23 and Counting

Saturday was a big day! A new milestone of running a total of 23 miles was accomplished. I wasn't sure how I would feel after running for such a longer period of time, but a few extra walk breaks, hydrating enough the day before and training consistently definitely played a part in my recovery. Having a wonderful dinner to look forward to later in the day made it an even better Saturday. Although there was a small group of us going the extra distance, I loved trying out a new route and the first 18 miles flew by (sort of) and by mile 20, everything after that was an accomplishment. I was so excited and I can't thank my fellow runners enough for all of the encouragement. Thankfully we beat the rain and I had plenty of time to take a quick nap and enjoy the rainy afternoon indoors. Later in the day, dinner reservations were made at the Ritz Carlton and their restaurant Salt was the perfect dining experience. We started with a seafood appetizer, sampled some of their unique salts and had seafood entrees. The sea bass was phenomenal!! One of my favorite parts was the unique dessert: dark chocolate souffle with a side of salted caramel ice cream. It was delicious and perfect for sharing. It was a very special dinner that we definitely savored!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Holidays! I can't believe 2014 is almost upon us. It has been quite the year and I can't wait for the adventures that next year will bring.

Dawn (one of our awesome team leaders) and I after the long run!

Nathan and I both completed our first 23 mile run, all smiles!

A Very Pink Christmas

Hello and Merry Christmas Everyone!

Take the time to tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them and cherish the little things in life this Christmas season. I couldn't be more fortunate for my family, friends and fur baby Colby!

We have really enjoyed our first Christmas together as a married couple and I can't wait to test out my new Garmin watch! It's been a very pink Christmas (see picture below of Colby with her new pink camo bandana) and I couldn't be happier! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Colby after a walk on the beach on Xmas Day!

loving my new Garmin watch to track my speed/pace on my runs!

Out of the Comfort Zone

What a month it has been so far! After realizing that my last post was around Thanksgiving, I knew I had to get back on track and update you all on how great December has been. The best part is that it isn't over yet and Christmas is right around the corner! For starters, I ran my 2nd annual Reindeer Run last weekend and it was a blast. Our customized t-shirts came out great and I beat my time from last year by 11 minutes! I guess that second wind I felt in the last quarter mile really helped me to get me across the finish line sooner than expected. Our running group split up in to several smaller groups and we all had a fantastic time. Not to mention, after crossing the finish line, we had the gorgeous view of the beach and the weather cooperated with us!
December has been jam packed so far with some great crafty events and I'm excited to share some pictures with you! Last weekend was the quilting workshop at a local quilting store called Lollipops. The store is run by some fantastic ladies and they graciously helped us assemble our quilts which will be gifts for our Navy Men! I can't wait to see the finished product. After putting in at least 6 hours on and off the sewing machine, I amazed myself with how much fun it was. Although it takes a lot of concentration and you have to pay close attention to the detail, I think this was a great way for me to start my own sewing project and I'm actually looking forward to making something else once I finish the quilt! I made sure to get a photo to send my Mom as living proof that I wasn't making it up :) She has been trying to get me to sew for years, so I knew she would be proud!
Just last week a bunch of my Running buddies and I went to a cute little art studio in Jacksonville called, Painting with a Twist. I would highly recommend this ladies night out where you can bring your own beverages, goodies etc and paint! I knew I had to sign up when I saw that it was a Nautical theme painting. I had my doubts about how the finished product would turn out, but overall I'm so happy with it that I decided to hang it up as our very own "bathroom art." I gladly replaced the picture that was hanging in our guest bathroom with my own original masterpiece! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to check out the Army/Navy game today! Any guesses on who I might be cheering for? Even though I'm hardly a sports fan, these types of games are a great excuse to whip up some game day goodies and enjoy good company :)
Happy Saturday!

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving day this year started off with a chilly, but very fun local 5k. I couldn't think of a better way to start off the day than a nice little run and a copious amount of thanksgiving food waiting to be consumed for later!
Although this year was a much more quiet Thanksgiving, it didn't stop me from reflecting on the past year's events and to think about how far we have come! To name a few, I'm thankful we have our health and are able to stay active doing the things we love (running, working out, keeping up with our energetic lab!) and I'm so fortunate to have married my best friend and to have had a Wedding day I will never forget. I'm thankful for our friends and family and the never ending support. Even though we are states apart from both of our families, I'm thankful they are only a phone call or text message away!

