Winter Weight and Thanksgiving Pants

The “Winter Weight” is just around the corner.

That’s right, ladies.

But don’t start pulling out your thanksgiving pants like Joey (from the T.V. show, Friends).

In fact, you don’t have to gain a pound. And if you do…think of the quote from the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”….

“Let me ask you something…In all the years that you have undressed in front of a gentleman, has he ever asked you to leave? Has he ever walked out and left? No? It’s because he doesn’t care! He’s in a room with a naked girl – he’s just won the lottery! I am so tired of saying no. I’m tired of waking up in the morning and recalling every single thing I ate the day before, counting every calorie I consumed so I know just how much self loathing to take into the shower. I’m going for it. I have no interest in being obese, I’m just through with the guilt. So this is what I’m going to do: I’m going to finish this pizza, and then we are going to go watch the soccer game, and tomorrow we are going to go on a little date and buy ourselves some bigger jeans.”

So…ask me how you don’t have to gain any weight during the holidays?

The answer is quite simple.

1. Get a Pinterest account.

2. Find recipes for healthy holiday food.

3. Find exercise routines.

4. Make the recipes you pinned.

5. Actually do the workouts that you planned so well in your mind.

If you really don’t think that will work…here is another idea….

1. Get a Pinterest account.

2. Find recipes for yummy, unhealthy holiday food

3. Delete “Exercise” board.

4. Make the recipes you pinned.

5. Sample every food at is offered to you.

6. Buy a bigger pair of jeans.

Homemade Strawberry Sherbet

Another fantastic day.

Wow.

And it’s not technically spring yet.

Considering it feels like spring and summer is just around the corner, I bet that most of you (ladies) are a bit worried. Worried about swimsuit season.

I don’t know about you, but I have been pushing off on the whole “Excercising, tanning, and eating raw veggies before summer” thing. Big mistake. Now I have a little pudge leftover from Thanksgiving, my skin is the color of white frosting, and my stomach is dying for some veggies that don’t come from cities I cannot pronounce. Ugh.

Making and eating veggies is easy. Especially during great weather, you can just throw them on the grill (or use your stovetop). Because it is so easy (in my opinion), I’ll give you a recipe for a sweet treat.

Now why would I give a recipe for something that will make people gain more weight…after I just went on about losing holiday weight?

This recipe is not really fattening and I am showing it to you because I know that it is so hard to resist a cool, creamy dessert on a hot day. So introducing, Homemade Strawberry Sherbet.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped fresh or frozen (not thawed) strawberries ,  (about 10 ounces), divided
• 1/2 cup sugar (I would substitute with Raw Sugar, or Honey, or a natural sweetner)
• 2 1/2  cups nonfat or low-fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup half-and-half (vanilla)
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

• Combine 1 cup berries and sugar (honey) in a small bowl and let sit, stirring occasionally until the sugar has begun to dissolve, about 10 minutes. Transfer the berry mixture to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Meanwhile, combine buttermilk, half-and-half, lemon juice, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl. Press the strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into the bowl. Stir, cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
• Whisk the sherbet mixture and pour into the canister of an ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. During the last 5 minutes of freezing, add the remaining 1 cup chopped berries. If necessary, place the sherbet in the freezer to firm up before serving. (If the sherbet becomes very hard in the freezer, soften it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before scooping.)

*This makes 8 servings and each serving has 110 calories and 2 grams of fat.

**If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can make it by hand but I have no idea how to even attept to do that so…your on your own.

What is your favorite summer treat?

Post Valentine’s Diet

What is the worst thing about Valentine’s Day?

The candy hangover.

I bet most of you, woke up super tired..and maybe with a headache. Obviously, candy isn’t so great for you.

So what can you do to make your body go back in tune?

That’s right, eat super healthy all day long (and don’t forget to do a little excersise).

Now what could you possibly eat for lunch or dinner tonight that deems healthy? (and no, pizza with veggies on it, doesn’t count).

How about Eggplant and Goat Cheese Bake?

Ingredients:

2 medium eggplants (about 1½ pounds)

Salt

1⅓ pounds tomatoes

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for frying

¼ cup whole almonds, finely chopped

14 whole basil leaves

¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

¾ pound semi-firm goat cheese

Directions:

1. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Cut eggplant into ¼-inch-thick rounds and arrange in 1 layer on prepared pan. Lightly salt rounds, cover with a second sheet of parchment paper, and top with heavy pots to weigh down. Let sit at room temperature until liquid is released, about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes and cook for 20 seconds. Drain and immediately run under cold water for 5 seconds. Peel, seed and dice tomatoes; place in a medium bowl.

3. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Pour mixture over tomatoes. Tear 2 basil leaves, add to tomato mixture and stir to combine; set aside.

4. Heat oven to 350°.

5. Remove parchment paper from eggplant rounds and pat rounds dry with paper towels. Place flour in a shallow bowl. Fill a large skillet with ½ inch oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, lightly coat both sides of eggplant with flour. Fry until golden on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

6. In an 8-x-12-inch baking dish, layer eggplant, tomato mixture and cheese, stacking layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of cheese. Bake until heated through, about 25 minutes. Serve hot, garnished with remaining basil leaves.

 

Unbaked, Eggplant and Goat Cheese Bake

Yummy. Right?

So how healthy is it?

172 calories, 10 g fat, 284 mg potassium, 12% vitamin A

Now I know the eggplant is fried a bit, but you can grill it instead…it’ll just have a different flavor.

Enjoy :)