Tag: food prep

New Kitchen Gadget

Well, I finally decided to get with the spiralizing craze.  I know that spiralizers have been popular for a while now but I was reluctant to buy another gadget that I would have to find room for in my kitchen.  After picking up a book from the library about a month ago on spiralizing foods I got motivated to do some research on them and figure out which one would work for me and my needs.  The book I found and really liked a lot of the recipes in was called Inspiralized by Ali Maffucci.  Inspiralized book from library

So, the book (above) actually inspired me to get my spiralizer.  The one I choose to purchase was the attachment for my kitchen aid mixer.  I watched a couple of videos on YouTube about the attachment then went to Bed Bath and Beyond with my 20 percent off coupon and bought one.  I looked at a couple of other ones that were manual (and cheaper) but this one that operates with the mixer motor seemed like it would be much quicker and easier to spiral certain things like sweet potatoes that are kind of hard.  kitchen aid spiralizer attachment

Above is a photo of the attachment – it even has an optional peeler that will peel your fruit or vegetable as it spirals it.  The whole thing works really well in my opinion.  I have been using it at least 4 or 5 times a week since I bought it about a month ago.  This is a really great way to eat more fruits and vegetables.  I really like how it spirals everything very uniform and it is fun to cook with zucchini or yellow squash noodles.  It also makes fun curly fries – regular or sweet potato – that you can bake in the oven.  My husband and I love the sweet potato strings or fries.  I have made those a few times now.

kitchen aid spiralizer with apple

kitchen aid spiralizer with peeled apple

Above photos are of the attachment spiralizing an apple and it will peel it at the same time.  This is perfect for apple crisps or pies.  Once they are spiraled you just cut them into fourths and use them in your recipe.  I have also made a wonderful cranberry applesauce in my crock pot twice and these apple are great for that recipe.

There are lots of great recipes on pinterest using spiralizers and you can find several books as well.  I found a few books at my local library and have told my son I would like the book Inspiralize Everything by Ali Maffucci for Christmas.  I like the recipes in that book a lot and it explains how to spiralize fruits and vegetable from A to Z.  I am also taking some of my existing recipes and converting them to use spiraled fruits or veggies – it is a fun way to cook and increase the amount of nutrition in your diet.

So, overall I really love this new attachment.  If you are thinking of buying one I would recommend it.  It is easy to use, easy to clean – the 4 blades it comes with are dishwasher safe, the main attachment that goes on the mixer you just wipe off but it really does not even touch the food items that much.  Also, it comes in a very nice box that all the pieces fit in and can be stored in a cabinet or your pantry.

I hope everyone is having a great December and has a Merry Christmas!

-Kimberlee

 

Working Out Week 35 of 2014

14 Comments

I am not sure if it is because it is the end of summer approaching or what but the last couple of weeks have gone by so FAST!  I feel like I was just posting about week 34 and now it is week 35.

This past week I chose to vary my workout schedule with some Exhale Core Fusion workouts, Cathe workouts and riding my bike.  The change in the schedule was just what I needed.

  • Monday – ECF (Exhale Core Fusion) Power Sculpt dvd – 40 min
  • Tuesday – Cathe X-10 dvd – 42 min
  • Wednesday – Ride Bike + Exercise Ball book – 36 min
  • Thursday – ECF Lean and Toned dvd – 40 min
  • Friday – Cathe X-10 dvd – 38 min
  • Saturday – Ride Bike + Jump Rope + yoga – 35 min

Power Sculpt Workout from Exhale Core Fusion

I went back to using some of my Exhale Core Fusion dvd’s this week.  I haven’t used them in a couple of months.    I have mentioned before how I love the set up of these dvd’s.  Each one contains five 10 minutes segments that work a different part of your body.  Monday I did the Power Sculpt dvd and did four of the five 10 minutes segments.  All of their workouts are done in bare feet and give you excellent toning over your whole body.  They are a nice change from the high rep weights I have been doing the past couple of weeks.

Cathe X10 Workout

So then on the days after doing the ECF workouts I did a tough cardio plus weights workout from Cathe Friedrich called X10.  This workout is also kind of set up in segments where you can pick and choose what one or how many you want to do.  Usually I do the premix ones that are two workouts combined to make a longer workout.  You can do them single if you are short on time and need a 27 minute or less workout.  On Tuesday I did the X42 premix which is Hi-Lo plus Fat Burning Circuit.  On Friday I did the X38 premix which was Low Impact plus Step.  Both of these workouts also have a nice warm up and cool down that is the same.  I was very sore on Friday after the step session.  I woke up kind of sore in my legs and hips from the ECF workout from Thursday and this workout added to that soreness.  It is a good sore though – means I know it is transforming my body.

It is a little harder for me to ride my bike in the mornings with having to make sure the kids get up and off to school.  I managed to do one day during the week and then another on Saturday.  It wouldn’t be quite so bad if it was light out a little earlier.  I can’t really go until 6:45am because it is dark before that.  So, for now I am just going to be riding one or two days per week.

I did my jump rope workout once this week.  I am getting more stamina with the jumping rope.  I found a good workout video on YouTube that is from popsugar for a 10 minute jump rope workout.  I also found some other really good workouts on their YouTube channel. 

Food Prep Friday - Chicken

I also did some food prep on Friday (yesterday).  I like to buy really large packages of chicken breasts and divide them up and freeze already cut up or marinated so that part of the prep work is done.  It is a good way to save some time – that way when you thaw the chicken out it is already marinated and ready to be cooked in the oven, grilled or stir fried.   I have been doing this for several years.  I also have begun using this meal prep book again for some recipes.  The book is above in the photo and is called Once A Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg.  I bought this book several years ago from Sams.  There are one month meal plans in the book with shopping lists and the directions for all of the recipes.   Some of the recipes are pre-cooked and then frozen and others are just marinated or seasoned and then frozen to cook on the day of, as the ones in my photos.   The book also offers tips on making menu plans and shopping lists.

Weekly Fitness Tip:  Eat Healthy   – one of the best things you can do for yourself, in addition to regular workouts, is eat healthy.

– try eliminating all or most processed foods or pre-packaged foods and replace them with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts and seeds.  A friend of mine once told me if you stick to shopping the store on the outer parts where the produce, dairy and meats are you are less likely to buy the processed, boxed items.  Of course we all need a box of cereal, some olive oil or flour so that method doesn’t always work for everything.  One thing I try to do though is not go down the chips and soda aisle at Walmart.

– learn to prep some foods and meals so you will have healthy choices available and be less tempted to go through a “drive thru” for a quick meal.  Remember “failure to plan is planning to fail”    I know that if I take an hour or two each week to get some meals prepped and in the freezer or just prepare some healthy snack options I am more liking to stick with healthy eating.

I hope you had a great week and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

-Kimberlee