My Oatmeal Review!!

Last week I posted about an opportunity I received to review some custom healthy oatmeal products from MyOatmeal.com.  Well, I tried three wonderful flavors and my thoughts are written below.  Also, scroll to the end of this post to learn how to receive 15% off YOUR order at MyOatmeal.com :)

Banana Bread with Walnuts

-Gluten Free Quick Oats

-Banana Bread flavor

-Banana Chips

-Walnuts

-Monk fruit (plant, calorie free) sweetener

When I opened the bag, it smelled like fresh baked banana bread and my mouth started salivating!  I looked on the back for the cooking instructions, and they were a little more labor-intensive than your regular store-bought sugar-loaded crap.  After all, this is natural and organic, so of course there is more finesse and care in cooking this!  I followed the directions and microwaved 1 part oatmeal with 2 parts water for 1 minute, stirred, microwaved again for 45 seconds, stirred, and microwaved again for 30 seconds.  After letting it cool for a minute, I took my first bite, and it was delicious!  It was a little sweet, but the banana flavor was very nice.  It was cooked perfectly because the texture was fluffy and thick, and the walnuts added a nice crunch.

I would definitely order this combination again, but probably do without the sweetener.

Strawberry Shortcake

- Organic, Gluten Free, Thick Rolled Oats

-Strawberry Shortcake flavor

-Chipped Coconut

-Strawberries

-Chia seeds

-Monk fruit (plant, calorie free) sweetener

 Similarly to my banana bread experience,when I opened the bag I was greeted with the smell of fresh strawberries.

I’m a huge strawberry fan, so I was very excited to try this flavor.  Since these were the thick rolled oats, they had different cooking instructions.  I assumed they were the same as the banana bread oatmeal, so I didn’t read them before I started nuking in the microwave per the previous instructions.  They still came out tasty, but they were slightly more crunchy (which I actually enjoyed).  This flavor was quite sweet, and once again I’d probably do without the added sweetener.  But the added strawberries and coconut chips were absolutely delightful!  They added a perfect amount of flavor and texture (chewy strawberries and crunchy coconut).

I definitely enjoyed this concoction.

Chocolate & Peanut Butter

-Gluten Free Quick Oats

-German Chocolate Cake flavor

-Peanut Butter flavor

-Monk fruit (plant, calorie free) sweetener

I have to admit, this flavor was my least favorite of all three that I tried.  When I opened the bag, I got a faint whiff of peanut butter and even more faint smell of chocolate.

I cooked these the same as my Strawberry Shortcake since they, too are, quick oats.  After cooling for about a minute, I took my first bite.

They were thick yet fluffy, a texture I enjoy in oatmeal.  However, the flavor wasn't there.  All I could taste was sweetness from the Monk Fruit sweetener.  Both the chocolate and the peanut butter flavors were missing.  I'm a HUGE peanut butter fan, so I was expecting more.  It still was tasty and I ate it, but it tasted more like a sweetened plain oatmeal.  I probably wouldn't order this combo again.

Summary

Banana bread wins!  It was by far my favorite flavor, with Strawberry Shortcake in second.  I will definitely be ordering more from MyOatmeal.com in the future, and I recommend you do the same!  Please enjoy 15% off your order with the code healthy15.

My Oatmeal did provide me with a free sample to try and review, but this fact did not influence or alter my opinion of the product.  All views in this post are my honest assessment of the product and I am not being financially compensated for these views.

Weekly Meal Prep

I’ve received a lot of questions lately about my Sunday meal prep, so I thought I would write a post about it.  It’s really quite simple, but it is time consuming.  This past Sunday I spent several hours in the kitchen washing and chopping veggies, roasting chicken, steaming shrimp, and dividing it all into containers.  But it’s so worth it because each morning I just grab my lunch from the fridge and can head to work!

So what exactly do I do?

First thing’s first…I go grocery shopping!  My shopping list is pretty simple consisting of proteins, veggies, and fruit (always try to buy organic when available).  My list varies each week, depending on what is seasonable/fresh/available, but usually consists of the following:

Shopping List

Protein

Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

Ground turkey (extra lean)

Fish if it’s fresh (salmon, halibut, cod, or shrimp)

Veggies

Kale

Spinach

Bell peppers

Cucumbers

Eggplant

Carrots

Asparagus

Broccoli

Green beans

Sweet potatoes

Fruit

Apples

Bananas

Berries (if available)

Tomatoes

Avocados

Misc.

