A Healthy Obsession

New year, new routines, new inspirations!

Here's everything thats part of my 2014 health and beauty regimen that I'd absolutely recommend. I'm working on picking up as many good habits as I can so I can easily push out the bad ones (candy, fried foods, general couch-potato laziness...etc) And so far, so good!

FITNESS

Workout Trainer App by Skimble
https://www.skimble.com/workouts

I use this on my Ipad at the gym and at home. It's the closest thing to having a personal trainer without dropping serious $$$. I bought the PRO upgrade which is well worth the $6.99 a month. I no longer have a problem with boredom at the gym since there are hundreds of routines and some even incorporate gym equipment with very detailed instructions on form and positioning. And it tells you how many calories you've burned after every workout. It's incredible!

Yoga Studio App by Modern Lotus
http://yogastudioapp.com/

I try to get in 15-30 minute sessions every morning in my living room. It's such a perfect way to start the day. This app only costs $2.99 but looks and operates very classy and high end. Each yoga class is shown in actual video with a soothing voice speaking so that you know exactly how to position yourself. And there are classes for every level of expertise.

Nutrition

The 8 hour Diet

As I've posted before, I follow the 8 hour diet and love it! It just works for me and is super easy for me to follow. And the best part is I can only have to stick to it 3-5 days out of the week!

My Super Blender (VitaMix or Optimum 9400)

I use the bad boy everyday. It blends anything into a fine liquid which I love because I'm not a fan of thick juices and it's actually A LOT easier and less messy than the juicer I used to have.

Bounce Bars

These cute little snacks are my protein bar of choice. All natural and only around 210 calories per bar plus 12 grams of protein to help me stay lean. And the best part is they're very small and dense so I feel perfectly full and ready for a good workout afterward.

Green Tea

I go for the whole leaf organic brands because they just taste better and give me a great energy boost. I have 2 cups straight away every morning with some fresh mint and nothing else.

Quorn
http://www.quorn.com/welcome/

We've been going lighter on our meat intake in my household and Quorn makes that incredibly easy. It's made from a mushroom and comes in every way, shape and form. The texture is much nicer than tofu and it absorbs seasoning very well. I made taco's with the mince and they tasted just like Taco Bell!

Women's One Vitamins
http://www.rainbowlight.com/womens-multivitamins-womens-one-multivitamin.aspx

I ordered these on Amazon and they've been my favorite vitamins to take. I've tried all kinds but this is the first one to get the job done in just one tablet. And it has probiotics included!

Beauty

Caudalie Face Cream
http://uk.caudalie.com/

I've been using this stuff for years and its pure magic! It keeps my face supremely hydrated and smooth and smells like a day at the spa. Obsessed!

Beeswax Hand Cream
http://www.thewiltshirebeekeeper.com/honey.htm
Burt's Bees also makes a nice one,http://www.burtsbees.co.uk/natural-products/outdoor/miracle-salve.html, I got mine at a shop in Bath and it's completely transformed my dry cracking hands and cuticles from the harsh winter cold. And only a little dab goes a long way.

Honey Mask by Fresh
http://www.fresh.com/
I use this mask about once every 2 weeks. I slather it over my entire face and let it sit for 30 minutes then rinse with warm water. It keeps my skin balanced and baby soft.

Now go get healthy and happy! Love to you all! x

Healthy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

I was really craving some ooey gooey creamy macaroni and cheese tonight but since I'm still recovering from all the high calorie holiday treats I couldn't justify whipping up a batch. So...I decided to try something new that meant I could have my cake and eat it too! I was skeptical at first about using all low fat ingredients. I thought it would for sure turn out bland and unremarkable but I surprised even myself.

This recipe seems almost too good to be true! It's super easy, very healthy and tastes unbelievably fantastic. You'll never look at regular mac n cheese the same way again. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Mac 'N Cheese recipe here:
http://worldscookbook.com/PTxup4Sb2x

                                     

Brussels Sprout-palooza!!!

