Veggie Stuffed Mushrooms.

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You guys! I made these last night and they were so good….and EASY! You know I love easy cooking in the kitchen. There is nothing worse than having to slave away for hours. More often than not- less is more.  I was browsing Pinterest (per usual) on what to make for dinner and came across these. Usually when I think of stuffed mushrooms they are meat based, but I made them in a veggie version. The recipe called for portobello mushrooms but tonight I was feeling like button mushrooms. If you feel like using portobello by all means it will taste just as great! (Just don’t forget to clean the insides out). If you decide you want to add meat I suggest using Italian sausage. Annnddd….if you want a little spice pick up some cherry peppers (next to the peperoncini’s @ the grocery store). Chop them up- add them to your mixture and it will add the perfect kick providing you like a little bit of spice.

What you’ll need:

12 Button Mushrooms

  • 12 Button Mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (you might need more depending on how much stuffing you have)
  • 1/2 med onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 heaping cup of breadcrumbs (I like Progresso/Original flavor)
  • 1/3 chopped parsley
  • 1/3 cup chopped dill (can substitute mint if you prefer)
  • zucchini/yellow squash (chopped finely)
  • parmesan cheese (grated or powder kind is fine)
  • salt & pepper
  • lemon to garnish (optional)
  • balsamic glaze (you can buy this at the grocery store or make yourself)

Directions:

  1. Wash mushrooms and then remove the stems from the mushrooms and finely chop. Set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with olive oiled foil or parchment paper. I like to use these plastic liners – the cooked stuff comes right off (see picture above)
  3. Stuffing: sauce the onion in olive oil/coconut oil on med heat for about 4-5 minutes. Add the reserved chopped mushrooms, zucchini/squash, sauté for about 3 minutes then add garlic. Cook garlic for about a minute then turn heat off.
  4. In a separate bowl add breadcrumbs, sautéed onion/garlic mixture, parsley, dill, parmesan, salt, pepper and and more olive oil. (If you are adding meat I suggest using Italian sausage. Cook before adding to the mixture).
  5. Mix everything together- stuff the mushrooms and top them with the breadcrumb mixture.
  6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Plate and drizzle with the balsamic glaze. Serve with lemon wedges. (optional)

I found this recipe here.

Good luck and let me know if any of you make these!

xo Sarah

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Weekend Goals.

acai

Crazy for Acai…How good does this look!

yoga

Can’t forget to put in the work.

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T.G.I.F. I think this is my favorite day of the week. Everyone is winding down usually from a hard week at work and looking forward to their weekend activities. My Weekend Goals?Eat, Sleep, Repeat. Who am I kidding? I am an on the go freak! Most people like to do nothing on the weekends while I on the other hand am an early riser and go- go – go type of person. It’s just who I am! Not a bad habit I might add. I have absolutely no plans this weekend but to workout Saturday (curcuit training) and Sunday (Soul Cycle) which means extra time in the kitchen to try a new recipe or two. This is so random but while I always search on Pinterest for recipes – sweet potatoes are not in my usual rotation of grocery finds but I am determined to get them to be an,” I more than like you kind of thing.” Speaking of plans this weekend, I have also been on and off reading Rising Strong by Brene Brown for some weeks now (One of my favorite authors) and I am determined to finish it this weekend. Do you guys have anything exciting going on?  I will be traveling to Miami for a good friends wedding in a few weeks so I will definitely enjoy a little R&R this weekend! I am wishing you all a great Friday and weekend ahead!

Kitchen Savvy Weekend.

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It looks like the beginning of winter is in FULL effect. The rain didn’t stop me from getting a few workouts in annnnnnd staying busy in the kitchen! Instead of going out to eat we opted on cooking up a storm. On the menu for Sunday:[Lentil soup] [Garbanzo Bean Salad] & [Homemade Raviolis] Does it get any better?? I love soup and this is the perfect season for it. See the recipe below!