Coconut water

Chia seeds

Almond butter/peanut butter

Oatmeal

Egg whites

Once I have all my groceries, the prep work begins!

Breakfast

I like to keep breakfast simple but hearty.  I usually alternate between egg whites with spinach, a ¼ cup oats with cinnamon (sometimes I’ll add slivered almonds for texture), or chia seed pudding.  The egg whites and oat options don’t need much prep, but the chia seed pudding is great to prep and very easy to do.

Vanilla chia seed pudding

2 tbs chia seeds

½ cup coconut water (or coconut milk)

1/8 tsp vanilla extract

Mix these ingredients together and let sit in fridge at least one hour.  When you’re ready to eat it, feel free to add honey, almond or peanut butter, berries, or almonds.

Chocolate chia seed pudding

Same as above, just add 1tbs of cocoa powder.

Lunch

This week I chose to make salads for lunch, and by salads I don’t mean romaine lettuce and dressing…I mean colorful and nutrient-rich kale and spinach salads with tons of veggies and even a little fruit!  Included in my salads are the following:  spinach, kale, cucumber, orange bell pepper, avocado, apple, green beans, and carrots.  Here are my salads with all the chopped veggies and apple (I hadn't yet added the spinach and kale):

I wanted to include some protein in my salads, so I baked two boneless skinless chicken breasts and steamed some small shrimp.  Once cooked, I tore up about ½ breast each for two salads, and used about 5 shrimp each for my remaining two salads (I have a work lunch this week which is why I only prepared 4 meals).

How I prepared my chicken:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Season chicken breasts with Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning (so delicious!!!)

-Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes until juices run clear

-Let cool, then tear into pieces and place in salad

How I prepared my shrimp:

-Place steam basket over pot with water (don’t let the water touch the steam basket; you only need about 2 inches)

-Season shrimp with garlic and lemon (you may even squeeze juice of a lemon into the water below the basket)

-Place shrimp in steam basket in a single layer and cook 2-3 minutes (shrimp is very quick to cook)

-Let cool, then place in salad

Once my salads are put together, I stack them in the fridge.  I don’t put dressing on them until I’m about to eat them, because I don’t want them to get soggy.  For dressing, I usually use balsamic & olive oil, or Walden Farms Ranch (calorie free, fat free, carb free, sugar free), and put it in a small container and store in the fridge with my salads.  When I’m ready to head out in the morning, I grab a salad and a dressing container I’m ready to go!

Dinner

My dinners are simple…usually left over chicken from when I prepped (remember I cooked two chicken breasts but only used one for my salads), or fish that is easy to prepare.  For example, when I went shopping I bought two fresh cod fillets, so last night I made baked cod with lemon, chili, and cumin, and it was absolutely delectable.

I always include one or two veggies like sautéed or steamed spinach, roasted asparagus, sautéed green beans, roasted beets, or roasted tomatoes with garlic.  Here are baby heirloom tomatoes and brussel sprouts that we roasted the other night:

Hubby and I always have date nights.  Sometimes we go out to dinner and other times we cook together at home (I made a delicious date night at home dinner last week which I will share on my blog soon!).

This may seem like a lot, but it’s actually quite simple.  The largest component of meal prepping is time.  Keep in mind that you are preparing your meals with love, so turn on some music and have fun with it!  Get your spouse and/or kids involved and make it a family affair.  Just have fun :)

Thankful

November is a month to give thanks, and I am blessed to have to so many things to be thankful for. Because there are 30 days in November, I am going to list 30 things that I am thankful for, even though there are plenty more :)
I am thankful for:

1. My health, both physical and mental

2. My loving husband, my soul mate, my best friend. I love you baby

3. Our sweet kitty

4. Our handsome chocolate lab

5. Our beautiful baby great dane, soon to be our gentle giant

6. My incredibly strong, caring, and goofy dad

7. My big brother and his family who live far away but luckily I get to talk to and skype with frequently

8. Technology that allows me to communicate with my big brother in real time so the 2,000 miles between us seemingly doesn’t exist.

