Breakfast of Champions

Here's a little treat to try tomorrow morning as a nice way to start off your Saturday:

-1 small container greek yogurt (I prefer fage) placed in a cereal bowl

-Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup to bowl and mix until combined

-Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to yogurt and mix until combined (will be streaky but make sure streaks run throughout)

-Chop fruits of your liking and also add to bowl (I love sliced bananas, skinned and sliced peaches and cut strawberries)

-Add handful chopped walnuts to bowl

-Sprinkle 2 tablespoons good (in the Ina Garten sense of the word) granola on top

ENJOY :)

Trust me, true deliciosity.

Quick and Easy Breakfast - The Wonder of Peanut Butter and Bananas

Hey there! So as I sit at my computer doing work I thought I should let you in on this wonderful and easy breakfast I am currently munching on. I washes down nicely with a large milky coffee and keeps you full until late afternoon...

At my local grocer they make their own rice cakes but any kind of whole wheat bread would also do. If you use whole wheat make sure you toast it for that needed textural crunch!

Take two discs or pieces of bread and lightly spread on some organic peanut butter (I like mine creamy and salty but by all means, use whatever version of the stuff floats your boat!) Then thinly slice half a banana and place the slices over the two pieces of rice cake/bread. And there you have it! Crunchy, smooth, salty, banana-y (so good it needs made up words to describe it...) delicious! What a scrumptious way to say GOOD MORNING!

Nuttily yours,

Xo

Appetizers of Appeal: Quick and Easy Bruschetta

Hey there! Been on a recipe roll these days so I thought I should post a fun little bruschetta-style recipe I came up with the other day to serve to my grandma while she was waiting for brunch to be ready. Great to put out as a pre-meal snack or as an appetizer for any summer BBQ. Nothing like the crisp of that sourdough bread with the warm ooze of the tomato...

Get ready:

-Handful of ripe cherry tomatoes

-5-6 large cloves of garlic, rough chopped

-Handful of fresh basil, chopped

-Handful of fresh oregano, chopped

1. Over a small saucepan heat up some oil on medium heat (too high and the oil will splash right into your eye - not a fun way to start off these great treats!)

2. Throw in the garlic and wait until you can smell the aroma of the garlic in the air to add the tomatoes.

3. Add half the basil and half the oregano to the pan as well and stir until skin of tomatoes becomes wrinkly and is just about to fall off. At the last minute, add a pinch of kosher salt to the mixture.

4. Simultaneously to cooking the tomatoes, put 2 slices of sourdough bread (cut into 4 strips each) to toaster and depending on toaster leave in for 3-4 minutes (or until golden brown and crunchy.)

5. Take tomatoes off heat and using a spoon cover each piece of crispy bread with tomato mixture. Grate some fresh cracked black pepper over each piece and add fresh basil and oregano on top of each as well (I like to leave one or two leaves of basil uncut as a garnish on the plate.)

6. ENJOY! =)

Quick, simple and will be a sure fire hit at your next summer BBQ.

As always, let me know if you try it!

Yours appetizingly,

Xo

Weight Loss

Here is a post I also wrote for another blog and decided I should post here, on the eve of my new diet to lose 10 lbs. Enjoy and hope my words provide inspiration to any and all out there who are also searching for some answer to their questions about self image and weight... 1LOVE

Now before you lose yourself in a fit of frustration and uselessness, yes, I do obviously know that the “weight loss” topic is more hackneyed than those magic pills and maple syrup diets that promise relief from the wretched weight gain that caused all this trouble in the first place. Having said that… (Curb reference? Anyone?) but really, having said that, a recent experience in this very arena of bodily misery has forced me to gain some first-hand insight into the popular dilemma, and so, herein begins my story:

The set-up: A recent college grad embarking on her first trip overseas, excited about her upcoming European adventures and inversely as excited about the prospect of finding a job when she returns stateside.

The culprit: Well, Italy, or more specifically over-indulgence in Italy… and Greece… and Spain… and France… and London (you mean those fish and chips weren’t low calorie? That fried bread in Dover wasn’t diet food?)

