Southwestern Quinoa

So this is the next recipe I'll be making. I've made a similar recipe before and that was is very tasty but this one has more goodies so I'm hoping it's just as good if not better. Also here in Texas we have a store called HEB. At HEB they have just implemented a "bulk food" section. I know Safeway in Washington use to have a bulk food section but I'm not sure if they still do, anyways I have found that it is cheaper for me to buy my Quinoa in this bulk section rather than on the shelf in the
prepackages.

Southwestern Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1 cup corn
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water, and drain. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the quinoa until the water has evaporated and the quinoa is lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the quinoa has absorbed all the broth, about 10 minutes. Cool quinoa in refrigerator at least 10 minutes.
2. Mix together green pepper, red onion, corn, black beans, cilantro, tomato, lime juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, adobo seasoning, and feta cheese in a large salad bowl. Lightly stir in the quinoa, and season with salt, pepper, and additional lime juice to taste, if desired. Chill the salad at least 30 minutes before serving; serve cold.

"Stuffed" Peppers.......My Way =)

   These are stuffed peppers, my way.....cause quite frankly I think stuffing pepper is a pain in the butt and then once they are done I have no idea how to eat them. Do you eat the stuff out the middle first? Do you try and cut up the pepper and eat it with the stuffing? I don't know, so I took all the guess work out of it =)

Stuffed Peppers...My Way

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1/2 cup uncooked Arborio rice (I used left over rice, I think long grain basanti)

2 green bell peppers, halved and seeded (Red peppers where on sale, I used those instead)

1.5-2lbs Ground Turkey

2 green onions, thinly sliced (I used a sweet onion)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1 pinch ground black pepper

1 tomato, diced (I used two Roma)

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (I left the cheese out cause I didn't have any)

 

Preparation:

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.

1. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in the rice. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside. Or however you prepare your rice, I have a rice cooker.
2. Place the peppers cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Roast 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until tender and skin starts to brown. Once done place in freezer for 20-30 mins to cool. Once cool peel the skin off and cut into strips 1/2in X 1in.
3. While the peppers are cooling, brown the turkey meat over medium-high heat with the onion. Add basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato, and cook for 5 minutes. Spoon in the cooked rice, and stir until heated through. Remove from heat, mix in the feta cheese. Add in the pepper strips.
4. Continue cooking for 5 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Serve immediately. 

Unstuffed Cabbage Soup

   I made this for dinner on Friday and it was delicious. My mother wasn't a fan at first, saying that it was to spicy but after the first couple of bites she really enjoyed it.

Unstuffed Cabbage Soup

Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
1 tablespoon oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small cabbage, chopped
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt

Preparation:
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook, stirring, until ground beef is no longer pink and onion is tender.
Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.

 2. Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cabbage is tender.
Yield: Serves 6 to 8

My Why...

   On Thursday I told the 20 people on my like page (https://www.facebook.com/beginning2anend) that I would have updates for them on Friday. Apparently life happened to me again and I spaced, probably because I was spring cleaning my house in the middle of summer and trying to kill myself by inhaling all those fumes from cleaning the bathroom (fyi cleaning a tub with those sliding shower doors should really be done with one of those construction mask). So to all my Facebook followers, if you are reading this I'm sorry. I know I did not meet my timeline, not by a long shot cause it's now 1:04 am Sunday morning. But it's here! Tah Dah! I've got the updates and I thought we'd start off with My Why. I came up with this idea/title to this post because well, quite frankly, it was assigned to me through my Beachbody training I've been going through.
   So there it is. The secret is out. I'm a Beachbody Coach. You're probably thinking "*Gasp* she's tricked us all! She just wants us to buy her products." Negative. That could not be farther from the truth. If you have a great workout regiment that is working for you, GREAT! I want you to keep doing it and if you want to, share it (yes, even on my Facebook page).
   Another reason I haven't updated the page yet is because I've been giving My Why some considerable thought. It's all really boiled down to a couple of reasons. For lack of imagination, it is 1am after all, we'll call them #1 My Reason to Get Fit and #2 My Reasons to Become a Beachbody Coach.

