I love ice cream, but haven't had it in a very long time. I have a few health conscious reasons but the main one is that I don't tolerate dairy, at all. If you've shopped alternative milk ice cream, you know that it's not cheap and most of the time, not tasty. For my birthday, my husband bought me an ice cream maker and we've been making our own ice cream creations a few times per week. I thought I'd share the recipe that we've created using a few different recipes we've found. Let me know if you have an exciting flavor--we're always up for new ideas.
Almond Milk Ice Cream
3/4 cup coconut milk (we buy lite)
1 1/4 cup soy creamer *
1 cup almond milk (can also substitute other alternative milks)
1/3 cup agave
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp guar gum **
pinch of salt
* You can make it without the soy creamer, it just isn't as rich.
** I buy Bobs Red Mill brand. Again, you can do without this. It makes it creamy in texture and guar gum is in almost all ice cream sold at the grocery store.
If I am going to enjoy some ice cream, I might as well make it as healthy as I can!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
P90X
I thought I'd give you an update on what I've been up to. You may have heard of this home workout DVD set. Tiffany did P90X before she had her last baby and had fantastic results. After finishing my half marathon in May, I borrowed a friend's DVD set and have loved it! I am currently finishing week 12. I completely love it. I needed something to switch up my workouts and to allow me the flexibility to workout at home during my kid's naptime. The things I love the most:
1. It's convenient and you don't need a lot of equipment.
2. I have loved building muscle tone.
3. I love pushing myself to do hard workouts...and some are really tough!
4. Fast results. I could tell a difference in the mirror in the first 2 weeks.
I cannot say that I have the fabulous results I hoped for, but I have come to recognize that my snacks (even on the healthy options I choose) add up to more calories than I am burning. I've made some changes and have seen better results. I plan to do it again in November or so. I am going to train for my second half marathon in October while we are living in Hawaii.
1. It's convenient and you don't need a lot of equipment.
2. I have loved building muscle tone.
3. I love pushing myself to do hard workouts...and some are really tough!
4. Fast results. I could tell a difference in the mirror in the first 2 weeks.
I cannot say that I have the fabulous results I hoped for, but I have come to recognize that my snacks (even on the healthy options I choose) add up to more calories than I am burning. I've made some changes and have seen better results. I plan to do it again in November or so. I am going to train for my second half marathon in October while we are living in Hawaii.
Lemon Chicken with Rice Pilaf
I had a request to post this recipe. It is a favorite at our house. My husband picked it to have the night before his marathon a week ago. So, I think it's safe to say it's husband-approved.
LEMON CHICKEN
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 fresh lemons
2 T olive oil, divided use
4 chicken thighs (I use chicken breasts)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1/8 tsp of tumeric
1/2 pound Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), peeled (I use quartered potatoes in the off season and it's yummy)
10 garlic cloves, peeled and halved (You can use less if you want)
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/8 cup pine nuts
I turned this recipe into a crock pot dish because it's easier and keeps my house cooler. I put it on high for a few hours and then turn it down to low for 4 hours more or so. When chicken and sunchokes (potatoes) are tender, stir in thyme leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning, if need be. Then cook an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle with pine nuts to garnish (or use pine nuts in the rice recipe below). Serve on top of rice pilaf (below).
RICE PILAF
(from Lion House Cookbook)
¼ cup celery
¼ cup onion
1 cup rice
2 TBSP butter (I use olive oil)
2 cans chicken broth
1 T. dried parsley
¼ cup slivered almonds or pine nuts
Combine butter, onion, celery and rice in a deep frying pan. Cook until onion is translucent and rice is starting to brown. Add in Chicken broth and cook for about 20 minutes on low heat or until liquid is gone & rice is done. Stir in Parsley and nuts.
LEMON CHICKEN
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 fresh lemons
2 T olive oil, divided use
4 chicken thighs (I use chicken breasts)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1/8 tsp of tumeric
1/2 pound Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), peeled (I use quartered potatoes in the off season and it's yummy)
10 garlic cloves, peeled and halved (You can use less if you want)
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/8 cup pine nuts
I turned this recipe into a crock pot dish because it's easier and keeps my house cooler. I put it on high for a few hours and then turn it down to low for 4 hours more or so. When chicken and sunchokes (potatoes) are tender, stir in thyme leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning, if need be. Then cook an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle with pine nuts to garnish (or use pine nuts in the rice recipe below). Serve on top of rice pilaf (below).
RICE PILAF
(from Lion House Cookbook)
¼ cup celery
¼ cup onion
1 cup rice
2 TBSP butter (I use olive oil)
2 cans chicken broth
1 T. dried parsley
¼ cup slivered almonds or pine nuts
Combine butter, onion, celery and rice in a deep frying pan. Cook until onion is translucent and rice is starting to brown. Add in Chicken broth and cook for about 20 minutes on low heat or until liquid is gone & rice is done. Stir in Parsley and nuts.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Winners
Sorry this is two days late. Life has been a little crazy and it involved my entire family and the flu...yuck.
The winners are:
Jodee Luke
Johnson Family
Devin & Christine
Please email me your address at findyourbestself at gmail dot com so I can send you your prize!
The winners are:
Jodee Luke
Johnson Family
Devin & Christine
Congratulations!
