August is about tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini…and berries, too. My favorite past time is trekking to the local farmer’s market in Baltimore, sampling the summertime treats, and then experimenting in my kitchen with all the goodies I bought. Summer is full of color, flavor, and even the smells of the sunflowers…ahhhh. My senses come alive! I picked up a bunch of … Read More
As a little girl, I can remember the long road trips to Cedar Point Amusement Park and Sea World each summer. Tina and I would sing Madonna songs in the back seat, and my dad would stop and get us small vanilla cones from Dairy Queen for a snack. Pretty soon the kids will be out of school and your … Read More
Can you make your smoothie the night before? Having a smoothie after your workout or for breakfast is a super-healthy rockstar move. I tell my clients to drink a green smoothie at least 5 times a week or even daily if they can swing it. But many worry about not having time to make them in the morning. This … Read More
March. I thought I would be shedding my winter jacket, but lo and behold, we got some stormy weather in Annapolis. We had a “snow day” for rain. The kids were off of school in anticipation for snow but no luck. This never happened growing up in Pittsburgh. I remember going to school in 12 ft of snow. Well, maybe … Read More
I’m on this chocolate kick lately. I’ve been pretty stressed and busy with the kids’ activities, developing new products for my site, and getting ready for a business trip to NYC. I don’t know about you, but when I’m extra tired and feeling this way, I tend to go for the chocolate. I want something to soothe me. I WANT … Read More
On cold winter days, I crave me some lentil soup. Think filling, warm, nourishing, soothing…ahhhhh. Plus the Red Lentil Soup is packed with tons of protein and fiber. I slurped 2 bowls of the soup down for lunch. It’s really hard to work on portion size with this dish, but no worries. It’s nutrient dense which means you can’t over … Read More
February…what a delicious month. Candied hearts, strawberries dipped in chocolate, red roses… With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I couldn’t resist writing a post about love and connecting it to food. I made this silky chocolate treat, and let me tell you, it gets your juices flowing. It’s indulgent and very fun to share. The Sexy Smoothie for Two … Read More
Happy 2013 to you! Do you pick a certain word, phrase or idea to guide your year? I’ve been picking my “words” for ages. Well, the Universe is actually the one who picks. Each New Year’s Day I would do a labyrinth walk with my dear friend Stephanie. We would meet up in the afternoon…it was a tradition. We would … Read More
PIN IT FOR LATER! Ahhh, the cookie tray at parties! How can anyone resist? The cookie tray is a big deal where I come from. At every wedding, funeral, big event, the cookie tray is super important. I’m not sure if this is local to the Pittsburgh area or that my lovely Aunt Rita and Aunt June just dig … Read More
I got this note a few weeks back from one of my favorite people in the world, Cathy Theimer Shaw. She is a Renewal Detox and KIC star, and oh, how I adore her! One of the things I like most about Cathy is that she takes action. Even with a busy schedule as a mom and business owner, she … Read More
For those of us living in the US, we will be celebrating Labor Day on Monday. Crazy, I know! Anyone having that New Year’s Day to Labor Day blur??? I sure am. My kids are now back at school, and I can’t help but think of all we did for fun this summer. Beach, baseball games, hiking, carnivals, pool, lots … Read More
“It’s never been true, not anywhere at anytime, that the value of a soul, of a human spirit, is dependent on a number on a scale.” ~Geneen Roth, from Women, Food and God On my vacation, the body image triggers came out. Big time. Something about putting on a bathing suit, I suppose. These triggers go way back. I think … Read More
Do you have a go-to snack? Something you can eat every day, all day long? I sure do, and I gotta watch myself because I can inhale these little morsels in one sitting. Then I’m left with none for tomorrow. I eat these muffins for breakfast, after workouts, and during snack time. My banana oat muffins are the bomb-digity. Really…try … Read More
Want some good luck for the New Year? I do! I do! I made Lucky Soup for New Year’s, and I’ve been eating it for the last few days (trying for all the luck I can get!). Did you know that in the South, it’s believed that eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day ensures good … Read More
Being in the midst of the holiday season, I don’t know about you, but I like to be creative. Especially in the kitchen. It might be because I’m a veggie, and typical holiday meals center around ham, turkey, maybe squid (for all you Italian folk!). Therefore, eating sides can get a bit boring for me so I search out different … Read More
It is so cold and rainy today. I decided to warm up my bones with some soup. I chose just to eat this yummy dish for lunch, but you can make it a more substantial meal if you serve it over pasta or polenta. Even add garlic croutons if you wish. So this soup is packed with protein, calcium, and … Read More