You know that weird kid at the table that LOVED eating their Brussels sprouts and even asked for seconds? Yep, that was me. And I'm absolutely still that same weird kid...minus the crooked teeth and  add about 2 1/2 feet. Anyway, my passion for these lovely little bundles of joy just seems to keep growing as I get older and I could honestly eat them everyday. Luckily they're hot in season right now so I'm in hog heaven! Here are 3 of my most recent and favorite new recipes. (Click links below for each recipe)

Brussels Sprout Kimchi
http://worldscookbook.com/eCYFGCMRFB 

Warm Brussels Sprout Salad
http://worldscookbook.com/t00x1XLLfN

Steamed Brussel Sprout Tops
http://worldscookbook.com/FqR0rDIyuC

Scallop and Pancetta Winter Chowder

Ok, so I can't take all the credit for this amazing creation. It was heavily inspired by a chowder that I LOVE to get at Chelsea Market in NYC at the Lobster Place that has scallops and bacon in it. Seeing as I'm a 6 1/2 hour flight from there, I had to experiment with making my own version and not to toot my own horn but...I think I nailed it!

I used my slow cooker for this but you can definitely use a large pot with a lid on the stove on medium and just cut the cooking time in half. Just be sure to turn it to low and keep stirring once the cream is added to avoid burning in the bottom. It didn't burn at all in my slow cooker and I only stirred once every 10-15 minutes.

Ingredients

6 c. chicken broth

3oz pancetta 

1 onion chopped

1/2 red bell pepper chopped

3 cloves garlic chopped

2 c. potato chopped

3 stalks celery chopped

1/2 c. carrots chopped

1 Tbs. Old Bay spice

1/2 tsp chili powder

2 bay leaves

1 Tsp. dried thyme

1 c. heavy cream

1 cup frozen corn

1/2 Lb bay scallops cleaned

salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

toasted sourdough bread to serve

First, turn your slow cooker on high and add the chicken stock, potato, carrot, and celery to it. Then cook the pancetta in a large skillet for about 3 minutes on high then add the onion, garlic and red bell pepper and cook till lightly caramelized. Pour mixture into the slow cooker and stir in the Old Bay, bay leaves, chili powder, and thyme. Let slow cook for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. 

Now, add the frozen corn and bay scallops and give a good stir. Once all looks well mixed, stir in the cream slowly. Cover and let slow cook for another hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Check flavor and add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with a dusting of Old Bay spice and a slice of toasted sourdough. Eat up!

Fancy Mac! aka White Truffle, 4 cheese and shallot Mac and Cheese

My first Thanksgiving recipe entry this year! 

Sure to impress. A dish with class. Easy to make but doesn't taste like it!

Sorry, I gotta make this one short because I'm mid Thanksgiving feast

preparations but enjoy and let me know how yours comes out!

Ps...this recipe was made to serve a small army of about 15 so if you want

to make less just cut it in half. But trust me, everyone will want seconds, 

and thirds!

Oh and Pps...get your blender out!

Ingredients:

2 1/2lbs elbow or shell pasta

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter divided

3 shallots peeled and chopped

1 clove garlic chopped

1/2 c. flour

4 1/2 c. whole milk

2 8oz packs shredded 4 cheese

1 8oz pack sharp cheddar 

2 tsp salt

fresh cracked pepper to taste

4 Tbs. white truffle oil
fresh chopped parsley for garnish

First, boil the pasta to al dente, strain and set aside. Then, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the shallots and garlic to the butter and cook till soft. Slowly sprinkle the flour in while whisking at the same time on a low heat for about 1 minute. Now pour the mix into your blender along with all the milk, one pack cheddar, one pack 4 cheese, salt and pepper. Blend on medium for 30 seconds or till well mixed. Pour over cooked pasta and toss in an extra large dish. I used a foil turkey roasting pan. 

Bake at 375 in the middle rack for 20 minutes. Then sprinkle the remaining pack of cheese evenly over the top and bake for about another 15 minutes, checking to make sure the cheese doesn't burn. 

Remove from the oven and while still hot, drizzle the truffle oil over the top layer of melted cheese. Top with chopped parsley if desired(makes it extra pretty).

