Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day!!

I hope your day has been as awesome as mine has been. I can't wait to post allll about it.

November 25th: Today I am grateful for an amazing family. I am SO glad that I am here spending time with my family that I love so much. I wish that my ENTIRE family could be here, but I will take all I can get!

A year ago today...Happy Thanksgiving and a New Adventure

Shoppers Unite

Are you a Black Friday Shopper? I'm not going to lie..I'm not. I love a good deal as much as the next guy, but I also detest crowds of people trying to fight for one item. My family is more of a...mosey on into Target at 4:00 in the afternoon on Black Friday to get some good deals on the movies left over from the crazies that got there 12 hours ago.

However, if you ARE a Black Friday Shopper you may want to take some last minute work out tips from this crazy lady...

November 23rd: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to come and spend time with my family! 

One year ago today...The stair climber - Not for the faint of heart rated &  Missing the end of the world. Dang.

Best of luck with your last minute Turkey Day preparations!

Turkey Burning Circuit Workout

Ok, so this circuit workout has nothing to do with turkeys. Unless of course you do it on Thanksgiving and or after to burn off some of the extra food calories we happen to eat...and then of course it has everything to do with it. Either way, this is a killer circuit. I did it today and I was sufficiently worked to say the least. I also had one of my clients do it tonight.

It goes like this:

30 Hanging Power Cleans (I used a 40 lb bar)
30 Assisted Pull ups (or real pull ups if you are tougher than I am which I am sure a lot of you are)
30 Kettle Bell Swings (I used the 25 lb KB)
30 Burpees (AKA murder)

20 Hanging Power Cleans
20 Assisted Pull ups (or real pull ups if you are tougher than I am which I am sure a lot of you are)
20 Kettle Bell Swings
20 Burpees

10 Hanging Power Cleans
10 Assisted Pull ups
10 Kettle Bell Swings
10 Burpees

I did 60 mins of intervals on the elliptical and then this circuit took me 27 minutes. I was exhausted. Let me rephrase...my body is still exhausted. I'll be interested to see how sore I am or am not. A few things to note about this circuit.

- I loved it. It was hard, but nice to do something different from my usual. 
- Don't be afraid of Hanging Power Cleans, but be sure to do them with proper form.  You could actually do them with DB's if you had to.
- Assisted Pull ups can be swapped with Lat Pull downs if need be. Just be sure the weight is heavy enough.
- A single DB held in both hands can be substituted for a Kettle Bell
- Burpees are really hard, but oh so awesome.

 November 22nd: Today I am grateful that tomorrow I get to go home!! YAY! A much needed break.

One year ago today...an experiment of sorts

Do you get a holiday break? I sure hope so! Do you ever include any power lifts into your workout routine?

Copy Cat Carrabbas Bread Dip

Let me just start by saying this is a PERFECT Thanksgiving dinner appetizer. Have you ever been to Carrabbas? It is a delightful place. It can be a bit scary calorie-wise, BUT it is delicious nonetheless. I always get the minestrone soup there, and I think it is so dang tasty, and very low cal. Well, if you have been to Carrabbas, you may also recall the dipping herbs and olive oil that they bring out while you wait. That stuff is like crack. It is so amazingly good that it is dangerous. Mainly due to the large amounts of white bread consumed right along with it. Good news...I have the recipe for it, and you can serve it with some whole wheat or whole grain bread and it turns into a delicious and healthy appetizer.

Warning: You will eat all of it, and it WILL go quickly. I've never made it and had leftovers. Usually people are scraping the dipping plate for remainders.

Copy-Cat Carrabbas herb bread dip

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp minced fresh garlic (I just use the refrigerated kind that comes in the jar)
1/2 tsp salt

1/4 - 1/2 cup of olive oil

Combine seasonings in a food processor. (This does not include olive oil.)

Pulse until combined.

 

Place a spoonful on a small plate and drizzle olive oil over the top.

I actually served this on Sunday along side my homemade hummus and it was a tasty hit! I frequently make this with my easiest whole wheat bread and the combo of fresh bread right out of the oven with the fresh herbs and olive oil is so so so good. You'll love it.

Here's a lil' taste of my Christmas Decor :)

November 21st: Today I am grateful for guiding words of inspiration. I have been listening to talks from HERE, and I always feel inspired after I do. 

One year ago today...This is funny right?  

Have you busted out your Christmas decorations yet? I know I'm a bit premature, but I am leaving for AZ for the weekend, and I know I'll be glad they are up when I return! Don't forget to plan something active for your Thanksgiving Day plans!

Homemade Hummus - WORTH IT.

Is it weird if I tell you I tried hummus for the first time like two years ago? I don't know what the holdup was, but I'm so glad that I finally came around I LOVE it now. I have wanted to try and make my own for ever, and haven't ever gotten around to it. After trying this recipe today I'm so glad that I FINALLY did. It is the easiest thing ever, and SO much less expensive. If you like hummus and you don't try making it yourself you are straight up crazy.

 altered from THIS recipe on allrecipes.com

Homemade Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved
2.5 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons peanut butter (the recipe calls for Tahini, but I didn't have any)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4-1/2 tsp of ground cumin


I made mine in my mini food processor and it was just the right size. Add your garbanzo beans as well as 1/2 the liquid from the can, lemon juice, peanut butter (or Tahini), and garlic. Blend until creamy. Add in salt and cumin to taste.


