Quinn's "I can eat the whole pan" bar cookies

This is quick because I'm suffering from tape-gun wrist due to all the packing going on around here and I have a half-marathon Saturday morning for which I need my rest. (Yeah, like that will happen...hope they're serving Diet Coke along the marathon route!)

But before I could head to bed after a wonderful night listening to Quinn (@limelightfood) talk about food photography during the Ignite Salt Lake event (she TOTALLY rocked it by the way), I wanted to share with you my newest, most favoritest recipe courtesy of Quinn "I rock the food photography world" herself.

The recipe is for a healthy variation on your typical chocolate chip bar cookie and it is to die for! We've made the recipe, devoured the first pan, froze the second pan and have already defrosted and eaten almost half that pan as well--and it's only been a couple days since we originally baked them! And I feel good about all that cookie-bar eating because they're healthy. They have wheat flour, oats and semi-sweet chocolate so you too can feel good about devouring a pan!

Quinn's healthy-yet-super-tasty bar cookies
2 cups butter
3 1/2 cups brown sugar (or 2 TBSP molasses + 3 1/2 cups sugar)
4 eggs
4 tablespoons hot water
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons dough enhancer (you can find this in a can in the baking section; it makes the wheat fluffy so use it anytime you cook with wheat flour)
4 cups whole wheat flour
6-9 cups oats (add as many cups as you think your family will eat it; we used about 7)
Optional Items: semi-sweet choc chips, walnuts, dates, coconut, raisins, craisins, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine and blend butter, brown sugar (molasses + sugar), eggs, hot water and vanilla together in one bowl. In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients together: salt, soda, dough enhancer and flour. Combine the butter/sugar mixture with the dry ingredients. Add oats and any other optional ingredients like choc chips and blend again. (I used a whole package of chocolate chips. Next time I'm going to add coconut too!)

Spread the dough evenly in two large cookie sheets. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and set in the center. Cut into bars when cooled.

Note: This recipe makes a double batch so feel free to store them in Ziploc bags and freeze to enjoy later. Or you can bake just one pan and freeze the other so you can have the second batch straight from the oven!

It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it. ~Julia Child

The Healthy Pantry & not-so-healthy cookies

I recently reviewed some family meal kits from The Healthy Pantry on Boutique Cafe's Daily Dish and I had to give them a shout-out on this blog as well. The Healthy Pantry provides quick-and-easy meal kits for the whole family that are not only quick and easy but also healthy and delicious. They have everything from apple cinnamon pancakes to Tuscan tilapia to whole grain chocolate chip cookies.

To read my full review and view photos of the mixes in action, including a couple of Madison bustin' out some mean whole grain oatmeal raisin cookies, check out the full review here:

"How healthy is your pantry?"

You can also enter to win a $100 gift certificate good for your online purchase at TheHealthyPantry.com. That's $100!!! So enter to win and enjoy family-friendly, time-strapped-mom friendly meals!

And since that's enough healthy stuff for one day, here's one of my most favorite cookie recipes which I actually came up with all by myself. That's a big deal for a "Type A, always needing and following directions" type of girl! Enjoy!


Emi's Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups quick-cooking or rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or raisins, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips...even craisins!)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Mix in the quick oats, coconut, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto baking sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies are light golden brown on the edges and almost set in the middle. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for at least 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

"I am still convinced that a good, simple, homemade cookie is preferable to all the store-bought cookies one can find." ~James Beard

Photo by chibi chef, shared via Allrecipes.com.

Farmers Market Zucchini Salad

A couple Saturdays ago my good friend Vanessa over at I Never Grew Up introduced us to the Salt Lake City Farmers Market. We had so much fun pushing a double-wide stroller through the crowds that we only made it halfway around the park. Looks like we'll need to head back for part two in a couple weeks. We did manage to pick up some super fresh zucchini, basil, cantaloupe and of course tasty treats like pastries, asiago cheese bread, kettle corn and honey butter (which I swear I could eat with a spoon).


We manged to finish off the cantaloupe before it became too ripe but the golden zucchini suffered the fate of most of the fresh veggies in my veggie drawer (i.e., mushy, moldy and inedible). I knew I had to do something with the rest of the zucchini and quick, but at the same time I didn't want to eat a whole pan of zucchini brownies and a couple loaves of chocolate zucchini bread myself. (Okay, I wanted to but knew it wouldn't be very good for me to do so.)

So what I ended up doing was taking three of the four zucchini, shredding it with my food processor and freezing it in two-cup portions, the perfect size for most any zucchini recipe. I plan on using some of it in a Pineapple Zucchini Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, a new recipe I found on The Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site. Can't wait for that one! As for the remaining lone zucchini, I created this simple salad using some leftover tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil--also a yummy find at the Farmers Market.


