Kale Caesar Quinoa Salad

I don't know if you have tried a Kale Caesar before....they are AMAZING.....usually full of bacon and chopped up eggs (you can't really go wrong with that, right?).  But I found this recipe and it is one-upping the Kale Caesar by adding quinoa.  How trendy right????  But I wanted to share because it looks REALLY good (don't let the anchovy paste scare you away....I have used it before in recipes and it isn't fishy)!

Kale Caesar Quinoa Salad

2 tablespoons hot water

2 tablespoons canola mayonnaise 

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 garlic clove, grated

1.5 ounces shaved Parmesan cheese, divided (about 6 tablespoons)

5 cups thinly sliced stemmed Lacinato kale

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

1 1/2 cups chopped skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast 

2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts

 

Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Add kale, quinoa, and chicken; toss to coat. Top with remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and walnuts.

CopyCat Chipotle Chicken

I don't know about you, but my family LOVES Chipotle......but I don't love the line that usually wraps around the restaurant around dinnertime.  Chipotle's chicken is the BEST and this recipe was worth a try.  I made this for my sister's baby and it was a HIT!  I found the recipe at Culinary Hill and it was spot on and the leftovers were delish!  Just be sure you make this a day before you need it so the chicken has enough time to marinate.  And the best part of this recipe.....21 Day Fix and Fix Extreme approved!

This recipe yields 2 cups of marinade, enough for 10 lbs. chicken. Make some now, freeze some for later!

Ingredients

• 1 (2 oz.) package dried ancho chiles, soaked at least 12 hours (see notes)
• 1 (7 oz.) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1 red onion, coarsely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup canola oil, plus more for oiling the cooking surface
• 5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken, trimmed

Instructions

1. Split open each softened ancho chile and rinse the inside to the stem and all seeds (wearing gloves is recommended). Place in the bowl of a food processor or blender.
2. Strain adobo sauce into a small bowl, discarding peppers or reserving for another use. Press down on the peppers to extract as much liquid as possible (you should have at least ¼ c.). For an especially spicy dish, add chipotle pepper seeds to taste. Add strained liquid to the food processor.
3. Add red onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, 2 T. salt, and 2 tsp. pepper to the food processor. Pulse several times until a coarse paste develops.
4. With the motor running, pour ¼ c. canola oil through the feeding tube and continue to process until smooth. You should have two cups of marinade. Reserve one cup for immediate use and freeze the remaining for future use.
5. Meanwhile, place half the chicken in a large freezer-safe plastic bag. Spoon in half the marinade, close the bag, and mash around to distribute. Add in remaining chicken, remaining ½ c. marinade, and repeat the mashing until all chicken is evenly coated. Place the plastic bag in a dish and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
6. To cook on a grill, indoor grill pan, or cast iron skillet (preferred method for dark meat...this is what we used), preheat over medium-high heat. Coat with 2 T. canola oil. Grill the chicken in batches, turning occasionally until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a thermometer and bits of caramelized fond have begun to cling to the outside of the chicken, 10 to 15 minutes. Add 1 – 2 T. oil to your grilling surface between batches.
7. To bake in the oven (preferred method for white meat), preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking dish with oil or nonstick spray and arrange chicken in a single layer. Cover with parchment paper, tucking the paper around the chicken so it is completely covered. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F when tested with an internal thermometer.
8. Remove to a cutting board and chop into small pieces. Season to taste with salt. Serve on tortillas or in bowls with additional toppings as desired.

Notes

¼ c. Ancho Chili Pepper powder may be substituted for the dried Ancho chiles. Skip step 1 and add the powder with the other spices in Step 3. After processing the marinade in a food processor, pour into a measuring cup. Add water to reach a total of 2 cups of marinade.  To soak the chiles, place in a bowl and add enough water to cover completely. Top with a small plate or bowl to weigh down the chiles so they are completely submerged.

