Warm Kale Salad + Tabata Time

\ by

We will talk salads in a minute, but first a picture from the Lady Antebellum concert I attended last night with Becca.

IMG_0931
Since Becca is a working mommy, it’s rare that we have a night to ourselves to have enjoy some drinks and good food and take in some quality country music. We’re both huge country fans, so you can rest assured we were rockin’ out the entire night in our cowboy boots, just like back in the glory days of high school.

Lady A. was amazing, and the opening act, Kip Moore, well, he is part of the reason country music has started to appeal to the masses…masses of young women that is.

IMG_0927

(Here he is belting out Landslide with Lady Antebellum and Kacey Musgraves. He is the one in the plaid cut-off…it takes a real country man to pull that off!

A nice ol’ country boy from Georgia with that slow Southern drawl, grit in his voice and a twinkle in his eye. The modern day cowboy crooning about “young love” and a pretty girl that he wants to take home ’cause his “momma’s gonna love” her. As the Dixie Chicks say “cowboy take me away!” Ah, yes, a girl can dream.

(For the record, he was kind enough to sign autographs after the show – the line was long. I snapped a pic from afar while we were walking out. I’m not invested enough to wait two hours for an autograph. I’ll stick with that whole clichéd “riding off into the sunset” cowboy fantasy instead.)

IMG_0941

(Intensely staring into a pretty blonde’s eyes. Why do I feel like he has done this before?)

But, enough about cowboys. Let’s get down to the salads.

For someone who claims to love salads so much (every WIAW features a gigantic salad), it is shocking that I have never actually posted a salad recipe to this blog. Well, other than my kitchen sink salad from back in the NYC days. And those were the days when cooking to me meant throwing a bunch of processed stuff in a bowl and calling it dinner.

I’ve come a long way, my friends.

Anyway, recently, I’ve been on a warm salad kick. It’s still cold and gray here in the midwest, and I’m not ready to transition to summery fruit salads just yet. For those of you that find the idea of a warm salad puzzling, let me explain. Technically, a warm salad is a salad with any warm component, such as warm chicken, bacon, salad dressing etc.

For this particular salad, I sautéed the kale with a lemon shallot vinaigrette until the leaves were slightly wilted and then topped with some candied walnuts, cranberries and fresh parmesan cheese. Rule #1 of Sometimes Healthy Cooking: Everything is better with cheese (and chocolate).

IMG_0768

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Pistachio Lucky Charm Cupcakes + Skinny Shamrock Shakes + a Jumpin’ Leprechaun Workout

\ by

As you can see from the title of this post, we have a lot to cover today, so let’s just dive right in.

When it comes to holidays, I’ve never found one that I don’t enjoy. Halloween is a sweet-lovin’ bakers’ dream, Christmas is usually accompanied by the acceptance that it’s okay to gain 15 pounds of sweet treat weight and Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolate bingeing.

However, for the past 9 years, St. Patrick’s Day has always been high on my list of favorite holidays. I lived in two cities (NYC and Chicago) that celebrated St. Patty’s day in a big way. Surprisingly, Chicago’s festivities actually seemed bigger than NYC’s celebrations. Any town that dyes an entire river green for one holiday clearly takes it seriously…

2636_609947752675_1234621_n

It is entirely possible that St. Patrick’s day seemed liked a bigger deal when I lived in Chicago, because I was in my early 20’s, and nothing made me happier than drinking green beer at 9am, eating greasy foods and running around with my tipsy friends all day.

64_509965947015_8804_n

Oh yeah – look at that festive little girl dressed in green, sporting a green tongue and getting drunk off a spiked Big Gulp without a care in the world. Ahhh, the innocence of youth. When I lived in NYC, I still celebrated St. Patty’s day, but certainly not with the reckless abandonment of my Chicago days.

Alas, I digress. From my minimal research, it doesn’t appear that Omaha is quite as enthusiastic about this institutional holiday as my former cities. The good news is that I’m now older and more mature, so I don’t need to throw back a bunch of Guinness to celebrate St. Patrick’s day.

Nope, instead I’ll just bake up green pistachio cupcakes, smother them in homemade marshmallow frosting and top them off with Lucky Charms.

Because that is clearly a more grown-up thing to do.

IMG_0685

 

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Cookie Butter Stuffed French Toast + One Song Kickboxing Workout

\ by

Remember that jar of cookie butter that I was so proud of myself for not eating all in one sitting?

Well, the bad news is that it’s all gone.

The good news? I sandwiched it in between some pieces of thick white bread and caramelized bananas, drenched it in a sweet egg wash, threw it on the griddle and created your new favorite breakfast. You’re welcome. 

