The Heart of a Meal

I love the holidays…it’s a blessing that started with my grandparents when I was a little girl and has been lovingly fostered by my mom throughout my life.

When I was a girl, it just really didn’t matter what was going on in our lives, we were going to celebrate and we were going to be together. We didn’t have cell phones and iPads to distract us. Cable TV and VCRs didn’t exist so we couldn’t escape the day with Hallmark movie marathons….and stores didn’t open at 4pm- in fact they didn’t open until 6am the next day!
Thanksgiving was a day for family and friends.
In my earliest memories, I’d wake up and wander to the kitchen…. mom would be there making a pie or a relish tray to take to my grandparents. She’s always have some sweet treat and cocoa for Shelley and I to eat while we waited for the Macy’s parade to begin.
Later in the day we’d travel across town to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. The moment we arrived it “felt like Thanksgiving”. There was always a big hug for "Kimmie" just inside the door....the house was warm and noisy and it smelled like heaven. I’m not sure if it was the turkey or the 50 other dishes that seemed to magically appear from the oven that made that smell….but it always made me happy.
The best years were those when my cousins came to dinner (my aunt’s family lived out of town, so they weren’t always there).
I loved those meals…. there were 6 of us, all girls- within years of each other and we got to sit together, away from the adults. Grandma would set a table in the kitchen for us where it was warm and that delicious smell lingered throughout our meal…. The best thing about the “girls table” was that we could talk about and eat anything we wanted- no adult eyes on us!!
She served a very traditional meal, including turkey, potatoes and gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes (with marshmallows), sauerkraut, corn casserole, cranberry sauce, lemon Jell-o with carrots and pineapple and a jeweled colored relish tray filled to the brim with pickles and olives, beets and candied apple rings…. and after everything was cleaned up, there was pie…. pumpkin, apple, and custard with meringue.
Years passed and Mom was put in charge of the meal for a while...my grandparents would travel to visit us. It was a big production, but as my siblings and I grew up, got married and had kids- it was harder and harder to get everyone together.
We've had meals, sometimes with family and sometimes apart. Our food selections have ranged from non-traditional prime rib to turkey. We've made traditional sides, healthy sides and over the top "look at what I can do" sides and we always have a table full of desserts. Towards the end of her "Turkey duty", mom made meals buffet style....you know, food that could be kept warm for those who would be coming late or couldn't commit.
Now, I've taken over the meal. Each year, I find myself pouring over cookbooks and magazines, trying to find the perfect recipes to create the perfect day....should I brine or baste or grill? Do I "make it healthy" or indulgent or a little of both?
It's a yearly challenge to see if I can create that special holiday feeling that I remember so well.
And just this morning, as I pulled out my favorite recipes from years passed, it dawned on me- it's not the bird, or the gravy or even the pie...the heart of the meal has always been the way I feel-
Hugs from my grandparents, giggles with my cousins, my parents laughter and love from my own guys.... it's the relaxed conversation and the laughter- not the food.
And although I could never bring myself to serve pizza this Thursday, I think it would be ok.... as long as I am surrounded by the people I love.

Perfect to me....

Behold the fruit from the apple tree that lives so beautifully in my front yard. I'm sure if I could hear her speak, she'd be gasping a long sigh of relief. Her branches were bent almost to the ground with the weight of her fruit...but she held on without a single broken branch, long enough for the apples to reach their sweet-tart, crunchy ripeness.
As you can see, I'm not a fan of sprays....my apples have bug bumps and worm holes and a dusty dingy cast on the peel. Many people might be so bold as to call them rotten and throw them away. Heaven forbid they might take a bite of the delicious fruit, warm from the sun.
But not me..... no way. I knew underneath that ugly skin I would find perfection. I cut into the unpleasant outside and and found beautiful crisp white flesh that can be eaten out of hand, roasted, cooked in to sauce or frozen to be used another day....
It's kind of a talent I have....finding perfection and beauty in things that others would throw away.
It happens almost every day at the gym.... people walk in the door, feeling sad, unhealthy, and well....ugly.
Many have lost the ability to feel "good enough"  and that's where I come in..... my goal is always to get them to look beyond the mirror (and the scale), because when they do- magical things happen.
When you look beyond the surface, you'll often find goodness and joy. It's easier to be healthy when you're happy....it's easier to stick with a program when it's fun.....it's easier to eat good food when it's delicious.
I know my glass-half full viewpoint is probably quite irritating to some of you.... but it's who I am. There is no perfect in this life.....my life is full of dirty clothes, messy counters, stacks of bills and an overfull calendar, but it also includes love and good friends and sunsets and ugly apples.....all of which have the potential to become something sweet and delicious, and.... perfect to me.