What you’ll need:

  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • chopped yellow onion
  • diced celery & carrots
  • tomato paste
  • zucchini
  • 1 cup fennel
  • 3 bay leave
  • dried thyme
  • salt/black pepper
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 bunch choppep fresh dill
  • 1 1/2 cup lentils

Start by cooking the carrots, onion, celery with olive oil on a med heat. The beans are SEPARATE! This is important. Start the lentils on a boiling temperature and then bring to a med heat and let the beans cook through. This will prevent them from splitting and being too mushy. Once they are finished-drain them and then add the bean water to the carrots, onion and celery. From there add the fennel, tomato paste (about half a small can), bay leaves, salt, pepper, dried thyme, dill, zucchini and let them simmer on a low heat. When the soup is near done, add the lentils and serve. I like to add feta cheese to the top just to add a little texture. Enjoy!

Fourth of July Recap.

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{This is what a road trip with Khloe looks like 😉 }

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mojito

{Fresh Blackberry Mojito}

Artichokes

{Grilled Artichokes from Castroville}

Pancakes

{Homemade Banana + Blueberry Pancakes}

Fruit Salad

{Breakfast of Champions}

Happy Monday Friends! Hard to believe fourth of July is Ova! Time flies when you have too much fun. This weekend was great. I took a few days to sort of check out and simply relax. I tend to work a lot, so getting time off can be tough, but this weekend just happened to be in my favor. 3 days off means getting out of town. I know when we leave town or have a holiday weekend we tend to make up excuses that it’s okay to eat like crap, but this wasn’t the case for us. I would say for a 3 day weekend we did pretty good in the food department. All it takes is a little bit of planning and by that I mean hopping on Pinterest and gaining some new ideas on some recipes. We managed to have a fairly healthy meanu! All it takes is practice…EVERYONE can cook, you just have to try!!

  • Grilled Artichokes
  • Fruit Salad
  • Vegetable Pasta Salad
  • Garbanzo Bean Salad
  • Chicken + Sausage + Tri Tip {for those meat eaters}
  • Homemade Pancakes w/ Fruit
  • Corn on the Cob

How was your fourth?? Are you ready to get back in the groove of your daily routine? I am! I will share some of these recipes throughout the week. Until then, have a great Monday!

 

 

Vitamix S30

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Vitamix S30

I have been wanting one of these for yearrrrrrs. Maybe that’s an exaggeration but it’s been on my list for a while. Sometimes with big purchases I have trouble committing to, until well, it goes on sale. CHA CHING! A Vitamix on sale for $349? Yes, Please. This is not only a great blender but can be used for soups, food processing, frozen desserts, juices, milks, dressings, nut butters, batters, dips & spreads, flours, soups, purees and doughs. If you love to be in the kitchen this might be your newt favorite appliance. I am glad I made the purchase. Look for recipes to come via the S30 Vitamix in my kitchen! Let’s get Newtritionsavvy together!

Yup, It’s Friday!

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Yeahhhhh….it’t Friday! I am beginning to look forward to the weekends more and more these days. When you are so busy with events, work and trying to find a social life in between nothing sounds better than a litter R&R! The weather here in California has been nothing short of amazing although not so good for the environment. I think we have 70’s on the forecast for this weekend which is a little strange for January, but hey, I am not complaining! Anyway, I’ll be relaxing as well as cooking up a storm, visiting my local farmers market and getting a few workouts in. What are you up to??

Get Your Smoothie On

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I love the idea of smoothies because you can pretty much add anything you want, blend and go. I know sometimes it seems easier to just buy one but if you’re like me and love Whole Foods smoothies, well- they can add up! $7 a day x let’s say 3 a week x 4 weeks is $84 that you could have spent somewhere else! I love to add super foods like chia seeds, flax seeds, powder, raw cacao powder, protein powders (vega one is my favorite/it’s vegan) or even greens like kale and spinach that I might not have time to eat during the day. We are all busy so plan ahead and it will make healthy eating a little bit easier. What are some of your favorite smoothie recipes?

And That’s A Juicing Wrap!

