Stuffed Portobellos

Anything with goat cheese catches my eye, so when I stumbled upon this recipe of stuffed portobellos I knew that I had to try it. Yummmm is all I can say. It was super easy, tasty and delicious. Bryan and I enjoy eating a good vegetarian meal at least one night a week at our house. This one filled us up and left us very satisfied.

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Roasted Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Ingredients:

4 Portobello mushrooms, about 4" across

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. finely chopped shallot (optional)

1 large garlic clove, finely chopped

salt and pepper, to taste

 4 ounces of plain goat cheese

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

1 tablespoons fresh chopped chives

1 recipe of oven roasted tomatoes 

(I use the roasted tomatoes from the fresh pizza section at Whole Foods.)

Directions:

If you have not made the oven roasted tomatoes go ahead and make them first. They take just a few minutes of prep time and 20-25 minutes in the oven. I frequently cook with the roasted tomatoes at Whole Foods. They came in quite handy for this dish. All you have to do is chop them and they are ready to go.

While the tomatoes are roasting, clean the mushrooms by gently wiping the outside of the caps with a damp paper towel or brushing any dirt off with a soft brush. Next, pop out the stems by pushing them from side to side until the snap out. Scrape the gills out with a spoon until the underside is mostly clean. Place them on a baking sheet lined with foil.

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, shallot and garlic. Brush mushroom caps inside and out with the olive oil mixture (or plain olive oil). Broil the mushrooms 3-5 minutes until they are hot and the edges are starting to brown. They will start to release moisture and get juicy.

 Mix together the goat cheese, tomatoes and herbs. If your mushrooms are as large as mine were, you might want to consider making more of the stuffing. I like mine overflowing with deliciousness.

 Stuff the mushrooms and bake at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Serve them with a side salad for a healthy meal. Is your mouth watering yet? It should be. These babies are so delish, I guarantee you are going to want to run to the store, pick up all of the ingredients and make them for dinner tonight. 

Get Moving

It's been a while since I've done a Workout Wednesday post, so here it goes. How many of you made a New Year's resolution to get out and exercise more? Are you still on your plan or have you strayed? We all need a little motivation now and then. Let's be honest, some of us need motivation every single day. If you struggle exercising, try something different. If you are tired of Pilates, try yoga. Mix it up and don't do the same thing every day or even every week.

Running is my thing.

Some days I choose to go to the gym and spin or work out on an elliptical. For me, the hardest part is physically making myself not sleep in that extra hour or deciding that I have to eat a meal as soon as I get home from work. Splash some cold water in your face, grab a granola bar and get moving, ladies. 

Speaking of water, are you drinking enough water? I was more than thrilled when I was told last week after a facial that my dry skin is only on the surface and that my skin is hydrated. I guzzle water all the time. I saw this idea on Pinterest and think it is a great way to make sure you are drinking enough water. 

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Find cute workout clothing. If that's what it takes to get you motivated, do it. Go to Target and get something bright orange or teal. Stop by the Nike store and get some new kicks. Since the big move, I have fallen head over heels in love with Lululemon workout gear. When I went in on Saturday I realized it might be a tad bit bad when the girls ask if I had ordered the running crops that hadn't come in on their Thursday shipment. Or is that a good thing?? Maybe a bit of both. All of you southerners are enjoying warm weather, but the snow is still falling here. My picks of the week are the Layer Me Long Sleeve Shirt and the Wunder Under Pant. The shirt is medium thickness, between the Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve and Runder Under Long Sleeve. And the pants...well, just go try them on. They are my favorites. 

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Make your workout fun! You don't have to kill yourself to exercise. Find a friend and go for a hike or break out your old tennis racket. It is amazing how much better you will feel after you get out and move. 

Do you have any tips or favorite workout clothes? Please share! Happy Wednesday, lovelies!

Easy Breakfast

This is seriously one of the easiest, healthiest breakfasts that can be thrown together. Why is it so easy? Make it the night before and forget about it. Eat it or grab it on the way out of the house the next morning. Why is it healthy? Well, it just is.

{Overnight} Oatmeal in a Jar

Ingredients:

1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1 Tbsp. chia seeds

agave syrup

fresh fruit

milk

{a mason jar}

Directions:

1. Add the oats and chia seeds to the mason jar.

2. Add any type of fresh fruit your heart desires. {peaches, strawberries, bananas}

3. Drizzle on a little agave syrup.

4. Top it off with fresh milk and then shake.

5. Let it sit overnight in the fridge and enjoy it the next morning. Voila! No reason you can't have a healthy easy breakfast!



