***Thank you so much for your patience.  I’m back and I finally have pictures (and boy, do I have pictures!).  Did you miss me?***

Do you have anyone in your life that is tough to shop for?  Someone who has impeccable taste and great style and has one (or more) of just about everything and anything? A person who is so beautiful that nothing you buy her will compare to her beauty? But this human being is very near and dear to your heart and you love her so much that you want to give her something but you just don’t know what?  Well, ladies and gents, let me introduce you to that person.  That person in my life is Mother Healthy Chow (or MHC for short).

As you might have read from my posts a couple of weeks ago, MHC recently had her birthday.  She turned 39 (*ahem-ahem, cough, cough*) and doesn’t look a day older 25.  Being the good daughters that we are, Michelle and I wanted to get a nice gift for MHC.  But we just didn’t know what?  The woman has too much a lot of clothes, more handbags than she ever can carry, fanciful jewelry, mucho make-up, a collection of shoes that can rival Imelda’s or Mariah’s and two amazing daughters (*pats herself on the back*).  What more could she want or need?

Can’t get enough of this pic!

However, even if a person has just about everything, the person’s gotta eat.  So, instead of taking MHC to the latest and greatest resto in the Boston area, we decided to shake-n-bake things up a bit and do something we haven’t done in awhile and should do more often.  Michelle and I decided to cook MHC a birthday dinner! And because MHC just moved in with her boyfriend, Darrell, we decided to make dinner at their newly renovated home.  There’s nothing like cooking in a brand spankin’ new kitchen!

Because Michelle and I were going to be responsible for cooking the whole dinner and bringing dessert, we had to plan in advance what we were going to make and thus, bring the ingredients.  I’m not quite sure how we decided, but we divvied up the courses as follows: sides, salad and dessert – Healthy Chow and main course and dessert – Michelle.  Yeah, I know dessert is mentioned twice.  That’s no mistake!  We wanted a birthday cake-ish treat for MHC, for candle blowing and wish making, as well as some other goodies, for variety and pigging out’s sake.

Image Credits – fundraw.com

While I was planning the few days prior to the dinner party, I chose to make sides that I felt would go with just about anything.  Because Michelle hadn’t told me what she was making as the main course and I didn’t want to keep annoying asking her, I just went with my gut (lame pun intended)  and selected recipes that were tasty and on the ‘healthier’ side.  Thus, I chose to make two recipes I found from Cooking Light - Creamy Parmesan Orzo and Mustard-Dressed Asparagus.  Both recipes received at least 4 out of 5 stars and very good reviews and comments from readers.  In addition, I had made the orzo recipe a few times before and it was delicious and easy and the asparagus recipe seemed healthy and easy.  Done and done! For the salad, I decided to bring mixed greens (baby spinach, arugula, radicchio and frisée) and the ingredients to make a homemade vinaigrette dressing.  So easy-peasy lemon-squeezy!  And for dessert, I just stopped by the store and grabbed brownie bites and chocolate chip ice cream.  You can’t go wrong with warm, soft chocolate baked goods à la mode, right?

I was so excited for this night!  Not only did I want to show off some of my much improved culinary skills, but I also love spending time with my family and I could not wait to see my mother’s new place.  MHC had just moved into Darrell’s condo, which they recently renovated and enlarged by acquiring the adjacent condo unit.  I’ve always loved seeing the interior of people’s homes, but ever since we gave our place a face-lift, my interest has reached a whole new level of appreciation.

Oh my stars!  I thought the ocean view from the outside of their building was incredible; the interior of their home was absolutely gorgeous! I tried not to have any expectations or visions in my head before arriving in order to be totally surprised and when I walked in, I was blown away.  Not only was their condo ginormous, but every detail was carefully paid attention to and flowed seamlessly to the next.  I felt as if I was flipping through the pages of an interior design magazine.

I lurrrrvvve those bamboo floors!

Absolutely beautiful…

Sparkle, sparkle…

I think the food might taste better coming from this kitchen…

Even the spices are cool, or should I say, ’sah-pie-say’!

Now that’s a closet!

