tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66496368481898850392024-03-08T09:54:14.891-08:00The Lean Gourmet KitchenGetting fit in & out of the kitchen with natural gluten free eats,sweet treats,& tips to fuel an active lifestyle.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-2223733195953016872017-06-12T04:38:00.000-07:002017-06-12T04:38:34.421-07:00Life is a journey. Isn't it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/appalachian-hiking-trail--blue-ridge-mountains-forest-fog-nature-landscape-dave-allen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/appalachian-hiking-trail--blue-ridge-mountains-forest-fog-nature-landscape-dave-allen.jpg" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/appalachian-hiking-trail--blue-ridge-mountains-forest-fog-nature-landscape-dave-allen.jpg">Source</a><br />
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I was on a roll with blogging for a good amount of time and then I received a promotion at work and a discovered I was pregnant within a three month time span. To be followed by five month leave of absence due to health complications from said pregnancy. Now that baby is three todayđ<br />
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After all this time I find I still have things I want to say and words to write. So slowly I've rebuilt the resolve to blog again.<br />
More to come soon,<br />
BUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-65834943861105582482013-02-18T02:00:00.000-08:002013-02-18T02:00:10.093-08:00Pancake MANIA!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wP4iv0yKTw/UAOEqLk9uhI/AAAAAAAAALU/cHaULo6Hz6U/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wP4iv0yKTw/UAOEqLk9uhI/AAAAAAAAALU/cHaULo6Hz6U/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/07/buckwheat-baby-cakes.html" target="_blank">Buckwheat Baby Cakes</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a thing for pancakes. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you will notice a flapjack recipe usually appears at least once monthly. I am a carb queen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I love to start my day with sweet hot cakes. One of the down sides of this blog is I don't have one place with all my recipes. I find it frustrating trying to locate old posts; "what was the name of that dish?" I decided I am going to be re-posting some of my recipes by category to make recipes easier to find. Click on the caption link under each pancake picture for the recipe.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTvZjIflgZA/T-teX0d-ztI/AAAAAAAAACw/lnGGhwHKbvA/s1600/blueberry+cakes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTvZjIflgZA/T-teX0d-ztI/AAAAAAAAACw/lnGGhwHKbvA/s1600/blueberry+cakes.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/06/make-me-pancakes-mama-pweese-oh-how.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Banana Blueberry Griddle Cakes</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmlGdaT55oI/UJEe8yJg3_I/AAAAAAAAERM/6P_oLFsSk7Q/s320/DSC_0871.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-cant-believe-halloween-is-finally-here.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pumpkin Pancakes</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/11/greek-yogurt-pancakes-fake-protein.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g0xgMeIt2dM/ULYZNMzJupI/AAAAAAAAFT0/Pcr2Y1kPq6M/s400/DSC_1050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/11/greek-yogurt-pancakes-fake-protein.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Greek Yogurt Pancakes</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IbOrFPCYPpg/UOSPiyggh8I/AAAAAAAAGa8/XR98bLkPvjk/s320/photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-mine-paleo-pancakes.html" target="_blank">Paleo Pancakes</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYPMz6k_r-o/UN0csFLkC4I/AAAAAAAAGOE/63UuShyE_9Y/s1600/DSC_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYPMz6k_r-o/UN0csFLkC4I/AAAAAAAAGOE/63UuShyE_9Y/s1600/DSC_1293.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-morning-german-apple-pancake.html" target="_blank">German Apple Pancake</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_br3kY09-I0/UOoCwzmQ9eI/AAAAAAAAGpg/cUB001yHIG0/s1600/DSC_1475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_br3kY09-I0/UOoCwzmQ9eI/AAAAAAAAGpg/cUB001yHIG0/s1600/DSC_1475.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/pumpkin-pancakes-part-deux-paleo.html" target="_blank">Pumpkin Pancakes Part Deux</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0P0-y7N2V1k/URzzGBgQT8I/AAAAAAAAHqM/yMJA558Gzik/s1600/banana+bread+pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0P0-y7N2V1k/URzzGBgQT8I/AAAAAAAAHqM/yMJA558Gzik/s1600/banana+bread+pancakes.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/02/banana-bread-pancakes-gluten-free-happy.html" target="_blank">Banana Bread Pancakes</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-7689659467226166532013-02-15T02:00:00.000-08:002013-02-15T02:00:12.413-08:00Salmon Burgers (gluten free)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JTj2TWbvu3A/URG7pui5-cI/AAAAAAAAHhQ/kdj0CQBybIk/s1600/DSC_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JTj2TWbvu3A/URG7pui5-cI/AAAAAAAAHhQ/kdj0CQBybIk/s640/DSC_1948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 Fish Facts & Me</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Wild not farmed fish for me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The first meal I made for Rich when we were dating was baked Salmon. He tried it with much persuasion and now loves it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I was once ordered a whole baked red snapper at a restaurant I did not know whole meant the freaking fish eyeballs and all dead on your plate. The sight of the dead fish staring me in the eyes caused me to knock it over spilling dinner all over myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.Fish make terrible pets. Once the poor creature comes into my possession their life span is cut severely short.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I detest frozen breaded fish sticks. I think they are below human consumption.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a>Salmon Burgers</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 6 oz can of wild Alaskan Salmon in water drained</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of ground pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg beaten</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp of dried dill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of blanched almond flour</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and form mixture into 4-5 burger patties. Place burgers onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes then flip and bake for 5-10 more minutes until burgers are cooked through and golden. Makes 4-5 burgers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-69885692976450696972013-02-14T06:54:00.000-08:002013-02-14T06:54:14.682-08:00Banana Bread Pancakes (gluten free) & Happy Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0P0-y7N2V1k/URzzGBgQT8I/AAAAAAAAHqM/yMJA558Gzik/s1600/banana+bread+pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0P0-y7N2V1k/URzzGBgQT8I/AAAAAAAAHqM/yMJA558Gzik/s640/banana+bread+pancakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so excited about this post. These pancakes are delicious, easy to make, and gluten free.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I love this photo too! I took over 30 pictures for this post. I have come a LONG way from my early blogging days only eight months ago and am looking forward to growing in my writing and my food photography.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked a few Gerber daisy flowers from my garden to use in my photo shots for this recipe. I am in Florida remember. I keep a garden in the winter. It is pouring down buckets of</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> rain down here while its a frozen tundra in the North.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was snapping away I noticed some movement on the flower petals. Look at the little friend that made this a great shot today.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBfuQVYq264/URzzELOsmmI/AAAAAAAAHqE/tfZop3hl5aY/s1600/vday+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBfuQVYq264/URzzELOsmmI/AAAAAAAAHqE/tfZop3hl5aY/s640/vday+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am wishing you a very wonderful Valentine's Day. May you take time today to be with those you love and that love you. Love and be loved!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Brooklynn</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Banana Bread Pancakes (gluten free)</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 banana peeled</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of old fashioned oatmeal uncooked and gluten free</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of coconut flour </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dash of nutmeg</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp of cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp of baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of coconut sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBS of coconut oil melted</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of cashew milk or other preferred milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chocolate chips to top pancakes ( I use Enjoy Life Mini chips)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine all ingredients, adding liquids first, except chocolate chips into a blender and puree until smooth. Grease a griddle with coconut oil or butter. Pour pancake batter onto hot griddle in silver dollar sized circles. Top each with chocolate chips. Flip when pancake edges are set and pancake top bubbles. Cook other side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cut these pancakes with a heart shaped cookie cutter when I took them off the griddle while they were still warm. I topped mine with <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/low-sugar-no-cook-strawberry-jam.html" target="_blank">homemade strawberry jam</a>. They are equally delicious with some syrup and almond butter! Makes 10-12 small pancakes.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-13657567810682097212013-02-13T12:51:00.000-08:002013-02-13T12:51:58.353-08:00Skinny Mint Recovery Shake<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uitrwbYL1Cw/URvuySRT8aI/AAAAAAAAHo8/BCAbXphvS7c/s1600/skinny+mint+shake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uitrwbYL1Cw/URvuySRT8aI/AAAAAAAAHo8/BCAbXphvS7c/s640/skinny+mint+shake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel so deeply guilty dodging those cute little girl scouts guarding the entrance of my place of employment these last few weeks. I just want to say "I can't eat your poisonous cookies, but here's a $20 for your trouble." Even if I was not gluten sensitive I would stir clear of these <a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/food-cops-accuse-girl-scouts-of-selling-junk-food-021113.html" target="_blank">health demoting time bombs</a>.Have you ever taken a look at the <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.littlebrownie.com/downloads/NLIs_All.pdf" target="_blank">ingredients in those things?!