Kale Chips

it may not look it, but they are crispy!

I have my kale & ready for the challenge ;)

1 bunch kale

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp. sea salt

Spread out, sprayed with olive oil & sea salt

Preheat oven to 350F

Cut out the stems from kale, the tear or cut kale into small pieces

Drizzle with olive oil & sprinkle with salt

Bake in oven about 10 minutes until edges slightly brown

**the key is to really watch the kale towards the end of baking, you have to get it just right so they are cripsy, not chewy or burnt & crumbling! It helped to read the review off the website below.

I got my initial recipe from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-kale-chips/

For pretty pictures go to: http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/03/baked-kale-chips/

got the idea to use my olive oil cooking spray from them, much easier with a more even distribution!

GOOD LUCK & ENJOY

oh and make how much you need for the day, after putting them in tupperware they just weren't the same the next day, they became chewy? if you figure out a way to store them, let me know!

Energy Mix...Extra Lean Style

1/4 cup walnut halves

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup whole grain cereal

2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds

~combine all ingredients & mix

~divide into 6 equal portions & distribute into resealable plastic bags

serving size: 2 heaping tablespoons

calories: 146 kcal

fiber: 2g

protein 4g

I read Mario Lopez's book 'Extra Lean' & 'Extra Lean Family'.

Just randomly stumbled upon it and was surprisingly good!

His basic principles were:

1. Balance your daily intake of carbs, protein, and fat (and yes eat EACH!)

2. Practice proper portion control

3. Eat frequently throughout the day

(snack btwn breakfast & lunch, and 2 snacks btwn lunch & dinner)

Nothing new right? It just helped remind me in my post-partum period TO EAT properly!

I felt like I was stuck with the 'last 10 lbs' and I couldn't understand why; but then I

re-evaluated how I was eating and I figured it out. I was grazing the whole day (yes it was on whole grain crackers and other 'relatively healthy food' but it was nothing substantial, and then I felt like I over-ate at dinner because of it. Most of the book is recipes and weekly meal plans. After trying the first week, following it to a T, I lost 3lbs (this was with occasional exercise, and lots of running up & down the stairs). Wow I thought to myself, what and how we eat directly impacts our health & well-being!

Just another friendly reminder ;)

Welcome Summer, Watermelon Fresca

This is my first summer in Cincy & it has started EARLY! All week it has been >80F/25C! And they say its only going to get hotter & more humid. I feel like we moved to Florida! The air condition has been pumpin'.

Okay so I am a huge watermelon fanatic. Jumped the gun & bought a watermelon a few weeks back that wasn't so sweet & juicy on the inside. Cut it up & put in the fridge....it was just okay; but the next day it tasted like watermelon flavored potatoes. I couldn't throw it away, oh how I missed this fruit. Googled a few recipes to make a refreshing smoothie and put this together. It was GREAT!!!

serves about 6

6 cups seedless watermelon chunks

4 tablespoons frozen limeade/lemonade concentrate

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 1/2 cups crushed ice (or 1c. water)

blend all ingredients together and voila all done!

(I used frozen lemonade concentrate from Trader Joe's that does not contain high fructose corn syrup, just plain ol' sugar.)

disclaimer: I grabbed the photo off Google Images, I cheated, I know....didn't have time to take a pic!