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FIT VIXEN HEALTHY TRIX 'N TIPS

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Powerful Post-Run Smoothie

If you don’t have a magic bullet, you can put the ingredients together in a 2-cup (500ml/20 oz) container before throwing them in your blender.

Into the cup

-one large handful of fresh spinach (raw), squish to bottom of cup
-2 tbsp plain yogurt
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp matcha green tea powder
-1 tsp freshly grated ginger
-1/2 ripe banana
Fill the rest of the cup with frozen blueberries (or frozen berry of your choice)
Add as much chilled green tea as the cup will allow

Blend & enjoy...

To kick it up a notch, or for a more substantial meal, add 2 tbsp of granola and 1/2 tbsp hemp hearts. Enjoy this variation with a spoon.

Like this one? Check out more on Lululemon's website...community blog! (And maybe go shopping while you're at it!)

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Spicy Scallop Salad

Sea scallops coated with spices
Ingredients for the salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper;
  • 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper;
  • 1 tsp sea salt;
  • 1 lb small sea or bay scallops;
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice (about 1.5 lemons);
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise, optional;
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper;
  • 1 tsp Dijon;
  • 1 clove garlic, minced;
  • 1/2 cup olive oil;
  • 2 big handfuls of mixed greens;
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips;
  • 1 avocado, cubed;
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste;
  • 3 tbsp olive oil or other cooking fat;

Preparation

  1. Get your chopping done first and save the scallops for last to ensure they are still warm upon serving.
  2. Combine mixed greens, peppers and avocado in a large bowl and set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, prepare the vinaigrette by whisking together the lemon juice, mayonnaise, mustard, cayenne and salt and pepper to taste. Once combined, slowly mix in the olive oil.
  4. In a bowl large enough to hold the scallops, mix the cayenne, salt and pepper.
  5. Rinse the scallops and lightly pat dry.
  6. Add the scallops to the mixture prepared in step 4 and ensure that they are evenly coated.
  7. Over medium heat, heat a skillet and melt the cooking fat in preparation for searing the scallops. Your skillet must be hot prior to adding the scallops; however, do not allow the cooking fat to burn.
  8. Place the scallops in the pan and cook for about two minutes per side, until they are opaque white and just cooked through.
  9. Add the scallops to the bowl of mixed greens and veggies, and add the dressing over top. Serve while the scallops are still warm.
There you have it! A quick and easy salad that will help limit your time in the kitchen and keep you under the sun longer.

More recipes like this at Paleo Diet Lifestyle!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Summer Treat!...Paleo Ice Cream

A perfect fix for the ice cream craving. 

Ingredients

1 can coconut milk
1/4 C coconut sap (or raw honey)
Any other ice cream ingredients you want (cocoa powder to taste, spices, frozen fruit, nuts, vanilla extract, etc.)

Instructions

You need an ice cream maker for this.
1.Blend all ingredients.
2.Place in the ice cream maker and wait about 25 minutes.
3. Enjoy!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Grilled Fish Tacos

From EatingWell:  May/June 2010
Instead of deep-frying the fish for these fish tacos, we coat the fish with a flavor-packed chile rub and grill it instead. Make sure the fillets are no more than 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick so they cook quickly. Sometimes flipping fish on the grill can be tricky since the fish can stick to the grill or fall apart. The solution is to invest in a grill basket that easily holds 4 to 6 fish fillets and secures the fish in the basket for easy flipping. If you don’t have a grilling basket, make sure the grill is hot and well oiled before adding the fish.
6 servings, 2 tacos each | Active Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

Adobo-Rubbed Fish

  • 4 teaspoons chili powder, preferably made with New Mexico or ancho chiles (see Note)
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 pounds mahi-mahi or Pacific halibut (see Note), 1/2-3/4 inch thick, skinned and cut into 4 portions

Coleslaw

  • 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 3 cups finely shredded red or green cabbage
  • 12 corn tortillas, warmed (see Tip)

Preparation

  1. To prepare fish: Combine chili powder, lime juice, oil, cumin, onion powder, garlic power, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub adobo rub all over fish. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes for the fish to absorb the flavor.
  2. To prepare coleslaw: Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, sugar, salt and pepper in a medium bowl; mix until smooth and creamy. Add cabbage and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Preheat grill to medium-high.
  4. Oil the grill rack (see Tip) or use a grilling basket. Grill the fish until it is cooked through and easily flakes with a fork, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to a platter and separate into large chunks.
  5. Serve the tacos family-style by passing the fish, tortillas, coleslaw and taco garnishes separately.

