Coconut Cardamom Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup dried Coconut, toasted
1/2 cup all purpose Flour
3/4 cup confectioner's Sugar (powdered sugar)
1/2 teaspoon Cardamom Powder
2 teaspoons Vanilla
Pinch of Salt
6 tablespoons melted Ghee or Unsalted Butter

Directions:
Mix the flour, salt, sugar and cardamom.
Slowly add the roasted coconut. When preparing the coconut roast it on very low heat, making sure it doesn't brown.
Add in the vanilla.
Slowly add in the Ghee, one spoon at a time.
Wrap the dough with some cling wrap and put it in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Pe-heat the oven to 300F.
Form small cookie balls on a cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper)
Cook for 15 -20 minutes - these cookies cook very fast so keep a close eye on them.
Let them cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

NOTE: This is an Ayurvedic meal that is user friendly for people that have the Vata-Pitta Dosha (minus the sugar). Cookies maybe made with Stevia.

Avocado Bean Bowl

Ingredients:
4 spicy black bean patties, cooked, I prefer Morning Star
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 tablespoon Tomato sauce
1/2 Lemon juice
2 Avocados chopped
1 cup Basmati rice, or rice of your choice
2 tablespoons chopped Cilantro

Directions:
Chop the cooked patties finely and mix it with the sauce, Avocado, Cilantro and the lemon juice.
Serve warm over rice.

This is barely a recipe but I was asked to post this so here it is!

Veggie Stirfry with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:
1 Zucchini, thinly sliced
1 Summer Squash, thinly sliced
1 Carrot, thinly sliced
1/2 Green Bell Pepper
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
1/2 Cup Tofu, 1 inch cubes
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Tablespoon Water
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
Salt, to taste
Optional: Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
1 Tablespoon EVO or Ghee

Directions:
Heat up the Ghee/Oil in a Wok or non-stick pan, over medium heat.
While this is heating up, heat up the Peanut Butter, Soy Sauce and Water (in the microwave) for 10-15 seconds, stir.
Sautée all the vegetables for 7-10 minutes. Add in the salt and any other seasonings you prefer.
Once they soften up, add the tofu and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Serve over rice.
Optional: drizzle some Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce to spice things up!!

Green Tea: Benefits

Over the years Green Tea has become one of my favorite go to drinks at Starbucks. It has a lot do with the fact that they carry the Tazo Zen tea. I rave about this tea brand all the time BUT that's not what this post is about. So lets get started! 

I did research this and some of the information listed below comes from credible sources like WebMD. 

Benefits:

• Fights Cancer
• Lowers Cholestrol
• Reduced plaque and bacteria in your mouth
• Prevents cavities
• Protects against heart disease
• Prevents dementia
• Full of antioxidants
• Speeds metabolism
• Prevents diabetes
• Antiviral agent
• Maintains a healthy circulatory system
• Strengthens tooth enamel
• Prevents food poisoning
• Promotes healthy skin
• Prevents bad breath
• Acts as a powerful detox agent 
• Enhances weight loss 

I usually drink one to two cups of the Zen Tea. There is something oh so relaxing about this. In the summer I usually brew the K-cups over ice! 

Spinach Salad

I can't believe I am actually doing a "recipe" blog for this. Its really so easy. Take a huge bowl and add all of the following ingredients together:

• Spinach - 2 cups (makes salad for one person)
• Shredded Cheese (sharp cheddar) - 2 tablespoons
• Sunflower seeds - 1 tablespoon 
• Veggie Patch meatless meatballs - 5 to 7 of them, cooked
• Catalina Dressing - 1 tablespoon (fat free)

For a vegan/healthier twist, skip the cheese!

Prepping for the week: Smoothie (Breakfast/Snack)

So here's the deal, I have a very busy morning ... Like everybody! So I cheat, well kind of! I chop up and portion out my fruits so I can whip up a quick smoothie in the morning! The smoothies I make are full of fiber and protein. Let me know if you would be interested in more smoothie recipes :)

Fiber for Vegetarians

We have all seen people emphasize health benefits of a high fiber meals, so what exactly are these benefits? Fiber enables proper function of your digestive tract. It also reduced the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic women should try and eat at least 21 to 25 grams of fiber daily, and 30 to 38 grams for men.

So one of my resolutions this year was to quit meat, and another one was to reduce processed food. So the options I am providing you are Vegetarian and Vegan friendly. A few things from the list below that I use on a daily basis are: Apple, Avocado, Blackberries, Cherries, Coconut Water, Mango, Nectarine, Pear, Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries etc. Don't have time to eat them, well make a smoothie and drink it up!

