Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash and Chicken with a Laughing Cow Cheese Sauce

January 2, 2014January 1, 20147 Comments

Hi there! I hope you all had a happy, healthy and safe New Years- Welcome, 2014!

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Wowzers. I know I say this a lot, but my “Sunday Meal” this week was seriously good. Like, so, so good. I blame it on the Laughing Cow cheese sauce. My mom is a lover of white sauces, and while I enjoy them, they aren’t the first thing I think of when I want a “sauce” for my meal. However, when I thought about the ingredients in this meal, I realized a white sauce would be perfect. My idea for a white sauce was amplified when I opened my fridge and saw the sun-dried tomato Laughing Cow cheese wedges she had given me. Bingo! Combining those with skim milk would be the perfect “white” sauce.

In addition to the cheese sauce, I have recently become a huge fan of dishes with Brussels Sprouts and butternut squash in them. My sister found a recipe including those veggies that we made for Thanksgiving and it was SO good. I loved roasting the two together for this meal (with onions, because onions make everything better), and am not sure why I don’t roast veggies more often. It’s so easy and such a nice thing to have around the house throughout the week.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash and Chicken with a Laughing Cow cheese sauce

Ingredients (I didn’t measure how much I cooked, so I’m just going to list out approximates of what I used)

Brussels Sprouts- 1-2 cups after I chopped them up
Butternut Squash- 1-2 cups after I chopped it up
Onion- about 1 cup
Salt & Pepper to taste
Herbs/seasonings as desired
2-4 TBSP EVOO
Quinoa- I cooked 3/4 of a cup of dried quinoa with 1.5 cups of water
Chicken- 1 cooked 4 small chicken breast tenders
Laughing Cow cheese wedges- 1 used 2 of the Mozzarella, sun-dried tomato and basil ones
2-4 TBSP skim milk

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 375*. Cook the quinoa according to the package. While that is cooking, cut your Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and onions and place on a baking sheet. Coat with EVOO (however much you want to use), salt & pepper and herbs and seasonings. Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft and cooked through.

2. Prepare your chicken (I sprinkled salt, pepper and seasonings) and be ready to place that in the oven when you have about 15 minutes left on the veggies.

3. Place the Laughing Cow wedges into a small sauce pan (how cute is this one that my mom got me? It’s so little!)- I used 2, just as an FYI. As they start to melt, add in your milk. I started with 2 tbsp. and added more in gradually as necessary. Make sure you whisk continuously so as it doesn’t burn! Once it’s thickened up a bit, remove from the stove. At this point, your quinoa should be done, so place that in a bowl, top with the roasted veggies, chicken and sauce.

I forgot to say that I added some pumpkin seeds to the top, which provided a nice little crunch to the meal!

As I began to eat my way through this bowl (which is also new! I got 2 for free by saving points at Shaw’s during their Rachael Ray dishware promotion), I realized how FILLING this meal was. I couldn’t believe it, but since it was all healthy/good for you foods, I kept eating 😉

If there’s one thing you make out of this recipe, please have it be the sauce… and roasted veggies!

Also, make sure you wear a fun/festive apron like this…

Lastly, I wanted to thank my mom for this awesome Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl– it is perfect for me because I usually just use a plastic bag to collect trash as I cook (I hate making multiple trips to the trash can- interrupts my flow!), which can be wasteful. This is the best replacement, not to mention it’s pretty to keep on the counter!

And, there you have it- a healthy, easy and delicious meal!

Questions for you: Do you like cream sauces? Brussels sprouts- love ’em or hate ’em? Do you own any Rachael Ray dishware?

Happy New Year! {Taking a look back at 2013 and looking forward to 2014}

January 1, 2014December 31, 201311 Comments

Happy New Year everyone! I cannot believe 2013 has come and gone already. For the past few days, I have sent some time reflecting on 2013, as well as thinking about what I hope 2014 will bring. Here’s a look back at 2013 by some of my more memorable events (note: I probably forgot some of them!)!

Although I rang in 2013 with pneumonia, it turned out to be a pretty great year. I started this blog, enjoyed playing in the snow after the big snow storm, went to Dallas for work trips in January and February.

I treated myself to a spa day, I taught a lot and then stepped back and dropped some classes, which was upsetting at first, but ended up being the best decision. I got my kickboxing certification, which was a great accomplishment.

I was showered with love on Valentine’s Day, went out with my girls a number of times, made a number of delicious meals, and drank A LOT of wine.

I got a promotion at my “real” job, but also lost my best friend/coworker when he took a new job in Chicago.

April was a mix of emotions: very sad ones because of the Boston Marathon Bombing, but also very happy ones because of some wonderful birthday celebrations. I went out in Boston with my parents and my friends and then my boyfriend at the time took me to NYC which was an amazing little vacation. We also hosted Sara’s baby shower, which was a beautiful day!