We are finishing up our second week into the new year and it feels great. I hope that these last couple of posts have enlightened you a little bit about what juicing is and the important addition that it can really be to your health and wellness. I have received a couple of messages this week from a few people saying that they were inspired and went out and bought a juicer. Nothing makes me happier! Just because I am “healthy” doesn’t mean that I am into drinking gross drinks…and just because they are green doesn’t mean I want to pound them down either. The best is knowing what your drinking, enjoying it and reaping the benefits at the same time. Only a week into this juicing regimen and I am feeling great and full of energy. Let me know if you tried any of the recipes, or if you came up with any that you want to share.

No matter the color of the juice, I am glad you are drinking fresh ingredients that will add to the glow of your skin, aid in your digestion and provide more energy in your life. Happy Friday! 🙂

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.

You Want Me To Juice Whaaaaaat??

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Do you think green juice is the only juice that is healthy? Well, it’s false. Although it is true that green veggies provide many nutrients we can also benefit from other fruits and veggies as well. If you are just getting started with juicing, or have picky eaters in your family- or children that won’t drink their vegetables, this may be a great place to start.

{Keep In Mind}

You can always add a green or two such as kale, chard, collards, or dark green lettuce and no one will even know it’s there. OR you can even add some spinach and parsley and people won’t taste a thing. Have fun with this….these are yummy!

Moraccan Beet

  • 1 small bunch of mint
  • 1 dark lettuce leaf
  • 1 beet (boiled), with leaves
  • 1 cucumber, peeled if not organic
  • 1 lemon, peeled if not organic

(serves 1)

Hawaiian Breeze

  • 1 orange
  • 1/4 fresh pineapple, peeled if not organic
  • 1/2 cup coconut water

(pour into glass and serve with ice, serves 1)

Lemon-Lime-Blueberry Refresher

  • 1 cucumber, peeled if not organic
  • 1 apple
  • 1 cup blueberries (fresh preferred, if frozen-thaw)
  • 1/2 lemon, peeled if not organic
  • 1/2 lime, peeled if not organic

(served chilled, serves 1)

Pink Lemonade Sparkler

  • 2 apples (green preferred)
  • 1 lemon, peeled if not organic
  • 1/4 beet with leaves
  • 1 cup chilled sparkling water

(juice all ingredients and stir in sparkling water- pour into glass, served chilled. serves 1-2)

Razz and Spazz

  • 1 apple
  • 1 cup rasberries, fresh or thawed if frozen
  • 1/2 cucumber, peeled if not organic
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

(start with raspberries then apple, cucumber & mint, served chilled, serves 1)

{Benefits of Fruit}

  1. Fruits are low in calories and fat and are a source of simple sugars, fiber, and vitamins, which are essential for optimizing our health.
  2. Fruits provide plenty of soluble dietary fiber, which helps to ward of cholesterol and fats from the body and to get relief from constipation as well.
  3. Fruits contain many anti-oxidants like poly-phenolic flavonoids, vitamin-C, and anthocyanins.These compounds, firstly, help human body protected from oxidant stress, diseases, and cancers, andsecondly; help the body develop capacity to fight against these ailments by boosting our immunity level. Many fruits, when compared to vegetables and cereals, have very high anti-oxidant value, which is something measured by their “Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity” or (ORAC).
  4. Anthocyanins are flavonoid category of poly-phenolic compounds found in some “blue-fruits” like blue-black grapes, mulberries, acai berry, chokeberry, blueberries, blackberries, and in many vegetables featuring blue or deep purple color. Eating fruits rich in blue pigments offers many health benefits. These compounds have potent anti-oxidant properties, remove free radicals from the body, and thus offer protection against cancers, aging, infections, etc. These pigments tend to concentrate just underneath the skin.
  5. Fruit’s health benefiting properties are because of their richness in vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients, anti-oxidants, which helps the body prevent or at least prolong the natural changes of aging by protecting and rejuvenating cells, tissues and organs. Their overall benefits are manifold! Fruit nutrition benefits are infinite! You are protecting yourself from minor ailments like wrinkling of skin, hair-fall, and memory loss to major ailments like age-related macular degeneration (AMRD) of the retina in the eyes, Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancers, weak bones (osteoporosis)…etc., and the list of fruit nutrition benefits never ends!

