Fitness Fridays Health Club #1 - Grand Opening!

[Rachel]

I'm going to go scrounge up all of my collected recipes and I'll be back! It may be later tonight until I get to post them because I have to leave for work in an hour.. but I'll post them!!! Promise! Any requests?? Any specific type of food someone wants? I've got a ton.

I'd be interested in a recipe that: consists vegetables, is not too complicated, and is fairly quick to fix. I eat a lot of salads but that's gets old after awhile. My husband cooks shredded cabbage, chopped onions
and green peppers, chopped canned tomatoes, and corn. I really like this combination. When we reheat leftovers I have it over cooked potatoes. That's what we are having for dinner tonight.

Robi, I want to congratulate you for resisting that candy bar. Being a chocolate addict, I know how difficult that is. You almost have to *detox* off of candy and sweets. After 3 or 4 days, it should get easier. I had peaches with my cereal for breakfast. Yum Also cut up a whole watermelon and that's in the Fridge for when I want *something* really fast.

[Flatcoatluver]

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I have to work from 7:30-12:00 then from 2:30 to 7:30, so I am very active because it’s running, and feeding dogs and a lot of cleaning. Then on Thursday I am packing and cleaning the truck for a week vacation. Then Friday we are off for a week till Saturday the 15th. Everyday I will be swimming and jogging with Zoey.

[Dorothy39]

I'd be interested in a recipe that: consists vegetables, is not too complicated, and is fairly quick to fix. I eat a lot of salads but that's gets old after awhile. My husband cooks shredded cabbage, chopped onions
and green peppers, chopped canned tomatoes, and corn. I really like this combination. When we reheat leftovers I have it over cooked potatoes. That's what we are having for dinner tonight.

Robi, I want to congratulate you for resisting that candy bar. Being a chocolate addict, I know how difficult that is. You almost have to *detox* off of candy and sweets. After 3 or 4 days, it should get easier. I had peaches with my cereal for breakfast. Yum Also cut up a whole watermelon and that's in the Fridge for when I want *something* really fast.

These are great choice for me as well. I get sick of salads. I don't have a weight problem, but, I am entering mid life and I must take stock in what I put into my self. The above menu, (recipes) sound great.

[buckner]

I'd be interested in a recipe that: consists vegetables, is not too complicated, and is fairly quick to fix. I eat a lot of salads but that's gets old after awhile. My husband cooks shredded cabbage, chopped onions
and green peppers, chopped canned tomatoes, and corn. I really like this combination. When we reheat leftovers I have it over cooked potatoes. That's what we are having for dinner tonight.

The most simple thing I can think of is stir-fry or fajitas. Really, there is no recipe to this crazy madness. I drizzle a little bit of EVOO in a big pain, let it heat up, and then toss is a ton of chopped/julienned veggies. I always use green peppers (or any colour I have) and onions, and sometimes will add cabbage, cauli, broccoli, carrots, or spinach. I'll add anything I have on hand, actually. If I'm doing a stir-fry type of thing, I'll put it with some whole wheat or brown rice. If I'm doing fajitas, I'll throw it in some whole wheat or veggie tortilla shells and gobble it up! You can also add any kind of meat (chicken, turkey, lean steak, shrimp, crab, etc...), it's all wonderful!

Okay, that's what I thought of off of the top of my head. Let me go look through my recipes!

[buckner]

I'd be interested in a recipe that: consists vegetables, is not too complicated, and is fairly quick to fix. I eat a lot of salads but that's gets old after awhile. My husband cooks shredded cabbage, chopped onions
and green peppers, chopped canned tomatoes, and corn. I really like this combination. When we reheat leftovers I have it over cooked potatoes. That's what we are having for dinner tonight.

Do you like mushrooms?


Portobello Burgers

4 large Portobello mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, sliced into very thin slivers
1 tsp. fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp. dried, (optional)
1 tsp. fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp. dried, (optional )
1 1/2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1. Preheat broiler or grill.

2. Wipe mushrooms with damp cloth. Remove stems. With paring knife, make slits in tops of caps. Stuff slivers of garlic and herbs (if using) into slits.

3. In small bowl, whisk together oil and vinegar with salt and pepper to taste. Brush mushrooms with oil mixture. Place mushrooms, cap-side down, on pan and broil or grill until soft and brown, about 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Makes 4 servings.

I wouldn't go to the trouble of thyme or rosemary, but you do what you want! Slap this sucker on a whole wheat bun, and you've got yourself a tasty "burger!"

[buckner]

Oh, and you said you liked salads, but they get old? Why not spice it up by doing something with a Mexican kick? A taco salad, for instance?

Do you eat meat? If so, cook up some lean ground turkey or grill some lean chicken strips. Set them aside. To a bowl, add your lettuce, tomato, olives, black beans, fat free sour cream, reduced fat cheese, and then your meat. Pretty low in calories, if you do it right. Add some fancy kicked up taco sauce, and BAM!



OR, vegetable pasta salads? Or a lettuce free salad? Seriously. Chop up thick cubes/chunks of carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and anything else you may enjoy (beans, cheese, green peppers, etc.) and drizzle your favourite low-fat dressing over top, and enjoy!