Now dig in!!! Happy Thanksgiving! More recipes to come! 

My Secret To Surviving the Holidays Without Packing on the Lbs!

As most of you know, I'm a foodie. Always have been and always will be. There's is virtually nothing on earth that can stop me from gobbling away the food I love or want to try. Not even the need to slim down. And with the holiday season hastily approaching, I needed to find a solution for beating the winter weight blues.

So how do I do it? How do I stay in shape AND eat what I want? Is it possible to have it all?

Well, for starters, yes! There is a way you can munch guilt free and still keep your figure. And if you do it right, you can even get slimmer!

Last month, out of curiosity, I bought the book 8 Hour Diet and it has absolutely changed my eating life. I know a lot of people will be skeptical but it's been working for me and I love it! I've been on the 8 Hour Diet now for a month and even with a 10 day trip to NYC(aka food city!) plus Halloween tricks and treats, I still have managed to drop 3 pounds. Here's the diet in a nut shell:

-You only eat within an 8 hour time period of the day.

Ex. from 12pm-8pm

-Squeeze in a quick 8 minute workout before your first meal.

-Fit 8 superfoods into your daily meals. Ex. lean meats, nuts, 

yogurt, leafy greens, whole grain bread,etc...but you are not

limited to these foods. You can also eat what you want too!

-No snacking once you're 8 hours is up!

And that's about it! Definitely pick up a copy of the book to learn the science behind how it works. The author, David Zinczenko, does a fabulous job of explaining everything in a very easy-to-comprehend way. He discusses all the studies and proof which really got me on board and I know it will do the same for you. It's the first diet that's ever made complete sense to me and is unbelievably easy to follow.

So go ahead, have that slice of apple pie with ice cream and don't feel bad about it. Obviously, if you're looking to lose some poundage, don't go on scarfing down buckets of fried chicken and gravy in your 8 hours. Be reasonable and responsible. Eat what makes you feel good and you will get the results you want. And trust me, after the first few days on schedule, you will get used to the fasting hours and not feel starved. Here's my usual day to day eating/exercise plan:

9am - Wake up, drink 2 cups of mint green tea.

11am - Walk dogs or jog up 20 flights of stairs.

12pm - light meal. Ex: 1 egg and cheese on whole

 grain toast or turkey sandwich w/lettuce, tomato and avocado.

1pm - Gym time! 45 swim, weights or abs.(3-4 days a week)

2:30pm - Big Lunch. Ex: Chipotle steak burrito fully 

loaded or quiche and salad.

3:30pm - Juice or smoothie

6:30pm - Dinner. Ex: Baked fish and veggies, whole-grain 

spaghetti and meatballs, lamb roast and mash or

sushi night out.

7:30pm - Dessert. Ex: 1 scoop ice cream with toppings, 

a candy bar, or a cupcake.

8pm- 16 hour fasting begins

Healthy Multi-grain Cracker Crusted Baked Cod

    Super easy and unbelievably quick to make! 

I used cod but feel free to go with any white fish you like. 

INGREDIENTS:

-6 medium sized 3/4 inch bone-free fillets of cod or any white fish

-1 1/2 c. multi-grain cracker crumbs (Think Ritz or Jacob's)

-1 Tbs. lemon pepper

-2 tsp. Old Bay spice or other seasoning salt

1 egg beaten

1 Tbs. water

olive oil to drizzle

I used a food processor to grind up the crackers but you can definitely crush them in a large zip lock if you don't own a food processor. Anyway, mix the cracker crumbs with the lemon pepper and spices and set aside. 

Add water to the beaten egg in a bowl to create an egg wash. Dip one side of each fish fillet in the egg wash and place egg side up onto a greased foiled baking sheet, evenly spaced.

Sprinkle cracker crumb mixture generously onto the tops of each fillet and gently pat the crumbs down. Then drizzle all fillets lightly with the olive oil.

Pop them into the oven at 350 for about 8-10 minutes, checking every few minutes throughout. Fillets should be slightly firm and crust should be golden brown and crunchy.

Serve with veggies and a lemon wedge and enjoy!