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These meatball lollipops are a cinch to make & they are great appetizers. Your kids will love them & adult party guests will dig ’em too. Have fun seasoning these meatballs in all different ways. I have listed some suggestions below.
Continue reading “Meatball Lollipops”
This is a simple, cooling, yummy salad. I use the small, dense Persian Cucumbers. They have a nice firm texture and bite to them. Cucumber and Asian seasonings are always a great pair!
(4 to 6 servings)
6 or so Persian Cucumbers (If you cannot find these you can use a few regular cucumbers, scrape out the seeds if you wish and cut into small bite sized pieces.)
1 Tbs. Toasted Sesame Oil
2 Tbs. Rice Wine Vinegar
2 Tbs. Soy Sauce (I usually use a light soy sauce with less salt.)
A sprinkle of Garlic Powder
Black or White Pepper to taste
A few Tablespoons of dried Seaweed Flakes or Japanese Rice Seasoning, aka: Furikake (this is a dried seasoning blend with shaved bonito, sesame, seaweed and soy, there are many varieties. Look for Furikake with no MSG))
Sesame Soy Cucumber Salad, Shredded Grilled Lemon Garlic Chicken, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, whole wheat pasta and topped with cilantro. This is a super yummy, energy building post-workout lunch!
Included are some tasty, clean, healthy treats that truly satisfy. I prepare them regularly and always feel great after. They satisfy my sweet tooth in a big way! Bonus: the kids love these Cocoa treats too!
Close your eyes and imagine that you are enjoying a thick chocolate mousse from your favorite French Cafe!
Yet another use for strained non-fat yogurt (Fage, Trader Joe’s, Stonyfield etc.) This thick, creamy, high calcium, protein-rich yogurt should keep you satisfied for quite some time. It is a healthy treat that acts as a great snack. This parfait also helps avoid sugar crashes and cravings as it truly satisfies!
Be sure to use strained non-fat yogurt, this is the texture that makes the parfait most like a true mousse (without the guilt!)
Additions:
I often use this as a replacement for my pre-workout coffee. It is a feel-good, high energy drink!
(I use water and a splash of milk in mine, this is more like an Americano. If you use all milk it is creamier, richer and more like a traditional Hot Cocoa. )
I use all milk, no water. They love milk and might as well have the extra calcium.
This is wonderful in the summer when you want an icy treat with virtually no calories!
(This makes one 16 ounce serving. I use the large cup from my Rocket Blender to gauge how much ice and liquid to add.)
Additions:
(I’m not only gonna keep you mindful with the food, yes the exercise too!!)
I just found another way to make myself more accountable to my fitness regime (as if I needed one!) The President’s Challenge is so cool. This is a program designed to encourage us to stay active in our everyday lives. There are different program options based on your fitness level. Everything from the 6 week “Active” lifestyle program to the more ambitious “Advanced Performance Program.” Basically there is a program to suit everyone.
“The President’s Challenge is a series of programs designed to help improve anyones activity level. It’s the latest initiative introduced by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to help promote the benefits of fitness for all Americans.”
The programs runs for 6 or more weeks. You log the type, duration and frequency of your daily exercise. Everything is recorded on-line, it is so easy to keep track of your activities. That’s right, you get to chart and come to terms with how much or how little exercise you are getting. There is a huge list of activities that you can choose from on your daily checklist, everything from household tasks (snore, we can burn more calories than that!), to baton twirling (odd, if you do this regularly you better send a picture this way!), to weight training, swimming, yoga etc. It is so fun to track your progress and watch your list grow! Did I mention it’s free? No personal trainer fees to deal with, you get to kick your own butt!
I have set up a MarlaMeridith.com group. That’s right we can participate as a team! This means you can track how you are doing against other members in our group, in your state or around the world! Your comparisons are kept in a general graph form. I am the only one as your trusty administrator that can view your individual profile. No judgements, no worries. It might just hold you more accountable!!
