Exercising During Summer Vacation

I feel the gasps already vibrating through my bones! Take a deep breath; it's all right. Exercise during vacation is easy. (Yes. E. A. S. Y. Annnnnd- FUN! double gasp.)

If exercising (any time of the year really) is so gruesome that you'd rather go to the dentist (or to the OBGYN as some people I know refer to) then you have the WRONG activity. Exercise and physical activity (yes there's a difference!) should be FUN! (Get it?! Exercise=fun!)

FYI. (I digress. My apologies.) Physical activity is an activity that gets you up and moving. This can include gardening, cleaning, laundry, walking the dog and so much more. On the other hand, exercise is planned and structured physical activity such as hiking, biking, participating in aerobic classes and more. (One of many sources!)

Earlier this summer, I rewarded myself with a long, overdue two week vacation! (For those of you who have never taken advantage of that banked benefit time, well it's time to jump on the band wagon and use it! Vacation is great- mentally and physically!)

(Second digression over. Point of story begins.)

My personal treat was a cruise to Bermuda. And boy was it a treat! Bermuda is such a beautiful, peaceful little island. Although I can babble on and on about a thousand different topics regarding Bermuda, my focus today is to talk about how to put a handle on the excitement and emotion and tap into a little reality.

I'm not a believer of living in your own personal bubble and pretending that avoidance of reality is acceptable! Sorry! So, reality is that even on vacation it is important to have some sort of structure. Indulgence is great! Overindulgence is not!

On the first day of the cruise, I did not exercise (no planned physical activity), but there was plenty of physical activity (such as walking, carrying my very heavy bag, exploring the ship, and more.) Before I boarded the ship, I had a game plan regarding exercise. I knew that I would be on the island for 1.5 days and on the ship the rest of the days. That left me two complete days on the ship! So on those two days, I went to the gym! (What is this? The fourth gasp?! Oh my!) Yup! I did it. I used the elliptical for 45 minutes TWICE while on vacation. And believe it or not, it was WONDERFUL. Who would have ever believed that using the elliptical staring out into the ocean could be so peaceful and so enjoyable! Unbelievable, I know, yet so very true. So next time, put the skepticism away and give it a try! You just might end up loving a little planned exercise!

Also, when I was done with my structured exercise, I was off exploring the ship more, swimming in one of the few pools. Although I didnt get to everything that the ship offered there were a variety of fun activities to choose from such as dancing, aerobic classes, wall climbing and more! Like I said, exercising on vacation is completely 100% doable AND FUN!

The day and a half that was free time to explore the island was left for
1) snorkeling
2) (additional) swimming
(How could anyone say 'no' to the beautiful water surrounding Bermuda?!? I just don't think it's possible!)



3) lots and lots and lots (have I mentions a lot!) of walking (I'm mean how else am I supposed to get from shop to shop! ;))



Although physical activity is only half of living a healthy (and happy) lifestyle, this half is a great start! Happy adventuring!! :)

Organic Fruit and Vegetable Salad

The beauty of buying organic vegetables is that you can eat the skin. I don't know about you, but I loathe the waxy skin on the cucumbers from the market. No matter how hard you scrub, that wax is not coming off. Goodbye skin!

On the other hand, if you buy organic vegetables there is not gunk to deal with! YAY!

Today's salad recipe is simple.
1. Use all organic produce
2. Use any variety of fruits and vegetables you enjoy
3. Keep the skins on
4. Enjoy!

What I did....

Mix together greens, chopped carrots, sliced cucumbers, freshly sliced strawberries, one chopped hard boiled egg, a sprinkle of cheese (my favorite being Trader Joe's freshly shaved parmesan, romano, and asiago cheese!), with a splash of your favorite vinegar! (I used red wine vinegar! YUM!) Oh so simple and quick. I love it!

A Simple Hearty Breakfast

Do you ever feel that there are TOO many options for breakfast, which then causes an overload resulting in complete and utter confusion? Despite wanting to eat breakfast you probably just decide to skip breakfast all together; why go through the agony!?

