Turkey Burgers that rock!

Turkey Burgers That ROCK!

In this version, I serve it on a sandwich thin but my favorite way is to eat it as a lettuce wrap. Pile leaves of bibb or butter lettuce together to make a top and bottom “bun” and you will get additional veggies and extra crunch too!
I like to make extras and freeze the burgers after I cook them. They are easy to thaw and take for lunch or dinners in a pinch!
Turkey Burgers        (Serves 4)
  • 20oz Package lean ground turkey
  • 2 Cloves garlic – finely minced
  • ½ of a small yellow onion (finely diced)
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ Tbsp Sriraccha (these will not be hot)
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 egg whites
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Take a small amount of mixture out and fry on griddle to make sure it is seasoned to your liking… taste. (I always do this before making the whole batch).
**Adjust seasoning if necessary. Divide mixture in 4 to make (4) 5oz patties. Fry on griddle until cooked through (approximately 6-7 minutes per side).
 Burger toppings:
  • 4 Oroweat Sandwich Thins (or) bibb/butter lettuce wraps
Bibb lettuce, tomato, onion slices, pickles and favorite condiments. (Be careful to limit your condiments to a few teaspoons, as they can add significant calories to your meal quickly).
http://www.gettingfittogether.com/turkey-burgers-that-rock/#comment-408

How to Eat Healthy with your Family

By Christi Ryan

How to eat healthy with your family is something that is on the top of many parents’ minds.  One of the main obstacles with healthy eating is family objections. Family members complain about having chicken and push away greens on their plates; after a while it’s tempting to give up on the idea of healthy eating.
It helps to be very “middle of the road” when turning your lifestyle around and expecting your family to join you. Don’t start having food wars with them; it’s not worth the turmoil and frustration. However there are some things you can do to make them happy while still eating healthy.

How To Eat Healthy With Your Family

*Modify your favorite recipes. For instance, use lean ground beef, drain and pat dry or rinse it.  Serve chicken breast for fajitas, use less cheese in mixed dishes, and serve raw veggies as a side dish; use your crockpot and bake or broil instead of frying.
*It doesn’t work to prepare a healthy meal for you and a separate meal for your family. You will burn out quickly doing that! Serve a balanced diet and allow each person to choose how much and what they want. For instance, if the family requests pot roast, pick a leaner cut of meat, and then fix a salad and another green veggie and serve.
Many of them may only have meat and potatoes and you may only have the meat, salad and green veggie, but you all basically eat the same meal. If they want you to make their favorite enchilada casserole smothered in cheese, modify it and then make yourself a large salad to have on the side while keeping your portion of casserole smaller.
*Sliced veggies and fruit go over better. When school activities are bombarding your schedule, it’s OK to bring home a pizza (stay away from the fatty meats or deep dish). Cut up some carrots, slice up an apple and pear or purchase a veggie tray to have along side your pizza. It will help you to keep portions controlled.
*Refuse to be a restaurant!  Serve the meal, allow kids to eat what they want and how much they want without nagging or criticizing. Your job as a parent is to serve healthy and regular meals and snacks. Their job is to choose how much and what they eat. Forcing kids to eat isn’t worth it.
*Include the family in the meal planning.  If your family has a say in meal options, they will be more cooperative. Agree to try a healthy recipe once a week.
*Plan ahead – plan the meal that’s the most difficult for YOU to control. When not with the family, make a point to choose the BEST choice.
*MODERATION! Eat smaller portions of fattier foods and larger portions of veggies and lean protein and you’ll keep your weight down and make your family happy.
Be patient. Eating healthy is a lifestyle and it takes a while for everyone to adjust. Follow a solid nutrition guide. Beachbody has amazing nutrition plans and is one that our family follows. If you follow these steps, “How To Eat Healthy With Your Family” there will never be a question again. Play it smart, include your family and you’ll get the results you want. A happy, healthy family!
http://www.gettingfittogether.com/how-to-eat-healthy-with-your-family/

St. Patrick's Day Favorites


If you know me you know I love holidays.  One of the main reasons I love holidays is because I love theme food. St. Patrick's Day is no different.  Here are a few our families favorites and essentially our meal plan for the next week.  What is your favorite St. Patrick's Day recipe?