My dream come true!

Even the washer and dryer are stylin’!

Darrell loves his shoes, too…

This closet would suit me just fine

An ocean view…

Simply breathtaking…

After receiving the grand tour and getting my groceries for dinner settled, I nibbled on some shrimp cocktail and chips and salsa.  While we told our mother she didn’t have to do a thing, she naturally put out a spread of appetizers and snacks.  What a good lil’ doobie.

It’s a good thing I had to cook or else I’d be full before dinner…

Snacks and sports…

I was having so much fun chatting it up with the party goers that I almost forgot that we were in charge of preparing dinner.  I could see the hungry looks growing, so I stopped munching (for a few minutes) and got started on cooking.  Since all of my dishes were relatively simple to prepare, I picked the one that would take the longest to make and would be the easiest to reheat.  So, I started on the creamy parmesan orzo.  Having Michelle and MHC (she couldn’t stay out of the kitchen for long, nor did we want her to) by my side in the kitchen was so much fun and so helpful.  While I would read off the instructions, one would hand me the needed ingredient and the coordinating utensil.  It was like having my very own sous chefs!

Stir that orzo, Michelle!

Even the birthday girl isn’t safe from kitchen duty!

Love that green!

Once the orzo was about done, I began on my asparagus dish.  Even though the recipe was for asparagus, I decided to add some zucchini since it would give the dish some variety and because I had some just sitting idle in my fridge.  I know, your girl is so resourceful! The recipe called for the asparagus to be boiled, but because MHC had a crazy-arse steamer built into the stove top, I just had to steam versus boil.  It just seemed so cool and high-tech; I had to give it a whirl.  The vegetables took only minutes to cook and the sauce took an even shorter time to prepare.  The key ingredient to this recipe was no doubt the mustard seeds.  They’re little, but they’re powerful (does that remind you of anyone you know?).

I gotta get me one of these…

The Yellow Wonder…(tee hee)

While I was cooking the vegetables, Michelle and her boyfriend, Jonathan began cooking the main dish – chicken saltimbocca.  Jonathan and Michelle make a great team both in life and in the kitchen.  They love cooking together and testing out new recipes.  I was told by the dynamic duo that the trick to making their recipe was to brine the chicken in salt water the night before.  I guess I’ll take their word for it.  It looked dang good! And just as the chicken was about to be taken out of the oven, I whisked together a simple salad dressing using Trader Joe’s Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar, dijon mustard, olive oil, some chopped shallot and salt and pepper.  As I’ve said before, Trader Joe’s never lets me down and he came through for me again that night.  The Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar was divine! It gave the right amount of citrus and zip to the dressing without making it too sweet or weighing it down.  Another winner from TJ’s!

That’s some kickin’ chicken!

I heart TJ’s

Veggie Might!

Finally, dinner was served! MHC did a fabulous job setting up her dining room table for her first dinner guests and her first dinner guests did a fabulous job of dining.  I couldn’t believe how well everything turned out.  Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted wonderful.  Michelle and Jonathan’s chicken saltimbocca was moist and juicy (must be that brining action) and the prosciutto that enveloped it was flawlessly crisped with just the right amount of fresh sage.  Ah-may-zing! And like the chefs who played off of the synergy that was overwhelming the kitchen, the dishes co-mingled with each other fantastically and complemented each other perfectly.

And while I don’t like to brag much, I just want to say that my dishes came out quite well.  MHC loved the creaminess of the parmesan in the orzo recipe and said that the fresh basil was the perfect complement to the dish.  And everyone seemed to really like the mustard sauce on the vegetables.  They said it gave the vegetables a unique flavor.  As for the salad, everyone wanted to know what I used to make the ‘fruity’ dressing.  They truly seemed to enjoy my new found secret weapon from TJ’s and the fact that the salad was tasty without being too greasy or heavy.  Success!

