Zucchini noodles with marinara & meatballs

My fitness Adventure has been on a up and down and as with a lot of you out there, it has been a struggle at times.
One of my struggles is having someone to workout with and it had me in a lil depressed and feeling slumped.  I see many having fun and working out with a friend but none of my friends are into fitness or wanting to try it.

How do I get out of this slump?

I started thinking about why I got into this  from day one and how I have been dealing with living healthier and it didn't matter anymore about having someone to workout with.  I started this with intentions of making my life healthier, live better and feel stronger.  The people I workout with in bootcamp make it worth going and my trainer has been behind me since day one. So things are starting to look up once again.

One of my son's is into fitness and trying to eat healthier so I thought why not try something with him.  Although he is doesn't live close to me to hit the gym together we can at least eat healthier together.  We are starting a low carb diet (yes, once again for me!) and the loser will by the other dinner.
I have been looking online for some new recipes to try.  He is very excited to start this with me and I can't wait to see how this adventure will go with him.

Here is something I whipped up last night for dinner.

Zucchini noodles, veggies with meatball marinara-

I don't have one of those fancy noodle machines so I had to do my zucchini by hand using a peeler and cutting it to make strings. Took a bit to do but it was worth the hard work.

I sauteed it in olive oil on med heat for 5-6 mins.

After I sauteed the noodles I sauteed mushrooms in olive oil for 5-7 mins sprinkled with salt (add more olive oil if needed) then added spinach for another min. DONE!

I used my mother in laws (she won't allow anyone to have her recipe other than family, sorry) marinara and meatball recipe. Topped with parm and a few dashes of dried chile pepper. YUM!!!

What are some of you favorite low carb dishes you enjoy? Do you feel slumped at times? if so, what do you do to get out of it? 

Here is to a positive/healthy week!

Running

Bootcamp was a good workout (leg day) but I felt so out of juice. Today's workout was: sit ups, tire jumps, box jumps with burpees, and KB swings 15, 14, 13... So you do each workout 15 times then again but 14, and again 13, and so on till you do each workout once. In between each rep he had us run around the gym. Good workout and easy to try at home with any workout.

When my workout doesn't go how I want I don't give up but there are times I just need to take a break.  When I started out my workouts last year I had to run and I hated it (still do!)!  I was always last and just dreaded it.  My trainer would run behind me just to push me to do it. heehee...

To this day my trainer will have us run and although I do it (OH BTW, he doesn't run behind me anymore), I still can't get into it.  I am no longer the last one and although I do feel like a speedy Gonzalez at times I still dread it.  So one of my goals is to stick to the running, run more often and hoping to finally enjoy it.

So it got me thinking and I found this article.

When will running start feeling easier?

Do you run? Struggling to enjoy it?

I'm hoping I will one day but until then I will start reading more about it & work on running more often. *wink*

My fitness frenzy

Focused and Ready!

Since my last post I still have been active in the gym and sticking to my workouts.  I even got my husband to join the gym too! 

I didn't really stuck to my low carb diet but that will soon change.  Before my trip to NY I wasn't really doing to bad in the gym but I wasn't really focused either.  It was more like a chore.  I just made it feel like I had to get up and go but didn't really feel the whole vibe.  After coming back from our trip tho something changed.  I just looked at the whole thing differently.  I felt good when I first started this fitness frenzy, I ate good, felt good, I worked out daily, I was determined.  

What changed? Why did it change? What could I have done differently? So much was going thru my mind and I was feeling drained in my body.

I have been doing a lot of research online, youtube videos, reading books; on workouts, health, eating, weight lifting, etc. and each time I do I get more and more pumped to do this for me.  I'm finally understanding a lil more but I have a lot to learn.

So I have decided one step to get my fitness to a good start is to blog about it.  I want to do a daily log, list of workouts, a gym terminology, health, eating, journal and who knows what else I may find on my way down this new fitness path.  I need to stay focused, hang out with those that motivate me, eat better, and just stay on track.  This is a life long change for me.

I of course have a passion to be in the kitchen so don't worry I won't stop posting my fun kitchen adventures as well. *wink*

Wish me luck! 

Stay tuned...

Do I Dare!

Do I Dare!  
With Easter coming up so quickly I need to come up with a menu to make for the potluck at my sisters this year. If you are like me and wait till the last minute then you know how stressed out I am here! *wink* Things creep up so quickly, then I am stuck the night before cooking up a storm. AH!!! Then when the day is over I tell myself I will do better next year. *yea, right!* 
This year I have come up with something new and something I think that will not only surprise my family but it will be something they enjoy a lot!  

The first time I had this dish was when my husband took me to a nice newer restaurant down town called The Kings Head, the owners are just the friendliest, funniest guys I've met.  Of course, this dish wasn't the only thing we had while we were there. A few fists of pints were just the right touch. *smile*

Recipe can be found here 
Once I make these this weekend I will post the pictures. 

Here is my pic:

My prep ^ 

Then my finished meal 

These turned out very good & everyone loved them!

Definitely making them again. *wink*

Another recipe I will be making will be a Tortellini Salad

Recipe can be found here
I wanted something not so heavy and I know all the veggies here will be a plus for everyone. We just started to grow our veggies last weekend so seeing all those in this salad will just encourage us all to grow a lil more!  Doesn't hurt right? *wink*

Here are my updated pics:

Ingredients ^

The final meal together- yummy!