Here's a simple recipe; feel free to tweak it as you like. It's actually a take on my Quick & Easy Italian Salad:

Farmers Market Zucchini Salad
1 zucchini, sliced and quartered
2-3 roma tomatoes, sliced and quartered
1/2 to 1 cup diced mozzarella
10 to 12 basil leaves, chiffanade
1/4 cup or so of Wild Harvest organice Rustic Italian dressing (my all-time favorite Italian dressing)

Place all ingredients in a bowl and toss with dressing. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill and intensify the flavors.

This was even better the next day--yummy and refreshing and not nearly as blurry in real life! (Sorry, Quinn...I just don't have your food photography skills.) You can add a little red onion, olives, cherry tomatoes or even a variety of tomatoes. And if you have a non-mushy golden zucchini, throw that in there too! --Emily

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie." ~Jim Davis

What prevents you from enjoying "me time?"

Last week I had the opportunity of being on the panel for Mom It Forward's #GNO night on Twitter. The subject was "me time"--something all of us women need but very few of us enjoy. One of the follow-up posts I wrote is all about those things that make it especially hard to take time for ourselves. And this time is vital for our happiness, health and most importantly, sanity.

In "The Top 5 Things That Get in the Way of 'Me Time' (...And How to Deal With Them)" I've compiled a list of what I feel are the five biggest obstacles to the ever-elusive "me time." As usual I've thrown in a good dose of humor--it wouldn't be one of my posts if it weren't a tad bit funny. (Hello--humor is one of the ways I stay sane!) So enjoy a good little chuckle and read how you too can make time for yourself even with days full of children, laundry and a serious lack of sleep.

Read "The Top 5 Things That Get in the Way of 'Me Time' (...And How to Deal With Them)" on Mom It Forward.

Related posts I wrote for Mom It Forward's "Me Time" #GNO:

• "Gal to Gal Foundation: Design & Donate"
• "Make 'YOU' Your Number One Priority!"

Head outside for some fun summer games!

Thanks to a fun #gno on Twitter Tuesday night many of us discovered some great outside games to play with our families. And also thanks to #gno, I'm sure we missed a few. (The tweets are always fast and furious!) If it weren't for @WebAnna I might not have remembered many of these fun ideas. She's compiled a list from Tuesday night's #gno into a post on her blog. Thank you, @WebAnna!

Here are a few of my favorites, but you'll want to read the full post for the list of wonderful outdoor summer games.

• @MobiMom: Night games are great. We put those snap-glow bracelets on the little ones so we can find them easier.
• @inevergrewup: My little girl is a future photographer, we go on “photography walks” almost every week! She just loves it
• @startupprincess: another fun idea is to let your kids decorate their bikes/scooters/etc with streamers, balloons, etc and have a parade

Do you have any other ideas to add to the list? You can comment on the original post and/or leave an idea or two here. We'd love for you to share so all of us moms can survive the summer! --Emily

What's your Skin Deep toxicity rating?

Earth Mama Angel Baby is a line of 100% natural, organic, toxin-free herbal skin and body care products perfect for pregnancy, labor, postpartum and c-section recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby. Earth Mama Angel Baby is all about keeping you and your little ones toxin free. Their latest effort to "[move] earth and heaven for you" is the What's Your Score? Challenge--and yes, there are prizes!

The What's Your Score? Challenge is one challenge in which you need--not just want--to participate. Here's how it works:

~ Gather some of the most common personal care products you use regularly on yourself or on your baby. (Personal care products include shampoo, lotions, soaps, diaper cream, stretch mark oil, etc.)

~ Go to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Skin Deep database and enter a product name in the search field.

~ Add up the Skin Deep toxicity rating for all the personal care products you use on a daily basis on your pregnant or nursing body, or on your baby, to find out what your score is.

~ When you have your score, post your answer to three quick questions (below) in the comments area. Your post in the comments section with your three answers is one entry into the contest. Don’t worry – there are no right or wrong answers, but we think you’ll be surprised at how high the toxin score is for those products you are using that are labeled natural or even organic.

1. What was your Skin Deep toxicity rating score?
2. Were you surprised with the score and/or ingredients?
3. What would you like your score to be?

Most women are truly shocked at the high toxin scores of their pregnancy or baby products they thought were safe. Of course we hope they’ll also notice that Earth Mama Angel Baby products are different from most personal care products. We’ve even signed a truth in labeling pledge. All pure, herbal Earth Mama Angel Baby products are toxin-free and contain no artificial ingredients. Just pure, natural products for pure, natural mamas and babies!

For helpful advice and safe, natural products that work, women can trust Earth Mama Angel Baby. After all, if Mama wouldn't use it for her own family, then she doesn't sell it. Mama's Promise™.

For more information and some great research on toxins in personal care products, see the No More Toxic Tub in the Earth Mama Angel Baby April Newsletter.

So the challenge has been issued--will you accept? I highly recommend you do! Along with an increased awareness of the chemicals you're using on yourself and your baby, by commenting on this post with the answers to the three questions above you'll be entered to win an Earth Mama Angel Baby gift set!