And what would a birthday dinner party be without birthday cake and dessert?  Not a good one in Healthy Chow’s book! Jonathan made a key lime pie that was so light and refreshing, I thought I was having a cocktail.  There was just enough lime to cleanse my palate and the airiness of the filling coupled with the flaky crust was enough for me to want to have seconds.  However, because there were other desserts to sample, I stayed with having only one small (ish) piece and had a scoop of ice cream along with a mini fall-inspired brownie.  I think MHC honestly loved every bite of her birthday celebration.

While receiving a luxurious cashmere sweater, the latest bottle of perfume, a new pair of fall boots, or some fancy handmade jewelry may be a wonderful birthday gift, it’s no match for the gift of time.  Being able to spend time with my mother and sister in her new kitchen laughing, cooking and simply enjoying each other’s company was my favorite part of the night and by looking at my mother’s face, she felt the same way.

Oh, he’s such an angel! Hahahahaha!

Gotcha!

“Isn’t she lovely? Isn’t she wonderfuuuuullll?“

MHC is always appreciative of any gift she receives, but I could tell that this time this gift meant the world to her.  She was so excited for us to finally see her new home with Darrell and to be able to see how our culinary skills had developed.  I think it’s always a gift for a parent to see how their children have matured and blossomed, but it’s also a gift for the child to see their parent being happy in their new life.  While it may have been MHC’s birthday, I feel as though I was the one who was showered with presents.  It was a spectacular night filled with giggles, good times and great food.  While it might have been easier to go to the mall or hop online to buy our mother a birthday gift, it definitely would not have been as much fun, nor would it have been as special.  Being able to create a memorable night, such as our dinner party, is something that everyone should try – it may require a bit of time and energy, but what you get back is immeasurable and certainly priceless.  For the person who has everything, it’s definitely something of which they could use more.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?  Or, what’s your favorite secret ingredient to use?

Namasté,
Nicole

***To be sung to the tune of Phil Collins’ Sussudio***

There’s this salad that’s been on my mind…
All the time, su-su-salad-o!
Oh oh!
Now I don’t even know if it has a name…
But I think I like it just the same…
Su-su-salad-o!
Oh oh!

If you don’t know Healthy Chow, she loves her ’80s music, especially some Phil Collins.  She also loves her humungo salads.  Put the two together and you get that little silly diddy from up above that she conjured up in her head late one night.  And oh yeah, Healthy Chow is quite random as well, if you haven’t already noticed!

But whether you have a soft spot in your heart for music from the ’80s, Phil Collins (or Genesis) or just plain ole’ randomness, I wanted to dedicate this post to my recent love of the big salad.  I hate to admit this, but a few years ago, I didn’t really ‘love’ salads.  I knew I ’should’ eat them and I knew it was a good way to get my intake of vegetables.  However, I never really enjoyed them or wanted a salad.  And, the thought of ordering a salad as my meal while dining at a restaurant was the last thing I wanted to do.  I felt that if I ordered a salad, it wouldn’t get me full and that a salad wasn’t worth paying for at a restaurant.  Boy, was I wrong!

I’m not sure what exactly happened to turn the tide.  I know that a few years ago when I was trying to shed a few pounds, I turned to eating salads as a lighter option for my meals.  And I don’t mean the salads that are loaded with greasy cheese cubes, fried breaded chicken pieces, buttery croutons and creamy salad dressing.  I ordered the plain garden salads without dressing, cheese or croutons.  At first, these garden salads were not something I looked forward to eating.  I guess in my mind, plain salads were the equivalent of ‘rabbit food’.  But once I started telling myself that what I was eating was healthy and nourishing for me and I started focusing on how my salads tasted versus thinking about my preconceived notions of salads, I began to thoroughly enjoy my leafy greens.

