Holiday Fitness Plan and GIVEAWAY!!!

Holiday Eating is coming!!! YIKES. This time of year, all I can think of is, "Do I have enough time to bake the pumpkin cheesecakes, make the cranberry-citrus chutney, corn pudding, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole and then start again after Thanksgiving with the sugar cookies, gingerbread and the other Holiday desserts!!!?!!

OK, reality check. I still have 10-15 pounds to loose and I will DIE if I put any weight back!!! In addition, I plan on "trying" a bite of all the food that is served during the the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving. Can't have it all? We'll see.

This weekend, I met with a friend of mine, Tim Koffler, who happens to also be a fitness trainer. We use to work together when I was a the Program Director and he was, and still is, the Fitness Director at an athletic club in Seattle. He gave me a great workout that will get me through the holidays. Let's face it, we're all busy during this time of year, parties, dinners, shopping, Cookie Exchanges, Open Houses, Holiday Cheer, eating, eating, eating. This is the time that scheduling in the gym is crucial.

If you will be travelling or don't belong to a gym, no excuses!!! Tim has a great set of Travel Workout Cards, Exercise-To-Go, that you can take with you when you are away from your gym. This is my first GIVEAWAY and it's a good one!!!

Leave a comment bellow and let me know how you plan to balance your Holiday Eating and Fitness. On December 1st, I will randomly choose a winner.

I will be trying my best to get to the gym at least 5 times a week with the Resistance Workout included, at least 2 times per week. So, when I'm not doing cardio for at least 30 minutes, I will be doing the following 3 part workout.

My pictures are not the greatest, so please excuse me. Actually, I was doing a REAL workout, then when I took a break, I would snap a picture of Tim doing the exercise properly, so I cold remember. Tough workout for me, since I have been focusing on cardio the last few weeks and just a tiny bit of resistance training.

Great to have friends like this!

THE WORKOUT

Part I: 3 sets each

1. Cable Step Chest Press/ 65#/ 30 sec.

2. Cable Squat Row/ 80#/ 30 sec.

3. BOSU Up & Over with shoulder Press/ 5#/ 30 sec.

Part II: 3 sets each

1. Cable Fly on Front Foot/ 35#

2. Cable 1 Arm Wide Row w/ Rotation (Palm Down)/ 80#

3. BOSU Deep Squat

Part III: 3 sets each

1. Dumbbell Lateral Lunge Lateral Raise/ 5#/ 15 each

2. Dumbbell Squat Biceps/ 10#/ 15 each

3. Triceps Push up

OK, so I ordered this after the workout with WATER. Brie probably isn't the best choice, but I didn't know what cheese was included on my fruit & cheese plate. Anyway, I have been making my own protein bars and usually have almonds in my gym bags.

Good luck staying on your Fitness Plan. I'd love to hear what you are doing to stay on track during the holidays.

Family Dinner: Adobo Chicken, Filipino-Style

Adobo Chicken

Adapted from an old recipe card from Uwajimaya and Recipezaar.com

SERVES 4 -6
4 lbs chicken, thighs

1 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoons peppercorns
6 garlic cloves, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
3/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Brown the chicken in oil.

Combine all of the other ingredients in the slow cooker. Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Mix. Cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours until pork or chicken is done .

I served this with steamed rice, sesame green beans, cucumber salad with rice vinegar. YUM.

TWD: Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies

I've just started baking with the Tuesdays with Dorie bakers. Thanks to Pamela of Cookies with Boys who chose this weeks recipe.

These cookies got a thumbs up with my family. I baked the first batch for less time than the suggested, because I wanted the cookies to be chewy. YUM and my son said they were PERFECT. The second batch I baked for the full time. My husband said, "These are exactly how I like them!" Hmmm...what to do?

Well, the Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies will be part of my Holiday selection this year. I am tempted to make them for Thanksgiving as another option if you don't feel like pie, pie, pie.

can't live without my Silpat

YUM.

Family Dinner: Cube Steak & Gravy

This dinner was so easy to make I felt like Rachel Ray! I found the recipe for Cubed Steak om Recipezaar.com, their My Own Cubed Steak and Gravy recipe was a snap! I made mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus. I bought a new whole grain roll from Safeway which had a little touch of honey but 3 grams of fiber, so can't be that bad.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 T salt
3 T unsalted butter
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whole milk
1 bulb of garlic, roasted
salt & pepper to taste

Place potatoes and salt in a pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil the potatoes until they a soft enough to mash. Drain pot.

Mash the potatoes. Add all the other ingredients. Mix well by hand. Serve warm.

Roasted Asparagus
1 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed
1 T olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Toss asparagus in olive oil & add salt & pepper to taste.

Roast for 15 minutes. That's it. Easy.

Peppers, Peppers, PEPPERS!

I'm going to share a recipe for a spicy stew I made the other day, full of PEPPERS. Ok but first, I thought I'd share some pictures my nephew, Zach took of peppers, peppers, PEPPERS!!




Pork and Sweet Potato Stew
adapted from Leftover Pork and Gravy Stew Recipe #76719
This is a super easy recipe and a great way to use left over pork roast.

SERVES 4 -6
4 cups cooked pork roast, cubed
2 cups pork roast gravy
2 large sweet potatoes, cut in large cubes
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 large bell pepper, cubed
1 large onion, cut in wedges
1 cup frozen peas
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 Serrano Pepper, cut and seeded

Put everything in your slow cooker/crock pot. Seriously...and mix.
Cook on low for about 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours.

I served this with Jalapeno Jack Corn Bread from Great Harvest Bread. YUM.

The Table is set: A Birthday Celebration

Happy Birthday Kevin!!!

The table is set for the Birthday Soiree...
Caponata to start...
please pour the wine ...
All Organic: Grilled Beet & Cauliflower Salad and Fennel-Arugula Salad ...
Pasta for 30 ...
The chef went foraging for Chanterelles ...

Do you think I liked it? Yes I did!

Roast Pork with was served on baked white beans ...

Thank you Kevin for letting us share this special meal!

Breakfast for my Baby Boy

One day he'll appreciate this. Actually, I think he already does. Of course, I am referring to my son, who is a senior in high school. He was never much of a breakfast guy when he was little, but he always appreciated a good meal. I try to make him breakfast in the morning these days.

For the last few years I have had to work very early in the morning, so I haven't had a chance to make anyone breakfast, even myself. I was the general manager for a company overseeing 3 corporate cafes and the cafes all opened at 7 am. The last 2 years I worked at an athletic club and again, worked very early, arriving to the club at 7 am, even earlier if I was working out with my trainer.

Anyway, here's my chance to be the breakfast making mom!!! I love it and I know I'll miss these early mornings when he goes away to school next year. Sigh...

Egg and Cheese Muffin with organic chocolate milk. YUM.