Spinach Salad w/Vinaigrette

I love salads.  Love them.  The problem I used to have was I would go out to eat and order a salad and think this is amazing and then get home and try to make one and it wouldn't be as good.  You know why?  One word!  DRESSING!  The dressings at restaurants are amazing!  My favorite?  Fresh vinaigrette.

Never fear my fellow bitches!  I am here to tell you, you CAN do it at home.  What's more?  It's EASY PEASY!

I made a spinach salad on Father's Day and it was amazing.  I didn't take pictures for you but I have some pictures here I found on Google images to help give you the idea!  *wink*

Here's what you'll need:

1 Bag Baby Spinach washed and dried
1 Large Granny Smith Apple Sliced thinly (I leave the skin on)
2 Slices of Bacon crumbled (turkey bacon works fine)
1/2 cup toasted pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Handful of shaved Parmesan

Dressing Ingredients:
1 shallot minced finely
1 clove garlic minced finely
3-4 Tablespoons Red Wine vinegar
1 tsp. dijon or brown mustard
1-2 tsp. honey
salt n pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of fresh chopped thyme and tarragon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or less, just need enough to emulsify the dressing)

I make the dressing first.  In a large bowl that you can toss the salad in mince a shallot.  Grate in a clove of garlic.  (I use a fine grater, but you can use a garlic press, or mince the garlic finely and rub salt and the flat edge of your knife to make the garlic soft and paste like.)  Add a pinch of salt and pepper.  Add 3-4 Tablespoons of red wine vinegar.  Let those ingredients sit for about 15 minutes.  The garlic and shallot will flavor the vinegar.  Add a teaspoon of dijon or brown mustard.  (Trust me, even if you don't like mustard it won't taste like mustard.  If you don't trust me leave it out.)  Next chop about a tablespoon of fresh thyme and tarragon and add to the bowl.  Add 2 teaspoons of honey.  Whisk everything together.  Drizzle in about 1/4 cup of olive oil while whisking the mixture.  This vinaigrette is AMAZING.

Add all the salad ingredients into the bowl on top of the dressing except the parmesan.  Toss the salad making sure to coat all the spinach with the dressing.  Add the cheese and serve.  

Enjoy!

Bang! Bang! Boring Tuna is Dead.

Ask any body builder and they will tell you they consume a lot of tuna. Tuna is one of those power foods. It's loaded with Omega 3's and protein. Tuna is rich in important nutrients including selenium, magnesium, as well as potassium. Tuna has an assortment of B vitamins including niacin, B1 and B6. ALL of these nutrients have been known to help elevate mood as well as your health!

Some people love tuna while others can't stand it. I personally don't like the texture of mushy tuna sandwiches. Mayo is not the best for you when you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle but with these tips to help you perk up your tuna, you may just find yourself craving a tuna sandwich again!

Think outside the can.

Personally, I prefer alacore tuna. Mainly because the reddish scaley looking meat in regular tuna grosses me out. I am very picky when it comes to choosing tuna. It must be packed in water. It must be albacore. Of course it must be dolphin safe.

Beyond Pickles and Mayo.

Instead of Mayo try using greek or plain yogurt. You can also try fat free sour cream, this option makes it more creamy.

Instead of pickles try using green olives or sliced cucumbers spritzed with vinegar. Instead of white onions try chopped chives or red onion. Add some fresh basil and sliced tomatoes. There are countless ways to enjoy tuna!

Here is my latest tuna creation!

Cilantro Lime Tuna Sandwich

I had some leftover produce from when I made Tilapia with Mango Salsa, so I chopped those up and viola! A new recipe was born!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 cans of albacore tuna packed in water
1 small bunch of fresh cilantro chopped
1/3 cup of sliced red onion
1/4 cup of chopped red pepper
1 lime juiced
1 jalapeno - cored and chopped
garlic powder to taste (1 used approx 1/2 tsp)
lemon pepper to taste (approx 1/2 tsp)
2 tbsp mayo (I used Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil sometimes I also use Kraft Free)
4 slices reduced fat mild cheddar (I like Sargento brand)
8 slices bread (I love me some rye with tuna!)

Directions:

Drain tuna and place in bowl. Add cilantro, onion, red pepper, lime juice, jalapeno, garlic powder, lemon pepper and stir. Now add mayo. (You will see that adding mayo at the end of everything else helps keep it minimal. You don't need to load your tuna down with mayo, just a touch goes a long way!) Stir well.