9. My little bro who isn’t so little, and can always make me laugh

10. My marvelous extended family

11. Living so close to all my family and that we get to see each other multiple times a week

12. A house to call home

13. A career that I love

14. My car to take me where I need to go

15. My education, thank you Mom and Dad for the gift of knowledge

16. Great friends who are there for me no matter what

17. My fantastic parents-in-law who are two of the kindest people I know

18. The ability to pay my bills on time

19. Sunsets, I’m a sucker for sunsets

20. Seeing the sunrise every morning because it reminds me I’m alive on this day and to make it count

21. Where I live (5 minutes from the beach, 1½ hours from the mountains and desert)

22. Movies

23. Food and my favorite drink, water

24. My love for cooking and being able to do so

25. My community

26. Having traveled around the world to the places I’ve been to (with many more places on our travel list)

27. This blog to share my thoughts

28. My readers on this blog

29. Music

And last but definitely not least,

30. My Mom, who was and will always be my mentor, my idol, and my best friend. I miss you every single day. I love you to heaven and back.

I am thankful.

Three Things Thursday!

1.  Marathon training: I began marathon training for the LA Marathon, and I’m glad I started early. After a gait analysis, I learned that I am an over-strider and a heel striker. Both not good. Now I know why I’ve had knee/IT band issues. So the benefit of beginning to train nearly 5 months out is that I can take the next month to focus on my form, especially mid-foot striking. I’m working with my coach 3x/week and it’s great! He is full of knowledge and I am confident I will be in the best mental and physical state I can be in by the time March 17, 2013 rolls around.

2.  New addition to the fam: No, I’m not pregnant. Yes, hubby and I brought home a new puppy! Hubs and I have been entertaining the idea of a 2nd dog for a few weeks. Well, last weekend we brought home a little girl and she is the cutest thing.  Her name is Juno and she is the sweetest little cuddle bug. Rugby loves her, and they get along so well!  Pics to come soon!

3.  Deliciousness: I’ve been cooking up a storm lately! My most recent creations are a Sweet Potato Jalapeno soup, herb and lemon pork loin, pesto chicken, paleo pancakes, and more. Everything is so delicious. Tonight my wonderful parents-in-law are coming over for dinner and to meet their new grandpuppy, and I’m making tequila chili chicken, butternut squash, and an arugula salad with walnuts, avocado, goat cheese, and apples. Yum!

Happy Thursday!

Grain-free = pain-free for me!!!

For many years, I've had GI issues usually after I ate.  Over the past two years, they have gotten significantly worse-painful cramping, terrible bloating, etc.  Two years ago, my big brother was diagnosed with Celiac disease, and he is on the extreme end of the spectrum (he can't even eat anything that was cooked near wheat-products without having horrible stomach pains).

A few weeks ago I got fed up with my own stomach pain and saw a doc.  Turns out I am gluten-intolerant.  Next I went to see a nutritionist.  She was amazing!!  I am now on a grain-free diet (paleo), and since I started eating this way I have had zero stomach issues!  It's been incredible!!  I did, however, eat pizza when I was in NYC last week (NY pizza is the best!), and man oh man did I regret it later that night.  

Now that I am paleo and pain-free, I've realized how much processed crap I was eating, despite me thinking I was eating "healthy".  I have learned about new products, such as coconut oil in lieu of vegetable or olive oil, and almond flour in lieu of wheat flour.  This has taught me to be very creative in the kitchen, and so far I've made some kick-ass meals that even my hubby likes!!  Sure there are times when I really want mac-n-cheese (mmm), but the pain I would get from eating it (like my NY pizza experience), is SO not worth it.

So here are some of the delicious things I've made recently:

Banana Walnut Muffins

Almond crusted salmon

Chicken fajitas

Paleo Waffles (I drizzled them with organic maple syrup)

A great snack my friend told me about it trail mix.  I make my own from the bins at Sprouts and I mix macadamia nuts, dried blueberries, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds, carob chips (like chocolate chips), walnuts, pumpkin seeds.  I then divide them into snack bags so they're an easy on-the-go snack.