You can even sign your kids up, it is so fun for them to learn the benefits of exercise too! You can give your kids awards as they complete activities and weeks of exercise, or maybe just high fives and a pat on the back!
HOW TO JOIN:
1) Go to http://presidentschallenge.org/the_challenge/joining_a_group.aspx
2) Fill out the registration form.
* Be sure to include the following info during registration *
MarlaMeridith.com Group ID #: [85340]
Your Member ID: [You can use any name you wish here]
3) After registering, start logging your activities. As you log activities you’ll be able to track your progress toward winning a President’s Challenge Award or Medal.
On my constant quest to keep everyone in our house trying new flavors and eating a balanced diet I introduced my kids to one of my favorite foods. We started them on Japanese food early. This introduction was a nudge to get my kids to go where I want when we go out for dinner. This simple sushi roll on the hand is fun to try at home.
My kids love a steaming, salty bowl of edamame. (Remember kids love to interact with their food, so shelling the edamame keeps them busy until dinner arrives.) They also love avocado rolls. I figured with this sort of passion, I should bring The Sushi Roll into our home, with variations, of course!!!!!
Continue reading “The Sushi Roll”
Fresh Recipes: The recipe list is growing! In the past few weeks I have added a variety of great, clean eats from sweet to savory. The new posts include:
Marla’s “Cream Pie” Yogurt Parfait
These are easy, healthy, yummy recipes that require as few ingredients as possible. When we choose fresh, unprocessed ingredients the flavors present themselves better, so we need fewer ingredients!
Fresh Ingredient: Shady Maple Farms Maple Butter. This is pure, clean, creamy, decadent sweetness! A little goes a long way. You can add it to oatmeal, smear in a peanut butter sandwich, add it as the sweet layer to Marla’s Stuffed French Toast, add it to a protein shake or load up a spoon and savor each and every little lick! The lowest price I found was on-line at www.amazon.com.
Fresh Tips: Sprinkles! (no not the cupcakes!) It is always fun to sprinkle a little of this or that onto your meal. A little sprinkle goes a long way as far as flavor goes. Usually we reach for salt. There are so many other, creative ways to season your food without adding any calories. You can try dried spices or spice blends. Also, a little Parmesan or Romano goes a long way and gives a huge flavor boost with minimal calories. You can also add Japanese Rice Seasoning (Furikake) or Toasted Sesame (Gomashio) “sprinkles.”
Freshy Tip for the Kids: Healthy kid sprinkles! My kids love “sprinkles” of all sorts. They enjoy having interaction with their food, other than just putting it in their mouths. These little seasoning embellishments help to get them interested in their food! I actually have my kids convinced them that ground flaxseeds are sprinkles. (They also believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy!)
Put your sprinkle ingredient in a small bowl or shaker and let them sprinkle away. They can sprinkle ground flaxseed, cinnamon or ground ginger on their morning oatmeal or cereal. For lunch and dinner give them some shredded cheese, grated Parmesan or Romano, maybe even a dried spice like thyme or cilantro??? You will be amazed with how much they love being in control over this playful addition of flavor.
Fresh Online Marketplace: Pacific Mercantile Company If you can’t find the asian seasonings mentioned in The Rice Bowl recipe in your local market, you can search online at this market. Be very mindful of the ingredients in these seasonings. They often have MSG and artificial flavors. Always read labels and ask questions if you phone in your order.
Fresh Wears: Francie-Pants are truly genius!
Why is it that my daughter always practices her cartwheels in front of loads of strangers at places like outside my gym or maybe the grocery store??? Yes, it is great to have an audience, but along with the acrobatics comes waaayyy too much exposure of her undergarments. Hmmmmm, not cool.
Thankfully Francie-Pants has come to the rescue with a super hip, comfortable alternative to the standard “expose everything panty.” These cute silky, lightweight, “shorts” panties have a lot of coverage and come in fabulous print designs.