I experienced the SOWA open market, spent Mother’s Day weekend at home with my mom, went to the Wellness By The Water Retreat, a class at Exhale Spa and spent Memorial Day Weekend in Maine.

I on a number of work trips: Atlanta, Stowe, VT for a work conference, NYC, Ohio and North Carolina, to name a few.

Two of my best friends from home welcomed new babies into the world just a few weeks from each other (Zeke and Tucker).

We celebrated Father’s Day while home in Maine, as well as the 4th of July and both parents birthdays.

I went to only one wedding this year, but it was a good one!

I went through a breakup, which was very hard, but he and I have been able to remain friends, which I am so grateful for.

I moved into my own apartment and am absolutely loving it! To warm my apartment, I threw a house warming party, which was a great time. I dated someone who also lives in East Boston for a while which was fun because he took me to lots of fun places like Santarpio’s, Ecco, and the Australian Meat Pie restaurant.

My sister and I went to Chicago to visit JP (recaps: Chicago: Part1 {Shopping and Bar Hopping}, Chicago: Part 2 {The Bean, Navy Pier, Boat Tour, Brewery}, Chicago: Part 3 {Brunching, Architecture Tour, Homemade Dinner}) and my family went to Michigan for a family wedding.

I was surrounded by family and friends for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which I wouldn’t have any other way!

And lastly, because of this little blog, I have been able to make so many connections through social media and share my passion with all of you: fitness and healthy meals. Thank you so much for reading and joining me throughout all my journey’s this past year.

With that said, let’s look forward to 2014, shall we? I am not one for resolutions, but there are a number of things that I would like to be more cognoscente of, be more mindful of and practice more, which is what this list is all about.

1. Be more present. Because of my Type A personality, I find myself always planning everything out… sometimes to the minute (my to-do lists usually even have times listed, as well as things like “shower”. it’s bad.). As much as it’s usually easier for me to just do the things on the to-do list and THEN relax, I need to learn what is important on my list and what is not and the things that are not important and critical to get done at that time can and should be moved aside so I can enjoy the present moment.

2. Slow down and learn that it’s OK to say “no”. Although the past year was great in so many ways, it was incredibly busy. There was a time when I was teaching 5-7 classes a week, working full time, blogging, going to events and trying to manage a social life. And you know what? I survived, but was it worth it? Probably not. It was exhausting and caused me to reach a ‘breaking point’ more often than I’d like to admit. Over the past few weeks, I have made more of an effort to take time for myself and it’s been amazing. I felt guilty at first for watching cheesy Christmas movies on Sunday afternoons, but I realized that during that time I was completely relaxed and calm and it felt really good.

3. Practice more yoga. When I was a studio assistant at Prana Power Yoga, I got in the routine of practicing yoga at least once a week and not only was it good for me physically, it was even better for me mentally. It was an hour or so out of my day where I focused more on breathing and stretching and slowing down than I did anything else. I need more of that.

4. Focus more on the present, less on the past. Focus more on the positives, less on the negatives. As I mentioned, I went through a sad breakup this past year and it affected me more than I ever let on to. But I’ve reached a point where I’m tired of looking back on it and wishing things had worked out differently because I do believe everything happens for a reason. With that said, this year I am going to try to focus less on the negatives and to not dwell on stuff so much because that is wasted energy. I don’t like myself when I’m like that, so why would anyone else?

5. Become a better instructor and become a personal trainer. The more I teach, the more I love it, but I know I have a lot of room for growth. As I’ve been experimenting with more and more classes with seasoned instructors, I’ve learned a lot about good cueing, good formats, “less is more” (it doesn’t always have to be the biggest, best, fastest exercises to be effective) and stepping outside of the box with different “toys” and ways to use them. On top of that, I want to be more knowledgeable about how the body works (muscles, etc.) and would really like to get my personal training certificate.

6. Grow Burpees to Bubbly. My 1 year anniversary is approaching and with that will hopefully come some changes. My pages need work, the content of the posts could use more substance, I need to grow my voice more… basically, B2B needs some serious TLC!

7. Be more financially stable. I was doing so well financially before I moved, but moving was expensive and totally set me back. My goal this year is to get my finances organized, grow my savings and cut back on frivolous spending.

8. Be more accepting of myself. I’m always putting myself up to all sorts of crazy standards and you know what? It’s tiring! I want to be successful and driven, but I also want to be more balanced and appreciate the smaller things I do, too.

I know it seems like that’s a lot of things to try and accomplish this year, but if I were to sum it up, I really just want to be more relaxed and less intense. I know it won’t happen over night, but if I write these things down and continually remind myself of them, maybe eventually I’ll be able to lose some of my “Type A-isms”? If nothing else, I just hope this year brings about new experiences and I hope I am able to appreciate them.

