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Date Night Broccoli Pesto

When JB and I first started dating he came up with a recipe of Broccoli Pesto with Rigatoni Noodles with a fabulous bottle of red wine. Yep, the first few months he cooked his heart out, and the best part is that he still is!!
Here is his updated version of Broccoli Pesto minus the pasta, but with a pasta "stand in" which is sure to to please the low carb lovers....

JB's Broccoli Pesto
3 cloves of garlic, finely diced
1 serrano chili, finely diced
2 tablespoons of pine nuts
1 large head of broccoli
1 cup of grated parmesan cheese
1 lemon
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper
1. Saute the pine nuts till golden brown. Set aside. Saute the garlic and chili till soft and set aside. Boil the broccoli till soft. Drain broccoli and let cool.
2. In food processor add pine nuts, garlic and chili mixture and broccoli and a handful of parmesan cheese and pulse/blend to incorporate ingredients. Squeeze half a fresh lemon into mixture. Add olive oil as you pulse the mixture looking for a consistency of the spoon standing upright in the pesto. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Pasta Stand In
Olive Oil
2 Green Zucchini
2 Yellow Zucchini
- Chop the ends off of each and then use a vegetable peeler to peel long ribbons of zucchini

1 bunch of asparagus (thinner the better)
- chop off the bottoms, using the heads of the asparagus

2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes
half of a red onion- sliced into half moons

1. Saute the red onion moons and asparagus in some olive oil two to three minutes, softening but leaving a crunch. Remove from heat and set in a bowl.
2. Place ribbons of zucchini into saute pan for about a minute. Then add to to onion and asparagus.
3. Saute cherry tomatoes till skin just starts to crack. Then add to vegetable bowl.
4. Spoon the JB's Broccoli Pesto on top of the vegetables and coat all ingredients.
5. Place in a bowl, sprinkle with parmesan, add salt and pepper to taste.

In Health and ENJOY!
Tricia and JB :)

Yoga Anyone?

I love me some Pilates, it's my first pick of a workout, next to my cardio cravings of course. However, I also must admit I really do love yoga. It's one of those workouts that you go into thinking, ok this will be good, calming, stretching, relaxing and then BAM! your triceps are sore, your butt is sore and the best part? You really are calm after it.

In Health,
Tricia

A letter to my teenage self...

Dear Tricia,

I just heard that you are about to graduate ninth grade and I thought I'd take a moment to write you a letter to let you know some of the lessons I learned along the way. Life is full of many things, happiness, sadness, friends, enemies, successes, failures, loves, loves lost, and much more that comes in between. You will learn to take the good with the bad. You will learn to love. You will learn to laugh. Most importantly, you will learn that the single most important thing in your life will be for you to find happiness. Sit back and enjoy the ride, it keeps getting better.

In a few months you will go to high school. In many ways it will, well, lets just say it, it will suck. You feel awkward in every outfit you put on, you will never know what the right thing to do or so will be, you will fight with your sisters everyday. You will throw parties and go to parties and you will test every limit you possibly can. You will fall in love and then fall right out of it. You will get your heart broken. You will find lifelong friends you will never know how you lived without. You will lose friends. You will love your parents, you will hate your parents, you will need your parents. You will understand life and death and how quickly things can change. Relish in it. Take your time. Don't sweat the small stuff. Hug your family. Study for your tests.

College will be a bit of a blur. For many reasons. It goes so fast. One minute you are walking into a dorm and setting up your matching bed comforter with your new roommate and then next minute you will be turning your tassel and tossing your cap. You will learn responsibility. You will lean on your sisters. You will become your own person right before your eyes. You will know what it means to be proud of yourself. You will cry your eyes out the day you leave college and head back to your home town because you have no idea what you are going to do next. You will have no idea when you will find a job or even what job you want to have. You will realize it all really does matter. Take your time.  No, he really isn't worth it. Yes, she really is just trying to look after you. Yes, they really are going to miss you when you move out. No, you really aren't ready to do it on your own but do it, jump in with two feet and don't look back because yes, it will make your stronger.

