The Taste of Summer - Easy Creations!

There are so many things to love about Summer!
The beach, lake or pool time. The long days. The amount of fresh produce that you crave (hopefully that is not just me).
So, one of my favorite things about this season is the cooking! There is so much to make while the produce is great and the grill is hot!

While here in Chicago, we do not have a grill, Philip and I have enjoyed so many different types of dishes to satisfy our Summer palate. When we were on our honeymoon in Kaua'i we ordered a dish that I knew I would need to replicate when returning to the mainland.

Philip is not a guy who would choose fish if offered chicken or steak - however, this dish has become a favorite of his and it is such a simple, healthy and fun summer dinner!

* If buying fresh fish - always talk to the fish butcher about what you like and do not like. If you like a buttery fish or want an easy one to grill, they will give you great advice, even regarding what to purchase from the frozen packaged section!

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Wahoo Fillet

FISH QUESADILLAS for 2
INGREDIENTS
- 12-24 oz White Fish (Wahoo/Ono, Halibut, Flounder, Tilipia)
- 2 Large Flour Tortilla (Spinach or Whole Wheat)
- 1/2 Avocado (sliced moderately thin)
- Cheddar cheese (shredded) - or a mixed cheese pkg
- 1 Small Lime (optional - and cut into wedges)
- Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper


THEN HERE YOU GO....
- Preheat oven or grill to cook fish of choice. I like to rub a small amount of olive oil on the fish then sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides - I like to squeeze one wedge of lime over the fish. Completely cook fish till meat can easily be pulled apart. Set aside.

Fish Quesadillas

- On a frying pan (large enough to fit entire tortilla) turn to medium heat and put one drop of olive oil in center. Place tortilla in the center as the pan is warming up and rub the tortilla on the olive oil, spreading it on the pan as well - leaving it face open. // If grilling - brush a light layer of olive oil to one side of the tortilla and place open on grill over low heat.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese (not so heavy) filling up half of the open tortilla.
- Pull cooked fish apart so you have pieces to place on top of cheese. Evenly spread fish on the cheese.
- Take sliced avocado, place on fish and cheese, evenly spread to your desire.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese then fold the empty tortilla side over. Using a turner, turn your now quesadilla over to melt cheese you just put on top.
- Wait till cheese is melted and tortilla starts to get a bit crispy, ~5 min (depending on heat source). Remove from heat, let cool for a few minutes then slice into 3-4 sections.
* Optional - drizzle a line or two of ranch of choice on top of quesadillas and have sliced limes and salsa standing by for extra flavor.

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GOOD SIDES

• Spruce up your Salads with some fruit and mix green leaf lettuce with spinach leaves!
• A favorite: Lettuce, Spinach, Carrots, Shredded Italian Cheese and Peaches with a BBQ Ranch dressing (1/3 BBQ sauce + 2/3 Ranch + a pinch of grilling seasoning)
• Take the time to make a fruit salad to keep in a large container or bowl:
• 1/2 Watermelon, 1 Mango, 1 Pineapple, 1 lb. Strawberries, ~1 lb. Blueberries, 2-3 Kiwi, 2 Peaches (All in tiny pieces, mix and enjoy all day, at any time, with any meal!)
• Fruit is such a great way to also stay hydrated during these hot summer months!
• DESSERT!! for 2
• Low fat berry ice cream or frozen yogurt, chocolate pudding, oreos, fresh berries.
• In a small glass/wine glass: 1 scoop of ice cream, 1/2 pack of pudding snack pack (low fat), 1 oreo crumbled then berries of your choice - be active & treat yourself! 

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Hope you enjoy these little ideas for your meals at home!

Pour Me A Drink For Some Abs!

Would it not be wonderful if all you had to do to get in shape, to have a 6 or possibly 8 pack, was take a "magic" pill or drink an odd color liquid? 

NO, not wonderful! And yet, advertisements for this magic still exist in health magazines and on the TV. I am honestly amazed that those companies have enough money to produce those marketing ventures... but then again, people continue to buy despite a lack of results (because let's be honest, if an affordable pill could be taken once a day to give you a washboard stomach and some tone arms - then everyone taking it would look amazing, pass it on to a friend and the multiplication process would be outstanding, not to mention everyone in the country would be mistaken for a Nike or Underarmour model)!


Well I abandoned my writers block, finally! - all because of two things: 1. My new month of Runner's World arrived yesterday and 2. People saying I'm skinny, or wasting away to nothing, or (my personal favorite) you're so lucky you have that body, "it's sooo easy for you"!


