Out of it

Quick update for those of you who don´t know.... I am currently in Panama and blogging about it at fleethecountry.blogspot.com

xoxo

~6 calorie cutting tips~

So I was clicking around on shape.com this morning and ran accross these great calorie cutting tips that I thought I would pass along.(http://www.shape.com/healthy_eating/calories_carbs_and_fat/calories/best_ways_to_cut_calories/p/page/1). I'm so excited to try all of them! Let me know if you can think of any others to add.

1. Add the Olive Oil Last
We often think of sautéing as a lowfat cooking method, but some vegetables, such as eggplant, mushrooms, and greens, tend to soak up the majority of the fat that's added to the pan. Steam your veggies instead, then toss them with a few teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a pinch of red pepper flakes and sea salt.
Calories saved per cup: 150

2. Lighten Up Your Juice
Fill a water bottle with 6 ounces of juice and an equal amount of sparkling water. Or make an Arnold Palmer by mixing 6 ounces of lemonade with an equal amount of unsweetened iced tea.
Calories saved: 100

3. Downsize Your Baked Goods
You can automatically halve the calories in fresh-baked muffins by using a pan with a dozen slots rather than one with just six. And if you swap half a cup of applesauce for the half cup of butter or oil called for in your recipe, you can save an additional 75 calories per muffin.
Calories saved: 310 to 385

4. Bulk Up Your Pasta-with Veggies
If you're making pasta at home, a 2-cup serving of noodles with a large ladle of meat, vodka, or Alfredo sauce can set you back 600 calories or more. To fill your plate, mix a cup of pasta with a cup of steamed veggies, topping the dish with half a cup of your favorite jarred marinara sauce.
Calories saved: 250

5. Serve Dessert in a Shot Glass
Can't resist taking a slice of key lime pie or cheesecake at a buffet? Allow yourself to savor the amount that fits in a shot glass (that's about 3 tablespoons) and you'll save 80 percent of the calories you'd get in a full-size portion.
Calories saved: 360

6. Take Your Own Popcorn to the Movies
A medium container from the theater has at least 900 calories-not including the "butter" topping. Pre-pop your lowfat favorite and stash the bag in your tote.
Calories saved: 600

~easy calzones~

I love this calzone recipe! It's quick, easy, and filling-plus it looks gourmet. You can put pretty much anything you want inside calzones, but the recipe below has some of my favorite ingredients. Also, feel free to play around with the proportions to add as much or as little of ingredients as you like.



Ingredients:
Pillsbury pizza dough
Roughly 1/2 a jar of marinara sauce (reserve extra for dipping calzones in when baked)
a few handfuls of shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4C of cooked spinach
1/2C of green olives
3T pesto (this can be bought pre-made at most supermarkets)

Steps:
1. Grease cookie sheet, and pre-heat oven to 400
2. Roll out pizza dough and cut into 3 large rectangles
3. Layer marinara sauce and other ingredients onto half of each dough rectangle
4. Fold 2nd half of dough over to close, and press edges closed with fork
5. Take a knife and cut a small slit in the top of each calzone
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until calzones are golden brown

~quick way to de-stress~

Sometimes after a long day at work (especially if you spend a lot of time hunched over a computer) your neck can be full of tension. I hate that feeling, but it's often hard to get rid of. Well, I found this really simple trick in a magazine recently (I think it was Shape) that will help you relax and ease away cramps. Take a wet washcloth and throw it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Then, roll one or two chamomile tea bags up in it. Next, place it on your neck for a few moments and breathe deeply. This scent is calming and is one of my favorites right before bed; peppermint is also wonderful. Placing it on your face afterwards is also really relaxing. Happy de-stressing!

~worthy cause of the month~

There are a lot of great charities out there, but sometimes it's hard to know which ones are trustworthy and effective. That's why I've decided to blog about some causes that are deserving of your time and patronage. All of the causes I'll be writing about are committed to making the world a better place, so you can feel great about helping them out. If anyone has information about amazing charities that also deserve the spotlight please let me know!
This month's cause is RAINN: The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Sexual Assault is a growing problem;every 2 1/2 minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Founded in 1994, RAINN has now helped over one million people dealing with the difficult issues of rape, abuse, and/or incest. RAINN is the largest anti-sexual assult organization, and was recently named one of America's top 100 charities by Worth magazine. Among its programs, RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. This nationwide partnership of more than 1,100 local rape treatment hotlines provides victims of sexual assault with free, confidential services around the clock. RAINN also operates an online hotline that provides confidential crisis support for individuals in need. Additionally, RAINN is a frequent resource for television, radio and print news outlets — as well as local, state and national policymakers, law enforcement and rape treatment professionals — on the issues related to rape and sexual assault. If you are interested in learning more about this fantastic organization visit www.rainn.org to discover ways to get involved. *Below are some public service announcements produced by RAINN*

summer read #3!

French Women Don't Get Fat



It’s really my great-grandmother’s fault; you can ask anyone in the family. Always perfectly put together, even in her old age, her hats inevitably complimented her outfit flawlessly as did her lipstick. The fact that she was French took her to a completely different level of sophistication in my mind; and I still think of her as the embodiment of elegance. What more could a little girl ask for, than to play in her makeup and listen to her sing or tell fairy tales in French. This in my four-year-old mind made her the most fascinating person ever to have walked the planet. The stereotype of the alluring and chic French woman is still alive and well today. What is it about French women that makes them seem so sexy, fashionable, and classy that they leave American women falling all over themselves to imitate them? In Mireille Guilano's book she juxtaposes the way French women approach food and pleasure with the American woman's mindset. Equal parts nutrition and style this book has many unique tips on how to change your outlook on food. French Women Don't Get Fat is divided into short, easy to manage, chapters which need not all be read in a single sitting. This is a wonderful book if you are interested in the French way of thinking, and/or changing your own relationship with food.
**Note: the 2nd edition of the book (with a blue cover) has twice as many recipes as the first**
Below are some videos with the author discussing French style and food.

~breakfast beignets~

I had beignets [pronounced ben yAys] for the first time last Sunday and fell in love. These fluffy French pastries are iconic of New Orleans, but somehow I've never run across them before. The recipe I found is so lite and sweet you won't be able to stop eating them. An added plus is that they are relatively easy to make! Powdered sugar is the most common topping but cinnamon, granulated white sugar, and strawberry jam are all great too. Beignets are great for weekend brunches for a crowd since this recipe makes quite a few.



Ingredients
1 (1/4-ounce) envelope active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (105° to 115°)
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
Sifted powdered sugar

Preparation:

1. Combine yeast and warm water in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes.

2. Combine yeast mixture, evaporated milk, and next 3 ingredients. Gradually stir in enough flour to make a soft dough. Cover and chill 8 hours (if you chill it the night before that works best).

3. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface; knead 5 or 6 times. Roll dough into a 15- x 12 1/2-inch rectangle; cut into 2 1/2-inch squares.

4. Pour oil to depth of 3 to 4 inches into a large pot (cast iron is great) heat to 375°. Fry 3 or 4 beignets at a time, 1 minute on each side or until golden. Drain; sprinkle with powdered sugar.