Best Pork Chops Ever

I decided to make a yummy Palisade Peach slow cooked pork chop. This is a pretty healthy and savory meal. You can skip the potatoes, however I opted for them because I think my body was craving carbs!

Peachy Pork Chops!

3 Palisade peaches skinned and cut up

1/2 cup of white wine (sweet or dry)

1 Tbsp of red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp of Olive oil

salt and pepper

I cooked this in my Le Crueset (I call it my magic pot). Put the tablespoons of olive oil in the pan on medium heat. Slightly brown the pork chops. Turn the heat down to medium low and add in the wine, peaches, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Let it cook slowly for 30 minutes or so and you will have some yummy pork chops.  It is so easy and the pork just absorbs the flavor.  I served it with a zucchini, summer squash and sweet onion medley and roasted potatoes.

I saved the extra juice and marinated my Sockeye Salmon for Tuesday’s meal.

Beginning of the new me….

After years (probably 10 years) of major knee problems and seeing countless doctors I have decided to see a trainer. I have never been a fan of masking pain and why I waited so long is beyond me.   My breaking point was after 6 months or so of inactivity for medical reasons my body was so weak that I couldn’t take it anymore. Just walking would put me out for a few days because of my knees.

It was time to invest in myself for the first time in my life!  I felt since I had been to the Orthopedic Center so many times and the doctor pretty much told me there was no hope for me and to just pop 4 Advil four times a day.  Well I call bullshit! There had to be a way. It wasn’t until chatting with a friend who was seeing a trainer and the dramatic differences they had seen in their body within a year.

I am and have always been an athlete. I love competition! Whether it is beating my own time or competing in a sport.  I love running, playing soccer, skiing, dancing, snowshoeing, etc…The problem is that my body has continually stopped me from being consistent. I would think that I was healthy and then I would push myself and be out of commission for 1 week or longer. I was over it! I needed a change and I needed it now.

I remember when meeting with my trainer I was at my wit’s end.  I almost cried during our first meeting because I was so frustrated with were my body and endurance level is currently at.  I am on my second week of training and already feeling a slight difference. My energy level is definitely higher. I still have to ice my knees everyday, but it totally helps and that could just be my future.  What was the shocker to me (not really but for dramatic purposes) was how out of shape I really am. My core…don’t even get me started on how weak that part of my body has become. So I am signing my 6 month contract on Tuesday, but will probably be committing to at least a year.

I love and respect my trainer. His knowledge (especially for people with prior injuries), patience and dedication to physical fitness in inspiring. Plus he used to compete in sports and for me that is always a good bonus.  I feel bad if I am not keeping up with what he teaches me in our session.  My competitive streak comes out that I want to master what was so difficult in training by our next meeting.  I do feel thankful he is willing to take me on because I can be a pain in the ass.  Keep your fingers crossed. I am a good listener and as he is my teacher I will be a good student.

Along with training, I am changing the way I eat. Even though he stated that diet was important I was hesitant, I love to eat!  I mean I am not stupid, I know but I didn’t want to give up certain foods.  However, I figured if I am going to do it I am going to do it right. Plus, being in my mid-30′s…it is not going to get any easier.  I haven’t mastered the balance yet because I was a little behind in my calories last week and I almost felt I was getting sick.  I am going to journal this journey as part of my local, organic, grass-fed and healthy eating. If you are interested please follow along.

Here are a few changes that I have made in the past two weeks:

• No more chocolate chip cookies at 2:30pm, instead Clif Bar.
• Cutting my portion sizes back. Because I can’t give up pasta…but I can eat a little less.
• Cut back my alcohol consumption.
• Banana/Fresh Ground roasted honey peanut butter a day – I LOVE this snack! I am addicted. I could eat it 3x a day.
• Eating way more eggs.

• No more fried chicken…:( This is so hard because I love it so much. However, I will be searching for an amazing Oven Fried Chicken recipe so stay tuned.
• I use to eat 3 squares of chocolate a night…no longer. That was a little bit easier than the wine.