</a> Before you get all up in arms about my anti-girl scout COOKIE antics.K</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">now that I am pro-girl scout (go girl power!) There is more to the cookie program than just making money for camping trips. The cookie campaign teaches</span><a href="http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/the_five_skills.asp" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"> life skills</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to these young ladies. That is awesome and I applaud their mission I'm just not buying any darn cookies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to <strike>be obsessed with</strike> enjoy thin mints. One of my best childhood friends, Erica, was a girl scout and got me hooked on samoas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I decided to whip up a minty chocolate recovery shake for my brutal workout today; the workout that I made me go into beast mode.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Skinny Mint Recovery Shake</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/08/cashew-milk.html" target="_blank">cashew milk </a>or other preferred milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 scoop of vanilla protein powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of raw cacao powder or coco powder (unsweetened)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 drops of liquid stevia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 fresh mint leaves or 1/8 tsp of mint extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of ice</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place all ingredients into blender and blend till smooth. Serves 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Real-Sustenance-Gluten-and-Dairy-Free-Recipes/149273335092266" target="_blank">Real Sustenance</a> blog there is a great collection of gluten free girl scout cookie knock-offs. Enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">1) Samoas: </span><a href="http://bit.ly/xhTvvl" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.99715805053711px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/xhTvvl</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">2) Thin Mints: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FUldD8s&h=FAQEAqAZP&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.99715805053711px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/UldD8s</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">3) Shortbread: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FYbAJ1Q&h=3AQEq-3ta&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.99715805053711px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/YbAJ1Q</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-49237747110699962152013-02-11T02:00:00.001-08:002013-02-11T02:00:07.504-08:00The Perfect Breakfast Muffin (gluten free & Paleo inspired) <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vIvgHJK8Iws/URPCzzMr6sI/AAAAAAAAHn0/WlEzet3pDas/s1600/breakfast+muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vIvgHJK8Iws/URPCzzMr6sI/AAAAAAAAHn0/WlEzet3pDas/s640/breakfast+muffins.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My family consumes a truck load of eggs on a weekly basis. Rich and I were discussing this during the course of the past week. Our egg consumption has increased from a dozen over a few weeks to a few dozen over a week. This is in large part due to our gluten free diet and clean eating habits. Thank God eggs are not terribly expensive. These days the cost of all food has sky rocketed. I began thinking back to my childhood egg consumption. My mom or dad would make scrambled eggs maybe once a week on the weekends; otherwise it was cold cereal, toaster strudel, or a bagel and out the door I went to school. My diet now is a far cry from the convenient carb filled goodness of elementary school yesteryear. Despite the change of eating habits my love for baked morning goods has not left me. I whipped these muffins up one morning spurred by the desire for something soft and slightly sweet to sink my teeth into. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfect Breakfast Muffins (gluten free & Paleo inspired)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of creamy almond butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of blanched almond flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBS of coconut sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A pinch of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 apple peeled cored and grated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 carrot peeled and grated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of raisins</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin or line with paper muffin liners. In a large mixing bowl beat together almond butter and eggs. Next beat in almond flour, pie spice, coconut sugar, sea salt, and baking soda. Scrape sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure all ingredients are combined. Stir in grated apple, grated carrot, and raisins. Fill muffin tin wells 1/2-3/4 way full with batter. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-77099623260350791722013-02-08T02:00:00.000-08:002013-02-08T02:00:05.554-08:00Unboxing the polar FT60 (Women's)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6lg4g7rDDI/URHAtBIs16I/AAAAAAAAHkU/SH-fMuGl1JA/s1600/8429658F-B97D-45FB-ACE4-F8C60C1A7BB0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6lg4g7rDDI/URHAtBIs16I/AAAAAAAAHkU/SH-fMuGl1JA/s400/8429658F-B97D-45FB-ACE4-F8C60C1A7BB0.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had this Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket for the last two months (thanks Dad!) It is always a decision between kitchen accessories or<a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-top-5-gym-accessories.html" target="_blank"> workout equipment</a> when I have extra cash to spend. I have been wanting to purchase a heart rate monitor that I could use doing any type of training and it would measure calorie burn. I am a numbers person. I like to see what I am achieving in my workouts. I used to rely on the inaccurate calorie and distance monitors on cardio equipment in the gym. I have spent so many years endlessly running on treadmills like a caged hamster I rarely use cardio equipment these days. I prefer to perform pylometric or outdoor workouts.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/14/why-gym-someecards_n_1959170.html#slide=1631840" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've used my new<a href="http://www.polar.com/en/polar_community/videos?gettingstarted=1" target="_blank"> Polar FT60 </a>several times this past week and I LOVE it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The chest strap is comfy and the heart rate monitor detaches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The watch is small and cute. The women's model is available in black or purple (shown.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. The FT60 tracks your heart rate, calories burned, total time of your workout and the amount of time you spend in different heart rate zones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The FT60 is calibrated to you. You perform a "fitness test" before your first session. To perform the test you wear the chest strap with monitor and lie down for 1-3 minutes while the FT60 measures your heart rate and VO2max at rest. My fitness test result was "Elite." Move over LoLo Jones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. The FT60 sets up a weekly training plan based on your overall fitness goal ( improve fitness, maximize fitness, or lose weight.) I chose to improve my fitness. It utilizes the user information of height, weight, gender, fitness level, activity level, and training goal to form a training plan. How cool is that? Based on my goal to improve my fitness and my fitness test result the FT60 set my weekly training time goal of 3 hours and 45 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been logging all my workouts in my training journal and keeping track of what I am achieving in each workout.The FT60 is a great fitness tool that adds an extra ounce of motivation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Interested? You can purchase the </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F0PVNA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001F0PVNA&linkCode=as2&tag=theleagou-20">Polar FT60 Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Purple)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001F0PVNA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <b>on Amazon (affiliate link.)</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-70933980647497479332013-02-06T02:00:00.000-08:002013-02-06T02:00:13.117-08:00Rawmesan Collard Greens Chips<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've heard of kale chips, but have you heard of collard greens chips? Same concept different leafy green and equally delicious. These little chips curb my salty crunchy cravings without weighing me down or bloating me up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the early beginnings of my hippie, gluten free cooking journey I purchased a food dehydrator. Ridiculous I know. My husband thought I had gone off the deep end. Until I started making tasty recipes like <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-love-for-jerky.html" target="_blank">my jerky recipe</a> and these chips. He loves these recipes as much as I do. I have also made flax crackers, gluten free granola, and "sun dried" tomatoes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collard Green Chips</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 collard greens washed,stemmed and cut into 1-2 inch pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RYVHVQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004RYVHVQ&linkCode=as2&tag=theleagou-20" style="color: purple;">Herb-n-spice Rawmesan</a> (affiliate) or Parmesan Cheese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juice of 1 Lemon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of Olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place collard greens pieces in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss until greens are well coated. Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 135 degrees or per instructions/settings for your dehydrator model. Dehydrate for 6-8 hours or until desired crispness is achieved. I use the
