eating clean

So several people have commented, emailed and tweeted asking questions about this new clean eating I'm doing.

The idea started last year (I just like saying that..really November) when my mom and I were talking about eating healthy again after the holidays. She mentioned to me that a friend of hers had done this. So we talked about this for a couple months. Really getting ourselves pumped up to start in January. What we are following is The Eat Clean Diet.

It's amazing how great I am feeling after only a few days. And I love knowing everything that is going into my body. I love being able to read and pronounce everything going into my body. Nothing artificial (read: no sodas, diet sodas, splenda, sweet n low, etc.) To sweeten stuff, use honey or agave nectar. Everything is clean and natural.

John is enjoying it also. He doesn't follow to a T like I do, but he's doing great. And the yummy food we are enjoying helps. Last night we had salmon, roasted broccoli and whole wheat couscous with cranberries and almonds. And for dessert...spice broiled grapefruit.

Yeah, pretty good stuff.

You will start seeing some of these recipes popping up over at Lindsay's Kitchen. And a few holiday treats that I have not posted yet from November and December.

Check out the Eat Clean website. Also, the book is on sale at Target right now (my mom had to get it for me because our little Target here in Victoria did not carry it). But they did have the cookbook and I'm using that as well.

If you have any questions or comments email me or leave a comment.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

John loves salad. My husband would rather have salad as a late night snack than anything else. I know..he's so weird. And he's so weird that it has to be a homemade vinaigrette. This one is one of his favorites.

It is very easy to put together and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 small shallots, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine first 7 ingredients. While whisking, slowly pour in olive oil. Serve over salad greens.

Homemade Applesauce

For some reason I had an abundance of apples (I'm talking 20 something apples). I usually do not buy that many apples but I had some, then honeycrisp apples were on sale for .99/pound which is super cheap!

So I thought about just eating a couple apples a day for several days but thought there must be something better to do with them.

Since we are eating healthy right now I knew a dessert wouldn't be the best idea. So I went with applesauce. I used Simply Apple juice to cook the apples, but apple cider would work great as well. I started with 1/4 cup of sugar because I didn't want to overdo it on the sugar and it was the perfect amount. Depending on the sweetness of your apples you can do more or less.

And a plus..besides tasting great this makes your house smell AMAZING!

Homemade Applesauce

12 apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

1 cup apple cider or juice

2 lemons, juiced

1 cinnamon stick

1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 1 hour stirring occasionally. As the apples cook they will break down. Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.

This would be excellent served warm over vanilla bean ice cream or just by itself!

2010 resolutions

this year i will...

..take at least one picture everyday. my goal is a 365 project and even have a blog for it. i actually created this blog 1 year ago attempting to do the same thing but it never took off. i'm going to try again.

..continue with my weight loss journey. i lost 40 pounds last year and gained some back after we moved to victoria. i want to finish this journey and hopefully my resolution next year will be to maintain.

..keep a clean and organized house.

..buy our first house this year.

so that's my list.

Gonzales Meatloaf

This meatloaf is INCREDIBLE. It is so flavorful, different and fabulous. Serve this with the Roasted Poblano Mac n Cheese for an amazing meal. Great for a weeknight and perfect for entertaining on the weekends. Your family and guests will love this!

Gonzales Meatloaf

Lady's Recipe

2 pounds ground sirloin
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium-size red onion, chopped
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients. Shape into a 9- x 5-inch loaf, and place on a lightly greased wire rack in a baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes; increase heat to 425 degrees, and bake 15 more minutes or until done. Let meat loaf stand 10 minutes before serving.

Roasted Poblano Mac n Cheese

Happy New Year friends! I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas and a fabulous New Year!

One of my New Year's resolutions is to blog more here. I did an okay job last year, but I want to be much more consistent.

After Christmas we went up to Dallas to visit my family. One night at my mom's house she made this AMAZING meal. She knew John loved meatloaf (recipe coming soon). I'm not kidding, this is probably one of the best meals I've ever had. And it is so easy to prepare ahead of time.

This mac n cheese is very similar to most homemade baked versions but with the addition of the roasted poblanos it has an extra zing. And the goat cheese makes this SO creamy! Even if you do not like goat cheese, you should still add this. You can't taste it. It just adds amazing creaminess.

Roasted Poblano Mac n Cheese

Lady's Recipes

4 poblano peppers
1 pound uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1 4 ounce package goat cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese

Broil poblanos on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet 5 inches from heat about 5 minutes on each side or until poblanos look blistered.

Place chiles in a zip-top plastic bag; seal and let stand 10 minutes to loosen skins. Peel chiles; remove and discard seeds, and dice. Set aside.

Prepare macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in cream and milk; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly.

Stir in 2 3/4 cups Monterey Jack cheese, goat cheese, and salt until smooth. Stir in roasted poblanos and macaroni.

Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top evenly with Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese.

Broil 5 inches from heat about 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Christmas Day 2009

Our first Christmas in Victoria. It was so much fun hosting and cooking Christmas Eve snacks and appetizers, Christmas morning breakfast and Christmas dinner.

John's mom, Susan and his sister, Sara came for Christmas this year and we all had so much fun together.

Obviously Santa showed up and brought a huge loot!

Sara, she is so in style right now with that huge bow on her head!

John using a Williams Sonoma ribbon as a Karate Kid type headband. It came off quickly because of the headache it was causing.

My favorite moment of the day..John opening his tickets to go see Jim Gaffigan live. His favorite comedian.

Love that look!

So happy!

Our Christmas dinner..praline glazed ham, corn pudding, spinach and cheese puff, mashed potatoes, mixed greens with avocado cranberries and walnuts and PW's buttered rosemary rolls.

We finished off the day with long game of Phase 10. John's hands were pretty tired so he used the next best thing. (PS: these last couple photos were taken using my new lens that John gave me!)

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!