IMG_0251

No, seriously, if you make this Cookie Butter Stuffed French Toast, you may find that every other breakfast food all of the sudden seems a bit boring.

I suppose that french toast slathered in Cookie Butter isn’t necessarily the healthiest thing in the world, but it’s cold and snowy outside, and you need a sweet, filling breakfast to keep you warm. If you’re not in the mood to brave the cold/snow to head to the gym, never fear. After seeing the popularity of my “Countrifed One Song Workouts” on Pinterest, I decided to create a kickboxing workout in a similar style: 4 fast-paced rap songs matched with high intensity, heart-pumping kickboxing moves. You’ll definitely break a sweat.

You may want to eat this french toast after the workout, but if you cannot wait until then, I won’t judge… Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , ,

Skinny Buffalo Chicken Pizza + 15 Minute Full Body Burn

\ by

I don’t know about you, but the moment that clock hits around 5:30 on Friday, I have one thing on my mind: indulgence.

This indulgence can mean everything from a few happy hour drinks and appetizers at the bar to 3 gigantic bowls of ice cream or a nice cozy night indoors with pizza and some vino. Alas, pizza has always been one of those foods that I cannot control myself around.

You see, I tell people that I’m “not a fan of pizza,” but the truth is, I’m just afraid of eating an entire large pizza by myself! Really, how can one not enjoy pizza? It’s a piece of buttery/oily bread, cloaked in tomato sauce and a bunch of cheese. You can’t really go wrong, and once I eat just one piece, I find myself going back for seconds and thirds in a matter of minutes. 

IMG_0126

(I could totally house this entire snowman myself…)

Personally, I’m very happy with a quality piece of cheese pizza, no toppings required. If it ‘aint broke, don’t fix it, right? But…what if there was a way I could eat half of the pizza by myself without inhaling 5000 calories?

Enter cauliflower crust pizza. I’ve seen it many times over the year, but for some reason, I always assumed it was out of my league! Well, on Wednesday night, with a giant kitchen to myself and the freedom to blast the country music to my heart’s content, I set to work on creating a Skinny Buffalo Chicken Pizza featuring a cauliflower pizza crust.

I was certain I was setting myself up for yet another kitchen disaster, but to my surprise I concocted, dare I say, a masterpiece! The crust was crispy and reminiscent of the actual buttery pizza crust that I know and love, and there was the familiar taste of buffalo chicken in every.single.bite. Even better, this little pie is gluten free! Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts

Cookie Dough Oreo V-Day Truffles + Kickboxing Bootcamp Workout + a Romcom Must-See List

\ by

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

As someone who has spent many Valentine’s Days both single and in relationships, I’ve never really understood the bitterness towards this holiday. Sure, it’s a Hallmark holiday, but if you’re in relationship, it’s another opportunity to remind that special someone why you love them and if you’re single, it’s the perfect excuse to bake some sinful sweets and show some of the important people in your life how amazing they are. 

And let me tell you, after the “great breakup of 2014,” I have a long list of people to thank for their love, support and of course, patience. You see, I’m one of those people who constantly seeks advice from her friends and family. I listen earnestly, taking in every single word and vowing to take their wise advice. Yet somehow, I always end up doing the opposite. Thus, I owe a lot of “thank yous” to these patient people!

Anyway, lots to cover today and such little time to capture your attention. If you’re scrambling to bake something last-minute today, then I have just the recipe for you…and you don’t even have to bake. All you need to do is grab some of those new Cookie Dough Oreos, some cream cheese and melting chocolate and magically, you will have a rich, decadent and chocolatey truffle.

IMG_0046

Personally, I always indulge a little extra on every major holiday. Therefore, I make the gym a priority on those days as well. Today’s workout is inspired by a class I took at the gym last week. The class combined simple boxing moves with intense bootcamp exercises, and I was a hot, sweaty mess by the end. Hopefully, this workout will do the same for you.

And finally, if you are single on Valentine’s Day, you may just want to stay in with some friends, eat those delicious oreo truffles and watch a nice, cozy romcom. I’ve put together a list of my top 10 romantic comedies that never fail to make me cry like a little baby but also remind me that the whole “happily ever after” deal does exist. 

IMG_0049

Continue Reading →

Posted in: holidays, Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , ,

Honey Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding + The Magic 100’s Workout

\ by

Hope everyone has made it through the cold week without, well, catching a cold!

Is it weird that I spend 90% of my day in a big fluffy hat, scarf and mittens (even when I’m in the house)?