One snack I love is guacamole, but now that I can't eat chips I wasn't sure what to eat the guac with.  A friend of mine who is paleo introduced me to plantain chips from Trader Joe's, and they are absolutely scrumptious with guac!

There are a lot of foods I eat that I don't have to change, like chicken, fish, steak, pork, fruits, and veggies.  The things I have to really become creative with are things like the waffles and muffins above since they have to be grain-free.  There are some awesome resources out there, some of which I linked in the picture captions above.

This has been a culinary adventure for me, and I love it.  I love the way I feel (no stomach pain) and I love being adventurous in the kitchen!  It's going to be fun exploring new recipes and writing about it along the way.

On another note, tomorrow registration for the LA Marathon opens, which is the beginning of my journey to running my first full marathon to raise funds and awareness for the horrible and rare disease called MDS that my Mom recently passed away from.

Lent 2012 + Fat {Taco} Tuesday!

Happy Fat Tuesday!!

I’ve been thinking a lot about Lent and what I want to give up this year.  In the past I’ve given up meat (I actually did that for several more months), given up coffee, chips (I <3 salty snacks), and I even gave up alcohol (when I was in college no less).  One year I added meditation to my daily routine and I found that very cleansing.  So I got to thinking, “What am I going to do for this season of Lent?”

I was talking to my hubs about it over the weekend, and I mentioned how I wish I had more time to read for fun.  All my reading has been focused on text books for B-School.  Alas!  There it was!  My answer for Lent 2012.  I am going to read for fun at least 10 minutes a day.

There are so many books on my reading list, including Bossy Pants (which I downloaded onto my iPad almost a year ago), The Host (which I started a year ago and got about 1/8 of the way through), The Help, Running for Women (by Ms. Goucher), and The Fountainhead, among others.  I’m going to kick off Lent with the Host, so perhaps I can finally finish it!  I’m really excited to start this tomorrow!

As for Fat Tuesday tonight, I’m making slow cooker pork tacos for me and my hubs!  I marinated the pork shoulder last night and put it in the slow cooker before I left for work this morning.  By the time I get home it should melt right off the bone and will be delicious with corn tortillas and all the taco fixings’.  After our Fat {Taco} Tuesday we might even go see a movie…we’re thinking either the Descendants (with the Oscar’s on Sunday) or Safe House (which looks bad-A).

What are you doing for Lent?

Do you like to cook?

What movies are on your “to-see” list? 

Chance to run the Women's Nike Marathon from Somersault Snacks!

Do you want to run the SOLD OUT Nike Women's Marathon?  Even though it's sold out there is still an opportunity to run it!


I was recently approached by Somersault Snacks, which is a company that produces delicious, healthy snacks baked with sunflower seeds and toasted grains (who doesn't love a tasty snack?!).  The Company has an awesome opportunity for 6 lucky winners to train and run the Nike Women's Marathon with them in San Francisco on October 16th!


It's so easy to enter!  All you have to do is:


1.  Like Somersault Snacks on Facebook and complete the sentence:  "I run to be_____" and tell them why you should be picked for Team Somersaults!
2.  Tweet about the contest referencing @SomersaultSnack in your tweets!
3.  Enter the contest via Facebook here!


It's an awesome chance to race in one of the most fun Marathons, and don't forget, you get a Tiffany's necklace at the end of this race.

Mix, Mix, Mix it Up!

We are officially in our house! It’s such a great feeling and it really feels like “home.” One of my favorite rooms (who am I kidding, I love every room!) is the kitchen because 1) I love to cook, and 2) it’s a gathering area for company because it flows into the dining room and living room.


Something I wanted for, oh, probably the past 8 years was a Stand up KitchenAid Mixer because you can do EVERYTHING and make ANYTHING with it--cookies, brownies, bread, cakes, mashed potatoes, pasta with the pasta attachment, juice with the juicer attachment, ice cream, etc…the possibilities are endless! Don’t you want one too? :)

So when Sean and I built our registry, that was one of the first things to go on it! Well, for my birthday last month, my parents surprised me with the chrome KitchenAid to match our stainless steel appliances!! I am absolutely in love with it!!

