Just Apple Pie

"Could solve all of the problems of the world that pie"….Joe, Waitress

Fall is in the air and while I do hate the departure of long sunny days there are a few things I welcome about the change in season. There’s a cool crisp in the air, football, pumpkins, and apples to look forward to among other things! Well, my mom and I were excited…perhaps a little too excited to jump into apple picking season when we realized it might be a little early for the best the local farms would have to offer. So instead, we ended up taking a field trip to Trader Joe’s instead to pick up some apples and the ingredients for Tone It Up’s Dutch Apple Pie Recipe. For those of you not familiar, Karena and Katrina are trainers who started their own company looking to help women improve their lives through health, fitness and making positive lifestyle choices. Hmm…very similar to the very reasons I recently started my blog. You can check them out at toneitup.com

This recipe intrigued me because it basically substituted organic protein power for flour which I did not realize you could do in baking. I had experimented making muffins previously, but the end result was a little lackluster. So I was curious how this would be since I was switching in the protein powder and decreasing the sugar significantly with swapping in some stevia. However, being in an adventurous frame of mind, and of course wanting to find a guilt free resolution for my craving for apple desserts, I decided to give this a whirl.

Here is the recipe:

5 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced (I actually used 7)

¼ cup sugar (half stevia/half organic sugar) (I used half Stevia in the Raw and half Organic Maple Sugar)

¼ cup organic light brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

3 packets or scoops of Perfect Fit Protein (click here if you want to purchase perfectfitprotein.com)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (I probably used closer to 2 tablespoons so you can modify it to your taste preferences)

3 tbsp natural applesauce

Crust:

The recipe calls for a  pre-made whole wheat crust which would have been simpler, but Trader Joe’s did not have any…so, I googled a recipe on how to make crust and it was very simple. All you do is combine whole wheat flour and butter and you are ready to go. Hopefully you have a rolling pin on hand…which we did not. J

 

Topping:
I did not use the recipe for the topping as I had a lot of crust left over so I chose to make a lattice instead. If you are interested, here is the recipe suggested for topping:

4 scoops or packets Perfect Fit Protein

 ¼ cup sugar (half stevia/half organic sugar)

¼ cup light brown sugar (firmly packed)

1/3 cup vegan butter substitute

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 F

Combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, protein power, lemon juice and applesauce in a bowl. Mix well to coat the fruit.

Fill pie plate with the apple mixture.

Sprinkle topping mixture evening over the apples in the crust.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, until the top is golden brown and filling is boiling.

The end result was delicious. I really loved the pie and did not taste any of the substitutions in the recipe. You could serve with a little vanilla frozen yogurt or whipped topping. I happen to be a big fan of Trader Joe’s House Whip. Yum!

Just Towel Sit Ups

“Luck is a myth”…Steve Prefontaine, Without Limits

Unfortunately, you have to work your abs to get good ones. I battle this like everyone else because my job is mostly inactive and I just don’t get in a lot of movement during the day. So I always make sure to include some excercises in my workouts about 3 times a week.

I like to try different things to have variety, and my boyfriend introduced me to towel sit ups that he had discovered through strength coach Nick Nilsson. The trick is that you take a towel (I usually use two hand towels together since I am the gym and this is all they have) and roll it up and place it under your low back below your waist. You want the towel to be fairly thick but comfortable.

By adding this simple addition you are performing the exercise differently and also protecting your low back by making sure it’s not rounding.  If you want to make it more challenging you can hold a weight at your chest too (5-8lbs).

My usual routine:

30 straight sit ups

15 rotating to the right

15 rotating to the left

30 straight sit ups

These only take minutes and I usually do them as part of my workout, but you could easily do them at home while watching TV or before getting ready for bed. 

Here is a link to Nilsson’s article where he takes you step by step through the process.

http://www.fitstep.com/Library/Exercises/abdominal-exercises/abdominal-sit-ups/abdominal-sit-ups.htm

Just Greek To Me

“Nice Greek girls are supposed to do three things in life: marry Greek boys, make Greek babies, and feed everyone…until they day we die." Toula, My Big Fat Greek Wedding

It’s no secret that Greek Yogurt has upset the dairy industry. When is the last time you saw someone eat a regular yogurt? It just doesn’t happen anymore. I love Greek yogurt as it is a more perfect version of yogurt in my mind. It is so much more creamy and delicious. I used to always find regular yogurt a little too runny if you over-mixed it, and of course you had to if you it had fruit on the bottom. Everyone from magazines to advertising is telling us that Greek yogurt is so much better for us and provides a lot more protein. This is true, however, it also provides a lot of sugar which our bodies don’t really need. The sugar also drives up the calories and carbohydrates and what was once a healthy snack is getting a little closer to dessert territory. Lately I have been experimenting with ways to turn plain Greek yogurt into a more appealing snack because without a little something it almost tastes like eating a tub of sour cream. The nice thing about it being plain is that it’s a blank canvas you can change. Here are some new combinations I really like that are worth checking out:

Apple and Cinnamon – This is my personal favorite Chobani flavor that I have closely replicated. Finely chop a half of an apple without skin and add cinnamon and Stevia to taste – it’s really good! For anyone who has not tried Stevia check out Stevia in the Raw. It’s natural and has no calories! I got my mother to give up sugar in her coffee when she tried it. And she was up to 4 teaspoons a cup - at least that’s what she confessed to.

