And so it Begins.....

On the road again for another race season!  We left Monday to head to Florida for the NHRA race in Gainesville .  

Race season has begun!  We are in nice but rainy Florida   Rain is coming down but iris 84 degrees so from what I hear is going on back in Indiana, I am not complaining!  Emails will be scarce this week, as they were last since we won't be traveling home til Monday.  We drove almost all night Monday and stopped just outside Atlanta to rest then up and at em again by 8. Ugh. So tired.  But just because we are traveling doesn't earn I am not going to stick to my diet.  iDVD really good and made sure I brought lot softwood things to eat, even for snacking on the road because after all, you want to snack while driving right?  Celery sticks, protein bars, lots of yogurt and I did bring some string cheese to snack on even though they are not on the diet.  I figure its better than a bag of chips.  I also brought some turkey bites and protein powder.  We stopped at subway for salads and we have lots of water and ice drinks. 

Louisville Kentucky 

Passing time in the rig.

My view for several, several, several, and several more hours.....

Those Ice Water drinks are so good and they are totally free.  hey come in lots of favors and cost wise they are only about  .88 each.  The coconut pineapple is my favorite.  I hope everyone has a great week and that the snow does NOT last!!  

Enjoy!

Lemon Garlic Roasted Broccoli

I don't know about everyone else but I am sick and tired of this weather!  I know this is the traditional "NWI Winter" but come on, this is getting crazy.  Its March 4 and I am ready for some warmer weather and spring flowers.  So in honor of that thought I made a delicious light and flavorful broccoli the other day and it just tasted like summer.  I loved it and I think it will be my new "go to" broccoli side dish.  It has lemon and garlic (2 things I love) and some basil.  sounds good doesn't it?  I promise once you try this, you will be hooked on a new favorite.

Ugh  Ab check in….Mine HURT!!!!  35 second plank…Holy cow!  I am dreading the 50 crunches and leg lifts for tomorrow!!!  I barely got thru the 30 today.  But WE CAN DO THIS!!!  Just keep thinking about that bathing suit this summer!

Lemon Garlic Roasted Broccoli 

8 Cups Broccoli 

2-3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to Taste

3-4 Cloves of Garlic Sliced Very thin

Lay on cookie sheet and mix with hands til its all incorporated.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

1 lemon

3-4 leaves of Fresh Basil

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

While its baking, zest the lemon and set aside.  Roll the basil leaves and slice it making little curls.  When broccoli is done, add the zest, basil, olive oil and the juice of the lemon and mix together well.  Top with a little parmesan cheese (optional) and serve.   Sooo Goo!!

Enjoy!!

Roasted Asparagus with Greek Sauce

Hope you had a fantastic weekend!  I did.  I got to spend some god quality time with Kendall, see some family members in IL, and have a relaxing Sunday at home while it snowed…AGAIN.  Saturday my sister and I went to Kankakee IL to visit with my Uncle and a few of my cousins and other family members.  We had a great day of reminiscing about old days when my mom was still alive and my grandma and we would take this trip as kids at least once a month.  My Uncle George is a fantastic singer and plays guitar and my sister and I love to hear him play.  this weekend he was playing at a diner in town along with some other band members and we got to go check them out before the snow came.  Or should I say ice.  We had an entire night planned with staying late and going for pizza and drinks later but when we came out from the diner, it was sleeting and doing some odd rain/freezing rain thing….and it was 21 degrees!  How can that even happen??  So we decided it would be i our best interest to skip the pizza and just head for home.  

We ate dinner at Blues Cafe.  A childhood favorite of both me and my sister.  We would go there every Saturday night with our parents and my grandma….they have the BEST home made chicken and noodles…and only served on Saturday nights.

 My sister so excited for the infamous Chicken and Noodles at Blues Cafe

My Uncle George playing and singing at Crazy Joes Diner.  It was so fun watching him play and listen to him sing.

I did promise you some recipes this week and today's is so good!  Last night I made asparagus with a "hollandaise" Sauce.  Now we all know that the real sauce is made up of lots of bad things like mostly butter, but this sauce I made yesterday was light and flavorful.  Really good.  I made it out of Greek Yogurt so it also had some extra protein in there.

Don't forget your Ab exercises!  I am feeling mine!!  LOL

Roasted Asparagus with Greek Sauce

1 Bunch Asparagus Trimmed and rinsed

1 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to Taste

Sauce

1 Small Container of Plain Greek Yogurt

1 Tablespoon Butter (I used my Greek yogurt butter)

2 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese

Lay Asparagus on cookie tray and drizzle oil on top.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minute.  So its tender but still crisp.  In a small sauce pan combine the yogurt and butter until melted.  Add the cheese and cook on low until cheese has melted and incorporated with the yogurt.  Simmer til ready to use.  Put roasted asparagus on serving plate and pour sauce over the top.  Sprinkle with additional Pepper.  So good!!

Enjoy!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Good Morning!!

Today is the off day for the exercise regimen.  Yay!!  The plank yesterday for 15 seconds I thought was going to kill me!!!

We had an amazing pot of spaghetti the other night.  It turned out really well and I made meatballs that were legal for it and they were yummy!!  I thought I would share my recipe with you for that.

Make golf ball size balls and place them in 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil to Brown

Brown on both sides

When browned, drop into sauce

So good and good for you!!!

Spagetti and Meatballs

1lb Ground Round

1lb turkey Sausage ( I used sweet italian)

1/4 cup Flax seed meal

1 Tablespoon Garlic

1 egg white

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasonings

1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper

 Mix all ingredients with hands and roll into balls.  Cook in pan with 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil til brown.  Drop into sauce and continue cooking on simmer for another 2 hours.  (The longer it cooks the better it is.  This can also be done the night before then dropped into a crock pot the following day to cook throughout the day in the sauce)

Sauce

1 Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Can Tomato Sauce

1 Can Tomato Paste

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning

1 Chopped Red Pepper

1-2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic

1 Teaspoon Each of Oregano, and Basil

Salt and Pepper

1/2-1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese

While the balls are browning, cook pepper and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil til tender.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.   Add meatballs.  Turn to simmer and cook for another 2-3 hours (or put in crock pot)  Serve over cooked cauliflower as your "spaghetti" Yumm!!!!

Enjoy!!