A Super Yummy Summery Smoothie (Courtesy of Smoothie Guru Kimberly Snyder)

Here is the Summer Green Smoothie Recipe posted over at Kimberly Snyder's Health and Beauty Blog.

FULL RECIPE:
- 3 big handfuls or spinach (cut major stems off, don’t worry about the skinny, little guys)
- Handful of mint
- 3 ripe summer peaches
- 1 banana (optional, and helpful for those of you that are still getting used to the Green Smoothie! )
- 1 – 1/2 cups of water

Remember that this makes about 4 glasses, you you CAN cover it airtight and drink it yourself over 2 days, 3 days max, or less if you share with someone else!

You CAN also freeze it in portions, like in glass trays, and thaw one out the night before so it is drinkable in the morning.

Thank You Kim!!! Take a moment to visit Kim's blog, if you haven't met her already!

Yummmies: Curry Chicken Chicken Salad!

Just made this for dinner tonight (plus some Caramel Turtle Brownies for dessert-- not diet friendly, but mm mmm good). Anywho, this is super delish, quick and easy:

Ingredients:
Chicken (sliced to grill for salad)
Curry powder
Salt
Pepper
Garlic (I used just a tbsp of the jarred kind you keep in the fridge)
Mayonnaise (I opted for the Kraft with Olive Oil, which I think is super tasty)
1/3 cup Lemon Juice
Celery (chop about 1 1/2 cups, leaves and all)
Raisins or Grapes
1 Red Apple (Sliced)
1 Avocado
1/3 cup feta cheese
Lettuce (I used green leaf lettuce)
1 Jalapeno (diced)
Pecans
1 Cucumber
Olive Oil
Dressing(s) of your choice

First, if you are starting out with whole chicken breasts like I did, sliced your breasts, as you would for any grilled chicken salad. Season your chicken to taste. I just threw some curry powder, salt, black pepper, tbsp of garlic and Adobo. Grill sliced chicken in a pan with just a little bit of olive oil. Once grilled to perfection (make sure they are grilled all the way through), throw strips into a mixing bowl. Taste one strip and make sure you are satisfied with the seasoning, if not, just dose it as you please :)

Now for your mix-ins: Throw in your diced jalapeno (if you can take the spice!), cup or so of pecans, cup of raisins (or grapes), 1/3 cup of lemon juice, celery, 1/3 cup of feta cheese and mayonnaise until you think it looks like chicken salad-- sorry I didn't measure. MIX IT ALL UP!!

Wash your cucumber and lettuce. Slice your apples and avocado (and remove avocado skin). Place a bed of lettuce on each plate you are serving. Alternately place slices of avocado and apples (see picture above), place your cucumber slices to the side and then dollop that chicken salad in the middle.

I ate mine with just a few dashes of balsamic vinegar across the top and it was mighty fine! Bon appetit!!

(Serves five people)

The Luxe Series

Just finished reading Splendor-- the fourth and final book in The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen. I was introduced to the series by my sister, Susan, and, initially, I thought I was too old to read it-- The Luxe series can be found under teen fiction in your local bookseller. Susie sold me on reading it when we went to the mountains for a week, and I figured I'd have nothing better to do. To my surprise I was hooked.

The books are right up there with my other guilty teen drama pleasure, Gossip Girl. Critics often pen the series as a Gossip Girl of the 19th century. It is all etiquette, elegance and Upper East Side, and that was good enough for me. The characters are well-developed and the stories keep you wanting more. I could even see myself and my sister in the Holland sisters (two sister starlets of The Luxe).

All in all, if you are looking for a girly, semi-mindless read, with some decent historical, period references, you will enjoy The Luxe. This is perfect for those of you suffering as I am through the break in new Gossip Girl episodes.

(Also, they are a quick read. I have read four books only one month into 2010!!)

Summercise!

This summer I am hitting the gym and setting some lofty goals! I have a membership to the Crunch Gym about nine blocks from my apartment, and I am truly loving it. This morning I had a fabulous workout with a girlfriend of mine. We took a Hatha Yoga class and will be back for another tomorrow morning. In between the days on which I hit the gym, I also use a slew of pilates, yoga and cardio DVDs. Below are my favorites. In addition to these I own the vintage Abs & Buns of Steel and a Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred (recently purchased and yet to try).


I first purchased the Crunch DVDs in a set of three: Fat Burning, Burn & Firm, and Pick Your Spot Pilates-- all purchased bargain-price at Sam's Club. I loved them so much, I later purchased the Super Slim Down Pilates Yoga Blend on Amazon.com... all the DVDs can be purchased on Amazon (duh!) at great prices, used or new. I believe I also bought the 30-Day Shred and Abs & Buns of Steel on Amazon, as well.

One summer break during college, I lost about 15-20 lbs. over a period of 10 or 12 weeks. I was eating healthy, cut out all alcohol, set some rules, went to bed early, woke up early, and in the evenings I would do my choice of 45-minute Crunch DVD. For motivation, I had the University of Florida Homecoming Pageant that fall semester. This time around, Nichole's upcoming wedding serves as my "I can't been on display and not be at my very best!"

Anyhow, the DVDs are highly recommended by yours truly! Maybe I'll post another time about my other workout and diet regimens.