Cheers to 2014, friends! I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!

Questions for you: What was your favorite memory of 2013? Do you like to make resolutions? What’s a goal you hope to accomplish this year?

A Workout- Finally!

December 31, 2013December 31, 20132 Comments

You guys! I have not given you a workout since BEFORE Christmas. Can you believe it?! Since Christmas was last Wednesday and New Years is tomorrow, they took place of my Wednesday Workout posts and I just wasn’t able to get anything together for a post on another day. It’s not to say I haven’t been working out, because I certainly have, I just haven’t been able to write them up to share with you. Shame on me 😉

This workout was a good one, though! I did it a while ago, but it’s been on a little sticky note near my computer as a reminder that it was good enough to share (sometimes I make up workouts and decide not to share them with you after I do them because I don’t like them).

Most of these moves are pretty common, but if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask! Also, you can do this workout without a stability ball if you don’t have access to one.

Since the exercises only call for 10 reps, I challenge you to go heavier than usual. If you usually lift 10lbs for bicep curls, try 12 or 15. The last few reps should be hard- that means you’re working 😉

Questions for you: Do you like to separate you cardio and strength workouts or combine them?

Extended Time In Maine: Spending lots of time with family and friends!

December 31, 2013December 29, 2013Leave a comment

I can’t remember the last time I spent more than a few nights home in Maine. Actually, that’s a lie. Last year for Christmas, my sister and I were able to spend a lot of time in Maine, mostly due to the fact that I came down with pneuomonia and we couldn’t leave when originally planned. Thankfully, I survived the holiday sick-free this year.

Since I’ve already caught you up on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I’ll pick up after that! Thursday morning, my mom, sister and I all went to the gym, which is my favorite way to start the day 🙂

After we got home, my dad and I got busy putting together my new mini-kitchen island. I thought I could do it on my own, but I am so happy my dad suggested doing it together because he has all the tools and knowledge to make sure it’s done right.

Charlie thought he was going to be a good helper… he wasn’t.

It took much longer than expected to put it together, but I am so happy with how it turned out! It’s not great quality, but until I buy a place and know I won’t be moving every couple of years, I don’t want to have super nice stuff that could get damaged. This is absolutely perfect for my little kitchen because not only does it give me extra counter space, but it’s on wheels so I can move it around as I need/want. Love it- thanks mom and dad!!

We went to the movies in the afternoon (nothing like $6.50 matinees in Maine!) to see Anchorman 2, which, sadly, was a big disappointment. Has anyone else seen it? I just thought it was slow and not that funny. At least the beers were $2, which kept me entertained 😉

We made the most delicious chicken parmesan meal when we got home from the movies. Holy moly. My mom really does make the best chicken parm (Danielle and I served ours over spaghetti squash… the best way to save on carbs and calories!)!

After dinner, we spent a lot of time listening to my parents talk about their parents and their childhood. My dad’s parents passed away when he was in his young 20’s and my mom’s mother passed away when she was in her mid-late 20’s, so we haven’t really gotten to hear much about them over the years. It was so fun to look through old photo albums and listen to their stories.

I started my Friday just like most “off” days from work: at the gym! I took a great cardio and core class, which was perfect after a weights class on Thursday. After the class, I headed to the AT&T store to get a new iPhone. I was using an old iPhone 4 and was long overdue for an upgrade, so I finally headed in and made the upgrade! So far, I am LOVING my iPhone 5S and can’t wait to see the difference in picture quality.

My family headed to the mall in the afternoon and I scored a number of deals- have you guys been shopping since Christmas? The sales are unreal! I got 2 shirts a dress and lotion for $30! After the mall, we headed to the Back Street Grill for some happy hour wines with my mom’s friend, Jean. When the $3 happy hour wine ends at 6pm and you get there at 5:30, you order 2 😉

We made a nice, healthy chicken and veggie teriyaki stir fry for dinner- all of us agreed we needed more veggies!

Saturday, Danielle and I made the trek back to Boston, with a quick stop in Kittery to exchange some things (I just ended up buying more. whoops). With the looks of the back of her SUV, though, you’d think the last thing we’d be doing was shopping!

Once I got back, I unpacked everything, went for a 5K run and then had a quiet night in. I had wanted to do something, but it ended up being nice staying in. I needed to get my iTunes updated so I could put music on my new phone, catch up on blogging and have some alone time, all which I accomplished on Saturday night!

Sunday morning I woke up pretty early, which was expected since I’ve slept a lot the past handful of nights, so I went to a 9:30 spin class, followed by upper body strength and core work. The gym was dead, which is my favorite way for it to be unless I’m teaching 😉

The rest of my Sunday was pretty quiet… I’m ready for some serious social interaction! I went grocery shopping, prepped lunches/meals and did some other random stuff around my apartment. I hung out with my sister in the afternoon for a few hours before coming home and making a delicious chicken, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts and quinoa dish.

