions and a little ingenuity, you can still have dinner on the table in no time!

Are you ready for the calorie count for a whopping 6 ounces of shrimp?

Total calories: 224
Total fat: 6.6
Carbohydrates: 9.4 g
Protein: 23.8 g

Who says eating great can be great for you too? Happy eating!

Links:

Fitness Tracker Review

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I have been doing a lot of research trying to find an online and mobile app to track calories, exercise, recipes, grocery lists. The bad news...there isn't one, which I was I am working so hard to develop one for our site. They all have their good points and bad points. One is missing recipe integration, another doesn't track calories, and on and on. NONE of them have a decent menu planner or grocery list generator. Bottom line is you will have to do that separately to get a useful application. In the meantime I will give you what I have found to be the best app available so far.

First, the losers.

1. SparkPeople - pros: lots of great information, huge calorie database; cons: menu-planning isn't flexible, UI (user interface) is complicated and clunky, adding custom recipes and food items is nearly impossible
2. MyFitnessPal - pros: huge calorie database, better UI; cons: searches result in random items (egg will first get you a fried, whole egg), also difficult to add custom items and recipes
3. FatSecret - pros: best recipe integration, complete with directions and printables; cons: app lists ingredients in odd measurements (i.e. servings instead of quantities) which makes the recipe impossible to follow
4. My Calorie Counter - pros: easier to read dashboard; cons: no recipes at all, any custom items have to be configured by hand then input

LOSE IT!

THE WINNER: Lose It!
Another huge complaint I have with all these sites is since they depend on data sharing between users, the calorie counts are often inputted wrong. You might see an item with half the calories it actually has, or double even. So adding custom items is a must! The part I particularly like about making custom recipe groupings on Lose It is if you are in the middle of a recipe and can't find the item you need in the database, you can nearly seamlessly add your own custom ingredient to add to the list without having to save, go somewhere else, add, then return to the recipe grouping to finish adding ingredients. While Lose It still does not allow for inputting recipe directions, it is BY FAR the easiest to add custom ingredients and groupings to. You can also easily share with other users, which is a must for me to be able to share my calorie counts with my hubby and you guys.

The UI is much friendlier than the competitors, easier to navigate, and better to look at. The mobile app is even better, with a barcode scanner that I have found to work quickly and accurately.

Lastly, Lose It integrates with the new FitBit fitness tracker. I plan to have a review for it up as well soon.

So for those of you who are tracking calories, which I recommend you all do, even if it is for a short time to see what you are really consuming, I highly recommend you check out Lose It!

Monday Motivation - Kindness Boosts Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Amy:) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:00:00 +0000

This is a great interview by Gretchen Rubin with Sonja Lyubomirsky. Both women are masters at honing a lifestyle of happiness. When asked what one thing we can consistently do to make us happier, Sonja's answer is simple: acts of kindness. Think about it. When was the last time you did something nice and unexpected for someone? How did it make you feel? I can say that, personally, it made me feel amazing! Set aside some time today to stop and do something special for someone, maybe even a stranger, completely anonymously, and see how it truly makes your day awesome! Stay happy!

Please check out the highlighted links for more great info from both ladies.