My Morning Cocktail + WIAW

January 9, 2013 By Laura

I love a cocktail.

Shameless, I tell you.

During Junk-Free January, my sole cocktail is my Morning Cocktail. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I start every day with this apple cider vinegar-laced gem:

My Morning Cocktail:

12 oz water
1 T apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
1 tsp Glutamine Powder
1 scoop Amino Energy (I changed brands since the above pic, but the link is correct)

Glutamine and Aminos are both great for synthesizing muscle protein and preventing catabolism (muscle breakdown). Key if you are trying to build muscle.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is what I get more questions about. Here’s why it’s my jam:

It improves digestion and “regularity” (hence the glory of taking it first thing in the morning…)
Helps clear up acne (I also use it as toner)
Relieves joint pain and prevents muscle fatigue after exercise
Strengthens the immune system
Increases metabolism
Breaks down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them
Natural heartburn remedy
Lowers/regulates blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and glucose levels
May control fleas (hopefully this is more applicable to your pets)

Drinking this each morning truly is energizing. I no longer need coffee… until mid-afternoon when I’m freezing and getting tired of the computer screen.

This WIAW post features 4 meals (meals #2-5) that were totally prepped on Sunday evening. Planning is the #1 thing you can do to start your year off right in terms of nutrition!

Check out my 7 meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how others dined this week!

Meal 1:

After my morning cocktail, I set out to make one of my new staples: the Sweet Potato Pan-lette.

It’s a great, low-carb breakfast option. Since I’m experimenting with a higher fat-lower carb diet this week, I made a couple of modifications:

Used 1/4 C egg whites + 1 whole egg
Added 1 tsp ground flax seed
Reduced the amount of sweet potato to 1/4 C

Meal 2:

The best part about a higher fat diet is bison.

I enjoyed a bison burger with apple slices and a high-protein, Strange But Good dipper:

1/4 C no-salt cottage cheese
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 drops liquid smoke
1 drop lemon Stevia
Sprinkle of cayenne

Meal 3:

Lunch was a super-easy fancy meal. Salmon, roasted squash and eggplant, and celery. Since I prep most of my food for the week on Sunday nights, this took all of 30 seconds to throw together.

Meal 4:

This was my post-workout meal: trout, broccoli, and hummus. Again, all of this was prepped on Sunday so I could have it on the plate and in my belly STAT.

It was my first time making trout and I really liked it! It is slightly fishy, but not offensively so.

Apparently it was a good workout because I wanted a little something extra after. I busted out the jerky samples Simply Snackin’ sent me. The flavor I tried would certainly qualify as Strange But Good: Beef Sirloin with Cranberries & Blueberries.

I’m not a huge jerky fan… but OMG. This was fantastically moist and delicious. Yes, jerky is salty… but if you’re going to eat it this is the way to go. It has about half the sodium content you see in most (270). Not to mention they are all-natural, high protein, and low calories. Score.

Meal 5:

That trout was good… so I had it again. Should have bought more… I only have 1 serving left!

I ate it on a bed of spinach with roasted broccoli slaw and brussels. I coated them in a sauce I’d forgotten about: Lemon Tahini. Served with a mini-Cauliflower Crust Pizza.

Meal 6:

The incredible, edible egg. PB & Ceggs-style, topped with peanut butter. The recipe is for a vegan version with tofu, but tonight I used real eggs. And I used almond extract rather than maple. Never. Gets. Old.

Meal 7:

Low carb is hard. ~~My low carb diet is high in carbs.~~ I’m trying… it’s a lot of error. Who knew so many veggies were carb-loaded? Ugh.

All of this to say that by meal 7 I’d had more carbs that I targeted. Solution? Low-carb protein creation.

It wasn’t awesome. So I topped it with goji berries, sugar-free marshmallow creme, and cacao nibs. And still… it wasn’t awesome. #fail

***

The protein count for the day: 177.0g. The carbs? Lets just say I suck at low carb.

Don’t forget to join the Strange But Good link up this Friday!!! 🙂

Do you use Apple Cider Vinegar? What benefits have you seen?

Have you ever tried to go low-carb? Any tips are appreciated!