Now imagine if you will, a solid month of this heffer-fest, an entire thirty two days that was nothing short of a spectacularly fatty, ridiculously rich, no holds barred culinary adventure complete with handmade pasta, Trevi fountain gelato and a very buttery assortment of pastries bought from a corner street vendor in Paris. With each delicious bite, I would reason with myself: I was on vacation, I was celebrating my recent graduation, I was experiencing culture at its best. No I was not being a glutton, I was being a perfectly reasonable, perpetually hungry person thank you very much!

The after-math: Well no doubt my trusty readers can ascertain that there were some major consequences to all that I have described above, and by major I will just say that my mom dropped a few none too subtle “chubby” references several times that first week home while my dad took me to the nearest LA fitness for a membership upon arrival that afternoon.

In all fairness I will say that I wasn’t actually overweight by most standards. I still rocked a bathing suit at the pool and mini-skirts at the clubs, though post-trip I was never quite happy with how these items fit me. With each top I tried on that wouldn’t zip or pants I tugged on that couldn’t button I literally felt my confidence dying a little inside. To cope, I took to sitting at home most summer nights watching Yankee baseball and eating freshly baked cupcakes or chocolate chip cookies (probably not the best way to solve my dilemma… ya think?) In essence, I was feeling very sorry for myself, and dealt with my sappy self by eating more, creating an even bigger problem while nipping in the bud the desire to fix it. I got comfortable in my elastic sweatpants and oversized T-shirts and didn’t want to change, there was no need, I was FINE. Obviously there is a lesson to be learned here, but I am aware of the fact that there are some people who don’t mind this state of being, who feel that eating what you want when you want with no thought as to what it does not only to your exterior but also to your internal well-being is perfectly okay. And to these people I say in the words of Bob Marley: “Don’t worry about a thing.” It’s fine. Whatever floats your boat. However, I am not one of these people, and in my case, the only reason my boat was afloat was really just because of my newfound bloat (oh great, now I’m rhyming.)

Anyway, though there was no moment of great epiphany, no lightbulb that beamed its effervescent glow of understanding atop my head making me want to make a change in the way I was living, there was a time, I believe in the days just before Thanksgiving, that I decided I would take this whole dieting thing seriously and make an experiment of it, see how good I could look and see how fast I could accomplish real significant weight loss.

Now here’s where I want to put in my two cents on this topic. Take it or leave it, I will just tell you what happened after this time. Here, I’ll even give away the ending (gee thanks…): I lost 18 pounds, gained a flat-as-a-board stomach and was able to see angles and planes in my face I didn’t even know existed before this all began. I’m at a perfectly healthy weight, strong and feeling better than I ever have before. But truthfully, all that doesn’t matter, for the most important thing in weight loss is NOT the end result as most people believe, but rather it is the exciting journey that just so happens to culminate in the accomplishment of this goal. For me, along the way, it was fun to fit into clothes I hadn’t worn proudly in months, then even slither into ones I hadn’t worn in years. It was thrilling and amusing when I would get compliments from men in some NYC bar who seemingly liked what they saw (hey, another bi-product of weight loss is confidence, and I have gained that tenfold.) It’s great to see the numbers on a scale go down each week, as real tangible evidence that you are on the path to a healthier you. I know I sound a little cheesy but really you have to embrace the experience. Because that’s the thing about weight loss, the issue may be culturally bromidic but if it has become dull in our society it is only because of the awful over-exposure it receives; as companies try relentlessly to convince vulnerable cake-eating, television watching, sweatpants wearing, low confidence Americans like three-months-ago me that this can all disappear tomorrow all they are doing is augmenting the feeling that there is no real way out, a consequence of their advertised “quick fix” that always ends in inevitable failure. It has become a tiresome topic only because the way in which we approach it is fundamentally flawed, and so I say, dieting needs to be thought about with a much different outlook.