There are several changes (good ones I might add) that are on the horizon and I couldn't be more excited. Although change can be scary, it's always very rewarding and refreshing. Without change, we'd never know what else is out there and I truly believe that change can be worth the risk.

As I look back on the year 2013, there were definitely some challenges, but overall, I'd say we are in such an exciting time of our lives and I can't wait to see what the future holds! Watch out 2014, we're ready for ya!

We had to get a picture with the awesome Turkey costume!

Colby and I walking downtown on Black Friday!

Colby wanted us to take the tree home, too bad it doesn't fit in our trunk!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Christmas In The Air

Whenever the month of November comes around, do you ever wonder what happened to the rest of the year and start contemplating how soon you will be putting up the Christmas tree? I feel like Christmas approaches sooner every year and I almost forget about Thanksgiving! Even though Turkey day hasn't approached yet, I have many things to be thankful for. Not to mention it already feels like Christmas in our household. The tree is up (yes, against my will it was set up early) and we have Holiday smelling candles on every counter top/coffee table. I can't argue that I love the welcoming Holiday scents every time I walk through the front door or enter a new room. I already have a few gifts taken care of, so I would say I'm on a good track so far this season! Next up on the agenda is getting out the red Christmas bow we have for Colby's collar and maybe have her pose for a few more pictures in front of the tree. It's the little things!!
I hope you all have a great rest of your week! Friday is almost here!

Colby in front of our tree 2013

Throwback photos: Christmas in London 2011

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011

It's not a muzzle!

Walking Colby is always an adventure, oftentimes I hear one of two remarks: the ever so popular (not bragging at all), "What a beautiful dog you have!" or the other comment that has come up ever since we started using the gentle leader head collar, "Why is your dog wearing a muzzle?" Hopefully through the proper explanation of what it is and why we use it will clear up this misconception. Let me just shout it out for anyone who hasn't seen or used these before: It's not a muzzle! As a proud puppy parent, I would not condone the use of a muzzle but I am in favor of a collar that humanely corrects Colby if she tries to jump ahead or walk in front of me.
Have I mentioned lately how much we ADORE our Vet?!! After going in for a routine visit one day, he could clearly see that I may have had some difficulty with Colby jumping on the counter, as she's not always such a proper little lady! After his observation and experience with using the gentle leader head collars, he provided what I didn't realize would be the best solution, ever! It did take a couple of walks for Colby to get used to the collar, but after a few walks, I could tell she knew I was much more relaxed which made for a much better walking experience! Before using the collar, I wouldn't take her in to the pet store alone for the fear that she would jump on everyone and every toy in sight. I don't have to worry about that anymore, which is such a relief. Not only does she get to experience more, I don't have to stress about taking her in to a new environment. It also helps boost my ego (just slightly) when I have random strangers comment on how well behaved she is. Yes, she is our little princess! Moral of the story is, if you have a large sized dog..in our case, Colby is 70+ pounds and you need something that prevents your dog from jumping or pulling ahead, try the gentle leader head collar. Just be prepared for the question that will inevitably come up and repeat (x3) It's not a muzzle!!

The Cheese and I (taken 1 year ago!)

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

What a weekend!! After months of planning and preparation, I can confidently display the Disney medal we earned from running in the Disney Wine & Dine half marathon. I didn't think I'd be able to handle a night race beginning at 10pm AND to attend an after party until 4am, but we did it! Thank goodness for taking that afternoon nap otherwise I'm not sure I would have lasted as long as we did.
I would say one of the highlights of the race were the number of opportunities the runners had to stop and take pictures with Disney characters. Although some line ups were longer than others to take photos with the dressed up characters, nothing was stopping us from snapping pictures along the way. I did my best to soak up every moment and after this being the first Disney race, I'm happy to mark it off the bucket list! I secretly still want to go back and run the Disney Princess run, but I'll have to wait on that since the 2014 Princess run is already sold out!