I honestly do wish that I could make a part-time profession for myself by being a "Life Coach." I have a handful of people who I need to be finishing workout schedules for or nutritional packets... my apologies for my extreme tardiness. But here is the thing, I stay in the shape I am partly because of my genetics but a lot of it comes from what I consume, when I consume and what I choose to do for activities. So, I am sharing my liquid fitness tips - because I'm not wasting away to nothing and "sooo easy" to have this body just means I work at it. 


FOR ALL OF THOSE SEARCHING FOR THOSE LINES ABOVE THE HIPS AND BELOW THE CHEST This following information is for you to drink!


1. Do NOT DRINK your calories. This needs to be your mantra if you are trying to see your abs! However, when I say that I am not excluding protein shakes or soups - those are great! What I am hoping you will avoid is the 8 oz. coffee with creamer & sugar, the caffeine free soda, juice of any kind, mix drinks and beer. Your body wants water, it needs water and while you may not like the taste of it... your tongue will get over it. 


2. I LIKE it HOT. Almost after every meal I have a warm cup of tea. In the morning with breakfast I will drink hot black coffee, then about an hour or two later I will consume a green tea (when I have a sweet tooth I add honey or agave)... finally, later in the day I will turn towards a caffeine free or specifically a white tea. Even a cup of warm water with fresh lemon juice has made it onto my evening drink menu. If there is any specific scientific reason for this consumption, I do not know it well enough to properly explain it, however I do know/believe it plays a part in keeping me fit.


3. CHOCOLATE RECOVERY. If you are very active and do have great workouts at the gym or runs that break you down, recover with a glass of chocolate milk (I drink chocolate slimfast - I cannot drink milk but can somehow consume this). All water does is semi-replace your sweat. Chocolate milk has DOUBLE the carbs and protein compared to most sports drinks or plain milk. The water part of C.M. replaces your fluids lost in sweating, it adds a nutritional jackpot of calcium, a bit of sodium and sugar - which is exactly what you need for recovery and energy after a good workout. Notice that at no point did I say Chocolate Milkshake. All in all, if you are helping your muscles recover from workouts then you are not "too sore" to do something the next day! And so the fitness cycle begins!


*4. MARGARITA BARTENDER PLEASE. Drinking is NOT going to maintain abs. But let's enjoy the social life when you spend the first part of your day dying with P90X! While the drinks may not be as "sweet" as the original recipes, you can make alterations to most popular "chick" drinks and cut the calories by 200+. My example - The Skinny Margarita: 
Add your ice to the glass, ~2 oz. of white tequila, juice from 4 lime wedges and a splash or Grand Marnier
Or
Margarita Glass of Ice, ~2 oz. of white tequila, juice from 4 lime wedges and one lemon wedge, a small packet of splenda or a few drops of agave syrup
A margarita at a girlfriends house or the bar could easily be up to 300 calories and almost 30 carbs per drink (depending on the mix they use!)! The recipes above from me may max out at 100 calories and carbs are drastically cut! Again, DO not drink your Calories!

Whether one of these points can become a habit for you, or all of them, remember that things take time and if you are looking for your fitness - do not give up, stay confident and change the little things first!

My Not So Secret Amazing PUMPKIN CAKE!

This cake is awesome. It's moist. It's quick. It's NOT packed with calories. It's perfect for this time of year. It's addicting!

Ingredients:

• 1 Box of Spice Cake Mix (18oz)
• 2 Cups of Pureed Pumpkin
• 1/3 Cup Apple Sauce (1 small cup in the Apple Sauce 6 packs)
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 cup Water
• Brown Sugar
• Cinnamon & Nutmeg (Or Pumpkin Pie Seasoning)
• Cream Cheese Frosting

Directions:

• Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix Dry Spice Cake Mix, Pumpkin, Apple Sauce & Egg at speed 1 then 2 as the mix picks up moisture.
• I slowly add the water - honestly, just judge the mixture, you want it to not be too thick but not too thin.
• At a slow speed tap in your Cinnamon, a pinch of Nutmeg or as much Pumpkin Spice as you want.
• With a spatula, I stir brown sugar into the bowl, if it's chunky - good!
• Cupcakes, loaf or bundt are the best! With a loaf or bundt grease then sprinkle flour.
• Bake for recommended time on cake box - you'll probably need to add another 8-10 minutes because it's so moist with the pumpkin.
• Remove from oven, let sit for less than 10 min then if in loaf or bundt flip onto plate to frost with Cream Cheese Frosting so it can melt down the sides and into the cake! If you're going to a party sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on the frosting.