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090WOCN0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0090WOCN0&linkCode=as2&tag=theleagou-20">Nesco FD-75A 700-Watt Food Dehydrator</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0090WOCN0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> </span>(affiliate link.) If you don't have a dehydrator bake chips on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Spread greens out so they do not over lap. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Then flip and bake an additional few minutes. Check chips every 2-3 minutes to make sure they do not burn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I just want something simple and sweet. No muss no fuss. Requiring little effort put forth to satisfy my sweet tooth. The sweet tooth that never goes away. Ever. I indulge once maybe twice a week in my <a href="http://pic.twitter.com/hAPQXEms" target="_blank">"treat of the week."</a> I tweet my #treatoftheweek as proof of honoring my cravings and enjoyment of decadent treats. I don't believe in absolute deprivation. That is unbalanced and a bland way to live.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I invite you to<a href="https://twitter.com/LeanGourmet" target="_blank"> tweet me </a>your #treatoftheweek. What is your favorite treat to indulge in?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baked Stuff Apples</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 apples washed and cored and intact</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of blanched almond flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of coconut sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBS of coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of raisins</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Place cored apples on top of parchment paper and set aside. In a medium sized mixing bowl combine almond flour,sugar, and cinnamon. Mix to combine. Stir in coconut oil and mix until crumb mixture forms then toss in raisins. Stuff the apples with almond flour mixture. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serves 4.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-67710311106635885862013-01-30T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-30T02:00:11.365-08:00Xtend Barre Stick Class<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My lovely friend, Erika, is an instructor for the<a href="http://www.xtendbarrewpb.com/wp/" target="_blank"> Xtend Barre West Palm Beach</a> studio. She invited me this past weekend to try a new class the studio is offering called Xtend Barre Stick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Xtend Barre Stick </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is a 55 minute workout that utilizes a Pilates Stick attached to the ballet barre to add resistance. This class has a cardio component to build endurance and develops upper body strength and core stability.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I arrived thirty minutes early to take some shots of the beautiful studio and have Erika demonstrate some exercises for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I was able to test out my skills. I couldn't believe the extra resistance the stick provided. These moves may look "easy" but I definitely felt all my muscles being worked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a killer core "around the world" ab exercise. Burn baby burn. My abs were screaming after this exercise!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As my souvenir I purchased a pair of Xtend Barre socks that prevent slipping and add traction for working out on the studio floor.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I have to admit I was apprehensive at first to take this class. I am not nimble or graceful. I thought this class would be out of my element. I have no training in professional dance and my flexibility is that of a plank of wood. In the spirit of trying new things I decided to give Xtend Barre Stick a whirl. Once the class started all my anxiety melted away. I felt at ease and had a blast.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The warm up consisted of some standing movements away from the barre with some cardio. The workout portion of the class was on the barre and the routine included lower body and upper body work along with core conditioning utilizing the Pilates stick and cable. The class ended with some mat and additional core work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I was pleasantly surprised</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> to find my heart rate elevated and breaking a sweat. The atmosphere of the class was fun and relaxed. There were women of all ages and fitness levels who participated. I would love to take this class again. I know that it will help me improve my core strength and stability.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 20px;">If you are interested in checking out<a href="http://www.xtendbarrewpb.com/wp/" target="_blank"> Xtend Barre West Palm Beach</a> there currently is a </span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><u><span style="color: purple;">phenomenal</span></u></span><a href="http://www.groupon.com/deals/xtend-barre-west-palm-beach-2/raf/UserReferral_pp/121015/5rr1act/lk/uu4365621" style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span>Groupon deal for individual or group PilatesReformer/ Tower classes</a><span style="line-height: 20px;"> starting at $49.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>-Brooklynn</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">* Disclaimer: Before starting any new activity or fitness routine please consult with your physician and have a complete physical.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-54915284198853090922013-01-27T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-27T18:31:47.361-08:00Stuffed Cabbage<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In October I had posted on the Facebook page that I was trying out stuffed cabbage. I did like what I came up with the first time, but the process was very tedious. I followed <i>The Joy of Cooking</i>'s method to prep the cabbage. I placed the whole head of cabbage with core removed into boiling water. Every 5 minutes I would remove the HOT cabbage and peel away a few tender leaves and repeat. This was so tedious and my poor fingers were burned. I wised up the second time! This time to prep the cabbage I made a cut with a pairing knife at the base of each leave and gently pulled it off. I steamed the loose cabbage leaves in a steam basket until tender about 10 or so minutes. This method was a tremendous time AND finger saver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 green cabbage with leaves removed in tack and steamed until tender (see above)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lbs of lean ground beef or turkey meat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of blanched almond flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 grated carrot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 minced garlic clove</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 small onion chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of dried Italian Seasoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of ground black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28 ounces of tomato puree or sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water (if needed) to cover cabbage rolls</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Set aside steamed cabbage leaves to cool. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. In a large mixing bowl combine meat, almond flour, egg, carrot, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Combine thoroughly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. To fill and roll cabbage rolls. Place a cooled cabbage leave on cutting board with the stem facing you and outer part of the leaf flat on the cutting board. Place a rounded dinner spoonful of meat mixture 1/4 inch away from the stem. Fold the sides in then starting from the stem roll the cabbage leaf up jelly roll style.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Place cabbage roll in baking dish seam side down. Repeat until all the leaves are filled. Cover with tomato puree. Add an additional water to baking dish if needed to cover stuffed cabbage leaves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until cooked through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Note you may sub in 1/2 cup of brown rice instead of almond flour though you will need to add 1/2 cup of water to meat mixture and you will need to bake cabbage rolls for 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-3464454985263788582013-01-26T19:55:00.000-08:002013-01-26T19:55:46.719-08:00Why I kissed Paleo Goodbye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I divulged in this </span><a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-mine-paleo-pancakes.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">post that I was experimenting with the Paleo Diet</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. For the past month I have cut out peanut butter (sigh), all legumes, all my gluten free flours, all gluten free grains including quinoa, rice, and teff. I started listening to all sorts of Paleo health and nutrition podcasts on my commute to and from work. I skimmed Mark Sisson's </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Primal Blueprint. </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started to believe that all grains were "evil" and destructive. I didn't buy into the whole Paleo philosophy. I've been following the Paleo principles for almost a month and I am done. I don't feel any healthier. In fact I have felt lethargic. I have three days of HIIT cardio in my training plan and did not have the energy to do anything more than weight train. I am hanging up my Paleo apron. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what I took away from this little experiment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I stopped fearing fat. I ate real organic pork bacon weekly and cooked with the lard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. I learned a new concept of eating and I am all about learning. In the end I realized this is not the plan for me. I need my carbs and miss dairy. Pass the Greek yogurt!