Work It Out: The Ab Edition

January 7, 2013 By Laura

The million dollar question.

What is the meaning of life?

The question I get almost daily now is about gaining and/or abs. How do I gain without getting a tummy? How do I get better abs?

I don’t do core work other than leg raises in the captain’s chair and crunches. I don’t do cardio beyond walking (my trainer won’t let me while I try to gain). I focus on weights and lifting heavy. It sounds crazy, but my abs are sore following a leg day – barbell squats work your whole body!

Without millions of sit ups, here’s what my abs looked like for my first competition in October (I’m on the far right):

Please know that “normal” people don’t walk around with fitness model abs 365 days a year. In the pic above I certainly didn’t have a ripped 6 pack, and I’d been working hard. Fitness models and competitors are relentless, but there is a lot of diet/water manipulation (not to mention the occasional photoshopping) that goes into it. Don’t put those expectations on yourself!

If you are trying to gain, the extra food will probably go to your stomach at first. It has to go somewhere before it re-distributes! As long as you aren’t filling it with junk, your body will figure out where to put it. ~~I tell myself this every day.~~

So how do you get abs? I hate to say it… it’s true what they say – abs are made in the kitchen. I wrote a brief post about this when I did my Kitchen Workout. Based on the questions I got and my personal goals, I wanted to get a little more specific in this post.

The secret is what you put in your mouth.

~~That’s what she said.~~

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Fat vs. Carbs

I get asked a lot about the proper balance of fat and carbs. This really depends on your body type. Some people do better with more carbs, others more fat, and still others with a balance. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works for you. You’ll be able to tell in a week or so.

I’m actually experimenting this week with a higher fat diet. We’ll see how it goes…

Carbohydrates

Switch your simple (refined) carbs with complex carbs. Simple carbs are quick to digest and are converted to blood glucose. Glucose in your bloodstream increases after consuming a high-carb meal. Excess glucose accumulates as body fat, resulting in weight gain. If you continually create excess glucose, you create a nasty cycle. As the level of glucose in your blood falls below “normal,” you become hungry, which results in consuming even more carbs. Read more about complex carbs here.

Try eating oatmeal for breakfast rather than toast. Make it interesting – try Zucchini Bread Oats, Strawberries and Cream, or try a Strange But Good take on oatmeal that uses TVP as the base: Pumpkin TVP Oatmeal.

Rather than croutons or a roll with your salad, top it with black beans, white beans, or chickpeas. My favorite topper is Spiced Roasted Chickpeas – crouton crunch without the salt, butter, or white carbs.

Replace pasta with quinoa or lentils. I never cared for lentils until I discovered fun ways to flavor them, like in these Lentil “Meat” Balls served over spaghetti squash (another great carb replacer).

Sugar

Limit your sugar intake. You would be surprised how it sneaks its way into nearly everything. Sugar is fat-free; however, if you eat a high sugar diet your body will convert the excess into fatty acids (fat). This fat is stored wherever you tend to store adipose fat cells… for many of us, this is the stomach, hips, butt, and boobs/moobs.

Avoid candy, sodas, “fancy” coffees, juice, and baked goods. You probably knew that. Are a few not-so-obvious items to watch: cereals, breads, canned sauces and soups, flavored yogurt, protein powders, and fruit. That’s right – I said fruit. It’s good for you in moderation (we all need some sugar for energy), but you shouldn’t be eating 10 servings a day. When you eat your fruits, try to have it earlier in the day or surrounding a workout.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with something else…. like my (almost) nightly treat: the 150 Calorie Microwave Cake.

Sodium

Ditch salt. Stop salting your food. Unless you want to be bloated. There are so many other ways to add flavor!

Frozen foods are huge culprits. Even the “healthy” brands are loaded with sodium. Also check the sodium in canned soups, pastas, breads (some have more sodium than chips), pretzels and rice cakes, sauces, and cottage cheese (it took some searching, but I did find a no-salt added option). Check out this post for more info and alternative seasoning ideas.

Diet Foods

“Fat-free” or “low-calorie” items often means “this has a ton of ingredients you can’t pronounce.” Avoid packaged diet foods. They are often worse than their “regular” counterparts because – in order to add flavor – they have more sodium and/or sugar. Not to mention the additives.