Thai Chicken Zucchini Noodles with Peanut Sauce

I am in LOVE with Thai food.  The flavors are just so gooooood to me.  But every time we order carry-out, I am left with a rock at the bottom of my stomach.  It is always too greasy and too carb-y and just unhealthy.  So I found this recipe on Joyful Healthy Eats and I had to share.  This looks soooooooo good and will leave me feeling satisfied instead of sick.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 1 lb. of chicken tenders, diced
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 2 zucchini, inspiralized
• 1 large carrot, inspiralized
• 1 red pepper, julienned
• ⅓ cup of bean sprouts
• ¼ cup of fresh cilantro, diced
• ¼ cup of green onions, diced
• sesame seeds (for garnish)

Spicy Peanut Sauce:

• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 tablespoons of peanut butter
• juice of 1 lime
• 3 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro, diced
• ½ teaspoon of ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
2. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat. Add oil and chicken tenders. Saute each side for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit. Dice when cooled.
3. In the same large skillet over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil, zucchini noodles, and carrot noodles. Flash stir fry for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Remove noodles and place in large bowl along with chicken, red pepper, bean sprouts, fresh cilantro, green onions, and spicy peanut sauce. Toss till all noodles are coated.
5. Serve and garnish with sesame seeds.

Creamy Garlic Dressing

I LOVE creamy dressings.....don't even get me started on my love of sauces in general.  Well this little beauty that comes from the 21 day detox has such a buzz with my fellow coaches I had to give it a go!  Let me tell you - it didn't disappoint.....super creamy, garlicy and so satisfying!  The kids loved it!!!!  This stuff will now be a STAPLE in our house!  Your salads will NEVER be the same! ***Warning....it is amazingly garlicly....a little goes a long way!  Drizzle over top of your salad as opposed to dumping.  ;)

Creamy Garlic Dressing
(makes 10 servings, about 2 tbsp each)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp himalayan salt
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp raw honey or pure maple syrup

Place oil, vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt, mustard, and honey in a blender or processor; cover with lid. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate dressing if not using immediately. If dressing solidifies when cold, hold at room temperature for 15-30 min before serving.

Girl Scout Cookie Shakeology

I LOVE Samoas......to me they are the perfect girl scout cookie!  So when I tried the flavor combo in my Shakeology, I was BLOWN AWAY at with how good it tastes!!!!!!  Go ahead, give it a go......you won't regret it! This is the healthiest cookie I have ever tasted!  ;)

Samoa Shakeology
1 Scoop Chocolate or Chocolate Vegan Shakeology
3/4 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Almond Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Coconut Extract
1/4 Teaspoon Caramel Extract
1 Cup Ice
Blend or Shake and Enjoy!

Never tried Shakeology?  Curious to learn more about it?  Let's talk!  This stuff is my "secret sauce" to keep my energy up, my cravings at bay, my tummy happy and my weight under control!

Crock-Pot Chicken Marinara

When I saw this recipe I knew it was for me!  Crock Pot + Italian = Perfect meal!!!!  It doesn't get much easier than this.  It reminds me of the salsa chicken recipe my friend Allison shared with me (a jar of salsa and a few frozen chicken breasts and voila).  I am going to prep it on Sunday night and cook it all day Monday.  Easy Peasy! 

Crock Pot Chicken Marinara
Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
30 oz diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 medium onion
4-5 cloves garlic, peeled
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup red wine
1 Tbsp honey or agave
1-2 Tbsp chopped basil
1-2 Tbsp chopped parsley
1tsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper

Directions:
1.  Mix all ingredients (not including the chicken breasts) together in a blender/food processor (must hold at least 5 cups) and blend for about 30 seconds until ingredients are mixed well.
2.  Pour the sauce into the crock pot and add the chicken (mine was frozen)and cook on low heat for at least 7 hours.3.  After 7 hours, you will notice the sauce looks very runny, this is normal.  Remove crock pot from heating base, shred chicken with a wooden spoon or spatula and as it cools, the shredded chicken will absorb the juices from the pasta sauce.
Tips:

• I like to make my own pasta sauce at home so that I can avoid the added sugars and other unwanted ingredients.  You can use the store-bought pasta sauce but try to avoid the brands with a lot of added sugar, preservatives, etc.  Muir Glen is usually a pretty good choice if your store carries it.
• This recipe is very versatile so we sometimes add chopped zucchini, celery, red bell pepper, and sliced onion.
• You can add red or white wine to the sauce.
• You can simplify this recipe by adding 3-4 Tbsp of Italian seasoning rather most of the individual spices listed above.

Success Club Trip

I have never had a cool job............I sit at my desk, day in and day out and work......HARD.  The furthest I ever get to travel is to the rural courthouse that is about 45 minutes away.  So not glamorous.  My job doesn't provide cool incentives and there isn't any recognition for your successes.

So when I started coaching I was blown away with how much RECOGNITION Beachbody gives their coaches.  They are constantly congratulating us, celebrating us and rewarding us.......for doing something that we are all so passionate about.