Wanting to change your eating lifestyle is a slow process. Take it one step at a time. Here is a detailed list of fiber content in food items that are readily available.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Resolutions!

I personally think most people fall off the resolution wagon after January! I also think this is because they set unrealistic goals. Don't set yourself up for failure. Be honest to yourself and instead of goals make it about good decisions that allow room for error. For instance if you goal is to drink more water, allow yourself with some low sugar or sugar free juice OR allow yourself one cheat meal a week and eat healthy the rest!

Having said that, here are my promises for 2013:

• Get involved with a non-profit that helps developing countries and volunteer. 
• Finish Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - do all 30 days in a row!
• Eat healthy all week and allow self to cheat one meal per week. 
• Quit eating meat -- thats right, none what so EVER! 
• No useless shopping - I have a bad habit of shopping just because. 
• Worry less!! 

Hope you all had an awesome New Year's Eve and I hope that 2013 is oh so kind to you! 

PS: Stay tuned for a Beauty Giveaway. I will be doing monthly Beauty Giveaways on my YouTube channel. Here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/user/HP921Vlog

Picture borrowed from Pinterest

December Workout Update

December (2012) Workout Update: 

I continued my workout from last month, despite my Asthma concerns. This month was rough and I gave it my best but life happens .... Details below!

I always started with a warm up and it was followed with a short 20 minute walk in the treadmill with no incline. This eventually progressed into my current workout on the treadmill (listed below). Keep in mind, this is gradual. I can't stress this enough! It took me weeks to get to this point, well I could actually say months. Now before I tell you what exactly I am doing, please keep in mind that I do have asthma and am by no means lean. Having said that I am not saying that chubbier people can't run. If I can, so can you! Just do it in small sections like me. 

Total Time: 70 Minutes

Calories: Approximately 470-500

Incline 3.5 - I maintain this incline all through the workout time, including warm up and cool down. 

Repeat the following 7 times:

Minutes 1 through 3 - Speed 2.7 m

Minutes 4 through 6 - Speed 3.3 m

Minutes 7 through 9 - Speed 3.5 m

Minute 10 - 5.2 m - RUN! RUN like you see a clearance rack WITH Black Friday deals! HAHA :)

Repeat! 

I workout 3 times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I am a morning person and have a pretty demanding day job so my workout time starts at 5 a.m. Yes waking up that early, even for a morning person, was a tad hard but coming home from work and being lazy is a great feeling!

December 3: 490 Calories
December 5: 550 Calories
December 7: Sick -- My Asthma decided to come visit. I had to change my workout routine. I changed it to something that didn't involve too much cardio but still got rid of some calories.
December 10: Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred (JM30DS) - Day 1
December 12: JM30DS - Day 2
December 16: Apartment Flooded - We lost a pantry full of food, clothes, electronics, home decor items etc. :(
December 25: Just when I thought I had the apartment organized and could get back into the working out routine, we were hit with a snow storm that knocked all the power out, cars under trees and iced in. I am telling you this was not my month!
BUT we restart!
December 30: JM30DS - Day 1
December 31: JM30DS - Day 2

In case you missed ... 

Why I started this section: 

Lets face it, no one truly enjoys working out. I didn't either! My life is a constant battle between my love of food and not wanting to get fat ... well fatter! I also love to cook and bake which doesn't help either. At some point on the battlefield I decided enough was enough! I truly enjoy walking. Yes, walking on the treadmill gets a tad boring, but trust me listening to some music or watching TV makes the time go by so much faster! As most aspects in life, people tend to do better when held accountable for things. So lets just do that! Trust me after doing it for a few weeks you will feel horribly guilty and oh-so yucky when you miss a workout! And after that, ... well you are hooked at this point and well on your way to an awesome new you! 

How I stay motivated: 

This didn't come easy! The system that worked for me was to reward myself for every successful week I had. I would grab myself a magazine or a nail polish or an eyeliner or some cheap jewelry from Forever 21. I kept it under $5 and made sure there was no food involved, it would defeat the purpose of working out. With time this gets easier and then no rewards are needed :)

To be perfectly honest I also had a great support system that kept me on track by holding me accountable. If you can get some friends to follow this with you, do it! If not, I can be your support system! 

I'm making myself unstoppable. Why don't you join me?!!

