Recipe of the week: Lemony vegetable salad

I realize I've neglected my blog for the past couple of months.  I've been really busy and it's been a hard couple of months.  My daughter's best friend past away the end of April and we have all been devastated, plus it was the end of the school year and we moved.  Whew, finally trying to catch my breath here.  Anyway, I made this the other night, and it came out great.  It would make an easy and refreshing addition to your 4th of July celebration.  A Votre Sante!

1-2 peeled and thinly sliced cucumbers
1 zucchini thinly sliced (use 2 if yours is small)
2-3 thinly sliced tomatoes
2 thinly sliced carrots
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
3-4 large basil leaves cut into tiny strips (Chiffonade)
salt
pepper

I used a mandolin slicer for the vegetables so they would all be the same thickness.  For a 1/2 cup of lemon juice I needed 3 lemons.  I put all the vegetables in a large bowl.  In a smaller bowl stir the olive oil and lemon juice together, add salt, pepper, and basil.  Pour over vegetables and toss well.  The longer it sits the better it tastes.  Mine only sat about 30 minutes before we ate it.  Enjoy.

How coffee and hot cocoa can improve your health

Let me start off by saying I don't want to necessarily talk about the benefits of coffee or chocolate (there are plenty, I'll let you look that up on your own).  I want to talk about using coffee or hot cocoa as a delivery system for an amazing supplement called Ganoderma Lucidum.

Ganoderma Lucidum is a rare red mushroom that has been used for centuries with all kinds of amazing properties.  There is a ton of research proving that Ganoderma Lucidum supports the immune system, oxygenates the body, boosts energy (who doesn't need that!), supports blood circulation.  Ganoderma provides more than 200 phytonutrients, 150 of which are antioxidants, it promotes cell rejuvenation, detoxifies the body and also promotes restful sleep.

Back in March a good friend of mine invited me to an event out in Ontario.  It was the launch party of a company called GanoLife.  GanoLife has come up with a line of coffees and hot cocoa that are enriched by Ganoderma.  These beverages are all delicious and are a fraction of the cost of Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or whatever your favorite place is.

Did you know that coffee is second only to water as the most consumed beverage on the planet.  (Something like 2 Billion cups of coffee are consumed every day!)  It's also second only to oil as the most traded commodity.

I know that there are other coffee companies out there, why is this one different?  GanoLife is 100% pesticide free, certified Kosher, and 100% USDA Organic (certified).  GanoLife is also in complete control of all manufacturing, has an in-house distribution process and has total vertical integration.  Since the launch my husband and I visited the home office and were taken on a private tour of the facilities and we were both very impressed.  Erskien has never been a coffee drinker and even he loves these products, you can read his experience here.

I have a new website www.coffeenculture.com you can order products to try there or if you're in the area I'd love to have you over to sample the coffees.  We're looking for people who want to get healthy, save money, make friends, and make a fantastic living, all while drinking coffee, let me know if I can help you with any of those things.

Until next time, Ciao!

You are more....

I know there are plenty of people who struggle with their weight and body image.  The number on the scale can be deceptive and most importantly it does not define you as a person.  You are amazing, talented, and God loves you regardless of the number on the scale.

Lots of fitness experts say ditch the scale altogether and use a body fat monitor, well those sometimes aren't that accurate either.  A few months ago, I checked mine twice within about 10 days and it fluctuated by 8%.  Tape measures are a better way to chart your progress or take pictures once a week.    

I do still own a scale and I think as long as you're not obsessive over the number, scales are a useful tool.  My husband is an ultra-runner and he uses the scale for measure how much water he's lost on a long run.  

Muscle weighs more than fat and the more muscle you have the more calories you burn.  Weight training, yoga, and body weight exercises will all increase your muscle so don't be super surprised if when you first start exercising the number on the scale goes up.  I've always told my kids that you have to find something you love to do for exercise or you won't do it.  So whether it's dancing, running, weight training, yoga, whatever just get out there and move.  Exercise produces endorphins so you end up happier in the long run.

Until next time, Ciao!

Recipe of the week: Lemon Charred Edamame

I don't eat much in the way of soy, but once in awhile I like edamame.  There's a restaurant here in Corona called Citrus City Grille, they serve a charred edamame with citrus salt, this is my version of theirs.  Let me know what you think.  A Votre Sante!

