Preheat oven to 375 degrees cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, add the milk and vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture until well blended.
Stir in the oats, chocolate chips. walnuts and coconut until evenly distributed.
Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Chicken BB Q Sandwiches (adapted from Rachel Ray Foodnetwork.com)
Ingredients
1 cup chicken stock
1 bottle Mexican beer (Corona)
4 pieces, 6 ounces each boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil for pan
1 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon hot sauce
2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning, by McCormick)
3 tablespoons dark brown paste
4 tablespoons tomato paste
6 soft bulkie rolls
Directions
Bring liquids to a simmer in a small to medium skillet and slide in the chicken breast meat. Gently poach the chicken 10 minutes, turning once about after 5 minutes.
While chicken poaches, heat a second medium skillet over medium low heat. To hot skillet, add extra-virgin olive oil and garlic and onion and gently saute until chicken is ready to come out of poaching liquids. Combine the next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl and reserve.
When the chicken has cooked through, add 2 ladles of the cooking liquid to the bowl, combining with the sauces, spices, brown sugar and tomato paste. Once the liquids and seasonings are combined, remove chicken, slice it, and transfer to the medium bowl. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken and combine with the liquids. Add the shredded chicken to the onions and garlic and combine well. Simmer together 5 to 10 minutes, using extra cooking liquids to make your chicken as saucy as you like.
I have 5 weeks to get up to running 3 . 1 miles... I'm up to 2 straight. Do you think I can do it? I have to do it. I already signed up. :) I figure I always have the choice to walk some of it. We always have choices. I admire those who have already conquered what I'm trying to do.. It's not easy. It takes persistence, mental training as well as physical training. You have no idea how many times I give myself pep talks during my workouts. I think of all those who are in wheelchairs who would love the opportunity to feel the burn in their legs, I think about how all I have to do is make it to the next telephone poll then the next corner and so on. I'll try again tomorrow with a new route.... then on Sunday I'm going to check out the route for September 27th and see what that entails. Have a great day. Working on staying Forevafit.
I'm signed up for the Jack Kerouac 5K September 27, 2009 (www.jackkerouac5k.com) and need all the help I can get to reach my goal of making it to the end. I found a great video on proper running techniques. If you're interested click on the link below to watch.
"Splash". It tastes great....and has only Truvia and evaporated cane juice for sweeteners. Just a note that each packet is two servings....tricky... I measured it out and there is a tablespoon in each packet. So 1/2 tablespoon per serving. It's available at Whole Foods.
I’ve been looking for a great blueberry muffin recipe and I think I’ve found it with this one. It’s an easy recipe and they came out moist and sweet.
Part of my childrens memories of christmas are that of the smell of burnt cookies (laugh out loud). My oven at the time was old and the temperature was not always accurate. So I feel I need to make it up to them by delivering the best baked goods and this one definitely delivers!!!
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup white wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup organic sugar 1/2 cup coconut oil 1 egg 1 cup organic yogurt 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries about 1/2 tablespoon ground flax seed Optional brown sugar to sprinkle on top Vegetable spray, for the muffin tins or use foil cup cake holders
Directions:
Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Mix in mixer egg, oil, yogurt. Add baking soda, baking powder, flour and flax seed. Fold in Blueberries. Spoon into individual muffin tins. Sprinkle with tops with brown sugar.
Going two days without working out is enough to cause the size of fat cells to increase by 25 percent, according to research at the University of Missouri at Columbia. So try and do something 30 minutes a day!
It's getting easier to run the intervals....moving up to 10 min intervals tomorrow!
Did you know that you get more dehydrated running on a treadmill than you do running outside? You have the breeze/air outside to cool your body down and not so on a treadmill so make sure you're re-hydrating yourself!