I haven’t used it yet because we’ve been moving and unpacking, but I do have a delicious Blueberry Crumb Cake recipe, courtesy of Ina Garten, I plan on making with my fabulous chrome KitchenAid mixer. The Barefoot Contessa always has delicious recipes and I can’t wait to make this one.


What are some of your favorite recipes?


On the workout front, I trained twice this week with my trainer, who kicked my @$$ both times…I love it!! And Sean and I got a nice 2-3 mile walk in last night in our new neighborhood. It was absolutely wonderful. What can I say, la vie es bon :)
This weekend I’m taking a cardio class with my cousin and then we’re going paddle boarding!! I’ve never done it and I can’t wait!!


Have you ever been paddle boarding? Any advice?

Have an awesome and active weekend!
<3 Mags

Our 1st Wedding Tasting!

Yesterday Sean and I went to our first wedding tasting!  My parents came with us and we all had a blast!  Our fabulous wedding coordinator also met up with us...I absolutely love her!

It was a very cool set up.  The evening was basically a mock-wedding: cocktail hour followed by dinner.  We began with tray passed hors d’eouvres during cocktail hour.  All were absolutely scrumptious – coconut shrimp, beef wellington in a puff pastry, chicken spring rolls with a peanut sauce, crab cakes, etc.   A couple of them, however, were large and during cocktail hour we want a yummy that is one or two bites.  The ones we decided on are mac-n-cheese lollisticks (mac-n-cheese is Sean’s and my favorite food, well for me ANYTHING with cheese really, but definitely mac), and crab cakes...YUM!!

  

After the “cocktail hour” we were escorted into their “reception room” where the food was served buffet style in silver chafing dishes.  Here are some of the delicious courses we tasted:
- Wild cherry salad with macadamia nuts
- Mediterranean chicken with mushrooms and artichoke hearts
- Zucchini lime chicken with a lime zest beurre blanc sauce
- Vegetarian rotolo (almost like a veggie pie in a pastry-like pasta...quite delish!)
- Filet mignon with three sauces

Sean and I decided to split the courses so we could maximize space on our plate!  For example, he chose two chicken dishes and I chose the other two and we shared.

After a decadent and downright scrumptious dinner tasting, they brought out the cake samples!  There were eight to taste and we did the same sharing thing we did during dinner…Sean had four and I had four and we shared.  They were DIVINE!  We definitely gravitated towards some more than others (i.e. white cake with peanut butter filling…peanut butter is another thing we both absolutely LOVE and can’t get enough of).  We will have a multi-tier cake and have for the most part decided on the cake and filling for each tier!  We’re both super excited!!!

We had so much fun at the tasting and choosing the courses we want and don’t want served at our wedding.  It made us even more excited to get married (if that’s even possible!)!!!


Lots of love :)

NYC birthday surprise!!

I’m going to NYC this weekend!!!!  I’ve known about it for months now, but haven’t been able to say anything because it was a surprise.  Sean and I are going with our best friends David and Lisa.  It’s David’s big 25th birthday and Lisa wanted to surprise him with a weekend getaway in New York.  When she asked me and Sean to join the festivities, we shouted “OF COURSE!”

NY is my second home (I lived there for 4 years during college and go back several times a year for work and for fun to visit my roomies).  And Christmastime in NYC is absolutely magical.  The tree in Rockefeller Center is up and the entire city is decorated with lights.  One thing we’re doing, which I am TOTALLY pumped for, is ice skating in Rockefeller.  It’s always been a dream of mine, and I never did it when I lived there.  I suppose as a pseudo-New Yorker it was “too touristy and crowded,” especially to wait 3 hours. Lucky for us, one of my roommates knows someone who works there and got us VIP tickets – that means no lines!

One of my favorite things about New York is the restaurant scene.  I am a huge foodie and I love great food and wine.  We are beginning with Saturday brunch at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain. I love Bobby Flay and I’m really looking forward to experiencing this restaurant. When Sean and I went to Mesa Grill (a Bobby Flay restaurant) over the summer, it was one of the best meals we had.  Then that evening for David’s birthday dinner, we’re going to the fabulous Bistro Moderne. Chef Daniel Boulud is one of my favorite chefs and I absolutely love his other restaurants.  This is going to be a real treat :)

On the running front, I have a 2 hour long run scheduled for Saturday.  It’s going to be cold with a 44/29 (high/low).  Since I’ve never run in this kind of weather before I was unsure what to wear.  I used my handy-dandy Runners Ally iPhone app cleverly called “What to Wear” and came up with running tights, a long sleeve, a jacket, gloves, and a beanie.  Lisa is going to join me on the long run, so we’re shooting on getting an early Central Park run in before brunch.  It’s going to be quite chilly, but at least we’ll be running together!