Please email me your address at findyourbestself at gmail dot com so I can send you your prize!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Spring Cleaning Giveaway
It's that time of year again! I love Spring cleaning--mostly because it's when warm weather returns but also because it's a fresh start. Peter Walsh, of Oprah and Friends, has some excellent tools to help you de-clutter your life and we are giving away THREE BOOKS ON CD to three lucky winners!
From the back cover:
"Peter Walsh, the organizational guru from TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, shares his proven system for letting go of your emotional and physical clutter so that you can create a happier, more stress-free home and life."
From the back cover:
"Using his expert techniques honed from years as a clutter expert and organizational consultant, Peter demonstrates how the clutter in your home is directly related to the clutter on your body, and how clutter negatively affects your ability to lead a full and healthy life. This plan shows you how to clean up not just the spaces where you eat, but the routines around them: from planning meals and shopping to dinnertime rituals."
From the back cover:
"Peter examines the six key areas of your life-Family, Relationships, Work, Health, Money, and Spirituality--and shows how these unique parts are so interrelated that if just one is cluttered, that clutter will creep into other areas and throw your life off balance."
To enter:
1. You must be a follower of this blog--this allows for more giveaways in the future!
2. Leave a comment to enter. Let us know which CD you would like if you win.
3. For extra entries:
Post this giveaway on Facebook--tell us in your comment = 2 additional entries
Do a post on your blog about this giveaway = 3 additional entries
You must check back next Tuesday, April 5th to see if you won!
We are not collecting email addresses, so we may not be able to contact you.
"Peter Walsh, the organizational guru from TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, shares his proven system for letting go of your emotional and physical clutter so that you can create a happier, more stress-free home and life."
"Using his expert techniques honed from years as a clutter expert and organizational consultant, Peter demonstrates how the clutter in your home is directly related to the clutter on your body, and how clutter negatively affects your ability to lead a full and healthy life. This plan shows you how to clean up not just the spaces where you eat, but the routines around them: from planning meals and shopping to dinnertime rituals."
From the back cover:
"Peter examines the six key areas of your life-Family, Relationships, Work, Health, Money, and Spirituality--and shows how these unique parts are so interrelated that if just one is cluttered, that clutter will creep into other areas and throw your life off balance."
Peter Walsh has personally offered one of each book on CD for our readers!
To enter:
1. You must be a follower of this blog--this allows for more giveaways in the future!
2. Leave a comment to enter. Let us know which CD you would like if you win.
3. For extra entries:
Post this giveaway on Facebook--tell us in your comment = 2 additional entries
Do a post on your blog about this giveaway = 3 additional entries
You must check back next Tuesday, April 5th to see if you won!
We are not collecting email addresses, so we may not be able to contact you.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Recipe: Chicken Satay Noodle Salad
**Stay tuned: more great giveaways coming your way.**
My friend, Alicia, posted this recipe on her blog sometime last year and it's been one of our favorites. I thought I'd already shared this gem, but I guess not. It is husband approved as well--probably on his top ten.
Chicken Satay Noodle Salad
1lb whole wheat spaghetti
1/3 cup peanut butter, softened
2 Tbsp honey
¼ cup tamari (dark soy sauce)
juice of 2 limes (lemons work too)
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 clove garlic, grated
3 Tbsp vegetable oil (I use olive oil)
2 cups skinned and sliced rotisserie chicken (optional--I just cube 2 chicken breasts and grill them with our favorite seasonings and olive oil)
1 cup packed fresh spinach, thinly sliced
1/3 cup shredded carrots
4 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
¼ cup chopped peanuts
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain; rinse under cold water and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, in a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, honey and ¼ cup warm water. Whisk in the tamari, lime juice, hot pepper sauce and garlic. Pour in the oil in a steady stream, whisking to combine. Add the reserved noodles and toss to coat.
Place the noodles in 4 shallow bowls and top with the chicken, spinach, carrots, scallions, peanuts, and cilantro.
My friend, Alicia, posted this recipe on her blog sometime last year and it's been one of our favorites. I thought I'd already shared this gem, but I guess not. It is husband approved as well--probably on his top ten.
Chicken Satay Noodle Salad
1lb whole wheat spaghetti
1/3 cup peanut butter, softened
2 Tbsp honey
¼ cup tamari (dark soy sauce)
juice of 2 limes (lemons work too)
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 clove garlic, grated
3 Tbsp vegetable oil (I use olive oil)
2 cups skinned and sliced rotisserie chicken (optional--I just cube 2 chicken breasts and grill them with our favorite seasonings and olive oil)
1 cup packed fresh spinach, thinly sliced
1/3 cup shredded carrots
4 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
¼ cup chopped peanuts
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain; rinse under cold water and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, in a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, honey and ¼ cup warm water. Whisk in the tamari, lime juice, hot pepper sauce and garlic. Pour in the oil in a steady stream, whisking to combine. Add the reserved noodles and toss to coat.
Place the noodles in 4 shallow bowls and top with the chicken, spinach, carrots, scallions, peanuts, and cilantro.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Giveaway Winners
For those of you that entered the drawing, you had great odds of winning. Congratulations to our winners:
Erin
Shane, Kayla, and Brynlee
Elizabeth
EMJ
Becky
Please email us with your mailing address. Your prize will come from Fit. Congratulations!
For those of you who love our giveaways, email us suggestions. What have you wanted to try, but haven't yet? We'll see what we can do to get a giveaway together.
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