Coconut Sorbet

I think I have formed an addiction to Ciao Bella Coconut Sorbet.  Holy lord is this stuff good.  It's completely dairy free and has the perfect amount of sweetness to it to cure an after dinner sweet tooth craving.  I bet it would be fantastic in a smoothie too.  YUM!

Almond Crusted Grouper, Kale, and Cous Cous

Kale has been making a weekly appearance on our dinner plates for the past couple of weeks.  I paired it tonight with a 6 ounce piece of grouper and 1/2 cup of cous cous.  We started with some pre-made rosemary focaccia bread drizzled with some extra virgin olive oil.  It was a satisfying and healthy meal.

What started as this...

Turned into this...

Grouper - coated with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkled salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley and sliced almonds and baked on 350 for about 23 minutes

Kale - sauteed on a low heat for 20 minutes in some extra virgin olive oil and mixed in some sauteed garlic and a little salt

Cous Cous - cooked according to package and added sauteed onions and garlic

15 Day Challenge

It's so easy to give advice to others, but what about taking our own??  I find myself constantly reminding others to stay hydrated, but I have trouble doing it myself.

Today at lunch, I was talking to a good friend of mine about the idea of doing a 30 day challenge.  I read about people doing 30 day yoga challenges or run challenges or detoxes all the time.  This seems really exciting to me, but I know it's not going to work.  Realistically, I can't commit to 30 days of something in a row and for me, one activity will get boring for that long and I'll most likely quit.  We came up with a great idea that would be fun and would benefit us both...a 15 day water challenge.  We quickly called another friend and she was in on the challenge too.

We met to come up with our rules for the challenge and gave it a name, the 40 Ounces Down challenge.  For the next 15 school days, we plan to drink 40 ounces of water by the end of each school day.  Herbal tea doesn't count, flavored water doesn't count, just plain old water.  There's even a calendar that will rotate to all three of our offices to check off for the day that we are on track.  At the end of the challenge, if we successfully complete it, we are rewarding ourselves with a healthy sushi lunch outside of the building. 

This may sound really silly, but our challenge is just one way to get us to incorporate a healthy habit into our lives with a little bit of humor, reminders, support, friendship and fun. :)

Snacking Smart

Some people, if there is food around, will just snack mindlessly all day long.  There are also some people who will never pick up a snack and just stick to their main meals.  I find that by eating balanced healthy snacks throughout the day, I am better able to curb my hunger,  so that by the time dinner comes, I'm not ravenous, or when it comes time to hit the gym, I have the energy to do so, but without a heavy meal sitting in my stomach. 

Some snacking tips:  Leave a snack or two in your desk drawer at work or pack some in a bag the night before or the morning of.  For the ladies, if you know you will be away from home for an entire day, pack some snacks in your purse.  The glove compartment box of your car is another great place to keep some snacks as long as they won't melt. I find life to be healthier and more enjoyable just due to the addition of snacks.  For me, I usually have two snacks spread out throughout the day.  For you, your need to snack may be different.  Here are some of my favorites (I included ones with dairy too).  Feel free to share yours!!

• Berries and a handful of almonds
• Carrots, celery, or cucumber slices and hummus
• Dried fruit and a handful of nuts
• Pretzles or pita chips with lite Laughing Cow cheese
• Pretzles or pita chips with hummus
• Cut up apple and peanut butter
• Celery and peanut butter
• Mixed berries and lite Babybell cheese
• Pita Chips and cottage cheese
• Fruit and cottage cheese
• Cut up banana and greek yogurt with cinnamon
• Banana and handfult of nuts
• Banana and peanut butter
• Kashi bar
• Dried cereal and greek yogurt
• Dried cereal and cottage cheese
• Hard boiled egg and tomatoes
• Tomato juice and a handful of nuts

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a fabulous scene it is in my kitchen right now!!  A little Feist for some background noise and mom and dad are up from Florida cooking up a storm in my house.  There's nothing better than cooking recipes with my family that have been passed down for generations for Thanksgiving.  Mom's also taking care of dinner tonight.  A special request from my husband for my mother's meatloaf (this may be the first time that cow has entered my house) has my mother mushing ingredients together with her hands while dad is on top of the sweet potato pudding.  I'm about to jump in to bake some chocolate chip cookies.  This place will be smelling good in about 10 minutes. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  There is so much to be thankful for this year.  Sending love and light to everyone from Little Earth Mama. Big :).

