Quotable Sunday: Island Life, Pig Roasting, and Love

5 Comments / Lifestyle /

Good morning everyone. I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and are enjoying yourselves on this beautiful Sunday. I had an amazing weekend relaxing at my grandparent’s oceanside house on Fisher’s Island in celebration of my uncle’s wedding. Him and his wife got married at dusk on a beach a few months ago – simple ,romantic, and filled with love. However, we still thought they deserved a party so our family threw them a grand pig roast on the island.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect and the food couldn’t have been more delicious. I indeed tried the ham (though I was skeptical at first), but filled up mostly with steamed clams, tropical fruit kebobs, thai pasta salad, sangria and Chardonnay. I also picked at fresh baby shrimp in cocktail sauce, smoked striper, and gluten free carrot cake muffins with cream cheese frosting that my aunt made special for me! I must say, nothing compared to the steamed clams which were cooked ever-so-perfectly in butter and garlic. Talk about an island treat.

fruit kebobs, anyone?

wine & sangria galore

clams, clams everywhere…

It was so nice to see my uncle so in love, and I’ve never seen him … Read More!

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Friday Favorites: Beach Walk, Blueberry Waffles, Boating and Everything in Between

6 Comments / Lifestyle /

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Who doesn’t love a walk on the beach?

Good morning ladies! Hope you all had a fabulous week, and have an even more fabulous weekend. If you recall last week I mentioned I was feeling under the weather. Good news is I’m feeling a little better, bad news is I’m still not back to my 100% self. I guess only time, hydration and lots of tea will heal me! I’m just happy I have my voice back; I can’t imagine what is was like to be Ariel in the Little Mermaid. Girl must of had it rough. OK, it’s Friday and that means it’s time for Friday Favorites. Here’s what I’ve been hootin’ and hollerin’ about this week!

Beach Walk: No, not actually walking on the beach (though that’s fun too), but rather the Yankee Candle scent. I know candles are typically a wintery thing, but I just couldn’t resist the fabulous sale Yankee Candle was having the other day at the mall- just $8 scored me a large, 22 oz. candle. And I must say, I am 100% happy with my purchase. Notes of salt water, ocean, tangerine and orange blossom make any day a sunny … Read More!

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The Perfect Healthy Summer Meal: Baked Chicken Strips with Smashed Potatoes

Leave a Comment / Food & Recipes /

Could that coconut chicken get any crispier? And to think – it’s BAKED!

Remember how I mentioned my new recipe book Gourmet Nutrition: The Cookbook for the Fit Food Lover the other day on my blog? Well, I’m happy to say I successfully prepared one of the recipes for dinner the other night. I chose to make the Baked Chicken Strips prepared with my own simple Smashed Red Bliss & Sweet Potatoes. The chicken strips were absolutely delicious, and the coconut added a joyous crispy, sweet treat to the end. I topped off the dinner with a mixed green Italian salad and a bottle of wine, of course!

Want to re-create this here summer meal for your family? See how I did it below:

Baked Chicken Strips*

*modified & quadrupled the recipe (p.114) from Gourmet Nutrition as I was serving 4 to 6 people

-2 packages boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins (the recipe called for whole chicken breasts cut into strips but this was easier)

-few pinches salt & pepper

-few pinches Paprika

-2 large eggs mixed with 4 TB water

-1 c. cornflake crumbs (The recipe called for whole wheat breadcrumbs, but I used corn due to my … Read More!

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Book Review: Gourmet Nutrition for the Fit Food Lover

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As much as I love giving presents, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like receiving them too. Whether it’s a surprise back rub, or a special bottle of wine, presents are oodles of fun. And yesterday, my sister surprised me with quite the belated birthday present. Since she knows I love to read, cook, and eat healthy (as she does as well), she ordered me the book “Gourmet Nutrition: The Cookbook for the Fit Food Lover.” It arrived in the mail yesterday, and we can’t wait to cook from it when we move into our North End apartment together.

Considering my healthy lifestyle and recent decision to go back to school to become a Holistic Health Coach, how more perfect could this present be? Written by Dr. John M. Berardi, Michael Williams & Kristina Andrew, the creators of Precision Nutrition, the book is made for people who absolutely love cooking and eating, but without all the guilt. I’m pretty sure that describes my philosophy on a healthy diet to a tee.

I’ve already started flipping through the book, marking down some must-try recipes. However, I’m running into one big problem: they all look … Read More!

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Got the Monday Blues? 7 Ways to Snap Out of It and Find Your Inner Happiness

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lobster roll, anyone?

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Good afternoon ladies. Or is it really a good afternoon? If you’re like me, you may be craving a little extra feel-good this Monday. Hey, they don’t call it the Monday Blues for nothing. If that extra-large latte with two shots of espresso still isn’t doing it for you, read on my friends. Here are 7 surefire ways that’ll snap you out of that grouchy mood by the time you finish your lunch:

1. Lobster roll specials are all over the place right now, especially if you live in New England. Check out what made the cut for Serious Eats’ top 17 lobster rolls in the Northeast here. But if you’re looking to snag a really great deal, nothing beats “window shopping” for tasty specials during the summertime; just make sure you’re paying attention to the signs as you walk!