Sunday = Prep Day

Hello!!
 Welcome to my favorite time of year!! I love waking up to cold temps, only to end up sweating in shorts in the afternoon.... later sunrises and earlier sunsets.... nature whispering to slow down.
I find myself falling into a rhythm I love... a day that starts out slow and lazy, curled up with a cup of warmth and a book....easing in to productivity around 9.....and winding back down again around 7.
I'm trying to honor my natural longings a little more these days, but I've talked to myself enough during my 47 years to know I need to be prepared if I want to enjoy these days.
So, with my favorite months just ahead and a need to slow down, I decided to give myself one busy day each week to prepare for a stress free week ahead.....
I woke up this morning at 6, made myself a cup of coffee and sat to answer emails from new Transformation Members. I warmed up my coffee at 7, grabbed a Siggie's strawberry yogurt with a Noosa topper and dove into my weekly email.
I was done with emails & scheduled Facebook posts around 10, so I started in on the "necessaries". You know things like laundry and dishes.
By 11, my nose was in the fridge, looking for the raw ingredients that would fuel my week. Veggies, eggs, chicken & apples (yes- apples....100's of them from our un-sprayed tree. They're ugly, but they taste so good!).

I posted a slow cooker steel cut oats recipe in my private nutrition group and decided to make that. I haven't had oats in a while- they just don't scream "summer" to me. As I mentioned, I have apples coming out of my ears, so I decided to jazz the basic recipe up a bit. I tossed 2 cups S.C. oats, 3 small (peeled & diced) apples, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg, 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste and 6 cups water into my crockpot.

Stir it up, seal it up.....walk away....done! Lol, my favorite way to cook!
The oats should be done around 5:00...I'll let them cool and store in an 8x8 glass casserole to use all week. I'll eat 1/2 cup in the morning. Microwave with 2 TBS. water for 60-90 seconds minute to warm... add your favorite HIGH protein vanilla protein powder and 1 tablespoon chopped pecans after warming.
I put some eggs on to boil, to use as an extra hit or miss protein during the week, and sat down to find a marinade for chicken breast. I have pineapple juice in the fridge, so I googled "chicken marinade with pineapple juice" (it's really that easy). I found one that looked pretty good and tweaked it to match my "rules".

1/3 cup pineapple juice
2 TBS. ketchup
2 TBS. coconut aminos (lite soy sauce would work too)
1 1/2 tsp. minced, peeled ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
Pour over 4 chicken breast. Cover with plastic wrap for 3-4 hours.
Grill til chicken is 160 degrees at thickest part.

So, now I'm pretty set for my meals for the week, so I turn my focus on my non-chicken breast, non-vegetable, non-leftover loving husband..... hmmmmm.....
Time to take a detour....
I have a confession. I've been craving fried chicken....I almost gave in and ordered some when I was on the road with my friend Kaylen last week. I didn't do it, but I DID buy legs and thighs at the grocery store when I got home and made a yummy baked version of fried chicken with the thighs on Thursday.
I have the legs left, so decided to BBQ some for Jeff. I need it to cook itself so I can sit here and chat with you, so I put a grate in my slow cooker, poured in 1 cup homemade veggie broth and placed 8 drumsticks on the grate. Seasoned heavily with 1/2 tsp. spicy smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp. chilpotle chile powder and a smidge (1/8 tsp.) cayenne pepper. I'll let it cook on low for the next 4-5 hours and top with his favorite BBQ sauce 30 minutes before he eats tonight.
Ok...off to fold some clothes, put away dishes & pick the last few raspberries from the garden.
I hope your day has been as wonderfully productive as mine and you have a great week!

