Gluten Free Brunch

When you are gluten free.. sometimes Breakfast/brunch can be difficult. You hear the same old thing.... eggs, eggs, eggs. Well here is a neat spin on eggs and hash brows! It's called hash brown baskets with eggs! (This is my variation of Sunny Anderson's recipe)




Here is what you will need:


Cupcake pan


8 eggs


1 1/2 lbs of shredded hash browns


butter

1 onion


1 pepper


Spinach


bacon

Pam

salt and pepper to taste!

* It's that simple!!

Next Steps:

Preheat oven to 350*

Start by placing the hashy's in a kitchen towel and squeezing out the excess water. This way it will stick easier- place in bowl and salt and pepper.

Saute the onion and red pepper in extra virgin olive oil and a dab of butter

Add mix to the has browns already set aside in a bowl- salt and pepper

Spray cupcake pan with PAM. Add mixture to each cup in the cupcake pan and add enough to cover sides. Make sure to create a basket and enough room to fit an egg!

Drizzle 'baskets' with extra virgin olive oil. Put in oven and let brown for 5-8 minuets.

When browned add an egg in each basket and put back in oven. Let egg cook just enough so it's over easy. (8-10 minuets or to desired taste)

In a saucepan on the stove top, saute garlic and spinach until wilted and cooked.


On your plate place the spinach mixture in the middle of your plate. You egg basket should come out easily and it goes right on top of your spinach. Crumble crispy bacon on top (optional of course) and your yummy gluten free breakfast/brunch is all set to eat!!

Enjoy!!

I DID IT!!

March 14th 2010 Race day!!!

It's been a while since I have blogged. UGH!!!

To my defense, I have been training for a 5k. Lord knows I am tired! But not nearly as tired as I was in the past- not tired form gluten poising, tired from working out and training!

So this post is about my race. I DID IT. Can you believe it? I never had to wear shoes as gymnastics was my sport of choice and gymnasts didn't wear shoes. :) So I strapped on a pair of new Nike's an started to train. I trained really slow (thanks to George Cuddy) who told me not to push and to take it slow. "Nothing happens over night" he tells me. "Don't cross your arms over your body, keep them by your sides and take it nice and slow."

The constant reminder was great because my personality is a fiery one. (Those who know me can vouch) I wanted to push, run fast, sweat, feel my lungs burn but that was not the way to do it.

First week of training: (10 weeks total) Walk 10 minuets, run 3

Week 2: Walk 8 Run 5

Week 3: Walk 7 Run 7

An so on and so on.... Not only was I doing my running, I had to make sure I was up on my strength training. I did that on my off days- Tuesday and Thursdays. I took ZUMBA (which I love because it satisfies my dance cravings) on Saturdays. It's a constant reminder of how much I love to move- and it also keeps the heart rate up.

So back to the race... I was nervous. Half way through the training my back started to act up again and I wasn't ready for it. Brain Barkwell, the on-site and amazing physical therapist at Revolution Fitness told me to take it easy. Perhaps running wasn't for me as I am still healing from a back injury from my gymnast days. But I didn't listen. (Sorry Brian) I pushed on.. taking down the level slightly because I didn't want to hurt myself for good..

The day of the race I was nervous. Had I trained enough? Was I going to throw up? Cross the finish line? People in my life had been asking me.. "Why are you running all of a sudden?" It was a personal goal. A mind game that I had to prove to myself that I needed to do this- perhaps it was a way I could tell myself I had finally beat GLUTEN and I was no longer a prisoner in my own body.

Sunday March 14th- Race day. I wake up to a monsoon.. all weekend it was wet and raining. One of the worst rain storms I had ever seen in my 24 years- It rained for 3 straight days and there was over 6 inches of the stuff!!! Not to mention it was cold... bone chilling!

There was NO hesitation. I was running my 5K. After all it was only 3.1 miles. I ran at my own pace and took my time like George told me to do- also I kept my arms at my side and didn't cross them. :) I was the most amazing experience ever. I felt STRONG, even with the pelting rain on my face and the wind trying to stop me.