A couple weeks ago, in WIAW, I shared my experience trying a Chia Pod, an on-the-go freshly packaged chia pudding from Australia. I was instantly hooked on the texture, but the lack of flavor left me yearning for more.

So what does an unsatisfied Sometimes Healthy Girl do after a less-than-stellar chia pudding experience? Well, she grabs the chia seed by the horns of course! Once I realized how easy it was to make my own chia seed pudding, I set out to make a pudding that packed a flavor punch.

The result was a creamy pudding swimming with chia seeds, vanilla and a hint of honey. When topped with some fruit and chocolate chips and paired with my typical extra large coffee from DD, it was just the fuel I needed to help power me through a very challenging circuit workout!

But, first the recipe for this oh-so-easy Honey Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding!

Honey Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
Yields 4
The superfood to conquer all superfoods stars in this simple breakfast dish that can be thrown together in a pinch. SImply whisk with some key ingredients and place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, like magic, you'll have a creamy, nutritious and tasty breakfast!
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Millk
  2. 1/2 cup fat free greek yogurt
  3. 1/4 cup chia seeds
  4. 3 tbsp honey
  5. 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  6. 1 tbsp cinnamon
Instructions
  1. In medium bowl, whisk all ingredients gently, until well-incorporated.
  2. Let stand for 30 minutes, and then transfer to mason jar. Seal, shake and place in the refrigerator overnight (or 4-5 hours if you don't want to wait!)
  3. The next day, serve in mason jars, or spoon into bowls, topping with berries or dark chocolate chips.
The Sometimes Healthy Living Blog https://www.sometimeshealthylivingblog.com/
Can you believe how thick and delicious this superfood pudding looks?

IMG_0394

When I first set out to make this pudding, I was totally confused. “I don’t get it,” I thought. “How does the pudding become thick without gelatin or xanthan gum??” Wellll, it’s because the magical little seeds absorb liquid overnight, until the texture and thickness is the exact consistency of pudding. Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , ,

Strawberry Wine Cake Truffles + Create Your Own Bootcamp Workout (Part Deux)

\ by

An official (snowy) Happy 2014 from the Sometimes Healthy Living Blog!

IMG_0238

(My gorgeous view this AM)

What better way to welcome the new year than with booze, sweets and, of course, a workout. The workout is adapted from my most popular Pinterest workout to-date, and I think those of you with fitness resolutions for 2014 will really enjoy the freedom of creating your own bootcamp workout.

As for the recipe, well, I debated kicking the year off with a healthier recipe, but as you may recall, on New Year’s Eve, I promised a recipe for champagne cake truffles.

And, I always keep my word.

Well, sort of. Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Boozy Baking + A New Years Countdown Workout

\ by

Just wanted to check in quickly before 2013 draws to a close. Apologies for the lack of posts, but I’ve been taking the holiday season to figure out a few things going on in my life right now.

I planned on sharing a recipe for Champagne Cake Truffles with you, but unfortunately, there was a slight mishap with the batter. Hopefully I can share with you later this week, as it will be perfect for Valentine’s Day as well!

Here’s a quick preview.

017a2880fb5de46ab29294de2a320fc4

And for those that are interested in baking with champagne: Simply take any cake mix (though the white cake mix bases allow the champagne flavor to cook through more), mix with 1.5 cups of any ol’ champagne and bake according to package instructions.

Warning, batter will be bubbly, seriously. You might also consider adding a touch of Chambord for a little raspberry kick. Next, consider mixing some canned pink frosting with a touch of champagne, and you’ve got yourself a nice little boozy cake for New Year’s Eve.

The best part? You can just drink the rest of the champagne while you bake. Look for the full recipe later this week!

Hopefully, this fun countdown workout will make up for the absentee cake truffle balls.

New Year Workout

Ya don’t have to yell “Happy New Year!” at the end, but personally, I find that it’s more fun that way.

I hope to make some big changes in the New Year and eventually be able to share them with all of you. I may even make a few resolutions (hey, why not?)!

In the meantime, I’m off to the gym to bust out this countdown workout before the festivities begin. Wishing you a healthy, happy AND safe New Year!

IMG_4817

 

Posted in: workouts

Peppermint Gingerbread Truffles + A Jingle Bell Rockin’ Workout

\ by

“Twas 6 nights before Christmas, and all through the house,”

The smell of chocolate was everywhere, and the dog was staring like a hungry mouse…”

IMG_0141

“The gingerbread treats were formed, covered in peppermint chocolate, and sprinkled with care,”

In hopes that this second batch would have the right amount of holiday flair.”

