Stuck in a Protein Hum Drum?

I get bored with proteins.  You know, chicken, fish, and beef.  For whatever reason I usually stay away from pork.  Getting bored with the usuals, I bought a pork tenderloin.

I made one when I was first married and we did not care for it all that much.  I think I used salt and pepper and threw it in the oven.  I don’t exactly remember why we did not like it, but it never made it back to our table again.

A while back, I bought my Michigan Tart Cherry wine, on the back of the bottle it said it was good as a marinade with pork or chicken.  I put it to the test.  They were right!  We loved the pork tenderloin!  It came out fantastic and will make some more appearances.  My husband could not believe how tender it was and said “That is something you serve to company!”.  It was simple to do and is good for about 2 lbs of meat:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup Michigan Tart Cherry Wine (plus a bit more to your liking)
• 1 TBS chopped fresh thyme and sage
• Kosher salt and black pepper

Mix it all up and pour it in a glass dish.  Drop in the loin cover and refrigerate.  Flip after about 1.5 hours and let it go for another 1.5 hours.  Put him in a 350 degree oven (or if the weather is right the grill) until he reaches 160 degrees and you are done!

It was so simple but made a huge difference.  The marinade itself is so pretty, and the finished product has bits of herbs and looks fantastic too!  I have since used it on turkey tenderloin with great results.

Maybe this will take some of the boredom out of your meal tonight.

Have a good one,

Talk soon!

The One Cup (and one scoop)

I know it’s spring but it feels like summer here in Michigan.  We have had record-breaking temps lately.  Here is a refreshing treat that even my little one approves of.  I offered her a sip of my smoothie and she ended up downing the whole thing making head back to the blender.

I know there is tons of recipes for smoothies out there but I am really into this combination lately.  I don’t normally like to use supplements either.  I would rather get my greens from spinach or kale in a smoothie but I am out of both and I had this on hand.

I won this bottle from Gabby Reece’s website last year.  It is a great product in my opinion.  It tastes better than any other “greens” product I have tried.

Here is the recipe:

• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup water
• 1 scoop Catie’s Organic Greens
• 1 scoop Jay Robb protein powder (vanilla)

Give it a whirl in the blender and enjoy, unless a pre-schooler decides she wants it.

It was great after my elliptical workout.  I can’t say enough about using an elliptical machine.  It gives me a great cardio workout and keeps my IT band and runners knee feeling pretty good.  I’m not quite back to running yet.  I think I should be soon and when I do I am not training for anything for a while.  I just want to enjoy running again. 🙂

Have a great day!  Go on a  nice run for me too.  🙂

An Irish Treat (wink, wink)

Every year on St. Patrick’s day I make my Irish Soda Bread.  This year it has been so incredibly warm here in Michigan that I just couldn’t justify turning on the oven.  So this year my homemade Irish treat is frozen yogurt!  I am sure there is nothing Irish about this dessert (except maybe that I am making it :)?)

I have been craving it and since I have not made it in a long time I decided it was time to do it.  My daughter loved dumping in all the ingredients in the food processor and watching it whirl around.  I think her favorite part of it all (other than tasting the pre-frozen product) was seeing it begin to set up in the ice cream maker.  I have a Kitchen Aid freezer bowl attachment that I use to make ice cream like treats in.  If you don’t have one no worries, just put it in a cake pan (9″x13″) in the freezer and scrape it occasionally until it is semi-firm in the center and set on the edges.

My little girl did most of the work.  Here is another simple, simple recipe (Like my date treats are).  I was inspired by a Gabby Reece post she had about 2 years ago for this recipe and I change-up the fruit to whatever I have on hand.  Here is what I did this time:

• 3 cups of fresh blackberries
• 2 cups of low-fat plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

Like I said above, place it all into the food processor whirl it, put it into your ice cream maker and put it into the freezer until soft in the middle and set on the edges.  Put it into something green and you get an Irish treat to impress your friends and family.  🙂

I enjoy it drizzled with honey or chocolate sauce.  Enjoy it however you like!

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s day!

Talk to you soon!

Dates on the Brain

Lately I have been craving my chocolate date treats.  This morning I set out to curb that craving and make them.  It is super easy to do, and a healthy sweet treat that is three-and-a-half year old approved!

It’s a bit different from my other bars that were a take on a Dr. Mercola’s Cocoa Cassava bars.  This one drops the unsweetened coconut (I’m out :() for extra chia seeds.  You will be so amazed at the chocolatey goodness, the coconut will not be missed!