Every year Beachbody hosts a trip.....to somewhere amazing......for the coaches.  This is a trip to celebrate all that we do and how many lives we have helped change.  In the past it has been trips to Disney World, Cruises and this year it is to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun!!!!  This trip is something that never in a million years did I think I would have an opportunity to go on......an amazing all-expenses vacation paid by Beachbody........well this dreamis coming true!!!!!  I EARNED this trip doing what I love doing!

So in just about one month I am hopping on a plane and flying to Cancun for FIVE DAYS!!!!  I am going to spend time with other amazing people who are all passionate about helping others.......I am going to soak up the sun and the sand......I get to meet some of my favorite celebrity trainers............I am going to get inspired to help more people and DO MORE!!!!  If this isn't motivation, I don't know what is!

Have you ever wanted to find a job that INSPIRES you...........that shows recognition for all of your hard work........that allows you to meet amazing people and go to amazing places?  Send me an email at courtneybowes@ymail.com for more information.

Busy Moms Build a Business

You know I have been spending a lot of time these past few weeks just reflecting on where I was 1 and a half years ago.  I can remember clear as day trying to find clothes to wear on vacation and nothing fit.  It was almost like my wardrobe had magically shrunk and changed shape.  In reality it was me, I had changed shape!  No one prepared me for the squishy belly, the deflated chest and the stretch marks and random other body changes that come after having a baby (or two)!  As happy as I was having two beautiful and health girls, I was going through an identity crisis.  I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that my body had magically morphed into a blob of mush!  And it really affected by the way that I felt about myself.  My mood, my confidence, and my energy are affected by how I feel on the inside.  So when I looked in the mirror and saw the mushy stomach, back fat and the muffin top it absolutely affected my ability to be a good mom and wife!  So--- now we insert the invitation to join a Beachbody Challenge Group from my husband's former co-worker, Lori!  

She reached out to me inviting me to join her in a support and accountability group.  She had lost a lot of weight doing Insanity and she looked great so I thought, what do I have to lose!!!!  This is where the journey begins!  T25, P90X3, 21 Day Fix, PiYo, Shakeology, Clean Eating, Challenge Groups, new friends, other moms, a total family overhaul and I felt like a brand new woman in 6 months!!!!  After going through this experience I just felt like there was no way I could NOT share this with others.  I finally had found a way to transform my body into the best shape of my life ----- and I did it from the comfort of my own home.  Even better -- I made amazing new friends and had an ongoing community of support to get me through all the good and the bad days.

Let me tell you - the best way to share your own results and help others feel the same way is to become a coach.  I was skeptical.....my husband was even more skeptical........but I did it anyway.  I became a Beachbody Coach and set out to help other moms feel the same way that I did!  So as a working mom with two pre-schoolers at home, I began building my business from my kitchen table during my lunch hour, before they woke up in the morning and when they went to bed at night!

I really started with just wanting to help 1 person feel the exact same way that I did and I liked the idea of getting a discount on my Shakeology.  I had never heard of network marketing, of social media as a source of income and I truly had no expectations other than to just see other people feel better about themselves.  So I started small, I became a sponge to everything I could read and learn about Beachbody.  I invited my friends and family to join a support and accountability group and I just dabbled in this business.  

Over time, I realized that there was an opportunity out there to really earn a significant income and at that time our family could definitely use it.  Brian and I have been saving for a home and with two kids in day care, there wasn't a lot of extra money.  
So a little extra income from home would definitely allow us to put money into savings every month.  That was appealing to me!  So I set out to grow this business BLINDLY!  Honestly, no clue what I was doing!  But again my mission was to help others feel the way I had felt when I took those after pictures!  

What did I do:  Well I started with social media and even more specifically Facebook.  I shared my transformation story, everyday I shared motivational quotes, tips and the nutrition tips and tricks that had helped me to get lose weight.  I shared the ways that I was helping my family eat healthier, their favorite recipes, travel tips, snack ideas, and all those things that people ask about when it comes to weight loss.  I just put myself out there as a source of knowledge.  Before to long people started coming to me for advice!  This is truly where the journey began. I absolutely loved what I was doing as a coach. The more I ran challenge groups, the more my customers got results, the more I was motivated to make my groups better, to help people get better results and to continually grow myself. 

This business was allowing me to add value into society and to contribute financially to our family and that made me feel very good!!!  