Here's how to enter:

• For one entry comment on this post with the answers to the three questions above.
• For an extra entry tweet about this challenge and giveaway; leave a separate comment with the link to your tweet.
• Though the challenge is ongoing this giveaway ends two weeks from today (June 16, 2009). Good luck!

Image by Chriggy, shared via Flickr.

TGFF: Thank goodness for fries!

I consider a small McDonald's French fry equivalent to one serving from the fruit and vegetable group. A medium is two. They're made from potatoes and potatoes are a vegetable (though they probably ought to be in the starch category). On the rare occasion I actually eat at McDonald's, at least I know I'm eating healthy. (A Big Mac is a good two servings from the protein group, one serving from the bread and cereal group and another serving from the vegetable group--pickles and lettuce...hello!)

I tend to get sidetracked when I start thinking about McDonald's. Back to the fries. A hot item on a lot of local Utah menus, from Rumbi to Blue Lemon to Salt City Burger Co. are sweet potato fries. I tried to make these once at home using the fresh-cut sweet potatoes from Costco's produce section and it was a disaster. But after seeing these tasty recipes I might have to give it another shot. And of course I had to throw in a good steak fry recipe. (Dang! Now I'm thinking about Red Robin's bottomless, scrumptiously seasoned steak fries!)

All of these recipes come from Sarah's Cucina Bella, another must-subscribe-to food blog!


Chipotle Cinnamon Sweet Potato Fries from Sarah's Cucina Bella

2 large sweet potatoes, cut into fry shapes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground chipotle pepper (available in spice section of the supermarket or through Penzeys)
1 tsp kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Combine all of the ingredients in a resealable bag or container (you need room to spare) and shake until well coated. Spread the fries out in a single on a jelly roll plan that has been covered with nonstick aluminum foil (I use Reynolds brand). Avoid overcrowding.

Place the pan in the oven and cook for 35-40 minutes, flipping the fries every 10-15 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned. Serve immediately.


Parmesan Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries from Sarah's Cucina Bella
(You'll want to click on the link for the original recipe to view her step-by-step photos.)

About 1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt
2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (preferably the easy release kind).

Peel the sweet potatoes. Cut into strips that are about 1/4 inch wide on each side.

Place the sweet potatoes into a large bowl. Add oil, salt, and rosemary. Stir well to thoroughly coat the fries. Stir in 2/3 of the Parmesan. Spread out onto the baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.

Cook for 20-25 minutes, turning about halfway through. Fries are done when they are browned around the edges. Transfer immediately to a paper towel lined plate and serve warm.


Asiago Pepper Steak Fries from Sarah's Cucina Bella

4 medium Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed clean (2 1/2-3 inches in diameter at the fattest part)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese
1 tsp black pepper
sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the potatoes into 8 wedges each. Combine the potatoes, oil, asiago and pepper in a resealable bag and shake well to coat.

Spread the wedges in a single layer on a jelly roll pan that is either topped with nonstick aluminum foil or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Lightly sprinkle with salt.

Slide the tray into the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450 and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, flipping every five minutes. The steak fries are ready when they are golden brown on the outside.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with salt again. Serve immediately.

Devour.

(And devour I will!)

First image by food_in_mouth, shared via Flickr.
Second image by Sefu Renka, shared via Flickr.

Do you have a favorite recipe for sweet potato fries?
Better yet, do you have a recipe that would convert even the most anti-sweet-potato person, namely me?

$50 gift certificate to Blue Lemon Bistro!

It's 1:00 a.m. and I'm too exhausted to go into detail about th super cool venture I've started with some fabulous gals, but SassyScoops.com is on its way to becoming one of the tastiest--and sassiest--sites in the blogosphere. We'll leave it at that for now. (Lame intro I know, but I can hardly keep my eyes open!)

My point? SassyScoops.com is the reason for today's post announcing the giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to Blue Lemon Bistro. Many of you may remember my post about this delicious new dining experience in Highland, Utah. (If not you can check it out here--I promise it's worth a read.) Well, Blue Lemon is SassyScoop.com's first official fabulous find and we are kicking off our first Follow-up Friday post with a giveaway!

Click here to visit SassyScoops.com and find out how you can enter to win the $50 gift certificate. It's super easy, though I must wanr you, your mouth may water as you browse the menu. And no, it's not open to Utah residents only, though it might be a bit of a drive if you're out of state. Don't get me wrong--totally worth it!

I'd write more but I'm behind on drafting the SassyScoops.com Contact Us and How You Can Get Scooped pages. A sassy girl's work is never done! --Emily

We love Nature Days!

What does our recent visit to the International Peace Gardens have to do with a wonderful web wednesday? Well, I wouldn't have known about this fabulous place if I hadn't read about Nature Days on I Never Grew Up and Utah's Natural Kids, and I wouldn't have read those two blogs if I hadn't met Vanessa (@inevergrewup) on Twitter and then in real life. I love it when virtuality meets reality!

