Wednesday, June 27, 2012

chicken scramble

Do you only like one type of chicken?  Great news if you only like one kind, but love the flavors of a roast chicken, through some fun experimenting, I came up with a really yummy and adjustable recipe for that roast chicken taste, in WAYYYYYY less time and just including the part of the chicken you like!!  This is good for one person and lef overs the next day or for groups of people....

I call it CHICKEN SCRAMBLE:

Ingredients:
- Carrots (your choice how many you like - I like them a lot so I use more) pealed and chopped
- Celery (your choice how many you like - I don't use as many as the carrots) chopped
- 1/2 onion - chopped
- fresh herbs are best, but dry will do including: rosemary, thyme, chives, parsley --> remember to use more herbs if they are not fresh
- salt and pepper to taste
- garlic or garlic powder
- chicken stock
- a little EVOO and/or butter
- chicken (I used diced uncooked white meat)
- brown rice (I used the frozen packages from trader joes - precooked and makes it really easy!)

Directions:
-in a large pan stir fry the carrots, celery, onions in some butter/ EVOO with the herbs ans salt/ pepper/ garlic.
- after the start to crown a little slowly add chicken stock and cook down, do this 3 - 5 times until the veggies are soft
- in another pan stir fry the chicken in some EVOO/ butter with a little salt and pepper until the chicken starts to brown --> doesn't matter if fully cooked because you will be adding this into the veggie combination with more chicken stock to continue to cook
- add the chicken into the larger pan with some more chicken stock and then after a minute or two add the rice (already defrosted)
- cook together another 5 min or so or until the chicken is fully cooked through.

From prep to plate this should only take you about 30-40 min and for a yummy roast chicken tasting dish that's not bad - ENJOY!!! :)

Monday, June 11, 2012

Hillytini

The summer season has officially started in DC.  What does that really mean? In a lot of instances it means outdoor parties and BBQ's galore, followed by worrying how you’re going to look in that bikini tomorrow.

Well, fear not my faithful followers, there is a great way to still enjoy some good old fashioned drinking fun and not worry about the calories consumed.  I call them Hillytinis.   

Hillytinis can come in a variety of ways depending on your mood, below are a few of my favorite recipes for them:

Hillytini lemonade:
Vodka            
Crystal Light lemonade – or pink lemonade
Seltzer water
Mix and enjoy J

Hillytini manmosa:
Vodka
OJ – preferable fresh squeezed oranges if you can get them & juice them yourself (way less sugar/ empty cals)
Champagne
Seltzer to top it off
Mix and enjoy J

Hillytini berry dlite:
Rum
Berries – frozen work best for this, but any berries will do
Light apple juice or crystal light raspberry ice
Put in a blender and whip up and enjoy J

One other benefit of these drinks is many are mixed with water based mixers and will help keep you hydrated as you drink alcohol and minimize next day hang overs.  Let me know if you have any thoughts or other yummie summer drinks to try.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Fun Fit Fact Friday #3

Mini Circuit:

For this weeks fun fitness fact, I will be providing you with a great core and full body mini circuit that is a great addition to your summer workout to give you some extra summer tone.

START: cardio = 20-30 min moderate intensity cardio  --> should mean you are breathing heavy, but not at full max or sprint.  OR 10-20 min of interval cardio training --> alternate between max breathing and low intensity cardio to keep your heart rate adjusting.

Next, the fun part - the circuit:

1. Bosu Ball Regular Push Up. Reps 8 - 15 (modify by putting your knees down) see image below

2. Bosu Ball Yoga Push Up. Same as regular, but this time you want your elbow to be right by your side instead of out.  Reps. 8 - 15 (modify by putting knees on the down) see elbow placement in image below:

3. Bosu Ball squats with free weights. Reps. 8 - 15.  Modify by putting the flat side of the bosu on the floor, its harder when you stand on the flat side. Modify version in image below - flip the bosu to make it harder and work more stability.

4. Down Dog and Leg Splits: Start in a down dog and hold for 30 - 60 seconds, then lift your right leg, keep it straight and try to raise it as high as you can.  Open your hip and bend your knee for a more intense stretch. hold for another 30 sec. Then repeat on your left leg.  See image below:

5. Plank - and not the kind that went viral for picture.  Hold for 45 seconds to 1 Min 30 Sec. see below:

6. Runners Lunge - hold 15 - 45 second on each leg.  To make is harder you can hold a free weight while performing this stretch.

Repeat this circuit 2 - 3 times depending on how much time and energy you have.

Note: I will soon hopefully be getting images of myself performing these exercises so that I do not have to credit other people, but until then look at their sites for other information as well.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions on the above exercises and I am happy to help.  Good luck!