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Showing posts from September, 2017

Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with Pecan Vinaigrette

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Post sponsored by The American Pecan Council. See below for more details. Fall is an amazing time for salads. The crisp airs makes for the best greens and once you have that, it's hard to go wrong with what you add into a salad. This acorn squash salad is quite possibly the best combination of all the fall flavors: roasted squash, warm grains, and a perfect pecan vinaigrette. Add to that a bit of goat cheese and shallots- you have one delicious and filling salad. I recommend making larger batch of the pecan vinaigrette and use it throughout the week. The buttery flavor of the pecans paired with a zip of the vinegar is not only perfect on salads but also for drizzling over squash halves (as a beautiful side), on sweet potatoes, or even used on a grilled cheese sandwich (an apple grilled cheese sandwich with a bit of this dressing is amazing!) Plus, the addition of pecans can really bump up the protein/fiber in any meal. Read more and see the recipe. The post Roasted Acorn Squas...

Garlic Lime Lettuce Wraps

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Lettuce wraps are a fave around here (and a nice change from taco night ). This has become a favorite weeknight meal. Ginger and garlic tempeh rice, folded into lime-spiked lettuce wraps with lots of herbs, cucumber, and carrots. It's a one-pan meal that comes together in no time! A couple of tips related to this recipe. If you find a tempeh brand you like, buy it in multiples. It freezes really well. And, I like to make this with brown rice that I've blended with other grains - like a little bit of millet, and quinoa. But, brown jasmine rice on it's own is also A+! Continue reading Garlic Lime Lettuce Wraps... from 101 Cookbooks http://ift.tt/2xNrKAb September 30, 2017 at 10:39AM

Balanced Living, Autumn 2017

Seasonal Focus: Autumn Wellbeing Autumn brings many things to look forward to: leaves changing color; crisper nights; and seasonal foods and traditions. It can also bring minor woes, such as dry skin, colds and even sleep disruptions. Use this Fall edition of our  Balanced Living for natural ways to address some of these common seasonal concerns, as well as tips on managing stress and why the right level of vitamin D is so important. And don’t miss our seasonal foods’ list, including three of my favorites and delicious recipe ideas that will be perfect for holiday meals, pot lucks, family dinners and company! Flip through the Fall 2017 issue of Dr. Weil’s Balanced Living  to learn more!   See past issues of the  Balanced Living issues . The post Balanced Living, Autumn 2017 appeared first on DrWeil.com . from DrWeil.com http://ift.tt/2yxBYlI Susan Bulzoni September 29, 2017 at 03:01AM

Japanese Noodle Masters share Ramen and Soba Techniques

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Whenever I'm in Japan, I like to stop and watch the noodle makers. On occasion, you'll come across someone hand-making soba noodles and the process is spell-binding to observe. The Italian grandmas making pasta got such a positive response, I thought it would be fun to follow that up with a selection of videos highlighting Japanese noodle masters making beautiful soba, ramen, and udon noodles. The photo, above, is from the last time I was in Tokyo, we rode the train from to the coastal town of Kamakura, strolled around a bit, and came across this soba maker. You could observe the soba being made as you wait in line outside the tiny shop. Enjoy the videos! -h 1. Soba start to Finish Not all of the videos on this list show the dough making process, AND the rolling out process, but chef Shuji Ozeki does. And(!) the cooking. Triple threat. 2. Soba in Hokkaido The video of soba master Tatsuru Rai from Niseko, Hokkaido. Completely hypnotizing. 3. Ramen Ivan Orkin makes (and...

Train Like an Athlete with This 30-Day Plan

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[caption id="attachment_62263" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20 [/caption] If you put all the fundamentals of fitness — strength, speed, power, mobility, agility and coordination — into one beefed up package, you’d get one seriously next-level athlete. But each of these attributes help make everyday life easier, even if you don’t reach elite status. That’s why we created a 30-day athlete training plan so you can dominate in all areas. Designed by Christi Marraccini , a certified personal trainer and instructor at Tone House in New York City, it taps into the studio’s number one goal: unleashing your inner athlete. “Training like an athlete will improve speed, movement efficiency and power,” says Marraccini. “It provides you with a way to push yourself in each workout and challenge yourself to do better the next time.” Because what athlete lost a game and then gave up the sport? Whether you’re eager to get back on the court or the field, o...