Another wonderful highlight of the weekend was getting to visit with Jeff Galloway at the Expo and take a photo with him! He is so friendly and down to earth so it was definitely an honor getting the chance to speak with him briefly and represent our local AI Galloway running group! It's because of his training method that I've been fortunate to run 3 half marathons so far and to train for a full marathon coming up in the New Year! I feel accomplished and strong with his run/walk/run method. Yes, my body is still recovering from a late night race, but I have no regrets! My Husband agreed it was a great race to run and I love that pretty much every mile has something for you to focus on. Whether it was the chance to stop and take a photo, energizing music or videos playing on the sidelines, I'd say Disney put on a great race for us this past weekend. I can't forget to mention that having the Epcott food & wine festival at the end was the icing on the cake!! Thank you Disney for a weekend I'll never forget and for giving us a medal that is almost the size of my head! (Ok, not quite that big, but heavy for sure!) Happy Monday!

Music Notes

Even though I have fallen off the X Factor band wagon, I still tune in every other week to see what is going on and to get a taste of what snide remarks Simon Cowell has come up with. Last night I decided not to watch X Factor but tuned in to the Country Music Awards. Even though I never really used to listen to Country Music, after meeting my Husband, he slowly started influencing me and I've started taking more interest in it. That's not to say that I know all of the lyrics to the Country legends like George Strait or Kenny Rogers but I really enjoy the upbeat music of some of the newer country groups out there. I didn't realize how much a song can really impact your mood! After hearing Lady Antebellum's "Compass" performed live and watching Florida/Georgia Line rocking out on the stage, I realized how uplifting music can be.
Music can lighten up any mood and help jump start an otherwise slow morning. I couldn't help but replay the Compass song on repeat a few times last night and this morning. I may have also danced around a little bit, but we'll skip over that part!
I know how much Colby enjoys music too. Whether I'm humming a tune or playing a song that makes me jump around, she gets right in to it with me. Her tail starts wagging and she gets really excited.

I'm sure that anyone can relate to associating a certain group or song to a happy memory. It's a great feeling! When American Idol was in its prime, it was a weekly tradition for my Dad and I to watch the show together and pick out our favorites as the competition heated up. He would educate me on the songs I wasn't familiar with and I could keep him up to date with the more "current" music (for my Dad's sake I won't mention any eras)

Whenever the Holidays roll around, I know my Mom and I never hesitate to break out the N*SYNC Christmas CD. I think it is safe to say that we know pretty much all of the words to each one of the songs on there. Another prime example of why music is so great! Are there any songs out there that you could listen to over and over? I'm sure I can think of a few!
Happy Friday Eve folks!

Noodle Free Veggie Lasagna

I promise this is a recipe worth trying! After loading up on fresh veggies last Saturday afternoon, I was well equipped to make this awesome veggie lasagna and please allow me to emphasize again that this is completely noodle free!!! This dish is hearty and will fill you up with the assortment of veggies. The ricotta cheese adds another layer of flavor and adding the shredded mozzarella cheese on top is another bonus!

Before the masterpiece went in to the oven

The end result was a deliciously cheesy oven baked veggie lasagna!

Try it out and feel free to share your feedback or try out your own modifications! The next time I make this recipe, I want to try subbing in extra lean ground turkey instead of the veggie crumbles. I always enjoy Morningstar products but they seemed to disappear among all the veggies. I think that ground turkey crumbles would hold up better. I'd also recommend adding more spice, but then again we do love dousing just about everything in hot sauce around here..it's completely a personal preference!

Veggie-rific Noodle-Free Lasagna 

Ingredients
 

• 3 medium zucchini, ends removed, sliced lengthwise
• 1 large portabella mushroom, sliced into strips
• 1 large eggplant, ends removed, sliced lengthwise
• 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
• One 16-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, thoroughly drained, patted dry
• 2 tbsp. fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
• 1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Dash ground nutmeg
• 1 cup ground-beef-style soy crumbles (like the kinds by Boca and MorningStar Farms), thawed from frozen
• 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 tbsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Lay several paper towels next to the stove. (As you cook the veggies in the next step, transfer them to the paper towels to drain excess moisture.)