On Monday I met with a handful of other moms including Vanessa, Amber (@amberorme), Quinn (@createdybmom) from CreatedByMom.com and Vone (@EvonneSell) from Sell...Party of 3 at the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake City. We let our kids explore nature (i.e. jump in the water, play in the mud, pick the dandelions and reorganize the pebble-filled paths) while we did a little chatting and kept tabs on our ever curious kids. The weather was beautiful and it was nice to have some adult conversation while my kids burned off some of their seeming unending supply of energy.

We are already looking forward to our next Nature Days. I can't wait to see where Vanessa sends us! (And maybe I'll arrive on time for the next one. Thank heavens Quinn was a tad late too...thanks, babe!) To catch the next Nature Days subscribe to both I Never Grew Up and Utah's Natural Kids. You won't want to miss it! --Emily

P.S. George absolutely LOVES his bike, which is similar to the ones you saw in the slideshow. You can find your own Boot Scoot Bike at CreatedByMom.com. They're AWESOME!!!

Snickerdoodles...don't do it!

Today's take it off tuesday post is a simple piece of advice:

If your 11-year-old daughter asks to make snickerdoodles and you allow her to do so (being the good mother you are and wanting to encourage her pastry-chef dream), you will end up eating at least half the batch and gaining two pounds in 48 hours. So don't let her anywhere near the kitchen!

(And if she accidentally adds 1/2 cup of baking soda instead of 1/2 teaspoon, don't let her start a new batch. Rather, let her make the mistake. Then you won't eat half the batch of cookies and the scale won't need to be recalibrated yet again...) --Emily

Want to run a half marathon?

I've run one half marathon (Canyonlands Half Marathon) and one full marathon (Kona Marathon as part of an American Stroke Association fundraiser). That was back in, oh, 2002. I don't think I've run more than 3 miles at a time since then. I don't love running (I prefer weightlifting) but I do love setting goals, so my sister and I are planning to run the Hobble Creek Half Marathon in August. (Mom, you're with us in 2010!) Though she's getting up to 4+ miles, I'm still around 2 1/2 but I still have a few months to get up to speed distance.

Want to run a half marathon but don't know where to start? Try MORE magazine's Marathon/Half-Marathon training section. Though it is geared to the MORE | FITNESS Marathon + Half-Marathon, you can still find lots of wonderful advice, training schedules and other running resources. I like it because the site is geared toward women of all ages and experience.

Want to know what tunes might make your training go by a little faster? Try the playlist from Fitness magazine's article "The Half-Marathon Training Playlist." I honestly don't know over half those songs, and something new always make the time fly by (even if the scenery doesn't). You can also read "Running 101: A Beginner's Guide," a great list of running-related questions and answers.

Two other great sites are Runner's World and Road Runner Sports, for both advice and gear. You'll want to do your research, especially if you're new at the running thing, to avoid injury. I HIGHLY recommend going to a running store to get fitted for the proper running shoes. They make all the difference and are one of the best ways to avoid injury. The investment is more than worth it, I promise.

Most of all, have fun! And look forward to that sense of accomplishment you'll have once you cross the finish line. --Emily

Question: Have you run a half or full marathon? How did you train? What worked for you? Did you enjoy the experience?

Photo via Fitness Magazine, "Training Guide: Running a Half-Marathon"

Blue Lemon Bistro: A tasty twist on healthy eating

Consider today's food for thought friday recipe a recipe for success:

Blue Lemon Bistro's "pure clean food with a twist"
Chic style
Fabulously designed interior space
Inviting atmosphere
Friendly staff
Fresh, healthy, "clean" food
Tantalizing menu
Budget-friendly prices

Combine above ingredients and mix well. Throw in a dash of free WiFi and serve with a side of Blue Sky all-natural sodas.

I've never tried this recipe but Lychelle and Aaron, the owners of Blue Lemon Bistro, have perfected it. I was able to experience Blue Lemon Bistro this week with a few new and old (figuratively speaking of course) blogging friends (see photo at the end of thist post). It was an experience I plan to repeat with my husband, my girlfriends, my family...heck, I'd even go with complete strangers!

Blue Lemon Bistro is located in east Highland just off the Alpine Highway. The owners believe in creating "a delectable menu [that] features only foods that fuel the body in a healthy way without sacrificing taste. After all, what good is the healthiest food in the world if you can’t get it past your lips?" Their "clean" food is all natural and prepared in a way so it maintains and maximizes nutrients. And I will agree with what it says above--they don't sacrifice on taste and I definitely got A LOT of food past my lips!

Before I get into the sweet and savory dishes, let me set the scene. (I'd have taken photos but left both my Flip and digital camera at home, too distracted by my search for the cell phone my toddler had hidden somewhere.) The restaurant is sleek and modern in design yet comfortable and inviting. It has a casual atmosphere; simply walk up, order your meal and then seat yourself while you wait for your food to arrive. I loved the light maple tables and cheerful tiled blue walls. It was crisp and clean...and extremely refreshing, especially after a very long day home with the kids.