While I was trying to cut back on calories by omitting dressings and/or cheeses, I also wanted a ‘naked’ salad for the fact that I wanted to truly taste the vegetables.  I wanted to savor their simplicity versus masking them and thus, hiding them, with something else.  I wanted to like eating my salads for the taste of the lettuce leaves and the vegetables, not for the taste of the blue cheese crumbles and the gobs of ranch dressing.  Now when my salad comes already dressed or covered in cheese, I get disappointed.  It’s not because I’m afraid all those extras are going to add to my calorie count, it’s because I no longer like the taste of a ‘wet’ salad.  I’ve been so used to just tasting plain veggies and leaves, that if I get a mouthful of vinaigrette or creamy Italian (TWSS), I just don’t like it.  Now, I’m not trying to preach that salad dressings should be a ‘no-no’ and that cheese should be avoided at all costs.  Don’t get me wrong, I do add the occasional sprinkle of cheese and/or nuts and I will dip my lettuce leaves in a side of dressing.  All I’m trying to say is that sometimes, what you’re covering up can be exactly what you need to see.

In addition to happily ordering salads when dining out, I now have incorporated salads into my meals at home. – especially the big salad (thanks for the inspiration, Mama Lovin – we miss you!).  Many people wonder how I get full off of just eating a salad for lunch or dinner, but they just haven’t seen my salads.  So, I thought I would post a few pictures of my humungo salads to show you, as well as some tips for fostering some of your own home salad love.

Tips for Making and Enjoying Quick, Healthy and Hearty Salads at Home:

1. Variety – Buy different produce.  If you’re going to be eating a salad, try to make it fun.  Thus, don’t make the same salad everyday.  Mix it up by stocking your fridge with various kinds of lettuce (romaine, baby spinach, kale, arugula, radicchio).  Also, give yourself a good selection of vegetables (cucumber, tomato, carrots, string beans, sugar snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper strips, celery…the list can go on forever).  While I do have my favorites and my salad staples, I try to do my best in incorporating something different as often as I can.  It also gives me an excuse to buy and try new things at the grocery store and at Trader Joe’s!
2. Convenience – Make this easy for yourself.  When you get home from the grocery store, wash your produce and slice/chop up your veggies.  Place them in separate storage containers.  Thus, when you go to make your salads, they are already there ready and waiting for you to select them.
3. Color – Try to make your salads as colorful as possible.  Think rainbow!  Different colors represent different vitamins and nutrients, so it’s wise to incorporate a different mix of fruits and vegetables everyday into your meals (to learn more about which vitamins and nutrients come from which color, see this article).  Not only will having a variety of color in your salads be healthier for you, it’s also more visually appealing.  Remember, we tend to eat with our eyes.
4. Texture – I like having cool, crisp cucumber slices in my salads, but I also like the creaminess of an avocado sliver.  Fresh and crunchy romaine lettuce is also one of my favorites, but I also like to add some steamed spinach for a softer and warmer taste.  Adding bean sprouts and/or alfalfa sprouts will also give your salad some more crunch and a unique taste.
5. Protein – Don’t just stop at vegetables.  Adding beans, hummus, tofu and tempeh is a good way to get some protein in your salad.  And of course, you can always add some tuna, grilled chicken, egg whites or a hard boiled egg.  This extra protein will also help to keep you fuller longer.
6. Get Creative – Salads can be pure vegetables, but I like to also add items like ricotta cheese, nonfat or lowfat cottage cheese, dried fruit and chopped nuts (I like to stick with just a sprinkling).   Some of my other creative favorites are salsa, pumpkin purée, grilled eggplant, grilled portobello mushrooms, broken up pieces of melba toast and guacamole.  With items such as cottage cheese, salsa and guacamole, there’s enough moisture and taste that I usually use them as dressings.  And don’t forget that fruit is also a great ingredient.  Just think sliced strawberries, a handful of grapes, some blueberries or even a few kiwi slices!
7. Herbs and Seasonings – Don’t forget the spice!  If you have some fresh herbs on hand, like some parsley, cilantro or basil, throw them into the mix.  Also, sea salt and cracked pepper (obvi) are a nice way to season your salad.  I’ve been to known to add garlic powder and/or adobo powder to my salad.  It gives it a nice kick!
8. Omegas – We probably all want to add more omega 3’s and 6’s into our life.  So, why not sprinkle some ground flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and/or walnuts to your salad (again, I like to add a light sprinkling here).
9. Dress it up – While I’m not the biggest salad dressing fan, I know I’m probably in the minority.  Try out some different dressings (just be sure to use it sparingly) – it might make your salad taste completely different from the day before.  Also, try making your own salad dressings.  With some mustard, olive oil, vinegar and some salt and pepper, you can have your own healthy and homemade dressing in no time.
10. Make it pretty – I like to arrange my salad in a way that it looks like art to me.  Instead of just plopping the ingredients onto your dish, make it look fancy.  Presentation is key!  Also, don’t stick to the same plates, bowls, dishes or utensils.  Jazz things up and use your fine china!
11. Speed – Since all of these items won’t last forever in your fridge, be sure to make and eat your salad.  I know that when there’s some wilting lettuce leaves in my fridge, it pushes me to eat my veggies versus reaching for a non-perishable item.
12. Enjoy! – Once you’ve finished making your salad creation, take the time to enjoy it.  I like eating my humungo salad not only because it tastes good, but because it takes me a good 15 minutes to eat it.  Unlike a sandwich that I can motor through in less than five minutes, a salad takes me more time to chew and thus, to savor.  Because there are so many different textures and different items going on in my salad, it gives me the chance to slowly eat and digest what was on my plate.

