Cucumber Lemonade

Part of my new lifestyle and reaching my fitness goal means no alcohol.  I am the mother of three very active boys....meaning I usually have one glass of wine or a bourbon in the evening once they have nodded off.  Honestly the no alcohol was one of my biggest concerns....but once again I have decided not to cheat myself and go forward with this fitness lifestyle full force.  So I am drinking lots and lots of water which I like but in the afternoons I need something a little different.  I was at one point drinking Mio like it was being discontinued but then I looked on the label and saw some pretty gross ingredients listed.  I should have know...it was way too good to be true.  I should also mention that once I start a new kind of diet I am almost consumed by fear of eating or drinking the wrong thing and sabotaging my progress or potential progress.  Like if I accidentally consume a little sugar I fall back into the "old me"...that is not true of course but it rolls through my mind.  I put the fear behind me and made this lovely refreshing lemonade.  All of the goodness of water and lemon juice.  Water flushes toxins from our system and lemon juice is known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Also using organic Stevia liquid is the best way to sweeten your lemonade.  Stevia is derived from a sweet leaf plant native to South America and has no calories and a zero glycemic index and is 100% natural.

Here is how to do it:

Juice 2 medium sized lemons
2 cups cold water
julienned cucumber
liquid stevia

Juice the lemons and add to the cold water.  Use the liquid stevia to sweeten.  I did not list a measurement of the stevia because we all have different sweetness levels but I add about 1.5 tablespoons.  Julienne the cucumber..once again put as much cucumber as you like.  I add about 1/3 cup to a two cup lemonade mixture.  Stir and let it sit for about five minutes and then it will be ready for you to enjoy.

I started a new gym.

  Since my third child was born I have been exercising in my living room daily.  Two years have passed and I I was ready to venture out of my home and change things up in my fitness routine.  I rejoined my local gym and the two year (who is the baby with 2 older brothers) was over stimulated by the thirty other children in the gym daycare.  Long story short...I was not able to leave him there anymore.  So I cried and pitched a little mommy fit for a day...okay maybe a week.  Then I decided to take matters into my own hands and sought out another gym way closer to my home.  I seriously checked this place out because it was close...not realizing how hard core and super awesome this place is.  Now I am doing boot camp three days a week and spinning classes three days a week.  Before you say that I am obsessed please take into account that this is my health both physically and mentally.  I need this for my sanity.  Along with the exercise schedule at this gym...there was a meal plan.  A meal plan that included me not consuming dairy, red meat and alcohol.  At All.  Sigh...I love to cook so much and I love my olive oil and bourbon.  Alas...it is time.  Time to be disciplined.  For the first week I kept the menu pretty simple...baked chicken with salad etc.. and then I decided to get creative.  Using garlic and fresh herbs provides such flavor you will not miss the fat.  Promise.  Here is a simple and quick dinner that is approved for my new lifestyle and whatever your current lifestyle is I think that you will enjoy it too.  The recipes listed below are a general guide line.  If you are using fresh ingredients it is really hard to mess this up so if you want your fish spicier add more sambal chili...sweeter add a bit more honey.  Just make sure that you taste and season your food as you go.


Mustard and Sambal roasted Tilapia
Fresh roasted Hericot Verts with Truffle Salt and lemon zest
Quick steamed spinach

Mustard and Sambal Tilapia:

3 fillets organic Tilapia (medium size)
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tsp sambal chili paste
1 tsp honey
3 cloves fresh garlic minced
1 tsp fresh oregano

Season the fillets with cajun seasoning ( I use zatarains) and spray the pan and the fish with Pam spray coconut oil spray.
Mix the mustard, sambal chili paste, garlic,oregano, honey and fresh oregano in bowl.  Spread over the fish and roast in over for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Hericot Verts:

1 lb bag of french beans (hericot verts)
olive oil or coconut oil spray
8 cloves minced garlic
zest of one medium sized lemon
truffle salt




Rinse the beans and pat dry.  Spread out onto a large baking sheet and spray heavily with coconut or olive oil spray.  Mince about 8 cloves of garlic and add to the beans.  Roast in the oven at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the beans begin to brown.  You do not want to burn these babies.

Once they are out of the oven sprinkle them with the truffle salt to taste and add the zest of one medium sized lemon.


Quick steamed spinach:

add organic baby spinach to a glass bowl...I use about 4 cups of spinach.  Set microwave to 3 minutes and you will have perfectly steamed spinach.

Check out the link below for information on the truffle salt used on the Hericot Verts

http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/spices/salttru.html