Blue Lemon Bistro's menu offers everything from salads and sandwiches to entrees, soups, sides and kids meals. It took me a really long time to decide on a dish, and even when I walked up to the register I was still unsure...should I stick with the Lemon-Lime Grilled Chicken B.L.T. or go for the Blue Lemon Grilled Vegetable Sandwich? Chelle's Famous Vegetable Lasagna was also calling my name as were the soups of the day. What's a girl to do? I went with the B.L.T. and added on a side of fruit salad with strawberry yogurt sauce and a cup of tomato bisque soup. I also wanted to sample their Blue Sky Natural Sodas so I tacked one of those on as well.

I sat down and sipped my all-natural raspberry soda (to die for and well worth the extra calories...and that coming from a die-hard diet soda fan!) while watching as plate after scrumptious plate of food was delivered to our tables. I caught sight of the vegetable lasagna and had second thoughts about my B.L.T. Then the grilled vegetable sandwich landed across from me and I worried I had made a mistake. Soon my B.L.T. arrived and all worries disappeared. The sandwich was decked out with crispy turkey bacon, juicy red and yellow tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, lettuce, and pesto aioli served on grilled sourdough bread. Is your mouth watering yet? It should be. I was drooling all over that thing before I could pick it up! The sandwich was wonderful, the fruit salad an array of crisp, colorful fruit and the tomato bisque? It definitely rivaled my current favorite from Paradise Bakery.

I could go on and on about how much everyone enjoyed their food but I'll spare you the hunger pains. I will say this, and it should pretty much convince you you'll love Blue Lemon Bistro. I don't like squash. I don't like anything related to squash: pumpkin pie, yams, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, you name it. While I was enjoying my B.L.T., Lychelle brought out the Bistro's specialty butternut squash soup (I'm sure it has a fancy name but I wouldn't know it since I didn't even consider ordering it) and after the extreme peer pressure to try it, I took a very, very small taste. HOLY COW! It was, as one girl said, like drinking candy. It was smooth, buttery, cinnamon-y, brown sugary and topped with some sort of cinnamon croutons and what I think were brown-sugar-glazed walnuts. I could have bathed in that stuff it was that good! It was a serious ride for my tastebuds as was the hummus (another side I don't usually care for), mac and cheese and fresh fruit smoothies.

My husband took half of my sandwich to work the next day. He called me to simply tell me something along these lines: "This is one tasty sandwich. The tomatoes are so good and the cheese is mellow and tasty...All right, I'm a believer." I have never heard him say "mellow" and "tasty" or describe a sandwich in such detail. Could it be that Blue Lemon Bistro's "pure clean food with a twist" had some sort of affect on his tastebuds as well? I'm thinking, yes.

I was able to go on a tour of Blue Lemon Bistro and discovered the restaurant also has a smaller cafe where you can order treats like cupcakes, truffles, and tarts along with coffee, espresso, and a wide variety of blended drinks. In the back there is a fun little kitchen designed for cooking classes, group gatherings and even date nights. (Did Lychelle really say "Iron Chef Date Night?" I am so there!)

Blue Lemon Bistro is located at 11073 North Alpine Hwy in Highland, Utah and is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 10pm and Friday & Saturday from 11:30am to 11 pm. Though it's pretty far east off I-15, it is totally worth the drive. And if you carpool, that's some pure clean goodness for the environment! --Emily

P.S. Want to hear what a few other blogging women had to say about our night at Blue Lemon Bistro? Check out these tasty posts (more to come):

• Kami from No Biggie: "They're Smart..."
• April from Sweet Life in the Valley: "Sweet Eats in the Valley * Blue Lemon Bistro"
• Kelsey from VanillaJoy: "Blue Lemon Bistro"
• Jyl from Mommy Gossip: "The Best Part of On Is Off" (scroll down to the bottom of this post for the part about Blue Lemon Bistro, but the whole post is a great read!)
• Vanessa from I Never Grew Up: "Saturday: Shop!--Going Out to Eat as a Family"
• Liz from Say YES! to Hoboken: "Blue Lemon Bistro"
• Vanessa from Little Window Shoppe: "Blue Lemon"
• Azucar from The Jet Set: "Blue Lemon Confidential" (Ah, the memories--thanks, Azucar!)
• Lindsey from the r house: "blue lemon bistro"
• Allison from Petit Elefant: "blue lemon bistro."
• Marie from Make and Takes: "Blue Lemons and Blogging Babes" ("blogging babes" pretty much nails it!)
• Lindsey from Cafe Johnsonia: "Local Stuff: Blue Lemon Bistro" (some great behind-the-scenes photos)
• Kim from Simply Me: "Blue Lemon = Deliciousness" (more great photos!)
• Stephanie from Stephmodo: "Blue Lemon Bistro"
  

Photo courtesy of Kami over at No Biggie

"How to Make T.I.M.E. Work for You"

Making time work for me is something in which I'm definitely interested, especially as a mom and business owner. For today's mompreneur monday I wanted to share with you a wonderful workshop Tara McCausland, a Twitter--and now IRL--friend of mine (@myjoyquest--what a fabulous name!) from Joy Quest Coaching is teaching this week. Unfortunately it is an "offline" workshop and held here in Utah, but if you're within driving distance of Mapleton I highly recommend you make the time to attend. The workshop is free and promises to be fabulous. I'm all for anything that helps restore a bit of sanity to my harried life!