Courtesy of www.versesfrommykitchen.com

Beef and Guinness Stew
Beef and Guinness Stew Recipe

Shephards Pie


And of course...

Kopan's Irish Cream

A few side notes.  I also LOVE Irish Soda Bread but I don't have an awesome recipe for it yet.  Also, I never use heavy cream for anything.  If it requires heavy cream I use milk.  Not as a rich but if I buy heavy cream I use half of it and the rest just sits around my refrigerator. 

Christmas (or St. Paddy's Day) Treats



Oh my, this is late.  As in very late.  To the point that I thought perhaps, I shouldn't even write about our Christmas baking.  I mean, I've already done my Valentine's Day baking.  Then of course I realized that any time is a good time to share about Christmas baking and making Homemade Irish Cream.  Heck, St. Patrick's Day is coming up so I'm actually ahead of schedule.  And you could easily use minty green oreos and make St Paddy's Day bark...(which I'm totally going to do).

The best thing about both these recipes is that they are easy!  Really easy requiring very little more than just combining ingredients but none the less they are very, very good.

Homemade Irish Cream
Irish  Cream supplies.  It is go time!

  • 1 cup light cream 
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 2/3 cup Irish whiskey (I used Bushmill's)
  • 1 teaspoon instant coffee (I used decaf)
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and set on high speed for 30 seconds.
  1. Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Shake before using.
  1. Will keep for up to 2 months.

 Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Bark supplies 
Peppermint Bark


  • Ingredients
  • 12 ounces chocolate chips
  • 12 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 1½ cups (roughly 15 individual candies) crushed peppermint candies (can also use candy canes or pre-crushed peppermint)
  • About 1/2 Box of peppermint joe-joes

Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  1.  Melt the chocolate in the microwave by placing in a microwave-safe bowl and heating and stirring in 20-30 second intervals. 
  1. Once melted, pour over parchment paper and spread as evenly as possible with a spatula. 
  1. Crush the peppermint oreos.  I prefer the plastic bag technique.  (As put in a plastic zip-lock bag and step on them.)
  1. Sprinkle the peppermint oreos over the melted chocolate.  
  1. Prepare white chocolate in clean bowl exactly as with chocolate.   (Beware with the white chocolate.  It melts fast and then crosses beyond melted even faster.).
  1. Pour over the oreos and spread evenly with a spatula. Spread as quickly as possible to avoid having the melted chocolate mix with the white chocolate.
  1. Generously sprinkle  peppermint over the white chocolate topping.
  1. Place back into freezer for 30-45 minutes to allow to fully harden.
  1. Once completely hardened, remove from freezer and break into small pieces with your hands.
  1. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe courtesy of www.cupcakeproject.com

Ingredients
Instructions

Peppermint Bark


3 Turns to Find Myself




It took about 3 turns off the ski lift before I remembered why I missed skiing so much.  Last weekend I went skiing for the first time since I was pregnant with my three year old.  Skiing was the last thing that I hadn't done, but wanted to do, since becoming a Mom.  Sure, I liked sleeping in, but I've always been an early riser.  I liked being able to go out at night, but I've always been a home body.  Since having my kiddos I've been running again, to concerts, to brunch.  Life, has returned to relative normalcy.  Or the new normal.  The new amazing, wonderful motherhood normal.

While I missed skiing, and after years of skiing almost every weekend from December through April, I really missed it, it just never seemed to be worth the necessary planning that would go into getting me to a ski mountain.  Did I really want to bring a pump with me?  Was it worth not seeing my kiddos for a whole day?  We waited it out until a pump was unnecessary, brought the grandparents along, so we could see the kiddos for lunch.  It took a lot of coordination.  It took a lot of planning.

After 3 turns it was totally worth it.  In fact the moment I started putting on my ski clothing at home just to make sure it all fit I started finding the person that used to wear them.  I put on my ski boots and my helmet in front of my kiddo and he said "Mommy, you're a skier!"  Oh, that's right.  I am a skier.  As we pulled into the parking lot at the base of the mountain, it slowly started coming back to me.  Without thinking I put on my boots and all of my cold weather accessories (and there were a lot since it was about 0 degrees).  As we walked to the lodge I didn't even have to think about how to carry my skis, they just went where they always go and by the time we made it on the lift, I was almost back in the groove.