Bring a very large grill pan sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Evenly place zucchini, portabella mushroom, and eggplant in the pan, and cook until softened, about 2 minutes per side. (If you don't have a very large pan, just cook veggies in batches.) Set aside on paper towels.

In a large bowl, combine crushed tomatoes with garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix well and set aside.

In another large bowl, combine spinach, egg substitute, ricotta cheese, basil, salt, and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Evenly coat the bottom of an 8" X 8" baking pan with about half of the seasoned crushed tomatoes. Evenly layer half of the sliced veggies over the tomatoes. Spread half of the spinach mixture into an even layer over the veggies. Top evenly with soy crumbles.

Evenly layer remaining veggies into the pan, placing them perpendicular to the first layer, followed by the remaining spinach mixture. Evenly cover with remaining seasoned crushed tomatoes. Evenly distribute mozzarella cheese and grated topping over the crushed tomatoes.

Bake in the oven until lasagna is hot and mozzarella cheese is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly, cut into quarters, and enjoy!

Polka Dot Craze

I have to say that I'm loving the fact that everywhere I turn, something has polka dots. I'm noticing them popping up more and more and I can't complain!! Yesterday I wore my bright blue polka dot headband at the Gator/Bulldog 5K in Jacksonville which was so much fun. Turns out one of my running group buddies Natalie had her polka dots on as well. Then today as I was wearing my polka dot chambray top, I brought home Colby's new bed cover which is full of guess what?! More polka dots!! If I have a choice to pick an item that is printed, ranging from nautical to plaid, stripes or paisley, I'll choose the print over the solid no questions asked. Perhaps its the way a print can spice up an outfit, or make something more feminine that I love. Lucky for Colby that she is a girl because nautical printed leashes look so much better in pink!
Here is a quick glimpse of some items that I'm loving right now containing the beloved polka dot:

Gator/Bulldog 5k (photo courtesy of Natalie Nelson) rockin the polka dot headband

ON Chambray top

polkadot headbands (these are perfect for running)

Last but not least, Colby's new bed cover. Thank you Targay!

One Step Ahead

I'm happy to announce that tomorrow will actually be Friday. I had to put it out there for anyone that has woken up on a Thursday morning believing it is Friday. Yup, that was me this morning. Perhaps I should take note that hitting the snooze button more than once after my alarm goes off is not the best way to start the morning. Maybe next time I'll hit it just once? Despite a slightly thrown off start to my morning, the day shifted to a much more positive note once I got my hands on some pumpkin spice creamer as I was grabbing a few other items on a quick Target shopping trip. Pumpkin spice creamer is a game changer for anyone who hasn't tried it. If you enjoy pumpkin lattes or pumpkin flavor in general, this will make your ordinary coffee taste amazing!

A few other highlights from the week:
I ordered my first pair of knee high compression socks (bright pink!) to wear for the Marathon in February; I've heard good things about wearing them during long runs so I'm curious to see how they work out
Tomorrow is the 5K FL/GA run which should be fun, even if I'm neither a Gator nor Bulldog fan. It's all about having fun!
Colby got 2 new Nylabones delivered, one of which has provided a couple of hours of entertainment after an evening walk! The other one didn't pass the Colby test, so I had to take that one away from her.
Our Halloween treat tonight was vanilla frozen yogurt with mini chocolate chips that I bought for baking but turned out to be a great froyo topper! Who needs snack size kit kats when you have froyo!?

I hope everyone enjoyed their Halloween! Happy Friday Eve!

Kong Extreme

By definition Labrador Retrievers are a breed of medium-size, strongly built, largely developed in England from stock originating in Newfoundland and having a short dense black, yellow, or chocolate coat and a thick rounded tail —called also Lab, Labrador
Characteristics of a lab include (but not limited to):  sunny, smart and hard working.