Into the mini food processor (I like to make small amounts because they are dangerous!  Serious damage could be done on a big batch. :))  :

• 1/3 C pitted dates + one to two more (ok heaping cup! I like Medjool.)
• 1/3 C walnuts halves
• 1 TBSP Hershey’s cocoa powder
• 2 TBSP chia seeds

Let the machine rip until you get a decent mixture with some recognizable walnut pieces.  Dump it out onto some waxed paper and form a large bar.  Cut into smaller bars or desired shapes.  Make a small depression with a tsp. (or thumb) and pour on some chocolate topping (see below).

Chocolate topping:

• 2 TBSP or so of dark chocolate chips
• 1 scant TSP coconut oil

Microwave in 10 second increments until melted. Top the bars with the chocolate and refrigerate until top is set and then eat away!

I hope you try them.  They are amazing!

Mmm Betty!

I have had this Betty Crocker cookie book since 1998.  I got if from my boss at the time.  I used to work seasonally at a tree farm/garden center.  I did it all the way through college (8 years to be exact, yes it took me that long, I changed my major a few times. :)).

It the winter we would be off of work for the season, and I would meet my boss for lunch often.  We went to a book store after lunch one day, and he told me to pick out a book.  I chose that one, and he laughed and called me a “little shit” or something like that since the book I picked was not on sale.  It sounds awful, but he was an older man and was like a grandpa to me more than anything.  I think that is why I chose to stay and work so long (he also paid for my school!).  I really enjoyed it there (It also was the biggest reason I first changed my major from nursing, to horticulture, and then I ended up in biology).  It was so beautiful there. We still talk and see each other to this day.  Anyway, in the book there was a date bar recipe.  I love dates!

If you remember last summer almost every day had some dates stuffed with walnuts in it.  I am somewhat over that phase, but dates have not left completely.  Sometimes they show themselves still stuffed with walnuts, but lately they have transformed into a bar of yummy deliciousness!

I changed up the recipe a bit and here is what I came up with:

Crusty Stuff

• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup of flour
• 3/4 cup of oats (old-fashioned)
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Mix it all together and put half of it in a 8″x8″ dish.  Press it out evenly.

Date Filling

•  2 cups of pitted dates (then roughly chop them, I love Medjool!)
• 2 TBSP sugar
• 3/4 cup of water

Boil the three ingredients above until it is thick.  Spread it out over the crust in the pan and put the rest of the crusty mixture on top.

I sure wish I had not waited since 1998 to make these bars.  My husband thinks they should now be a staple in the house!  I agree!

Have a good one!

PB day!

According to foodimentary it is National Peanut Butter Lover’s day!  I recommend celebrating with at least a glob or two today.  🙂

Oatmeal anyone?

How will you celebrate?

Butternut Stew?!

The other night I was in the mood for a hot, comforting, hearty, but healthful meal.  I found that in a Butternut stew!  Inspired from a Vegetarian Times recipe, I made mine with a southwestern flavor.  I love squash, I had tofu and pine nuts, so why not try something new!

Black beans and long grain brown rice alongside really made the meal.

• 4 cups sweet corn kernels (whirl them it food processor a bit till coarse)
• 4 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 chicken stock
• 2 TBSP chili powder
• 1 can diced green chilis
• 1/2 TBSP ground cumin

Combine the above in a large pot over med heat until squash is cooked.  While cooking the above start on the below,

• 4 TBSP olive oil
• 1 lb firm tofu, diced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup pine nuts

Heat olive oil in a large skillet.  Toss tofu in the flour and add to the hot pan.  Cook untill crispy.  Add pine nuts to tofu and cook about 1 min or until pine nuts are toasty.

Combine all of it together and you are finally done!

This is not one of your quick throw together meals.  It took me about an hour to make, but it hit the spot.  I was afraid to throw the pine nuts and the tofu in the squash mixture because they were crispy and delicious. I figured they would not stay that way for long anyway so I threw them in.  It turned out great!  The flavors worked.  Don’t be afraid.  🙂

Have a nice night!

Sugar Scrub

This morning I set out to make a new green drink.  I planned on using grapefruit as one of the ingredients.  I peeled him, and  got out all of my other ingredients including my old blender.

I decided to have just one bite before loading it all in the blender.

It was like saying “I’ll have just one chip!”  I ended up devouring the whole grapefruit membranes attached and all!  Normally I peel each section after peeling the grapefruit skin off!  I must have needed some C or something.  It was the best tasting grapefruit I can ever remember!

Anyway, this week I plan on doing the following:

Monday-Tabata/yoga streatching

Tuesday-Elliptical/IT streatching

Wednesday-Tabata

Thursday-Elliptical/IT streatching

Friday-Tabata

Saturday-Elliptical and yoga

All the Tabata workouts will be from, you guessed it Gabby Reece.