Here is the info:

LADIES!

Are you feeling hurried and harried? Come join us for a free workshop on Life Balance and Time Management titled How to Make T.I.M.E. Work for You next week on Thursday, March 19 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm in Mapleton (address and directions below).

The workshop will be geared toward a female audience, but anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

We'll be discussing how and why to:

PLAN and PRIORITIZE effectively
INVEST in yourself
Make BOUNDARIES with family, friends, and co-workers
ELIMINATE guilt from your life

Refreshments will be served after the presentation. Please RSVP to tara@myjoyquest.com by March 18th if you're interested in attending. Hope to see you there!

Tara McCausland
Joy Quest - Life/Success Coach
myjoyquest.com
801.979.6244

Location
The Croshaw Lodge
1255 S. 1000 E.
Mapleton, UT 84664

Note: The mapquest directions are excellent, but they are currently doing construction on the 2nd Springville exit which is the one you typically take. Instead take the 1st Springville exit, continue on main street until the road forks to the right. Follow the directions as written after that. The Lodge is located behind the Croshaw residence.

I wish I could attend but already have a commitment that night. If any of you are planning on going, please take notes for me! For those in the Salt Lake area who want to carpool, leave a comment below with an email so others can contact you in case they'd like to carpool as well. You could make it a girls night out!

Feel free to email this info to friends and family who might be interested in attending. Tara would also love to have you Twitter about it, post it on Facebook...whatever you can do to spread the word. It is a very timely and important workshop for all of us women, business owners or not! --Emily

Chef Chris Perrin's fish tacos with pineapple cole slaw

Though I don't love seafood I do love a good fish taco. My faves are from Elephant Bar and Del Taco. Don't laugh! Del Taco's fish tacos are pretty darn tasty and at less than $1.50, a great purchase during today's economy.

I have yet to make fish tacos at home; I rarely buy seafood (do fish sticks count?) and up until a few days ago, hadn't found a recipe that tempted me enough to try it at home. But thanks to Twitter, #gno (Mom It Forward's "girls night out" tweetup) and @BlogWellDone I have a fish taco recipe I plan to try in the very near future. It must be a good one if I'm considering browsing the local grocery store's seafood counter! Visit BlogWellDone to check out more fabulous recipes from Chef Chris Perrin (aka @BlogWellDone).

Fish Tacos with Pineapple Cole Slaw
For the fish:
8 two-inch-by-four inch tilapia fillets
2 c rice flour
2 c soda water
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 T garlic powder

Oil for frying

8 corn tortillas for serving

For the coleslaw:
1 c of cabbage, shredded
1 c of red cabbage, shredded
1/2 c red wine vinegar
1/4 c canned cubed pineapple with juice
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt
1 T mustard

For the sauce:
1/2 c ranch dressing
3 T taco seasoning
2 tsp sugar

Mix all of the ingredients for the coleslaw in a large bowl and let sit in the refrigerator for several hours to let the flavors combine.

Remove the tilapia from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature.

Mix the flour, soda water, egg, salt, baking powder and garlic powder into a bowl until it has the consistency of pancake batter. Dip each piece of fish in the batter and then put aside so the batter sets.

Heat the oil to 350 degrees or medium high heat. Fry each piece of fish until golden brown and cooked, about 6 minutes. Remove to a paper towel and sprinkle with salt.

To make the sauce, mix the ranch and the taco seasoning right before serving the fish tacos.

Wrap the corn tortillas in a wet towel and microwave for 30 seconds to make them pliable. Use two tortillas to form the shell instead of one. Fill the taco with two pieces of fish then add a heaping pile of slaw and top with sauce.

"Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, ...I could be eating a slow learner." ~Lynda Montgomery

A quick Q & A about detox diets

It's late and I almost gave up on a post for take it off tuesday, but I still suffer from guilt when I don't do posts on a daily basis. Fortunately I found this quick-and-easy ready about detox diets from Fitness magazine. LeShan and I once tried a juice fast--the results weren't pretty including lightheadedness, cold sweats and nausea. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a real detox diet but a juice fast is one way people try to cleanse their system. We haven't tried anything since, unless you consider subsisting solely on brownies and caffeine a detox diet.

In "Can a Detox Diet Improve My Looks?" Fitness magazine focuses on one reason many people detox, and as you can tell it's not for the internal benefits:

Toxin-flushing detox diets are still popular, despite crazy ingredients, weeks-long durations, and extreme restrictions. But can a detox diet really improve your skin and hair, or will it do more damage than good? Top experts reveal the real effects detoxing can have on your looks.

Out of the four questions, my favorite is, "What will I look like after a few days on a detox?" The answer?