It took about 3 turns off the ski lift before I remembered why I missed skiing so much.  It wasn't the skiing, but the person I was when I was skiing.  I was cold weather loving and adventurous.  I was someone pushing my limits both physically and mentally.  I was a lover of the great outdoors and not just defined by the congested New Jersey area that I lived.

So much of my time after becoming a mother was spent redefining myself in terms of who I was as a mother that I forgot some of the who I was before I became a mother.  Maybe it was a defense mechanism that I forgot because I didn't want to feel bad or guilty.  Or maybe I just didn't figure out how to fit that person in with who I was now.  Its not as if I don't like the person that I am now, becoming a mother has been amazing.

But it took about 3 turns off the ski lift before I remembered who the person I was before I was a mother.  Down the mountain, that freezing cold mountain, my body remembered how to ski and because I had make the necessary precautions so I wasn't worried about my kiddos, I wasn't worried about my kiddos.  I was only concerned with the snow about 20 feet in front of me.  Finding the powder, finding the ice.  And like before, when my distractions were work or wedding planning, or something else, the snow served as my escape.  The cold weather was my challenge.

At the bottom of the mountain I told my husband that's all I needed.  One run.  Just a reminder of what I could do.

I was home.  The person I was before, was still there, she just was even better with skills she never imagined, like the ability to comfort a crying baby in the middle of the night on 2 hours of sleep.  Juggling two kids in Costco and come out with what I actually wanted.  My multitasking was taken to another level with kids making the simplicity of skiing even more calming.

It took about 3 turns to find myself and to realize I hadn't gone anywhere.

Goals...Just some dreams but with steps


Oh my goodness.  How did it get to be the end of January already I haven't even made my goals official?  This year I have big plans, mainly because last year I had big plans and by putting them out there I actually reached so many of those goals.  It was sort of amazing.  Last year was the first year that instead of just saying something like "I want to be more healthy" or even "I will run more" I actually laid out plans and made a to-do list.  I started super big, and broad with my thoughts and then just made them more specific with steps.  So without further adieu, in no particular order, although bunched together in the way my mind works, here are my goals for this year.

Complete 2 Half marathons, 1 15k, 3 5ks, 1 10k  (All but the 10k are on the calendar.)
Complete 21 Day Fix Extreme and Insanity Max 30
Run 730 miles.
Walk 10,000 steps per day.

Use all of my volunteer/pro bono days at work.  
Involve my family in 1 community service project per month.  

Incorporate essential oils into our families lives, at the very least into cleaning supplies.
Create a dream board.
Incorporate meditation into my daily routine.  

Take better care of my skin, specifically, hands, face, and neck

Organize boys memory boxes.
Update the baby books,
Make the following photo books:  Alexander year 1, Year of 2014, Honeymoon, European vacation.
Organizing filing,

Start playing the oboe again

10 minutes of Personal Development Each Day
Complete nutrition/diet courses.
Learn how to take good photos of the family with more than just an iPhone.
Be consistent with posting on this very blog more often.

On a side note, these are my personal goals.  My professional goals and financial goals will be in another post when I talk more about my dream board...or when I figure them out.  Well okay, here are a few.
Take my Beachbody business to the next level (One Star Diamond) by continuing to help others.
Evaluate my current job to make sure I find it fulfilling. 
Pay off Private Law School loans.
Figure out where the extra payment from the law school loans should go.
Incorporate Dave Ramsey's Plan into our house.

Insanity Max 30 Review



Great review! I've done both Insanity and Insanity Max 30 and am loving how Insanity Max 30 pushes you as hard as you can go and makes it okay to "fail"....you are supposed to find that point where you need to take a break. It's all about making YOUR times better....not competing with others.

