Why Working Out Matters and A Pledge to Find Other Moms to Enjoy the Workout With

source: Skinnymom.com

We have had an Xbox for a number of years.  We bought the Kinect in fall of 2010.  My husband played lots of fun games but then I found Yourself Fitness. We did not begin to play with it right away but in the last few months we have really started to USE it. 

Here's the fun part. We started liking it.  The Fitness game I mean.  REALLY liking it.  Well, not so much the game... but the feeling.  The feeling that working out has on us.  For a while when either of us worked out it seemed like a it was something that we made ourselves do because we felt like we should... but then we began to realize that it really did something to our day.  It really started it up each of our day.

I had lamented to a friend months ago that I wanted to be sporty.  Actually I wanted to be more like her family.  She is an old high school cross country running friend of mine.  Her husband is also a runner and they have one child a bit younger than my oldest.  They still participate in Running, Biking, Hiking etc.  Why can't I do this, I thought.  I've done it before!  But now I just couldn't - I thought- not with 2 kids!  Where oh where was the time!!!???  I thought she had a secret. She only kind of did.

In my old life with one child (spring 2010), I had joined a hiking group for moms, Colorado Mountain Mamas, where we would hike with babies on our backs for miles.  It was great.  I met two people that I stayed in contact with.  Our kids were roughly the same age.  Fast forward:  I left the country again to live abroad for almost a year, and then returned to Colorado and resettled in a different area of Denver.  I was pregnant.  After the baby, and during my pregnancy I had a really hard time keeping up with my old hiking pals but I never lost sight of them on Facebook.  Here were some other friends who were staying fit and gaining/building a friendship doing it.  How?  

OK full circle now... Remember when I revealed to you that I discovered that working out felt so good?  Well coincidentally my prior Colorado hiking pal had started a blog about that same thing.  The feeling of being active- the addiction to the feeling... AND SHE WAS WORKING OUT WITH -wait for it- 2 KIDS in tow!  That's right! Both of my hiking pals each had a second child too!  Their second babies are both older than my second guy.  Except they were still getting together to work out...

Another coincidence was that I had just said to my husband a few weeks ago how I wish there was a MOPs group that didn't meet inside and have speakers and do crafts (For the record I really enjoy my MOPs group that has speakers and crafts!)... I wanted another MOPs group who worked out and played together.  My Colorado blogging hiking buddy who was working out with girlfriends started a blog that revealed the workouts she was doing with her moms workout group....  So strange that this all happened.  So, it's possible.  I AM motivated to have that.  We live in different areas of the city and it is unlikely that I will be a part of their group but I love that this is doable.  I love that she is blogging about it.  I love that moms with kids at home DO THIS.  They do!  Really.  I love that it can be done.  So I am doing it.

source: Shape.com

To start, I decided to do a workout I saw on Shape.  If you ever want to print a work out or just look at all the parts of their routine just click the print button and you will be given a page with all the photos and directions right on it... no more clicking through each piece.  I printed up this routine to help with my abdominal diastasis.

Here is the routine: Sculpt Bikini-Ready Abs Under Your Sweater

I do have "before" pictures.
I am not going to post them now.  It's just a little embarrassing to be honest.  But maybe after I complete my pledge I will be so proud I'll post...

************************

I am about to make a pledge. 
15 minutes a day for 30 days. 

I will work out for (at least) 15 minutes a day for 30 days. (I already have 5 down.)

In 60 days I will have a group of 3 ladies in my area of Denver to join my team!

Word.

Hawaiian Style Pizza with Whole Wheat Crust- Recipe

I make Pizza almost every week.  I have been for years so I almost forget that I make it.  It is pretty good pizza if I do so say myself.  There is a secret.  If you don't already have one run out and get yourself one of those pizza stones.  Flat with no standing edge is the best.  I prefer circle since I make my pie on a wooden peel.  If you have a stone you at least have a shot at making great crust!  Here is my recipe for whole wheat crust; a standing favorite at our house.

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cup hot tap water
3 teaspoons of yeast
1 Tablespoon of Honey

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil + extra for oiling the dough

2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 3/4 Cups White Flour
1 Tablespoon of Kosher Salt

To Prepare the Dough:
Start by getting your water set up. I like to use a large Pyrex measuring cup and filling up with hot tap water to the 1 2/3 mark.  I spoon in 3 teaspoons of yeast and use a spoon to stir it up a bit.  Add the honey and let the mixture sit while you prepare the rest.