The last 1/4 mile was on a slushy, muddy bike trail and I sprinted to the finish line. I ran with my arms up ecstatic that I finished. I was so proud of myself. 36 minuets it took me to run 3.1 miles. Completion of the 5K was a milestone for me.

No matter how short or long the race it's setting the goal and completing it that matters. Just set your mind to something.. especially if you have been feeling down and out in the past. Finishing something feels amazing.. I challenge you to try it- it's liberating!

I plan on setting more goals and completing fun things in the future because I am no longer confined to the couch. Thank god. Much more to come....

xo,

Amanda

EXERCISE @ Revolution Fitness!!

Hello...



On top of eating right, one forgets that exercise if right behind. Yes- I work at an incredible fitness facility (Revolution Fitness), but working out is not always easy. Thank god I have good people to push me but dragging myself onto the treadmill or the AMT is not easy....



Remember, there are many things that help in maintaining a physique that you want. Remember you can't do one without the other. Here is a quick list of exercises that I think are beneficial to your health. I don't think of it as one day arms one day legs. I go by the book of total body workout and I love it.



Monday: Kettle bell swings
Med Ball Slams
Push Ups
Cardio: 20 minuets on Arc Trainer
Interval training on the Woodway Dynamic Mode

Tuesday: Helix and Core Strength Class

Wednesday: Front and Reverse Lunges with weight bar above head
Free Weights triceps and biceps
Kettle Bell push ups

Cardio: Run/walk on treadmill

Thursday: Rev It Up Total body workout @Revolution Fitness w/ Derek and or Brendan (Mondays 6:15am and Thursdays 12pm)

Friday: Rest

Saturday: ZUMBA!!!! (Saturday 10:30am)

Sunday: Yoga

I mean, this is a BASIC list of things that I have learned in the past few weeks. I highly encourage anyone to get a FITNESS ASSESSMENT with on of our fantastic trainers at Rev Fit. It's very beneficial and BodyEvolver was created by Mike D our Fitness Manager.

Keep a few things in mind: eat before (consume at least 200-300 calories if you are working out first thing in the morning. I like peanut butter on a rice cake) Eat plenty of protein and drink a lot of water.

I hope this peaks your interest. Happy GF eating and exercising!!!!

xo,
Amanda

The Secret of the day is..... WHOLE GRAINS!

Hi!!

I promise I will get better at this.. I just have to set time out of my busy day to write!

So, I have to tell you.. I haven't been feeling my best lately. I am not full, I am feeling tired again and most of all, I don't feel like I am getting any nutrients. Ugh..

The other day, Craig Wright, someone who I met at the Healthy Villi Conference came into Revolution Fitness to chat with me, catch up and check out the gym. (Thanks Craig for coming! I am so happy I met you and Kim!)

We got talking.. and I slowly realized I am eating all wrong. Yes, I am conscious of my eating and wanting to eat healthy, but it's not enough. I am not getting any grains because of the drastic change in my diet. Then it hit me- (and Craig made it clear) I need to consume more WHOLE GRAINS. They will make you feel full longer... and remember when you have a diet restriction, remember the things you can not eat and try to find alternatives.

Here is a list of the things I went out and bought after our conversation:

1. Nature's Path: Mesa Sunrise Cereal
2. Buckwheat
3. Good for life Multi Seed rice bread
4. Hodgson Mill Milled Flax Seed
5. Blue Diamond Almond Milk

This is just the beginning of changing the way you eat I the eay I eat. And don't let anyone tell you things are expensive. YES- we all know gluten free products are expensive, but there is NOTHING we can do about it. Keep writing to your local state reps and keep putting the pressure on. Also, look into claiming all of your gluten free products on your taxes this year.

Enjoy whole grain shopping. Your body will love you even more. Have a great night!

xo,
Amanda

TGIF: A few drink ideas for you this weekend..

YAY!!



So the weekend is upon us and I wasn't going to Blog today, but someone inspired me to after the nice things he wrote on my FB page. (This one is for you Gene!)



