Stuffed Zucchini & Squash

Today I wanted to do something with these two gourds that had for a week and I figured it was time to cook them. Also, I wanted something "Indian" like. I have a jar of spiced curry in my cabinet, but since I have been getting healthier and showing others how to do the same, I wanted to use what is in my kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 c. Long Grain Rice
1 c. Water
1 TBSP butter
2 TBSP Olive Oil
1 Round Zucchini
1 Round Squash
Salt
Pepper
Parsley Flakes
Curry
Turmeric
Almond/Coconut Milk
Onion
Mushrooms
Garlic

Directions:

The Rice I have requires to add 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of water. When the water comes to a boil, turn heat down to simmer and fluff simmer for 50 minutes. While the rice is simmering at minute 30, begin cutting the mushrooms, onion and garlic (If you haven't already done so), then cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. At 20 minutes left on the rice, add oil, onions, garlic, mushrooms, curry, turmeric, parsley flakes, almond/coconut milk, salt, and pepper into the skillet and put the squash and zucchini in the oven at 375 degrees. Stir the ingredients in the skillet until the ingredients in the pan are yellowish. When the rice is done cooking and sat for 10 minutes, add to the skillet and mix well, then add to the squash in the oven and cook for 10 more minutes. After 10 minutes pull out of the oven and allow to cool, then serve.

Peanut Butter & Jelly - Chocolate Smoothie

1 Handful of frozen grapes,
2 Cups almond coconut milk
1 Scoop chocolate
5 Cubes of ice
3 Tbsp organic natural peanut butter

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Refreshing Granny - Mango Summer Salad

Refreshing Granny - Mango Summer Salad

Romaine lettuce
1 Peeled Mango
1 Granny Smith Apple
2 Tbsp Silvered Almonds
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Coconut
2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

Cut romaine lettuce & dry, peel and slice mango.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, serve and enjoy.

Italy Meets India!

So I have food left over from last weekend when I went to the farmers market and I decided to do something about it!




Ingredients for Sauce: 
2 lbs of tomatoes
1 lg banana pepper
7 garlic cloves
1 bunch of green onions
1 inch of ginger
2 stalks of thyme

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor.
Ingredients for Dish:
1 green zucchini
1 yellow zucchini
1 Japanese Eggplant
3 shallots
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp basil flakes 1 tsp parsley flakes 1 tsp pink salt 1 tsp black pepper







Directions:
Cut the vegetables. Add the oil to the pan and turn on the heat to medium. Add the cut up vegetables and cook until tender. Add the seasonings and continue to cook down the vegetables and stir. Finally, after the vegetables are soft add the sauce and turn to simmer for 10 minutes. Serve & Enjoy!

Hey Ma! Chocolate Ice Cream for Breakfast!

Good morning! What are you having for breakfast? I had a bowl of chocolate ice cream!!! Wwwaaaaaa???? "How is that healthy?" you might ask yourself.

Well all you need is:
2 frozen bananas
1 scoop of chocolate powder
1 cup of Almond Breeze Almond Milk
1 Handful of coconut
Almond slivers
Cinnamon

Directions:
In a blender add the frozen bananas, Almond Milk, chocolate powder in a blender. Blend until smooth and thick like ice cream. Top with coconut, almond slivers and cinnamon. Enjoy!

Are Your Goals to Big?

It is always good to have goals! There are many different types of goals, but sometimes we tend to forget that it is better to start with short term goals that lead us to our long term goals.  For example, you are not going to just go out and purchase a home.  Most people have a short term goal to save X dollars out of each paycheck to go toward the purchase of their home. Sometimes it takes many short term goals to get accomplished before we see the long term to come through to fruition.

Another example is getting married. After you find the person of your dreams and get engaged there are many, many, many things (small goals) to accomplish before the big day (long term goal)!

The same goes with losing weight. The first thing we need to do is correct our way of eating. It will not change over night, but through making more right choices than poor choices, eventually we will be eating healthier. It is important to not beat yourself up for the poor choices, just enjoy it and make a better choice the next time. At this point you should begin to see the number on the scale decreasing! The next thing you want to do is add weights for resistance training, then you will burn more weight because your muscles will be working and toning.  Keep in mind when you work with weights the number on the scale will go up, but the number on the scale isn't important.  What is important is how your clothes are beginning to fit looser on you. Muscle weighs more than fat, but it's leaner and healthier.

So when you set a long term goal to lose weight make sure you also set multiple short term goals to help you get to the long term. So, if I want to lose 50 pounds as my long term, then I may want to lose 10 pounds a month or even 5 to begin and eventually as long as I keep being consistent in my eating and exercise, the 50 pounds will have melted away.

Make your goals reachable and attainable.

Trying vs. Becoming

For years we have been told, if you just try this or if you just try that. From my experience and what I have learned is I can try all I want, but when I actually take ownership, step out and do (Become), then and only then do I begin to see the changes I expect.

You can try all you want to lose weight, work your way up the career ladder or be the next President of the United States, but if you don't put yourself forward or out there taking steps to get to where you want to be, you will always be stuck in trying.

Take the bull by the reigns and begin to step forward, take action, and move out of your comfort zone to see the changes that need to take place in you and your environment to allow you to move forward to see the success in whatever it is you want to do.