I do apologize for how long it has been since I have posted. But with the major remodel job and opening a dance studio I haven't had a lot of time. But I have had some yummy dishes I have tried and hope to get them posted soon. Thanks for checking out the blog!

Healthy Egg Rolls

These egg rolls are sooo yummy! There is also a lot of room to experiment with flavors you like ie: keep it vegetarian or add some lean meat as well.

Recipe:

Cooking spray

2Tbs cornstarch

1/2 cup water

3 cups shredded chinese cabbage

2-3 medium carrots, shredded

2 stalk celery, diced- you could use water chestnuts or jicama-

1Tbs ground ginger- you can use fresh I just don't have any on hand

2Tbs low sodium soy sauce

2Tbs diced green onions

fat-free egg roll wrappers

cooked lean turkey, chicken, pork, or beef shredded (optional) but I like the protein

To Make:

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray

dissolve on tablespoon of the cornstarch into 1/4 cup water and set aside

Lightly spray a wok or large saute pan with cooking spray and heat over low heat

Combine cabbage, carrots, celery and ginger in the pan.

Cook for five to seven minutes or until vegetables begin to wilt, stirring constantly to keep from burning.

Stir in cornstarch mixture and soy sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.

(At this point I added the shredded meat)

Add green onions at very end to keep them crisp.

Dissolve the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch in 1/4 cup water brush onto egg-roll wrappers and fill with vegetables.

Place on cooking sheet and lightly spray the tops of the egg rolls with cooking spray - this helps give them some crunch.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until brown

Enjoy :)

What is a Jicama

I found a lot about jicama's on the internet yesterday as I was searching the best way to peel one. For those of you who are wondering what the heck a jicama is I came across this great article explaining what it is and it's nutritional properties. Some things not mentioned in the article below was that they are also great eaten plain with a little lime juice, use in replacement for water- chestnuts, use in salads, and they are great in stir fry's.

So now you know how wonderful these little roots are, quick run get some for dinner! :)

SITE:

Jicama is a semi-sweet, root vegetable often found in Mexico. Often, it's used as a replacement for potato dishes. That makes sense because it looks a lot like white potatoes!

Why not potatoes though? Although they have some nutritional value—Vitamin C (if you eat the skin), some minerals and a tiny bit of protein, white potatoes are mostly starch. Moreover, the glycemic load for potatoes is 29 out of 250 and the inflammation factor is -179 out of 50. Although, these are just numbers, essentially- potatoes spike your blood sugar and increase inflammation in the body.

Compare that to jicama with a GL of 2 and inflammation factor of 1. This means jicama doesn’t spike your blood sugar and it’s actually mildly anti-inflammatory. Not to mention, it tastes great and has all the minerals that potatoes have!

Glycemic load has recently been recognized as a more accurate factor for determining blood sugar effects, more than glycemic index.So, it's a key factor to look at if you're trying to lose weight, treat/prevent diabetes, or get on a healthier track. Jicama makes for a great replacement for white potatoes...it gives you a similar taste, texture, and nutrient value without the starchy bonus.

Quick beef and jicama soup

Recipe:

1 large jicama, peeled and chopped

4 carrots, peeled and chopped

1/2 onion, diced

1 can beef chunks, drained and rinsed

1 can undrained stewed tomatoes

1 can green beans, drained

3-4 beef bullion

2 shakes basil

To Make:

Place carrots, jicama, onion, and bullion in a large pot of boiling water. Cover and let cook until vegetables are tender. Add the rest of ingredients and warm through.

Loaded pork chops

Recipe:

4- pork loin chops, boneless

1/2 red and yellow bell peppers, sliced

1 large handful of fresh spinach, washed, and cut up

1 tsp Italian seasoning

salt and pepper

To make:

Heat a large skillet and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Add a little extra virgin olive oil and place pork in the pan to cook. Cook for 3-5 min on each side depending on the thickness of your pork chop. Remove the meat and cover. In the pan add the bell peppers, spinach, and seasonings and saute until tender and spinach is wilted. Place over pork chops and add low fat mozzarella cheese (optional).

Focus

FOCUS:

People with goals succeed because they know where they're going.

BBQ turkey pitas

These are soooooo simple to make. Great when you are in a hurry and dinner should have been an hour ago :)

Recipe:

2-3 slices of deli sliced turkey breast, diced

2 TBS Favorite BBQ sauce

3 sliced red bell peppers

3 chunks dole pineapple, cup up

grated cheese

To make:

In a small sauce pan place all ingredients except the cheese. Heat through and place in a warmed pita. Top with cheese and enjoy :)