When I think of our puppy Colby, I think of a loyal, dependable and very lovable dog who loves a good snuggle. At first sight, she may seem all cute and furry, but you would probably never guess how she can work her way through a small sized nylabone in about 5 minutes. I'll never forget the day I brought home the "indestructible" dog toy that was destroyed in about 20 minutes. After spending too much money on toys that touted themselves as indestructible or constructed with heavy duty materials, I knew I had to stick with the ever faithful KONG brand. When we first started buying bones and toys for Colby, the small kong was sufficient. It still works great when we stuff a treat in it and it can provide entertainment for a solid amount of time. However, as we started noticing how much of an aggressive chewer she was, we knew it was time to graduate to something bigger. Thanks to the X-Large Kong Bounzer this was possible! This Kong has been through the best and worst of times. It's been kicked around, chewed on and thrown from room to room but besides a few scratches it has held its own! Just as Colby is loyal to us, her Kong toys have remained loyal to her. For your entertainment pleasure, you can see the journey of Colby vs. the Kong. To all of you pet owners that have Labs, what are your bones or toys of preference?

Superheros For a Day

While I love just about everything related to Fall such as the weather, leaves changing color and everything pumpkin (see my previous blog post: Eat More Pumpkin) I never get super excited about the idea of costume parties or dressing up for Halloween. I usually end up struggling for ideas and I never want to pay too much to put together a decent looking costume. This year was an exception (yes I do realize Halloween day hasn't approached yet) but this morning our Galloway running group thought it'd be fun to show up in our personalized costumes for our scheduled 5 mile run. After my running buddy Cassie sent me some ideas for outfits, a couple of them caught our eye. There was the "Running H20" idea where we could easily put together our own shirts but there were also tons of Superhero costumes that seemed feasible to run in. The next day, I went in to Kohls to look for a tshirt for an upcoming Florida/Georgia run. Moving down South from Maryland means I have zero Gator/Bulldog gear to wear but that's a whole other topic for another day! On my quest to find a FL/GA themed shirt, I came across a goldmine of printed tshirts priced 50% off in the juniors department! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the bright blue Superwoman shirt and that is when the Superhero theme came to fruition. Thanks to Cassie's brilliant find online, we pulled together the look with our amazing knee high socks and this morning we were dressed for Halloween success! Altogether I didn't have to spend a lot of money on the costume and it was fun to wear. Despite the chillier weather this morning, we made it work and the socks really kept me warm!

Cassie and I after the run. For more running inspiration, check out her blog run or bust!

Here is the breakdown in cost for the costume:

Superwoman tshirt (Kohls): $10
Red wrap around skirt (Goodwill): $4
Knee High socks (Amazon): $8.99
Red Headband (handmade, thanks Brooke!)
Total: $22.99!

If you're looking for costume ideas this year, I highly recommend a Superhero theme! You can find plenty of items that you may already have at home or online to complete the look and not spend a whole lot of $$$. Not to mention, who doesn't want to be a Superhero, at least for a day??

Performance Gear Taking Over

Do you ever wonder how we survived with out the assortment of Nike dri fit performance wear, technical tshirts or compression gear that have taken over the active wear departments in our favorite stores today?

Last night as I was preparing my work out gear for today's morning run, I knew it would be another chilly morning (to Floridian standards) so I made sure to lay out a long sleeved top and my dri fit capri's. Normally the ensemble would consist of a tank top and shorts so this was a pretty drastic change! I was thankful the entire morning that I could layer on clothes that would keep me warm, comfortable and most importantly, DRY! I'm not going to get in to too much detail, but after running 4 miles and going for a 1-2 mile walk with the pup, this girl definitely got her sweat on! Every day after my workouts, whether it be running, walking or bootcamp class, I'm forever grateful for the benefits of dri fit clothing. I'm not a complete brand snob when it comes to purchasing work out clothes, but I do tend to favor Nike and New Balance. Years ago I made a purchase at Ross (dress for less!) in the active wear department and picked up a wonderfully bright pink Nike long sleeved dri fit tshirt. At the time, I didn't realize how much this top would change my life. Life changing may sound extreme, but this top soon became a staple for my longer run days and a great layering piece to wear underneath a fleece pullover in colder weather. It made me realize that it is possible to complete a long work out and have it appear as though you barely broke a sweat (minus the rosy cheeks and glistening face!) I remember the days where I'd be wearing a long sleeved cotton shirt and it would weigh me down. Not to mention the track pants. Does anyone remember the "tear away pants" that had snap buttons down the side of each leg? Not the most practical for even a mile long run! These clothes were uncomfortable to move in and not form fitting. Luckily those shirts and pants are now either tucked away in the closet or ended up in the charity shop pile. I couldn't be more proud to announce that the performance gear has taken over for the better!
Not only does the dri fit clothing fit comfortably and make you feel like a true athlete, the hidden pockets for your house keys or zippered pouches on the back allow you to store anything small that you wouldn't want to hold on to while working out (bite sized chews, performance gels etc)
Thank you to the awesome athletic companies out there that finally realized we were suffering with our over sized cotton tshirts. Phew! Now all of the runners of the world can choose from functional work out clothes that actually look good on us!
Happy Friday everyone!