29 Vegan Recipes for Fall

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I'm not vegan but one of the best realizations I've had over the years is that comfort food doesn't have to be heavy on the dairy. Sure, I love melted cheese or a cream sauce but there's so many ways to make a solid comfort meal while staying vegan. Some tips I've learned over the years: nuts are key, legumes are your friend, and don't be afraid of your spices! Below is almost a month's worth of dinners that showcase my favorite comfort recipes without a shred of cheese or a drop of cream. Legumes These recipes are up top because they are the ones I turn to time and again. I love cozy meals that highlight beans and lentils- it's hard to go wrong. Add a delicious sauce or toss them in a stew for an automatic comfort meal. Keep dried legumes on hand and you're sure to be ready for any type of dinner you might want. Smoky Beans with Polenta Chipotle White Bean Tacos White Bean Masala over Sweet Potatoes Bulgur Chili Berbere Chickpeas with Char...

Make Your Side Control Feel Twice as Heavy

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The Side Mount (or ‘Side Control’) was one of my favourite positions in the early stages of my Jiu-Jitsu. As my game developed though, I began to focus more on getting to mount and the back mount, and neglected side control a little. Recently I have been dealing with a knee injury that has forced me to return to the side mount, and this video outlines two principles that have made a huge difference to my success with it over recent months. The post Make Your Side Control Feel Twice as Heavy appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood - Grappling & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Videos and Techniques . from Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood – Grappling & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Videos and Techniques http://ift.tt/2wmcqaw Nicolas September 28, 2017 at 10:31AM

Loaded Tater Tot Nachos

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“It’s an adventure, not a vacation.” This is the phrase we kept repeating this May when we traveled to Glacier National Park in Montana. At 4 months old, it was the first time our son Larson had been on a plane. While I’d rate myself as a moderately adventurous person, I’ll admit that an adventure with a 4-month-old was a bit outside of my comfort zone. Alex and I spent weeks reading up on baby travel. Did we need a travel bottle brush set? A car seat luggage clip? In our Airbnb, where would Larson sleep? And my biggest question, will he cry the entire way there ? We had not one but two plane rides each way where he had the potential of disturbing the peace. The thought of my child annoying innocent bystanders made me want to weep. But repeating our mantra, we loaded up our bags (and bags and bags) and boarded the plane. Once we got to Montana, we learned something new about this 4-month old babe: he’s an adventurer at heart, too . Larson absolutely loved being on an adventu...

3 Easy Yoga Poses to Help Wake You Up

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[caption id="attachment_62062" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Ryan Kelly / Daily Burn [/caption] Some mornings, getting out of bed can feel like a serious chore. But instead of hitting snooze on repeat — which often leads to a stressful start — step into a more peaceful headspace with this simple yoga flow. “Yoga is a great way to ease you mindfully into your day,” says Kristin Condon, yoga instructor and producer on Daily Burn 365 . Deep rhythmic breathing blended with energizing postures helps get your blood flowing to promote wakefulness, she adds. The flow doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Condon shares a three-pose sequence that’ll enhance your energy levels before you even leave your bedroom . Better yet, if you find yourself dozing off at your desk, you can take this yoga flow outside for a way to wake up midday — and get a mood boost. Consider it your new caffeine-free pick-me-up. RELATED: 50 Resources to Step Up Your Yoga Game ...