There you have it.  There are some shots of some of the various salads I’ve created, eaten and enjoyed over the past few weeks.  And I have to honestly say, I looked forward to eating each and every one of them!   There’s nothing like being able to ‘pig out’ on a salad, and then having a full, yet energized feeling afterward.  I may not have always been in love with the giant plate of fresh produce and greens, but now I’m a huge convert.  I guess you could say, “that Healthy Chow… she’s an easy lover…”

What’s your favorite song from the 80’s?  Or, do you have any tips for making a fun and healthy salad?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Do you like product giveaways?  If so, check these out…***

There is a Bondi Band giveaway at Silly Tater Tot .  It’s the same cute head band that Katy wore while running
in her 5k the other day!

Also, Nicci at Nicci’s Nifty Eats is giving away crunchy crackers and flatbreads from Doctor Kracker. They sure look good!

*OK, this one is for you, Mom.  I know how much you love this song, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” , and you know how much I love you!

Boy, the Summit was like the grass sample that was in our swag bags, AMAZING!  After two days of socializing and ‘getting-to-know-you’s’, we finally arrived at the day I was looking forward to the most – conference day.  I think I’ll always be a student at heart because the thought of being in a room with all of our knowledgeable sponsors and keynote speakers was making me giddy with joy.  I could hardly sleep Friday night in anticipation of the big day.  I think I fell asleep with a smile on my face and woke up with one.

OK, that's me after I got ready, not as soon as I woke up

Because Patrick was so very kind to give me, Lauren and Shannon a ride (the first of many), we were able to make it to the hotel bright and early.  Thank you!!!  When we arrived, we were greeted by the Big 6 and were presented our SWAG BAGS (cue the bugles and applause)!  They were absolutely stuffed with coupons, tons of food samples, informational brochures, a re-useable bag (along with the re-useable bag the swag came in), pens, magnets, a shake container, a t-shirt, a shoe wallet, a baked good and magazines.  It was the ultimate goody bag!

The sign of the time

Heather, Megan and Caitlin

"Say my name, say my name..."

My Blue Heaven

"Swagger like us!"

After checking in, getting our name tags and bags, we were ready for breakfast.  Breakfast included an array of fresh fruit, Oikos yogurt, various blends of  MixMyGranola, fresh bagels, danish, muffins, Kashi TLC bars and the obvi fresh coffee and tea.  I chose an Oikos yogurt with honey along with a few scoops of lowfat MixMyGranola and some chunks of cantaloupe and pineapple.  I love me some fresh fruit for breakfast (or anytime), especially when it’s already been cut-up for me .

Hmmm, this yogurt is DEE-LEE-SHUSS!

Tina, Shannon, Lauren and Jesse

We had a good hour to relax, eat and do some more meeting and chatting before we headed off to the conference room.  As I mentioned before, I can be somewhat of a dork.  So when I walked into the conference room, I wanted to be sitting front and center.  However, that was being occupied by some of our sponsors, so I opted for front-ish and left of center.  What can I say?  I like to pay attention!

