Perfect Oven Roasted Fries

I came across this recipe while trying to find that Tomatillo Soup on the Zupas Blog that my sister made and immediately tried/made them. I fell head over hills. Instantly.

I'd recommend these to anyone! Especially someone that's trying to rid fast food. They literally taste better than fast food fries in my opinion. But I would recommend Sea Salt, for some reason it makes a big difference.

Enjoy!


"This is more of a method than a recipe, because times will all depend on how thick and big you cut your potato slices. But the secret? Boiling the fries before they go into the oven. Believe me - it makes the inside nice and soft while the outside gets crispy from a high oven temperature. And it speeds up the process as well!"



1st - set a pot of water over high heat to get it boiling. Also preheat your oven to the highest temperature it will go to.


2nd - cut your potatoes. I like mine thinner, but you can definitley do big wedges or small stick - however you prefer your fries. Leave the peel on or take them off -it’s all up to you!


3rd - drop the potatoes into the boiling water. Cook until just barely tender - make sure you don’t cook them so much that they fall apart!


4th - drain potatoes and transfer to a baking sheet. Cover with olive oil and any seasoning you want. Put into the preheated oven.


5th - Cook until crispy on the edges. I like to turn mine once or twice during this time so that they get evenly browned.


6th - remove from oven and enjoy - I like mine with some fry sauce!!

(Thanks Deborah from Zupas.com)

Fat-Burning Foods

I came across a wonderful little slide-show that I thought you would enjoy.

It has some wonderful information about certain foods and why we should be eating them on a regular basis!

Click here to get the slide-show.

(thanks webmd.com)

Tomatillo Chicken Soup

I've tried a lot of soups in my day. I love soup.

Who doesn't on a cold, winter day?

I've found the one that has topped them all! My sister Stacie is always coming up with these outstanding recipes, and this soup might have changed my life for the better. Very healthy, and out of this world good!!

It's not even a question, you HAVE to try it.

{tomatillo chicken soup}
serves 6-8 people

saute in big stock pot approx 10-15 min:
1/2 large onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb tomatillos, diced (about 5 medium size, don’t forget to remove the husk and wash)
1 tablespoon cumin

add the rest & simmer approximately 15-25 minutes:
3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
1 49 1/2oz chicken broth can
1 16oz fresh salsa from the grocery store deli
1 15.5 oz cans yellow hominy (drained)
1 15.5 oz cans white hominy (drained)

**serve with:blue or white tortilla chips
avocado chunks
white rice
shredded cheese
sour cream
fresh lime juice

**these add-ons are a must! [they make the soup!]
i like to add white rice to the soup, then lime juice, sour cream, shredded cheese, and avacado slices. then, i eat it with tortilla chips.

(found at Zupas.com at the Cafe Zupas Blog)

Calorie-Torching Workout

Some of us like the calm Pilates and the low pace Yoga. That being said, some of us like the high intensity, sweat dripping, all-out workouts. I'm one of those people that like to push myself to the limits. Not all the time, please don't get me wrong. But those days I want to feel the burn, I would prefer the "I feel like I'm going to die", rather than, "I feel like I'm ready for bed".

For those of you who enjoy the high intensity, I have the calorie-burning work out for you.

"It’s got to be high intensity, whatever the workout is, if you’re going to torch calories -not just burn them,” says Bret Emery, a behavioral psychologist and weight loss specialist based in Weston, Fla. “Heart rate is key. That’s the speedometer of the body. If we speed the body up, it will burn more calories, just as a car will burn more fuel if it speeds up.”

From studying more than I would prefer about exercise, what I've learned is it comes down to interval training. I see the fastest results and get the most out of my workouts when I stick to interval. Always switching up the body is key!

This workout you either need a race track (nearest high school-and don't worry, it will only be cold for the first couple of minutes), or a treadmill.

Thanks to Michael Banks, owner of Body by Banks corporation in Salt Lake City, for putting together this doozy of a workout. Believe me, it will get the sweat going-and you'll be addicted to feeling stronger and firmer with every workout. I even take this workout with me to the gym.

The goal here is to push your body past your comfort zone. Once you've passed that zone, the calories literally start burning off.

Treadmill Torch
You'll need a set of dumbbells, I recommend either 5 lbs. or 7 lb.s

1. Warm Up: On the treadmill, with the incline set at a challenging angle, power walk at a speed of 3-3.5 for 7 minutes. Keep your elbows up above your heart. Stop, get off the treadmill, and stretch.

2. Sprint: Drop the incline to 0, increase the treadmill speed, and sprint hard for 30 seconds. Aim for 90% of your maximum heart rate. To recover, bring your speed down to 3.0 and walk for one minute.

3. Squats: Get off the treadmill and squat, with your bottom out to the rear and your legs slightly apart. Then jump from the squatting position into the air, landing in the same squat position as before (aka Thrusts). Do this for one set of 15 or 20, working your quadriceps. If you’re already in good shape, hold dumbbells by your sides.

4. Overhead Presses: Do 15 or 20 overhead presses with the weights, pushing them straight up and directly over your shoulders.

5. Sprint: Get back on the treadmill and sprint for 30 seconds (no incline). The goal is to be at 80% of your maximum heart rate. To recover, decrease your speed to 3.0 and walk for one minute.

