Month: February 2013

Butternut Squash, Kale and Goat Cheese Lasagna!

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Mmmm omgoodness was this delicious! I remembered reading something about a yummy lasagna over at Kath Eats Real Food, but when I was searching her blog, I couldn’t find the link. After some digging, I realized it was because I was typing in Butternut Squash lasagna and what I saw on her blog was Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Lasagna… duh! Anyway, since I had bought butternut squash and not pumpkin, I would just have to make substitutions- no big deal when cooking at the Gagnon’s!

I didn’t really follow a recipe, but here is what I ended up doing:

Ingredients:

  • Butternut squash (it was only about $.30 more to get the peeled and cubed butternut squash… no brainer there!)
  • Kale- about half of a bunch that they sell at the grocery store
  • 1- 3.5 oz. container of crumbled goat cheese
  • 3/4 cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 1 egg
  • Herbs/Seasoning: we used Italian seasoning, garlic pepper, salt, pepper and oregano-maybe 1/2-1 teaspoon of each
  • Shredded Fancy Blend cheese (about 3/4 of a cup)
  • Hodgson Mill Organic Whole Wheat Gourmet Lasagna Noodles with Milled Flax Seed (I used 5 sheets)

1. Steam butternut squash and mash once it is fully cooked.

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2. Steam kale- once the butternut squash was finished, I did a little switcheroo and used the same water/pan to steam the kale- bingo! time and dish saver!

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3. Cook noodles according to the back of the package.

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4. Mix together 1 egg, ricotta cheese and goat cheese crumbles.  Add in the herbs/seasonings of your choice.

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5. Once the noodles are finished cooking, spread a thin layer of the mashed butternut squash on the bottom of your dish. Place a layer of noodles next, and then more butternut squash.  From there, layer with kale and the egg/cheese mixture. Continue this with one more layer of squash, kale, egg/cheese and noodles. The final layer should just be squash, kale and the egg/cheese mixture.  Sprinkle some shredded cheese as the top and final layer.

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6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until it looks cooked.  I used my parents wood stove/cook stove, so I have no idea what the temperature was… ahhh, the joys of Maine living:)

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I served mine with a simple salad. I love meals like this because not only are they healthy, they reheat really well! Can’t wait to have this for leftovers this week:)  Enjoy!

3-2-1 Strength, Cardio, Core Workout

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Hey everyone! Happy President’s Day! I didn’t have today off as a holiday, but I took it off because I was in dire need of a little break! Last week was killer so it’s nice to know this week will be a little easier:)

I wanted to share with you a workout that I taught a couple of times last week (don’t worry, at different gyms!).  Both times I taught it, I remembered why the workout is so killer: 2 min HIIT cardio drills in between strength and abs.  The glares I got were awesome. Athena, the format of this is similar to this workout that you posted a while ago.

I had my sister take photo’s of me doing the moves since some of them aren’t as common.  This workout is intense, so mind your body and take rests and modify when/if you need to.

3-2-1 Strength, Cardio, Core Workout

Each strength move is performed for 3 minutes (usually 1 minute on each side and then 1 minute of a combined move), cardio is performed for 2 minutes (2 exercises performed in 30 second increments) and the core workout is performed for 1 minute.  Choose weights and modifications as you see fit- I want you to challenge yourself, but I also want you to be safe and mindful of your body!

3-2-1 Strength, Cardio, Core workout

Let me know if you try this workout!

I am so happy I took today off because I would NOT have wanted to have driven back to MA yesterday in the weather we had.  I made a Butternut Squash, Kale and Goat Cheese lasagna and hope to post that recipe tonight so be on the lookout!

Question for you: What are your plans today? Favorite thing to make for dinner? Let me know if you try this workout!

A Super Saturday, Indeed!

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Ahhh, after a full week of work and teaching 7 fitness classes, THIS is just what I needed:

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I taught at 9 and 11 today (We killed it in my Dynamax class today- this group makes my whole week!!) and by noon time rolled around, I literally was beat!

Katharine and Macall cursing at me in Dynamax today!

Katharine and Macall cursing at me in Dynamax today!

Luckily, I was in Brighton and able to get lunch at Pizza Etc.. When I lived in Brighton, we used to order their salads (topped with the most amazing chicken- seriously, just ask Rachel) probably once a week, so whenever I am able to order them again, I always get excited. I mean, look at this thing:

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Lettuce and fresh veggies and feta topped with 4 chicken tenders! Don’t worry- it was just as good as I remembered it being:)

After I was fueled up, I hit the road and headed north. My sister went home yesterday and told me that I had to stop off in Kittery because the Gap and Banana Republic outlets were having crazy deals.  Twist my arm, will ya?  I figured that since I recently got a promotion at work, I deserved a little shopping spree.  Look at what I got!