#1 My Reason to Get Fit

   My reason to get fit is because, well, I'm unhappy with the way I look and feel about myself. Plus I am currently at a crossroads in my career path. I decided recently that I could continue down this path of self hatred and weight gain if I wanted too continue in my mediocre life doing meaningless jobs being just content cause this path is easy. OR I could take the road less traveled and switch it all up and do something meaningful and exciting! With that being said I know that this road is gonna be hard and I've already had some set backs but I'm gonna just keep trucking along cause I can't stop. I can't go back to the way I was. Now you're probably thinking "well what is this road less traveled for you Kayla?" I'm gonna tell ya...I want to be a firefighter/paramedic! Why? Because my entire life I have had these wonderful childhood memories of my Uncle Tom taking myself and all my cousins down to the fire station and let us play on the fire trucks and set off all the sirens. At that young age, in my eyes, my Uncle Tom was my hero. I looked up to him and I wanted to be just like him. Plus it probably didn't hurt that I did a little bit of firefighting while I was in the Navy and I really enjoyed it. But don't think I'm about to stop at firefighter people! Oh no, I do have my eyes set on a college degree. While being a firefighter I want to go back to school and get my bachelors in Forensic Science Chemistry! Or (I'm not sure what I'd degree I'd have to get for this) get the degree that allows you to be the fire investigator. You know the people that go in after the fire and figure out how the fire started. I think those would be some pretty cool jobs.

#2 My Reasons to Become a Beachbody Coach
   One of the reasons is that I've gone through the Beachbody process before. When I was joining the Navy I completed the P90X program and had some amazing results. While I was going through the process I kept having people ask me "what are you doing? How can I get those results?" and I kept finding myself raving about P90X anyways. So this time while I'm going through it I figured heck if I'm gonna get asked about it anyways and I'm gonna rave about it anyways, AGAIN! I might as well get paid for it.....and if I'm not getting paid for all this "hard" work that I am doing then someone else IS. How unfair does that seem?
   Another reason and more of the main reason behind why I am a coach is that I truly believe in the Beachbody products, what they stand for and their mission. These people really do want to, as Mr. Carl Daikeler always says, end the trend of obesity and their mission is to help people achieve their goals and enjoy a healthy fulfilling life. And the more I heard and read about the company the more I realized that their goals and missions align with what I want to do and what I believe I can help my fellow man do. For me coaching isn't about selling you these amazing products. It is about helping people save their lives, take back their lives and live it to the fullest day by day with the people that they love. Like I said before, the products are amazing, but they are just tools and I realize that some of us can't afford these tools just yet. I hope one day that you can cause they will change your life but because you can't afford the Beachbody tool doesn't mean I can't help you live a more fulfilling life and change your lifestyle to a healthy one.

   If you have questions or would just like to offer feedback please comment below or contact me. And remember....

"Without risk there is no chance for success." ~Dani Johnson

How Bad Do You Want It???

For the last couple days I have had things come up to where I couldn't workout.....I know lame excuse, but it was one of those if I don't do this now I'm not gonna get that job I really want.....So I skipped two days of working on me....it's only the first week but the first week is not the time to give up (no time ever is the time to give up actually). I only get one rest day in a week and I have a plan for that day to be on sundays. I had already used up the rest day, on Thursday cause of a back twinge, there were no other days to miss......except for my minor heart attack happened on Friday when the background check people told me I dated something wrong at the last minute (that was the last day I could post the background). So I spent all day Friday redoing the background check and getting it scanned in and submitted. Let's hope that like it! On Thursday I rearranged my office to be a functional space and I most say I LOVE IT! It's my favorite spot in the house!





So we finally get to Saturday. I know what I have to do, but I really don't want to do it. I get my sweats on and begin to put my head band on when all of a sudden there is a grumble in my belly and a pain in my stomach. Saved by the gurgle! I'm starving! And what's another hour gonna kill? So I go and make my Shakeo (just ice and orange juice today). Sit at my new favorite place, drink my shakeo and begin pinning some motivation on pinterest! Next thing I knew an hour and a half had flown by. There was no use in denying the inevitable any longer. I leave my favorite room in the house to enter my second favorite all while thinking "body you're gonna hate me for this, but eventually you will thank me!"


 While pinning on my computer I figured there is only one way for me to keep on track with the first week (my workout week begins on Mondays, usually with Sundays being the rest day) of my training.......Do TWO workouts today......The next thought that crossed my mind was "you MUST be crazy!" The answer to that is most definitely a yes! I walked in there not super excited to do this but I popped in the first DVD, P90X's Shoulders and Arms. I pushed through it and I was feeling pretty good about completing it. I didn't bother with the cool down cause as soon as the power hour was over I popped in my very next exercise, P90X's Yoga. It began, I started to panic. I can't do this! I'm gonna crash! there's no way I'm gonna make it all the way through this!





 But then I remembered this picture right here! I also remembered that I did this to myself. "If you don't want to do this ever again don't skip any days! But if you do miss a day this is TOTALLY the way to do it. Do a muscle builder than yoga." And the sun salutations began and Tony said just forget all the garbage and get out of your head. As soon as those magical words where said I did and next thing I knew we were on our last vinyasa! AMAZING! I was doing it and we were over halfway through! I finished the workout with no hiccups and totally in the zone!