Additional Thoughts

Listen to your mother. Eat your vegetables. They are low-calorie and nutrient-rich. If you are a volume eater (I am!), veggies are a lifesaver. Try to have 1-2 servings at every meal. Prepare them with herbs, vinegar, and/or olive oil. If you are coating you veggies in dressing, cheese, and salty sauces it kind of defeats the purpose. Click here for tips on adding veggies to you diet.
Always make sure to get enough protein! 20g after you exercise will help build muscle and allow your body to recover. If you are an athlete, have at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. Some people will balk at this… but if you want to build muscle, trust me on the protein.
Drink water (at least half your body weight in ounces). Dehydration slows down the fat-burning process. Drinking more water can also help reduce muscle and joint soreness when exercising. And we all know this one: drinking water with a meal may make you feel full sooner and help you not over-eat (or drink other beverages).
Make the way you eat part of your lifestyle, not a diet. Diets crash. A lifestyle is a shift in thinking. Find something that works for you, that you like, and go for it.

**Disclaimer: I have NO formal training. This is just what I’ve learned/experienced. I don’t walk around with a 6 pack – it’s bulking time! Don’t sue me. The End.**

***

Something else I didn’t realize… not only is my next competition just 11 weeks away, but I am also doing an 8 hour adventure race in less than 2 weeks. Eek.

Do you have a “flat ab” secret?

Do you consider the way you eat part of your lifestyle? How did you get to that point?

Pear-Ginger Tofu Surprise

January 7, 2013 By Laura

People always joke about the lunch lady and her “surprise” specialties.

Surprise and tuna should never be in the same sentence.

Dishes with unidentifiable ingredients can be a scary thing. We all fear the unknown. Rest assured, this is one surprise bowl you need not fear.

The first surprise is the ingredient in Heather’s Meatless Monday round-up this week – Spinach. My favorite!

Spinach may be the most versatile veggie in the land. I like it in salads, sautés, sauces, soups… apparently anything that starts with an S… I especially like it in smoothies. It’s the perfect way to sneak extra veggies in you diet and to make your drinks a very pretty color.

Today’s Pear-Ginger Tofu Surprise Smoothie is the thickest, creamiest smoothie you’ll ever have. Guaranteed. The tofu and avocado together make this reminiscent of a soft-serve treat. The pear and ginger flavors are a fun, refreshing combination… and you’d never detect the green surprises if it weren’t for the color.

Strange. But good.

The strange but goodness doesn’t end with the surprise ingredients. How I stored the ingredients is also a thing of curiosity.

Do you ever eat half an avocado and wonder what to do with the rest? No matter what I do, they don’t store well. So I freeze them. Remove the skin and toss it in a baggie for safe keeping in the freezer. I toss the frozen chunks into smoothies for the added creaminess and healthy fats.

Warning: You can thaw it for use in a dip, but it won’t be the same if you try to eat it in slices.

Same goes for the pear. I had a massive pear and only wanted half. The other half went into my freezer, and was used in this smoothie. Awesome, right? We all knew this worked with bananas. Don’t be afraid to try it with everything! I’ve done oranges, cherries, berries, mango, peaches… beans….

Pear-Ginger Tofu Surprise Smoothie

3 oz tofu
1 C fresh spinach
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Sun Warrior)
1/2 large pear
1/4 avocado
1/4 in piece fresh ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 small slice fresh lemon
5-6 drops liquid stevia
Water + ice, to taste
Optional toppings: oats, muesli, cinnamon, etc.

Throw everything into a high-speed blender and mix until smooth.

Add toppings of your choosing and enjoy!

Serves 1.

***

Week 1 of Junk-Free January was amazing. It sounds funny, but I almost forgot how good it feels to eat clean. Energy is awesome! 11 weeks until my next competition and I am PUMPED!

Do you freeze your leftover produce?

Are you detoxed from the holiday yet? Or are you one of those “good” people with self-control? 😉

Strange But Good Beginnings

January 4, 2013 By Laura

2013 began strangely.

That’s a good thing in my book.

