The weather is getting nicer and I am feeling as if I don’t want to be inside making those hearty meals and cleaning up a big mess after. I want to be outside with the kids and enjoying the fresh air!
Enjoying the Sun!
Do you enjoy grilling?? Who is the BBQ Master at your house? I have really taking a liking to the BBQ this year and what to try a bunch of new recipes on it… something besides hamburgers, pork chops and bland chicken!!
Here is a Salmon Recipe that I found in the “What’s Cooking” Kraft Magazine. It is on my next nice day menu! Seems simple, different and yummy!
Perfectly Grilled Salmon:
Prep: 20mins Total: 40mins
Makes 6 Servings
What You Need:
1 Tomato Chopped
1 Cove Garlic, minced
1/4 Cup Parmesan Shredded Cheese
1/4 Cup Kraft Extra Virgin Olive Oil Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
1 Skin-On Salmon Fillet (1-1/2lb)
2 Tbsp Chopped Basil
What To Do:
1. Heat BBQ to medium heat. Combine first 4 ingredients with 3 Tbsp Dressing. Spray a large sheet of heavy duty foil with cooking spray.
2. Place foil on BBQ grate. Top with fish, flesh side down.
3. Grill 5mins; turn fish. Brush with remaining dressing.
4. Top with tomato mixture
5. Grill 18-20minsor until fish flakes easily with fork; top with basil.
What are your favourite BBQ meals?? Are you afraid to get adventurous with the BBQ? I was a little intimated but now I am excited… you can cook anything on the BBQ!
Don’t stick with BBQ all summer… step outside your comfort zone and explore 🙂
Way more Fun than Being Stuck Inside!Roasted Pineapple For Dessert … Yum!!
It seems like everyone around us are sick!! Its been a long winter and with the way it is in Newfoundland we often get four seasons this time of the year. So the warm, wet, cold and snow is really sending everyone into cold/flu mania!!
My Fam Jam was sick as well (thankfully all better now… **KNOCK ON WOOD**) and when they are I always resort back to the old fashion ways and make soup! For some reason, it just makes us feel so good! I typically would make Chicken Noodle Soup but it seemed like the kids (hubby too) were sick forever so i also made a delicious Roasted Red Pepper Soup. It was marvellous! You can make it as spicy or mild as you like and the heat from it just seemed to open airways and energize everyone. We didn’t make ours too spicy because the kids are not a big fan but it seemed like it made them feel really good and it was a nice switch up from the norm.
Red Peppers are sometimes called one of the “super foods” because of all there health benefits. So why not try and add them into your family’s diet… this soup allows you to get them into your kids easily without fuss! Kids love soup 🙂 I recently read in article online (chatelaine.com) that explained some of the benefits of red peppers… here are somethings I read:
-Red peppers are loaded with vitamin C. Besides being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is also needed for the proper absorption of iron.
-Red bell peppers are a great source of vitamin B6 and magnesium. This vitamin and mineral combination helps decrease anxiety, especially related to PMS (hello?!?) . Vitamin B6 is also a natural diuretic, so get ’em in ya to help reduce bloating and prevent against hypertension… why not?? we all want to be less BLOATED… ugh!!
– Red bell peppers are packed with antioxidants. The combined effects of vitamin A and C and lycopene. This combination in the red bell pepper becomes superfood. Red peppers are one of the highest veggies in lycopene, which has been successfully tested in the prevention of many cancers including prostate and lung.
-Burn more calories with red bell peppers. Recent research has shown that sweet red peppers can turn up your system to burn more calories. Red bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, which is what makes peppers hot and causes us to sweat, but they do have a mild thermogenic action that increases our metabolism without increasing our heart rate and blood pressure like the hot peppers do. BONUS!!!!
Roasted Red Pepper Soup:
Ingredients:
3lbs Red Bell Peppers, halved and cleaned (8-10) I didn’t have all red peppers so i used yellow (2) and orange(1) as well!
5 Cloves of garlic, in peel
2 cups Onion, chopped
2tbsp Olive Oil
1Tbsp Italian Seasoning
4 cups Chicken Stock
1 tsp Hot Sauce
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1-2 tbsp rice vinegar
Directions:
1. Half the peppers and remove all the seeds and membranes. Press them flat with your hands and lay them on a foil lined, rimmed baking sheet. Place the garlic cloves on the baking sheet.
2. Set the oven on broil and raise the rack to the upper position. Broil the red peppers and garlic for 15 minutes.
3. Once the skin has blackened, remove them from the oven and place in a large zip bag to steam (10mins)
4. Preheat large pot to medium heat. Add oil, seasoning and onions. Cook for 10 minutes, until onions are soft.
5. Add broth, hot sauce and salt and pepper. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the peels into the pot.
6. Peel the charred skin off the peppers and place win the pot.
7. Reduce the heat, cover and cook for another 20mins.
8. Then using a hand help immersion blender or standard blender, blend until smooth. **if you are using a blender be sure to remove the lid and cover with a towel instead- this will allow heat to vent without a big mess**
9. Add the vinegar and salt if needed.
10. You can add a little sour cream or plain greek yogurt to mild out the spice and heat. Just thin it out with a little milk and swirl it over the top!!
