With spring days transitioning into summer, the baby greens (aka tomato plants) are happily growing and getting plenty of sunshine. I'm not quite a green thumb, so last year was a major success with basil and onion growing on my deck. :)

This year, even amidst the winter days, I started my seedlings earlier and added cilantro & parsley to my herb garden. Not only are herbs incredibly easy to grow, but they're one of the reasons I wake up in the mornings and start smiling.

I feel proud to have healthy-looking plants & know it's only so long before they shall be gracing my meals with their presence. What's NOT to smile about? :) I know I have much to learn but every baby step in the right direction is to be celebrated & I'm happy to join other fellow foodies and gardeners out there. Celebrate with me? :) 

EGG SALAD:
2 eggs, hardboiled & diced
1 green onion, chopped
2-3 Tbsp plain greek yogurt
salt & pepper
paprika

Mix and season to taste...and viola! Instant gratifying lunch. :) Not only super simple but colorful and actually fun to make. Note that I substituted greek yogurt for mayo, as I don't particularly care for mayo in general.

On the rare occasion I DO use mayo, I make it myself; none of that store-bought, artificial coloring and flavoring added stuff for this gal. I workout too hard to jeopardize my healthy by eating artificial foods. 

Make your Wednesday WORTH it! :) Challenge yourself to not only do your usual exercise routine but to double what you normally do. After this morning, I was wiped - no lie. :) Goes to show that no matter how fit one may be, there are some days that just whip you. This morning, it was a 45-min Cardio session, followed by a 1-hr long Body Pump class at my gym. Thankfully I brought along a protein smoothie as a post recovery refuel...and afterwards catching some morning sunbeams off my deck.

Sweat = Results

Everyone has their preference on when they work out. Find a time when you feel your BEST and own it. That's one of the keys to success when it comes to getting on-board a regular schedule and making fitness a lifestyle, not just a chore.

Once you start seeing results - however minor or major - you will not look back. Guaranteed. It becomes a part of you. And you wake up in the mornings,  excited to see what the day's gym session shall bring. So here's to you and whatever your fitness goals may be. 

'Buttermilk' Pancakes

  I'm not a fan of buttermilk usually, going on record to say Americanized buttermilk tastes fake. My preference stems from an early childhood of European dairy products and fresh french bread baked daily. Hence when I discovered this Buttermilk Pancake recipe, I substituted fresh Kefir for processed buttermilk, making for the most fluffy, satisfying pancakes I've had in a long while!

(note: I cut the recipe in half (makes ~12 bun-sized pancakes), I also added vanilla extract to wet ingredients & after pouring batter into pan, i pressed a few berries on top and lightly covered with surrounding batter. This ensured my batter wasn't discolored and the berries stayed intact.) 

Relaxing, Reading...and Rationalizing

With the sun shining, the birds singing, and the promise of what summer shall bring, one cannot help but sit out and just smile with happiness.

That apple pastry is a weekend treat from my sister. I enjoyed every delicious bite and am pleased there are bakeries nearby where they create such treats made from scratch! :) :) :)

On a side note, I've found this food advocate writing position that I can't get out of my mind. True, I love to write, am an activist of pure ingredients; sustainable living; farmers markets; and going back to the basics where food is concerned. Do I have it in me to take it upon  myself to join the hundreds of other food activists in the fight to preserve what little good remains of our food system? It's so overrun with organizations that are money driven and with governing bodies that have more loopholes than should ever be allowed. Yet is this a bigger undertaking than I can imagine? I'm curious... And curiosity means I can't not think about it. So I wonder...I wonder if I should give it a shot...

Power Breakfast!

Power up with Proteins and fiber post workouts: There are SO many healthy breakfast combinations! I love randomly looking at breakfast photos on Instagram. So addicting yet diverse. :)

Great morning combinations include:
-oatmeal made w/ coconut or soy milk. sprinkled w/ flax seed. topped with fruit.

-Greek yogurt w/ flax. topped with homemade granola and fruit. 

- pancakes/waffles with homemade peanut/almond butter and some jam. Delicious, let me tell you! 

-wheat tortilla spread w/ almond butter, topped w/ fruits and granola. roll up and enjoy!

I do wonder what other delicious food combinations people come up with for healthy power breakfasts post workouts? 

Italian Diet

I've been given a challenge of sorts: recently I got into a discussion about food & fitness and the importance of balance and the need for both in order to not only make lifestyle changes but a positive difference to matter what one's nutrition/fitness goals may be. I was told that if I adhered to a specific diet (namely Italian, for example), I would not only gain a minimum of 30+ pounds but get sick.

I disagreed. I truly believe that I can remain athletic and stick to my nutritional choices even if I were to follow a specific diet. And so a bet was formed: starting January 2013, for one entire YEAR I am to cook Italian meals. I don't know if this was a moment of weakness because I truly do LOVE all things Italian and was secretly harboring a reason to learn more about the culture, customs, people, and of course: food.  Or if I didn't want to be wrong. Either way, I refuse to lose, even if it means I sacrifice sleep to put in an extra workout in the morning or have to go twice a day. This girl is not getting chunky thighs or getting fat. The stakes? The winner gets an all expense paid 10-day Wine & Dine trip to Italy! :)

More details about this to come later...specifically since I want to have this in writing and then there shall be no backing out of no bets. I'm excited. I've always wanted to wine and dine my way through Italy. Why not make it happen?

Mushroom + Barley Soup

Been wanting to make this MUSHROOM + BARLEY soup for a while now, and after searching online for a recipe that appealed most, I rolled up my sleeves and chopped, sliced, stirred, and taste-tested. End result? So satisfying and filling!! :)
Recipe can be modified for busy cooks and made in a crockpot; but truthfully it's a quick soup!

Some of the changes I made: soaking the 1-cup barley in 2-cups liquid (broth & water) overnight, hence it cut down on total soup cooking time.

Additionally, after refrigerating it overnight, do add more water and season to taste if you prefer less thick soup. I loved how filling and stew-like mine was so I kept it as is. :)

Saturday Morning Smoothie

A Healthy Morning awaits...and what better way to begin the day than with a nutrient-packed smoothie? Simple to make yet satisfying:

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/4 cup coconut water

1 Tbsp peanut butter

1-cup frozen strawberries (or fresh)

1 banana

1 Tbsp Flax seed

Directions: add all ingredients (except flax seed) to blender and puree. Top with flax seed and stir into smoothie before enjoying. :) Sweet way to power up before your morning workout, no?