6. Tricep Extensions: Using dumbbells, do one set of 15 or 20 overhead tricep extensions. Your elbows should point toward the ceiling, with the weights behind your head. Lift the weights directly above your head and back down again.

7. Pushups. Do one set of 15 push-ups, with your elbows at a 90-degree angle from the body. Modification: Do the push-ups with your knees on the ground, but do 25 instead of 15.

8. Sprint: Back to the treadmill. Sprint for 1 minute, aiming for 70% of your maximum heart rate. To recover, jog for 90 seconds.

9. Jumping Jacks. Do one set of 15 or 20 jumping jacks. If you're strong enough, add two 10- or 15-pound dumbbells -- lift up the weights when you jump out, in an overhead press position, pulling them back down to shoulder height as your legs go back together.

10. Finale: Incline your treadmill to an angle that really challenges you -but don't hang onto the treadmill's rails. Walk at a 2.0-3.5 speed for 30 seconds, aiming for 60% of your maximum heart rate. To recover, bring the treadmill down to a 1.0 incline and drop your speed to 1.9 or 2.0 for a 1-minute walk. Finish by stretching.

Hot Silk Pure Almond Milk

Obviously I'm not the only one who has realized how extremely cold it is outside. And when it's cold outside, it usually means hot chocolate season. So what about the ones who are trying to watch our sugar levels? Hot chocolate, although warm and satisfying, is one of those drinks that are unfortunately drizzling in sugars.

I'm someone that likes to warm up to a blanket and hot cocoa like the next person. Yes, they do sell no-sugar added cocoa, but what about the rest of the flavours we miss out on?

I've come up with my own concoction that I've fallen madly in love with. It's not only a lot more healthier than hot chocolate, but I dare say it even tastes better.

Hot Pure Almond Milk
1 cup of Almond Milk
1 tblsp of Hazelnut creamer

Buy some pure Silk AlmondMilk and some sugar free Hazelnut creamer. Heat up a cup of Silk Pure Almond Milk for 50-60 seconds in the microwave. Add a tbsp. of creamer and WHUALA! You have your own mix of delicious, healthy hot AlmondMilk joy! Not only are you getting warm, but your choice is 100 times more healthier than the friend sitting next to you sipping down Stephen's, and in my opinion a lot more tastier.

Did You Know?

Did you know if you exercise
moderately for 30 to 60 minutes a day you may
have up to an 80% reduced risk
of developing breast cancer?

Getting Back on Your Feet!

I hope every one had a wonderful Christmas!!

As I'm sitting here thinking "how in the world am I going to get motivated again", I can't help but feel we're all in the same boat! Christmas and New Years is the hardest time of year to stay motivated and maintain your weight in my opinion. With all the treats being brought to your house by friends, all the desserts being offered at parties, and all the sweets being made in your own kitchen it leaves it almost impossible to resist. And good for you for not resisting! That's such a huge part of the Holiday that makes it so wonderful.

So what do you after the Holiday is over and your left feeling large and lazy? We start again...

The first step to starting fresh and getting motivated is to forgive yourself! Forgive yourself right now for eating everything and anything you wanted. Forgive yourself for giving in when the homemade fudge was right at your finger tips. Forgive yourself for eating an extra plate of cookies, and forgive yourself for getting 3 servings of pie instead of just one. You need to realize it's 100% normal and perfectly human to enjoy such good foods in life!

Step 2 is realizing your body will forgive you too! The second you change your eating, or just stop eating all the sugar you've been inhaling for the past month, your body will immediately start working with you, and not against you. Your body wants to feel healthy just as bad as you do. So remember your body isn't out to get you when those numbers are getting higher on the scale...it's working with you. The second you decide to change your eating and exercise more, your body is right along with you and wants the change just as bad......and it will change, if you make changes too.

Step 3, start small. Rid the thought right now of, "I'm going to lose X amount of weight starting January 1st!". Never leave it to January 1st to start. Start right now. I don't mean go to the gym right now, I mean your next meal decide you're going to eat a little healthier. Not the rest of the day, just your next meal. Once you get this pattern down, you'll start to notice your thinking WILL be for every meal and before you know it, you're going an entire day without treats, or your portions are getting smaller. When it comes to exercising, start small by taking a morning walk half an hour after you wake up. Or an evening walk right after dinner. Just 20 minutes is all you need. Or start small by stretching your body for 15 minutes before you go to bed, and after you wake up. These small and simple steps are key to helping you get back on your feet. 20 minutes a day is all you need. It doesn't have to be 20 minutes of strenuous, bullet sweat, aching workouts. It can be a simple walk around the neighborhood, or deep breathing for 15 minutes while stretching.

And last but certainly not least, step 4 is always remember...YOU'RE NOT ALONE! No matter how fat, or unmotivated you feel you are, you're not the only one who feels this fat and lazy. We all need to start over in different parts of the year, or life for that matter. So don't think for a second you're the only one without will power. It's human. We are human. We can't do everything. Or maybe we can do everything. We can eat sugar, and still be motivated. We can enjoy the Holidays without beating ourselves up, and we can give ourselves a break and get back on our feet!

So from one "feeling fat and lazy" to another, let's all get our bodies feeling healthy and energetic again, and starting this New Year with a different mind set! And just like the picture, this is me saying, "WE CAN DO IT!"

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Your Friend,
Melissa Elder