Tag Archives: farmers market

Local food, local heart, local health…

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We can’t turn a corner these days without hearing about a restaurant that is going local. This is not a new concept, our grandparents were the actual founding fathers of this concept. The hard part is, what does buying local actually mean? For me, it is an obsession with finding new ingredients at the farmer’s market and learning about what they can be used for. It is about planting a very small planter box with some basic easy grow veggies. It is about harvesting every single tomato possible that is ripening on my parent’s bushes and learning what to do with the squash that was supposed to acorn squash and is so obviously not. Last weekend R and I had the privilege of visiting S and hitting up the Bellingham Farmer’s Market.  A market that should not and cannot be reckoned with, the amount of local produce represented is truly amazing. We didn’t buy much, as I had enough local 7.1% alcohol content Chuckanut Brewery Vienna Lager pulsing through my veins, that I also was a force to be reckoned with. But I did snap this pic of mushrooms that emulates the Bellingham market.

photo: hh

Much to my surprise when I got home last night, my dad had a supply of morel mushrooms that his friend gathered nearby.  We crafted the mushrooms into a red sauce that was delicious and good for you.

There is no time like the present to take the opportunity to invest in your local farmers. Whether it is picking produce grown in the US while you’re at the super market or hitting up your nearest farmer’s market, co-op, or fruit stand – commit to learning where and how the things that you are putting in your body are grown.

So I challenge you – buy something adventurous that you have never cooked this week and use it. Have you ever sauteed beets? Put wild mushrooms on your pizza? Added goat cheese to your salad? These are ingredients that I know you can utilize.

Be well.

-h

Oh wonderful Caprese Salad….

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If there is anything I am more obsessed with right now then stripes (I’ve been trying to tone it down, but ever since I was introduced to Pinterest, I had to make a whole stripes board) it is the caprese salad!  The caprese is the perfect summer snack or meal.

So let’s talk… tomato, we’re at the tail end of regular tomato season here in Utah.  It is short lived in these parts, first they come from the southern part of the state, and then from the northern part, and then they are done.  That is…until it’s heirloom tomato time!!! So, for your caprese, take your thick tomato slice, OR if you want to do a cute app, your plump little cherry tomato.

So you have your tomato, and then you take some mozzerella… big thick slices OR your ball of cheese.

Then you take your basil, mmm basil, and top it on your big think slices OR skewer it with your cherry tomato and ball of cheese.

Drizzle with a little olive oil, a little balsamic, a little salt and pepper…as S would say “muy deliciouso!”

Via Pinterest - http://terristable.blogspot.com/

Via Pinterest - http://terristable.blogspot.com/

But don’t stop at eating this for just an appetizer, I like to pair it with an over-medium egg for breakfast. (Is there anything better then an ooey-gooey egg yolk?)

photo: hh

Or for lunch or dinner, throw it onto some Italian bread and make it a sandwich or panini!  Anyway, hit up your local farmer’s market, grab some tomatoes and basil and if they have it mozzerella, and commit to a wonderfully delicious, fresh, and local appetizer or meal on these hot August days.

-h

Love, Love, Love…Yourself!

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Welcome to full-on summer time.  About this time of year is when I start to remember that I was going to do that “bikini bootcamp” starting in March, not starting 5 days ago.  What’s that? I was on a road trip and ate everything in sight plus enough cocktails to make the kids who lived in my college dorm blush.  Okay, so the whole “bikini bootcamp” thing didn’t work out.  It’s time to re-evaluate.  So here my friends, are my tips to feeling good even when it’s really, really, ridiculously hard.

1.  Drink water. Hmm, all of a sudden it’s 3pm and all you’ve had to drink is your morning coffee? Get on it, slurp down 8, 12, or even 16 ounces of cool, refreshing h20.  Awww, feel your cells appreciate.

photo: Newspick

2.  Get outside. It’s summer, I get it, you’ve been trying to soak up as much sun as possible. But I mean, really get your body moving while soaking up some of that Vitamin D.  Even if it’s only for 5 mins, it will feel good to walk to wherever you need to go instead of pumping that air conditioner from your car into your pores.  Trust me, sweating isn’t so bad if you’re prepared for it. P.S. swimming counts (do some laps, you can do one more, okay one more, okay one more….you get the point, yes I’m talking to you, the one doggie paddling, I’m right there with you on that one), even if it’s in a normal pool, not this gorgeous one at the Santorini Grace Hotel.  If you do get the chance to go there, OMG. I am JEALOUS!

3.  Circuit/Interval work-outs. Sweat, lift, cardio, repeat, QUICKLY.  I’m talking curls with jump lunges, shoulder press on a bosu, lunge kicks, chest presses with a band, all strength training circuits that  can be easily found on Women’s Health’s Burt-Fat Fast workouts. I’m telling you, they work-really, really, well.  Add in some interval cardio: Also from Women’s Health – my favorite so far (like I said, I’m only 5 days in, is the Calorie Crusher) and I’m telling you.  You’ll be feeling more fit in just a couple of days. And if you aren’t, then you’re not pushing it hard enough on those intervals. (It’s all for love, I promise, and I promise, I need the push just as much as you do.)

4.  Summer means fresh fruit and veggies. YAY!  My favorites from the farmers’ market right now? Uber, duber fresh tomatoes, paired with grilled chicken, cous cous, cucumber, olives and feta. Drizzle it with a bit of balsamic and olive oil and you’ve got a wonderfully delicious and healthy meal.

At any rate, do what makes you feel wonderful, happy, and confident.   And just remember, everyone has their doubts, it’s the people who can rise above those to let their confidence shine that will feel, act, and treat other the most wonderfully!

xx

-h

P.S. I’ll be the one with the purple face at the gym.