They fit really well without bunching and riding into all of those cartwheelin’ places. Yours truly is getting some pairs of these girlie undershorts for myself and my daughter…….the question is which prints to choose as there is a large tempting selection! Francie-pants are a great way for your little gal to have some discreet style under those uniforms that some will be wearing come fall!
Fresh Thought: Be mindful of each bite you put in your mouth. Take the time to chew your food. You will find you taste the flavors more and your overall satisfaction at the end of your meal will be increased. It is said that the slower we eat and the more we chew our food the better it is for digestion. Also, I have read multiple times that we actually consume fewer calories when we take the time to be mindful with each bite.
Fresh Read: Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson
I came across this book this past winter in Telluride, CO. Heidi is an amazing natural foods cook and a genius photographer. Her style beams out of every photo and recipe selection. Her cookbook gives loads of definitions and insight into natural foods. 101 Cookbooks is vegetarian but you can always pair the recipes with your favorite meat, poultry or seafood selection if you wish. If you can’t make it to the gem of a bookstore Between the Covers in Telluride, you can order this book at www.amazon.com.
This blog is written by the above mentioned cookbook author extraordinaire Heidi Swanson. It showcases her travels, photography and of course recipes. She updates posts often (hmmmm, I don’t think she has kids, thus giving loads of time to commit to writing!)
Heidi has a clean, fresh take on life with a mindful eye and palate! Her blog and recipes are the perfect complement the MarlaMeridith.com lifestyle. Heidi has created a huge community that share her visions, let’s just say she is the perfect profile of where I would love to take my MarlaMeridith.com blog!
Fresh Clicks: Peace, Love and Momminess
For all of you local Orange County mommas! You will enjoy this well thought out, super fun website. “Peace, Love and Momminess is a lifestyle, an online magazine and an e-boutique line. It’s a space for Moms seeking more inspiration and less stress, more balance and less chaos, more joy and less pressure.”
Ahhhhhhh………Summer! It has been a great one. Wishing you all the best for the month of August!
Please Note: Please use your own judgement or the advice of your doctor to decide which ingredients and products are appropriate for you and you family. MarlaMeridith.com does not accept any responsibility for injury sustained as a result of following the advice or suggestions contained within the content of this blog.
How could something so simple be satisfying for all??? I don’t know but it was a great hit on Sunday night with my kids and my husband. The kids had diced pieces of organic chicken hot dogson theirs and my husband and I had slabs of seasoned, pan seared Sockeye Salmon. Smiles and happy tummies all around! I am speechless…….
This is a great one for Sunday dinner as it will motivate you to Prep those veggies for the week! Good for lunch, dinner or anything in between, the Japanese dig into this kind of meal for breakfast.
Rice Choice: In these bowls I used organic white sushi rice, I cooked a large batch to be used in Sushi rolls the next day. You can use any rice you desire: White or Brown Rice, long or Short Grain, Jasmine, Basmati (brown or white.)
1 cup of rice will yield between 4-10 servings depending upon your carb intake and how much leftovers you want. Rice stays good in the fridge for quite a few days, so you might as well cook a Big Batch to keep on hand. White rice has a higher glycemic index than brown rice, this means that you might feel satisfied longer with brown rice. To learn more about Glycemic Index please view: www.glycemicindex.com
Protein Choice: Diced Chicken Breast, Shrimp, Scallops, Fish (Salmon, Tilapia, Halibut, Cod, really anything goes,) Cubed Tempeh, Tofu, Lean Sirloin, Organic Nitrate-free Chicken Sausage, Organic Nitrate-free Hot dogs. Applegate Farms makes great organic hot dogs in Chicken, Beef and Turkey.
Your chicken, soy, seafood or meat choice can easily be sauteed in a pan with a bit of oil, soy sauce and garlic. Soooooo easy! If you have cooked frozen Shrimp you can just defrost and Voila! shrimp is ready to serve. Do cook a Big Batch of protein so you have leftovers to grab and go!