I love beer. I think what I miss most now that I am gluten free is I can not have pizza and beer. The quintessential items for a late night or a fun Sunday watching football. But that has all changed. No more excuses because there are some VERY tasty beers out there that people have a preconceived thought about because it doesn't contain any barley or whatever it is they put in beer. People should explore more- there is more to just grabbing a 12 pack of Bud or Miller light. I mean, don't get me wrong I liked those, but common go and explore.



If you were in a microbrewery with a blindfold on and they told you to taste the beers, you would NEVER know they were gluten free. So here is a list of the top beers I love to drink. (In moderation of course!)



1. New Grist Delicious and crisp

2. Greens Refreshing and a great Ale

3. Bards I love the malted sorghum yummmy!



So there you have it. My top three. Now if you want something I call "Summer in your mouth" please see the recipe below!



The Amanda Drink (Summer in your mouth)

Start with a large 8oz cup

fill 1/2 way with ice

Add 1/2 cup of dry white wine (whatever tickles your fancy I like Pinto Grigio)

Add a drizzle of Grenadine (naturally Gluten Free)

Fill the remainder of the cup with Sprite

Add some cherries if you want, sit back, relax and enjoy!!

Yummm.. a Gluten Free wine spritzer. Is summer here yet?



Have a wonderful weekend and remember: Drink responsibly!



xo,

Amanda

For your interest: Monday Night's Gluten Free Comfort Food Dinner

Hello..

How are you? I wanted to tell you that this week was all about the comfort food. I am talking a lot of cheese ( I know I shouldn't have it) chips and dips and wings. All very yummy things. If you are in the mood, don't shy away from it. If you do, you will only want it more and that's never a good thing. Remember, everything in moderation.

Monday Night's Dinner: Roast Beef with Roasted Potato's and Carrots (Very Easy)

What to get:
1 3Lb Large Roast (preferably from a butcher who sells grass feed beef as it's naturally GF)
6 large Idaho potatoes
1 lb bag of carrots
Olive Oil
Natural Spread Butter
Garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste


*Preheat the oven to 300*
*Place the roast in a large roasting pan. Make 6 good size incisions in the meat and put cloves of garlic inside for taste.
*Salt and pepper the roast liberally (Don't be afraid of the salt, it creates a very nice crust- you can also add garlic powder if you'd like)
*Wash, peel and quarter the potatoes and place around the meat
*Peed and cube carrots and also place in roasting pan
*Salt and pepper the potatoes and carrots
*Add just enough water to made the veggies moist
*Keep checking the veggies so they don't burn and stick to the roasting pan
*The meat should be cooked 20 minuets for every pound of meat. (Depending on the size should take up to 2 hours. Have handy a meat thermometer. When it's done, it should be at 160*)

After it's done, let the meat rest for up to 10-15 minuets to let the juices reincorporate.

Slice the meat and lay on the plate and add potatoes and veggies. A nice garnish would be chives to add a little green and flavor.

This is a ONE POT DISH!!

Enjoy it and please let me know how it goes. Happy Gluten Free eating!

xo,
Amanda

Alive!!!

Hello..



I wanted to enlighten everyone on my great day. First, I had the most amazing workout. Second, after that amazing workout, I ran for a whole 13 minuets-the most I ever ran in my life.



I feel ALIVE again!! Not sluggish or depressed, not tired and rundown- ALIVE. I feel like screaming it from on top of a mountain. HAHA That was a total cliche. Oh well, that's just how I feel.



There is nothing like the feeling of being able to accomplish something again. This time last year, I couldn't do anything. Like I have said in other posts, I couldn't even get off of the couch. No more! I am working harder than I ever have and I am so happy to have the sinful gluten out of my system.



I should let you know that I am training for my first 5K in a few weeks.. I can't wait. Perhaps I will run a full marathon in Hawaii in December? (Can you tell that is my goal?) I am training for a sprint triathlon as well.. Sky is the limit. I can't even begin to describe how I am feeling. I am better than ever...



I hope you are all having a great day as well.. Tonight is Gluten Free Italian Night.. Please stay tuned for the recipes.



Have a great day!



xo,

Amanda