Pinto Bean Quesadilla with Spiced Zucchini

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Quesadillas have had a recent uptick in our household thanks to a high-energy toddler. It's one of my go-to lunches when were hanging out at home primarily because I can put almost anything in a quesadilla and as long as there's a dip like salsa or hummus, my son will eat it. This pinto bean quesadilla uses the spiced zucchini component I shared a few days ago. The pinto adds the bulk while the zucchini adds the flavor. Best of all, if you make the zucchini ahead of time, these quesadillas only take about 15 minutes to make (which when you're chasing a toddler is a major win.) Read more and see the recipe. The post Pinto Bean Quesadilla with Spiced Zucchini appeared first on Naturally Ella . from Naturally Ella http://ift.tt/2fPFPUj Erin Alderson September 26, 2017 at 05:41PM

Homemade Baked Tater Tots

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What foods make you most nostalgic? Is it your grandmother’s peach cobbler? Your mom’s mac & cheese? It’s interesting how generational foods have become. If you’re part of my generation, you might have fond memories of tater tots. A little Google research shows they were invented in 1953 when a company was trying to decide what to do with leftover slivers of cut up potato. They chopped it, mixed it with flour and salt and fried up little bits of it. Genius, right? Incredibly, today Americans consume approximately 70 million pounds of tater tots per year  (so says Wikipedia ). Still trying to wrap my mind around that. 70 million pounds of tater tots? Rule #39 in Michael Pollan’s book Food Rules says that you can eat all the junk food you want, as long as you make it yourself. He figures that with the effort required to make it, you’ll only indulge occasionally. This is just how Alex and I feel about tater tots. After working to minimize the processed foods in our diet, we’ve...

Broth Love - Nine Vegetable Broths that will Invigorate you from the Inside Out

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My love for good broth is strong. And, now that we've rounded the corner into fall, I thought I'd follow up last week's blender soup recommendations, with a collection of invigorating, vegetable-based power broths. Key word here - power. I like a strong broth, and will argue that there are few things that can make you feel more revitalized than an good one. Nutrient-rich plant-based broths are great to have on hand, and there's no reason not to make XL batches to keep in the freezer. While they're incredible on their own, they're also nice to keep on hand for quick weeknight meals. You can always float a few dumplings, or stuffed pasta in a flavor-packed vegetable broth. Or, use one of these broths as the liquid called for in grains, risottos, or rice dishes. Enjoy! -h 1. Immunity Broth - (101 Cookbooks) I'm going to kick this off with a favorite, a monster white pepper broth. White pepper with jolts of ginger, and stabs of garlic. I like it just shy of...

Three Steps To Creating A Meditation Practice

By Susan Piver Much has been written about the health benefits of meditation and it’s thrilling to learn of the latest research into this ancient practice. It is very good for your body! However it is also an extremely potent tool for achieving emotional and spiritual well-being and these, as Dr. Weil points out, are at the root of happiness. Rather than being dependent on those rare moments when external circumstances are just right, genuine happiness is the ability to return to inner balance no matter what may be going on around you. Meditation teaches you how to do this. However, the way it works is quite mysterious and it’s important to make room for the mystery. If we undertake our meditation practice as a means of self-improvement, we rob it of its magic. The real benefits come when we let go of expectations and self-judgment to simply be with ourselves as we are – which, in our world of relentless self-criticism and the drive to have more, is easier said than done. There ar...

5 Band Exercises for Your Best Butt Ever

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[caption id="attachment_62006" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20 [/caption] Resistance bands are a priceless tool to have in your toning arsenal. For starters, they’re inexpensive and easy to take on the road. Even better: “They’re joint-friendly and provide a more functional movement in comparison to free weights,” says Bec Donlan , an Australian native who’s now a certified personal trainer in New York City. You can get these bands in different forms, too. Loop resistance bands — the kind that forms a circle, rather than one long strip — around your thighs or ankles during exercise. This makes them especially effective for pinpointing the muscles that make up your backside, says Donlan. “[They] directly target your glutes , in particular your medial glute — which is a muscle that often refuses to fire for the majority of people,” she explains. “When it doesn’t activate, the muscles around it overcompensate and start doing all the work.” ...