Let me know if these are not your cup of tea, and I'll do some more rootin'.

[christa]

Or a lettuce free salad?

Those are some great recipes, Sara! But a lettuce free salad??? We have replaced regular iceberg lettuce with spinach lettace and it is so good! Full of nutrients! I eat it in my salads, on my sandwiches, in my wraps . . . love the stuff!

And to add a comment about the stirfry & fajita tip you gave previously . . . for those of you who are looking for an even quicker meal, Sara is right, fajitas and stirfrys are the way to go. An even quicker approach is to look for a stirfry or fajita frozen veggie bag at your grocery store. You can get the veggies already sliced, frozen, and all you have to do is throw them in the pan, follow the directions and you don't have to go to the trouble of slicing them up yourself.

Of course, it's never as good as using FRESH VEGGIES . . . but in a pinch, it's easier.

[christa]

Do you like mushrooms?


Portobello Burgers

Hmmm . . . I've always wanted to try this . . . I just can't imagine that a mushroom could taste that meaty. Might have to try it though! You're really inspiring me to step out of the box, Ms. Sara! Got me drinking soymilk & everything!

By the way, guys, if you haven't tried Silk, you should! It's yummy! And good for you!

[christa]

I know it's a holiday & most everyone is probably having a vacation day today, but that's no reason to be lazy! If anything, it's a reason to get out and get something done today!

I am going to have to get to the Y early today . . . they are closing it down early and will kick us out at around 3, if not earlier. But got to get that heavy leg workout in! My arms are killing me from last night's workout with hubby! And I'm sure they'll just get worse . . . they usually do!

Have a great day everyone!

[christa]

Sara: Do you have any FISH recipes? I am making cod tonight & don't know what to do with it! Ever make cod??? I've made it before, just threw it in the oven with some lemon, butter & herbs . . . is that all I can do with it? Anything fancier? LOL

[Russian Blue]

Finally a health club I can join! Good idea.

Well, I've been making some slow advances over the last 2 months. Everytime I pass another birthday I always tell myself this will be the year that I will be healthier.

I totally cut out any juices and pop. I only drink water since I didn't want extra calories and sugar being in my beverages. I thought it would be harder but it was quite easy. Anytime I wanted something other than water I would mix a little flavoured water in my glass. Eventually I cut that out also. If I want OJ I eat an orange or if I want apple juice I'll eat an apple. Much more nutrience that way.

I seem to go through craving cycles. I week I'll want bread....muffins, bagels, homemade bread, etc. Then the next week I'll want chocolate,chocolate, chocolate. Not good.

I've reduced my carb intake by replacing the potatoes, rice, pasta with salad and veggies. A great new recipe I found was cauliflower stirfry rice. Instead of adding rice to your meals you substitue cauliflower. I've also substituted cauliflower for pototoe in many recipes. Just spice it up more and it works great for us!

Beyond the beverages, I just limit quantities of food instead of eliminating them all together. If I totally eliminated things from my life (like chocolate) I would die and not enjoy life.

Also, no eating after 6/7 at night and definately no carbs after 2 pm for me. I'll see how I do over the next two months. But it's always easier in the summer when veggies and fruit are in season. It's the dreaded fall/winter that I can pack on the pounds.

[christa]

Russian Blue: Welcome! Glad you joined us!!! I agree that it's good that you eat your carbs early in the day! The earlier you eat your carbs, the better chance you have of burning them off!

Sara: Thanks for the recipe idea! I will try a "variation" of that . . . I don't have all the ingredients on hand and there's no way I'm going to try to get to the store right now! LOL . . . I'm guessing traffic is pretty bad right now! Gotta make dinner though . . . hubby is hungry! LOL

[buckner]

Sara: Do you have any FISH recipes? I am making cod tonight & don't know what to do with it! Ever make cod??? I've made it before, just threw it in the oven with some lemon, butter & herbs . . . is that all I can do with it? Anything fancier? LOL

I've never cooked cod, can you believe it?! I've done a ton of salmon and tilapia, and a few other fishes.. must try cod soon! But I've done something very similar to this with tilapia.



INGREDIENTS:
2 zucchini, sliced
1 large potato, sliced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 large carrots, sliced
4 (4 ounce) fillets cod
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
2 roma (plum) tomatoes, sliced
1 fresh red chile pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
sea salt to taste
coarsely ground black pepper to taste

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DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x12 inch baking dish.
In the baking dish, arrange the zucchini, potato, green onions, and carrots. Place the cod on top of the vegetables, and sprinkle with dill. Arrange tomato slices over the cod, and sprinkle with red chile pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and season with sea salt and pepper.
Cover dish with aluminum foil, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until vegetables are tender and fish is easily flaked with a fork.



I just use whatever veggies I have on hand, too... just make sure they can roast well.



Also, baking a fish with lemon, pepper, and thyme is wonderful - and to kick it up, add some kind of sauce/glaze/homemade salsa and it's the BEST! TGIF's Bruschetta Tilapia is to die for, imo.