Now, lets fast forward 6 months........I had the hang of challenge groups and now it's onto learning the business!  I began developing systems to help train my new coaches, I collected my favorite tools, videos, and resources and started teaching my new coaches how to successfully do what I was doing!  
To me this was just like watching my challengers lose weight, it was so rewarding to see my coaches now having success with inviting, with sharing and getting challengers into their own groups!  I was so excited to see them earn an income as well.  

The more that I saw a need the more systems, trainings and materials I have created to close the knowledge gap!  Let me tell you this:  I truly have done this business from my kitchen table, either before the kids wake up, my lunch hour or in the evening when they go to bed!  I have been able to have the best of both worlds and while I made some sacrifices personally to grow my business, I wouldn't trade one single early morning or late night!

So I am sitting here today writing this blog post and my mission and goal is to help other moms that might be reading this and are interested in joining Team Beachbody as a coach.  Maybe you want to start your fitness journey first and then transition into a coach,  Maybe you are already fit (whether it was thru a beachbody program or not) and you want to inspire other women to live the same healthy life that you do.  Or maybe you crave to have something that allows you to work at a job that gives you more flexibility and happiness and gives you the ability to be home and present with your kids?  Well I truly believe without a shadow of a doubt this was my CALLING!  

So I'm inviting YOU to join along side of me and let me teach you what I have done to build an amazing business!  

I have created a system for my team based on what Team Beachbody has created to train new coaches and my own personal experience that has proven to be extremely successful at getting each and every new coach started right.  My goal is to not overwhelm you with the business but to teach you how to get started, to prioritize what is most important, to manage your time, to make this work while still having preserved your family balance and to help you earn an extra income for your family or even honestly replace a salary or income from a job you would like to change!  It takes a little prioritizing, time management, and multi tasking but you can absolutely make this business work for you! Whether its just a few hours a week or full time I can help you set goals that meet your lifestyle.  I have no minimum expectations and you can truly do as little or as much as you want as a coach!  I let you set the pace and I match that pace with your effort!!!  I am not your Boss or Dictator but I am your mentor, coach and guide! The new coach mentoring program can be done from your home, your computer, ipad, laptop or iphone.  If you have internet access you can build this business!  You will have access to all of my documents, scripts, guides, training videos, and myself if you join my team.  I train all of my new coaches in a small group setting and I truly give you my word that I will be involved in your training!  I want to teach you not only how to inspire others to lead a healthy life but how to do it with balance and with passion! I will honestly say that many people are afraid to take this leap of faith. They think it sounds like a good opportunity but most are afraid that they won't make any money at it, that they will have to sell to their friends, or that they don't know anybody to invite!  Trust me, I was right there with you!  I had less than 200 friends on facebook, and I was deathly afraid of people thinking I was only out to sell them something! So I will truly share with you how I overcame that false belief and how I moved forward!  

Does this sound like something you would like to do?  Then I invite you to join my team, the Dream Dynasty!  If you would like more information about coaching on my team then please complete the application below and I will contact you personally in the next 24 hours about your application!


I am only accepting a limited number of new coaches so please don't delay your response!  


Other ways to gather more information:  I will be running a 5 day behind the scenes look into my business starting Monday March 9th if you would like to know more about coaching on my team!  You can ask questions in a closed group, you can get answers about what it means to be a Beachbody Coach on my team and I will provide information to you on different topics through the week to help you make a more educated decision on joining the Dream Team.  Please email me at courtneybowes@ymail.com me if you would like to participate in the "Behind the Scenes" group.

I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully having you as the newest Dream Dynasty Coach!  We are no doubt a great family and we have an excellent tract record of providing quality service, support and training to everyone that joins our team!  You definitely will not be left out there to figure it out on your own!  We are committed to continually improving our customer service to provide you with the best support and mentoring possible!

Hope to see all of you busy moms as new Dream Dynasty coaches!!!!!!  

{This training program is only for NEW coaches that join The Dream Dynasty}

Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs

I found this recipe at iwashyoudry.com and LOVE the idea of dumping everything in the crock pot in the morning and flipping it on! I am going to use frozen turkey meatballs to clean up the recipe a bit, but this is going to make dinner so EASY!

Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs
1 Medium or Large Spaghetti Squash
1 Jar of Spaghetti Squash
3 cups frozen turkey meatballs
Spray the crockpot with cooking spray or line with a crockpot liner.  Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.  Place squash open side down in the crock.  Pour sauce around the squash and arrange the meatballs in the sauce.  Cook low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Test for doneness - if you can pierce the squash with a fork, it is ready!
Pull the squash out with tongs and shread the meat and serve with sauce and meatballs.

P90X3 Block Two (Weeks 5-7) Recap

I am a little late getting this post up but better late than never, right?  I just finished the "meat" of Block 2 of P90X3.......and I LOVED it!  This block incorporated some weights....there was a leg day and an upper body day - along with all of the cardio.  I feel like I got so much stronger in this block!  I can do PUSH UPS!!!!!!  I noticed that I was not modifying as much as I was in Block 1 and I really enjoyed the workouts that repeated this month.  I noticed that it really helped when I would drink E&E before my workouts - it really gave me the boost that I needed to get through some of the harder cardio workouts.
Here's a breakdown of what I did

 

TrioMetrics

Old- School plyometrics is jump training. Welcome to Triometrics, X3′s state-of-the-art take on a plyo workout that goes far beyod simple jump training. “Plyometrix” here means explosive. It’s a highly effective means of training muscular efficiency or power. Triometrics’ incorporates three different levels for every exercise, each targeting a different physiological response while minimizing the downtime needed between movements. The result is a workout that increases speed and power in a fraction on the time you’re used to training.....Your booty feels it by the end!!!!!

The Warrior
This military workout repeats for this round.......I really struggled the first Block on this workout - but this month was another story!  I can FEEL myself getting stronger every week and could keep up the entire 30 minutes this month!  Woo hoo!

X3 Yoga
This repeats this month as well and is the active recovery your body needs after the beginning workouts of the week.  Flexibility is improving but still working on the crow!

MMX

This is a Mixed Martial Arts routine where submission is not an option. Combining karate, kenpo, jiu-jitsu, judo, and tae kwon do, this martial arts-based cardio workout does a lot more than increase your heart rate. In MMX you’ll burn fat by taxing your upper-body strength, core power, leg endurance, and flexibility. Plus, you’ll learn a new way to let your aggression out!  The beginning of this routine really tricks you.....you think it will be an easy workout...>WRONG!  This routine is no joke, but FUN!!!!
Incinerator
This is one routine designed to burn you out. Exercise is one of the few times in life where failure is a goal. With Incinerator, it’s your ticket to results, as you’re forced to bring it until there’s nothing left to bring. In exercise terms, failure is important in defining your limits. If you never fail, you simply cannot achieve your potential. This push-and-pull-focused workout uses back to back movements engaging the same primary muscle groups. The first movement targets hypertrophy (muscle growth) and the last movement pushes you just past your limit. With Incinerator, failure is your only option.

CVX

This is another repeat from Block 1 - cardio with weights.  Phew!!!!!!  .

TurboFire Chili

I LOVE my crockpot......I would use it everyday if I could (I am working on it....lol).  I have had so many other coaches tell me how amazing this recipe is and I am giving it a try tomorrow (it will be put together tonight before I go to bed, so all I have to do in the morning is turn my crockpot on!

TurboFire Chili

Ingredients
1 lb. lean ground turkey
½ cup diced tomatoes

8 oz. whole kernel corn, canned
½ onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
8 oz. black beans, canned
8 oz. pinto, chili, or kidney beans canned
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 package Lawry’s chili seasoning
4 oz. low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions. Brown turkey. Drain and discard any fat. Place all ingredients except cheese into a slow cooker. Cook for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high. Top with 1 oz cheese if desired.

Mexican Quinoa Salad

Do you ever just have a craving for something and you can't seem to shake it?????  That has been me and Mexican food for the last month!  It is all I want!!!!  And I had some quinoa in the fridge that I really needed to do something with................................ta da!!!!!!!  Mexican quinoa salad!!!!!  I added fresh avocado to each serving along with chicken.  You could also have it on a bed of lettuce or shredded cabbage (for crunch).  This was soooo good!!!!

Mexican Quinoa Salad

3 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup diced tomato
1 cup chopped red pepper
1/4 cup red onion
2 scallions chopped
1 cup corn (I thawed frozen)

1/2 jalapeno diced (be sure to remove the seeds and the white part)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lime or lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt (depending on taste)
1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Just dump and mix!  I let it sit in the fridge for about an hour and it was even better the next day.