I am definitely not a runner. I have run in the past such as running as a kid while playing or running from the cops as a teenager (lol) and running as a mother to catch up with my kids, but never long distance. Whenever I see a person jogging or running I envision them as very powerful in mind and body. I believe it takes a lot of mental and physical strength to run. Very possibly more mental strength than physical strength. So I'm going to gather up my strength and focus on getting myself first to a mile then three then maybe 5. We'll see, one step at a time. My plan to start is interval running. I will walk for 5 minutes and run for 5 minutes for an hour for this week (3x). In between I will row and strength train. To run, it is necessary for your whole body to be strong, not just your legs. You use your core as well as your arms to run, so here I go, off and running! Wish me luck! (although luck has nothing to do with it. Persistence is the key). Comments welcome!
These muffins are sweetened with bananas only! Great tasting and easy to enjoy at breakfast or as a low calorie snack.
1 cup mashed banana 2 egg whites 1/2 cup water 1/3 cup refined coconut oil 2 cups wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup frozen blueberries, left to thaw in a strainer
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 18 standard-sized muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine banana, egg whites, water and oil. Add the flour and mix. Gently fold in blueberries. Immediately spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove muffins from tins and cool on a wire rack.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 98 calories, 4g fat, 13g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 3g protein.
To incorporate a liquid sweetener such as honey or agave nectar into your recipe instead of white sugar, use about 3/4 of the recipe's original sweetener quantity.
“Getting money is not all a man’s business; to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of business life”. Samuel Jackson
What is “Fair Trade”?
I started thinking and wondering what “Fair Trade” was when I started shopping at Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s. There I saw many items that were labeled “Fair Trade”. I was looking for a good organic coffee and came across Dean’s Bean’s coffee. I have to say that this is the best coffee I’ve ever had. It tastes just as good as its awesome aroma and this, in my book, is hard to find when it comes to coffee. Dean’s Bean’s coffee is organic and fair trade and this started my quest for the definition of fair trade. This is some what I found:
Fair trade means “an equitable and fair partnership between consumers in North America and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean”.
The Fair Trade’s principles include the following;
• Producers receive a fair price, a living wage. Farmer groups are guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for organic products. • Forced labor and forced child labor are not allowed • Buyers and producers trade under direct and long term relationships eliminating the middleman and empowering farmers to develop business to compete in the global marketplace. • Producers have access to financial technical assistance • Sustainable production techniques are encouraged. Environmentally sustainable farming methods are favored which protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems. • Working conditions are healthy and safe. • Equal opportunities are provided for all
Fair trade helps farmers provide for their families basic needs and invest in community development such as scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings and organic certification. In the USA, Transfair USA places the “Fair Trade Certified” label on fair trade products. Fair trades certification insures that the workers are paid fair wages, are free from abusive labor practices and use environmentally sustainable methods.
Fair Trade focuses on a wide variety of goods but most notably, handcrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, chocolate and flowers.
I now choose differently when there is a choice between the same type of product and one is fair trade and one isn’t. I personally feel that there is more to business than just getting money as Samuel Jackson so eloquently phrased it. I don’t always feel I have the opportunity to “give back” to the world so buying fair trade products is one of the ways I do… Let’s play fair ;)
Eating healthy is very important to me.So when it comes to shopping for food I try to choose high quality whole foods.This includes organic food.Organic food is a bit pricier than conventional grown or raised food so should I really spend the extra money?
Well, here is some information for any of you, like me, who just wants to know what I’m buying and what organic really means.
“100% organic” food must carry the green and white “USDA organic seal”.These are usually whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.
“Organic” foods must contain 95% of organic ingredients and the rest of the ingredients come from a list of allowable ingredients.“Organic” foods also carry the green and white USDA seal..These foods are often whole frozen or canned foods.
“Made with organic ingredients” are at least 70% organic.These foods can not carry the USDA seal.These foods may be any type of processed or packaged food.
In 2002 the US Department of Agriculture implemented standards for American farmers and manufacturers and to be organic foods must be:
Grown or produced with out chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
Livestock with out the use of antibiotics or growth hormones
Can not be genetically modified, irradiated or cloned.