Speaking of traveling and working out, a while ago I came across a quick and easy routine to do in your hotel room.  It’s simple and requires no equipment making it ideal for doing on the road.  You should be able to do three to four rotations of this in no more than 15 minutes:
25 jumping jacks
25 sit-ups
25 body squats
25 push ups
25 lunges

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

Let The Thanksgiving Fun Begin!!

I am beyond excited for this weekend!!!!  Tomorrow my big brother and his family fly into town for the Thanksgiving holiday!  I can't wait to see them!  It's my brother's birthday on Sunday, so we're celebrating with the whole family Saturday night!!  Two years ago when my bro came out for his birthday and Thanksgiving we threw him a Transformer surprise birthday party and I made him this gem of a cake (yes, from scratch!):

Lots of family and lots of fun!  And I can't wait to see my two favorite nephews :) 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for so many reasons.  We all get together in the morning for the Long Beach Turkey Trot before getting ready for Turkey dinner at my Aunts.

Some of us at the Turkey Trot last year

My Grammie makes her famous (and my favorite) sweet potatoes with pineapple and marshmallows (DELISH!), my mom makes her broccoli and cheese casserole (my other favorite!) and my Aunt takes care of the turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.  And of course there's PUMPKIN PIE!!!!  My favorite pie.  I probably could eat a whole pie to my face, but I won't :)


We're a very close family and we always have the most fun and memorable times together.  I grew up with the family getting together at someone's house every weekend.  Now that I'm older, not much has changed!

The boys in the family and my Aunt being goofy normal

The girls (my Aunt was still trying to squat for the picture)

Family is very important to us, and I am so thankful for my family and that we get choose to see each other so frequently :)

What do you look forward to during the holidays?


Happy Friday!

Maple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

A couple days ago I was exploring Runner's World online and came across some delicious and healthy smoothie recipes.
This morning after running 6x200 sprints and a mile warm up and cool down, I decided to try the Maple Pumpkin smoothie.  After all, it IS fall and I LOVE pumpkin.  The smoothie was absolutely delicious!  It's a little thicker and was easier for me to "drink" using a spoon.  I probably could have added a little more soy milk, and I did put a little more pumpkin and tofu in than what was called for, so I'm sure that contributed to it's consistency.  The smoothie tasted like fall in a cup, it's healthy and makes for a great recovery drink (or whatever you want to make it for!), and it's pretty darn filling for a single serving.


Maple Pumpkin Pie
1/2 cup plain soy milk
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup silken tofu
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon real maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.


Why it's good for you:  Pumpkin is high in fiber and beta-carotene, an antioxidant that protects eye health.  Silken tofu lends a thick consistency and (along with soy milk) provides a nondairy source of protein (great for lactose-intolerant folks).  Studies show that regularly eating nuts and nut butters (like peanut butter) can lower your risk for developing heart disease and type-2 diabetes.  Maple syrup adds sweetness along with compounds that have anticancer properties, while cinnamon "helps keep blood sugar steady," says Ilana Katz, R.D., a sports nutritionist in Atlanta, "preventing fluctuations in energy levels."


Nutrition Info:  212 calories, 17g carbs, 5g fiber, 11g protein, and 12g fat.


Happy Wednesday!

Happy First Day of Fall!

This morning when I woke up, I wanted pumpkin pancakes!  And what better way to celebrate the first day of fall than with some delicious pumpkin pancakes?!  They were so tasty, I just HAD to share them.  So here's the recipe:


Scrumptious Pumpkin Pancakes
Yields 6 servings


Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat flour)

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground allspice*

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon*

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger*

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons vinegar

*or you can use "pumpkin pie spice" instead of each individual spice if you want


Directions

1. In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil, and vinegar.  Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking podwer, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt, and stir into the pumpking mixture just enough to combine.  Don't mix it too much (there should still be some clumps).
2. Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and spray with cooking spray or lightly coat with oil.  Pour the batter onto the skillet to a pancake size of your choice (mine were larger ovals).  Flip the pancake when you start to see little bubbles on the top and brown the other side.