Not pretty. You can drop up to five pounds in a week -- primarily water weight. "Losing water that fast can make your skin dry and wrinkly," Blatner says. And going a week without protein can weaken hair, which is 97 percent protein, says Tara Gidus, RD, of the American Dietetic Association.

That's all I need to know! You'll want to read the full mini article, especially since it also answers the question, "Do I need to eliminate toxins with a special diet?" I'll give you a hint: the answer starts with an "n" and ends with an "o." --Emily

EcoStiletto shows that "green" is the new black

Though I still have a long way to go I am trying to go green wherever and whenever I can. Yes, I have room for improvement (more like a 4-bedroom house) but every little bit helps and that's what I'm banking on. I'll be the first to admit my preconception about "going green" is probably not a fair one (cleaning products that don't really clean, an unsightly mini composter on my kitchen counter), but it is slowly changing as I come across more and more companies that are making going green a fashionable endeavor. Yes, "green" is slowly becoming the new black and sites like EcoStiletto are leading the movement.

EcoStiletto is an eco-friendly site geared toward women...but it's not about vegan heels. Their tagline reads: "Stiletto-size your carbon footprint and change the world, one small step at a time." Some of you may not know what the term "carbon footprint" means. Here's what CarbonFootprint.com says:

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

Basically it's the effect your activities have on the environment. Going green is all about shrinking your carbon footprint and having as little negative effect on your surroundings as possible--at least that's my understanding.

But back to EcoStiletto. The site is all about changing your Ugg-boot-size carbon footprint to one that is either nonexistent or at the very least the tiniest of Manolo stilettos. The site features eco-friendly choices in a variety of areas including fashion, beauty, parenting and even entertainment. I love this quote from their About Us page:

We're not about guilt, we're about information. We're not about forcing you to change, we're about giving you alternatives. Because everyone wants to make a difference, but no one wants to give up the little things that we love. Making a difference doesn't have to mean making a huge change in your lifestyle. Sometimes it just means considering the alternatives.

Now that's sounds like change I can handle! Some of EcoStiletto's recent posts include Canopy Verde's eco-friendly bags, organic chocolate (I knew I loved this site!) and cool recycled toddler shoes from Pedoodles. One of my most favorite things is their Big List of Things That Suck, which highlights from A to Z things that are so not "green" (e.g., animal testing, BPAs, phthalates, and VOCs).

"EcoStiletto is for the woman who wants to do the right thing and still look good doing it." That quote comes courtesy of Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl. (I'm not into Gossip Girl but from what I gather, if Kelly endorses something it's worth taking note.) With EcoStiletto, going green has never looked so good! --Emily

why 13 is your lucky number

Today your lucky number is 13. You can go ahead and change it tomorrow but for take it off tuesday, stick with 13. Why? Because that is the number of things you probably never knew about your weight. In a recent Reader's Digest article appropriately titled "13 Things You Never Knew About Your Weight" (see how well that fits into today's subject?) Joanne Chen throws out some pleasant and not-so-pleasant surprises about the ins and outs of weight loss and fitness. The article is worth a full read but for those wrapping up their 10-minute coffee hot chocolate break, here's the Cliff's Notes version:

1. Yes, genetics have something to do with it. (Ever heard of the fat gene?)
2. It's all in the number--and size--of fat cells. (Some people even have twice as many!)
3. Rev up your metabolism! (Yes, you can change it.)
4. Stress = weight gain. (For me it's a more complicated equation: stress = chocolate + bread - fruits - veggies - sleep = weight gain.)
5. Too much weight gain during pregnancy doesn't help. (Try telling that to a woman craving a Big Mac--who the heck cares?)
6. Sleep has something to do with it. (Sleep, what's that?)
7. Your spouse has something to do with it as well. (For better or for worse...)
8. A virus can do more than cause unwanted phlegm.
9. Dessert and dopamine. (Need I say more?)
10. Tainted taste buds, who knew?
11. Antioxidants are your friends. (Just say "no" to free radicals!)
12. Moderation, not deprivation, is the key. (From Atkins to South Beach, diet gurus agree.)
13. Size might not matter. (When it comes to being physically fit, of course.)

Though the list was long I highly doubt you were bored while reading it. When you read "13 Things You Never Knew About Your Weight," you'll feel the same way. Though I already knew 5 of the 13, I learned a lot about the remaining 8. If you have any other items to add to the list, we'd love to hear about it! --Emily

two kick-in-the-pants treadmill workouts

When the weather outside is frightful, my workout moves from the gym to the basement, which is where we have our treadmill. I don't do cold and I don't do icy roads. Actually, the basement has been my gym away from gym for a while now. With two little ones at home and a mom who prefers the midnight hours to the crack-of-dawn hours, working out at home has been a good fit.