Asparagus + Corn Salad

Nothing is better in the summer than a chilled salad or vegetable toss. Green bean salad is one of my favorites, but using asparagus in this dish adds a little variety to your typical salads. It is a wonderful summer side dish.

Ingredients:

3 ears corn, shucked

2 bunches asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs {cilantro, basil, parsley}

1/4 cup olive oil

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar

1 tsp. agave nectar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Shuck the corn and trim the asparagus.

2. Add the shucked corn to the boiling water and boil for about 5 minutes, until it starts to turn bright yellow. Remove the corn and set aside to cool. In the same water, add the cut asparagus and boil for about 2 minutes. Remove the asparagus and set aside to cool. {Place both in a colander and run with cold water to stop the cooking process.}

3. While the veggies are cooling, whisk together in a small bowl the herbs, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, agave, salt and pepper.

4. Once the corn is cooled, cut the kernels with a sharp knife.

5. Add the asparagus and dressing, then toss to thoroughly coat the veggies. Chill until ready to serve. This can be made up to two days ahead of time.

*When the pictures were taken I only make half of the normal recipe.



Push Through The Heat

Let's talk exercise and health. I haven't done one of these posts in a while, but you, as my readers, always tell me how much you enjoy them. The weather has been miserably hot here. My run at 7:30 the other night started when it was 99 degrees. One of the worst things to have happen is to become dehydrated. Say it with me, drink more water, drink more water, drink more water. Add lemon to it if it is too boring and plain or squeeze in some orange and mint. You have got to be hydrating yourself before, during and after your work out.

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It seems to be a lot harder to exercise in the summer because nobody wants to get out in the heat and sweat even more than normal. If you are used to going to a gym, somehow that seems hard, too. Quit looking at the scale and just get out and be active. Your body will thank you for doing cardio for thirty minutes 3-5 times a week.

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Good gear really makes a difference, especially in the hotter weather. Find fabrics that breathe. I know that I've told you about these before, but I swear by CW-X's sports bras. They are fantastic. Have you heard of The Clymb? Similar to Hautelook, Gilt and Ruelala, it is designed for people who love the outdoors. Get on and check it out. This past weekend they had CW-X gear on it and I scooped up some new sports bras for less than half of their original price.

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Find something to get your heart rate going that you enjoy. Don't be afraid to try something new. If you like pilates, try yoga. Bryan and I go a local mountain bike trail together, but he rides and I usually run. It is something we can do together, yet also what we both like best. It is much easier to brave the heat if you are doing something that allows you to have fun while exercising. 

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Many people find it is easier to get motivated to exercise if they have a partner to go with to the park or gym. Whatever it takes to get yourself in shape, make it happen. It can be way too easy to convince yourself not to put on those tennis shoes, but when you have someone holding you accountable you don't have as many excuses. This morning I saw two college girls {like these in the picture} out bright and early running on a bike path through town. While they waited at a cross walk they were laughing and talking about something; you could tell they were having fun together. 

Enjoy something cool and refreshing after your work out. This Garden Fresh Mediterranean Bruschetta is perfect for a snack or appetizer that doesn't require cooking, but is healthy and light. My suggestion would be to use wheat or a multi-grain bread instead of white bread.

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Also, I'm all about enjoying healthy fruit popsicles. {Pinterest is full of great recipes.) Feel free to leave any tips or suggestions you have on how to embrace exercising in the heat. Have a great day!

Healthy Snacks

Let's be honest, we all get hungry between meals. It does absolutely no good to sit and listen to your tummy growl just because you don't want to eat anything until your next planned meal. If you are trying to be healthy, there are tons of options of things you can eat without having to eat something with lots of salt, sugar or fat.

Get the smallest size of plastic baggies and split up fruit, veggies, nuts, raisins and other nutritious things you might like to enjoy for a snack. Take these with you to work, keep them in your purse or even your child's diaper bag. {Obviously I wouldn't leave fruit or veggies in a bag unless they are going to be eaten soon.}

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Steer clear of foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates like whole-grain breads and cereals and combine them with protein-rich snacks such as peanut butter or low-fat yogurt or cheese.

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Make your own healthy trail mix. This is easy to keep in a sealed container on your counter or in your pantry. Grab a handful and drink a glass of water. Just don't have too many handfuls.