job description

soooooooo, after 9,432 days of working under a specific set of rules and expectations, life has changed. I haven't necessarily retired, as much as I've been cut back to part time.
This is an exciting time of year for kids everywhere...back to school, sports kick-offs, new backpacks and pencils.  Everyone has cute new clothes, fresh new haircuts and plans to pack lunch and be out the door with NO hassles on the first day.
And for the first time in 20 years, I won't take a "first day photo", watch the bus all the way down the road or wait for them arrive home to ask about their day....
Yep, my job has changed- and I can't tell you I'm thrilled.
In the last 12 days, I've discovered I like the chaos and the noise and the hugs. I miss the alarm going off in the basement for 45 fricking minutes and the piles of clothes on the floor.
The fridge is full and no one's eating it (well at least not fast enough) and although Jeff and I have had some great talks, dinners and drives (sounds like a food network show, huh?), I was happy when he went to the family room and turned on the TV the other night.... noise. Sweet noise.
So what's a 47 year old woman, who's been a mother for more than half of her life, supposed to do when her boys have moved to follow their dreams or to study and play a little ball?
What do you do when the laundry is all done and the kitchen's clean and you're not searching for the lost dirty sock (that's stinking up the whole darn house)?
What do you do when your paperwork's caught up and dinner is ready?
What do you do when you don't have to rush home on a Friday night, to get to a game?
Ahhhhhhh....... this is the moment when I want to cry (again).
Never a big cry- because I'm happy for them both.
And I'm happy for Jeff and I to live a life that's not consumed with work and worry and laundry and dinner and what to say when you want to beat the pulp out of your kids, but you still want them to love you in the morning......
Never a big cry, but tears- many tears.
Big salty crocodile tears of joy and pride and a deep ache of lonely. and quiet.
What to do???????
I could find a new job, but I did that almost 6 years ago and I still love it.....
I could finally decorate my 21 year old house and buy furniture that might last more than a couple years....
I could find myself again.....
Travel and read. Spend time with my parents and Jeff.
Write....
Workout!!
Re-writing my job description- I'll let you know how it goes.

the taste of summer.....

I have always been a lucky girl.... I was born into a family that liked food.
Not any food mind you, good food.
Growing up, my parents had a HUGE garden....radishes, beans, cabbage, kohlrabi, grapes, pears, walnuts and my favorite (and my moms least favorite) mulberries!
Nothing better than sticky fingers and purple feet, right??
Behind our yard there was a big apple orchard where mushrooms and wild asparagus grew.... We were allowed to pick what we wanted and often Shelley and I would eat the fruits and veggies raw...fresh picked and warm from the sun.
Once or twice a month, mom would take us to a roadside market to buy the things we didn't grow.....plums, cherries and peaches that tasted so good, we couldn't wait to get home to dig in.
THAT, my friends, is summer to me...so many things I love....so many memories, wrapped up in a few sweet weeks each year.

When I grew up and had a baby of my own, there wasn't much money and there wasn't room to plant a huge garden....we didn't have hundred year old trees dropping fruit for our pleasure....but I knew I had to teach my son to love the deliciousness of summer the way my mom taught me.....
I passed a roadside market on my way to Ames every day when Zach was a little boy....one day I took the time to stop on my way home. A nice tall man greeted me as I got out of my car....he helped me pick a box of Missouri peaches.... not too ripe- perfect for eating out of hand.

I took them home and being a first time mom, I thought I should peel and dice one into perfectly sized pieces for my 10 month old boy. He thought different! He saw the "ball" and hollered until I offered it to him. It took just a few moments for the smell to reach his little nose and he dove right in..... I couldn't get to the camera fast enough, although I didn't really need to.... I had new memories of summer, given to me by my little boy

Several years later, I had the opportunity to be a stay at home mom....there was a new baby in our house- the second baby..... Being older, wiser and blessed with more time, I thought I'd try cloth diapers and making my own baby food....
The diaper gig didn't work for very long, but I was determined to feed my boys right! I jumped in the car with Zach and we headed to the roadside market to pick up fruit for baby Sam....
I'll never forget his sweet sticky face in the back seat, when I pulled in to the garage that day....my oldest boy experiencing his own summer joy.