Palisade Peach Salsa

Palisade Peach Salsa

2 1/2 cups Palisade peaches, diced
3/4 cup sweet onion, finely diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/2 tsp Serrano or jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp Clover honey

Depending on how you want to utilize this salsa you can either heat it, chill it or room temperature. I used it heated to cook with pork chops and it turned out so wonderful because the flavor cooked in with the pork chops

Peach Empanadas

I use to just toss the mushy fruit away that I was just to late to eat.  However, thank the lord for the empanadas! It is the fun saviour to everything leftover…including fruit!  This dish you can use any fruit you like. Since it is peach season (thank you Palisade) we have a lot of peaches!

Take a sheet of puff pasty (I still have not been able to find an organic brand) and lay it out.

Cut an X across the sheet.

In the middle of the each square put you cut up fruit, some brown sugar and butter.

Now you want to fold them over and take a fork and press the sides down.  Make sure they are sealed because you don’t want any of the yummy goodness to come out!  Bake at 400 degrees until brown and serve with Ben and Jerry’s vanilla ice cream!

Ode to Eat, Love, Pray

Last Friday Heather, Adrienne and I  went to see the movie to follow-up our reading. While I didn’t find the movie as good as the book, I did love it. How can you not! It has everything that I love; Italy, Italian food, yoga, traveling, meditation, etc…do you want me to go on.  I have to say I have such a love affair with everything Italian.  I just hope I can talk Jeremy into going back again or I might just have to go myself!  It is the mind-set, lifestyle, fresh food, simplicity….everything! I swear since coming back from Italy I have gained so much weight to keep my love of their food consistent here!

Here is one of the beloved dishes from Eat, Love, Pray and a Roman classic. I tried to get the calories reduced…but it is just a little difficult. So I would just recommend smaller portions…if you can! That is my weakness when it comes to Italian.

Pasta Carbonara!

1lb thick spaghetti — homemade of course!

7oz Italian Pancetta

4 eggs 1 whole + 3 yolks

3 oz Pecorino or Parmigiano cheese

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

salt and freshly milled black pepper

1 tsp of red pepper (I have to make everything spicy)

Boil Pasta til aldente

Meanwhile, cut Pancetta into small cubes or strips and put in a pan by adding the oil and fry until the fat has become transparent and slightly crisp, remove from heat and let cool.

In a bowl beat 4 eggs along with Pecorino or Parmigiano a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the fried pancetta to beaten eggs. When the spaghetti is cooked, drain and add them to the pasta bowl with eggs an pancetta.  Stir continuously fir about 1 minute to incorporate the mixture.

Serve immediately.

Strawberry-Oatmeal Protein Pancakes

Strawberry-Oatmeal Protein Pancakes

1/2 Cup Rolled Oats

1/2 Teaspoon Flax Seeds

1/4 Scoop Protein Powder (Vanilla)

4-5 Small Frozen Strawberries

3/4 cup Egg Beaters

1 Splash Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup (Torani)

In a blender, combine Oats, Flax Seeds, and Protein. Pulse several times, until Oats and Flax are well ground. Add Strawberries, Egg Beaters, and Syrup. Puree, until ingredients have a batter consistency. Cook in a well-greased pan and top with syrup, any additional fruit, yogurt, or anything else you desire. Makes Two Large Pancakes.

I apologize but I don’t remember where I found this recipe I have had it for so long, but I am still sharing it with you.

9 Eat Healthy While Keeping it Cheap

1. Switch to water

2. Eat Eggs

3. Get Whey – very cheap form of protein

4. Quinoa in bulk – high in fiber and you can mix anything with it! Great for mixing leftovers

5. Canned Tuna

6. Frozen Veggies – even organic frozen veggies have GREAT sales.

7. Buy in bulk. It is cheaper and more affordable to eat whole foods.

8. Start a garden. If you don’t have a lawn invest in Aerogarden or container garden.

9. Beans/Legumes -  Inexpensive source of protein and can be purchased in bulk.

I will continue to post inexpensive ways to purchase foods that are healthy and affordable!