My table mates - Casey and Ania

Casey and Ms. Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed

After finding our seats, the Big 6 introduced themselves and welcomed us all to the Summit.  You could tell they were just as excited as the attendees and were glowing with anticipation of the day ahead.

Drum roll please!

The Big 6

Our first speaker was Janel Ovrut, a local registered dietitian, who talked to us about the importance of having a ‘healthy’ diet and how we can manage to eat well in our busy day-to-day life.  She was quite friendly and informative and gave us some useful and easy to remember tips.  She was able to provide insight without sounding ‘preachy’.

The next speaker was my favorite speaker, Cory, aka ZestyCook.  Zesty gave a wonderful presentation on Blogging 101.  He gave us pointers on how to best monetize our blogs, design our blogs and how we could best make them as successful as his (almost!).  I brought my giant legal notepad from home specifically for Zesty’s presentation.  I wanted to be a sponge and soak up as much zest as I could.  I think I did a pretty good job because while I hung onto his every word, my little hands managed to scribble out pages and pages of notes.  Thank you, Zesty!

We then broke for lunch (and the bathrooms).  I actually was hoping that this was not the line for the bathrooms and luckily, it was the lunch line.

The waiting game

But, the bathroom line wasn’t too much shorter.  Hence, by the time I got to the head of the lunch line, it was rather slim pickin’s.  Although I did manage to get a yummy turkey sandwich and fresh fruit that helped to squelch my hunger.  I was just hoping for some vegetables and since the lettuce shreds that were left looked a tad lack luster, I opted out.  But now that I have seen some of the other food bloggers’ pictures, I seemed to have missed a whole display of roasted veggies and salad greens.  Eh, that’s what I get for not going to the restroom when I first had to go and for being a Chatty Cathy .

We Are Not Martha - Sues, me and Chels

My Lunch: turkey with swiss & mustard on whole wheat bread w/ a side of fruit and caprese salad

Lunch mates

Meghan checking her phone...

Once lunch wrapped up, we had another very informative presentation from organic dairy farmer, Regina Beidler.  Regina, along with her husband and daughter (who was also at the Summit), are cooperative farmer owners at Organic Valley and the milk from their farm goes to Organic Valley’s New England Pastures for fluid milk or to Stonyfield Farm for their yogurt products.  Regina really opened my eyes to the importance of supporting local farmers and eating organic dairy products.  She was a great speaker and really did a spectacular job speaking to her audience.

Next up were the ladies from Body + Soul magazine.  They scared informed us about some of the potential dangers/toxins hidden in our beauty products and what are some alternative products we could use.  Wow!  I really need to do a better job of reading the labels on my beauty products – yikes!

Caitlin, from whom I won my golden ticket to the Summit, then gave us a presentation about Operation Beautiful.  She talked about how it got its start and how far it has grown.  Caitlin, along with Operation Beautiful, are both so inspirational!  To say the least,  I was moved!

To pump up get the audience and get us involved, the Big 6 then did some product giveaways.  Sadly, I was not a winner but I had a heck of a time cheering on those that did!  There were some great prizes!  For instance, a $300 gift certificate to Athleta.  Um, hello?  Healthy Chow needs new yoga clothes!

Then, we broke for juice (sans cookies).  Andrea, from POM Wonderful, set-up a giant spread of ice cold pomegranate juice and even posed for a few photos.

I’ve actually never tried POM before.  The tartness of the juice was similar to cranberry juice but with a slightly sweeter twist.  Andrea told me that most people she knew cooked with the juice versus just drinking it straight-up.  I can definitely see it working in a citrus-y salad dressing or with a nice piece of fish.  Lucky for me, Andrea gave me a few extra bottles and coupons to take home.  Thank you, Andrea!