Serve it as a spread on sandwiches and wraps, or as a dip with pita chips/bread/veggies/whole grain crackers etc.

November 20th: Today I am grateful for awesome neighbors who not only cook me dinner, but also put out full fledged fires in my oven. For reals...I have the best neighborhood ever, with so many great friends around me. I am one lucky duck. 

One year ago today...What are you going to do TODAY?


Have you ever made your own hummus? I am still shocked at how easy and tasty it was. Have you ever had your oven catch on fire? Yikes...scarytown. My house is going to smell like smoke for a week!

Whole Wheat Yogurt Bread

I have a thing with food expiration dates. They are like big brick walls for me. I do not cross them. If something says it expires on the 6th and it is 12:01 AM on the 6th, you'd better believe I will no longer be eating it. Ridiculous, I know...like my food has some sort of time clock on it. Anyways...it's just one of my "things" and I don't think it's likely to change anytime soon.

With that being said, I always buy my Fage plain greek yogurt at Costco in the big container. It is cheaper that way. About a week ago I picked some up and noticed that they were selling it for. $1.52. HELLO!! I was dying...so cheap. Well I didn't notice until after the purchase that it expired in a week's time, I'm assuming is why it was so darn cheap. I used some to make some greek yogurt protein shakes this past week, but I didn't barrel my way through the whole container like usual. Today was the date of expiration, and I HATE wasting food, so I decided to find something to use it for.

I have replaced fat in recipes with yogurt before, and it has worked fabulously, but I have never done it in bread. I searched and searched online for a good recipe that used yogurt AND whole wheat flour, and I realized this combo was very hard to come by. So, I ended up making up a little recipe of my own.

Whole Wheat Yogurt Bread


Ingredients  
1 cup non fat plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup honey 
2 1/4 cups whole wheat four (divided)
1 instant rise yeast packet 
1 teaspoon salt 
2 tablespoons butter at room temperature
1/2 cup of water (optional)

Directions
Combine honey and yogurt in a microwave safe bowl and microwave together for about 30 seconds. Just enough time to allow you to easily combine the yogurt and the honey; you want it to be at room temperature not hot. Add that mixture to two cups of your whole wheat flour as well as your yeast packet. Stir to combine and cover with plastic wrap for about twenty minutes. Once twenty minutes is up add in the rest of the flour and combine. Add in the salt and the butter and continue to knead. I kneaded mine by hand, but a kitchen aid standing mixer with a bread hook would work wonders here. My dough was a little dry at this point, so I added in a little bit of water at a time and kept mixing until it was a good consistency. Cover your dough with plastic wrap once more and let it raise for about an hour and a half. Prepare a baking sheet with a dusting of cornmeal. Work your dough into your desired cooking shape and place on the cornmeal baking sheet. Cover once more with plastic and let it raise for another 45 minutes. Preheat your oven to 325 and bake your loaf for 40 minutes. 

Here are the stats: 

This bread was REALLY tasty. I actually thought the density of it was very similar to my easiest whole wheat bread recipe.


November 19th: Today I am thankful for a warm shower. After my morning workout I stayed in my workout clothes while I decorated my house for Christmas. By the time it was shower time...(it may or may not have been 3:00 PM) I was freezing, and my shower warmed me right up and cleaned me right up. Double goodness. Have I mentioned that I hate washing my hair? Cause I do.


A year ago today...Workout Playlist Jams

Do you make your own bread at home? I LOVE the smell of homemade bread. I don't make it very often because I think I could polish off the whole loaf on my own. Maybe if I had more people to cook for.  Do food expiration dates make you nervous?

Friday Favorites...

I think I say it every week. I. LOVE. FRIDAYS.

Friday = Favorite...because of course it leads to Saturday (sleeping in, long workouts, relaxation)

Snow on the weekend = Favorite. Don't be deceived. I detest snow. However, I like when it snows on the weekend because It means I don't have to attempt to drive to work in it.

Next Week is Thanksgiving = Favorite. Rumor has it the temp is 70 degrees there. I love that rumor. LOVE.

Tried a new Whole Wheat Bread Recipe tonight. Fresh bread = Favorite. I'll be posting that recipe tomorrow.

Tomorrow the Christmas Decor goes up. Decorating for Christmas = Favorite. Call me premature with my Christmas excitement...I don't care. 

All good things.

November 18th: Today I am thankful for a warm house to come home to. Have you guessed that the cold is clearly not my favorite? I'm so grateful for a warm home, a comfortable bed, and layers upon layers of clothes that keep me warm. Blessed indeed.

A year ago today...Healthy Cinnamon Sweet Potato Muffins. These are MONEY. So tasty. You need to try them.

What is your Friday favorite? Have you decorated for Christmas yet?