Everywhere I go I see ads for ginormous breakfasts- waffles with butter, syrup, whipped cream, and a side of bacon OR an egg sandwich on a large bagel with cheese and ham and sausage, for example. OH YA- don't forget that side of home fries!! And for an extra buck perhaps, make it two sides.

The other day after waking I thought to myself, 'Geez. All I want for breakfast is something wholesome, hearty, quick and simple.' I thought. What did I eat when I was kid? Well there are many foods as I kid that I would absolutely not eat as an adult, but I took the concepts from the past meals.

My breakfast was a bowl of Kashi Go Lean cereal with 1% milk and strawberries. I laughed to myself. So simple. Yes I have cereal now and then, but I think we all get caught up in one advertisement or another. Should I have eggs for breakfast? And why kind of bread should I buy? With or without cheese? The questions go on and on...



I cant even tell you the last time I put fruit into my cereal. It was great! I loved it. By no means is this a new concept. It's just a matter of taking a step back and realizing that you already know what to do; it's having the strength to avoid the mixed media messages (ie those whole grain high sugar cereals.) Take a step back. Think simple! And voila!

Pan Fried Sesame Seed Shrimp

As I was grocery shopping the other day, I noticed that the corner display was nothing other than sesame seeds. I usually try to avoid all advertisements and displays, but I was intrigued. So, needless to say they ended up in my cart. What was I going to do with them you ask? I had no idea, but I thought they would add a little love to a future dish.

After returning from vacation, I thought it was a good idea to organize my freezer. And behold, what did I find? Frozen raw shrimp!!! Hmmmm. Shrimp + sesame seeds has to = something AMAZING. I did a quick recipe search and found a recipe by the queen herself- Martha Stewart!

Of course, I modified the recipe (just a little bit) and had an exquisite meal!

Pan Fried Sesame Seed Shrimp over Fresh Spring Salad
Time: less than 30 minutes
Serves: 3 people


Ingredients:
18 defrosted/raw uncooked medium sized shrimp
1 large egg yolk
1 tbsp water
<1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp Chinese-five spice
<1/4 cup vegetable oil
salad mixture
vinaigrette

Directions:
1. Prepare your salad as desired. Either wash, chop, dice, and slice fresh vegetables or just use a pre-bagged mixture. Your choice!
2. In a small bowl whisk together egg yolk and water. Set aside.
3. In another small bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
4. Pour oil into frying pan and warm over medium heat.
5. Simultaneously begin dipping each shrimp in the egg mixture first and then the flour mixture. Set on a plate until oil is ready.
6. Cook shrimp on each side for 2-3 minutes until the sesame seeds are light brown and the shrimp is cooked through.
7. Remove from oil/heat immediately and serve.
8. Enjoy!

Of note:
-The original recipe called for 1/2 cup seeds. I ended up having a bit left over, which I had to toss. I think the perfect amount is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 cup. Guestimation makes cooking fun!!!

-In all honesty, I had no idea what Chinese five-spice powder was. I did a quick google search and voila. Thank you Wikipedia for your help!! I did not have star anise, fennel seeds or Sichuan pepper. Instead I used 1/4 tsp of the following mixture: ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger!! YUM YUM YUM! :)

-The original recipe calls for 3/4 cup oil. I think that even 1/4 cup oil was too much. I'm not an experienced or trained chef by any means, but I definitely think that you can get by with

-The original recipe also calls for noodles. On a hot summer day, noodles is not my go to choice. Since I fried the shrimp I really wanted a healthy side. That's where the salad comes in. The shrimp also has plenty of flavor so a strong dressing is NOT needed. I stuck to my go-to favorite red wine vinegar.

Additional comments:
All in all, I have to say that I was quite impressed with this dish. I never (and I mean never) fry foods. I was completely satisfied with this meal. Also, of note, this recipe serves 3 people because approximately 6 medium shrimp = 3 oz cooked protein = one serving.