First of all, I woke up in a bed that wasn’t my own. ~~No… it wasn’t because I had a lucky start to the year.~~ I stayed with a friend avoid having to drive with all the drunks on the road. ~~And I’d had more than 2 myself.~~

The good part was that a) my friend’s bed was like sleeping on a marshmallow and b) she sent me home with black-eyed peas and collard greens. In the South people say that you should start the year with black-eyed peas for luck and collards for wealth.

The 2nd day of the year I had a strange and not-so-good surprise. This is what happens when you forget about a spaghetti squash for a few months:

The seeds sprouted. I debated cooking it anyway, but was too creeped out. Into the garbage it went. Fail.

It turned out to be a good thing because I baked a sweet potato instead… and that ‘tater made for a strange but absolutely delicious lunch.

A little sweet, a little spicy and fantastically creamy. The traditional mayo-based version of chicken salad will never be satisfactory again.

2 meals later I made it with pumpkin puree and curry. Also strange, but still good.

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Sweet Potato Chicken Salad

4 oz shredded chicken
1/4 C mashed sweet potato
2-3 tsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 diced cucumber
1 T red onion, chopped
Fresh dill, to taste

Place shredded chicken in a bowl. Set aside.

In another small bowl, combine sweet potato, milk, lime juice, and spices.

Add sweet potato mixture to chicken and stir to combine. Add veggies and mix until incorporated.

Serves 1.

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Before we get to the link up… I know you want a winner! The $100 h.h. gregg gift card giveaway winner is…

Congratulations, Kate @ Kit Kat Kate!

Send me an email with your address and I’ll get the card out to you ASAP.

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Now for the link up! The rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above.

In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instragrams of your creations. 🙂

***

Junk-Free January is off to a good start! I navigated dinner at a restaurant with my family Wednesday night by ordering a delicious grilled trout (without butter or salt) and steamed cabbage (topped with sriracha). They all enjoyed drinks, but rather than feeling left out (I can’t stand not to try new things) I tried a sip and then enjoyed my water.

Have you ever heard of the black-eyed pea and collard tradition?

Would you have eaten that squash?

Turkey Beer Chili

January 3, 2013 By Laura

No drinking in Junk-Free January.

Booze cooks out, so I’m calling the recipe “in bounds.”

With the holidays over, you may have some extra beers lying around your house. Don’t let them go to waste! Even if you don’t drink beer, it’s a good idea to keep them on hand.

Beer can act as a tenderizer, adds lightness to batters (think: beer bread), and leaves behind a light hop/barley flavor in stews. I used a pilsner in this chili recipe, but a lager would work well too.

Chili is meant to be hearty, not soup-y (in my not-so-humble opinion). Mine is a beast of a bowl. Between the turkey and the beans (the more you eat ’em, the more you…), it’s nearly thick enough to eat with a fork.

Depending on your preference, ground chicken or crumbled tempeh would also work well here.

I like the smokiness of a Tex-Mex-style chili, so I added some liquid smoke and used fire-roasted tomatoes. If you don’t have smoke you can simply leave it out, or add smoked paprika in place of some of the ancho chili powder.

Mexican food is one of my favorites, so I made sure to add in jalapeno and cumin. The heat is pleasant – not overwhelming – and just what the doctor ordered in the suddenly arctic weather we are having in Atlanta. Seriously… what happened to our Southern California-like weather?

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Turkey Beer Chili

1 lb ground turkey
1 tsp avocado oil (can use olive)
1/2 red onion, diced
2 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 T ancho chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp ground thyme
1/2 tsp ground pepper
3 celery stalks, diced
1 carrot, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
10-15 drops liquid smoke
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (I used fire-roasted, low sodium)
1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained
1/2 C pilsner beer
1/2 C low sodium veggie broth
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Fresh chives and Greek yogurt, to top

Heat a large pot over med-high heat. Spray with olive oil or cooking spray and place turkey in pot. Stir the turkey and cook until no pink remains (~ 5 mins).

Add the olive oil and the onion to the pot. Cook over medium heat until softened (~5 mins). Add the garlic and jalapeno, cooking until fragrant (~2-3 mins). Add spices and stir to combine.