Baby, it's cold outside!

This morning took us all by surprise when we saw the thermometer read 53 degrees! The weather man on the local news channel did warn us Floridians that cooler temps would fall upon us in the upcoming week, but I was still shocked to see the temp fall below 60 degrees. Since moving down South over two years ago, my blood has thinned out significantly and I'm never really ready for it to be cold, but this morning I layered up (about 3 layers to be exact!) and ventured out with the Cheese for our morning walk.
There is something about the cooler weather that brings out the feistiness in our puppy. Over the past week as the mornings have become a little cooler, she has definitely shown a little extra spring in her step! This morning after she gobbled down breakfast she couldn't wait to get outside. She ran to the door and with a little hop she was ready to go!
I can't say that I'm too upset about the drastic change in weather this morning. For me, Fall weather translates in to: boots, jeans, scarves, sweaters and more scarves. Are you sensing a trend here?! Not to mention I can break out the festive slipper socks! Yes, I'll be the first person to admit that I'm a sucker for slipper socks and because it is October..you know what that means! Anything Halloween related or orange will do the trick. Thank goodness for the trusty $1 bin at Target. My feet are warm and happy thanks to my slipper socks. I love how I can slip them on and off much easier than a pair of real socks, they are less bulky than your traditional house slipper and did I mention the pair I wore today say Happy Halloween on the bottom? Sure they may be a "one size fits all" but I'm sure you get the point now that I'm a fan even if they are two sizes too big!

Stay tuned for weekend updates on our Halloween Themed run for Saturday morning..a spectacular costume is in the works and I guarantee it will rock your socks off!

Skinny Noodle Recipes

Last night we put together a quick (and healthy) dish that didn't require a lot of time. I'm always a fan of quick and convenient meals, but also making it healthy and hearty can be a challenge when you want to save time. The stand out ingredient in this dish were the noodles! Now we aren't talking any old fashioned carb loaded noodle here. These are the delicious, low carb, gluten free (pretty much low everything) House Foods Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Noodles. Yes they are made of tofu, but unlike other pasta alternatives, these actually taste good and complement any meal that would normally call for spaghetti, fettucine or angel hair pasta! I've been buying them for the past year now and I've never looked back. Eating gluten free can be easy when you have options to choose from. We eat GF for the health benefits (not because of food allergies) and I'm finding that many grocery stores are catering to the GF crowd, yay for us! It's becoming much easier to choose options that fit our lifestyle and diet.
Now on to the fun part: the recipes where I have incorporated these powerful noodles. The first time I bought them, I wanted to try something more conventional so I opted to make a standard spaghetti and meatball dinner. While I do enjoy eating meat and the occasional piece of steak, I will go through periods where I'll eat mostly vegetarian. For this meal, I used veggie meatballs. I prefer Morningstar Farms Veggie Meatballs because they have the best flavor and texture. I was so pleased with the end result that I couldn't wait to buy more and try the different varieties they had for these noodles. A couple of weeks later, I bought the Angel Hair Shirataki Noodles and made Shrimp Scampi! Another easy yet amazingly tasty meal to prepare. I also saw on the House Foods website that they offer a macaroni shaped noodle now. I haven't seen the product at my local Publix or Winn Dixie yet but I'm looking forward to trying them out. If you are a pasta lover but don't want the extra carbs, give these a try! You can find these noodles in the produce section of the grocery store and beware because each package holds a lot of liquid. Make sure to drain these out and blot out the excess liquid before throwing them in to the pan. You only have to heat them up for a few minutes so after cooking your protein or veggies, you can add the noodles in to the mix. I always use my kitchen shears on the noodles first because they tend to be very long and cut them up in to bite size pieces before cooking. I love how quickly you can add these to your meal and they have become a staple on my grocery list. Bon Appetit!