Livestock must be raised with outdoor access and fed organic feed.
Before a product can be labeled “organic” an inspector visits the farm or manufacturer where the food is produced to make sure they meet the guidelines.
There are federal laws in place that will fine manufacturers and farmers up to $10,000.00 for each violation of selling or labeling food that is not organic or food that is contaminated with non organic compounds.
Some farmers may practice organic standards and guidelines but choose to avoid the red tape of getting certified.
Is organic food better for you?Researchers at the University of California at Davis have found higher nutrients in organic kiwi, corn, tomatoes and strawberries grown side by side with conventional.
I buy organic whenever possible especially when it comes to the “Dirty Dozen”. These foods, according the Environmental Working Group, have the highest level of pesticides when bought conventional.These foods are the following (in order from highest pesticide level to lowest):Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes (imported), carrots, and pears.I also buy organic meats because I think they taste better.
So the choice is yours.It’s good to have choices and it’s also good to get educated on what you put into and on your body.Stay healthy and happy!
Just so you know, here in Boston we pronounce "forever" "foreva". That's just how it is.
A little about me: I have been in the medical field for over 20 years, almost feels like forever. I've learned through my life and my profession that we need to be more proactive about our health. We need to eat more whole foods and exercise our bodies and minds. We need to lead by example so our children and others will hopefully do the same. I am a Certified Personal Trainer and graduated from the National Personal Training Institute. Forever fit is what we would all love to be with minimal effort. Unfortunately, it does take some effort to stay all around healthy. I hope to give you some tools and information to help you find your way to be in and stay in a healthy lifestyle. Good luck and let me know if you need anything! And remember, there is power in numbers and we can change things if we put in the sincere effort!
KEEPING A FOOD JOURNAL (Doesn't have to be foreva)
Keeping a food journal makes you aware of your eating patterns so you can figure out what changes you may need to make. It will allow you to see if you're eating too many carbs or not enough protein, etc. It will make you aware of what you are actually consuming. I know sometimes I don't even remember what I eat until I look back at my journal. Mindless eating is where we get those extra calories that add up to the extra 5 lbs a year. It is also helpful to write down how you're feeling at the time you are eating to see what might trigger "emotional eating". Start a food journal and continue for one to two weeks. BE HONEST! This is just between you and the journal. Another way is to take pictures of your food or meals with your phone and keep track that way. When eating well becomes second nature you can probably do without the journal.
Try Fitday.com for an online food journal. Try CalorieKing.com for a great resource for invormation on the nutrition of food. Again, you'll be surprised how many calories are in some foods that you think are "low calorie".
MOTIVATION FOREVA
All you need is to get yourself motivated to get on your sneakers and workout clothes. Once that's done just tell yourself your going to just do 15 minutes of exercise. Plan what you're going to do and I guarantee you you'll probably end up doing more. Even if you don't? It's more than you would have in the first place. Try it!
Foreva thanking you for following my blog! Let me know what you want to read about
IT'S FOREVA MY PEROGATIVE.. Remember we have choices in life and can change it at anytime!
This was an excellent book that puts everything in perspective and life in balance!
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ORDER YOUR SAMBAZON ANTIOXIDANT SHAKES!
Kettlebells are fun, extremely effective and Anthony Dilugio is the best instructor! Just Ask me!
ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND-FIGHTING CHILDHOOD CANCER ONE CUP AT A TIME
Did you know? *One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of twenty. *On the average, 36 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer everyday in the United States. *On the average, one in every four elementary schools has a child with cancer. The average high school has two students who are current or former cancer patients. *Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States. *Childhood cancers affect more potential patient-years of life than any other cancer except breast and lung cancer. *The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown. At present, childhood cancer cannot be prevented. *Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region. In the United States, the incidence of cancer among adolescents and young adults is increasing at a greater rate than any other age group, except those over 65 years. *Despite these facts, childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.
On a personal note, I've treated children with cancer and I've found that they tend to be the bravest of all cancer patients!