So what, you may ask, is this so-called different outlook? Well, exciting as the journey may be, the day to day of every weight loss sojourn is, sad to say, a bit boring. Anyone trying to lose weight NEEDS to know that weight loss, like any life-changing undertaking, requires a serious commitment, (along with a great cardio playlist and the will to get yourself to the gym even on those rainy days when the E-channel is showing a Cutest Celebrity Couples marathon.) Not only in terms of exercise, but dietarily speaking, weight loss also takes a complete overhaul in the way you approach food. I recommend taking up cooking if you have the time, embracing lean proteins like chicken breast and grilled fish, delighting in the taste of sauteed vegetables or small wedges of finely aged cheese as a dessert subsitute. The purpose of this post however, is not to explain how to lose weight, we all know what it requires, (healthier, lower fat, smaller portion style eating and frequent exercise if you want my opinion) but it’s to hopefully provide that first push off the sofa that seems to be the most difficult part, yes I wrote this silly thing with the hopes of trying to get you up and moving.

In order to do this, I propose that weight loss not be looked upon with a groan but rather with a grin (oh how cheesy am I????) Because let’s face it, who doesn’t want to make men drool and women jealous of how great you look in that little black backless dress… (just kidding?) So why not start today? After you read this? Let this be the beginning of something great, a thing where the ending is not important but rather it is the work required along the way that rings essential. I believe that everyone has it in them to do it, but most don’t have the motivation or desire to begin. So I’ll end with my favorite pop philosopher, Andy Warhol who didn’t know it at the time but who could very well be the inspiration for a whole new generation of dieters nationwide: “They always say that time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself.” So think about it. Change things yourself. But remember, nobody’s forcing your hand, nobody is saying you have to, this isn’t kindergarten and I’m not a bully 5th grader, I’m just a girl who’s been there and you’re just a reader surfing the good ole internets who’s probably bored out of your mind by now… but hey, it might be time to put down the cupcake (okay, finish the cupcake) and get going, because with every moment that arrives, you will find a new opportunity to turn it all around.

Morning Citrus Salad

Here's a refreshing salad to try instead of the usual morning eats:

1. Segment 1 Grapefruit, placing pieces in bowl and squeeze remaining juice into separate "salad dressing" bowl

2. Segment 1 Orange, placing pieces with grapefruit in bowl and squeeze remaining juice into "salad dressing" bowl

3. Peel peach and cut small pieces and put in bowl with rest of fruit

4. Dice strawberries and add to fruit bowl

5. In "salad dressing bowl" whisk in 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

6. Pour dressing over fruit, top with handful of chopped walnuts and fresh julienned basil

This salad is truly a citrusy and light way to start off your day :) So let me know if you try it, I always love feedback!

Sweetly,

Xo

Organic Eating and How Does Organic Food Affect Your Body ?!

Thought I should post here a guest blog I did for the lovely and foodie-rific Florentina (her website www.ciaoflorentina.com is cyber food paradise, follow her on twitter @CiaoFlorentina for more details!) So here in full is the post on healthy eating and organics... (the original post can be found on her amazing website here: http://ciaoflorentina.com/profiles/blogs/organic-eating-and-how-does?xg_source=activity )

Many months ago, I began a personal project to expand my palate and food tastes through healthful eating. However, within the first few days of my endeavor, I was confronted with a dilemma: how can a bourgeoning foodie navigate new culinary conquests while simultaneously maintaining a strong adherence to wholesome, calorie-conscious products? It was a perplexing paradox to be sure, and though I cannot admit to fully solving it to this day, I do know that through the consumption of organic products I continue to be able to not only experience new kinds of food but also to do so with absolutely no consequence to my waistline.

An important side-note: the word “organic” is often misleading, for it connotes a kind of product that is somehow more natural than its non-organic counterpart. Yet, organic simply means “from the earth” and is a label that can be affixed onto a number of products without increasing the intrinsic healthfulness of the given food-item itself. Thus one must be careful not to fall into the trap of “organic” eating without truly examining the nature of this thing that is allegedly marked “organic.” Henceforth, when I refer to organic, I am referring to a style of growing that is free of pesticides and harmful products, so that food is grown and harvested in a non-chemical, natural way.