I topped with my pancakes with organic peanut butter then drizzled with honey.  It was *DELICIOUS*!!!!

Happy Fall!
xoxo

Salmon with Brown Sugar and Dijon

I love fish, especially salmon.  It’s delicious, low in calories, and loaded with nutrients!
Salmon is high in protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are a good health-promoting fat.  Our bodies cannot make omega-3s, so we can easily get them from eating foods like salmon.  These omega-3s significantly benefit our cardiovascular system and help reduce the risk of inflammation as well as maintaining our immune and circulatory systems.  And on top of that, salmon is an excellent source of selenium, protein, niacin and vitamin B12, phosphorous, magnesium and vitamin B6.  Pretty cool to get all that good stuff from one source!

With that said, I want to share with you one of my dad's recipes, which is one of my favorites!  It SUPER EASY to make and absolutely scrumptious.

Baked Salmon Fillet with Dijon Mustard and Brown Sugar

1. Get a small piece of salmon (Ralphs or Vons usually has them in 5 or 6 ounce cuts)
2. Whisk a 1/2 table spoon of olive oil and about 1 1/2– 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
3. Coat the salmon both sides (if skin is removed, otherwise one side)
4. Salt liberally with house seasoning*
5. Sprinkle on some brown sugar, not a lot, but a light coating
6. Bake at 375 degrees for about 12-17 minutes depending on size and doneness (bigger pieces can take as long as 20)

*House seasoning:  1 part salt, 1/2 part ground black pepper, 1/2 part garlic powder
Simple and delicious!  The brown sugar creates a sweet glaze and the Dijon gives it a little tang.  And it's so tender!

I like sauté some spinach in a little bit of olive oil (throw in some chopped almonds for a little texture!) for a quick and tasty side dish.

Bon appetit!

Craft Review

Sunday, September 6, 2009

On Friday, my family and I went to Craft in LA.  We got picked up around 6ish, and while we cruised up we enjoyed a beautiful bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.  Here is my little brother, my dad, my mom, and me:

We shockingly hit zero traffic on the way up (very strange for LA!).  We arrived at the contemporary American restaurant and I immediately fell in love with the crisp modern decor:

We started off with cocktails made table side (Dirty Martinis and Manhattans) while the waitress came over the explain the family style dining.  Dad and I ordered oysters and champagne, and after eating three each, we decided to order another round!  So we each had three more.  For dinner, we all ordered and entree and a side that was brought and served in the center of our table to share.  We ordered copper river salmon (only available three weeks out of the year, and believe me, it is the most savory salmon there is), braised short ribs (tender and to die for), flat iron steak (couldn't have been more perfectly seasoned and cooked), and an organic farm chicken (incredible).  For our sides we enjoyed whipped potatoes, sweet corn, asparagus, and assorted mushrooms, all of which were fresh and little explosions of flavor with every bite.

With our dinner, we savored a 2004 Chambolle-Musigny, 1er Cru Les Hauts-Doix, Robert Groffier.  What a treat that was!  After our delicious dinner, we enjoyed a cheese plate with two kinds of sheep's milk cheese, two goat's milk cheese, and a bleu cheese, complimented by a roasted fig dessert.  The sweet and salty combo of the cheese and figs was mind blowing.

After about three hours of deliciousness and the best conversation, we hopped back in our limo and ventured home.  A tradition we have in our family is "champagne at midnight".  To keep this tradition going on our night out, we had a bottle of rose champagne for the ride home.  Gotta love it!

I love my family more than anything.  We can be sitting on our patio listening to music and talking all night, or indulging in fine dining and spectacular wines, and it always ends up being one of the most memorable nights.  it doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, just as long as we're together.  There is nothing like family :)

Speaking of family, here is a pic of me and my brother outside the restaurant as we arrived:

Until next time, have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!!  I'm now headed up to Palm Desert for my girlfriend's birthday!  Palm Desert, watch out!!!

xoxo