 Insanity Max 30: the ultimate challenge
http://www.gettingfittogether.com/

Menu Plan: January 12-18

Honeybee Homemaker: 21 Day Fix Recipe: Stuffed Bell Peppers

This weeks menu plan took a little extra effort because I am not only planning my dinners but I am also really paying attention to breakfast, lunch and snacks. With the 21 Day Fix the only chance I have to fail is to not menu plan.  Otherwise it is all laid out for me.  So here it goes:

Monday: Chicken Enchiladas
Tuesday: Leftover Chicken Enchiladas
Wednesday: Grilled Pork Chops with Roasted Butternut Squash and "burnt" broccoli
Thursday: Greek Chicken and mashed sweet potatoes with Spicy Green Beans
Friday:  Breakfast for sinner/leftovers
Saturday:  Stuffed Bell Peppers
Sunday: Pulled Pork and sweet potato "fries"

A To-do List for My Subconscious


I have read over and over again that writing your goals/resolutions down make them more likely to be achieved.  Even better, telling someone else will help you accomplish those goals.  This is why people keep journals and create dream boards.  Like I said, I have read this over and over again.  Its all about visualizing what you want and then getting it.  Whether you are consciously working towards your goals or not, your subconscious is...as long as it knows what you want.  The purpose is to fill your subconscious with positive thoughts, goals and images.  Writing your goals down, making a dream board, these are tangible representations of where you want to go.

Well, I "know" all this, but I must say I have never really, completely bought into this theory.  Until a few days ago that is.  A few days ago I was rereading an old journal (Have you ever done that?  Very humbling, and pretty funny.)  This particular journal focused on my husband and my honeymoon to Australia.  I was simply reading it to find out the places we ate at so I could make suggestions to a friend traveling to Australia.  It was all well and good until I came across this statement:


 "For me, Lizard Island and Australia, made me want to take better care of my whole self, both inside and out.  Listen to more music- do tai chi and yoga, eat healthier.  Less concern about calories and more about healthy food.  

 I am also more interested in finding a fulfilling job.  Law, yes, but a different, better kind of law."

So this is what I was thinking and what I wrote down on November 1,2008,  I don't know that when I went back to work and home that I was actively reaching these goals.  In fact, I went back to work and eventually changed jobs to a position that was decidedly not more fulfilling and my focus moved not toward me but to starting a family.  All along, my subconscious has been working because as of today I do in fact have a much more fulfilling job.  A job I love in fact.  And not just my day job, but my time spent as beachbody coach helps me live a healthier life.  I might not be as thin as I was but I am healthier.  No more sweetners in my life.  I focus on eating whole foods for both my family and myself.  We live a greener life, with the main cleaner in our house being vinegar vs. chemicals.  I pay attention to what comes into my home, perhaps because of the little people who also inhabit it but the result is the same.  We do live healthier lives.  As we speak, my work out program is a combination of yoga and running.  And yes, I do listen to more music.  (My little buddies are huge music fans.)

Perhaps it took 6 years, but for those last 6 years my subconscious has been quite busy.  If writing a random comment in my journal could do so much what would some focused writing do?  What would, dare I say, a dream board do?  I suppose there is only one way to find out.  If you're looking for me this weekend, I'll be the one cutting pictures out of magazines, making a to do list for my subconscious.  


Carrot & Pear Muffins

Today was what you could call "better empty the fridge" day. After all the holiday events and leftovers it was time to see what need to be used before it went bad.  Our old pears jumped out at me as something that needed to be used soon.  

Plus, with it being the first day not traveling we had the time for a little baking.  After doing a little searching on Pinterest we found a few recipes that would fit the bill.  Healthy, oatmeal muffins that of course has pears, is exactly what we were looking for.  Plus as you can see below we were able to use the food compressor part of our new Ninja.  


Here is our recipe adapted from Random Recycling.

 Ingredients
1/2 cup raisins1 1/2 cups 100% whole wheat flour 
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup oatmeal
4 medium carrots, peeled and grated (2 cups)
1 pear, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 cup honey
3 large eggs
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp vanilla extract 

In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients through oats.
Stir in the carrots and pears.
 
Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture.
Drain raisins and fold into batter.
Fill greased or paper lined muffin tin 3/4 full with batter.


Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2.  Place raisins in a small bowl, cover with water and set aside.
3.  In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients through oats.
4.  Stir in the carrots and pears.
5.  In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, oil, yogurt, honey and vanilla.
6.  Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture.
7.  Drain raisins and fold into batter.
8.  Fill greased or paper lined muffin tin 3/4 full with batter.
9.  Bake 25 minutes (15 minutes for mini muffins) or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. 
On a side note.  The plan was to do 1 cup of honey but we only had 1/2 cup.  
I think you could do either way.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan: December 29th- January 4th

Courtesy of www.tastykitchen.com
It is sooo very nice to be back to menu planning.  Even better than just planning this week, I'm starting to plan our meals for the month.  Yes, a month!  I know its a little crazy but it gives me piece and lets me know at the very least I'm planning on eating healthy.  Its also a great way to save a little money.  Alas, I'm getting ahead of myself.  First, lets get through this week (and be warned it may not all be healthy).

Monday:  Turkey Tetrazzini  (I'll putting the turkey mixture on a sweet potato.)
Tuesday:  English Muffin Pizzas
Wednesday:  Happy New Year's Eve!  Appetizers galore...recipes to follow, but here is a sneak peak.  Holiday Bourbon Meatballs
Thursday: Roasted Pork with root vegetables, apples and sauerkraut.  (For good luck of course)
Friday:  Leftovers
Saturday: Baked Chicken Parmesan
Sunday: Variation on Chili for a Crowd

Menu Plan- Thanksgiving Week

The menu plan this week is a little different than normal.  We're only cooking one meal for home, going out some other nights and with family for the rest of the week.  That being said, I have already started cooking for the holiday.  

This is what we are making for this week.

Monday Dinner: Tex-Mex Beef Tacos
Yummy Beef Tacos

Thanksgiving Recipes:

Our Imagined Life: Bacon Wrapped Dates

(something like this, although not exactly)
Pear Pomegranate and Spinach Salad | Cooking Classy

IMG_2817


Brown Butter Sage Butternut Squash.


Pumpkin french toast

The Perfect Molasses Cookie (Grain Free, Paleo, Gluten Free) via Deliciously Organic.net

pumpkin-hersheys-kiss-cookie2

DSC_1115

Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

First Friday Faves

This Friday Faves is focused on that wonderful holiday, Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, many folks go straight from Halloween to Christmas.  

This list will give you five reasons that Thanksgiving is great!


1. Turkey Trots

Whats not to like about a Turkey Trot?  You run and then you go home and eat turkey.  
Find a race and join in.  You'll have a blast!


2. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Broadway in your living room, along with huge balloons. 
 And of course it gives a great chance to welcome Santa Claus into our homes.


3.  Miracle on 34th Street

A holiday classic and one that actually starts while watching the Thanksgiving Day parade (see above).  Dinner is finished, and unless you are watching football this is a great movie to kick off the holiday season.  And speaking of football...  


4.  Football

I'm not talking just the NFL but the chance on a random Thursday to get outside a play a little football.  Unlike that other winter holiday we don't have the distraction of presents so use that time to get outside with your family and play a little football.  Or go for a walk.  
(This is also in honor of the wonderful Friends Thanksgiving episodes.)


5. Chocolate Turkeys

Need I say more?

Breakfast at Tiffany's


PARTY DETAILS, as told by Tovah...
As the mom of two boys I will use any excuse to get a little girly.  The impending arrival of my cousin's and dear friend's daughter was a perfect reason.  We had already celebrated her son with a full size shower so this "sprinkle" was a great chance to celebrate both baby girl and mama in a low key but very fun way.

Because this was our chance to be girly we wanted to go all out with a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme but first we needed a location.  Many people in the Wilmington, DE area suggested Pizza by Elizabeths.  Thank goodness for these suggestions because this restaurant was perfect.  From start to finish, working with their events coordinator made the whole process very smooth.  We were able to give everyone a customized menu where they could sample all of the wonderful food the restaurant had to offer.  Fantastic assortments of appetizers and of course, pizza.    

We chose simple cupcakes that were decorated in Breakfast at Tiffany's style, thanks to Pizza by Elizabeths.  We couldn't have a shower without favors, so why not have Tiffany's boxes filled with the restaurant specialty of toffee.

Everything was wonderful from start to finish but the best part was the wonderful group of women all coming to celebrate Mama Yonce and Baby Girl Yonce (who just arrived!!).  All friends and family of the mom from various parts of her life made it truly a fantastic experience to be together.  Thanks to the restaurant and the company it was a lovely afternoon and a great way to welcome the sweet girl!