RECIPE WEDNESDAY: Portobello Baked Eggs with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Who doesn’t love a protein-packed, 20-minute egg breakfast?  I found this recipe on MyFitnessPal the other day and thought it looked delicious!  I can't wait to try it!  :)  

Ingredients 
2 Portobello Mushroom Caps (3 1/2″ in diameter) 
3 ounces Soft Goat Cheese 
4 Sun-dried Tomatoes, diced (8g) 
2 large eggs 
2 dashes salt 
Fresh cracked pepper 
2 torn Basil leaves for garnish 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.

Remove the stems from the mushroom caps and scrape out the gills with a spoon. Spray both sides of the mushroom with cooking spray or  a light brush of olive oil on a paper towel and set the mushrooms onto a baking sheet.

Spread half of goat cheese, and sprinkle half of the sun-dried tomatos into each mushroom cap. Crack one egg into each, centering the yolk in the cavity where the stem was to prevent it from moving around.

Carefully transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until whites are cooked through and the eggs are done to your liking, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and top with basil before serving.

Notes: Try to pick out portobellos with a wide lip to hold in the fillings. 

See more at: http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/2014/08/portobello-baked-eggs-with-sun-dried-tomatoes/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email_2&utm_campaign=ROD12_20140807&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonuK%2FMZKXonjHpfsX57OQlUaK%2BlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4AScRrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSrTFMblm0LgLXhM%3D#sthash.NEnf3Y4s.dpuf 

Some Reflection Over My Last 7 Months as a Beachbody Coach

***GETTING REAL HERE***

December 30th, 2013, I made a promise to myself to make a change to my health and habits.  This was at a time when I was nearly 25 pounds overweight and mentally/physically/emotionally very unhappy with "letting myself go".  While everything was going right in the world around me on the outside, on the inside I wasn't feeling very good about myself.  I knew I needed to do some work on Me.  It was this promise to myself that has been my reason to keep on this journey these last 7 months and continue on this path for the rest of my life.  What was that promise?  My promise was simply this:

"I promise to lose the weight I've gained, get back to my healthy & fit self, and help others on their journey to live a healthy and active lifestyle."

By making this promise and constantly reminding myself of it every morning, the universe continues to open doors for me and every decision and opportunity I've taken and continue to take, has allowed me to move forward and hold me to my promise.

As some of you may or may not know, I began my fitness journey with Shaun T's FOCUS T25 program, got a great Coach (thank you Lisa!) ordered Shakeology, joined a FB Challenge Group, and stuck to a great clean eating nutrition plan!

It was because of the support I had with my challenge group and coach, that after completing FOCUS T25,  I lost 13 pounds during the 10 week program. The little voice inside my head that kept telling me to stop or quit, was certainly there throughout the entire thing and even today, I have off days where it decides to pop in from time to time.  But, no matter what, I continue to pull through because of that PROMISE that I made for myself.

I continue to still workout at 5am every week-day morning.  This time I'm doing the new program, #PiYo.   And what keeps getting me motivated and pushing through is that I keep reminding myself that 28 years of bad habits can't be broken in just 7 months.  However, making small changes and working towards being a little better each and every day will help get me closer to my goals and the promise that I made for myself.

So what have I learned so far these last 7 months?  What I can tell you is that I have learned a lot about myself - my strengths, my weaknesses, my motivations, my failures, my stressers, etc.  I've learned and read so much on personal development, health and nutrition that I dream about it.  I have even learned from all of you that have joined in on my challenge groups this year!  I've learned that I absolutely love coaching and working with others to help them achieve their health and fitness goals.  But most of all, I've learned that I love supporting and teaching (I even got Yoga Teacher Certified).  It is so important to me to pay it forward in life and I love being a part of something bigger than myself.

So that's my story and my moment of reflection as I look back over the last 7 months of this year.  I'm still continuing down this path and working things out.  I'm not perfect by any means.  But I keep learning.  I keep growing.  I don't quit.  I don't give up.  I made a promise to myself and I don't break my promises...

So, I have a question for you...

What promise would YOU make to YOURSELF right now?  Will you keep it?

RECIPE: Red, White, and Blueberry Parfait

Recipe: Red, White, and Blueberry Parfait

(Makes 8 servings, about 1-1/2 cups each)

Celebrate Independence Day with this colorful parfait! Bring this to any party, and it's sure to be a hit! 

Ingredients:

·         8 cups       nonfat plain Greek yogurt

·         2 cups       fresh strawberry slices

·         2 cups       fresh blueberries

·         1 Tbsp.      raw honey

Preparation:

1.     Place 2 cups yogurt in a 1½ quart glass dish. Top with 1/2 cup strawberries and 1/2 cup blueberries.

2.     Repeat layers four times.

3.     Drizzle with honey.

Note: Want to make an individual serving? Place 1/3 of the yogurt in a tall glass. Top with 1/3 of the strawberries and 1/3 of the blueberries. Repeat layers twice. Drizzle with 1/2 tsp. of honey.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories	Fat	Saturated Fat	Cholesterol	Sodium	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein
162	0 g	0 g	0 mg	91 mg	20 g	2 g	17 g	23 g

RECIPE WEDNESDAY: Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Let's face it, when it comes to women and their "moon cycles", we really need a "go to" sweet - i.e. chocolate.  And I don't know about you, but when I am eating clean and this time of the month swings around, my cravings for sweets and salty foods are heightened even more! 

But, there is hope ladies! 

I just found this great recipe with the 21 Day Fix.  I made Banana Oatmeal Cookies last night (you can have 2 of them and they count towards one of your yellow containers).  I was super impressed by how yummy they were without chocolate, but with raisins!  Although, you probably could put chocolate chips in this recipe too - but that may alter how many you have in a serving.  The thing I like most, is that this recipe is a SUPER clean treat.  There is loads of cinnamon in them, which is a spice that is incredibly good for you and actually helps you in your efforts for weight loss (click here to read more).

Needless to say, if you're looking for a healthy sweet, try these and if you make any variations, do share!  I'd love more ideas. 

BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES

(Makes 8 servings, 2 cookies each)

Non-stick Cooking Spray

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. sea salt

2 ripe medium bananas, mashed

1/4 cup  golden raisins

1/4 cup chopped raw walnuts

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly coat baking sheet with spray.  Set aside.
3. Combine oats, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl; mix well.
4. Add bananas, raisins, and walnuts; mix well.
5. Drop by heaping Tbsp. onto prepared baking sheet; flatten cookies with a spatula.
6. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes or until firm.