IMG_0154

“The hard-working baker was far from ready for bed,

As visions of the Snowball Pizza from earlier that night danced in her head.”

IMG_0126

“She pulled the treats from the fridge and felt oh so merry,

Red, green, white and delicious, they had certainly been blessed by the holiday fairy.”

IMG_0158

Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Baked Challah Egg Nog French Toast + the BS Workout

\ by

I have been waiting to share today’s recipe with you for almost an entire week, and anyone who knows me well knows that patience is not necessarily one of my virtues.

I love this new recipe for Baked Challah Eggnog French Toast for many reasons:

1 – It is topped with a  delicious Cranberry Strawberry Compote that takes the festive dish to another level

2 – It has just enough eggnog flavor to be sweet and tasty, without being too overpowering.

3 – It combines 2 great foods from different religious customs: us Jewish people eat “Challah” bread on Shabbat and special holidays, and of course, the entire world drinks copious amounts of eggnog to celebrate Christmas (or make lots of holiday family time a bit more tolerable). Indeed, it’s a Chrismukkah miracle dish!

IMG_0287

Baked french toast is one of my favorite dishes to make when I have friends over for brunch or guests in the house. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the aromatic scent of maple syrup and baked bread. Well, add to that the scent of nutmeg, cinnamon and cranberries, plop it on top of sweet egg bread, doused in eggnog, and you’ve got yourself a pretty irresistible breakfast. In the spirit of Sometimes Healthy, I used lowfat ingredients as well. Merry Christmas!

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Sometimes Healthy Friday without a little workout to take into your ridiculously busy pre-holiday weekend. Over the past week, I’ve had the pleasure of knocking off a lot of my workouts with my best friend, Becca. She seems to like my workouts, and I love having company when I work out! The other day, she mentioned to me that she really enjoys my workouts but doesn’t think she would want to do them on her own. As a working mother of two, she’s one busy woman, and while she does a great job of squeezing in that 45 minutes to an hour to work out, when she does, she wants to do what she likes! So, my dear friend Becca S. (BS ya’ll), this workout is for you. I know you like your cardio, so I kept this circuit workout to 15 minutes, so that you can squeeze in at least 30 minutes of straight cardio!

Let’s start with the long-awaited recipe.

Baked Eggnog French Toast with Cranberry Strawberry Compote
Serves 15
A sweet and hearty simple french toast casserole that brings together some of the holiday season's best flavors and places them on top of sweet Challah (egg) bread.
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr 5 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr 5 min
French Toast
  1. 1 loaf Challah Bread
  2. 1 1/2 cups Egg Beaters
  3. 2 cups lowfat eggnog
  4. 1/2 cup fat free half and half
  5. 3/4 cups sugar
  6. 2 TBSP vanilla extract
  7. 1 TBSP ground nutmeg
  8. 1 TBSP cinnamon
  9. pinch of salt
Cranberry Strawberry Compote
  1. 1 bag fresh cranberries
  2. 2 cups strawberries, diced
  3. 1 cup sugar
  4. 1 cup water
  5. 1/4 cup lemon juice
  6. 1 TBSP cinnamon
  7. 1/2 TBSP nutmeg
For French Toast
  1. Slice Challah Bread into 15 slices, about 1 inch thick.
  2. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and arrange slices in 2 rows, overlapping.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the Egg Beaters, eggnog, half and half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and whisk until blended.
  4. Pour mixture over bread, ensuring all pieces of bread are covered evenly; spoon mixture between slices as well.
  5. Cover and refrigerate overnight (2 -3 hours will be sufficient).
  6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees the next morning, and bake for 45 minutes, until french toast is set and slightly golden.
For Cranberry-Strawberry Compote
  1. While french toast is cooking (or the night before), pour cranberries, water, sugar, lemon juice and spices in a medium saucepan and cook on medium high until cranberries begin to burst.
  2. Stir cranberry mixture and add in diced strawberries.
  3. Cook on medium to medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fruit is cooked down but still a little chunky, about 10 - 12 minutes
  4. Remove from stove and serve warm or, if prepping the night before, cover and keep in refrigerator.
Notes
  1. It is not necessary to steep bread overnight; if making early in the morning, 2-3 hours should be sufficient.
The Sometimes Healthy Living Blog https://www.sometimeshealthylivingblog.com/
I probably could have eaten the entire dish of french toast, if given the time. It was just THAT good. And, it was even better when topped with bananas and whipped cream. Continue Reading →

Posted in: Recipes, workouts \ Tagged: , , , , , ,