For added spice, rub breasts thoroughly

Okay, I new that title would get you!

Bo and I are learning to balance a dual career lifestyle with healthy eating and working out. The working out part deserves a post of it’s own but tonight I thought i’d let you in on a secret that has been helping us out the last few weeks. Three weeks ago, while roaming through our Tribeca Whole Foods we discovered Rub with Love spices. The online store features 13 different flavors ranging from the 3 we found at Whole Foods (pork, chicken, and salmon) to Exotic Mushroom and Spicy Tokyo. Each one is 3.5 oz and while it says there are 33 servings i’d say each one will last at least five dinners if you average 4-5 pieces per dinner. Each one is fragrant and filled with a deep flavor that goes far beyond Mrs. Dash or your old standby friends, S&P. The chicken rub, which I used tonight on our boneless, skinless chicken breasts includes star anise, coriander, cinnamon, and ancho chili which allows a once blah chicken breast to reach new heights! These rubs have been a blessing because they are fast and much easier than sauces or full recipes but still leave our pallette satiated.

WEEKNIGHT MEAL TIP

A little prep can go a long way for one’s love life and relationship. While we’ve taken turns each night, we’ve settled into a Rub with Love routine. Whoever gets home first rubs the meat/fish thoroughly ensuring that every nook and cranny is filled with flavor and then puts the meat/fish back in the rubbermaid to marinate in the fridge. After that the lucky one chops our two vegetables of the evening, mixes them with olive oil spray and seasons before putting them back in their Rubbermaid and in the fridge. This process allows us to enjoy each other’s company in the kitchen and catch up in a relaxed atmosphere while we put the two pans in the oven (vegetables and main course) and make our salads together.
What is your favorite weeknight recipe? Send me your favorite weeknight recipe or meal idea along with a link to your blog (if you have one) and i’ll feature them all in an upcoming post.

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GUEST POST: Fresh Ideas for Spring Veggies from A-S

I am so excited to turn over this post to one of my favorite New York ladies, Aimee of Healthy Apple!

Good afternoon everyone, I’m Amie from The Healthy Apple blog, and I am delighted to be guest-posting today on Ashley’s blog. I am a Nutritionist who believes in the philosophy ‘Everything in Moderation’. I feel it is important for each of us to enjoy life as well as try new foods and experiences. We need to take time for ourselves and make sure we are providing our bodies with Primary Foods and Secondary Foods each and every day. Today I am going to be sharing with you some of my favorite springtime veggies as well as a tasty recipe.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year, not only because it is the arrival of warmer weather and beautiful, blossoming flowers, but because I start looking forward to serving my favorite Spring veggies such as artichokes, sweet corn, fresh spinach, crisp green beans, Swiss chard, asparagus and broccoli. These spring veggies are delicious and each one packs a serious nutritious punch with each bite!

Asparagus: One cup of these hearty stalks packs in 3 grams of fiber and supplies us with a plethora of antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C, folate and vitamin A.

Artichokes: One gorgeous artichoke has 10 grams of fiber along with scores of folate and vitamin C.

Broccoli: One cup of these little green trees provides us 2 grams of fiber alongside a nice dose of vitamin A, folate and vitamin C.

Green Beans: Each cup of crispy green beans fills us up with 4 grams of fiber, a nice dose of omega 3’s, vitamin A, folate and calcium.

Spinach: These dark leafy greens are my favorite; they are loaded with antioxidants such as folate, vitamin C, beta carotene, omega 3 fatty acids and a fabulous dose of calcium.

Sweet Corn: Corn on the cob is one of the most delicious ways to enjoy sweet corn; each ear awards us 2 grams of fiber, a load of antioxidant phytochemicals and folate.

Swiss Chard: This dark leafy green comes in two fabulous colors: deep green as well as vibrant red. My favorite choice, however, is the rainbow chard, which makes each dish look incredibly colorful! These tasty leaves pack in 4 grams of fiber, a load of vitamin A and beta carotene, as well as vitamin C, calcium and folate.

Here is a delicious spring veggie recipe that will satisfy your palate and get you ready for the warmer weather.

Sautéed Spring Veggies and Goat Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 Bunch Swiss Chard

• 1 Bunch Asparagus

• ¼ cup Dried Cherries

• 1 cup No-Salt added Vegetable broth

• 2 Tsp. Olive Oil

• ¼ cup Crumbled Goat Cheese

• ¼ cup Walnuts (Toast by lightly browning in a nonstick frying pan over medium heat, stir frequently)

• 1 Tsp. Minced Garlic

Directions

• Slice Swiss chard into thin strips. Cut ends off of both asparagus and Swiss chard. Rinse and drain well. Add to a skillet with 1 cup of vegetable broth. Cook for 5 minutes. Drain well.

• Add olive oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir. Add asparagus and Swiss chard; sauté for 3 minutes.

• Transfer asparagus and Swiss chard to a serving dish. Top with toasted walnuts, dried cherries and crumbled goat cheese.

• Enjoy!

So, as this beautiful spring weather starts to arrive, be sure to check out your local farmer’s market and pick up some of these luscious spring vegetables. I hope each of you enjoys my Sautéed Spring Vegetable and Goat Cheese recipe above. Send me a comment and let me know your thoughts! I would love to hear from you.

As I mentioned previously, I am a Nutritionist with a passion for cooking, baking and healthy living in the Big Apple of NYC. My Nutrition Counseling is a unique, exciting innovation in health and nutrition. While most dietitians dwell on calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, restrictions and lists of good and bad foods, I work with my clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible, fun and free of denial and discipline. No one diet works for everyone, therefore I will guide you to find the food and lifestyle choices that best support you. I will also help you make gradual, lifelong changes that enable you to reach your current and future health goals.

Contact me today at thehealthyapple@gmail.com for a free health consultation. We will discuss your unique situation in depth and determine how I can help you reach your personal goals. Aside from Nutrition Counseling, I also provide Menu Planning, Personal Shopping/Food Store Tours/ Cooking Parties and In-Home Demonstrations.

Thank you Ashley for asking me to guest post on your blog today. Have a wonderful day everyone- I hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

All the Best,

The Healthy Apple

http://thehealthyapple.wordpress.com/

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Thick, creamy, and delicious is the only way to descibe Pulmuone Hummus!

Pulmuone Hummus is the best hummus we’ve ever tried! I’ve been an Athenos lover for years and have tried Saabra multiple times. Bo ate it straight out of the container while I enjoyed it with my daily dose of carrot and celery sticks since clearly i’m still having snack time at pre-school. 🙂

Pulmuone’s website states that they present more than 75 years of commitment to organic and natural foods. They are located in Fullerton, California and have make more than just hummus. They have tempeh, noodles (supposedly better than Shiritaki), sprouted tofu, tofu burgers, and more! Their ultimate goal is to nourish health and well-being through supporting dietary and agricultural changes.

They currently have some great promotions on their website and can be found at Whole Foods and Jubilee in NYC and EarthFares throughout the country. In addition, I thought you all would enjoy a recipe from their site. I think it sounds delicious!!

HUMMUS Pizza
•1 pizza crust (refrigerated pizza dough or box mix)
•1 cup Wildwood Hummus any Flavor
•2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
•Vegetables of your choice ‐onions, peppers, broccoli ,tomatoes
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread hummus in an even layer over pizza crust.
You want to have the same amount as you would have tomato sauce on a pizza.
If you like more, add more. Add mozzarella cheese and chopped vegetables of choice. Cheese and vegetables can be added, omitted, or mixed according to taste. Place in oven and bake on baking sheet for twenty minutes or until crust
is golden brown and cheese is melted.


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