When finished with my workout I got all excited for my shower because I had totally earned it today! Then Mom came out and asked if I could move my car so she could leave. Sure, why not! I've waited this long for my shower and quiet frankly I didn't mind masking in my sweat and stink for a little longer since I proudly earned it today! As I grabbed my keys and headed towards the door I passed by a mirror. What I saw there was quiet amusing, I really should have taken a picture! But I didn't care what I looked like cause I had worked hard at looking the way I did (totally was rocking a bun on top of the head with a purple headband and completely covered in downright sweat). I even got some very quizzical looks from my neighbors. I'm pretty sure they think I'm crazy around here cause of how I walk outside some times and for dancing in the backyard, well dancing period (when I mow the lawn, when I'm raking, when I'm bbqing, etc.). Later on today I found this picture. It so fits today's workout and every days workout really.
  

 So after I took my shower I was for sure I was gonna crash, but I didn't have the time to be crashing. So instead I went in search of fuel. I ended up eating some soup cause my house had like no food in it. Once I had finished my soup I walked into my favorite room again and began looking at recipes and making a grocery list. I gathered my wallet, list and phone and headed out to the store. I only spent $68 and got a ton of food! Came home put everything away and thought about taking a nap but began working on my computer again instead. 1930 rolled around and I hadn't had dinner yet, so I decided I should probably make some dinner and do some laundry for working out and work tomorrow. And look at is now it's 00:25 and I'm still going, not necessarily strong but at least I'm functioning. This just proves that with the right fuel and the right will power you can do anything and keep going! Have a wonderful night guys and never forget that you are stronger than anybody knows, including yourself!

Salmon and Romano Pea Quinoa

So made this yummy deliciousness for dinner tonight......Bon Appetite!

Romano Pea Quinoa

• 1Tbl Butter
• 1 cup Quinoa (rinsed)
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• 1/4 cup Onion (chopped)
• 1 clove of Garlic
• 1 Tea Thyme (ground if using dried)
• 1/2 tea Black Pepper
• 1 cup Peas
• 1/2 cup Romano Cheese
• 2 Tbl Parsley (I only had dried)

1. Melt butter over medium heat. Toast Quinoa with the garlic and onions for 2 minutes.

2. Add chicken broth, thyme, black pepper. Cover and bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat and continue to simmer for 10 minutes (you can add peas here, but I hate mushy peas, if you add peas here you simmer 15-20 minutes)

4. Add peas, continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes. The chicken broth should be absorbed and the quinoa tender.

5. Stir in cheese and parsley. Garnish with cheese and parsley sprig if so desired.


Lemon Garlic Dill Salmon

• Wild caught Alaskan Salmon
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 small Lemon (quartered)
• Dill Weed
• 1/4 tea Garlic
• 1/8 cup Onion

I only made one piece (mine are frozen single serving packages, I can totally taste the difference between fresh and frozen and definitely between west and east coast salmon).

1. Rub EVOO over the salmon (you don't need a lot). Squeeze half the lemon over the salmon. Sprinkle with dill weed and garlic. Place the onions on top and next to the salmon. And finally top with the other two slices of lemon.

2. Bake at 350*F for (if frozen) about 30-40 minutes (I know huge amount of time, I honestly don't remember how long it took. I just kept checking.) Your salmon is done when it reaches 145*F or you stick a fork in it and twist a little and it flakes.

I also had a side of rice with all this yumminess!

Never Quit

   So for the past week I haven't worked out, not once (besides all the walking I do at work, but that's so not enough)....I know what's wrong with me?!?!?
   I guess I just lost my motivation. It all started when my Shakeology (aka shakeo) stopped arriving. It was a total bummer. I have no idea what in my mind triggered some sort of switch that said "you can't work out! you have no shakes for afterwards!" But it did! Alright lets be honest, that first month was tough! For me at least. I'm doing the P90X Lean program (cause I think it's the easiest of the three) and I thought oh this will be easy. WRONG! I had injured my back and took a month to rest it and when I finally started working out it was slow going. I'd find myself skipping days or feeling like my back still needing to recover from the last workout. I use to go back and try and complete those but it just felt like I wasn't making any progress! So I started just started skipping them. If I missed them I missed them! I wasn't going backwards anymore. I had a workout planned for that day and that's what I was gonna do! And at the end of the workout series I'll go back and hit all the days I missed.
   Alright so that's been the plan so far.....well I missed the entire last week of the first phase (the recovery week) and I'm really struggling with do I just keep pressing on since technically it is month two or do I just start with that week. I think I'm going to just press on after all that is what I have been doing anyways! And boy does my body need it! I can always tell when I've stopped working out and it by far time to jump back on the ban wagon.
   So the motivational picture of the day is.....

And this one is for the people, like me, waiting for something that says workout!