Whats on your menu this year?

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!
Bon Appetite!

My Healthy Adventure

My Healthy Adventure

I have been on a healthy adventure for almost a year now but it has been a struggle to stay on it.  I have my ups and downs as with anyone else struggling to get healthier or to lose weight.  

I started back in May when my niece convinced me to join bootcamp with her. I am so thankful that she did and from day one I was hooked! Although I couldn't complete the first days class fully I didn't give up and kept going. I still show up when I can.  There are days where my knee goes out, my shins are on fire, being sick, or like now my tailbone is in pain due to falling down the last steps of my stairs in the house. lol BUT, I will not give up!!! Almost a year to the day and I just can't go backwards now.  My goal at first was to lose 50 lbs in 6 months but then looked at the long term view.  I have lost 40 lbs and didn't get to the 50 lbs goal but I don't worry. I feel stronger, healthier & I have more energy.

 So my thoughts now are to stay strong, have more energy, eat healthier and live longer. :) 

I decided to start my low carb diet again and after my 30 days I know I will feel much better and I will eat healthier. 

So, here is my breakfast on day one...

Roasted Cauliflower, tomato, green onion and egg scramble.

Low carb doesn't have to be scary and there are so many recipes out there to make it possible to enjoy!

You will see more healthy recipes soon.  Of course, me being a Chef I have to always cook up anything that looks good and even though I can't eat it, I can taste it and someone else can enjoy it! *wink*

Pan de Marranitos

My new year started out with my son breaking out in hives, suffering from his allergies and asthma then on top of that I woke up sick and back to the flu that I was just getting over from Thanksgiving. Lovely start right? :)

Did you make any goals for 2015? 

One of my goals this year is to jump back into my blog and keep up with my recipe postings and sharing more of my adventures on catering, cooking and home classes.  So you will be seeing more of me and lots of new changes. *yippy*

This years goals are:

Home cooking classes

Baking *YIKES, I can cook but baking scares me!*

meal/app trays

new dishes

healthier eating

continue bootcamps/workouts

build muscle and lose fat

more energy &

say "NO!" more often.  This is a hard one for me as I like to make people happy.  I tend to do things for others and get nothing in return when I ask for a favor. :(

Where I am in this town there is lil to no bakeries.  Of course, you have your grocery store bakeries but I want a real bakery with fresh made breads and a great selection. This has been something that has been hard to find around here unless I drive miles and miles away to get it and that is just something I am not willing to do with my already busy schedule.

So, for my first tackle on baking is making something that is hard to find for my dad in the mornings. A Mexican bread that is one of my favorites to have with my coffee in the mananita (morning). 

I don't have the pig cookie cutter yet so I just used a heart shaped cutter I had (remember I am not supplied with baking supplies) in the drawer. So my bread is called pan de amor instead of pan de marranitos. *wink*

They turned out very yummy and my house smelled nice all day!

ENJOY!

Recipe can be found here  pan de marranitos

Blackberry and Peach Crostata

This dish has to be my all time favorite Dessert.  The first time I made it I was in Heaven! Im not a big dessert type of person because most all of them are too sweet for me, this wasnt.

I LOVE LOVE blackberries & peaches!!! So the first bite, I was in love! 

This recipe I seen on The Chew & I had to try it, im so glad I did. Thank you Mario! *smile*

I used a basic simple pie recipe instead of the one used on Mario Batali's recipe.

Above is what it looks like before the miracle happens.

Oooooo my mouth is watering! Doesnt it already look yummy?

And here it is... Mouth full of wonders!! Isnt it beautiful? 

So quit drooling on here and go in your kitchen and make this for dessert tonight.

Its simple & quick. 

RECIPE- 

* PEACH AND BLACKBERRY CROSTATA
Dough:
2 1/2 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
1/4 cup ice water, plus more if needed
Filling:
5 large ripe peaches, pitted and cut into 16 slices each
2 pints fresh blackberries
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Finish:
2 tablespoons honey
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 cup mascarpone or freshly whipped cream
Make the dough: Combine the flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest in a food processor. Add the butter and zap quickly until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and zap until the dough just forms a ball without being too wet or sticky. Remove the dough from the processor and pat it into a flat disk, about 2 inches thick. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
Make the filling: Combine the peaches, blackberries, lemon juice, sugar and flour in a large mixing bowl. Toss the mixture gently to coat the fruit.
Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow it to soften enough to roll out.
Sprinkle your work surface and a rolling pin lightly with cake flour. Roll the dough out into a 16-inch round, about 1/4 inch thick. If the dough tears, press the edges back together. Transfer the dough to a 12 1/2-inch fluted quiche pan or tart pan with a removable bottom, allowing the excess to hang over the edges. Spoon the fruit mixture into the dough. Fold in the overhanging edges of the dough, leaving a 6-inch area of fruit exposed in the center. Press the crust into the rim of the fluted pan to form an edge.
Place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (or use a double boiler), and heat the honey in the bowl until it is thin. Add the egg and whisk them together. Brush the mixture liberally over the fruit and crust. Place the tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly. Remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Serve the crostata warm or at room temperature, with a dollop of mascarpone or whipped cream on each serving.
Serves: 8 to 10.
Recipe courtesy of "Molto Batali" (ecco, 2011)