Add the carrot, pepper, tomato puree, beans, liquid smoke, and beer. Stir and bring to a boil. Mix in broth and vinegar, then cover. Allow to simmer and thicken over low heat for 30-45 mins. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve, garnished with chives and Greek yogurt.

Makes 4 servings.

Note: To make gluten-free, replace beer with more broth or GF beer. To make vegan, use tempeh in place of turkey.

Approximate Nutritionals: 316 calories, 8.7g fat, 57.1mg sodium, 26.9g carbs, 7.2g fiber, 5.5g sugar, 30.9g protein

***

2 reminders: the h.h. gregg $100 gift card giveaway ends at midnight (click here to enter), and don’t forget to link up your Strange But Good creations tomorrow (click here for logo and details).

What is your favorite style of chili?

Have you fully recovered from the holidays? I’m still spinning a bit.

2012’s Popularity Contest + WIAW

January 2, 2013 By Laura

2012 was a great year for discoveries.

I can’t believe I survived without some of these things before.

I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many inspiring people (like YOU). Becoming a member of the FitFluential community has been a huge game changer. The members of that community are constant sources of motivation and positive energy. I’ve discovered new blog, learned a lot, and been able to learn about new products (shameless plug: perfect example is my Polar HRM from h.h. gregg – check out the review/giveaway here).

Another amazing discovery was Instagram. It’s unbelievable how much it’s changed the way we interact. I love that when I can’t decide what to eat, I can just scroll through my feed. It has been a fun way to have conversations with people throughout the day! It’s basically Twitter with pictures and open comment threads! I also love seeing recipes people are interesting in. I forget that just because I make a certain snack every week doesn’t mean everyone else does!

I also have to give a holla to my morning cocktail. Apple Cider vinegar became an addiction in 2012. I drink it every morning with my Fitmixer Aminos (fruit punch flavor). It is delicious and has totally replaced my need for coffee in the morning. Love. It.

One last love. Peanut flour. I cannot imagine my life without it. I use it in savory sauces, smoothies, PB & Jegg-like creations, Elvis French Toast… to quote the Texas Pete lady: “I put that shit on everything.” You can order it online through iHerb.com. Use code USO924 to get $5 off your order!

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This popularity contest is my first WIAW post of 2013… What I Ate in 2012! Below are the Top 10 Sprint 2 the Table posts of 2012 (based on page views). Click on titles to link to the recipe.

Check out the Top 10 below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how other started out their 2013.

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Most Poplar Recipes of 2012

1. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

These take the prize for my favorite veggie sneak. If you tasted these, you would have NO idea they have zucchini. OR that they are basically sugar-free.

2. Banana Creme Brownie Parfait

What’s better than brownies? Brownies with (healthy) icing.

3. Raspberry Baked Oatmeal To-Go

Seeing this recipe pop up in the top 10 made me realize I’ve been making new versions and not sharing. I’ve share a new twist on this soon! I always have a few in the freezer for quick breakfast or snack.

4. Peanut Butter & Jeggs

I would like to vote this my favorite invention – and worst pic – of 2012!

5. 150 Calorie Chocolate Protein Cake

I’m actually eating one as I draft this post. This cake is my most repeated dish of 2012!

6. Vegan Goat Cheese Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

I made these for a French-themed book club while I was eating vegan. The meat-eating crowd ate them with no problems!

7. Chewy Granola Cookies

Otherwise known as “the ones that mom likes.” She requests them. 🙂

8. Sprouting Chickpeas

It shocked me to learn how easy sprouting is!

9. PB & Aggs (Peanut Butter and Apple-Eggs) and Carrot Cake Protein Batter

I don’t know which of these made this post popular… but I eat both ~~almost~~ weekly.

10. Basic Protein Shake Recipe and Protein Powder Review

This is one of my favorites because it’s the post where I announced I was training for my first figure competition!

***

I’m so excited to start Junk-Free January! My sister came over for dinner last night, and we enjoyed a tasty kombucha cocktail over out collards and black-eyed peas.

What was your favorite recipe last year?

Did you have any group/social platform discoveries on 2012?

Junk-Free January + Polar FT4

December 30, 2012 By Laura

This is not a resolution post.

Ok, maybe it sort of is…

Happy New Year’s Eve!!!