Vegetables: Steam up your favorites! Anything goes, Broccoli, Carrots, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Squash, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, etc……Remember Prep Time? When everything is prepped ahead of time you can just grab handfuls of this and that, steam it up and toss it in the bowl!
Fat Choice: Chopped Peanuts, Toasted Sesame Oil, Avocado, Hot Chili Oil
Saucy Additions: Soy Sauce, Thai Fish Sauce, Green or Red Thai Coconut sauce, Hot Mustard
Embellishments: Chopped Green Onion, Dried Seaweed flakes, Furikake (Japanese Rice Seasoning blend,) Toasted Sesame Seeds, Gomashio (Japanese, Sesame/Salt combo,) dried minced Onion, Dried Toasted Garlic. I found my Japanese seasoning blends at Whole Foods. To read more about these seasonings please click: Kate’s Global Kitchen. When buying Furikake and Gomashio read labels and be on the lookout for no MSG and Artificial flavors. Click here for an online Asian market: Pacific Mercantile Company
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Have you ever tried making French Fries on the grill? If not you need to like now. It is such a simple, quick and easy way to make this delicious side dish. Not to mention very healthy too because they are not deep fried.
What these Grilled potatoes are:
What these are not:
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Makes as many as you want it to, figure about 2 ounces per person
NOTES:
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
Pre heat your grill to medium high. Clean and scrub potatoes. Cut into 1 1/2 inch wedges, keeping all pieces a consistent thickness and shape so they cook evenly. In a large bowl, toss and coat potato wedges with enough olive oil so they glisten. Sprinkle on some salt, pepper and any other additional seasonings or sauces, see below. Combine well with your hands. Grill until marked and centers are soft, about 8 to 10 minutes each side, flipping once. (If potatoes stick to grill let them cook a few more minutes before flipping.) Reduce the heat on your grill if you feel they are going to burn.
Variations
Got Leftovers?
Refrigerate and reheat for another meal. Put your grilled French fries in a single layer on a piece of foil and set your oven or toaster oven to a low broil setting. Keep and eye on them so they don’t burn. It should only take a few minutes to re-heat and get some crispiness back. You can flip potato wedges while re-heating to get both sides crispy.
French Fry Recipe Links
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This yogurt parfait has tons of bang for the buck. It is loaded with nutrient dense ingredients, it is high protein, it doesn’t have refined sugars and best of all it tastes like an apple cream pie. I am always trying to satisfy my nagging sweet tooth. My goal is to not grab fat and sugar filled goodies for quick snacks. In this little recipe, yogurt is your cream base and the warmed fruit, flax seed, butter, nuts and cinnamon combine to form the crumbly topping. This is a perfect way to start your day or a great afternoon mini meal to re-boot your energy levels.
Continue reading “Apple Cream Pie Yogurt Parfait”
The Family Dinner: often goes something like this
Yes, it is hard to get little kids to try new things. It only took a few tantrums and time outs before we finally got my daughter on board to try this delicious Grilled Meatloaf.
We make the effort to do a family dinner a few nights a week. This means we all sit together and…….. eat together. It is so hard with little kids to actually “sit” at a meal. I am always up and down playing waitress to every whim and demand of mes petits customers.
On this night our little gal was over tired and craving her go to comfort food…..pasta. She screamed for it and held on tight to her pasta attachment. The only thing we could do was put her in the inevitable “Time Out.”
Once the tantrum passed and we allowed her back downstairs, we plated her some Grilled Meatloaf and Grilled Potato Wedges with a side of ketchup. It was a magical moment, like seeing a rainbow after a storm. A smile opened up on her face and she said “Yum!” My son on the other hand slammed his grilled goodies with abandon as he had his sights set on strawberry ice cream for dessert.
Life is much easier when only one kid has a melt down at mealtime. Two melt downs makes me want to hide under my grill. It is pure bliss when everyone eats without tantrums and bribes. The only sounds are chewing and “Mom, I want more…….please!”