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This cashew-strawberry crunch is a gourmet version of an adult peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

A perfect snack for summer is fruit dipped in Greek yogurt and then frozen. After it hardens, put them all together in a plastic bag so you can take them out a few at a time.

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Have you tried kale chips? Of course they aren't like normal chips, but they are very healthy and have a little crunch to them. Daph posted a recipe a few weeks ago, too.

Check out these other links for other ideas for healthy snacking.

30 Healthy Picks
Healthy Kid Snacks
Healthy Toddler Snacks
88 Snacks Under 100 Calories
77 Healthy Snacks

Banana-Chocolate French Toast

This weekend I drove from one end of the state to the other and then back home. Laura aka "the kid" played in the state soccer finals in Fayetteville on the University of Arkansas campus on Friday night. Having never played soccer before this season, Laura was recruited to be the goalie by the coach at the beginning of the year. As I've said before, Laura doesn't do anything without excelling at it, and this position is no different--she is an awesome goalie. Her team lost the game, but they played their hearts out and I could not have been more proud of them.

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I recently made some banana-chocolate french toast for breakfast because I had seen the recipe in Cooking Light. I know you're thinking that chocolate for breakfast cannot be healthy, but if used in the right way it actually is great. Y'all, this was an absolutely delish breakfast that is going to become a regular at our house.

Banana-Chocolate French Toast

1/4 cup 1% low-fat milk

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 (1 1/2-ounce) slices whole-grain bread

4 1/2 tablespoons hazelnut-chocolate spread (such as Nutella)

1 cup thinly sliced banana (about 8 ounces)

2 teaspoons canola oil

1/2 teaspoons powdered sugar

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a shallow dish.

2. Spread each of 3 bread slices with 1 1/2 tablespoons hazelnut-chocolate spread; arrange 1/3 cup banana slices over each bread slice. Top sandwiches with remaining 3 bread slices.

3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working with 1 sandwich at a time, place into milk mixture, turning gently to coat both sides. Carefully place coated sandwiches into pan. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Cut each sandwich into 4 triangles. Sprinkle evenly with powdered sugar.

Healthy Eating

Eating healthy does not mean that you have to survive on bland, boring foods for your meals. There are so many wonderful cookbooks, websites and blogs that promote healthy eating. For those of you who are stuck in a rut and feel like you are out of options for knowing where to turn to for healthy and delicious meals, have no fear because I have compiled a list of my favorite resources to share.

Cooking Light is like my healthy cooking Bible. I have a monthly magazine subscription and pour through it immediately, turning pages and making lists of new things to try. If you have never cooked out of this magazine before I urge you to pick one up next time you visit the grocery store. There are lots of magazine sites where you can get a really good deal for a year's subscription. Another alternative is to buy the a Cooking Light cookbook. My Cooking Light Five Star Recipes is fantastic. If you don't want to make the commitment to either, at least visit their website. I guarantee you will find lots of things that are very tempting and delicious.  

 Gina's Skinny Recipes over at skinnytaste.com has an incredible amount of wonderful recipes. Each one has the health facts {calories, fat, etc.} and tells its Weight Watcher points. There has not been one recipe from Gina's site that has not been a hit in my home. Some of my all-time favorites come from here!

{Arugula Salmon Salad with Capers and Shaved Parmesan}

Another site that lists health information and counts Weight Watcher points is Eat Yourself Skinny. Kelly has gobs of fantastic healthy recipes, plus you get a little mixture of her life thrown in there, too--she is such a cutie!

{Asian Lettuce Wraps}

I first came across Family Fresh Cooking when I was in a slump about putting together healthy lunches for Bryan to take to work. Enter the Lunch Box Survival Kit. Moms, you are going to love this; Marla is going to become one of your favorite people. I have gotten lots of wonderful lunch ideas from her site.

{Survival Tips}

Marina may not give you a list of calories with each recipe she post, but what I love about this lady is her constant effort to cook fresh food not just for her family, but with her family on Yummy Mummy. Her two darling girls are shown helping her cook tasty meals throughout her blog. {In all seriousness, I want to be this incredible woman when I grow up--she is that amazing!}

 {Balsamic Strawberry Crostata}

These are just a few of the resources that I use on a frequent basis. Of course, Southern Living is my all-time tippy-top favorite and has healthy recipe sections. And I look forward to my Real Simple each month in the mail. It has lots of healthy recipes, as well as meals that are budget-friendly. What are some of your sources for healthy eating? I am always looking for new meals to cook and share!