Crock Pot Pesto Ranch Chicken

My house smelled AMAZING all day while this was cooking!  I have never found a crock pot chicken recipe that I loved.  It always seemed mushy and dry.  Well this changed that perception for sure!  I saw this recipe all over pinterest and make a few tweaks......it was a winner!  I served it with Mediterranean couscous.  Clean plates by all!!!!!  Woo hoo!!!!!!

Crock Pot Pesto Ranch Chicken

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 jar pre-made pesto sauces
1/2 packet ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup broth (chicken or veggie)
1/4 white wine

Put the chicken at the bottom of the crockpot....spread the pesto over the chicken and sprinkle the top with the ranch.  Pour in the liquid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8. 

Super Bowl Recipes - Buffalo Balls

I LOVE Buffalo wings......but my hips do not!  But I seriously crave buffalo sauce.  I found a bunch of recipes on Pinterest for Buffalo chicken meatballs and I made a few adaptations.  I totally don't have time to make the meatballs ahead of time in the oven and THEN put them in the crock pot.  This seemed MUCH easier to me.  ;)

Buffalo Balls
40 Turkey Meatballs (I like Casa di Bertacchi)
1 bottle Buffalo Sauce

Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray.  Add the meatballs and cover with buffalo sauce.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours until the meatballs are heated through.

Healthy Super Bowl Recipes - Layered Hummus Dip

I am trying to find healthier alternatives to the typical buffalo wings and taco dip that arrive at EVERY Super Bowl party I have ever attended.  And no doubt they will be there this year.....but I am trying to find some things that I can add to the spread that won't erase all of the hard work I have been putting in.  I have found some winners and I am going to be posting them this week.

Layered Hummus Dip
1 5oz box of tabbouleh (far east brand)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup diced and seeded tomato
1/2 cup diced red peppers
1/4 cup diced greek banana peppers (optional)
1/4 cup diced scallions
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c fresh parsley chopped
2 10oz containers of hummus ( I like the Sabra Brand)
8 oz crumbled feta cheese
Food should taste good tortilla chips

Make Tabbouleh according to the package directions.
Add olive oil, cucumber, tomato, peppers, scallions, lemon juice, salt and parsley and fluff with a fork.
Spread hummus into the bottom of a 9x13 dish, scatter half of the feta cheese on top.
Layer on Tabbouleh mixture and sprinkle remaining feta cheese on top and refrigerate.

P90X3 - Week 4 - Transition

This was my transition week between Blocks one and two of P90X3.  It was definitely a week for my body to recover and my muscles to stretch but I still worked and I would not call this a "rest" week.  My abs and back really felt it this week.  There was also the introduction of a new workout....pilates - which let me tell you, was a KILLER ab workout.  

Day 1- Isometrix- Strengthen your overall body.....just think holding a yoga pose for 45 seconds.

Day 2 - Dynamix- Improve your range of motion & stability to get the most out of every workout.

Day 3 - Accelerator - Fat-burning regime that increases your muscular efficiency & your cardiovascular health.
Day 4 - Pilates X- Bring power to your core & promote elasticity of your muscles.
Day 5 - Agility X - Aerobic & anaerobic techniques to help improve balance, flexibility, and strength.
Day 6 -X3 Yoga- Improve your overall stamina & balance.
Day 7 - Rest

I braved taking my progress photos and weighed in and I am seeing results.  I know I need to really dial in my nutrition for the next block....that was absolutely my downfall this block.  Down 4 pounds from day one and my clothes are fitting so much better!  Let me tell you, you can get a LOT accomplished in 30 minutes!  Block 2 here I come!!!!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Have you ever pinned a recipe and gone back to make it, only to find it was a HUGE FAIL??????  It happens to me quite regularly.......and this recipe in particular got me good.  Cauliflower pizza crust.  The first time I made it, the last thing it resembled was a pizza.......this thing was more like a quiche.  And I did NOT receive rave reviews from my family.  All I heard was a lot of YUCK!  And I didn't entirely disagree! 

And then I stumbled across this one from Tasty Kitchen and I found what I have been longing for!  It makes a DOUGH that you roll out!  A firm, gluten-free pizza dough!!!  That you can pick up and hold like a piece of pizza!!!!! Eureka!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Ingredients

• 1 head (Small Head) Cauliflower
• ¼ cups Parmesan Cheese
• ¼ cups Mozzarella Cheese
• ¼ teaspoons Kosher Salt
• ½ teaspoons Dried Basil
• ½ teaspoons Dried Oregano
• ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
• Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
• 1 Tablespoon Almond Meal (optional)
• 1 whole Egg

Directions

Place a pizza stone in the oven, or baking sheet if you don’t have a pizza stone. Preheat oven to 450ºF. On a cutting board, place a large piece of parchment paper and spray it with nonstick cooking oil.