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Banana Republic deals on the left (all of that for $62… no joke! That dress was on sale for $20!! and the other tops were all on mega sale too. I couldn’t believe it!) and Gap deals on the right (cardigan, long-sleeved top, silky work top and a nude belt- $30!). And, if that wasn’t good enough, I decided to stop by the Nike outlet, because really, as a fitness instructor, you can never have too many pairs of sneaks, right?!  SO happy I did because look at these deals:

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Yes, I bought hot pink sneakers (and lime green laces for them), but in my defense, they were $20!!!! And only the hot pink was that price so I couldn’t turn it down. The purple long-sleeved Nike top will be great for outdoor runs in the early spring and during warm up for my classes, and since my sister has been so diligent with working out (even while on the road), I got her that funky sports bra.

I would say the shopping spree was a success, right?! Hoping for a stop-off at Lululemon on my way back to MA on Monday!

I am not sure what is on the dinner agenda tonight, but tomorrow, as a congrats for my promotion, mom said we would make a “blog worthy” meal AND open her nice champagne… I can’t wait! I also plan to post a killer 3-2-1 workout tomorrow once my sister takes photo’s of me doing the moves…. I think you’re all going to like it:)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Questions for you: Any good shopping deals lately? Anyone else enjoying the long weekend? I took Monday off and am SO happy about that decision!

V-Sits and Leg Lifts and Planks, Oh My!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I know many of you probably have dinner plans tonight or are tempted with lots of treats in the office, so here is a quick way to get some type of non-eating-chocolate-and-candy (not that there is anything wrong with that!) working out in!

V-Sits on V-Day

Notes about the moves:

  • If coming up into a full V-sit is too advanced for you at this time, try bringing opposite arm to opposite leg or only lifting 1 leg at a time.
  • Leg lifts- if you have lower back problems or are new to core exercises, try keeping your hands under your lower back to help support it, and only lower your legs maybe 10-45 degrees to help relieve any pressure. If your core is strong and you’re looking for a challenge, try holding a weight extended above your chest or bringing your legs down into a wide V instead of keeping them together.
  • In and Outs- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1_yXxfFrBI
  • Plank holds can be done in a high position where you’re on your hands, or they can be done on your forearms. You can be on your knees or toes and you can try lifting one leg at a time if you want an extra challenge!

No big plans for me tonight! I am teaching Cardio Kickboxing until 7:30 and then my sister is making a Mexican-themed dinner.  4 more classes to teach this week and then I am heading home to Maine for some much needed R&R.

Question for you: Valentine’s Day- Love it or hate it?  Any plans tonight?

Festive Treats and Yummy Eats!

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Good morning! Happy Hump Day!

I took advantage of my night off yesterday (they don’t happen often these days!) and got busy in the kitchen.  Perfect timing to make these adorable festive treats, if I do say so myself!

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Valentine Rice Crispy Treats!

I can’t say there is anything very healthy about these, but their cuteness makes up for that.  All I did was follow the directions on the back of the Rice Crispy box, except instead of using 6 cups of cereal, I only used 5.  What can I say? I like a gooeyer (is that a word?) Rice Crispy Treat!

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After the base of the Rice Crispy Treats was made, I added in some Valentine sprinkles and then spread the mixture on a greased piece of Saran wrap that I laid out on my counter.

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I patted down the mixture so it was thick- but not too thick- and then used some Valentine cookie cutters to make the festive shaped Rice Crispy Treats!  Super easy and super cute– how can you go wrong?

Now, I have to say that even though I had many nibbles of these treats while making them (what? they are ooey and gooey and I had no choice but to try bites here and there!), I decided I should make something substantial and a little healthier for dinner.  Enter: Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry in a Peanut Sauce, served atop Chinese Noodles and topped with Toasted Sesame Seeds!  Although I had a lot of pots and pans going, this meal was relatively quick and easy to assemble.  I didn’t really measure anything out, but here is a gist of what went down:

Directions

1. Toast the Sesame seeds according to the back of the jar- in an ungreased pan for a few minutes. NOTE- I read the directions quickly and thought they said “heavily greased pan” when in fact they said “heavy ungreased pan“… bad move, but luckily I caught it before it was too late!

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2. Remove the toasted Sesame seeds from the pan and add the chicken to that same pan. I cut mine into 1 inch cubes.  When the chicken is almost cooked all the way through, add the bag of frozen veggies to that same pan and turn the heat on low so that the veggies thaw and cook.

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3. While the chicken and veggies are cooking, get your noodle water boiling and start assembling your sauce.  Add the peanut butter, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, water, crushed garlic and red pepper flakes to a small sauce pan and heat over medium heat until the ingredients are mixed together.  At this point, the noodle water should be boiling, so add in the noodles and cook as directed (only about 3 minutes!).

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Once the chicken and veggies are cooked, add the peanut sauce and stir well so that everything is coated.  Drain the noodles and place a serving of them into a bowl, top with the chicken/veggies/peanut sauce and sprinkle some toasted Sesame seeds on top.

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oh WOW was this yummy! Definitely a nice change-up from my normal weekly meals.

Today is going to be another long day… teaching at 5:30 and 6:30 tonight… swing by the Central Square BSC if you’re around!

Question for you: Do you like to make festive treats for the holidays? Do you cook big meals during the week?