Lemon or Lime – Use the juice of a lemon or lime and re-create either of those flavors and add some stevia to taste. It’s very close to the real thing! Haven’t you wondered why Key Lime Flavor yogurt is just too good?

Honey or Maple Syrup – Honestly a little goes a long way and even though it’s still sugar, it’s a better alternative. I usually only need a teaspoon or so to add enough sweetness.

Nuts or Nut Butter – I actually love adding almond or sunflower butter to plain yogurt. It adds a delicious flavor and changes the consistency so that’s it’s thicker. If that’s not your thing, then some chopped almonds or walnuts are good for crunch.

Flavored Whey Protein Powder – I am working on perfecting this one, but my boyfriend swears by it. It makes me very full so it’s almost more like a meal than a snack.

Fruit – Berries, mango, kiwi, you name it. They all are great with plain yogurt. Here’s a good place to try different combinations and get creative.

Flavored Extracts – It recently dawned on me that I could use vanilla extract to replicate a vanilla flavored yogurt and it was quite tasty. I’m going to try almond extract next and see what I can whip up.

Whole Grain Cereal – I like to add Barbara’s Puffins http://www.barbarasbakery.com/or BearNaked Fit Granola http://www.bearnaked.com/ in place of nuts sometimes. If I’m running late for work or not hungry in the morning I will mix up greek yogurt, cereal and fruit to eat later in the morning. 

Just Go With the Flow

“Groceries, the meditation room is inside.” Richard from Texas, Eat Pray Love

I love telling people that I'm going to yoga. I know what they are thinking – oh, she’s spiritual, bendy and totally on trend too. Is yoga still “in” if it’s not hot? I am probably already behind the times. But in my mind it’s super cool to whip out my own yoga mat and strap along with a Giam block. I slip on my Victoria’s Secret yoga capris with flip flops. For some reason, I am always a sucker for the accessories and the outfit.

Alas, in the rather nondescript “studio” at my gym there is little or no ambience even though the instructor is excellent. The extra yoga mats and blocks are placed with aerobic benches and steps. As the yoga teacher asks us to settle in and forget about the day I find this very hard, downright impossible actually. I often faintly hear Taio Cruz warning me he is going to break my heart along with the whirl of a treadmill and possible a bike grinding. Of course, I soldier on and pretend all is well and tranquil. This is where I struggle with yoga. I always feel like Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love as she has a million thoughts that spring up while she is trying to mediate at the ashram in India. I am supposed to be turning off, but in some ways it feels like my mind is turning on. Where did I leave that medical form – my desk at work or my kitchen counter? Did I pick up all of the necessary ingredients from the Self magazine recipe I was dying to try? Did I remember to lock my car? Geez…it’s totally exhausting.

As a fairly fit girl yoga also frustrates me because it requires so much patience. Some of the poses are hard for me since I struggle with flexibility and I’m barely able to match the style of a woman next to me who is most likely about twice my age. I know I shouldn’t compare myself to others, but it’s hard when you’re in the dark so closely surrounded by people. I was also introduced to the chaturanga in this particular class. Yes, I was a total yoga newbie who had only sampled a few routines at home previously. For those not familiar, a chaturanga is a little like lowering yourself to the floor through a push up. Most days I feel like I am simply collapsing from a plank to a blob on the floor.

As I talked to my boyfriend about the less than stellar atmosphere of the class, he suggested I try a legit yoga studio and take it up a notch. Since this made complete sense, I signed up for a new member package at a local yoga studio. I was not sold, but thought I might be able to disconnect a little more. My first night, I noted that I was not able to wear shoes into the class and that there was incense burning. I felt better already – so yoga, so Zen! I was on my way. The class was really cool and enjoyable. However, there was still the nagging feeling of being inferior that tugged at me. It wasn’t where or the type of class I was taking - it was a struggle because of me. There was still the chatter of to-do lists knocking around in my head and I still felt a little behind the class. I made a lot of my chaturangas a child’s pose as the teacher assured us that was a totally acceptable option. But let’s not kid ourselves, it’s way easier than the dreaded chaturanga. For those not familiar, a child’s pose is sitting back into your heels with your butt grazing your feet and your arms reaching ahead of you. I seriously do love this pose as it is just one of the best stretches ever. Yes! A little closer to relaxation…maybe.