2013 is going to be the year of going BIG. To start it off, I’m implementing Junk-Free January. For me, this means being diligent about following my nutrition plan, eliminating the processed foods, and staying off the sauce. (I’ll miss you, red wine.)

I’ll also be placing more emphasis on being present during my workouts. I want to maximize my time in the gym by giving my all and making sure my form is on point.

My second figure competition will take place at the end of March, and I hope to do a few more throughout the year. Focus and discipline will be the name of the game.

As luck would have it, I received an opportunity through the FitFluential Ambassador program to review the FT4 Heart Rate Monitor by Polar USA.

I’ve never worn a heart monitor (HRM) before. All I really knew of them was my dad used to wear this plastic thing around his chest while on the treadmill. (He was drinking protein shakes and preaching about “bad” carbs before it was “cool”… in fact, we called him “weird.” LOL!)

Honestly, I didn’t think HRMs were relevant to me because I lift weights. HRMs are for runners… aren’t they? Wrong.

The FT4 consists of 2 pieces – the watch and a strap (a WearLink transmitter). I wondered if the strap would bother me while working out, but I honestly forgot the soft band was there. The five buttons on the wrist watch are easy to navigate.. Being the ~~man~~ stubborn person I am, I set the watch up without consulting the directions.

As someone who ~~obsessively~~ tracks what goes in my body in effort to gain muscle weight efficiently, the Smart Calorie feature is my favorite. It tells you how many calories you are burning in real-time throughout your workout. Seeing that against my heart rate “zone” was extremely helpful. ~~I geeked out.~~

We all know that knowing your heart rate during exercise is the only truly accurate way of measuring effort exerted. Logically I know that weight training burns calories, but as a former runner I still have a problem getting out of the “cardio is the only way to burn a lot” mentality. I burned 369 calories during a back and tricep workout! I reset the watch to checked out the afterburn. Again, I was shocked. In the hour following my weight session, I burned another 150 calories.

My FT4 is going to be invaluable this competition season! The information I’ve gain has shown me I was not eating enough calories in my post-workout refuel. Now that I know how much I am burning of, I’ve added another 100 calories to my post-workout snack.

I made my traditional non-traditional smoothie, but amped up the toppings. This is a chocolate version (use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla) of my zucchini bread smoothie. I added oats and edamame to the top to bulk it up. Strange… but good.

We all know life isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. There are a couple of things I don’t like about the FT4:

If you want to record your data online, you have to buy the data transmitter separately
The app only works with the iPhone 4S and 5 (I have the 4)
Mine is pink… but there are other colors available… I’m not complaining or ungrateful. This tool rocks… I just don’t like pink. 😉

Want one of your own?

The Polar FT40 retails for $89.99., and h.h. gregg has given me a $100 gift card to pass along to one of you! you may use the $100 toward anything (though I do recommend the Polar FT4).

Receive up to 4 entries by:

Follow h.h. gregg on Twitter
Tweet: You could say something like: I entered to win a $100 @hhgregg gift certificate in the @sprint2thetable #giveaway http://wp.me/p16jDn-1T6
Be Social: Facebook Follow Me, Pinterest Follow Me and/or Pin Something of Mine, Twitter Follow Me
Comment: Have you ever used a HRM? What did you think?

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Thursday, January 3rd. The winner will be announced on Friday, January 4th.

Another way to win…

Check out h.h. gregg’s Facebook page or click here for their website get more info on their “Get Healthy and Win Big” promotion. It runs from 12/31 until 1/7. Every day there are giveaways for items such as Polar HRMs, ellipticals, and treadmills!

They also made a cute little turkey on a treadmill promo video. It’s actually pretty cute! #BeTheTurkey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KJG5Dot_5k

***

I was provided with the Polar FT40 through my FitFluential Ambassadorship. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are honest and my own; I’m happy to answer any specific questions about my experience!

What are your resolutions/goals this year?

Does anyone want to join me in a Junk-Free January? I need all the support I can get!

Strange But Good Holidays

December 28, 2012 By Laura

Christmas Eve traditions are special.

That doesn’t mean the tradition can’t be #strangebutgood!

Every year we have family friends over for desserts and drinks after dinner. And every year I make a different dessert and drink.