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I need to be balanced in all things especially my eating. This little dabble with Paleo briefly brought me back to a dark place. I was a disordered eater long ago. I got this brilliant( NOT) idea to log my meals for two days following the Paleo Diet. BAD IDEA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. I maintain a better weight and energy level eating smaller meals 5-6 times a day. The Paleo Diet advocates for three meals a day. I found myself constantly hungry and overeating at meals. I added two snacks the days I logged calories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I don't like rules especially diet rules. I found myself saying to my husband " I can't eat that anymore..." " I am not supposed to eat that..." Yeah that has disordered written all over it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. My creativity thrives with flexibility The kitchen is my happy place. It is where I create, design, explore, and dream. Did you notice the drop off in recipes the past month. There are only so many ways you can prepare a sweet potato and make it look interesting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My turning point was when I read this <a href="http://batty.us/2013/01/this-is-the-post-where-i-come-clean/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blogpost from</a> Batty. WARNING this is not a G-rated post and does contain some strong language. It was a wake up call. I started thinking about my own behaviors and thought patterns. I was sitting next to my little three year old daughter, Isabella, reading this Batty post. It was in that moment I realized I've been totally unbalanced and slightly neurotic with this whole Paleo thing. This is not good example for my daughter. This is not the person I want to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I challenge you (and myself) to think critically about what we follow or who we believe when it comes to diets and exercise. Find what works for you. Paleo is not for me. It has been successful for others. To each his or her own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Brooklynn</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-73918207878505014212013-01-25T04:01:00.003-08:002013-01-25T04:07:31.296-08:00Fitness is Practice not Protocol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey there the first month of 2013 is almost gone; can you believe it? Me neither! It was four years ago I stumbled upon Tosca Reno on the February 2009 Oxygen Cover. I bought it immediately. She was the inspiration I was looking for. Super fit, toned, and healthy.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oxygenmag.com/Cover-Girls/Cover-Girl-Insider/Tosca-Reno-February-2009.aspx" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never would have guessed that magazine four years ago would have brought me to where I am today. Eating whole foods, working out consistently, and enjoying life more fully. If A+B=C this magazine was a catalyst to this very blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I would be delusional to say it is all roses and sunshine. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be the first to raise my hand and say</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am my own worst critic. I cringe during this time of the year. Goal setting and carryout is not my forte. It is one of my biggest struggles. It is much easier to exist day to day and go about life fulfilling daily obligations. I am driving down this highway called life. My eyes shut tightly my foot glued to the accelerator of the vehicle called my fitness journey. I didn't just eat that or skip this workout; did I?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In the past the holiday season has been where I am reckless with my fitness and loose with my diet. It is this time of the year that can derail me from goals and set me back. I can see it now there goes all that hard earned muscle. From the beginning of November until the end of December I go to parties, host parties, cook and bake a ton of yummy food, travel, sleep less, and barely hold onto a fitness routine. That is two whole months of not being focused on my goals. I stumbled upon this YouTube from Coach Jill of the Metabolic Effect. It resonated with me. The theme is fitness is practice not protocol. Talk about an extra helping of grace and loving kindness for yourself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I took an afternoon for some me time. I went shopping for some clothes for work. In and out of stores finding nothing that worked. God, you know I hate dressing room mirrors; the neon lighting is a killer. It was between the Limited and White House Black Market my inner critic raised her ugly head. I struggled. Then at Banana Republic I found some great tops and regained mental composure I started telling myself " You are fitter now then 4 years ago, you are stronger than four years ago, you even wear smaller sizes than 4 years ago!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four years ago I started making progress that stemmed from daily choices and decisions to be healthier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my new thought for this new year. Fitness is practice not protocol. I will learn from my set backs and put to death those overly critical messages. Who wants to dialogue with an internal scrooge anyways; bah-hum bug!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Brooklynn</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-58162639666055313112013-01-23T14:13:00.003-08:002013-01-23T14:13:44.466-08:00Low-Sugar No-Cook Strawberry Jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ad_1qAt3rw/UQBVx5D9IlI/AAAAAAAAGtg/azUz3gwN2H4/s1600/strawberry+jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ad_1qAt3rw/UQBVx5D9IlI/AAAAAAAAGtg/azUz3gwN2H4/s640/strawberry+jam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is January. While it may be freezing and snowing up north; you have my sympathies if you live there; it is warm and sunny in Florida. This time of year means strawberry season is in full swing for the sunshine state! I was able to get a great deal on 1lbs of Florida Strawberries at a local green market this past week. It was buy 2lbs at 1.99 each get 1lbs free. I knew we would not eat three pounds of berries before they turned so I decided to test drive a new type of pectin I had purchased at my natural health food store <a href="http://www.pomonapectin.com/" target="_blank">Pomona's Universal Pectin.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What first drew me in was the natural aspect of this product. The pectin is made from citrus peel. The recipes allow for use of honey, sugar, or a sugar alternative to make your jelly or jam and most recipes only call for 1 cup of sweetener. A <a href="http://www.freshpreserving.com/recipe.aspx?r=265" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">traditional strawberry jam</a> recipe can require 7 cups of sugar; yikes! My mom has always made homemade strawberry freezer jelly and it is tradition I (and Rich) want to continue sans massive amounts of white sugar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Low-Sugar No-Cook Strawberry Jam</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 lbs of whole strawberries washed, stemmed and sliced ( this will equal about </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 cups of <b>mashed</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> berries)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2-1 cup of raw honey to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup of water</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 box of Ponoma's Universal Pectin which you will use the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tsp of pectin powder </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4-12 tsp of <b>calcium water</b> (I used 8 tsp)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYg8O3b8FVk/UQBdx0H_2pI/AAAAAAAAGuY/_dkJIBvvTMY/s1600/pectin+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYg8O3b8FVk/UQBdx0H_2pI/AAAAAAAAGuY/_dkJIBvvTMY/s640/pectin+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little show and tell of what is in the box. My biggest annoyance was that the packets were not pre-labeled.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Prepare calcium water by adding 1/2 tsp of white calcium powder and 1/2 cup of water in small jar with lid. Set aside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Turn your whole berries into a 4 cup mashed mixture. I mashed my berries in four separate batches in my Blendtec blender and measured it out. Add the four cups of mashed berries to a large mixing bowl with the lemon juice and raw honey. Stir the berry mixture until the honey is dissolved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Next bring 3/4 cup of water to a boil in a pot on the stove. Place the hot water in a blender and add in pectin powder, vent lid and blend until all powder is dissolved. It is important to vent the lid so pressure doesn't build up from the hot liquid. I did this by removing the plastic middle piece of the lid and placing a tea towel over the hole.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2U-2xwR9vU/UQBfj5pSO4I/AAAAAAAAGvQ/o9irq1QxxV0/s1600/DSC_1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2U-2xwR9vU/UQBfj5pSO4I/AAAAAAAAGvQ/o9irq1QxxV0/s320/DSC_1611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Add hot pectin mixture to berries and stir until completely mixed. Next add 4 tsp of calcium water and stir. Continue to add 1 tsp of calcium water at a time to berries until it jells. <a href="http://www.portlandpreserve.com/TestingTheJellyPoint.pdf" target="_blank">I used the spoon method to test the jelling.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Store in 1 cup glass jars in freezer immediately. Thaw in fridge before using. Jam is stable in fridge for 1 week.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-24771892178002703552013-01-21T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-21T02:00:12.921-08:00Breakfast Frittata<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hX54bkfSTlc/UPtZrszzp-I/AAAAAAAAGrw/PeZgD9TZWRQ/s1600/DSC_1483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hX54bkfSTlc/UPtZrszzp-I/AAAAAAAAGrw/PeZgD9TZWRQ/s640/DSC_1483.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you seen the movie, <i>Morning Glory, </i>starring Harrison Ford? No?! It is a cute chick flick movie for a rainy Saturday afternoon. I was making frittatas long before I watched this movie. My mind often wanders back to this seen when I make this for breakfast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beauty of the frittata is it has no rules. You can use any combo of veggies, lean proteins, and spices with your eggs. Lately I have been tossing avocado to garnish and finish off this great dish. The ingredients in this recipe are my favorite to use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breakfast Frittata</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 eggs beaten</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt and pepper to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of dried basil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 plum tomatoes chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups of kale washed, stemmed and torn to 1 inch pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of chopped cooked chicken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 of avocado, peeled, pitted, and cubed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat an oven proof skillet on medium low heat and add 1 TBS of ghee. Once ghee is melted add kale and tomatoes and saute. In a medium sized bowl beat eggs with salt, pepper, and basil til foamy. Pour egg mixture into pan and top with chopped chicken. Cook on range top for three minutes. Top frittata with avocado and place in oven. Cook until eggs are set and cooked through about 5-10 minutes. Serves 2.