Planning for the Week

On Sunday's I try to get some cooking done so that I'm free during the week to help my girls with their homework, etc. Today, I'm making 2 maple pumpkin pies (because Amelie just loves them), a beef stew (for the kids hot thermos lunches and for a supper), and Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Arugula for dinner tonight. Holy red-meat week! 

I just finished making the maple pumpkin pies (from www.realsimple.com)...here is the recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
• 2 large eggs
• 1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

1. Set an oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 350º F. Place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves.
3. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the crust and bake until the center is set, 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.

Now I'm going to make the beef stew from www.realsimple.com. Here is the recipe.

Beef Stew

• 4 pounds bottom round, well trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup olive oil (plus more if needed)
• 2 large onions, diced (2 cups)
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1 pound potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
• 1/2 pound baby carrots (about 2 cups)
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Directions

1. Coat the beef in the flour. Heat a few tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meat, a few pieces at a time, adding more oil as necessary. Transfer to a heavy casserole or a heavy, covered saucepan or Dutch oven. 
2. Add the onions to the skillet and cook over medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and coat the onions; transfer to the casserole. Pour the wine into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits; add to the casserole. Stir in the broth, salt, thyme, and bay leaf.
3. Cook the casserole in a 325° F oven for 4 hours, or in the saucepan or Dutch oven on the stovetop over low heat for about 2 1/2 hours. In either case, stir occasionally and add up to 1 cup of additional beef broth if necessary. Add the potatoes and carrots during the last hour of cooking, and the peas just before serving. 

And for supper tonight I'm making steak with arugula. Here is the recipe. 

Ingredients

• Steak
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp brown sugar
• pinch salt and pepper
• 1 tsp soya sauce
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 bunch arugula, thick stems removed (about 4 cups)
• carrots
• green peppers  
• parmesan cheese
  

1. Mix arugula, carrots and green peppers
2. Mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, salt, pepper and soya sauce together to make dressing for the arugula. 
3. Toss arugula and salad dressing.
   
4. Season the steak with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper and BBQ to medium rare.
   
5. Slice steak into strips and serve over top of the arugula. 
6. Grate some Parmesan cheese over the top of the steak salad.
   

I took a few days off "Working-Out" this week...for a couple of reasons. 1) I have a cold that I'm trying to fight off and 2) I got the flu shot on Wednesday and it really packed a punch - felt like I had a bruised arm for two days. Although my cold started over the weekend, I still worked out Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues. and I think I over did it. But I'm happy to report that I'm starting to feel much better now. 

Tonight I'll be doing the Abdominal, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf exercises from Body for Life - A Woman's Plan for Physical and Mental Transformation by Pamela Peeke.

 

What Makes a Brand Successful?

A colleague of mine quoted Maya Angelou today in a marketing meeting and I thought it was worthwhile sharing with everyone.  

"...people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel"

Think about it. Think about the last time you got into a really bad argument with a loved one. Do you remember what was said or done? I don't. But I do remember how frustrated I was. And, when I think about the last time I laughed hysterically with Scott...I remember exactly where we were, and how I was feeling but for the life of me, I can't remember what he said that was so funny. 

This concept is very relevant in the field of marketing. Think about a brand that you are loyal to. The first one that come to mind in our house hold is the iPhone. My partner, Scott, has an iPhone. But, he doesn't treat it like a phone...he treats it like his best friend. He absolutely loves his iPhone and has spent hours introducing his iPhone to everyone he meets. What is it about the iPhone? Well, I can tell you without hesitation...that iPhone makes Scott feel happy...consistently. The iPhone brand is not successful because it has a superior logo or a better tagline then the rest. It's not even about the actual product (although the product, in this case, really rocks!). It truly is about how the iPhone makes Scott feel. 

It's about the experience. It's about what the brand promises and delivers consistently. And, to be memorable, a brand needs to connect with its customers on an emotional level. 

What do you think makes a brand successful?