Don't get me wrong, I miss the gym and the weight machines and actually getting out of my house to exercise, but all in good time (i.e. when colds no longer abound in the gym daycare). I've actually used our treadmill enough to warrant one visit by a repairman and I fear a second one here soon. Though I don't have a specific treadmill workout, I do try to vary my routine so I keep my body guessing. One day it's run/walk intervals, another it's hills and another it's distance. At least it's not boring. (America's Next Top Model on the flat-screen helps too.)

It's been a while since our last take it off tuesday so I thought I'd share a few intense treadmill workouts from Fitness magazine so you too can shake up your routine a bit. And if you have more dust than sweat on your treadmill, this is a great excuse to power it up!

• The 20-Minute Treadmill Hill Workout (not as highly rated as the Glute-Sculpting one below but at least with hills you can read a good book!)
• The 20-Minute Glute-Sculpting Treadmill Routine (who doesn't love a nicely sculpted glute?)
• Burn 2,000 Calories on the Treadmill (the perfect 7-day plan for blasting those holiday goodies)

If you don't own a treadmill but are interested in buying one, Treadmill Shopping Tips from Fitness magazine is a great place to start. I also love the sites Treadmill Doctor and Treadmill Ratings and Reviews. We actually bought ours off the local classifieds, which is a great place to shop. Most treadmills end up being used as a clothes drying rack rather than an exercise machine so they still have a lot of life left in them! --Emily

holiday dieting? really?

Apparently you can diet during the holidays, although it's probably more correct to say "keep from gaining 20 pounds" rather than "diet." What's the secret other than avoiding that fourth helping of buttery mashed potatoes and third slice of pumpkin pie? For take it off tuesday I bring you this great article from WebMD with some helpful hints for handling those holiday temptations--and I'm not talking about post-Thanksgiving-Day sales.

In "Top 10 Holiday Diet Tips of All Time," WebMD consulted diet gurus across the country and consolidated their advice into a list of 10 recommendations for keeping off those unwanted (are they ever wanted?!?!) extra pounds that tend to creep up on our thighs starting October 21st and ending January 2nd. Here's the list in short form. You'll definitely want to read the entire article for the "why" behind each one of these tips.

1. Trim back the trimmings. (Seconds on the salad not the stuffing.)
   
2. Wear snug clothes and keep one hand busy. (Does playing Wii count?)
3. Chew gum. (I use this trick at night when I get the late-night munchies.)
   
4. Be a food snob. (But what if I really like Grandma's homemade rolls?)
5. No skipping meals. (Like that's an option!)
   
6. Check it out. (Sipping and socializing--totally doable!)
   
7. Add fun and games. (Okay, playing Wii does count if it's Wii Fit!)
8. Alternate alcohol with nonalcoholic beverages. (As long as I have a Diet Coke in hand, I'm good to go.)
   
9. Skip the appetizers. (La la la...not listening to this one...la la la.)
   
10. Limit the variety. (Variety is the spice of life but it could also sabotage your diet.)
    

These tips seem to be pretty common sense; it's following them that's the hard part. As I get older I'm learning I gain weight more easily and have to work twice a hard to lose it, so there's some serious incentive to avoiding even a second helping of stuffing!

Do you have any tips or tricks to help you survive the non-stop holiday buffet? We'd love to hear them!

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." ~Erma Bombeck

FRS: it's all about healthy energy

It's another late night and I'm totally exhausted. Maybe that's why FRS popped into mind when thinking about a post for take it off tuesday. And because I'm so terribly tired I'm going to refer to the review I did on FRS for Boutique Cafe rather than writing a post completely from scratch. I just don't have it in me tonight, but this is a really great product for the energy-starved.

Here are the highlights from "FRS gives you energy without the post-energy crash:"

• The FRS (Free Radical Scavenger) formula was created in 1997 after 7 years of research into the benefits of plant-based antioxidants on human health.
• FRS Healthy Energy combines quercetin, which is a natural, powerful antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, with 7 essential vitamins. “Quercetin helps extend your body’s natural energy and fight fatigue caused by oxidants that build up in your body from daily activity, exercise and stress.”
• One can of FRS Healthy Energy has the same amount of flavonoid antioxidants as 3 servings of blueberries, 8 servings of red onions or 10 servings of raspberries.
• FRS Healthy Energy comes in four different variations: cans, concentrate, powdered drink mix and soft chews. (The Low Cal Orange and Peach Mango concentrates are my favorites and though I didn’t have scientific research to back it up, I felt like I got the quickest energy boost from the concentrate.)
• FRS can also enhance your focus and alertness and support overall weight management. My favorite use for FRS was to take it about 30 minutes before a workout so I not only had the energy to get on the treadmill but had the energy to exercise just a little harder (so I could have an extra Dove chocolate or two later).
• Lance Armstrong recently joined FRS’ Board of Directors and chose FRS as the exclusive beverage he represents worldwide.

If you’re tired of the lows that come after the Diet-Coke-and-Halloween-candy high then you might want to learn a bit more about FRS Healthy Energy. It’s a tasty way to get your “daily allowance of enhanced mental focus, increased performance and the energy to keep you going”…and we could all use some of that! –Emily