Marinades by: YOU!

There's nothing like throwing a nicely marinated steak, chicken breast or shrimp skewer on the grill.  You're guaranteed more flavor and typically more tenderness than a plain piece of meat because of the make-up of the mixture.  Acid from common marinade components like citrus, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki or vinegar break down the meat fibers making the meat more flavorful and tender.

It's easy to go to the grocery store and purchase a pre-mixed marinade but if you take a moment to look at the label, the added sodium and preservatives may surprise you.  Why not whip one up on your own and enjoy the natural flavors and ingredients you add to your meat, poultry or seafood!

Try the following suggestions (as overnight marinades) and watch for a great video on marinades later this week!

Seafood
Combine 1-2 c. vegetable broth, the juice of a lemon and a lime,  1 T. onion powder and 1 T. fresh ground ginger.

Steak
Combine 1-2 c beef broth, 1/4 c Worcestershire sauce, 2 T steak sauce, a few shakes of tabasco sauce and 2 cloves of presses garlic.

Chicken
Combine 1/4 c balsamic vinegar, the juice of 2 oranges, 1 clove of pressed garlic and 1 finely chopped shallot.

Keep in mind that if you're cooking the meat over your stove you can pour the marinade into your pan and cook with it too!

Shrimp Guacamole

Here's the recipe.

1 lb cooked shrimp
3 avocados
2 limes
1/2 c. nonfat Greek yogurt
1 T. garlic paste
1 T. lemongrass herb blend
Salt and pepper
1 c. diced tomatoes
1 1/2 c. corn
1/2 c. chopped leeks
1 diced chipotle pepper, seeds removed
2 T adobo sauce
2-3 T. chopped cilantro

Cream avocados, yogurt, juice of 2 limes, garlic paste, lemongrass blend, salt and pepper in large mixing bowl.
Add tomatoes, corn, leeks, chipotle pepper, dobo sauce and cilantro and stir together.
Dice shrimp into small pieces and fold into avocado mixture.
Enjoy with some great, hearty crackers!

This recipe along with photo and nutrition information will appear in my cookbook due out this Spring!

Rock Your Avocado Video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HkX6agjHU8

Video is coming. This is way harder that I thought!

Book Article!

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101216/APC0904/101216106/Greenville-woman-publishes-healthy-eating-cookbook

It Only Takes a Day

Today was great.  I did exactly what I was supposed to do and I feel awesome!  Yet, I find it so strange, even though I knew that was all I had to do.  Just one day and I'm different...stronger...thinner...more confident...one day of following the rules and everything changed.

Here is my day at a glance:

• Woke up:)
• Drank my protein coffee, with one slice of whole wheat toast, my multivitamin, my Mangosteen juice (I'm hooked) and out the door I went.
• Had my pre-workout nitric oxide drink and KILLED a shoulder/leg workout with my fab husband.
• Had my post-workout meal.  Today it was cottage cheese and whole grain crackers.
• Had lunch...turkey breast with black beans, onions, green peppers (a few other things) and some Greek yogurt. (the recipe is in the next cookbook...Tex Mex Turkey Soup).
• Wrote, cooked and photographed 4 new recipes for the book while I enjoyed some Christmas music.
• Now, my children are about to burst through the door and we're having grilled chicken, wild rice and vegetables for dinner.

So after one picture perfect, clockwork kind of day and I'm convinced that I'm a new person.  Really, you may ask?!?  Well, that's how I feel and I think, initially, its all about how we feel?

I can't tell you how many times someone looking to change their life (weight loss goals, fitness goals, health goals, relationship goals, etc.) asks, immediately...when will I notice a difference?  Its as if they are terrified that they won't be able to hang on long enough to notice the changes and are certain they will give up on their task before they even begin.  They are so afraid that they won't have enough endurance, strength, courage, determination and dare I say it willpower (which I don't believe in...but that's another blog) to achieve what they want so badly.  

Well, my answer is this...if you follow the rules, I swear you'll notice something different within 24 hours.  You will feel different...you may even act differently...you will certainly want to see what another day (and then some) could lead to and let me tell you, if you feel different long enough that goal you have will be right around the corner in no time.  You can do it...its only 24 hours...just try it and see...what you experience will surprise you, count on it!

Holiday Comfort Foods

I find the term "comfort food" very ironic. "Comfort food," a phrase which has been popular since the 1970's, refers to foods that are stated to lead to emotional improvement, relieving negative responses and enhancing positive feelings.  Comfort foods are suggested to encourage feelings of well-being or result in quick and easy satisfaction. Home cooked meals come to mind when we think of comfort foods but more recently fast foods and quick-to-prepare meals are more heavily selected for comfort uses with ice cream, potato chips, chocolate, cookies and cake topping off the list.

Studies have shown strong correlations between consumption of comfort foods and the very negative (and far from comfortable) feeling of guilt. Indulging in comfort foods is often a response to emotional stress, with the hope that even a brief feeling of comfort or relief will follow the meal. However, this trend is a large contributor to the epidemic of obesity in the United States and elsewhere. 

When have you felt comfortable after "stuffing your face" with cake? When have you enjoyed stress relief from consuming a large french fry? When have you experienced enhanced positive emotions from over-eating mashed potatoes and gravy? When has a "comfort food" left you comfortable in mind or body??? Not only are your pants tighter, which is the opposite of comfortable, but you avoid the mirror, you shut down mentally, you punish yourself with negative thoughts and possibly negative actions...none of which are comfortable in ANY way!!!

I think it's comfortable to look in the mirror and like (or at least not mind) what you see knowing that you are improving on it every day. I feel comfortable when my pants fit well and I can breath properly when I'm wearing them. I'm comfortable not having to back track after over indulging in Holiday eats and staying the path toward a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. I'm comfortable with whole grains, vegetables, lean meats, a great workout program and positive people in my life.  I'm comfortable calling a spade a spade...comfort food...you suck!

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Hello!

I can't wait to begin using this site to reach out to all of you in new and exciting ways!  Watch for weekly videos, new recipes and lots of great cooking, eating, entertaining and fitness related information!