As a simple example of the dietary benefit organic eating can provide, I urge you to try the following experiment: Place in front of you two chocolate chip cookies and next to them 25 spears of broccoli. Now begin eating, noting which product is easier to consume. As you can guess, the cookies will be the simpler option; perhaps you may even crave another after the first two have been eaten. The broccoli however, will be much more difficult to eat, with 2 to 3 spears at most finished before a feeling of fullness is achieved. Yet, you may be surprised to learn that the calorie content for 2 cookies or 25 spears of broccoli is equal, although the craving for vegetable is filled hundreds of calories before our appetite for sweets is even close to being realized!

Organic fruits and vegetables allow an individual to consume more while concurrently decreasing their daily calorie count. As a diet option, organic foods are completely compatible to suit a lower intake of calories and also afford the nutrients necessary for an active or even semi-active lifestyle. You will feel full eating this way and will have consumed a smaller amount of calories packed with more nutrients than sugary or harmfully fatty products can ever hope to provide. Furthermore, there is just an indescribable, satisfied, fulfilling feeling achieved after the consumption of a healthy meal. This same feeling cannot be duplicated with the consumption of “junk food.” This phenomena may be due in part to the fact that as food becomes more and more processed, taking it away from its original state as it occurs in nature, vital nutrients are lost, sometimes giving way to flavor injected through fats or simple carbohydrates that only serve to add excess calories to your daily diet but do nothing to provide useful energy that will sustain you for long periods of time. So much for the diet benefits of organic eating…

In terms of culinary curiosity, the possibilities and combinations that can be achieved using organic products are endless. As Americans move towards a more natural way of living and eating, with the popularity of organic products growing exponentially in the past decade, it has become just as easy to eat wholesome foods as it is to eat processed and unhealthful products. Gone are the days when organic cuisine limits one’s ability to experience food in exciting and interesting ways, and these limitations have now been replaced with an abundance of opportunities to enrich one’s palate in a natural and beneficial manner (these opportunities are found in the form of easily accessible healthy restaurants, food chains, farmers markets and stores such as Whole Foods, all eager to sell their organic, natural products.)

Ultimately, however, eating this way cannot arise out of a desire to follow the latest food trend, nor can it originate from a short-term goal to lose 10 pounds. Healthy eating cannot be a choice one is forced to make but rather must be a lifestyle change one decides to begin. It is a never-ending journey full of renewal and reward with countless benefits both internal and external. There is no convincing in organic eating, only awareness that hopefully springs a newfound desire to begin this highly personal voyage towards the revolution of your food consumption into something more natural, healthy, and gratifyingly real. So now I ask, with a mind more fully aware of the advantages natural eating can provide, and a body satiated by these very culinary results of organic production, are you ready to begin?

To receive my organic tweets feel free to follow me @OrganicEats on Twitter ☺

Herb Gardens: A Summer Delight

Here's my best summer tip in two words: herb garden. Not only can you be assured of fresh herbs (with minimal work!) but you can also add amazing flavor to homemade dishes without packing in any extra calories. I'm growing basil, oregano, thyme and cilantro this summer season and find it relaxing to water my herbs in the morning before I start my day. Make sure to plant in a sunny spot so that your herbs can soak in the sunshine all day long (not a spot that becomes shady in the afternoon) and voila! Save money and add freshness to your summer grilling and cooking!

Herb Scramble:

1. Crack 2 eggs in a bowl with 1 tablespoon buttermilk (adds fluff)

2. Beat eggs until smooth but be careful not to over-beat (1-2 mins should do it)

4. Chop herbs of choice: I like to take a handful of basil julienned (stack leaves on top of each other and roll all together towards one end, slice knife width-wise through stack)

5. Dice 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite cheese, depending on how cheesy you want your eggs to be (I love ricotta salata, spicy pepperjack or creamy St. Andres)

3. Add 1/2 teaspoon oil to a small saucepan on medium heat (too high heat makes eggs tough)

4. Place eggs in pan with herbs and cheese. As soon as outside is cooked use spoon to move cooked area to center until eggs are fully finished. I like my eggs a little runny but cook to desired consistency.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

(As an added summer bonus I love fresh mango, strawberries and kiwi on the side to add freshness to my morning meal!)

Affectionately Yours,

Xo