For each slice of cheese cut it in half. Place each half on one slice of bread. Divide the tuna in four equal parts. Then spoon half a serving of tuna on one slice of bread and the remainder on the second slice of bread. Keep open and enjoy!

A big reason why I eat my tuna sandwich open is because I can enjoy more tuna this way. Usually I have two sandwiches because one does not fill me. I have learned if I pile on the tuna and enjoy the sandwich open faced, it gives me the sense of having two sandwiches without the added carbs, calories and fat of two more slices of bread! Because my tuna recipe is much healthier than tuna loaded with mayo, I can afford to have a little more tuna on my sandwich!

As I was making this recipe I came across some wasabi powder in my spice rack. I think next time I make tuna I am going to use mayo, soy sauce, red peppers, sliced leeks or green onion, and sprinkle it with wasabi powder.

Tuna - Asian style!
(Let's see how many weirdos I attract with that line!)

So how do you like to prepare tuna sandwiches?

I love hangin' with my Bitches but you can also find me chillin' at Mad Boastings of a Cheapskate Mom.

Share A Spoon: Pumpkin Spice Bars

Queen Bitch, Brandee over at Think Tank Mama has this fun weekly gathering where you can share recipes. It's called Share A Spoon and this week she is asking for dessert recipes.

I know this is a "Weight Loss" kind of place but that doesn't mean we should deprive ourselves!

Using healthy ingredients such as natural sugar and applesauce in place of oil, you can tweak any recipe to make it healthier! Portion control is the key to success!

Here is a great Pumpkin Bar Recipe! You can change it up to make it your own. Add bittersweet chocolate chips, or pecans. Omit the frosting for a healthier treat. Never follow a recipe to the letter - make it your own and have fun!

Pumpkin Bars With Maple Frosting

Ingredients:

1 cup Egg Beaters (or 4 eggs)
1 cup Brown Sugar
2/3 cup Turbinado Sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
15-ounce can pumpkin puree
2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugars, applesauce and pumpkin until texture is light and well mixed. Stir together the flour, baking powder, spices, salt and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until the batter is smooth. Spread into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until "toothpick check" by placing a toothpick in the center if it comes out clean the cake is done, if it comes out with goop on it then cook it a bit longer.

Let cool completely before you add frosting.

Maple Buttercream Frosting (naughty naughty but yummy!)

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
2 tsp maple extract
1/2 tsp ginger

Directions:

Whisk together sugar and butter until well blended or use a mixer and mix on medium speed for approx 3 minutes.

Add maple extract and continue mix until light and fluffy. Sprinkle in ginger and stir well.

Spread over cooled pumpkin bars and garnish with a pinch of turbinado sugar to the top of each bar if desired.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share? If so please join in on the fun at The Tank!

Tilapia With Mango Salsa

This is the first time I am sharing a recipe with the Bitches so I hope you like it!

Tilapia with Mango Salsa

Tilapia is such a versatile fish. It's my favorite because it can be prepared in so many ways and it is super easy! I also like that it doesn't have a "fishy" taste to it.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

6 Tilapia fillets
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp minced parsley
2 tsp old bay seasoning
2 cloves minced garlic
2 mangoes
2 jalapenos seeded and chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 red bell pepper
1/2 red onion finely chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 lime

Directions:

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, old bay seasoning, and garlic, in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the tilapia fillets, shake to coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air then seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour, turning over bag halfway to coat the other side.

Preheat oven broiler.

Meanwhile, using a food processor (or good ol' elbow grease and a knife) chop the mango, jalepeno, cilantro, pepper, onion and combine in a bowl. Sprinkle with garlic powder and add lemon pepper. Cut lime in half and squeeze juice into bowl. Mix well and cool in fridge.

Remove the tilapia from the marinade. Discard the remaining marinade and place fillets into a prepared oven dish. Grill the fillets until the fish is no longer translucent in the center, and flakes easily with a fork.

When cooking is completed place the tilapia filet on a plate and top with mango salsa.

I served this meal for Father's Day and paired it with steamed asparagus and whole grain cilantro and black bean rice.

Try it! I promise you will love it!!

Come visit me over at Mad Boastings of a Cheapskate Mom!

I have a great giveaway going on right now, $100.00 to spend however you like at CSN Stores!

Hope to see you there!