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-68800038392477544182013-01-18T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-18T02:00:09.537-08:00My Top 5 Gym Accessories <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyrgpWmq2-U/UOXfxFdvvnI/AAAAAAAAGnM/Zet0r7OCEN4/s1600/top+5+gym+accessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyrgpWmq2-U/UOXfxFdvvnI/AAAAAAAAGnM/Zet0r7OCEN4/s640/top+5+gym+accessories.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past three years I've acquired a lot of gym stuff. I have a small arsenal of home gym equipment for when I just can't make it to the actual gym. Some, like my Pilate's reformer, take up a bunch of wasted space while my dip machine and dumbbells are items I use often. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I'm bringing you my top 5 favorite things I take to the gym to help me get in effective workouts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Please note that there are affiliate links in this post and if you a make purchase of the product(s) through these links I get a small percentage of the sale from Amazon. I appreciate your support with a heartfelt thanks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My 5 favorite gym accessories</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IYXOS2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IYXOS2">Gymboss</a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IYXOS2/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IYXOS2"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B001IYXOS2&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theleagou-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001IYXOS2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My gymboss interval timer is great for circuit training. I can set timed rounds or use its stop watch function. It comes in pink, black, gray, and camo. I own the pink model and I will use if for workouts where I am doing a certain exercise(s) for a certain period of time. It is a lot easier than using a clock or a cell phone. It can easily clip onto your waste-band or tank strap. I use it weekly and I have had it for over a year and not yet needed to replace the battery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011UNMIK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0011UNMIK">Garmin Forerunner 405 Wireless GPS-Enabled Sport Watch</a></span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0011UNMIK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011UNMIK/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0011UNMIK"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B0011UNMIK&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theleagou-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0011UNMIK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I own "last year's model" for the Garmin 405 you can find the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q7EQ1M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004Q7EQ1M%22%3EGarmin%20Forerunner%20210%20Water%20Resistant%20GPS%20Enabled%20Watch%20without%20Heart%20Rate%20Monitor%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004Q7EQ1M%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">newer model here</a>. I love this for my outdoor runs and also use it for my HIIT treadmill workouts to measure my heart rate zones and calorie burn. I own the green model; it is my favorite color!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxLwiQt1JoE/UPjQtS5ujEI/AAAAAAAAGqg/0u2wLxh_3Uk/s1600/2D1873D0-0825-4D1F-AB3F-2D21AB9E6AC5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxLwiQt1JoE/UPjQtS5ujEI/AAAAAAAAGqg/0u2wLxh_3Uk/s320/2D1873D0-0825-4D1F-AB3F-2D21AB9E6AC5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0078XPR46/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0078XPR46">Oxygen's No Pain No Gain Training Journal</a></span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0078XPR46" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0078XPR46/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0078XPR46"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B0078XPR46&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theleagou-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0078XPR46" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am currently on my second book of this training manual. It has several lined pages with space to record individuals exercises with the rep range and weight used during workouts. I had purchased another training log between my my first and second copy of this manual and ultimately went back to Oxygen's manual. I like the amount of space to record workouts, the size, and girly appeal. I have for the first time in a long time started writing out ALL my workouts for the week on Sunday. It take me under 15 minutes total to do this at once whereas it would take me 15 minutes a day to plan/write out my workout for the day each morning. I found that doing this I stick to my plan and do all or most of my workouts. Here is an inside shot of the manual with one of my pylometric workouts and Gymboss timer.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LtwX0jA-bZ8/UPjQUqVY-SI/AAAAAAAAGqY/EMS-jpso4MQ/s1600/F6FC044F-E128-42B2-9E7D-47E0FF18E0B7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LtwX0jA-bZ8/UPjQUqVY-SI/AAAAAAAAGqY/EMS-jpso4MQ/s200/F6FC044F-E128-42B2-9E7D-47E0FF18E0B7.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Q3MLTE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005Q3MLTE">Femme Fitale Fitness Gloves</a></span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005Q3MLTE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Q3MLTE/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005Q3MLTE"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B005Q3MLTE&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theleagou-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005Q3MLTE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I own the leopard print gloves, racy I know! I had a guy come up to me in the gym this week and hand me his business card for massage therapy. My first thought, " It must be my gloves." (JUST KIDDING!) These gloves are so comfy and durable. I love the variety of feminine prints and colors. For years I wore a pair of men's small gloves for all my training and hated how bulky they felt. These gloves are thin, but padded well on the palms and help provide a good grip.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXeVQSiqEus/UPjRIObW8pI/AAAAAAAAGqs/WfWkUsEDX6w/s1600/AD67C933-95E1-48A4-9F46-B92217CF97F2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXeVQSiqEus/UPjRIObW8pI/AAAAAAAAGqs/WfWkUsEDX6w/s200/AD67C933-95E1-48A4-9F46-B92217CF97F2.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KZP736/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004KZP736">New Balance Women's Minimus WX20v1 Training Shoe</a></span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004KZP736" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KZP736/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004KZP736"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B004KZP736&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theleagou-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004KZP736" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These shoes were first recommended by <a href="http://www.niashanks.com/" target="_blank">Nia Shanks</a>. I started using <a href="http://www.niashanks.com/beautiful-badass/" target="_blank">her training manual</a> for barbell training. They are flexible shoes great for heavy lifting and are engineered to give the benefit of training barefoot. These are NOT for high impact activity like running; they even come with a tag warning against wearing them for high impact and long duration activities. I wear them on the days that I do only lifting and/or pylometric workouts. I found when I wore my Asics running shoes and performed barbell lunges I would become unstable. Likewise when I did mountain climbers my shoes with stick to the floor. Training and doing these types of exercises while wearing the Minimus shoe resolved these issues.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XF8ahRn0dlE/UPjRPv_s-iI/AAAAAAAAGq4/j4pex4V0j4c/s1600/8CB8ED33-998A-4496-8260-970544BD4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XF8ahRn0dlE/UPjRPv_s-iI/AAAAAAAAGq4/j4pex4V0j4c/s200/8CB8ED33-998A-4496-8260-970544BD4474.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-64231822061679743712013-01-17T07:27:00.000-08:002013-01-17T07:27:12.878-08:00Turkey Ratatouille<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jOPbHpaiJPY/UOoBsLxKImI/AAAAAAAAGpI/jbDztEeMO9k/s1600/ratatouille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jOPbHpaiJPY/UOoBsLxKImI/AAAAAAAAGpI/jbDztEeMO9k/s640/ratatouille.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week has been insane! I am in the middle of my nine day work week stretch and trying to get it together. I have been working on my time management schedule by following tips outlined in <i><a href="http://amylynnandrews.com/tell-your-time/" target="_blank">Tell Your Time</a></i> by Amy Lynn Andrews. It is going and progress is SLOW,but progress none the less. I am still tweaking my weekly schedule which is difficult due to my three week rotating schedule. Putting a weekly schedule to better manage my time is a goal of mine for 2013. I also have been striving to adhere to a grocery budget and coming up with some type of menu planning strategy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am fly by the seat of my pants gal when it comes to creating a menu for the week. This is what I came up with a chalk board with all my fresh ingredients for weekly meals.</span></div>