We picked out the perfect peach and he ran in to the house to give it to his baby brother. He watched intently as Jeff offered the first bite and giggled with joy as Sammy dove back towards the sweet fruit again and again.
Eighteen summers have passed since that day...years of peaches and grapes and corn on the cob.... We grow our own raspberries now and have a small apple tree too....
A week ago, I walked in to the store and caught the sweet, sweet smell of peaches the moment I walked in the door.... Memories came flooding in as I hurried past and grabbed the few groceries I needed.... running from the scent that seemed to follow me, I jumped in the car and headed north....
The little roadside stand is still there...it seemed important that I buy the peaches there...
A new nice tall man,  greeted me as I got out of my car....
"need a watermelon? or tomatoes?"
"Nope....just peaches- lots of peaches....
You see the boys are leaving.... Zach has met a lovely girl and is off to Omaha to follow his dreams and Sammy's off to play ball at William Penn..... and I'm lucky enough that we can all be together for lunch."
..... as much as my heart aches to see them go,  I hope that laughter and memories and the taste of summer will always bring them home...

always feels good....

...when day one is officially done AND it went the way you planned.
It's one check mark on a list of 7. 7 days of detox to live differently than I have been.
Doesn't seem so bad, does it? It's kind of like going to Summer Camp.....
Camp counselor says no wine, then there's no wine. No sugar, no sweeteners, no COFFEE, no salt....it's only a week.
7 days out of your adult life when you don't get to drink or munch on whatever you choose.
Should be easy, right?
If it's not easy, you should really think about giving it up longer than a week, because none of the prohibited substances are necessary to exist, although I've had several friends tell me life without coffee or an ice cold diet coke isn't worth living!
Wine is my thing, well coffee too but I think they go hand in hand....drink some wine tonight, need some coffee tomorrow. And just in case we're meeting for the first time through this blog....I'm a snob when it comes to both. I like what I like and if I can't get what I like- I'll pass.... so you wouldn't think it would be so darn hard to give it up!
But it is....
Sugar for some, Soda for some, Salt for some....we all have our demons. It's good to box 'em up for a week or so every once in a while and show them who's boss!
So..... today went as planned for the most part....
I made it to class, ate on time and on plan (with the exception of cold veggie salads in place of hot veggies) and got in 85 oz of water...should be 100 before bed.
Tomorrow's plan is below...  let your friends know and you have to do it, right??
Kickboxing at 4:55 then home for "office day" (don't call or text- I'm disconnecting tomorrow so I can get some stuff done!!! I'll be back online by 4 :) )
I'm going to try to eat a Siggi's yogurt before KB and get in 20+ oz. H2o before class is done....haven't done yogurt before class before- I'll fill you in tomorrow!
1 egg over easy + 3 whites scrambled and fruit (my favorite when I'm home in the morning) at 7 with my hot lemon water
4oz YUM chicken/lettuce wraps with celery on the side (to use up the extra peanut sauce) at 10:30
Pork tenderloin slices on a whole grain tortilla with tons of spinach and homemade ranch sauce at 1:30
Shake while I teach at 4:30
Dinner of Tuna salad (Low-low sodium tuna, celery, onion, mashed avocado & Mrs. Dash) on mixed greens with spinach at 8
water, water, water through out the day
off to bed, now my friends.... house is quiet and I have a chance to read!
sweet dreams