Wash and throughly dry a small head of cauliflower. Don’t get one the size of your head unless you are planning on making 2 pizzas. Cut off the florets—you don’t need much stem, just stick with the florets. Pulse in your food processor for about 30 seconds, until you get powdery snow like cauliflower. You should end up with 2 to 3 cups cauliflower “snow”. Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl and cover. Cook for 4 minutes. Dump cooked cauliflower onto a clean tea towel and allow to cool for a bit before attempting the next step.

Once cauliflower is cool enough to handle, wrap it up in the dish towel and wring the heck out of it. You want to squeeze out as much water as possible. This will ensure you get a chewy pizza like crust instead of a crumbly mess.

Dumped squeezed cauliflower into a bowl. Now add Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, kosher salt, dried basil (crush up the leaves even more between your fingers before adding), dried oregano (crush up the leaves even more between your fingers before adding), garlic powder (not garlic salt), and a dash of red pepper if you want. I also added 1 tablespoon almond meal because my cauliflower yielded closer to 2 cups of cauli snow; this is optional and I would not add the almond meal if you have closer to 3 cups of cauli snow. Now add the egg and mix away. Hands tend to work best.

Once mixed together, use your hands to form the dough into a crust on your oiled parchment paper. Pat it down throughly, you want it nice and tightly formed together. Don’t make it too thick or thin either.

Using a cutting board, slide the parchment paper onto your hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 8-11 minutes, until it starts to turn golden brown. Remove from oven.

Add however much sauce, cheese, and toppings you want. I’m not gonna give you measurements for this. You know how you like your pizza—so go for it! Slide parchment with topped pizza back in the hot oven and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.

Test your patience and allow it to cool for a minute or two. Probably closer to two. Then using a pizza cutter and a spatula, serve up your delicious grain-free cauliflower crust pizza!

P90X3 Week Three Check-In

With the kids quietly playing (fingers crossed they are not making too much of a mess......doubtful......I hear a lot of giggling and running back and forth from the bathroom......hmmmmmmmm).  Anyways, I wanted to check in and let you know about my progress with P90X3.  I am doing the lean schedule and over the last three weeks have really grown to love it.  I will switch it up next week for the transition and then will have a new schedule for Block Two.  I can't believe I have already finished the meat of Block One!!!  Woo Hoo!!!

I realized I that I haven't really explained what the schedule is like and what the workouts are, so I will do that now.  The schedule runs six days per week with the optional seventh (I did all seven days in week one but have only done six days in weeks two and three).

Here is the schedule at a glance...all three blocks.  It really isn't that intimidating when you look at it like this, right?  Easy peasy!

So what are these workouts anyways?  OK, here it is in a nutshell:

• Accelerator:  By engaging both the aerobic pathways, Accelerator increases cardiovascular and muscular efficiency, resulting in more bang for your fat-burning buck. HUH???  Basically, you exercise at two different speeds, each targeting specific energy systems. This unique combination eliminates downtime associated with power-based workouts, while maximizing the consistency of traditional workouts.
• The Warrior:  The Warrior is a total-body workout, free of equipment, based on Tony’s 10+ years of working with the U.S. Armed Forces. You’ll circuit upper-and lower body resistance with core and cardio work, essentially touching on every area of fitness in one workout-and it’s all been honed into an uber-intense 30 minute blast. When you need a one size-fits all workout that can be done anytime, anywhere, this is the one.
• X3 Yoga:  X3 Yoga compresses thousands of years of teaching into 30 intense minutes, improving your musculoskeletal flexibility, balance, stamina, body awareness, and core strength. This flow-style practice, taking elements from Ashtanga, Hatha, and others, is perfect for filing the gaps in your fitness that other workouts cannot address.  This workout feels amazing in the middle of the week after the first two days of intensity.
• CVX: Not your mothers cardio workout, CVX combines resistance with intervals in order to increase the impact across every energy system. You’ll stress everything from power and anerobic endurance to aerobic endurance. You’ll also strengthen your core. CVX provides a full-body burn.
• Isometrix:  A strong foundation is essential for overall fitness, so Isometrix combines isometric contraction with instability to make your core rock solid. Isometric contractions occur when the muscle neither shortens nor lengthens and the joint angle does not change, building the static strength. Adding instability to the mix requires your body to fire its stabilizing muscles. When training these two simultaneously, you create an unshakable platform to work off, heightening the affects of movement training that you’ll target in other workouts.
• Agility X: A full body workout that uses floor targets (tape marks) to dictate movements, Agility X uses both aerobic and anaerobic energy, focusing on precision, power, flexibility, balance, and strength. As opposed to traditional cardio workouts, these targeted movements force explosion, deceleration, and proprioceptive adaptations, the sum result being an increased ability to move effortlessly for extended periods of time. 
• Dynamix:  Dynamix focuses on using your muscles, connective tissue, and joint function in symbolic actions to actively increase range of motion, flexibility, and stabilization. When worked in harmony, these systems are your keys to free and easy movement. And it feels sooooooo good.