Important Note: You can add superfoods to ANY smoothie such as chia seeds, flax seeds, and spirulina.

While these juice blends might be tasty- remember fruits contain too much sugar. Try and add greens to every drink to get the most benefit!  80/20 Rule.  A juicing diet should consist of the 80/20 rule. This rule means 80% Alkalizing food and 20% Acidifying food. A normal pH should be between 7.35-7.45. A pH level below 7.0 indicates an acidic forming diet and above 7.0 is Alkaline. You can find a list of Acid/Alkalizing foods here

Get Your Juice On!

green juice

Can you imagine eating a grocery bag full of greens everyday during the right seasons?? Few of us even eat the recommended 5 servings of vegetables and fruits a day or three cups of dark green vegetables per week. Yet, these veggies deliver incredible amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients. The GREAT news is that you can consume 1-3 of the Daily allowance in just a single cup.

Dark greens are among the most concentrated source of nutrition. They are a rich source of minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. PLUS vitamins K, C, E, and B vitamins. They provide phytonutrients (protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age related diseases). Dark greens even contain omega-3 fats!

{Good To Know}

It’s the root that provide the leaf with nutrients from the soil. The moment the leaf is picked and the connection with the root is broken, the nutritional value of the leaf begins to deteriorate.

5 Green Drink Recipes:

Green Supreme

  • 1 handful of parsley
  • 1 small handful of cilantro
  • 1 chard leaf
  • 2 ribs of celery w/ leaves
  • 1 cucumber (peeled if not organic)
  • 1 lemon (peeled if not organic)
  • 1 inch chunk ginger root

(serves 2)

Lean Mean Green Juice

  • 1 handful of spinach
  • 1 handful of parsley
  • 2 kale leaves
  • 2 ribs of celery with leaves
  • 1 cucumber, peeled if not organic
  • 1-inch chunk ginger root
  • 1/2 pear
  • 1/2 green apple

(serves 2)

Red Sails in the Sunset

  • 3 carrots, scrubbed well, tops removed, ends trimmed
  • 1/2 red bell pepper with seeds
  • 1 small beet with leaves
  • 1 leaf red swiss chard
  • 1 lemon, peeled if not organic

(serves 1)

V-8 Charger

  • 1 tomato
  • handful of spinach
  • 1 small handful of parsley
  • 1 kale leaf
  • 2 lettuce leaves
  • 3 carrots, scrubbed well, tops removed, ends trimmed
  • 2 ribs of celery with leaves
  • 1 lemon, peeled if not organic

(serves 2)

Magnesium Special

  • 4-5 beet tops
  • 2 swish card leaves
  • 2 collard leaves
  • 1 cucumber, peeled if not organic
  • 1/2 green apple (omit if diabetic)
  • 1/2 lemon, peeled if not organic

(serves 2)

{Benefits of Magnesium}

  • major effect on preventing heart attacks
  • vital role in fighting off stress
  • relaxes muscles
  • prevents osteoporosis
  • builds healthy bones
  • supports restful sleep
  • prevents restless leg syndrome
  • prevents constipation
  • boosts energy
  • calms the body and relieves tension

Magnesium-rich greens include:

  • chard
  • collards
  • beet tops
  • parsley
  • spinach
  • kale
  • dandelion greens
  • lettuce (dark green)
  • mustard greens

Remember you can always play around with recipes. The one pictures above was basic but honestly tasted great. I was really nervous to drink it for fear that it would taste like dirt (no joke) but was pleasantly surprised that not only was it good…it was refreshing and I wanted more. (Note to self: Use green apples instead of red because they are less sweet).Let me know your thoughts…and any fun green recipes you might have!

All recipes and information can be found in this great book called Big Book of Juices & Green Smoothies! Check it out.