In your Kitchen Aid Mixer bowl add the flour and salt.  When measuring flour always scoop the flour and pour it into the measuring cup you will be measuring.  That will ensure a proper amount without compacting the flour.  If you scoop your flour up you will compress it and over do it in the process.  I learned that trick from my mom years ago.  If you have a scale you can always measure your flour by weight and you'll never be off- like my scientist father-in-law.... that's just wayyy to much work for me now.

OK so now add the olive oil to the frothy yeast, honey and water mixture.  Stir and turn on the Kitchen Aid Mixer with the dough hook attachment.  While it's running on l or 2 add the liquid mixture.  Let it go around a bit but then stop it and scrape up the bottom where all the dry flour will be waiting.  Turn it back on and allow it to knead the dough for 10 min- set the timer.

After 10 minutes go and scrape down the sides again and turn it over inside the bowl.  Remove the bowl from the base.  Pour about 1- 2 Tablespoons of oil around the inside edge of the bowl near the dough and turn the dough with a rubber spatula until it is all coated with oil.  Take a large plate and cover the bowl and let it sit in for about 30 min.  After 30 minutes or so it should have risen.  Punch it down and let it rise again for about 10- 30 minutes.  Now you can begin to prepare the pizza.

If you don't have a Kitchen Aid Mixer you will need to spend 10 minutes kneading the dough by hand.  Follow the directions as above after that.

To Prepare Pizza
Preheat the oven to 450°F with the pizza stone inside.  You want to preheat that stone so that it begins to cook your dough right away.  Do not start to prepare the dough and toppings until you are sure that the oven will be 450°F  and you can pop the pizza in as soon as you are finished preparing.  I have made the mistake of heating my oven after the preparation of the pizza and it is a terrible mess!  The dough likes to stick to the wooden peel.  I will teach you how to avoid that.  But to start: make sure your oven is finished preheating or very close to finished before rolling out the dough!

Since I use whole wheat flour I also use it for dusting the surfaces.  It is a good way to keep the wooden peel dry so the dough does not stick.  You can use cornmeal too but I don't like the cornmeal mixing in with the dough so I don't use it. (My favorite store whole wheat flour is High Altitude Hungarian Whole Wheat.)

My recipe makes a good amount of dough.  You can use all the dough and get a thick crust or you can halve it and get a nice reasonable crust.  If you want it thinner, I'm not sure if my non stick technique will work for you so you'll have to write me and teach me how to do it... :-) Seriously- if you make it thinner please tell me your technique! ;-)

Punch down the dough.  Spread about a 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour on your wooden peel.  Take the dough and roll it around to coat it with the extra whole wheat flour and re-spread the remaining flour.  Make sure you have good dusty coverage under your dough by gently picking it up as you roll it out to make sure you can visibly see loose flour.  Use a roller like this one (my favorite) to spread it out.  Once the dough is as big as you want it and not larger than your stone in the oven you are ready for ingredients.

Hawaiian Style Ingredients are pretty easy
We use Ragu Homestyle Pizza sauce, part skim Mozzarella and then go for it.  Here is some cut up ham steak and Dole pineapple chunks cut in half again.  Just put on toppings after the sauce and cheese.

Hey!  Who's stealing the cheese!

How To deliver the pizza to the oven
Pull out the rack with the heated stone, use a spatula to get the crust moving on the peel toward the stone.  Get the lip of the crust to lay at the outer edge of the stone and once that happens you can coax the rest with your spatula or if it is dusted well you can slowly and gently shake the pizza pie right off your peel on to the stone.
 

Easy Does it!  Tip that peel!

Moving right along... give the dough a nudge with your spatula.  Good thing you have a dry peel!

And done! Whew!  It's all in the wrist!

Bake for 7 -10 minutes!  Remove the stone from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool and your crust will continue to cook.  If you like your crust softer then use your wooden peel to remove the pizza from the oven.  Allow the pizza to cool for about 5 or more minutes regardless.  It will reduce the amout of cheese loss from too much melt-y-ness...

And YUMMMMMMMM

WARNING: This takes practice!  Don't get discouraged.  Make it again next week or tomorrow.  Fold it over on itself and make a pizza pocket if you must but keep at it!  Your friends and/or your spouse and children will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you when you become an expert.  I can tell you that's the truth from my own personal experience.  I can't tell you how many friends and family have told me I could open a restaurant.  But it is {shhh} SO EASY!  It is all just technique.  Once you get that down- with practice- you will be a pizza star!

xo Jessica

Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs

My family has switched to ground turkey in place of beef in most recipes.  It really hasn't been difficult at all.  We love the flavor.  In fact we don't feel we are missing out at all.  With this delicious Italian Wedding Soup recipe the meatballs take center stage.  Turkey meat balls made in a large batch can be used with pasta and marinara sauce too.  Just freeze them and use them within a couple of weeks for the best flavor.

Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup dried bread crumbs
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion

To Prepare:

Preheat oven to 350°F

In a medium bowl (or your Kitchen Aid mixer) beat the eggs.  Then combine with the turkey, bread crumbs, cheese, basil, oregano, garlic powder and onion. Mix ingredients until well blended (use the paddle attachment for KAMixer).  Use a table spoon and shape mixture into 3/4-inch balls.  Set meatballs into a an oiled glass baking dish. (I spray mine with a Misto using olive oil.)

Bake for 30 minutes.  Then set your oven to broil and allow to brown for 5-7 minutes.  Make sure to watch your meatballs.  Broilers all act differently and you may be surprised at how fast your meatballs will brown.  When they are a bit golden remove them from the oven.  Use a spatula to remove them after they have cooled a bit.  Add them to your recipe!

Italian Wedding Soup:
Ingredients:
1 quart of chicken broth
1 1/4 cups spinach - I use frozen chopped spinach (easy!)
1/2 cup orzo pasta- pre cooked al dente
3/4 cup diced carrots - about one large carrot chopped up
Turkey meatballs
Parmesan cheese for topping

In a large pot heat the chicken broth to a light boil.  Stir in the carrots and allow to cook for about 5 minutes until soft (but NOT mushy.)  Add spinach and allow the soup to return to a boil then add pre-cooked pasta and meatballs. I cut my meatballs in half so they are better sized for the spoon but you could just make smaller meatballs to start with.  Heat to desired temperature then serve with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Add a loaf of restaurant style crusty bread with dipping oil and you've got yourself an excellent meal!
Enjoy!
~Jessica

WAG Bars- Not intended for Dogs! Wholesome Awesome Granola Bars

I recently was directed to a website Weelicious by a friend of mine to try some cookies made with a banana base.  While I was there I instantly began looking for granola bar recipe.  I have never been very successful with granola bars. They are such a good treat but the ones from the store are expensive if you get the good ones and gross if you buy the cheap ones.  I hate looking at the side of the package at the list of ingredients.  Why can't it just be oats, raisins, nuts, sugar, oil etc.  Why does it have to include all crazy named ingredients?  I know why.  Really I do know why... it's because they need the preservatives to make it last and to stick together and to enhance taste etc....

But just look at any granola bar and if you are an experienced home cook/baker like me there has to be a time when you've said "This looks so easy."  The ingredients are all visible for crying out loud! Why can't I just make them at home.

Well, the search is not only over, Weelicious's recipe has intrigued me to such a degree that I am now experimenting with ingredients and if I might say so; making them better and better!  My husband even likes these healthy snacks and that is saying a lot for such a fan of the gross candy versions in the supermarket.

Let me just tell you that if you have been looking for the perfect granola bar recipe
You
     Can
          Stop
               Right
                    Now.


Head on over to Weelicous and see her granola bar recipe.  Then let me tell you that I have used her recipe and then tweaked it.  My alterations and one technique change have made what I find to be fantastic bars.  They're so great I've even given them as gifts.  Enjoy.

WAG Bars- Not intended for Dogs!
Wholesome Awesome Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seat meats
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup raisins 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey

To Prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
2. Get our your Kitchen Aid Mixer and put in all the ingredients.
3. Use the paddle mixer and let it mix until all ingredients look wet and then a few more seconds.
4. If you don't have a counter top mixer then mix the dry ingredients thoroughly separate from mixing the wet ingredients thoroughly.  Then put them all together in a bowl and combine until everything looks wet and evenly distributed.
5. Line a 13 X 9" casserole dish with parchment paper.
6. Pour the mixture into the dish and spread evenly.
7. Use a small hand roller to press the ingredients down into the dish.  I use a pampered chef roller like this one.
8. Bake for 40-45 minutes in the oven on the middle rack.
9. Allow to cool for 5 min and then take the edges of parchment and lift the granola rectangle out and place on a large cutting board while leaving the parchment under the granola.
10. Allow to cool completely then cut into 1" wide bars approximately 3-5 inches long.  (So, two horizontal cuts across the 13" side will leave you with 3"bars.  One horizontal cut on the 13" side will leave you with 4.5" bars.)