Here is a little sneak peek of P90X3.  It is amazing how much you can get into a thirty minute workout!  Want to give it a try?  Message me for details.

P90X3 Week Two Update

I am a little late posting about the second week of my P90X3 journey.  I have to say, I am so glad I have stuck with it!  I am feeling WAYYYYYY stronger than I was in week one.  No doubt I am getting my sweat-on with every workout but I feel so much better when I do them......not like I am going to completely die half-way through.  LOL!  Don't get me wrong, I still modify a lot of moves and I still get a GREAT workout in.  There is no shame in following the modifier!

I stepped on the scale and I am making progress!!!!!!  And the most important part......my pants are fitting better!!!!!  Yay Tony........yay me!!!!!!  One move that I am DETERMINED to master by the end of this program is the "CROW" pose in X3 Yoga.  I don't know how many of you have ever tried crow, but it is a hand stand where you balance your knees on your elbows.  I have never been someone to do a hand stand, so this intrigues me.  I am getting closer....although I have almost fallen on my face every time I try it.  I will master this move by the end of the 90 days!

The lean schedule is really cardio intense but I am liking the workouts.  And it wouldn't be a P90X workout without push ups......and I am getting better at them!  I love that each workout is 30 minutes and the time FLIES by!  I get a killer workout and don't have to spend my whole day workout out.....or have to leave my house to do it.  Love, LOve, LOVE!!!!

If you are curious about P90X3 and want more info, send me a message.  I would LOVE to talk!

Amazing Chicken Marinade

I am always looking for a new way to make chicken.....let's face it, chicken can get boring........but every once in a while, you find a chicken recipe that blows you away......well THIS is my FAVORITE chicken recipe and it never fails!  I get asked for the recipe every time I make it.  SOOOO good and so EASY!!!!

Amazing Chicken Marinade
 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Marinade:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup white wine
4 cloves of garlic - rough chop
2 tbsp hot sauce (like Franks or Texas Pete)
2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
2 tbsp grill seasoning
10 basil leaves, torn

Trim all visible fat and membranes from chicken breasts, I like to make small crosswise slits about 1/2 inch apart down the length of each chicken breast to help the marinade penetrate the meat. Put chicken in single layer in Ziploc bag.

Combine marinade ingredients and pour over chicken. Marinate in refrigerator at least 30 minutes or all day if desired.

Preheat grill to medium-hot and grill chicken 20-25 minutes, or until well browned and firm but not hard to the touch. (I've been cooking this slightly less than 20 minutes the last few times I've made it. Actual cooking time will depend on the heat of your grill and the temperature outside, so don't overcook.)

Transformation Tuesday

I am beyond proud to share these photos. My dear friend Natalie has been working out with me in my challenge groups for about a year. She has been such an amazing motivator and cheerleader not only for me, but for the other women in the group. Strong and determined doesn't even begin to describe her. Natalie is a wife, mother and business owner.....and six years ago she started a non-profit to help victims of domestic violence. This woman really IS the total package.
Natalie has lost 25 pounds working out at home and checking in with our private Facebook groups and has had a complete TRANSFORMATION. She has worked out with the 21 Day Fix and Brazil Butt Lift and has been eating clean.  Not only does she look AMAZING, but her confidence is through the roof! She is now training for a fitness competition!!!!!  Congratulations Natalie ---- all of your hard work and dedication has PAID OFF.....and thank you for paying it forward!!!!!  You inspire so many!!!!