To wrap up, the Big 6 each did a brief presentation on the type of fitness they prefer and how they got started with it.  Caitlin and Tina spoke about running and how while they have some injuries, they continue to work through those injuries and take care of their bodies.  Kath talked about how she squeezes in exercise whenever she can, such as when doing household chores like washing the floor and mowing the lawn.  Jenna talked about one of my favorite things in the world, yoga.  She talked about how great of a workout yoga can be and how important it is for the body and the mind.  I couldn’t stop nodding my head in agreement with Jenna.  I so badly wanted to jump out of my seat and tell the group that if they hadn’t tried yoga, they could come with me and I would be more than happy to show them the light .  Finally, Heather and Meghann talked about running and how they have worked up to competing in races.  They even brought out their running gear and demonstrated what they like to use and how sweaty these things can get .

To conclude the conference, we appropriately took a group photo.  We all squeezed into the back of the room and once again, Hangry Mark was our photographer.  Thank you, Mark!  I think if you squint your eyes or get a magnifying glass you can find me (I wore high heels (again) just so you all could see me!).

I promise I'm in there!

I don’t want to sound like a broken record (but I will) , but I want to say that I’m so happy that I was able to attend the Healthy Living Summit.  I had the chance to meet such extraordinary people and learn some fascinating things.  All these women (and men) share the same passion – to live a healthy and happy life filled with fitness, eating well, and passion.  Out of all the people I met this weekend, the one common link is that they all love life and want that life to be a healthy one.  While they aim to be healthy and fit, they know life has to have balance.  For that reason, there was never a hesitation to enjoy themselves – whether that meant having a cocktail, savoring a scoop of their favorite ice cream or simply getting up a bit earlier to take in a morning run.

Just watching the Big 6 speak about their favorite kind of exercise or their favorite thing to eat or how they first started blogging, you could honestly see the enthusiasm and drive exuding from their souls.  I truly felt empowered to be around all of these like minded individuals (bloggers and readers) – people like myself who want the best life and the best me possible and just want to share that with the world.

Contents of the bag...I refrained from eating anything so I could get a complete picture for you to see...that was really tough!

What makes you feel empowered?  Or, what’s the best free sample you’ve ever received?

Namasté,
Nicole

HAHA!  I just cracked myself up with that blog post title (I know, why don’t you just go give yourself a pat on the back?!).

Anyways, I keep reading about ‘broccoli slaw’ all over the food blogosphere in places such as here and here.  I’ll have to admit, I was a bit hesitant at first.  While I’m certainly NOT a picky eater and will pretty much eat everything anything that is put in front of me, I’m not a fan of coleslaw.  It’s odd to me.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that it’s usually drowned in mayo (and not the good kind like the Hellman’s Mom used to buy but the not-so-miraculous Miracle Whip)?  Maybe it’s because it always came all warm and soggy on my plate?  Or maybe it’s because someone told me once that restaurants made it out of the rancid lettuce and cabbage leftover from the day before’s meals?  Whatever the case was, I never liked it.

However, broccoli slaw is not the same thing as coleslaw and if everyone else is raving about it, maybe I was the one missing out?  I mean, it is just broccoli, carrots and red cabbage.  These are all things that I like and things that are good for me.  So what was I waiting for?  After all, I was always told as a child to try everything once.  So, a week or so ago when I was at the grocery store, I picked up a bag of this:

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with my new purchase.  I guess I could mix it in with one of my humungo salads?  Or perhaps shove some in a pita pocket for some added crunch to a sandwich?  Then, a light bulb went off.  I decided I would face my distaste for coleslaw head on.  I decided to make my own ‘lighter’ version of coleslaw.  Here is what I came up with:

-1/3 of the bag  or 3 oz. of broccoli slaw
-2 heaping TBSP of nonfat yogurt (I used Trader Joe’s European Style Nonfat Plain)
-1 TSP of dijon mustard
-a glug of red wine vinegar
-1 TSP of honey
-black pepper

Get yourself a small bowl and mix all of the ingredients except for the broccoli slaw and black pepper.  Mix until everything is well blended.  Taste and adjust ingredients accordingly.  Then, mix in your broccoli slaw and turn to coat.  Sprinkle with pepper.  All done.