I can't wait to try the new macaroni noodles!

For this meal I added the spaghetti noodles with diced tomatoes, heart healthy pasta sauce and veggie meatballs.

For this meal I used the angel hair noodles, shrimp, lemon juice, garlic and onion. I sprinkled parmesan cheese on top.

Lessons learned from Master Chef

After Monday evening boot camp and cooking dinner, it was time to relax and tune in to some shows we missed from the past week. Lately, we have been watching MasterChef Jr and it has been very entertaining. We've always enjoyed watching the adults cook on the normal MasterChef, but showcasing the young kids ages 8-12 is rather inspiring! So inspiring that we decided we want to make our own beef wellington this weekend after watching the show. If you are a true Gordon Ramsay fan, you will understand that beef wellington is one of those dishes that can make or break you in Gordon's eyes. Not that we are gearing up for our own competition here, but making something unique is always a treat in our household! The only difference is that the dough will have to be gluten free, but using alternatives in a recipe is always a great way to customize it specifically for yourself.
After watching last night's episode where they had to form perfectly peaked whipped cream and cook a beef wellington that was up to Ramsay's expectations with the team challenge, I learned a few things.
1) Plating is essential when it comes to making great dishes. No matter how delicious your dish is, if you don't display the meal beautifully, you are not going to stand out among the judges (whether it is GR or your family!)
2) Using the proper vernacular when it comes to describing your dish can also earn you more points. Not only does it make you feel smarter to use the term "acidulating" to describe your sauce or feel great having a "royal mash" as your side dish, these beefed up (no pun intended) terms can really add emphasis to the creation you have just plated!
3) Communication is key when you are working together as a team in the kitchen. If you are giving directions to the cook, be clear and decisive. You want to produce a perfect dish by working together as a cohesive unit.
After watching the passion and determination these young kids have for cooking, it has made me realize that it doesn't matter what age you are, if you work hard for something, you can achieve success. When these kids were paired up to work together as a team and had to fight against the clock to produce the final product, they poured their passion in to cooking up something great. Not to mention, if it's a winner in Gordon's books, I can definitely take away some valuable lessons from them. Especially when I'm ready to tackle a new gourmet dish! Now let's get to cooking! Happy Tuesday my friends!

What's for dinner: Eggplant Cannelloni

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 large shallots, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 jars (12 oz each) roasted red peppers, drained
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (juice of 1 orange)

Eggplant

• 2 medium eggplants, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
• olive oil cooking spray
• Filling

Filling

• 4 oz goat cheese
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and minced
• 2 tablespoons capers, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• Directions:

  For Sauce

  Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook shallots and garlic until soft, about 1 minute. Reduce heat. Cook until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add peppers and juice; bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer until peppers are soft, about 5 minutes. Cool. Puree in a blender. Pour into a 9“ x 13” baking dish.
  For Eggplant

  Coat eggplants with cooking spray and broil on a baking sheet until golden on both sides, about 15 minutes. Heat oven to 400˚.
  For Filling

  Mash cheese, olives, capers and 1 tbsp of the parsley in a bowl. Place 1 tbsp of filling at the end of each eggplant slice; roll up. Lay seam side down in dish. Bake 10 to 15 minutes. Top with remaining 1 tbsp parsley.
  
  This meal fulfilled 2 main goals tonight. My primary goal was to try a new recipe and have it come out tasting delicious. The second goal was to have it Husband approved! After all, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Mission accomplished! Have a great Sunday night!