Despite the challenge every class presents, I left feeling a little different this time. Probably just a little more relaxed and a tad calmer. However long this lasted I’m not quite sure. But it was refreshing to feel that way and perhaps I realized that sometimes it’s important to embrace a challenge. After all, we’re all just a work in progress and maybe that’s ok….you just have to go with the flow.

Just Breakfast Cookie-Bars

“My love for art and for cooking spring from the same source. Both interests are lifelong, and at times they have readily intertwined.” Mollie Katzen, Still Life with Menu

Long before anyone had heard of Lara or her bars, my mom was whipping up Breakfast Cookie-Bars. Don’t let the word “cookie” fool you. These are very healthy granola bars and can be modified in numerous ways to fit your tastes. The recipe is from Still Life with Menu which was written by Molly Katzen, who was named by Health Magazine as one of the "The Five Women Who Changed The Way We Eat" and the brainchild of Moosewood. The Moosewood Restaurant http://www.moosewoodcooks.com/ is a famous natural foods restaurant in Ithaca, New York. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s definitely a place I’d like to check out. These bars are delicious when crumbled and put in a Greek yogurt, with a little bit of nut butter or by themselves. They are low sugar, low fat and have no preservatives. Be careful when buying granola bars in the stores and read the labels to check the nutritional information.  I like to modify this original recipe with almond or coconut flour and coconut oil. If I add sweetener, I typically use honey or maple syrup in place of the brown sugar. Nothing against Larabars of course…I love these natural bars and they are perfect when you are on the go. http://www.larabar.com/

Below is the original recipe. I like to use almond or coconut flour. I also use coconut oil for my vegetable oil and omit or use a little bit of honey or maple syrup as my sweetener.

2 cups rolled oats

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 cup apple juice

¼ cup wheat germ and/or ¼ cup millet flakes (optional)

1 cup (packed) dried currants or other dried fruit, finely chopped

¾ teaspoon cinnamon, plus extra for the top

6 tablespoons (maybe increased, decreased or even omitted)

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup vegetable oil

¼ sesame seeds and/or ½ cup minced cashews (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and distribute as evenly as possible, patting the batter into place with your hands. Sprinkle the top with a little extra cinnamon.

Bake for 30 minutes. Cut into large squares while still hot, but don’t try to remove them from the pan until they are completely cool or they will seriously crumble.

Just Yours

“I wear it, I’ve always worn it”…Katherine, The English Patient

In one of my all time favorite movies, The English Patient, Katherine utters this phrase to Count DeAlmasy as he carries her through the desert. He remarks on the thimble around her neck since he has never noticed it before. He bought it for her at a street vendor at the height of their clandestine affair. He hadn’t even intended it to be a necklace. Oh...the chills this scene brings to me.

Is there something you always wear? Jewelry has the power to capture a memory or remind us of our beliefs. Perhaps it is a cross to signify your faith or a heart your husband gave you for a special occasion. Maybe you wear the names of your children around your neck to bring them closer to you throughout the day. Since starting this blog, I am currently on the hunt for an infinity like my logo. There is a ring (not an engagement ring!) that my boyfriend gave to me last Christmas that’s very special to me and I wear it often. It reminds me of him and connects me in a way that I really cannot explain. Hmm…perhaps this is how Katherine felt about the thimble.

From the beginning of time we have had a fascination with adornment. Even the most primitive of civilizations had jewelry fashioned from different materials, some of it so intricate in design that it is always fascinating to view the museum collections. Many of these pieces were worn for protection or luck, a talisman. Do you find you always have a good day when you wear a certain piece of jewelry? You are not alone. We are always searching for our lucky charm.  Many believe it is certain stones or a symbol that embodies the wearer with luck or safety or perhaps a certain necklace or bracelet or ring that was given for luck. Energy Muse http://www.energymuse.com/ is totally devoted to jewelry to bring you health, luck, energy, prosperity……and so on. Saint by Sarah Jane http://www.saintbysarahjane.com/  has an exquisite line of designer jewelry inspired by nature.

I recently purchased a mala from a fabulous website called Tiny Devotions http://www.lovetinydevotions.com/ What does a mala mean? Well you choose it or let it choose you by simply feeling the energy that connects to you. It’s a visual display and reminder of your intentions. It’s very powerful to hold your intensions close to you and remind yourself to stay the course and work towards your goals.

Just Contact Me

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I really enjoy having the opportunity to share with all of you. I would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions at any time so please feel free to email me at lauren@justbeyourbestself.com