Spicy Desi (Indian) Potato Tian

Spicy Desi (Indian) Potato Tian

(Serves 2)

 Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• Pam Cooking Spray
• 1 lb Red Potatoes, Sliced
• 1/2 cup Maggi Tomato Chatpat Sauce 
• 1 cup Pepperjack Cheese, Shredded
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1/4 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• 1/2 tsp Chaat Masala (optional)
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the Olive Oil, Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes and Chaat Masala. Set aside. 
3. Spray the inside of a baking dish with the Pam Cooking Spray and place all the potatoes vertically as shown in the picture below. 
4. Drizzle the oil and spices mix over the potatoes. Bake for 60 minutes or until it is golden brown. 
5. Drizzle some Tomato Sauce and Cheese. 
6. Serve warm.

I usually serve this as a side. For those of you wondering what Tian means or where I got that word from, according to Google its a dish of finely chopped vegetables cooked in Olive Oil and then baked.

Best Fashion Trend of 2012: Bracelets

Best Fashion Trend of 2012: Stacked Bracelets 

Is anyone else obsessed with stacked bracelets as much as I am?!! This arm candy trend completely blew up in 2012. Now, some of you might already know this about me, I use to design jewelry. So this little crafter had several supplies at home. This fueled my bracelet "collection" :)

I am not sure what the trend setters have in mind for 2013 but this trend is to stay here .. well at least for me! Having said that, here are a few of my stacked creations. Enjoy!! 

Which one is your favorite??

PS: Follow me on Instagram for more Arm Candy pics! 

November Workout Update

November Workout Update

Why I started this section: 

Lets face it, no one truly enjoys working out. I didn't either! My life is a constant battle between my love of food and not wanting to get fat ... well fatter! I also love to cook and bake which doesn't help either. At some point on the battlefield I decided enough was enough! I truly enjoy walking. Yes, walking on the treadmill gets a tad boring, but trust me listening to some music or watching TV makes the time go by so much faster! As most aspects in life, people tend to do better when held accountable for things. So lets just do that! Trust me after doing it for a few weeks you will feel horribly guilty and oh-so yucky when you miss a workout! And after that, ... well you are hooked at this point and well on your way to an awesome new you! 

November (2012) Workout Update: 

I started with baby steps. I always started with a warm up and it was followed with a short 20 minute walk in the treadmill with no incline. This eventually progressed into my current workout on the treadmill (listed below). Keep in mind, this is gradual. I can't stress this enough! It took me weeks to get to this point, well I could actually say months. 

This month I wanted to incorporate some running into my workout so I changed things up a little. Now before I tell you what exactly I am doing, please keep in mind that I do have asthma and am by no means lean. Having said that I am not saying that chubbier people can't run. If I can, so can you! Just do it in small sections like me. 

Total Time: 70 Minutes

Calories: Approximately 470-500

Incline 3.5 - I maintain this incline all through the workout time, including warm up and cool down. 

Repeat the following 7 times:

Minutes 1 through 3 - Speed 2.7 m

Minutes 4 through 6 - Speed 3.3 m

Minutes 7 through 9 - Speed 3.5 m

Minute 10 - 5.2 m - RUN! RUN like you see a clearance rack WITH Black Friday deals! HAHA :)

Repeat! 

I workout 3 times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I am a morning person and have a pretty demanding day job so my workout time starts at 5 a.m. Yes waking up that early, even for a morning person, was a tad hard but coming home from work and being lazy is a great feeling! 

How I stay motivated: 

This didn't come easy! The system that worked for me was to reward myself for every successful week I had. I would grab myself a magazine or a nail polish or an eyeliner or some cheap jewelry from Forever 21. I kept it under $5 and made sure there was no food involved, it would defeat the purpose of working out. With time this gets easier and then no rewards are needed :)

To be perfectly honest I also had a great support system that kept me on track by holding me accountable. If you can get some friends to follow this with you, do it! If not, I can be your support system! 

I'm making myself unstoppable. Why don't you join me?!!

Hazelnut Crescent Rolls

Hazelnut Crescent Rolls

(makes 8 rolls)

Ingredients: 

• 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 8 Tbsp Nutella 
• 1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• Pam Baking Spray

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a bowl combine the Nutella and the Vanilla Extract. 
3. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam Baking Spray. Unroll and separate the dinner rolls. Place a tablespoon of the Nutella-Vanilla mix at the bottom of the roll and roll them up!
4. Bake for 10 minutes or until it is golden brown (these bake very fast so watch them closely). 

Serve warm!