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<img height="400" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/73336_467666479964341_478915315_n.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As items get used they are crossed off or the quantity is changed. So far this has been working really well! I am planning on also doing an inventory for all my dry pantry goods too. Putting the chalk board strategy in action on Monday night I made a stir fry with the shrimp, snap peas, peppers, & onion. I used the cauliflower to make a curry cauliflower rice. I didn't snap photos of the curry cauliflower, but will be making it again in the future to share with you all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turkey (Paleo) Ratatouille</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 large zucchini washed and thinly sliced length wide into wide strips </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">( I recommend using a mandolin)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 yellow bell pepper cut into quarters and seeded</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 orange bell pepper cut into quarters and seeded</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 of a large onion thinly sliced ( I recommend using a mandolin)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 eggplant peeled and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thinly</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sliced ( I recommend using a mandolin); I also recommend <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/09/eggplant-parmesan-gluten-free.html" target="_blank">salt soaking the eggplant for an hour</a>, rinse, and pat dry before using.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 TBS of olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lbs of lean ground turkey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of fresh grated nutmeg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of ground pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of Italian Seasonings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 garlic gloves minced.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24 oz of strained tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ricotta Cheese or <a href="http://talronnen.com/recipes/cashew-cream/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cashew Nut Cream</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine zucchini,peppers, onion, and eggplant. Toss with olive oil. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and spread vegetable mixture onto trays in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes until tender. Remove from oven and cool. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees Meanwhile cook turkey in a large skillet with nutmeg, sea salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, and garlic cloves. Cook until meat is cooked through. Spread 1/2 cup of strained tomatoes on the bottom of a 13x9 glass casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of cooked vegetables and then meat mixture. Cover with 1 cup of strained tomatoes. Then top with remaining vegetables and top with remaining strained tomatoes. If you like you may top with ricotta or<a href="http://talronnen.com/recipes/cashew-cream/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> cashew nut cream</a> (this is what I used.) Bake for 30 minutes in oven. Serves 4-6.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-43560170354942742672013-01-15T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-15T03:52:21.666-08:00Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIOp1LUGW5A/UOoBmeszxRI/AAAAAAAAGo4/RtTwhf2yHQQ/s1600/sweet+potato+and+carrot+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIOp1LUGW5A/UOoBmeszxRI/AAAAAAAAGo4/RtTwhf2yHQQ/s640/sweet+potato+and+carrot+soup.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out my new photo formatting doesn't it scream "Pin Me Baby!"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I created this recipe over a week ago. I really was thinking about making a lentil vegetable soup, but <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-mine-paleo-pancakes.html" target="_blank">since adopting a Paleo Diet</a>, legumes are not on my list of things to eat. I was craving a warm thick comforting soup and this recipe fit the bill. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started reading </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936608758/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1936608758" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Practical Paleo</a> </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">over the Christmas holiday. As a result I have ditched all grains, dairy, and legumes. It has been a revolutionary change. I have found that my appetite is changing along with my energy levels. I am eating more protein and healthy fats. I feel more well rested and nourished. Instead of eating quinoa, rice, and other gluten free grains I replaced these items with starchy veggies. Paleo is definitely not for the faint of heart nor is it the right nutrition plan for everyone. So far I have responded positively to this way of eating and will be continuing to learn more about the Paleo lifestyle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last few months I have become a podcast junkie. I started following the <a href="http://balancedbites.com/category/podcast-episodes" target="_blank">Balanced Bites Podcast</a>. Diane </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;">Sanfilippo,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the author of Practical Paleo, co-hosts the show with Liz Wolfe of <a href="http://cavegirleats.com/" target="_blank">Cave Girl Eats</a>. These gals are hilarious and really dig deep into nutritional and health issues. The show is a sweet balance of fun & informative. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some day I too hope to have a podcast of my own where I can talk health and wellness all the time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their blog is also a great read as well! Check out this post</span><a href="http://balancedbites.com/2013/01/a-biochem-snapshot-5-facts-that-keep-me-paleo.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">A Biochem Snapshot: 5 Facts That Keep Me Paleo</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.981481552124023px;">. It </span><span style="line-height: 17.962963104248047px;">definitely</span><span style="line-height: 17.981481552124023px;"> resonated with the science nerd within. I was a biology/chem major in college and I also have a Doctorate of Pharmacy. I totally dig health, nutrition, and biology info if that wasn't already obvious!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.981481552124023px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Brooklynn</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBS of ghee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 sweet potatos peeled and chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 carrots peeled and chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 stalks of celery chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of chopped onion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of dried thyme</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of ground black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 cups of water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 can of coconut milk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat a large soup pot on medium low heat and add ghee. Once ghee has melted add potatoes, carrots, onion, thyme, salt, and pepper. Saute stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Add 4 cups of water and cover the pot with a lid. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook soup for about 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from heat and cool. Place soup into a food processor with coconut milk and puree until smooth. Depending on the size of your blender or food processor you may need to blend the soup in 2 or 3 batches.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-82499799898317098872013-01-09T02:00:00.000-08:002013-02-27T05:05:30.925-08:00Pumpkin Pancakes Part Deux (Paleo Inspired)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_br3kY09-I0/UOoCwzmQ9eI/AAAAAAAAGpg/cUB001yHIG0/s1600/DSC_1475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_br3kY09-I0/UOoCwzmQ9eI/AAAAAAAAGpg/cUB001yHIG0/s640/DSC_1475.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There have been a lot of breakfast posts lately on this blog. <a href="http://www.theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/rosemary-maple-turkey-patties.html" target="_blank">Rosemary & Maple Turkey Patties</a>, <a href="http://www.theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-mine-paleo-pancakes.html" target="_blank">Paleo Pancakes</a> and the like. One would think that I consume breakfast for all three meals a day. I don't, but who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?! During finals week of my undergraduate years at Palm Beach Atlantic University the faculty and staff would host a "It is Midnight Somewhere Breakfast." The dinning hall would open around 9 pm to serve carb-craving, stressed out students delicious breakfast food. I remember piling my plate high with sausages, pancakes, and eggs all the while feverishly talking with my peers as to their predictions for the Microbiology final. Belly full I would then scurry back to my dorm to study. The midnight breakfast was a chance to break from all the cramming and take comfort in my favorite breakfast foods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be the second <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-cant-believe-halloween-is-finally-here.html" target="_blank">pumpkin pancake recipe </a>on the Lean Gourmet Kitchen. I found a great deal for organic canned pumpkin on Vitacost last week and couldn't wait to cook with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So eat up cause it is midnight somewhere.</span><br />
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<h3>
Pumpkin Pancakes Part Deux (Paleo Inspired)</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 eggs beaten</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of pureed pumpkin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 TBS of coconut flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of coconut milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 TBS of organic butter melted or coconut butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of raw honey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat griddle on medium low heat and melt 1 TBS of butter or coconut oil to coat griddle. Place eggs, pumpkin,coconut flour, milk, 2 TBS of melted butter or coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, pie spice, and baking powder into a blender and puree until batter is smooth. Pour batter into silver dollar sized circles and cook until the edges are set and pancake is bubbling. Flip pancakes and cook remaining side. Top with maple syrup, coconut butter, almond butter, or to your liking.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-33721164954569131332013-01-07T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-07T02:00:08.639-08:00Mashed Cauliflower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYQVUlJfI7g/UOYtvEgwHSI/AAAAAAAAGoY/J66RNYEeeWk/s1600/DSC_1419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYQVUlJfI7g/UOYtvEgwHSI/AAAAAAAAGoY/J66RNYEeeWk/s640/DSC_1419.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I believe Dr. Oz first introduced me to mashed cauliflower. I would watch Dr. Oz everyday while on maternity leave three years ago. I've had this recipe tucked back in the corners of my mind for quit some time. The idea of faux mashed potatoes repulsed Rich so I never made them. At the farmers market this past week there was a great deal on a head of cauliflower. I made this recipe and won Rich over. He loved it and requested me to make it again in the near future. By no means am I bailing on delicious real mashed potatoes; rather I'm just changing things up a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mashed Cauliflower</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 head of cauliflower chopped into 2 inch pieces with core and stem removed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of ground black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp of garlic powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp of dried oregano</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steam cauliflower until tender and soft. Drain and place in food processor. Add remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. Serves 4-6.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-50629077341994702312013-01-03T02:00:00.000-08:002013-01-03T02:00:03.439-08:00Rosemary & Maple Turkey Patties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-ArV_scCes/UOT1sfqfTkI/AAAAAAAAGiU/zTzKGdMG39Y/s1600/DSC_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-ArV_scCes/UOT1sfqfTkI/AAAAAAAAGiU/zTzKGdMG39Y/s640/DSC_1399.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went into this New Year with such hope, joy, and anticipation. Then my dishwasher broke on January 1,2013. The joys of home ownership just keep multiplying!</span></div>