This recipe I found online (www.aspicyperspective.com) and made some changes to make it more suited to our likes! Feel free to do the same!
I hope this helps with the cold and flu season! We really enjoy it and even froze some to have later.
Roast Pepper Love
(check out: http://www.chatelaine.com/health/diet/five-health-benefits-of-red-peppers/ to read more about the power of the Red Pepper and they also have a couple recipes there for red peppers :))
Pre-pregnancy most people have goals and visions that they are working towards… Tighter Thighs… Trimmer Tummies; They hit the gyms or join fitness groups like “yummy mummy” or “Better Butts” or “Abs, Ass and Arms”! Its about transforming the body to look and feel a certain way, to be faster, better, stronger.. healthier… Right? Thats all wonderful! So what happens when you move from that mindset to “I’M PREGNANT!!!” Do you just stop working out due to fear that you will hurt the baby? Do you keep rocking those workouts at maximum intensity?? Are you slamming the baby around inside belly if you run on the treadmill?? Its scary for some people to think that you can still exercise when you are pregnant as it may harm the little “bun in your oven”. It’s relatively new for women to be encouraged to exercise during there pregnancy and in the last three decades guidelines has changed tremendously and these studies are showing that women and babies are much healthier and happier when fitness is maintained during the wonderful months of pregnancy. According to Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine “research supports the recommendation that a moderate level of exercise on a regular basis during a low risk pregnancy has minimal risk for the fetus and beneficial metabolic and cardio respiratory effects for the exercising woman.” In fact, pregnancy often triggers women to be more conscience of their health and lifestyle choices. Thoughts on pregnancy are much more positive and being pregnant does not mean you have a disease or disability. Your life do not have to change dramatically if you are a low risk healthy woman. As a Personal Trainer, Athlete and Momma of 2 (Almost 3… currently 7months pregnant with Little Boy #3) I feel first hand the effects of exercise during pregnancy. I believe in eating well and exercising on a regular basis. So when I get pregnant its never a question of “should I or should I not?” … its okay “now I am exercising differently!” By differently I mean with the thought that I want to be healthy and strong for my baby as well as myself. I move form being in competition mode to being in “mommy mode”. You do not need to focus on gaining weight or getting “FAT” (I don’t like that word) because you are going to grow your body is going to change and its all because there is a precious little miracle growing inside you. So DO NOT think of it as a negative thing instead think of it as a 10month period of maintaining strength and conditions and preparing for a big event at the end of the ten months. Anyone who knows me knows this is my mentality when it comes to labour… its a race and I will be strong both mentally and physically… I have to prepare! If your wondering “where do I start?” I have created a list of some simple guidelines that I have been following throughout my pregnancy: 1. Avoid Crappy Carbs & Sugary/Salty Foods – These types of foods poison your body and do not provide any nutrition for your baby or fuel your body! 2. Eat Healthy Fats and Protein- Eating healthy clean foods that will help you feel so much more energized! Don’t be afraid of healthy fats… your body needs them. 3. WATER!!!! – Has anyone every heard me mention the importance of water ?? *insert sarcasm* … Water has so many benefits including fighting fatigue, aiding in digestion and flushing out toxins. Drinking it will help you fight a lot of those pesky pregger symptoms. 4. Rest & Sleep- This is a must… your body is working in overdrive to grow a little human. If you are exercising you need to allow proper rest and lots of sleep! 5. Do Exercise that You Enjoy- Pregnancy is not a time to force yourself to do exercise you don’t like. Keep it simple and what you love. 6. Lift to Strengthen – Just because you are pregnant does not mean you can’t strength train. Keep your weights lighter and add some reps. Muscles are are great addition to your ammo on delivery day 😉 7. Wear Clothes that Feels Good- This is a big one for me! If I am not wearing something to support my growing belly or is uncomfortable it ruins my workout! Wear what makes you feel good! 8. Listen To Your Body – This is the most IMPORTANT point you can ever listen to. Your body knows when you need a break or less intensity so just listen. If your tired.. rest! If your thirsty… drink water! If your hot… take a break and cool your body down! Its not worth risking harm to your baby or yourself so always listen to your body 🙂 These are just somethings I do to keep the my fitness simple and fun during pregnancy. As well, start exercising before pregnancy to already have yourself ready to transition. Exercise is such a positive thing to add to you life… don’t wait! Just get up and Move… Let me know what exercising adds to your life!! **Talk to your doctor to be sure its okay for you to exercise during your pregnancy.** Exercise truly will make your pregnancy much more enjoyable! CHEERS!! ~L
HappyRunningMad 