Zoodles!

There's been so much talk lately on blogs and among my friends about spiralizers and zoodles, I thought I would give it a shot.  After a few friends raved about their spiralizer, I ordered one!

Photo from Amazon

What's a spiralizer you say?  Well it takes vegetables or potatoes and turns them into spiraled noodle type things!  I did some searching on Amazon and this is the one I ordered.  There are several different options, including 3 and 4 blade models.  I opted for the cheaper, highly recommended 3 blade option.  I finally used it one night this week to make dinner! 

I picked zucchini for my first spiralizer meal, since there are tons of recipes for zoodles.  I found one from my favorite food blogger, Skinnytaste - Shrimp Scampi Zoodles.  

It was so easy to use.  You just put the zucchini on the crank, and twist! 

The recipe calls for the zoodles to be sauteed for just 2 minutes - and shrimp only takes a few minutes to cook, too, so dinner was ready in no time!  Perfect for a busy weeknight. 

M was skeptical when I put the plate down in front of him... "What, is this like a healthier version of healthy?"  Um, yes, it is.  It was delicious!  And he practically licked the plate, and commented that it was really good.  Ha!

Photo from Skinnytaste

I am looking forward to trying many more recipes with zoodles and other veggies!  Skinnytaste has some great ones that are already on my list!

Happy Spiralizing! 

Thanksgiving in Richmond

One of my favorite holidays of the year is Thanksgiving, and I can't believe it has already come and gone.  Time this year is just flying by.  As we do every year, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Richmond.  We split time with both parents, and then my mom hosts my aunt, uncle cousins and kids for the big dinner on Thursday.

The delicious turkey and cousin Jason's creative and beautiful turkey plate

The calm before the storm dinner!

Cheers to another wonderful meal!

Makes me hungry again just looking at it!

When cousin Kristin and husband Steve showed up wearing their favorite sports jerseys for the big Skins-Dallas game that afternoon, Dad dug in the back of his dresser for this beauty.  I proudly wore it all day - Go Skins!

After all of the delicious food, it was time for dessert!  Including the ice cream turkey.

I made MK's delicious pumpkin spiced cannoli dip - it was a huge hit!

Quick family photo op

You can't forget cutie Pearly Sue, my parents sweet dog.

Cady was definitely tuckered out after the big day chasing kids, playing ball, and catching any food before it hit the floor (or Pearl got it).  She slept for days after Thanksgiving!

There's so much to be thankful for this year...I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

And before we know it, it'll be Christmas!

Cuisine de Provence cooking class

One morning during our week in Provence, we headed to Vaison-la-Romaine to meet Barbara of Cuisine de Provence for our cooking class at her home.

There were 2 other American ladies in the class with us - it was a great size.  We all were very hands on with the preparation of the different dishes. We arrived, were handed our aprons and put straight to work! 

Barbara's home was lovely and incredibly inviting.  The day was beautiful and she kept the door to the kitchen open the whole time - it was perfect. 

While we cooked, we all talked about Provence and the different adventures we were having.  Barbara's lived and traveled around the world, and had some great stories to share. 

We made several dishes - an olive tapenade, a bread or cake with olives and bacon, an onion and pepper tart, a red pepper soup, and a desert.  Everything we used was fresh from the local markets or stores or straight from her garden!

Once the work was finished, the 5 of us sat on her outdoor patio for lunch.

I can't wait to recreate the dishes at home...I think the cake will be first on my list!  I'll certainly share when I make it!

It was just such a great day, and truly one of my favorite things we did.  (and I'm not just saying that because she reads my blog!)  Barbara was fantastic, and it was so nice to be in her home and learn the local side of Provincial and French life and cuisine.

(Look at that fantastic piece behind us with all of the lovely dishes!)

Make this. Tonight.

You need to make this for dinner.  Tonight.  It's delicious, healthy, light, easy, and super fast.

Thanks to one of my other favorite blogs, Iowa Girl Eats, I made Wild Salmon with Lemon CousCous for dinner last week.  It's so good.  She said it's a dinner for 1 but it really made a ton and was enough for both of us (I did use a little more veggies and couscous to be sure there was enough).

I made it without counters or a working sink in the kitchen and it still only took 15 minutes.  It's that easy and quick.

I'm telling you, you won't be disappointed!

Exercise, Eating Healthy, and No Weekday Wine, Oh My.

I'm starving.  I'm sore.  And I really want a big ol' glass (or 3) of wine. 

But, no.

It's a new year, and time for new habits.  It's now February 3.  I've been working out anywhere from 3-5 times a week since the beginning of the year.  I'm doing 2-3 miles speed walking on the treadmill mostly with some weights and mixing in Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred or Trouble Zones.  Last night I did a FIRM video, Total Body Makeover.  That's why I'm sore...

We've been eating much healthier both during the week and especially on weekends, when we tend to fall off the wagon.  And, yes, it's true.  I haven't had wine during the week for over a month.  (Disclaimer - wine at home during the week.  I have had a glass or a beer when out during the week, but that's only been 3 times all month)  Lola, I have no idea what I'm thinking either. 

But I'm doing it. 

It's no secret that husband eats anything, everything, and lots of it.  He can.  He runs 100s of miles a month, and can eat anything, everything, and lots of it without gaining weight.  He drinks high calorie craft beer.  And we have a bit of an obsession with wine.  (There, I admitted it)  And it's much easier (and tastier) to eat wings, or pizza, or Pei-Wei, or Chipotle, or insert-unhealthy-yummy-food-here rather than cook something at home.  We've been doing better about making dinner at home, or having a can of soup if we (and by we I mean I) don't feel like cooking, rather than a huge somethin' or other from whatever our take out choice of the night is.  And we had just gotten into a habit of drinking almost every night.  We'd say we were going to be good, then have a long day at work, and cave.  We have a readily available selection of both wine and beer in our house, and we both enjoy it.  But we almost were drinking it just because...rather than water, or milk, or something else better for us and less expensive.

I don't think we'll last forever on this strict plan, but at least if we can get back out of the bad habits, then occasionally won't be nearly as often.  And with that, I'm off to cook dinner - Eat Live Run's beef tenderloin with apriot and olives.  Without the wine.