This is pretty much my schedule every week.  Tabata/circuit and cardio.  I am just writing it out this week, because my knee is feeling pretty good and I need to tell myself not to run just yet.  This is the point where I add running in, just when my knee is almost better.  The key word here is almost.  I want to go at least one more week (maybe more) of cross-training before I try running again.  I’m sticking to it!  🙂

After my workouts I like to hit the shower.

I received this body polish (among a whole slew of other products) as a prize from one of Gabby Reeces challenges.

I was reluctant to use it.  I hate using lotions (I don’t like the feeling of it on my hands) and I am not a bubble bath kind of person.  Get in the shower, get out.  I am not a pampering person!

Since I had this product since last summer, I decided that I should probably use it.  Oh my goodness!  It was the best thing ever!  It exfoliates, moisturizes and makes your skin look amazing!  After trying it, I used it sparingly.  I was at the end of the jar and did not want to think about how much it might actually retail for.  Then I read the ingredients.  Pretty much oils, sugar, and dried embellishments.  I decided to make my own!

To make a sugar scrub:

• 1 cup sugar (any kind, mix and match)
• 1/2 cup oil
• dried flowers or herbs

Mix it together and you have a great scrub!   It’s very invigorating after a tough workout.  I just cleaned out my sugar scrub jar and filled it up again.

I filled it with sugar and dried lavender.

Mixed in my olive oil.

Now I have a great scrub that looks and performs like the original, with stuff I already have in my pantry and my garden.  🙂

Here are a few tips:

• You will probably want to use a plastic container in case you drop it in the shower (slippery oil and glass do no mix).
• If you do use glass scoop out a small amount into a plastic cup to bring in the shower.
• Make small batches so you can use it up ( I have read it lasts about a month or more).
• Avoid getting water in the jar (I have read it prevents rancidity, but my damp hand in the jar did not seem to matter much.  I think they mean don’t flood it with shower spray etc.  Keep it closed and away from water.).
• If giving as a gift, please keep in mind Peoples allergies!
• Use it on your body.  I would not use it on my face.  I have very sensitive skin!  (In highschool my friend put vitamen E oil on my face because she loved what it did for her skin, and I broke out for a week.)

Sorry gentlemen, if this is not for you maybe you have a mother, daughter, sister, or loved one that might appreciate it.  It’s super easy to do.  A small canning jar with this stuff in it would be a nice gift!

I hope you all have a great day!

Not Really A Dinner

Tonight I had a dinner that I can say I have honestly never had before.

Breakfast was simple scrambled eggs (sans teflon) and toast (with Michigan tart cherry jam!).  For lunch I had a giant salad made up of mixed greens, pecan crusted chicken, all with a raspberry vinaigrette!  It was fantastic and I wished I had my camera.  Oh, and a freshly baked breadstick too!

For dinner I was not all that hungry but I needed some little snack.  Fruit and cheese (my white Irish Cheddar) sounded good.  I threw in some wheat crackers for good measure and decided why not a glass of wine too!

I probably drink about 1-2 times a year (if even that!).  Today for some reason it sounded good.

Out and about this afternoon,  I crossed some wine that sparked my interest. It is a Cherry wine that is made from 100% Northern Michigan tart cherries.  Since I am on my tart cherry kick, it was the perfect one to bring home!

I really enjoyed it!  To finish of my “meal” (if you can call it that) I had a bit of dark chocolate.  I love Green & Blacks 70%.  It is my favorite.  🙂

That was my silly eats for the day!

I hope you have a good night and had a good weekend  too!

Talk soon 🙂

Deliciously Green (With A Twist)

This morning after my workout (elliptical again), I decided to have another one of my green drinks.  I also had some fresh strawberries and raspberries that I needed to use up.  I made a puree and combined the two.  The result was so beautiful!

I had it with some oatmeal.

I love all the mottled colors on the chia seeds.

For lunch it was the left over salmon.  Lately I am into multi-grain bread as you have been seeing lately.  Toasted, with cream cheese, and topped with salmon is a delicious and quick lunch or snack!  Filling too.  🙂

For dinner I was feeling my Irish roots (that and I had some left-over mashed potatoes to use up). I made Boxty (Potato Pancakes).  They are so light!  You use egg white and whirl it all up.  So tasty!

They were topped off with a Apple-Cherry Sauce!

I finished the meal off with some Irish white cheddar and an apple.  It was a great Irishy meal!  I guess a warm up for next month.  🙂

My knee is feeling a bit better than last week but still not 100 percent.  I am excited for my circuit workout tomorrow in a Tabata style.  It’s a Gabby Reece one of course.  The one I have planned has lots of my favorite moves!

I’m not sure what else the day will bring.  Have a great night!