tomorrow

sooooo..... prep is done. dinner is done. dishes are done.
Jeff's at work and Sam's hanging out with some friends, so it's me, my planner and the last half of a bottle of wine.
I had an Americano from Starbucks today and I've consumed approximately 80 oz. of water.
I've munched more than I've "mealed"...I have a tendency to do that on Sunday's when I'm prepping.
I have a delicious smelling creation still grooving in the slow-cooker. If it tastes as good as I hope, I'll share tomorrow....
tomorrow, yeah....
I'm looking forward to tomorrow..... but I'm also scared to death.
The last time I worked out 6 days in a row was several years ago.
My starting place is a little ahead of the curve because I lift and demonstrate in class every day and for some unknown (much appreciated) reason my core is still strong. I can sit-up and rowboat with the best of them....I'm just worried about the running...and the kicking.... and the jumping.
Yep- it's true and now I've said it out loud.... I feel like this is my first challenge and it makes me more than a little sick- but, well, if I can help someone else through it, I can do it too, right?
The plan is this...... for tomorrow:
Up at 3:45.
Hot water with lemon and an RxBar (blueberry is my favorite)
16 oz H2o on the way to class
Workout at 4:55
Teach 6-  16oz H2o
Breakfast Bowl at 7 (1/2 cup whole grain rice with broccoli and 1/2 cup scrambled egg/sausage mixture with salsa) at work
12 oz Hot water
Teach 8:30- 16 oz water
Home at 10:00- 3 stuffed mushrooms, peapods and peppers- 16 oz water
laundry, write, work, etc..... water, water, water
Lunch at 1:30....I'm hoping for super cleaned up delicious lettuce wraps with celery and PB on the side (like I said....it's cooking- I'll let you know)
Teach at 4:30- shake and water while I work..... Vanilla protowhey, flax oil and raspberries
Late dinner, because that's the way we roll in the summer....
Grilled pork tenderloin, coleslaw and raw veggies around 8
NO WINE is my priority goal tomorrow (If you know me, you know I like my wine...).
I'd like to purge myself of habits over the next 5 weeks and discover some rituals and treats to take their place.
I'm going to force myself to bed before 10 so I can get up and do it again on Tuesday.....
I'll keep you posted on my success at following my plan AND the verdict on the chicken in the crock pot :)

Sweet dreams.....
kim

summer sundays

Sundays are always prep days in my house. I wake up at "normal time", create a to-do list in my head and eventually hop up and wander to the kitchen.
My laptop has taken up permanent residence on the kitchen counter...after I put on the tea kettle, I sit down to read or write or catch up on my online class before the day gets in my way.
Once the guys start to stir and move around the house, I know it's time to get moving.....
We haven't been home for a couple of weekends, so it seemed like the fridge was more bare than normal and because I committed to starting over tomorrow, I knew I wasn't going to be able to wing it this week.
I took quick inventory and got started on the things that had to be cooked inside.....
I cooked sausage and scrambled eggs for breakfast bowls, rice with broccoli for a quick side dish. Hot work done before 8am!
I prepped all of the veggies and salads and got my water going (super ripe, too soft peaches and basil) then started to make meatballs.
Ugh.... I'm sick of meatballs. Don't get me wrong, I love the pre-portioned convenience, but I had such a busy week last week that I ate meatballs a.lot. :(
A good friend of mine gave me some lean ground pork yesterday and I happened to have a ton of BIG mushrooms in the fridge, so I decided to play around with a new stuffed mushroom recipe....
my experiment paid off....they're delicious, hope you enjoy.

stuffed mushrooms
1# package large fresh mushrooms
1 egg
3 tsp. Italian seasoning or herbs of choice
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
1# lean ground meat of choice
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

1. Rinse mushrooms and dry with a paper towel.
2. Remove stems. Rinse and finely dice 1/2 of the stems to get 1/4 cup. Discard remaining stems
3. Beat egg in a large bowl, Add Italian seasoning and mix
4. Add onion, red pepper and diced mushroom stems
5. Add ground meat and mix until veggies are evenly distributed throughout mixture
6. Form 1 ounce balls of meat mixture and press into mushrooms
7. Sprinkle with a dash of sea salt and fresh black pepper

Grill (meat side up!) on well oiled grill rack for 25-30 minutes, or until meat reaches an internal temp of 165.

Ladies, you can have 4 mushrooms....guys, you can have 6.
Mushrooms are darn close to a free food so enjoy these with extra veggies or a salad on the side.