Although it was a quiet weekend, it was good. I started Monday feeling refreshed and ready to get back on a schedule!

Questions for you: Have you seen Anchorman 2? Do you have the new iPhone? What was the best part of your weekend? Any fun plans for NYE tonight?

This Week: Workouts, Schedule, Things I’m Looking Forward To

December 30, 2013December 29, 20131 Comment

I hope all of you had a nice and relaxing week last week. I know I sure did! As I’ve said before, there’s just something about being home in Maine that always relaxes me. I still have some catching up to do with you, which I hope will happen over the next few days. I am trying to relax a bit more, stress less and be less regimented, which might mean my posts aren’t as “timely” as they usually are.

But, with that said, let’s get to the workouts! Last week’s ended up being awesome, which is always a nice surprise during a holiday week when I am home in Maine for most of it.

Last Week’s Workouts

Monday- I had dinner plans after work, which meant I needed to get up and workout before work. I got up and did this workout and was happy with my choice! I tend to forget about workouts after I post them on here or teach them in class, so it’s always a nice surprise when I decide to go back and dig up an old workout to do.
Tuesday- I thought it might be a rest day since I didn’t get up to workout before heading north, but after lunch, I was able to sneak in a quick 25 minute workout at my parents house. I did this workout, 6 times through and some other stuff at the end. It was perfect!
Wednesday- Does playing Santa’s Elf, drinking champagne and napping constitute as a workout? Nah, I didn’t think so! Rest day 🙂
Thursday- My sister, mom and I all went to the local YMCA for a strength class, which was awesome!! I ran 1.25 miles before the class and was so happy with how great the class was. We did all sorts of fun things using toys that I don’t get to use at the BSC- and, it left me quiteeee sore for a few days. Success! But the best part? Having my mom and sister in class with me 🙂
Friday- I went to another class at the local YMCA because I love the instructor (old family friend). It was an Athletic Cardio and Core class and we did tabata cardio, 9 mins of abs (3 exercises, 60 seconds each, 3 rounds) and repeated that 3 times. It was great!
Saturday- I wanted to go to the Circuit class at the Y before heading back to MA, but I woke up VERY sore so I decided to rest. Well, that was before I got home and realized it was 50 degrees and still light out at 4pm after I finished unpacking, so I decided to go for a quick jog (5K). I needed to clear my head of a few things and a run always helps that. It was pretty speedy, too, which is always nice.
Sunday- I still felt sore from Thursday/Friday so rather than going to a muscle class, I went to a spin class. Remember how I said I didn’t feel like I worked that hard in the other spin class I went to? I realized why… the instructor wasn’t that great! Sunday morning’s instructor was awesome! She gave us ranges for our levels and RPM’s and we did all sorts of fun things. I worked really hard and left there feeling amazing! I followed up my ride with upper body strength and some core work. Solid start to my day!

This Week’s Workouts

Monday- I am subbing the 6:30 kickboxing class at the Watertown BSC again. I hope it’s a good crowd and I hope people don’t leave 😦
Tuesday- I don’t have NYE plans at the moment, but I will probably still get up and workout before work so that I’ll have that out of the way in case something comes up!
Wednesday- Not sure! Could be a rest day, could be a workout…
Thursday- FINALLY back to my “regular” teaching schedule with my two a day Thursday. Can’t wait!
Friday- Again, not sure. Might be a rest day since I like Friday’s as rest days.
Saturday- Teaching kickboxing at the YMCA- come burn off your holiday calories 😉
Sunday- Per usual, my Sunday workout will be determined based on how my other workouts for the week went. I’d love to get a strength workout in, but we will see.

Schedule

It’s funny. In years past, I have stressed about my NYE plans with my friends, trying to figure out if we should go to a bar (and what bar we should go to) or if we should go to a house party, but this year I am just letting things happen. Tuesday night could be spent with friends or by myself, and to be honest, as long as I’m not out at a bar (really not interested in that this year), I don’t care what I do:) Other than that, I have work and teaching. It will be nice to ease back into a somewhat normal schedule this week.

Things I Am Looking Forward To

Hmmm. To be honest, I am a little “blah” going into this week. Part post holiday blues, post I-don’t-know, but I am hoping that once I get back into the swing of things today I’ll be back to my normal self! I’m looking forward to teaching this week- big time! And I am looking forward to the start of a new year. I am not one for “resolutions” (all that stuff makes me totally turned off. It’s like whenever I make a resolution, I immediately want to break it, so I just don’t make them!), but for 2014, I do have some things I want to change/incorporate. I’ll share them with you soon!

Questions for you: Did you get any good workouts in over the holidays? When’s the last time you went to a class that left you super sore? Do you have NYE plans? What are you looking forward to this week?

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