You will find your favorite quote becomes, "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much." Keep it in your heart, one will follow the other. Life is all about second chances. You need a rehearsal to know whats going to work, what won't, the exact place you should stand, and the parts to leave out. Trust yourself. Believe in yourself. Listen to your gut. Take chances. Dance. Most of all find your happiness.

Yours Truly,
Yourself

Roasted Rosemary, Chipotle, and Parmesan Nuts

Need a reason to eat nuts?

1. Nuts are full of protein which helps muscles regrow and fills you up!

2. They contain monounsaturated fats which help to lower cholesterol.

3. Nuts contain omega 3's which lower blood pressure and possibly some cancers.

4. Nuts are high in antioxidants that protect against heart disease, some cancers, and nerve disease.

5. Nuts contain Vitamin E which protects cells from free radicals.

Another great reason to eat them is this delicious recipe that JB made last night! Roasted Rosemary, Chipotle, and Parmesan Nuts. This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten's Recipe.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

1. 1/2 cup each of walnuts, pecans, almonds, and cashews- put together in a bowl

2. In a separate bowl mix together the juice from one orange, 2 teaspoons of chipotle powder, 1/3 cup of maple syrup, and 4 tablespoons of freshly chopped Rosemary, add a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk mixture together. Pour it over the bowl of nuts. Combine mixture with hands to be sure nuts are coated. 

3. Brush a baking sheet lightly with Canola oil so the nuts don't stick. Pour nut mixture and spread evenly on baking sheet. Roast for 20- 25 minutes. 

4. Remove from oven and let the nuts cool. Use a spoon to stir a few times to prevent sticking. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. 

5. Serve hot! They also stay fresh for about 2 days if you store them in an airtight container. 

In Health, 

Tricia

Happy February!

It's already February 1st! Are you sticking with your workout program? Here is a full body circuit workout you can do right along with me! It's only 10 minutes. If you want a longer workout start at the beginning!

In Health, 

Tricia

A Healthy Day

We are only a week into the New Year and I want to encourage everyone to keep your positive outlook, to continue to strive for a healthier lifestyle, and to keep making mini goals to achieve your bigger goals.

I've put together a 4 week program of which a few friends of mine have used and been successful. Part of the program is the approach to a healthy day and I list out how to achieve that. The old saying, "one day at a time" really does reign true in many aspects of life. Being healthy is about each meal, each exercise session, each emotional state.



Here is the Sunshine Fitness Way to a Healthy Day

1. Wake up- try to wake up at the same time everyday to set your internal clock. Strive for 8 hours of sleep.
2. Drink a glass of cold water as soon as you can to rehydrate your body.
3. Weigh yourself at the same time every morning and before you eat breakfast. Weighing yourself is a great way to stay on track.
4. Workout for at least 30 minutes. Drink water during the workout.
5. Eat Breakfast after your workout. It should have protein, carbs, and a fruit or veggie. A smoothie is a great way to start your day!
6. Drink water throughout the morning along with your choice of Tea or Coffee.
7. Have lunch at a consistent time everyday. You can train your body to be hungry.
8. Go for a walk. If possible get outside for at least 10 minutes but if you are stuck in an office get up and walk around, visit coworkers. The walk can also wait till you get home and before or after dinner. If you sit for 8 hours a day your morning workout is helpful but you need to move your body more than just for that 30 minutes.
9. Have a snack in between lunch and dinner. Hummus and carrots, peanut butter and apple, almonds and a banana are all healthy ideas. Also, continue to drink water throughout the afternoon. 
10. Take a Fiber supplement about 15 minute before dinner- I learned this from Dr. Oz. Americans don't eat enough fiber so this is a great way to be sure you are getting enough. It's also a little trick to fill your stomach with fiber and water before dinner so you get full, faster, and don't overeat.
11. Dinner 6 hours after lunch. A healthy dinner of which half of your plate is fruit and/or veggies and the other half is split between carbs and protein.
12. Have a multi-vitamin after dinner. Talk to your doctor if you aren't sure what is right for you.
13. Don't eat within 3-4 hours of bedtime. Close the kitchen after dinner. Do the dishes and get it ready for the morning.
14. Bedtime- again, try to be consistent. Remember you have to wake up and do your workout!

In Health,
Tricia