Day 5 - RVR High School Reunion - Class of 1990

This week someone from my high school graduating class reached out to a group of us to start planning our 20th High School Reunion. I have to admit, my first reaction was shock...at the fact that 20 years have already passed by in the wink of an eye. And, I bet a number of things are probably crossing everyone's minds...from genuine curiosity about what has everyone been doing with their life...to worrying about whether you'll even recognize your friends after so much time has pasted.

I for one, am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends.
These are a few of the things that I remember about my high school experience.

• Listening to music...U2, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, and New Order. 
• Mrs. Hemmings Chemistry class...especially the time Natalie Sanchez sneaked to the front of class to write "I heart molecules" on the chalk board.
• Painting a mural of 'The Mission' with Bianca Artizone's--who always had me laughing.
• Aerobics class with Mrs. Graham's..."Squeeze!"
• Geography class with Mr. Ewert and his 10 Commandments.

What do you remember most about your high school experience?

Day 4 - Family Matters

Today, I managed to get myself and both my girls vaccinated for H1N1 through our family doctor. I thought my doctor's office handled the process extremely well. They were organized and prepared. I lined up at 12:00 and by 12:15 we had all received our shots. Isn't that unheard-of?

Chloe, one of my twin girls, was extremely brave. She sat down, prepared herself for the needle and accepted it without hesitation. She paid attention to the sensation but didn't complain or shed any tears. She was very pleased with herself when it was over. For a six year old, sometimes she seems so adult to me.

The experience for Amelie was completely different. She seemed brave up until she witnessed me receiving the shot. I payed really close attention to the sensation of the needle because I wanted to feel exactly what my daughters were going to feel. And, truthfully, it didn't hurt one little bit. It was completely painless for me. I just smiled at Amelie as it was happening and I told her that it really didn't hurt. So, when Amelie started to panic, I was surprised. She struggled and fought the nurse and me - absolutely determined not to get the needle. It was a horrible feeling to have to hold her tightly in my arms to force her to receive the shot. And, in a moment it was over and Amelie admitted that it didn't really hurt very much..."Just a tiny pinch". Thank goodness. I'm glad that's over.

Scott's boys, Preston and Cole, very bravely accepted their vaccinations last Friday. Their mother works at a clinic so she was able to get them vaccinated without too much trouble either. Both boys were very brave and didn't shed any tears.

So, we are six in our family and we've all been vaccinated except for Scott. He'll be going sometime during the day tomorrow...and I'm pretty sure he'll handle the experience without too many tears :). So, even though as I sit here typing this blog, I can feel a dull ache in my left upper arm, I have to admit, the whole experience was really quite painless compared to the horror stories we'd been hearing on the news.

Kudos to the staff at my family's doctor's office for taking on the responsibility to vaccinate their clients. We certainly appreciated it!

Today, my weight is 160.1 lbs and for supper I had a large salad with radishes, avocado, cashews, carrots and left over pork tenderloin. For dessert, I enjoyed Chloe's chocolate chip rice crispy squares.

Day 3 - How Do You Keep Motivated?

Okay, it's day 3, and almost 10:00 pm and I'm exhausted. I've eaten well today and weighed myself 5 minutes ago--I'm at 161.6 lbs after dinner. I'm not feeling very energetic at all at the moment...and I think I might take the night off from working out.  That's okay because I've worked out three days in a row already - it's time for a break.

Note to self: Tomorrow, I promise myself that I'm going to pop the Gillian Michaels "Banish Fat. Boost Metabolism" DVD into the player and complete my first cardio workout in months. I'll let you know how it goes. O_o

For dinner tonight I served "Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin" from www.realsimple.com, rice and carrots. Here is the recipe for the pork: 

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder or ground coriander
• 2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins

Directions

1. Mix together the juice, honey, olive oil, soy sauce, and Chinese five-spice powder in a large, shallow dish. Pat tenderloins dry and turn to coat in marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight. While pork is marinating, make the fruit sauce.
2. Lightly coat clean grids of grill with cooking oil spray. Heat grill to medium heat. Place tenderloins across grids and close lid. Cook 5 minutes, covered, then turn tenderloins on their sides. Cook another 5 minutes, turning again every 5 minutes until all 4 sides of the tenderloins are seared (for a total of 20 minutes).
3. Transfer tenderloins to a cutting board and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest 5 minutes. Slice tenderloins crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Arrange on plates. 