The "F" word

When we make a lifestyle change, one of the things we miss is SWEETS. So, we replace those cravings with what? FRUIT!

Yes, the "F" word. What did you dirty rotten minded scoundrels think I meant? Get your filthy minds outta the gutter! Geez....this isn't my main blog!

The health benefits of eating fruit are amazing! Did you know that one of the BEST things about fruit, you know, other than it tastes amazing, is that they help reduce the skins aging process? I am so vain I don't want wrinkles. AND, I'm a chicken shit, so there isn't much chance I would dare go under the knife. Well, unless I was disfigured in an accident or mauled by a bear or something. SO....I will suck down those sweet fruits and all their anti-oxidants.

Fruits are low in calories and fats. They are a great source of fiber, simple sugars and vitamins which are important for you to optimize your overall health.

So I thought I would share a couple of quick fun recipes for FRUIT!

I love Waldorf Salad! Crunchy yummy goodness. If you don't like something in it, make a switch. There are no rules. We are adding things into our diets to help us make life long changes. This is not about just eating things to lose weight. If you do that, you will burn out and go right back to eating CRAP!

Ingredients:

4 medium red delicious apples cored and chopped (I leave the skins on.)
3 stalks of celery chopped
1/2 c. light mayo (you can substitute plain yogurt)
1/2 cup toasted walnuts
1/2 cup plump raisins (you can substitute grapes)

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and refrigerate. Serve chilled. If you want this to keep longer and not have the apples turn, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples after chopping them.

Depending on whether you use yogurt or mayo, this recipe has roughly 150-180 calories per serving.

Another fav of mine is a fresh pineapple salad I make! I SUPER DUPER PUFFY HEART fresh pineapple.

I

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped fresh pineapple
3 Tbsp sweetened flake coconut
1 cup seedless red grapes
1 cup drained mandarin orange segments
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 Tbsp honey
1/2 cup Plain greek yogurt

In a small bowl mix the yogurt and honey. If you can't find Greek yogurt, you can substitute regular plain yogurt. Take a thick paper towel and put it in a strainer over a bowl. Pour the plain yogurt over the paper towel and let the juices drain out. It will be thick once the juices drain. It makes the yogurt thick and creamy and a little sweetened when you add the honey! Super yummy!

Mix the fruit, coconut and nuts in a large bowl and add the dressing. Serve chilled. 130 calories per serving

So...that's my "F" word! F-R-U-I-T

Do you have any yummy fruit quick fixes to share?

I feel pretty, Oh so pretty!

OH ME OH MY!  LOOK AT THESE NEW DIGGS!  Can you believe how super awesome our new site is?  I love it!  I feel inspired!

Our new admin, Tamara, or as I call her Cheesecake from Mad Boasting of a Cheapskate Mom and Cheapskate Designs gave us an overhaul here at LIB!  We have a new button.  GRAB IT!  Display it.  It links here instead of to my main blog!  If you are in the challenge, grab the button!

Also, our current Stick Bitch, that's our winner from Challenge Numero Uno, is starting a new weigh in meme.  If you would like to participate check out Amy over at Marvelous Mommy.  Some of you aren't comfortable posting your actual weights, and I completely understand that.  It's fine to continue to update me privately on your progress.  But, for those of you who feel sharing your digits motivates you, go join in Amy's Thursday weigh ins.  It motivated her, and SHE WON our last challenge!!  Woo Hoo!

I am currently stuck at 10 pounds down.  I will admit, I haven't been as vigilant as I should be.  We have had colds and graduation, and end of year, and I hear you all screaming, excuses!  EXCUSES!  Get back on the program!  I am!  I will.  

I will tell you that it is inspiring to put on your jeans and have to constantly pull them up because they are so loose!  What is motivating you?  Can you feel a difference in your clothes?  For me, the clothes make more difference than seeing those numbers come down on the bitch ass ho scale.

So, you might see some subtle changes in the next weeks on the site.  A little nip and tuck here and there.  But for the most past, we are live and in PRETTY COLOR.  

And real quick, leave me some requests for recipes.  What are you missing?  What do you crave that you would like some "light" recipes for.  I will search for, reinvent and share what I have with you.  Just let me know what you want!

~Zgirl out!

What's on your playlist?

Exercise and music go together like peanut butter and jelly!

A banging beat helps you get a bangin' bod!

So, what is the one song you absolutely MUST have on your playlist while working out?