Because the yogurt is more liquid-y than thick, my broccoli slaw served as a dressing for the rest of my salad.  Alongside the slaw, I had romaine lettuce, baby spinach, chopped plum tomatoes and cucumber slices.  I also had a yam that was about to bite the dust, so I peeled it and steamed it for an accompaniment to my salad.  I then melted some Smart Balance Omega-3 Light and drizzled that over my yam.

Wow, my salads are gettin’ all fancy on me…

The yam didn’t want to get left out of the ‘fancy pants party’…

All together now…

Paired with a frosty glass of seltzer water…

The verdict?  It was pretty good!  Nothing at all like the coleslaw that came in those clear dixie cups that I used to turn my nose at.  Plus, it was a much healthier version sans the greasy mayonnaise.  Because the dressing was so light and subtle, I could still taste the flavors of the vegetables.  The crunch was still there, too.  It was a nice added texture to my sometimes ‘boring’ salads.  I would definitely buy this again.  It’s an easy and healthy way to bulk up my salads and/or sandwiches and might even be good steamed a bit and eaten as a hot side (ok, why does Justin Timberlake now come to mind?).

Are there any foods that make you cringe?  Do you still dislike them or have you given them another shot?

Namasté,
Nicole

Do you know how they say you shouldn’t go grocery shopping while you’re hungry?  Well, I shouldn’t go grocery shopping while I’m hungry and while I’m on a full stomach.  I luuuuurrvvvee food!  If it looks good, smells good and and tickles my fancy, then it’s coming home with me (oh wait, that didn’t sound quite right…haha!).  Anyways, the produce aisle always seems to get the best of me.  I know fresh fruits and vegetables are great for me but I have to be realistic and understand that I while it’s BOGO right now for a pint of fresh blueberries, I can’t eat an entire shopping cart full of them.  I know freezing these lil’ gems of sapphire bliss can fix my overabundance issue, but you can’t beat the taste of a fresh blueberry.  That said, a few weeks ago I came up with this wacky little creation when Patrick was hungry for lunch.  He wanted a turkey sandwich that ‘wasn’t going to taste like a regular turkey sandwich’.  Funny, isn’t he?  So, this is what I made him.  The summer-sweet blueberries are a perfect match for the herb turkey and the yogurt adds the right amount of creaminess while the greens give it a cool crisp.

I present to you…The Cool Blue Turkey Sammie…

The Cool Blue Turkey Sammie

2 slices of whole wheat bread (I used Trader Joe’s)
3 slices of Applegate Farms Organic Herb Turkey Breast
1 slice of provolone cheese (I used Sargento Reduced Fat Deli Style Provolone – Swiss would be good, too)
small handful of baby spinach leaves
8 fresh blueberries, cut in half (think meatball sandwich – things that are round have a tendency to roll out)
2 heaping TBSP of nonfat yogurt (I used Trader Joe’s European Style Plain Nonfat)
1 TSP of dijon mustard
s&p to taste

Place your bread in the toaster (or toaster oven) and begin to toast.  Mix the the yogurt with the mustard in a small cup and set aside.  When your bread has met your desired level of toasty goodness, take out of toaster and start compiling your sandwich.  Layer 2 slices of turkey (add salt and pepper here if you wish) and spread some of the yogurt mixture over the turkey.  Then, add the halved blueberries (the key here is to make sure the blueberries get stuck into the yogurt mixture so they have better staying power in the sandwich and not on your plate or lap).  Layer the baby spinach next.  Then, add the last slice of turkey with some more of the yogurt mixture spooned on top (I had some yogurt mixture left over after the sandwich was made but I know some prefer a ‘wetter’ sammie).  Finally, top it with the cheese.  Cover with the last slice of toasted bread.  All done!  Enjoy!

Serves 1

Patrick loved this sandwich!  He said it reminded him of a post-Thanksgiving Day sandwich (think turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce) but only lighter and ’summery-er’.  Woot!

I like mixing around ingredients that you wouldn’t normally put together.  It’s fun to see what I end up with!  What’s the most inventive food combination you’ve ever come up with?

Namasté,
Nicole