Get Healthy

As it has become my typical Wednesday topic, I awoke this morning thinking about my fitness and health post for today. After a conversation Bryan and I had last night, I cannot begin to tell you how distraught I am about what people do to their bodies these days. Our world has a misconception that everyone needs to be rail thin like the sickly models we see showcasing the latest fashions, yet more people are more obese than ever before. I will not allow myself to get on a tangent about all of the unhealthy ways or fad diets that people are using, because the fact is plain and simple that your body will not function properly and the fat will not stay off unless you get it in shape the healthy way by eating right and exercising.

I know that everyone, myself included, can get into ruts where it is hard to pull out. But, just because you haven't worked out in the past week doesn't mean that you don't need to go today. In order for your body to be its very best you need to take care of it.

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It's the little things in life that can slowly add up to making you a healthier you. You don't need to overwhelm yourself and get bogged down. Put back the carton of ice cream when you are at the grocery store. Take the dog on a walk around the neighborhood twice instead of just once.

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Need something fun to do at the beginning and end of your dog walk? Do some jumping jacks.

Incorporating fruit into your every day diet is another small step to take to living a healthier lifestyle. My mother in law is the world's best about making a fruit platter when we are visiting and putting it in the fridge to have for snacking.

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One of my favorite breakfast meals is fruit, Greek yogurt and walnuts mixed with rolled oats. There are many different combinations you can make with these basic ingredients.

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My challenge for you this week? Put back the chips and coke for a snack and pick up a piece of fruit and a glass of water.

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Workout + Pasta Salad

Have you all seen this picture floating around Pinterest? This lady is working hard. Are you doing your blogger workout each day?

For those of you who are runners, Daphne got back in the swing of things this week and did a wonderful Marathon Monday post on breathing correctly. Go check it out and tell her how much you enjoy it. She has some fantastic workout posts.

What's my tip of the week for you? Cut out the sugar. Before you slather on the salad dressing or drink that vitamin water, check the sugar content. I highly suggest you cut out cokes or scale back if you drink them frequently. They are so bad for you. Google "foods with sugar" or "foods high in sugar" and you will be amazed at what all is listed.

Need a little help getting motivated to exercise? I thought this tip from a Pinterest user was great. Put money in a jar each time you work out and let it go towards something you have really wanted. Another option is to make a list of rewards for each milestone you complete. {Write it out to hold yourself accountable.} It could be to purchase a new sports bra after you have been able to run three miles without stopping. Or to buy a new dress when you lose an inch in your waistline. Set realistic goals and work towards them with something fun as an incentive.

I used to rarely eat whole grains. That was one major thing that I have altered in my eating habits the past year. They reduce cholesterol, the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes.

"Whole grains are necessary for proper digestion, calming the nervous system, encouraging sleep and satisfying hunger and taste, thereby decreasing cravings, while promoting energy and endurance, elimination, good reflexes, a long memory and clear thinking. Whole grains require a different digestive procedure than refined grains do."

Health & Wellbeing

A loaf of bread is rarely found in my house, and if it is, it is a multi-grain bread. I prefer to buy whole grain tortillas or pita pockets as alternatives to regular bread loaves. Bryan and I both eat oats for breakfast at least 3-4 days a week, in one form or another. All of the pastas we use are whole grain, too. This is just a health choice that we have made together. It is a lot to make a major change in your eating routine, but I encourage you to add whole grains into your diet, whether it be for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I enjoy making pasta salads when the weather is warm. They are easy to put together at beginning of the week and usually last for days. If I eat pasta salad for lunch, I will eat a lean protein and something green for dinner.

Greek Pasta Salad

Dressing:

1 cup olive oil
3/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. basil dried basil
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 teaspoons Cavender's Greek Seasoning

1-1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. granulated sugar

Salad:

1 pound rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 large cucumber, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 green onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup Kalamata olives
1-1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese

2-3 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced into small pieces (optional)

1. Mix all of the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and let sit.

2. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, green onions, olives, feta cheese and chicken.

3. Toss the pasta in about 1/2 of the dressing. If you think it needs more, add to it. I never use all of the dressing. Chill and serve cold.

*Feel free to use pepperoni instead of chicken. Add anything else you might enjoy.

*The picture above doesn't show it made with peppers or the cucumber.

*The original recipe says to add 1/2 of the dressing to the pasta and chill over night. Right before you serve it you are to add the rest and toss. This is way too much dressing in my opinion, therefore I only use about half.

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