Grilled Naan Pizza

     I am so excited to introduce you all to my latest foodie find: Grilled Pizzas!  Ahh...to die for.  I have made them literally every day this week and still cannot get enough.  This recipe features my favorite combination of ingredients, but feel free to take creative liberties here and customize the ingredients as you would like.  So without any further hesitation...here are my step by step instructions for the mouthwatering grilled pizza you see below!

 

Ingredients:

2 pieces of naan

2 frozen basil cubes (See my previous post on how to make them here)
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Ground pepper

Step One: Melt the basil cubes and brush the basil oil over the pieces of naan.

Step Two: Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place on top.  I used some gorgeous heirloom cherry tomatoes here that I bought at the farmer's market last weekend...so good!

Step Three:  Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top of the pizzas and add ground pepper to taste.

Step Four: Place the pizzas on the grill and close the lid.  Grill for about 3-4 minutes, rotate, and then grill an additional 2-3 minutes.  I found a medium flame to work about the best, allowing the bottom to crisp without burning too quickly.

Step Five:  Remove the pizzas from the grill.  Cut into slices and enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.

Clean Snacking -An Article Review

As published in the Student Nutrition Association of Kaplan Newsletter, July 2014, Vol. 3, Issue 3.

"Clean Snacking-One of the Fastest Growing Food Trends" 

-Lori Zaneston in Today's Dietitian

  

     Cleaning snacking:  No it’s not about washing your hands before digging into the popcorn bowl, although you totally should!  It’s about choosing healthier foods not only for meals, but throughout the day as well.  To be considered clean, foods have to be whole and in their least processed state to offer the greatest nutritional value for those consuming them.  

     In the past year there have been a lot of new “health” snacks emerging in the market.  The author takes a look at some of them to determine whether this is just another trend or if they are really on to something here. Some of these products can mislead consumers into thinking they are healthier than their alternatives with cleaner-looking packaging that features health claims front and center to catch their attention.  Zaneston suggests consumers pay more attention to the back of the label to double check its actual nutritional value by doing a food label comparison with other similar products. 

     Zaneston points out that the ultimate go-to clean snack is fresh fruits and vegetables, but also lists a bunch of other options that were enough to make my mouth water as I was heading straight to the grocery store.  My top three favorites were Happy Squeeze fruit & veggies pouches made by Happy Family Organic Superfoods, KIND fruit & nut bars, and Real! veggie chips.  I am also anxious to try Bare crunchy coconut chips!  Read Zaneston’s article for a complete list of her clean snacking ideas.

To read Zaneston's article visit: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/060114p20.shtml

DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.

Remember the Basics for a Happy & Healthy Fourth of July Weekend

(Photo Credit: Rebecca Hemling)

Food Safety: This is super important when going to backyard cookouts and picnics.  One in six Americans get a foodborne illness each year (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d.)  Don't be one of them...remember to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot, store raw and prepared foods separately, and wash hands often. 

Fireworks:  Whether going to a community show or setting your own off in the backyard, fireworks have the potential to be extremely dangerous.  On average, 240 people a day go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries during the month of July (U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, n.d.).  Avoid being one of them....keep a safe distance at all times, watch children closely, and stay alert for falling debris and faulty detonations. 

Be Sun Safe:  Protect your skin and eyes when outdoors in the sun.  Each year more than 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer (Sun Safety Alliance, n.d.).  Reduce your risk...apply sunscreen before heading out and reapply often, find shade when possible, and wear sunglasses and/or a hat. 

Traveling:  Be mindful of excess traffic that will be on the roads over the holiday weekend.  Allow extra time to get to your destination and if possible avoid heavily traveled roadways.  *Psst*  This is a great opportunity to practice Mindful Driving!

Drink Responsibly: This one needs little explanation...please don't drink and drive.  The Fourth of July holiday weekend is marked as one of the "deadliest" of the year with over 40% of all traffic accident fatalities being caused by drunk drivers (U.S. Department of Transportation, n.d.).

Have Fun!  The long weekend spent with family and friends is a great opportunity to get outdoors and get active...gather everyone together for a hike, bicycle ride, swimming, a game of baseball, volleyball, tennis, or any other activity you enjoy.  Not only will you have fun but get some great exercise too!

And one last tip...take a moment to reflect on freedom and what living in America means to you.

Sun Safety Alliance. (n.d.). The facts about getting too much sun. Retrieved from  http://www.sunsafetyalliance.org/bare_facts.html

U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. (n.d.). Fireworks information center.  Retrieved from http://www.cpsc.gov/fireworks

U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). 4th of July drunk driving prevention campaign.  Retrieved from  http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/july4th

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Picnic food safety [PDF File].  Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/UCM354231.pdf

DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.

Freezing Fresh Herbs

     It seems like the growing season has hardly started, yet my herbs are going crazy...I can hardly keep up with them!  I just love having fresh herbs on hand and find that freezing them is the best way to enjoy their vibrant taste and color in recipes all year round, that is if they last that long!  

     Freezing herbs is really simple and takes just minutes of time.  I start out by picking the fresh herbs and washing the leaves well, leaving them on a paper towel to dry while I get everything else ready.  I use a mini food processor and ice cube trays.  Also, in order to chop and freeze the herbs some form of liquid is necessary.

     This is where it gets fun!  The herbs can be frozen just on their own with some water or broth OR all kinds of exciting combinations can be made using oils and other ingredients. I like to use olive oil for herbs that I know will not be used for cooking, but heat-stable oils like grape seed or safflower oil work great if the herbs will be used to saute veggies or proteins. 

Some of my favorite combinations are:

• Basil with garlic and olive oil to dress salads or as a dip for bread.  I have even added a bit of parmesan and made a quick faux-pesto (yummy!). 

• Cilantro with the juice and zest of a fresh lime for making pico de galo or adding to rice (awesome in burritos!).

• Mint with honey and lemon juice adds a refreshing twist to iced teas and cocktails.

      So once I have my combinations picked out I pack the herbs into my food processor along with any other ingredients.  I start out with just a tiny bit of liquid and drizzle in more as needed.  In order to not pulverize the herbs completely, just pulse them and check their consistency often.  I prefer mine to be slightly chopped.

    
     Then finally, just scoop the herb mixture into ice cube trays and place in the freezer.  I suggest labeling them cause they really all look the same at this point! Once the cubes are frozen solid I pop mine out and transfer them to labeled freezer bags for storage until I need them.

DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.