Exhibit 1:

In my version of heaven, cookies have the nutritional merits of spinach. My German Chocolate Chip Cookies do not qualify as spinach, but they do have a few redeeming qualities. I’m declaring these #strangebutgood because they are a cake-turned-cookie, and it’s a little strange for a holiday cake-cookie to be sort-of healthy.

The most important lesson I have learned when you are trying to make a dessert a little healthier is not to go too far. You’ll see here that while I made some subs, I still left some “real” flour and sugar in. This is important if you’re going to be sharing with people who aren’t used to eating like a blogger.

The healthier subs were spelt flour and NuNaturals’ new Tagatose sweetener as a sugar alternative for some of the sweet. The most important redeeming quality is that they taste delicious… which they were.

Like the cake, these cookies are a combination of chocolate and coconut. I loved the chewy bits of coconut against the melt-y chocolate chips. That with the crunch from the nuts made the texture in this cookie fantastic. I used macadamia nuts because they are my mom’s favorite, but almonds or cashews would go well here too.

My healthy changes went undetected. In fact, I never told anyone they are healthy-ish. Don’t be afraid to sneak a little #strangebutgood healthiness into your cookies!

German Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C butter, softened
1 C packed dark brown sugar
1/2 C NuNaturals Presweet Tagatose
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp coconut extract
2 eggs
1 C flour
3/4 C spelt flour
1/2 C cocoa powder
1 T cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 C chopped macadamia nuts
1.5 C unsweetened coconut flakes

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together the butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and coconut extract in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture, until fully incorporated.

Fold in chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut.

Spoon batter on to parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 mins.

Exhibit 2:

As much as I like to try new things, my favorite cocktail is a classic Manhattan. It’s one of the oldest cocktails. It’s a simple mix of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. With a marinated cherry (don’t forget – it’s the best part!). With my favorite drink in mind, this year I created Christmas in Manhattan.

A week before Christmas Eve, I poured a bottle of Bulleit Bourbon into an empty ACV bottle (typical blogger…) and added 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 cups of fresh cranberries, sliced in half. I took another 1/2 C of the cranberries, stabbed a hole in them, and covered them with Gran Marnier. Both mixtures were then stored in a cool place for the week.

What resulted on Christmas Eve was a cinnamon-laced, festive, #strangebutgood interpretation of my favorite classic.

Christmas in Manhattan

2 oz. Cranberry-Cinnamon infused bourbon
1 oz. Domaine De Canton (ginger liqueur)
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
3-4 drops orange bitters
Gran Marnier-soaked cranberry, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker add all ingredients and shake vigorously.

Pour into a martini glass (or short glass). Add a Gran Marnier-soaked cranberry for garnish and serve.

Makes 1 drink.

Note: I like this drink straight up, but you could add a splash of water or serve over ice if you prefer.

Want to Join?

All you need to do to join this link up is create a concoction that is Strange But Good, post it with the Strange But Good logo, and link up to your recipe. (See below for code.) In the Strange But Good post each week, you’ll see a link to add your own recipe and picture at the bottom of the page. I’d prefer you use a new strange but good dish, but if you realllly have a good previous one you can add it.

Not a blogger? You can play too! Send me an email with a picture of your food and a brief description by noon on Thursday and I’ll include it in Friday’s post (too late this week, obv… but next week it’s on!).

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instragrams of your creations. 🙂

***

This is the last dessert or drink thing I post for a while. I swear.

Do your families/friends mind if you make a healthier versions of foods?

What are some of your tricks for lightening up recipes?

My Morning Cocktail:

Meal 1:

Meal 2:

Meal 3:

Meal 4:

Meal 5:

Meal 6:

Meal 7:

The secret is what you put in your mouth.

Fat vs. Carbs

Carbohydrates

Sugar

Sodium

Diet Foods

Additional Thoughts

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Sweet Potato Chicken Salad

Congratulations, Kate @ Kit Kat Kate!

Turkey Beer Chili

Most Poplar Recipes of 2012

Happy New Year’s Eve!!!

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Exhibit 1:

German Chocolate Chip Cookies

Exhibit 2:

Christmas in Manhattan

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