2. The Boston Common offers free yoga at Frog Pond every Thursday at 9 a.m. There’s no better way to start your morning than a little Power Vinyasa in the park. End your morning with a homemade smoothie, made with frozen strawberries, banana and vanilla soy milk, perhaps. If you don’t live in … Read More!

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Quotable Sunday: On The Little Things that Shape Our Lives

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Good evening everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. I must say I had an amazing weekend celebrating with friends and family at my sister’s graduation party. It was filled with precious little moments…and to me those are the best kind of moments. Since my family know’s how to eat (and cook) we naturally ate our hearts out, including Acacado Bean Dip, Vegetable Lasagna, my mom’s Chicken Divan (a family favorite), Death by Chocolate and the most moist & sinful gluten free brownies that ever touched my taste buds.

All in all the weekend was a 10, despite the fact that I lost my voice and my throat still hurts. For a social butterfly, losing your voice really stinks. Now I know how poor Ariel felt. Anyway, it’s Sunday so it’s time for Quotable Sunday. This one really stood out to be this week, and lies close to my heart. Enjoy and be well!

XoXo,

… Read More!

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Friday Favorites: 3 Must-Haves After My Island Adventure

1 Comment / Lifestyle /

Can you believe it’s already Friday? I can’t! This week sort of flew by like a hurricane for me…a very blurry hurricane. Ever since I’ve been back from my Fourth of July camping adventure, I’ve unfortunately been sick as a dog. I feel sore, lethargic, and have a killer sore throat. But I’m trying to stay as positive as I can despite my situation. There’s nothing a little R & R, Vitamin C and hydration can’t fix, after all! I’m hoping to be back to my normal self soon enough.

Anyway, it’s Friday and you know what that means…it’s time for my weekly Friday Favorites! Here’s what I’m obsessing over this week:

Slow Flow Yoga: The other day, I was feeling a little down so I decided to use my complimentary week pass to Healthworks and get down with some Slow Flow Yoga. First off, Healthworks was absolutely beautiful. It was my first time attending the fitness center for women, and I was so impressed by the sparkling clean interior, outstanding customer service non-crowded space.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Slow Flow Yoga class, which was a mix between a meditative practice and a slow flow of yoga … Read More!

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Looking for a Unique, Healthy Summer Breakfast? Try This Italian-Inspired Caprese Omelet

1 Comment / Food & Recipes /

When I studied abroad in Italy several summers ago, I absolutely fell in love with the country…along with the Caprese salad I enjoyed nearly every day. There was just something about the magnificent combination of fresh buffalo mozzarella, luscious tomatoes, basil and pure olive oil that made my taste buds sing with joy.

In Italy, the dish is typically served as an antipasto (appetizer), but I like to enjoy it here in the U.S. as a main meal. And now that summer is here and the weather is only getting hotter, my memories of Italy and the Isalata Caprese have been on my mind.

Last night, after my evening Slow Flow yoga class I took at Healthworks, I headed to Trader Joe’s to pick up some goods. I was craving Caprese…real bad. Naturally, I whipped up my favorite Italian salad when I got home and it tasted just as I remembered. I closed my eyes and pretended I was sitting at my favorite little cafe sipping red wine with the locals. Pure decadence.

Then this morning I took it a step further and got a little creative. Alas, the Caprese Egg White Omelet was born. Who knew one … Read More!

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Hump Day Lesson of the Day: Unplugging from Life

5 Comments / Lifestyle /

Good afternoon all! Sorry I have been MIA for the past few days. As I mentioned in Friday’s blog post, I was off to Bumpkin Island, one of Boston’s Harbor Islands, for the long weekend. Despite the hundreds of ticks, poison-ivy coated pathways, composting toilets and ZERO running water, I truly did have a blast. I lucked out with just a few little mosquito bites and a pretty sweet tan.

And as bad as I’m making it sound, I miss the camping trip way. Sure, it felt good to take a real shower and go out for calamari and Merlot for my birthday last night, but there’s just something inexplainable about getting away. Not only did I get to see seven different sets of fireworks right on the ocean, eat homemade turkey burgers with feta over the fire and spend time with some amazing people (The Boy included), but it also gave me a chance to disconnect…from everything.

I never thought it’d be so refreshing to simply unplug and enjoy. No smart phones, no TV, no Mac, no blogging, no Starbuck’s iced coffee and limited makeup. What at first sounded like a nightmare ended up being a pretty phenomenal … Read More!

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Looking on the Bright Side and Friday Favorites

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Wow, what a week. I think I speak for everyone when I say TGIF. Seriously, I’ve been waiting for Friday to come for what seems like months. I had one of those hell weeks, you know where everything just seems to go wrong. But I woke up this morning with a new outlook on things. You can’t change whatever happened in the past, so why not move forward? It’s not worth dwelling on past issues, when the future holds much brighter things for each and every one of us. As my roommate put it this morning: “Things can only go up from here!” And she’s exactly right. OK, enough with my philosophical advice; it’s time for my weekly Friday Favorites! Here’s what made my top three this week:

1. Red Lantern: I was lucky enough to work an event the other evening at Red Lantern, a new Asian Fusion restaurant in Boston’s Back Bay. From the beautiful Asian decor and chic atmosphere to the ever-so-delectable menu, I was more than impressed. The sushi was fresh and flavorful, the dumplings had just the right amount of flair, and the calamari fries were crunchy and savory. I’ll definitely be going … Read More!

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