Natural Body Care

I've always loved health food stores.  Every time I walk into a health food store and inhale that distinct smell, it brings me back to when I was a kid and would get really excited exploring all these foods I've never heard of before.  Even to this day, when I go to Florida to visit my parents, I make sure to take a trip to the local health food store and load up on goodies to pack in a box and ship back home as sort of a care package for myself.

One of my favorite places to peruse is the natural body care aisle of a health food store.  If you were to walk into my bathroom, you'd see a big basket filled with natural oils, lotions, and soaps.  My shower has natural shampoo and conditioner, shave gel, shower gel and bubble bath.  I once learned from an ayurvedic doctor that what you put onto your skin and body is just as important as what you feed your body, and I believe this to be true.  When you take something as simple as your shampoo, you should know what the ingredients are that are listed on the label.  I know every single ingredient that is listed on mine. 

Many people don't know what natural body care products to buy, and they think that these products will not work as good as the typical drug store brands.  Listed below are some of my favorite natural body care products that I incorporate into my daily routine.  I buy organic whenever possible.  What are yours???

• Shea Butter to soften feet
• Sesame oil to moisturize
• Vitamin E Oil to heal cuts, blisters, bruises
• Toms of Maine natural toothpaste and mouthwash
• Kiss My Face Shampoo and Conditioner, shave gel, and hand soap
• Dr. Bronner's Castile soaps

Healthy Holiday Tips - Advice from Jolene Matthews

Jolene Matthews is a fantastic trainer.  I can tell you first hand.  After only a couple of weeks of working with her, my arms were looking toned, I was able to get into a headstand and other challenging yoga poses with ease, and I was feeling stronger overall.  Besides being incredibly sweet, she also taught the best body pump and spin classes I've ever taken.
 

In addition to being a nationally certified group fitness and dance instructor, personal trainer, actress, and fitness model, Jolene is also a columnist for the 'Lifestyle and Trends' section of the Edgewater View.  Check out her latest column, 'Tips on Avoiding Holiday Weight'.  She also continually sends out a newsletter with fitness and nutrition suggestions and tips.  I find them to be such great references that I'm sharing them with you.  Here is the last newsletter she sent called 'Healthy Holiday Tips'. 



Healthy Holiday Tips by Jolene Matthews

The holiday season doesn't have to equal weight gain. Here are some healthy habits that are easy to follow during the holidays to keep you on the right track to a healthier lifestyle!

Keep a food diary.

If you write down what you eat, it will make you think twice about overindulging.

Be aware of beverages.

Alcoholic drinks are easily 100–300 calories or more per serving. Plus, drinking reduces inhibitions (which will make it harder to resist tempting foods) and can give you a hangover (which will probably lead to not exercising the following day). Eggnog (with or without alcohol) is one of the highest calorie beverages in existence. A better option could be wine spritzers or naturally flavored seltzer water. If you must drink, try drinking a large glass of water between each drink to help you fill up and slow down your rate of drinking. Or be like me- just abstain, so much better for SO many reasons! ;) 

  

Snack on produce before you go to a party.

Filling up on produce will boost your diet quality along with keeping you from arriving at a party so hungry that you can’t make healthy choices.

Focus on enjoyable aspects of the holiday season other than eating.  

Examples include socializing, dancing, playing a game, etc. You can enjoy foods that you don’t normally have without overstuffing yourself. The truth is that this season is really about enjoying the company of family and friends, meditation on what the new year may bring, and overall gratitude for our many blessings.

Bring a healthy dish to a party so that you know you will have at least one good food option.

Roasted vegetables pack a lot of flavor without the fat and calories of other traditional holiday staples like mashed potatoes or green bean casserole.

Exercise, exercise, exercise.

It has been proven that people tend to eat healthier when they exercise. Staying active will keep your calorie burning level high and remind you of your health and fitness goals through the holiday season. If you feel like you don’t have time, think about not saying yes to every party, squeezing in a shorter workout and planning when you will fit in exercise the day before. Part of staying consistent with exercise is putting it higher on the priority level.

Think about giving non-food-related gifts.

How many of us have been given a box of chocolates or plate of cookies that ends up at the office because we don’t want to be ‘tempted?’ Great, it’s out of the house, but what about all your co-workers that are trying to eat well too?

Remember, being mindful of your eating habits during this time of year will help you enjoy the holidays without compromising your healthy progress!