Grilled Turkey MeatloafGrill note: It is fun for variety to grill your loaf. The grilled meatloaf has a nice smoky flavor. It cooks up nice and moist as it steams inside the foil. The bottom of the loaf has a nice grilled, crispy texture.
If you just can’t fire it up to get outside, feel free to use your oven instead.
Oven directions: preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place uncooked loaf on a sheet pan, or glass baking dish. Cover loosely with aluminum foil bake for about 50 minutes or until cooked through. Let rest 5 minutes.)
2 Lbs Organic Ground Turkey
1 Medium Onion diced, about 1/2 cup (if you don’t have time or inclination to chop onion you can omit this)
Splash of Olive Oil
3 Garlic cloves, chopped small (you can use 1 tsp. garlic powder if you have no fresh garlic on hand or 1 Tbs minced garlic……see below)
1 Large Egg
1/2 cup rolled Oats (not quick cook or instant)
1/2 cup Tomato Sauce (use your favorite, ours is Puttanesca sauce with zesty olives and capers)
1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
Garlic Tips:
OK, I get it. Sometimes we don’t have time and we don’t want to smell from chopped garlic. There are some great minced garlic options out there to make prep time a heck of a lot faster. Two items I highly recommend are:
Jarred Minced Garlic (Trader Joe’s makes one) and Frozen Minced Garlic Cubes by Dorot, you can find both items at Trader Joe’s
Variations:
For the Kids:
Meatloaf is a great dipping agent. Plate this for the kids with their favorite tomato, ketchup or BBQ sauce.
Marla’s Fresh Picks Comment:
This is a super charged high protein, low carb dish. It can be combined with steamed or roasted veggies or served with a side salad. It is great to store in the fridge and use for leftovers.
You can re-heat slices in the microwave or under the broiler on a low setting, just watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.
Great sandwiches with it as well. It is tasty in an open faced sandwich with cheese and tomato sauce. Take a piece of bread top it with some sauce, slice of meatloaf and some cheese. Toast until warmed through and cheese is melted.
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Scones are one of those indulgences that are simple to make and don’t need to be reserved for fancy tea parties. You can bake a bunch and they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for quite a few days as a grab and go snack (you might want to heat them under a low broiler to get the texture back.) Scones are versatile as they can be flavored in hundreds of different ways.
Continue reading “Maple Ginger Whole Grain Scones”
Since I originally wrote this post I have come up with gobs of stuffed french toast recipes. It is my go-to breakfast. Sometimes I do pancakes, oatmeal, breakfast cookies and muffins, but this is my all-time favorite. From Pumpkin Ricotta to Strawberry Mozzarella, the choices are endless and all very tasty!
I love waking before the rest of the family to a quiet house. This is my go-to hot breakfast treat. It is so freeing to connect with myself and get some focus before the rest of my family gets up. The sandwiches can be set up and wrapped individually quite a few days ahead and kept in the refrigerator, so you can cook one up without having to drag out all of the ingredients again and again.
This breakfast has a wonderful balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats to give everyone a jump start to a busy day. It is fun to experiment with different ingredients. My stuffed french toast can be easily adapted to suit any taste preferences. It has a base of sprouted organic bread, a clean organic nut butter or low-fat cream cheese and organic fruit or fruit spread. I love dipping each bite of mine in homemade applesauce.
Here is what you will need. Mix up the ingredients according to taste preferences.
METHOD
Create sandwich, layer your spread of choice, fruit or fruit spread choice and any additions you might want on one slice.Top with an additional slice to create a sandwich.Put an egg in a bowl big enough to soak sandwich. Lightly season with salt and whisk the egg. Soak sandwich on both sides until it is nice and moist.
Pre-heat nonstick pan on medium high with cooking spray or butter. Place sandwich in pan and press extra egg out with a spatula. Cook until lightly browned. Flip sandwich, press again with a spatula and cook until warmed through and toasty. Top with any add-on’s (spices, sweetener, nuts, coconut, fruit sauces, etc.)
Some Favorite Combinations
Stuffed French Toast Recipe Links