1 lb organic edamame
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
the zest of one lemon
fresh ground pepper
kosher salt


In a skillet heat the olive oil, add the edamame, let it get slightly browned on one side before stirring.  Once the edamame is browned on both sides, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and pepper and salt to taste, enjoy!

A little Spring update...

Spring has definitely sprung here in southern California, everything is in bloom and the flowers are beautiful this year.  I thought I'd give you a quick update on what we're up to.

I haven't been blogging as much, I've been using my phone more since my laptop died back in December.  I do use my desktop sometimes but it's not nearly as convenient.   Last month I got a new phone, available here.  My old one was a first generation Andriod and having all kinds of issues, I really like the new one and I now have an Instagram :)

Erskien and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary on March 30, which happened to be Easter weekend so we had our date the following weekend.  There are days when it seems like it can't have possibly been that long, then I look at my kids and think yeah, it's been that long, they're almost adults now.  I'm still working part time at Anthropologie and working on a couple of projects, more on that later.  I've been really enjoying doing more yoga the last few months, I'm still working out 4-5 days a week just not lifting as much.

The college journey part 2 with Jade has ended up with her deciding to transfer to UCR in the fall.  She got into UCI, UCSC, UCSB, CSULB, Cal Poly Pomona, and with all things being about equal she chose UCR.  Most of you know she had some health problems two years ago and had to come home from LMU.  She's been at RCC since then, doing very well...Deans list every semester.  By staying in Riverside she will be able to stay with the same doctor and she's close to home, plus she's made some good friends locally, and we all know how hard it is to start over.

Last week, I went to a football meeting for next year with Christian, it's hard to believe he's going to be a senior!  A few weeks ago he went on a ride along with OCFD and he loved it, he feels like he was made for it.  He plans to pursue becoming a firefighter/EMT when he graduates next May.

A couple of months ago, Mackenzie decided she wanted to run track, (much to her dad's delight!) and she loves it, she's even talking about running cross country for next year.  She gets a little nervous about us watching her so I try to sneak in and sit in the bleachers without her noticing and it never fails that one of her friends tells her I'm there.  When I asked how they knew I was her mom, they said because she's my mini me.

So there you have it sports fans.  We're all healthy and doing well, navigating the challenges we do have with as much grace for each other as possible....what more can you ask for.

Have a beauty-filled day.

Ciao!

Recipe of the week: Sun-dried tomato and avocado pasta

Avocados are a staple year round at our house.  I ended up with 3 that are perfectly ripe, normally I'd make guacamole but I wasn't in the mood for mexican food so I made this instead.  I would be really good with artichoke hearts too but I didn't have any.  Let me know what you think.  A Votre Sante!

Sun-dried tomato and avocado pasta.

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb. cooked pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 orange or yellow pepper, diced
1 shallot, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1 large avocado, diced
1/4 balsamic vinegar
salt, pepper, basil, Parmesan cheese to taste

Cook pasta according to package.  (You could always use gluten free pasta, I didn't this time.)  While the pasta is cooking saute the onions, shallot, and pepper in olive oil until tender.  Add sun-dried tomatoes, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, and basil.  Pour over cooked pasta and top with diced avocado, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Recipe of the week: Southwest Bean Soup

For over a year now I've been trying to come up with a vegan chili recipe, this is close but I don't know if it qualifies as chili.  I used what I had and was really happy with the result.  I had it for dinner with avocado and cheese (not pictured).  You could use bell peppers but I didn't have any and didn't feel like running to the store.  I did not use the seasoning package that came with the soup, I threw that away, it had all kinds of junk in it.  Let me know what you think.  A Votre Sante!

1 package 16 bean soup mix
2Tbsp olive oil
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 shallot minced
1 onion chopped
3 med-large carrots chopped
1/2 packet of taco seasoning
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder


In a large pot add the beans and 2 inches of water.  I followed the directions on the package for the quick soak, then rinsed the beans and simmered for an hour with 1 cup of water before I added the vegetables.

In a separate pan saute the shallot, onion, and carrot in the olive oil, once the onion is soft, add to the beans, add the can of tomatoes.  Bring up to a boil, then turn it down to simmer for about an hour, maybe a little longer depending on how soft you want your beans.  Serve with avocado, cheese, sour cream, or whatever you like.  Enjoy!