Feeling Tired But Staying Healthy

Last night I didn't get home from work until 9:30 since it was parent-teacher conference night.  I was really feeling the effects of a short night's sleep throughout the day.  Tomorrow I have an early morning meeting, and I know I want to be in bed early tonight.  With this in mind, I had to do a little planning during the day.  Instead of cooking a meal from scratch tonight, I decided to get a little help from the market. 

I stopped off at Carfasso's in Fort Lee, an amazing gourmet market with fantastic prepared wholesome food.  The wasabi crusted salmon was calling my name.  Behind me were these gorgeous fresh made gnocchi filled with asparagus that I had to try.  I bought both and some greens for a salad.  I went home and although I was feeling tired, exercise usually helps me to feel more awake, so I took my Thursday night spin class with a friend and felt a little more energized when I got home.

Dinner couldn't have been any easier, and I didn't sacrifice any nutrition.  Salmon went into the oven and baked on 350 for 30 minutes, the gnocchi just had to be put in a pot of boiling water until it floated to the top (takes only about 5 minutes) then topped with a little tomato sauce, and the salad just needed to be dressed.  Laundry is in the wash, and I'm ready to straighten up the kitchen, take a quick shower, get my food together for meals for tomorrow and into bed. I'm feeling really good about my choices today. :)

 

5 Must Haves for a Nourished Diet

Are you curious about my top 5 'must haves' for a nourished diet?  Check out my guest post today featured on The Average Girl's Guide!!!  This is an awesome blog written by Alyson Seligman...savvy shopper, fashionista, and always in the know about the latest trends and deals!  Take a peak...you won't be disappointed!

What's in Your Bread?

I don't do it often, and I wish I did it more...bake my own bread.  It is so incredibly easy.  There is something so cozy about baking a loaf of fresh homemade wholesome bread on a cold winter day.  Waiting for the bread to rise gives me an excuse to put on a good movie, change into some comfy clothes and relax.  If you are like me and you have baked your own bread (I've made my own butter too which is even easier!), then you would know that it takes very little ingredients to make. 

Bread is basically made up of flour (whole wheat has more nutrition than white flour), salt, yeast, and water.  There's really not much more to it.  So why is it that when we buy bread from the grocery store, there are so many ingredients listed (unpronounceable) on our bread labels?  Next time you are standing at your fridge, take out your bread and peak at the nutrition label.  You may see ingredients like soy lecithin, ascorbic acid, high fructose corn syrup, soy flour, malt extract, etc...

A good nutritious bread should really only have the basic ingredients listed above with maybe some honey or sugar added.  There is always a loaf of Ezekiel bread in my fridge which is organic bread made from sprouted grains that can be found in most Whole Foods or health food stores.  The cinnamon raisin is awesome.  But if you aren't into that kind of thing and you just want to buy a regular nutritious bread for your house, check the ingredients and make sure you are buying a wholesome loaf.  Remember, there should only be ingredients in your bread which you can read, know what they are, and there should be very few of them.

And...if you want to make your own butter, this is the recipe I use.  It comes out perfect every time! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/homemade-butter-recipe/index.html

A Fabulous Discovery!

We spent this past weekend at Brad's parents house on Long Island since we had a wedding close by.  Let me tell you this...there is no shortage of bagel shops in the area.  I'm not the biggest fan of bagels since it is so much bread, and I find I'm always really hungry again after about an hour.  So what to do when you are at a bagel shop and don't want to eat bagels?  Ah ha!!!  In the display case were these beautiful looking sandwiches made with....lettuce.  I had to try one.  Look at these.

They were so satisfying and tasty that I wanted to recreate them on my own at home.  I bought a head of iceberg lettuce, peeled off and discarded the outside layers and cut off the core.  I then peeled off the next 3 layers, put some egg salad in the middle and wrapped it up.  It couldn't have been any easier.  You can fill it with whatever sandwich filling you like.  Try it!

Quick, Easy, Healthy

I went to spin class tonight, number one for a workout, and number two, to support my friend Cesar who was teaching one of his first classes since he recently got his spin certification.  He did a great job and there was even a guest dj playing live music the entire class which made it really different and fun.

I got home and was ready to prepare a quick, healthy meal (I stopped off at Trader Joes to pick up ingredients on the way home from work).  Two 3/4 cups of whole wheat pasta (one for me and one for Brad), mixed in with a big bag of frozen veggies (broccoli, water chestnuts, baby corn, sugar snap peas, and carrots) with a touch of butter, canola oil, garlic powder, and paprika was satsifying and filling.  I also cut up some mozarella and tomato with balsamic and pesto for a side, but we didn't even get to it (however, it did look nice).