Nutrition

Per serving : 319 Calories; 9 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 5 g Mono; 110 mg Cholesterol; 29 g Carbohydrates; 31 g Protein; 5 g Fiber; 702 mg Sodium; 824 mg Potassium
1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 starch, 4 lean meat, 1 1/2 fat

Tips & Notes

  • Make Ahead Tip: Prepare coleslaw (Step 2) up to 4 hours ahead.
  • Notes: Mahi-mahi (also called dorado) from the U.S. Atlantic and halibut from the Pacific are both sustainably fished and considered best choices for the environment. For more information, go to seafoodwatch.org.
  • Mildly spicy dried chiles, such as ancho or New Mexico, add moderate heat and rich flavor to Mexican sauces like mole. Chili powder made from these chiles has more flavor than American-style blends. Look for whole dried chiles in the produce section of large supermarkets and New Mexico or ancho chili powder in the specialty-spice section of large supermarkets or online at penzeys.com.
  • Tips: To oil a grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
  • 2 ways to warm corn tortillas: 1. Microwave: Wrap stacks of up to 12 tortillas in barely damp paper towels; microwave on High for 30 to 45 seconds. Wrap tortillas in a clean towel to keep warm. 2. Oven: Wrap stacks of 6 tortillas in foil; place in a 375°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Wrap tortillas in a clean towel to keep warm.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Tomato-&-Olive-Stuffed Portobello Caps

Portobello caps make excellent mini casseroles. Here, they hold a tomato, cheese and olive stuffing that grills up to a smoky perfection. Serve them with whole-wheat couscous and a mixed green salad for an easy meal.
4 servings | Active Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup chopped plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped Kalamata olives
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, or 1/8 teaspoon dried
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 4 portobello mushroom caps, 5 inches wide
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

Preparation

  1. Combine tomatoes, cheese, olives, garlic, 1 teaspoon oil, rosemary and pepper in a small bowl.
  2. Preheat grill to medium.
  3. Discard mushroom stems. Remove brown gills from the undersides of the caps using a spoon; discard gills. Mix the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, lemon juice and soy sauce in a small bowl. Brush the mixture over both sides of the caps.
  4. Oil a grill rack (see Tip). Place the caps on the rack, stem sides down, cover and grill until soft, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and fill with the tomato mixture. Return to the grill, cover, and cook until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes more.

Nutrition

Per serving : 122 Calories; 8 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 4 g Mono; 9 mg Cholesterol; 8 g Carbohydrates; 7 g Protein; 2 g Fiber; 338 mg Sodium; 431 mg Potassium
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 high-fat meat

Tips & Notes

  • To oil a grill rack: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
Find more recipes like this at Eating Well! Enjoy!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Son of Grok Zesty Barbecue Zauce - Paleo Friendly

Ingredients:
- 1 6oz can tomato paste
- 1 to 1.5 cups of beef stock (go for low-salt!)
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- .5 of an onion
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons chili powder

Directions:
1. Dice your onions and garlic as fine as possible. You want your BBQ sauce a little chunky but the more fine you dice these, the better the flavor will spread through the entire sauce.
2. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan. Whether you use 1 cup or 1.5 cups of beef stock will depend on how thick you want your sauce.
3. Bring sauce to heat on stove with a low setting.
4. Cover and simmer. Stir frequently and taste regularly. The longer you simmer, the more consistent your flavor will be. I simmered for 20-30 minutes.
5. Enjoy!

Extra can be stored in refrigerator.

All you Paleo Peeps, check out Son of Grok for more caveman-friendly recipes!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Fire-Seared Antipasto Salad


Trying to impress some Summer guests? Give this one a try...

YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: about 4 ounces eggplant, 1 tomato half, 2 bell pepper halves, 1/2 zucchini, 1/4 onion, 1 ounce prosciutto, 1/4 ounce capocollo, 1/2 ounce mozzarella, 1 1/2 teaspoons basil, 1/2 teaspoon capers, 1 1/2 olives, and 1 tablespoon marinade)
COURSE: Appetizers

Ingredients

  • Dressing:
  • 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Vegetables:
  • 3 plum tomatoes, halved
  • 2 red bell peppers, quartered and seeded
  • 2 yellow bell peppers, quartered and seeded
  • 2 zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 1 red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 1 (1 1/2-pound) eggplant, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • Cooking spray
  • Garnishes:
  • 4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
  • 1 ounce capocollo, thinly sliced
  • 2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 2 teaspoons capers
  • 6 green olives, sliced
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.
2. To prepare dressing, combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl, stirring with a whisk.
3. To prepare vegetables, brush 1/4 cup dressing evenly over tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, onion, and eggplant. Place vegetables on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes on each side or until lightly charred. Arrange vegetables on platter; brush with remaining dressing. Arrange prosciutto, capocollo, and cheese on platter. Sprinkle platter with basil, capers, olives, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

Wine note: Easy-going tannins make northern Italy's Valpolicella the go-to red wine for cured meats. Without the use of oak, Tenuta Sant'Antonio Nanfré Valpolicella 2007 ($13) lets its fruit flavors shine. The cherry flavors and earthy notes meld beautifully with the charred vegetables. —Jeffery Lindenmuth
Nutritional Information

  • Amount per serving
  • Calories: 291
  • Fat: 13.2g
  • Saturated fat: 4.6g
  • Monounsaturated fat: 5.5g
  • Polyunsaturated fat: 1.6g
  • Protein: 15.6g
  • Carbohydrate: 32g
  • Fiber: 10.1g
  • Cholesterol: 36.2mg
  • Iron: 2.3mg
  • Sodium: 986mg
  • Calcium: 147mg
Loving the Summer suggestions from Cooking Light!