When your mind and body feels exhausted (but you know it's just in your head), what motivates you to get changed into your workout clothes and start a routine? How do you get past that desire to curl up on the couch with a warm cozy blanket, at box of after-eights and an episode of House, Grey's Anatomy, The Good Wife or Dexter? 

Anxiously awaiting any tips, tricks or advice from readers out there who know what I'm talking about.

Day 2 on My Journey to the Better Me

Today is my second day on this journey to the better me. I woke up this morning and jumped on the scale. It seems that my weight varies between 160-164 lbs during the day. So, my aim will be to bring my weight down to 146-150 lbs.

Last night my work out went well. I started at 9 pm and finished around 9:40. Tonight, at around 9 pm, I plan to do another weight workout--this time focusing on my arms. Because of the variety of exercises in the program I'm following, it's a longer workout. It takes about 1-1/2 hours to complete. So, I'll be done around 10:30 pm. 

Tomorrow I have to find the energy to do at least 30 minutes of cardio! I could really use some comments to support my training!!! I'm fighting a cold that has started in my throat - I hope it doesn't effect my new regime. 

For supper tonight I plan to make myself and Scott and "Arugula Salad With Chicken and Avocado" from www.realsimple.com. My girls aren't a fan of salad so I thawed the turkey pot pie I made a couple of weeks for them. Here is the recipe for my healthy meal:

Ingredients

• 4  6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
• 2  tablespoons  fresh lime juice
• 1  teaspoon  honey
• 2  bunches arugula, thick stems removed (about 6 cups)
• 1  avocado, sliced
• 1  bunch small radishes, thinly sliced
• Bread (optional)

Preparation

Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water. Bring to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Add the chicken, reduce heat to medium, and gently simmer until cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lime juice, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. 

Divide the arugula among bowls and top with the chicken, avocado, and radishes. Drizzle with the vinaigrette. Serve with the bread (if using).

It would be great to hear from anyone out there whose following some kind of health routine. Tell me what you did today! 

Launching My Journey Toward a Healthier Me

I woke up this morning having no idea that today, I would start this daily journal/blog. And, it's not a particularly good day for me to start this journey toward eating more healthily, working out and having a positive attitude. In fact, I woke up with a sore throat and am feeling pretty frumpy at the moment. But, then again, I don't think any day is better then the next to make a positive life change. So lets not waste anymore time Suzan!

Okay, so here are my 3 goals.

1. Eat healthy food and reasonable portions. My aim is to weigh 150 lbs! I'm a 36 year old, 5'11" tall woman. I bought a scale today and it's telling me that I weigh exactly 164 lbs. So I have 14 pounds to lose. That doesn't seem so bad.
2. Workout 5 times each week.  And, balance the workouts between weight lifting and cardio! I want leaner legs and stomach.
3. Write this journal everyday for 1 year!

Let's see how I do. Toward goal 1 - I'm going to have a healthy chicken stir-fry tonight for dinner. And, toward goal 2, I'm going to do the 'legs' workout from the book "Body for Life".

Here is the recipe for the "Sauteed Chicken and Peppers with Coconut Rice" meal I will eat tonight from www.realsimple.com

Ingredients

1  cup  long-grain white rice
1  14-ounce can coconut milk
1  tablespoon  plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2  pounds  boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2 1/2-inch pieces
Kosher salt and pepper
1  large red bell pepper, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1  large clove garlic, thinly sliced
1  19-ounce can black beans, drained
1/4  teaspoon  ground cumin 

Preparation
Cook the rice according to the package directions, replacing 1 cup of water with the coconut milk.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Turn and move to the sides of the skillet. Add the bell pepper and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the bell pepper is slightly softened and the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to individual plates and return the skillet to medium heat. Add the beans, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the remaining oil. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Serve with the chicken and rice.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for a kid friendly, healthy meals that can be made in 30 minutes or less? One of my biggest challenges is getting supper on the table quickly enough so that I have enough time after supper to help my daughter's with their homework (before bedtime)!