City View

I love summer in the city....

Hope you all had a relaxing weekend.  Central Park was buzzing on Saturday...music playing, picnics, and everyone smiling enjoying the amazing weather.  Makes me want to picnic & eat salad...

Today I made a 'what's in my vegetable bin salad'? 

and a side of watermelon.

Just a mixture of all kinds of veggies, beans and some homemade croutons made with day old, organic wheat bread.  It was delicious!  I coated the bread with a little olive oil, and toasted under the broiler, and tossed it with the beans & veggies so it soaked up the vinegar dressing-it was off the charts good!  Placed it on a bed of mixed greens and chopped up some fresh basil...thank you summer for all these fresh flavors.   

What's in your favorite salad? 

Summer Reads

I just started reading a really wonderful book called 'Food Matters, a Guide to Conscious Eating' by Mark Bittman.  It's packed with some interesting information, and last night I read the chapter on meat and farming.  I never realized how much meat we consume as a nation.  Yikes!

And today, after reading all about the meat industry, I'm happy to eat a vegetarian lunch and catch up with an old friend.  Today will be all about a ladies lunch, veggies, grains and fresh fruit!  Can't wait to see Stacey and her beautiful twin babies! 

Here are some other titles on my reading list:

Spark, a Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain  by John J. Ratey, MD

The Food Bible, by Judith Wills

Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen

What are you reading this summer? 

Feelin' Fruity

                                                             Welcome Summer!!
We've missed you....and are so glad you're back!  I hope everyone is enjoying this first day of summer.  I can't get enough of all the wonderful colors in a fruit salad.  I always try to add a variety of colors through out my day, I hope you are too.  I also add variety to my workout routine...tonight free yoga at the pier, yippee!!

health & happiness,
Lynda

Garlicky Goodness

Roasted garlic olive oil is super easy to make, and is a wonderful, homemade hostess gift to give your friends & family. It all starts with a few bulbs of garlic, olive oil, salt & pepper. 

Now, here comes my favorite part....take a large knife, and smash the cloves, just enough to crack the shell.  Place them on cookie sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil, salt & pepper.  Roast in the oven at 350 degrees, for about 20-25 minutes.  Check them after 15 minutes and give them a bit of a shake.   They are done when they are a little toasted, but not too crunchy. 

Take them out of the oven and let cool, until you can handle the cloves.  Remove the skin and chop or mince the cloves on a cutting board.  Place them in a glass jar or tupperware container.  Then pour about 3/4 of the bottle of olive oil over the garlic, stir and let marinate.  The longer it marinates, the better it gets!  Add  a little more salt & pepper. 

And just like magic you have a great homemade gift, or a wonderful oil to use while you cook, most of the time we enjoy eating it with Dom's Bakery bread, right here in Hoboken.  You might want to try it with some whole grain bread.  Delicious!! Try it and let me know what you think.   

Dad's Oatmeal Power Breakfast

Happy father's day to all the Dads out there! Oatmeal was one of my Dad's favorite breakfasts, besides Entenmenn's crumb cake.  He taught me many lessons, but the importance of a healthy breakfast is one of my favorites.  I wake up and head right to the kitchen, just like Dad.  After all it is the most important meal of the day...it starts you off on the right foot.

Try this basic oatmeal recipe and you'll feel satisfied all morning.  Ready to tackle any job.  This ones for you Dad, we love you & miss you.

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup of milk, or (1/2 milk & 1/2 water)
dash of salt

1. Boil milk or water and salt.
2. Stir in oats & cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat; stir occasionally

toppings: 1/2 of banana
               sprinkle of wheat germ, ground flax seeds, and/or chia seeds
               cinnamon
               blueberries or raspberries
               handful of chopped walnuts

Farmer's Market Lunch

What's a girl to do with all the goodies from the uptown Hoboken farmer's market?

Well, make lunch of course....it's all about the colors, try to get as many different colors in as you can.  I always feel healthier when I eat really clean and try to stay away from processed foods.   I also like to plate my food in beautiful, little cups or bowls, something that makes me smile.   I'm a sucker for pretty plates!

Today's Menu:                        watermelon & tomato basil salad

                                 roasted chicken breast on mixed greens, red pepper & scallions
                                    pretty cup of color: spring peas, carrots & raspberries

      and of course a sprinkle of lavender sea salt....yum! It was perfect on the watermelon salad.

I hope this inspires you to make a colorful meal this weekend.  Happy Friday!

health & happiness,
Lynda

Summer Quinoa Salad

Make this amazing salad for your next picnic, and enjoy these beautiful days of summer!

1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 cup of quinoa
1 tomato, diced
1/2 cucumber, diced
1 cup of diced colored peppers, red, orange, or green
parsley
cilantro
1 tbs dijon mustard
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil ( you might not need it all)
1 to 2 cloves of garlic
2 green onions, diced
crushed red pepper flakes
top with diced avocado, peanuts, or sunflower seeds

1.  Boil 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt for 15 minutes, fluff with a fork & let cool.

2. In the meantime, put the black beans, tomato, cucumber, peppers into a serving bowl.  Chop parsley & cilantro, about 5 sprigs of each, and add to the bowl.

3.  To make the dressing, put the green onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, 3 parsley & cilantro sprigs, 1 tbs mustard, balsamic vinegar into a food processor or blender.  Add the olive oil slowly and process until smooth.

4.  Once the quinoa is done & cool, add the dressing, stir all together with the bean & vegetable mixture.  Garnish with cilantro & diced avocado, seeds or nuts. 

I enjoy having the salad on a bed of mixed greens, but it's wonderful all by itself.  A great salad to have in the fridge, as you run around this summer.  Enjoy, let me know what you think.....

health & happiness,
Lynda

Hello Flat Belly!

Here's to my favorite time of year.... Happy Summer 2011! Here are six foods to help you keep that flat belly and enjoy a summer of beaches, bbq's and boardwalks. 

Summer essentials that should make it into your shopping cart each week:


1. Quinoa: an easy to cook whole grain, double the protein of brown rice.  A wonderful base to any summer salad.

2. Green Tea: super antioxidant, speeds up metabolism to help you burn fat, a clean way to start your morning.

3. Avocado: a heart healthy fruit, full of fiber, potassium, vitamin B & E, and folic acid, try it on your next salad, it's creamy and delicious.

4. Eggs: scrambled, hard-boiled, or sunny side up, eggs pack a powerful protein punch.  Try them for any meal, they are an 'eggcellent' way to slim down for summer. 

5. Grapefruit: full of vitamin C and fiber this fruit helps to reduce cholesterol & insulin levels, which lead to faster weight loss.

6. Kefir: a probiotic bacteria, with B vitamins & amino acids, promotes healthy digestion, packed with calcium & magnesium, important minerals for a healthy nervous system, to calm your nerves.  Try it in your next smoothie. 

Hope you try a few of these healthy foods over the next few months. 

health & happiness,
Lynda