Seriously? Why Did I Not Know This?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by lala362

Brown Rice? Long Grain Organic Brown Rice? It is soooo yummy! I had NO IDEA! I have always just not liked rice much. I can eat it with Chinese food and I LOVE it with Indian food… but at home? I just never cooked it. Seemed difficult to make… and I never liked the flavor. Of course, I was making the Minute Rice- or Boil in Bag or Microwave one serving types… and they are just… well NOT GOOD!!

Brown Rice all measured out into half cup portions for our lunches and dinners this week!

This week as part of our New Year- get back into the plan Detox/Cleanse… My Guy and I are following an elimination diet. Removing all potential allergy/inflammation type foods for a while to give our bodies a chance to recover from the abuse over the holidays (and frankly a good part of the last year- but that is another post!) and to jump start our weight loss for the year.

As part of this diet we eat about a cup of rice a day. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying it! Seriously! A little salt and pepper- once a day a little pat of butter… this stuff is good! LOL I know, I know- you all probably already knew this. I on the other hand- had no clue! LOL

But now? You can consider me educated! YAY! (My Guy just got me a Pressure Cooker for our one year dating anniversary- I am going to pop some rice in there and make it up too! Wonder if that will be easier? Or just more fun?!!)

Do you eat Brown Rice? Do you have any favorite recipes?

Or better ways to prepare it? Tips?

La-

Loose Weight and Have More Energy… Ask me about how!

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Posted on January 3, 2012 by lala362

As I sit here eating my totally healthy and totally completely yummilicious beets, butternut squash and onions roasted in Rosemary olive oil… I just keep thinking how blessed I am!

Oh Christmas Tree, 2011!!

I have the ability to make choices. I have the abundance to have choices to make. Is everything perfect? Nope. But I don’t look at perfection as the goal. I look at the journey, I look at where I came from and how I am getting to the next place. And right now, in this place. I am good. I am blessed. I am at peace.

Peaceful Christmas.

So this is just a quick note to say HI! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As usual I will have my goals for the coming year and my one little word for the year coming up in a blog post soon!

Merry Christmas from me and My Guy!

If you have not been following here long- you can see past years “Year in Review”, “One Little Word” and “Goal Setting” at the links below (for your reading pleasure!)

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New Favorite Healthy Magazine

Posted on December 20, 2011 by lala362

OK- so I don’t usually endorse a lot of products or people etc. But sometimes I think it is helpful to get a recommendation from “a friend.” It helps to weed out the not so great stuff from the great stuff. This magazine? It’s GREAT STUFF!

http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/

Every time I open an issue I find a recipe (or five) that I just HAVE to try. This last weekend My Guy and I made Beef Jerky for the first time from one of their recipes. (I looked for the recipe on their site- but I guess since it is in the current issue- you cannot get it from the site yet! But trust me! It was GOOD!)

Hanging it in the oven...

Is it Done Yet?

 

The Finished Product!

We had so much fun making it. We ended up with something a little different than the recipe called for… (Imagine THAT? ME? Making a recipe NOT the way it was written!) But we had a sweet maple syrup flavored one and a hot chipotle spiced one!

I really do recommend this magazine! It doesn’t have too many ads, the articles are short and interesting but the recipe? The recipes? AWESOME!!

La-

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Thanksgiving- Food and Fun

Posted on December 16, 2011 by lala362

I so enjoyed my first Thanksgiving with My Guy this year! We invited a young lady who lives in our building, whose family lives out of town and she was going to be alone. It was a fun afternoon enjoying each other’s company and preparing and eating YUMMY food! (Most of it relatively healthy too!)

Pretty Table all set and "snacks" ready... :)

Since it was only going to be the three of us- we got a Turkey Breast instead of a whole bird. Next year we might get a small whole turkey so we have more variety to choose from in the Turkey- legs, dark meat etc.

Honey! I Shrunk the Turkey!

 The turkey was brined in Honey and Thyme. It had such a great flavor! (Even if it looks a little wimpy in that first photo!)

Showing it off!

 Next on the menu- and the food everyone loved the most I think- Brussel Sprouts with Butternut Squash and Bacon with Vinaigrette. This was soooo yummy! Check out the recipe on Williams- Sonoma website- HERE

I mean seriously... does this look GOOD or what??

Making the bacon for the Brussels Sprouts

 Just before the holiday I finally found dishes that I just love… I was so happy to have beautiful fall/holiday dishes that I could serve the meal on! I loved the table setting!

I LOVE love these glasses!

My new dishes... I love them!

Next- what Thanksgiving meal is complete without STUFFING!? Sausage Stuffing! I made it for the first time last year at my brother’s house and it was still a big hit this year!

Yummy Stuffing

Is there anything you can say about mashed potatoes?

Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potatoes

As you can see- the food looked great (and it actually was!) and the company was wonderful. Such a fun holiday. My Guy and I went for a run early in the day and we loved it! That is going to be one of our traditions from now on too!

Following are just a few last photos of the day! (Can you tell I am enjoying pulling out my SLR and taking photos again?)

Me and My Guy

The chef and her dinner!

Dinner is Served

 

DESSERT! Sweet Potato Pie with Caramelized Pecan Topping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I Wish I Were a Better Person Sometimes…

Posted on December 7, 2011 by lala362

Today, I watched this video… and it occurred to me… I am generally a very nice person- and sometimes I wish I were an even BETTER person. Watch this video. Yes, it’s just a short film- not a real story. But there is a good message here. (It is a little long- but sit back and enjoy!)

Change for a Dollar

So many times- especially in the hustle and bustle of the Holidays- we forget to take that one extra moment that could change someones day- if not their entire life. We could smile at one more person- or ask how they are and mean it. We could give someone a little boost with a small token gift or some time. It doesn’t usually take much (as this film shows) but a little can go a long way.

I ride the bus and more often than not I try not to interact with the rest of “humanity” while doing so. I put my head into a book or listen to my class lessons on my iPod. But what if I looked around? Noticed what needs “doing?” Notice if a smile is needed or a hand lifting a heavy grocery sack, or just a hello?

I am going to commit to doing that more over the next few weeks. I think that it will not only make at least a small difference in other people’s lives- but that it will bring a joy and feeling of “goodness” to me too. And how can that be a bad thing?

La-

Wellness is a Choice. Let me help you Choose Well!

la@lauriannamurray.com

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