Comfort Food: Blueberry Waffles

Sometimes there is nothing better than a quick, easy, simple old fashioned breakfast. Recently, while on vacation I was pleasantly surprised when my friend offered to make not just ordinary waffles, but blueberry waffles!! I can't recall the last time I had waffles. When it's been that long, a sweeter bliss doesn't exist. The smell is luring. The taste is irresistible.

To have that unforgettable experience, pull out that unforgettable recipe whether it's in an old Jewish cookbook, the oh-so-ever reliable Betty Crocker, or perhaps you have to call pseudo-mommie or grandma. If all else fails, there's always Ms. Internet. Whichever way you turn, I promise you won't be disappointed! In this case, follow the recipe as is. (Feel free to use 1/2 whole wheat flour and Smart Balance instead of butter. Never forget your portion control! ;) Enjoy!)

Light Summer Fruit Salad

I'm a fan of salads (if you haven't noticed.) I like variety. I lunch crunch. I like taste. The best part about salads is that I usually just open my fridge and cupboards and begin mixing and matching. My recent masterpiece is as follows:

Time: minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:
Lettuce (any variety you desire.)
1/2 can (3 oz) tuna (any variety you desire. I prefer Chunk Light.)
3-4 small fresh strawberries sliced/chopped
1 tbsp slivered almonds
1 tbsp pine nuts
1 tbsp dried cranberries
1-2 dressing as you desired (a sweet vinegar goes well with this salad such as red wine vinegar or Trader Joe;s Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar!)

Directions:
If your ingredients are not pre-washed or pre-chopped or pre-sliced, then do so! If they are ready to go, then grab a salad bowl and throw in the ingredients. Mix well. Sprinkle on dressing as desired. Voila! Enjoy!

Baked Halibut Crumble with Sauteed Summer Squash

Standing in front of the seafood counter, I was debating on which type of fish to choose to settle the hunger growls of my tummy. Alas, the man over the counter made my decision easy- "The halibut is fresh. It just came in about an hour ago. It's practically still kicking! Would you like that?!" Decision made in seconds, much quicker than I had anticipated!

The next task was to figure out how to prepare this freshly dead fish. I was hoping this task would be completed almost as quickly as the first. And I think within a reasonable amount of time, I found a tasty recipe. Original Recipe Found Here!



Time: 20-30 minutes including preparation. Serves: 2

Main Course:
Ingredients:
0.75 pound fresh halibut steaks
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 cloves garlic chopped (more/less for your taste preferences)
1/4 cup olive oil
extra oil
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
optional- fresh squeeze lemon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Spread a thin layer of oil over the pan to prevent sticking
3. Place steaks on pan.
4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
5. In a small bowl combine bread crumbs, garlic, oil, cheese, and thyme into a thick paste.
6. Pat on top of each steak.
7. Bake for 10-14 minutes until fish is cooked. Times vary by ovens.
8. Enjoy! (Garnish with lemon wedges if desired.)

Side Dishes:
While you're preparing the fish, simulatenously begin preparing the side dishes.

Ingredients:
1 small zucchini
1 small summer squash
1 large tomato
olive oil
parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Rinse and wash vegetables.
2. Slice tomatoes and place on dinner plate.
3. Slice zucchini and summer squash.
4. Pan fry zucchini and summer squash on stove-top pan with olive oil until warm and slightly brown.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Place squash on plate. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
7. Enjoy!

Commentary:
In my experience, non-stick pan or not, the fish always sticks. Always add a little extra oil to prevent your food from sticking. Your hands/arms will thank you later from the limited scrubbing you had to do to clean the pan. Trust me! :) Personally, this dish is better sans lemon! I tried both options. Other than that, my comments today are quite minimal. This was a quick, easy, tasty meal and there's not much I would do differently next time around. Enjoy!