P90X!....What's for Breakfast??

So, you think you have to eat like a rabbit while on a weight loss plan?  Celery sticks, rice cakes, fat-free cottage cheese...you know what I'm talking about! Oh, and let's not forget that "one piece of fruit with small cup of fat-free-sugar-free yogurt" for breakfast!...Yum, yum!!....If you are not hearing my sarcasm..you should! :P
If you are on P90X (like me!)...you can eat meals like this! I had this omelette today along with a clementine & a cup of coffee...an omelette the size of my face people! Enjoy!

Spinach Scramble-level 1 (omelette style)
1/2 cup roma tomato, diced
1 cup spinach leaves (I like baby spinach)
6 egg whites
1 1/2 ounce of lowfat cheese like moz, goat or feta.
1 Tbsp. of fresh basil, chopped


1. In a non-stick or seasoned cast iron skillet, saute tomato and spinach..remove from pan.
2. Add egg whites to hot pan, cook for a couple of minutes..put lid over to speed up process. Add cheese, tomato, spinach and basil,...fold over and cook to desired firmness...enjoy!
239 calories
9 g total fat
29 g Protein
9 g Carbohydrate

So you want BUFFALO for dinner do ya?

American Buffalo...Bison...whatever  you want to call it...it's tasty! It's my family's choice when it comes to red meat...we don't have it often,  but when we do...it's Bison (and an occassional "bambi"...oh get over it will you?) Bison burgers, Bison Tacos, Bison meat ball pizza...and Bison chili.

Why Bison? It's a "cleaner" red meat. It's higher in protein, much leaner than beef and lower in cholesterol.
The white man in the 19th century where just plum "idiots" to wipe out a perfect food source...but that's another blog in itself! And I only want to talk about food and fitness here...no politics please!

This is MY recipe...it belongs to "moi", me, myself and I! So I will take full credit to your likes and dislikes!  I call it "Janet's Buffalo Gal Chili"...it will make you dance by the light of the moon! :)
This makes a large batch....(good for freezing)  but you can cut it in half to suit your needs...Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
8  large garlic cloves (yes, I said 8!)
1 1/2 cups of chopped sweet onion
2 cups chopped orange sweet pepper
2 pounds of ground Bison (again, you can make a smaller batch)
4 Tbsp. of chili powder ( I like Penzy's spices)
1 Tbsp. of ground cumin
1/2 tsp. of coriander
1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
1 tsp. of smokey paparika
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes with added puree
8 to 12 oz of fat free beef stock (start w/8)
1 - 12 oz bottle of quality dark beer ( no lights people! or I'll come after you!)
1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
3 - 15 oz  cans of pinto beans
2-3 Chipote Chilies in adobo, finely chopped (2 is fine for the whole family) this does NOT mean 2-3 cans of chipote chilies!!

PREPARATION:
Heat oil in a heavy larg Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add onions, garlic & peppers.  Saute until onion are translucent, about 8 minutes.  Add ground bison & saute until brown, breaking up meat w/ back of spoon, about 5 minutes.  Drain about half of the juice.  Add chili powder, and all other dry spices. Stir 2 minutes. Mix in crushed tomatoes, Chipotle peppers, beef broth (start w/8 oz), beer & tomato paste.  Simmer until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Mix in beans.  Simmer 5 minutes. Season to taste w/salt & pepper. this can be prepared 3 days ahead...I recommend at least one day ahead!  Rewarm over low heat before serving. Garnish with a low fat shredded cheese of your choice...rock on cowboys!

DO YOU EVER CHEAT??

You know, some folks might think that just because I'm a fitness "freak"...that I never cheat!
Well they are WRONG! :)  I totally believe in cheating! (no, not on our spouses silly!) I'm talking about cheating on your "meal plan".  Notice first, I did NOT call it a diet...That word in my eyes,is a 4 letter word.  I believe we should all have a "cheat meal" once a week. Now pay attention...I did NOT say a "cheat day"...because then it will turn into a "cheat week"..a "cheat month"....you get the picture.


This week, my "cheat meal" was a dinner at a favorite restaurant called, Cook's Lobster House. I had a pan fried fresh Haddock sandwich..and the best (non-mayo) coleslaw in the world! (no fries)...and yes, a small dessert of a key lime "parfait"...but it wasn't really a parfait, because there was no layers, no ice cream..and the dish was only 3 inches tall..but by gum it was delicious! :)  The plan? Well, tomorrow I just get back on my plan, along with my workout (in the next 80 days this will be my 2nd round of ChaLean Extreme).


I want you all to understand, that if you enjoy food as much as I do...it's necessary to have this "cheat meal".  It keeps things exciting...it reminds me that food can be fun and "naughty" sometimes...just don't ever look at it as a REWARD....FOOD IS NOT A REWARD, it's a gift, a necessity, a blessing, a pleasure...but never...never a reward.
So plan out the "cheat meal", enjoy it, savor it...then move on...just move on.

HAVE YOUR CAKE, AND EAT IT TOO?

Shouldn't it be "Have your CHOCOLATE  cake..., eat it,.. and not gain 10 pounds???"
Yes, I believe this IS possible...this is such a great Chocolate Zucchini Cake recipe that I tweaked to call it my own!  Remember, good food can still be healthy! So share it at your next Office or Church pot luck. No one will know it's good for them! :)
JANET'S FANTASTIC CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup of DARK (hershey's special dark) Cocoa
1 1/2 tsp. Baking soda
2 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups sugar (domino organic)
2 whole eggs, 1 egg white
1/2 cup of unsweetened apple sauce 
1/4 cup of soft butter
1/2 cup milk or almond milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups of grated zucchini
Cream butter, applesauce, & sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Mix all dry ingredients in separate bowl, then add it alternately w/milk. Add Zucchini and vanilla. Place in a bunt  pan (spray with oil)..Bake at 350 for 50 minutes-1 hour.
This cake is great with powdered sugar or a glaze flavored with orange rind.

FEELING A LITTLE "SAUCY" LATELY?

Who says a healthy sauce, that tastes good, isn't possible?  I mean, sure...there are a lot of heavy gravies out there that could make lard look healthy...but is that what we really want to put in our bodies?  There are some exotic flavors out there that are just WAITING to tantalize your taste buds! So who needs all that high fat, high sodium stuff? We don't want to make our "tickers" stop WAY before their time!

This sauce is great on fish tacos, grilled swordfish/sea bass...or even a nice lean center cut pork chop...Heck, it's good on crackers! Give it a try! Believe it or not, it comes for the P90X meal plan book!


MANGO-GINGER SAUCE:
1/2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 Cup red onion (or sweet onion), finely chopped
1 Cup  Mango, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup tomato, chopped
1-1/2 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (yum!)
2 Tbsp orange juice
2 tablespoons dry sherry (this is awesome to have in your fridge at all times for great sauces!)
1-1/2 Tbsp brown sugar...yeh, you heard me! Sugar!
1-1/2 Tbsp white vinegar


Stir together all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl. Store covered in the fridge until ready to serve...great to make on the weekend..so you can use it throughout the week!