<a name='more'></a>I spent most of January 2nd toting around my three year old looking at dishwashers. By the end of the evening Rich and I had one picked out and it will be ready for pick-up on Sunday.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PY7Ty6SSFCQ/UOT2KHavL4I/AAAAAAAAGh4/UvkT6WIZN9E/s1600/8BDD6CE1-0775-4E62-B296-442EED2C691E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PY7Ty6SSFCQ/UOT2KHavL4I/AAAAAAAAGh4/UvkT6WIZN9E/s320/8BDD6CE1-0775-4E62-B296-442EED2C691E.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOl_0XNllfQ/UOT2KKRgeXI/AAAAAAAAGh4/P8sOb0j8H50/s1600/50E60235-0CC8-4189-AA78-31473DD9B2E9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOl_0XNllfQ/UOT2KKRgeXI/AAAAAAAAGh4/P8sOb0j8H50/s320/50E60235-0CC8-4189-AA78-31473DD9B2E9.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDaSVu5zFbc/UOT2KEKQBuI/AAAAAAAAGh4/jn3iB6nLkAw/s1600/6DA92F8F-BA59-4D67-91BD-E14E99CA0F31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDaSVu5zFbc/UOT2KEKQBuI/AAAAAAAAGh4/jn3iB6nLkAw/s320/6DA92F8F-BA59-4D67-91BD-E14E99CA0F31.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend m</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y handy husband will be installing my beautiful new dishwasher this </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I will no longer have Cinderella hands. Hooray! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say I've been keeping menus and recipes around here simple; paper plates anyone?! Today's recipe pairs well with <a href="http://theleangourmet.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-mine-paleo-pancakes.html" target="_blank">Paleo Pancakes.</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tay92np7YzY/UOT1sZJ0N1I/AAAAAAAAGhk/kObCR0zbwI8/s1600/DSC_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tay92np7YzY/UOT1sZJ0N1I/AAAAAAAAGhk/kObCR0zbwI8/s320/DSC_1393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosemary & Maple Turkey Patties</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lbs of lean ground turkey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TBS of ground sage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp of oregano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp of ground pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dash of paprika</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of fresh chopped rosemary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBS of maple syrup</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat a seasoned cast iron skillet on medium low. In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients and shape meat into patties. Cook patties on each side flipping every few minutes. Cook until completely cooked in center. Makes 4-8 patties depending on size.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Note: I seasoned my cast iron skilled with some organic bacon fat.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-65743951572362058562013-01-02T12:52:00.000-08:002013-01-02T12:52:26.863-08:00Make Mine Paleo Pancakes<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I am not a registered dietitian nor am I dispensing medical advice in this post. I am merely disguising some dietary changes I am making in my own diet based on my own personal research and dietary needs. Please consult a medical professional before making any diet or medical changes of your own.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ordered<i> Practical Paleo</i> from Amazon two weeks ago and have been gobbling it up. </span><br />
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<img height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8308201189_b268568266.jpg" width="238" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936608758/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theleagou-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1936608758">Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theleagou-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1936608758" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (affiliate link)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have been following along my journey on this blog it is no secret that my recipes and foods I consume model the "eat clean diet" and are "whole foods" based. I really hate saying I follow any set diet or mantra when it comes to my eating; you may as well paste "groupie" on my forehead. Instead I strive to create recipes and eat foods that are minimally processed and natural. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past fall I became increasingly intrigued with the Paleo movement and 90% of what and how I eat would be considered primal. Despite my best efforts of eating 100% gluten free due to being gluten sensitive I am still finding that I am occasionally having tummy troubles and some other health issues. I have been sick several times with head colds and respiratory infections since this summer. I eat well, exercise regularly, and take good care of myself which leads me to believe my tanking immune system is being caused by something else. I am considering being tested for food allergies and also gluten cross sensitivity reactions to certain gluten free foods.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Practical Paleo </i>identifies foods called anti-nutrients which are plant based defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms found within the seed or grain fight against the digestive system of the person who eats them causing the inability to fully break the grain down into amino acids that can be easily absorbed by the body's cells. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Anti-nutrients include:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whole grains, whole grain products, grain like seeds, and legumes. These include gluten containing grains like wheat, barley, spelt, and rye. It also includes gluten free foods such as quinoa, lentils, corn, brown rice, red beans, black beans, pinto beans and navy beans.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refined grains and gluten free refined grain products including white rice, flour, bread, cereal, crackers, pasta, and cookies.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>By no means am I demonizing quinoa or the foods listed above and saying "these are bad for you or evil foods." Nor am I suggesting you cut these foods out of YOUR diet. Rather</b> I am explaining<b> </b>w</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hat I learned in Practical Paleo is these foods, in SOME people, can trigger an immunological reaction and cause digestion </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">havoc</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have been doing more and more research into the Paleo lifestyle and decided to "go primal" this year. This will not be changing much in the way I cook or blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what will I be changing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Cutting out all anti-nutrients/gluten free grains (quinoa, teff, brown rice ect.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Cutting out all dairy except organic butter and ghee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Incorporating more grass-feed and organic meats into my diet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Eating more animal based fats & ditching man made refined seed oils ( sunflower oil, safflower oil, and grapeseed oil to name a few.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Stop buying and consuming gluten free pre-made products including cereals, crackers, chips, cookies, and flour mixes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Baking more with nut flours and coconut flour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My excitement is equally matched with my sadness of giving up my much loved baked oatmeal, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and hummus. I will let you know how it goes. Today's recipe is my first attempt at grain free pancakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup blanched almond flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of coconut flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dash of ground cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of melted coconut oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of unsweetened almond milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS coconut sugar</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a large bowl whisk together almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and coconut sugar. In a separate medium size bowl with hand mixer blend eggs, coconut oil, almond milk, and vanilla extract. Next blend in flour mixture in thirds blending after each addition. Heat griddle and oil with organic butter or coconut oil. Pour pancake batter onto hot griddle into desired pancake shape. Cook until edges are set and top of pancake begins to bubble then flip and cook on other side. Top as desired. Might I suggest these are delicious with fresh berries and syrup or apple butter spread. I love Tap'n Apple Butter the only ingredients are apples and apple cider vinegar.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-37077211016789980432012-12-31T02:00:00.000-08:002012-12-31T02:00:02.039-08:00Bittersweet Chocolate Souffle (gluten Free)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The week between Christmas and New Years is so bittersweet. Reflecting on the triumphs and tragedies of 2012 all the while trying to nail down my hopes and thoughts for 2013. I still have yet to write a complete and clear goal list for 2013, but it is coming along. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2012 was an exciting year for me. In June I let go of my reservations and fears of starting this blog and I jumped feet first into writing the Lean Gourmet Kitchen (LGK.) For six months I've been reading, writing, recording, photo snapping, editing, and chronically my food and fitness journey. I thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts and comments with me. Your words and questions are fuel to my fire. I love to be helpful and share my health journey with you. I pray that I have inspired and challenged you these past six months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is to you dear one wishing you a happy, healthy, and extraordinary 2013!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay strong & carry on,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooklynn</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's recipe is a light treat that won't derail you on your healthy journey this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bittersweet Chocolate Souffle (gluten free)</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 TBS of blanched almond flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of raw cacao powder or coco powder (unsweetened)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 TBS of blonde coconut sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 egg whites</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp cream of tartar</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use organic butter and lightly grease a 4 cup souffle ramekin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a sauce pot whisk together almond milk, almond flour, cacao, and coconut sugar. Heat on medium low heat whisking constantly until it begins to boil and thicken. Remove the sauce pot from heat and cool. Stir in vanilla extract and set aside. Place egg whites and cream of tartar into a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Add 1/4 of the egg whites to chocolate mixture and fold in. Next add remaining chocolate mixture to egg whites and fold in gently. Place souffle mixture into ramekin and bake for 15 minutes. Serves 4.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rich and I enjoyed this with some organic vanilla ice cream.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-26759941289290926032012-12-29T18:13:00.000-08:002012-12-30T05:36:58.207-08:00Nana's Potica (Gluten Free Nut Bread)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year was the first Christmas without my Nana. She passed this last June after a 15 year battle with Alzheimer's Disease. It slowly took her away from us. Today's recipe is inspired by my Nana's traditional Christmas potica. Nana would bring a loaf of potica ,a nut bread, to my parent's home for Christmas Eve. <a href="http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/products/a/strawberryhill.htm" target="_blank">Potica </a>(poh-tee-sah), derived</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"> from the Slovenian word poviti, which means "to wrap in,"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is a yeasted dough that is rolled very thin filled wi</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">th sugar, cinnamon, and ground walnuts. The dough is rolled up like a jelly roll and baked. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would eat slices of this heavenly treat slathered with a pat of fresh butter every Christmas; oh heaven! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534211_3933867392797_212690391_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534211_3933867392797_212690391_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nana & my sister Meredith Christmas morning </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rich's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grandfather immigrated from Yugoslavia at a very young age. My father in law recalls often the story of watching his mother roll out potica on the dinning room table in his childhood home in Pennfield, OH. The same formal table Rich and I now own. This is a very special treat for both sides of the family and this year I found a way to bake this family favorite gluten free. I gifted my FIL with some potica this year with some homemade strawberry jam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gluten Free Potica</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dough</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 & 1/4 tsp of dry active yeast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of warm water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of warm milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup of coconut sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of organic butter softened</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 &3/4 cup of Namaste Perfect Flour Blend (gluten free)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filling</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups of chopped walnuts ground into fine powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of coconut sugar+ 2 TBS </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 TBS of ground cinnamon + 2 tsp</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 egg whites</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 TBS of melted organic butter</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To prepare dough dissolve 1 tsp of coconut sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over water. Let the mixture set for 10 minutes or until very foamy. In the bowl of a stand mixer add the milk, sugar, salt, egg, and softened butter. Mix until combined with whisk attachment. Then mix in yeast mixture. Attach the dough hook attachment and gradually add the flour mixing in between each addition. The end result should be a non sticky soft ball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place dough into a greased glass bowl and cover with saran wrap. Let it rise for two hours in a warm space in your kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To prepare filling mix ground walnuts, <b>1 cup</b> of coconut sugar, <b>1 TBS</b> of cinnamon,and egg whites together. Set aside. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once dough is done rising divide it into three balls</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll a third of the dough into a 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin between two sheets of parchment paper. If it is rolled too thin the dough will burst during baking. Spread some melted butter over rolled out dough with a pastry brush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the <b>2 TBS</b> of coconut sugar and<b> 2 tsp</b> of cinnamon into a fine mesh sieve and tap it gently to cover buttered dough with a fine layer of cinnamon sugar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spread a third of nut mixture over dough into a thin layer. It will be sticky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fold in sides of dough to seal off the nut mixture then begin rolling up the dough jelly roll style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Press and seal edges. Place potica on a parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet. Repeat all steps for two remaining balls of dough. Let potica raise for 1 hour on top of stove covered with a clean tea towel. Bake potica of 40-45 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Cool completely before slicing. This will keep for a couple of days in a sealed container.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay strong & carry on,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooklynn</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649636848189885039.post-69748650639337827552012-12-28T04:44:00.003-08:002012-12-28T05:04:27.359-08:00Workout Clothes then, now & PV Body<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't believe I have ever fully expressed my <strike>obsession</strike> love for cute fashionable gym clothes. I used to go to the gym looking like this wearing a frumpy shirt and baggy shorts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't workout as much then as I do now. This picture was from summer 2006 right before Rich & I were engaged and I started pharmacy school. Do not ask me what the thumbs up was for certainly not my taste in attire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what I rock my workouts in now; cute and sport workout clothes.</span><br />
<img alt="Photo" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T7NmYRwWpGY/UGRilG0hYmI/AAAAAAAACJ4/Q1NxRtxh85Q/w252-h336-k/AED3DF2A-539E-496E-9F95-2721E6F1F9C8.JPG" width="150" /><img alt="Photo" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AgAhRHZOL3M/UHq1L5acy0I/AAAAAAAACnE/Jt5ikSIHKd0/w252-h336-k/F8FD0C69-FDB8-4AC5-BAED-03DD78A88E8D.JPG" width="149" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My favorite brand is Lululemon, but I also have workout clothes from Target, TJ Maxx and various other places. I even created a <a href="http://pinterest.com/LeanGourmet/gym-mom-wardrobe/" target="_blank">Pinterest board for my love of gym attire</a>. This picture is me showing off my first order from PV Body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PV Body is an online women's athletic wear buying club. Their mission states:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"We want to inspire women to live their best life through active living. That's why all of our pieces are hand selected and designed by women, for women, so we can bring you clothing that makes you feel great and look great. Living healthy and actively is a way of life, and we want to look fabulous while doing that. So enjoy the selection, weâre positive youâll love it!"</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;">Right now PV Body is having a <a href="http://www.pvbody.com/?rc=MzE4X3NoYXJlXzEzNTUxODI4NjU" target="_blank">40% off Friends and Family Sale</a> for 5 days only which started 12/27/2012.</span></span><br />
<img height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DpiaCPaipG4/UNHcD_3aTxI/AAAAAAAAF5k/5plJglH_Udo/s320/F497D274-B151-41DF-A1F2-21F1836C949B.JPG" width="239" /><br />
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;">I received my first order a few weeks ago. I am a "Cardio Queen" based on <a href="http://www.pvbody.com/pvbody-how-it-works" target="_blank">my style quiz</a>. The racer back tank was so soft and comfy and the capri pants felt like a dream. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;">Note: I am not an </span><span style="line-height: 22.984848022460938px;">affiliate</span><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;">/ambassador for this company or being compensated for this review. I just think it is a totally rocking concept!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Happy Shopping!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;"><i>Stay strong and carry on,</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.999998092651367px;"><i>Brooklynn</i></span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1