Exercise Tips by Little Earth Mama ;)

Most, if not all, of the people that I am friends with or choose to have in my life are active people.  It's a common bond.  And if you are my friend, we most likely have done some sort of exercise class or physical activity together.  (At this point if you are reading this and are my friend, you're probably remembering right now some dance class, spin class, run, hike, kayak trip, or yoga class that we've done together!)  Exercise for me, has been a part of my life since I was a teenager.  I taught step and fitness classes in college.  I've worked with a number of different personal trainers throughout my life.  I studied yoga through an intensive yoga immersion program, and exercise doesn't feel like a chore.  It is such a social experience for me too.  I love being part of this community of physically active people. 

Sometimes I have conversations with my friends about the days when we just don't feel like exercising.  Oftentimes with people, I find exercising is either all or nothing, black or white.  We have a hard time motivating ourselves to exercise when we are out of the groove, and we can't imagine life without exercise when we are 'in it'.  We have a hard time checking in with ourselves to see if we could use some more activity or a break.  I know many people also on the flip side who don't listen to their bodies and do not know how to take a break and therefore injure themselves.  How do we make exercise a part of our lives but keep it balanced?

The past couple of years have felt like the first time in my life where I am able to do this.  I feel like I finally know how to check in with myself and listen to what my body needs.  For me, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays are filled with dance and spin classes which to me are social and fun.  Mondays and Saturdays are my 'wild card' days where I choose whatever I want to do, sometimes yoga, sometimes a run, sometimes weights and sometimes take a break.  Wednesdays are my day off no matter what.  By allowing myself to have the freedom to choose what I want to do has allowed me to stay consistent with exercise for so long.  Here are some strategies that I use to keep exercise a constant in my life.  Maybe they will help you too.

• Make exercise fun (for me, an hour long dance class flies!)
• Make exercise social - run with a friend, try a class (men reading this...spin classes are usually filled with many guys), form an exercise group with friends (we had a Friday Zumba group after work which was fabulous)
• Work with a trainer if you have the funds (sometimes having a scheduled appointment gets you to work out)
• Tell someone about your workout and have them check in with you (My best friend and I spend every morning on the phone where we do our workout check ins.  She knows I'll be asking her about her runs!!)
• Don't be so rigid (if you miss a day, you miss a day!!)
• Find more than one physical activity that you enjoy so exercising doesn't get boring (running, biking, kickboxing, hiking, yoga, pilates, weights, dance, a long walk, etc.)

The Heat is On on on on

I just giggled to myself as I typed the title to this post.  I swear, sometimes the silliest stuff gets us through the day at work.  As a high school guidance counselor, I'm dealing with some serious issues all day long which means any excuse for a short break to laugh is appreciated.  Our offices have been freezing lately and I finally decided enough was enough and put on my 'illegal' space heater to warm up.  After emailing my friend a couple offices down that 'the heat is on' we used this as an excuse to sing the 80's tune over and over again which turned the whole office into an 80's singing frenzy.  It really is the little things in life sometimes that get us through the day, right?!? 

So the heat has been anything but on in our kitchen for the past two nights.  Last night we made a humongous salad with:

• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Onion
• Red Bell Pepper
• Sunflower seeds
• Dried green beans
• Chickpeas
• Shredded Cheddar
• Cut up eggs

There's enough salad left over for dinner tonight too which means easy clean up and more time to relax.  Now if only I could get this stupid song out of my head!! :)

Using your Plate for Portion Control

Brad and I see a fabulous nutritionist (shout out to Debra if you are reading this!!) who has really helped us to make some important healthy changes to our diets through the years.  One tip which has really stuck for both of us is that we should be using our dinner plate as a measurement for portion control.

Here's the trick...Take your round dinner plate and draw an imaginary line down it.  One half of the plate should be filled with colorful vegetables (the more variety of color, the better).  Now take the other empty half and split that into halves.  One half should be filled with a healthy protein and the other half with healthy carbs.  And there you have it...a balanced, healthy plate.  (If you need help learning what is a healthy protein or carb, just let me know.)

Now, there's many potential problems that could arise to ruin this quickly (I'll just write about a few)...
First is restaurants...when we eat out at restaurants, portions go out the window.  How many times have you been to a restaurant and you are 'starving'?  We sit down and the first thing that is placed on our table is bread and butter.  We can't stop ourselves at just one piece.  Then we get our meal and it is enough food to fill 2 or 3 people.  We don't listen to our bodies and we tend to leave feeling 'stuffed'.  The idea is to eat balanced...eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full.  Too many people have never learned how to eat mindfully. (I once spent an entire half an hour in my yoga immersion program on mindful, meditative eating where we closed our eyes and ate raisins!) The key is to check in with yourself to see how you are feeling during a meal.  Trust me, you can tell when you are still hungry, comfortable, and overfull. 

Second, if you have balanced, healthy snacks spread out throughout the day, it would be hard for your body to get to the point of being too hungry.  One suggestion is to always carry healthy snacks with you in your bag or in your car.  Trader Joes sells individual bags of almonds, Kashi bars are great, or even a piece of fruit. 

Also, if you are cooking at home, my suggeston is to make the correct portion size.  For example, I hinted to a friend a couple of weeks ago that instead of cooking a whole 1 pound box of pasta for the night, make enough for one serving per person.  That way, you aren't tempted to overeat. 

I could keep going and going on this topic so I'm stopping myself here.  Hopefully some of these basic tips are helpful if you are trying to make some healthy changes to your diet.  The kitchen is calling me.  We're making shrimp, cous cous, and grilled asparagus tonight...all correct portions, of course! :)

LATER: Dinner was delicious.  For all you visual learners, here is an example of how to use your plate for portion control using the dinner we ate tonight. Enjoy.

Body Foods

One of my favorite reference books for natural healing is Bodyfoods by Jane Clarke.  This is one of the first places I turn to for suggestions and recipes whenever I get sick or am feeling fatigued.  Since I've been drinking herbal tea all day and am starting to feel much better, I decided to put up a post about the benefits of herbal tea by Jane Clarke. 

• Chamomile alleviates digestive disorders, nervous tension, and irritability, helping you to unwind.  In can reduce phlegm and ease hay fever, and for some women reduces the effects of morning sickness.
• Cinnamon traditionally alleviates colds, flu, and digestive problems.  It also has the power to settle a stomach first thing in the morning.  A great builder upper when you're feeling weak and wan.
• Echinacea stimulates the immune system and raises the body's resistance to bacterial and viral infections.  An antibiotic and allergy reliever, it is particularly good for clearing up problem skin.
• Elderflower soothes and clears chesty coughs, colds, and flu.  It relieves wheezy and asthmatic chests, the symptoms of hay fever, and rhinitis.  It fights fevers and builds up the immune system.
• Fennel relieves bloating, soothes stomach pain, and treats upset stomachs, indigestion, and gas.  It also stimulates the appetite and calms inflamed joints.
• Ginger alleviates morning sickness, colds, and digestive complaints, such as colic, indigestion and constipation.
• Green tea contains an army of antioxidants, which help to reduce free-radical damage.  It has as much caffeine as black tea, so if you prefer to avoid caffeine, opt for another herbal tea.
• Jasmine relieves tension like no other herbal tea; it calms, soothes, and has also been found to lift gloomy moods.
• Lemon verbena calms upset moods and uncomfortable digestive systems, which makes it especially good for stressed-out bodies.  Some people find its lemon oil helps lift melancholy.
• Nettle relieves the symptoms of hay fever, arthritic inflammation, and pain, and corrects anemia.  Somewhat surprisingly, when it's applied externally, it soothes nettle rash and insect bites.
• Peppermint calms the digestion, so is particularly useful when suffering from gas.  It also helps to soothe colicky babies.
• Saint-John's wort destresses and is the best-known herbal remedy that naturally lifts moods.  It also provides relief from tired, aching muscles and joints.
• Thyme alleviates sinus pain and mild asthma, clears blocked noses, and soothes chesty coughs
• Vervain helps treat premenstrual syndrome, stress, and nervous exhaustion.  It also aids digestion, bolsters the nervous system, relieves headaches and migraines, and speeds recuperation from illness.

Under the Covers

I've spent the past two days under the covers, sick.  My 101 fever broke in the night and I'm starting to feel a little better today.  Of course, I get sick the weekend that I have plans to celebrate my sister-in-law's upcoming wedding, one of my closest friends from high school is up north visiting, and I was supposed to do dinner with a close girlfriend from college I haven't seen in weeks.  Instead I am home resting, not leaving the house. 

I'm loading up on juice and hot tea.  Brad's in the kitchen making us some eggs and biscuits and we've been switching between The Food Network and Animal Planet all morning.  Time to watch the Florida game and a movie on demand tonight.

What are some of your get better foods?

African Peanut Soup

It's kinda funny.  My husband and I have two separate pantries, one for him and and one for me since we like such different foods.  While he keeps boxes of Clif Bars, Skippy Peanut Butter, and Wheaties in his, I keep sprouted rice, quinoa, spirutein, snacks from the bulk bins, and Trader Joes Organic Peanut Butter in mine.  There's a whole lot of vegetables and spices that I like that he doesn't, and there's a lot of meats that he eats that I won't go near.  Through the years, we've learned to compromise, and actually, cooking together and finding recipes that we both enjoy has been really fun and something we get to bond over.

So for nights like tonight, where he is away traveling on business, I try to take advantage of my time alone to cook something that I know that only I would enjoy.  Today, while I was getting my hair colored, my hipper-than-thou Brooklynite colorist and I spent a good 15 minutes talking about food and recipes.  She is also pescatarian and very health conscious.  Among many other recipes to try, she recommended I make African Peanut Soup which she basically explained is a curry and vegetable soup with crunchy peanut butter.  This sounded so intriguing that as soon as I had some alone time, I took out my phone and looked up a recipe on the internet.  I found one on food network by Emeril that I just need to tweak to take out the meat. (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/african-peanut-soup-recipe/index.html) How bad can it be?  Anything with peanut butter, vegetables, and curry powder in it sounds good to me!

Salsa and...Salsa

Tuesday evenings are my favorite time of the entire week.  For over a year now, every Tuesday, no matter the weather, no matter how tired I am, I show up to my dance class.  I could have had the worst day and when I get to dance and the music is playing, nothing matters.  It's an hour spent with good friends, laughing, shaking, jumping, sweating, and letting loose.  I stand with my girls in the front of the class, as close to the mirror and instructor as possible.  The music switches from fast salsa music, next to some Lady Ga Ga, a bellydance tune thrown in, and some hip hop.  The hour flies and I am drenched in sweat from head to toe.  Omar, our instructor, is incredible.  He doesn't talk during class.  We just follow along the best we can and laugh a lot along the way.  All of us 'Omar groupies' have grown really fond of one another, and I have made some wonderful friendships along the way. 

I came home from dance class and cooked an awesome dinner.  I made shrimp burritos without a recipe.  I roasted shrimp with some olive oil, salt, and pepper on 400 degrees for 8 minutes (they come out perfect everytime like this), made some brown rice in the rice cooker, cooked up some black beans, onions and green peppers in some medium salsa, and threw it all together in a multigrain tortilla with some shredded pepper jack cheese for a really tasty meal.  It smelled so good that we were too excited to eat and didn't take a picture.  :)

Delicious!!!

Okay...the Baked Sea Bass with Garlic Butter and Herb Bread Crumb Topping by Dave Lieberman was A-MA-ZING (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/baked-seabass-with-homemade-garlic-butter-and-herb-bread-crumb-topping-recipe/index.html)!  Restaurant quality meal.  It was lemony and buttery with a nice crunch from the breadcrumbs.  I baked the sea bass for 27 minutes (instead of the 12-15 called for in the recipe) and it came out PERFECT.  This recipe is HIGHLY recommended!!

Yoga Calm

I have always lived quietly.  I don't watch much television. I listen to soft music, and I don't need background noise to fill my mind.  I love quiet.  Living in a condo, it's hard for me to get real silence.  I'm pretty sensitive to the dog running around in the place above us, the child coughing through the walls next to us, and the people talking as they are walking down the hallway.  Tonight presented me with pure calm.  I was alone in the house with no noise.  Pure bliss.  I decided to take advantage of this and lit some nag champa, threw on some lululemon, rolled out my yoga mat and did a half hour of yoga in the peacefulness of my own home.  The calm after doing yoga feels heavenly, and I'm hoping to hold onto it for as long as I can.  So I'm going to roll up my mat, turn on the oven, and get cookin' slowly and with gratitude.  Tonight's menu includes steamed broccoli and cauliflour with hot sauce for flavor, some leftover Leek and Potato Soup (recipe on last night's post), and baked Chilean Sea Bass.  I am inspired by Dave Lieberman's recipe from Food Network which I'll post here (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/baked-seabass-with-homemade-garlic-butter-and-herb-bread-crumb-topping-recipe/index.html).  Hopefully dinner tastes as good as my yoga calm feels. :)