Monday, October 24, 2011

Pumpkin and FitFlax Healthy Muffin


I LOVE muffins.  However most muffins are really cleverly disguised mini cakes, and loaded with calories!  These healthy pumpkin and FitFlax muffins are not only delicious, but they are good for you and low in calories.  They are not too sweet and freeze well too. They are best served warm and shared with friends with a great cup of coffee!  

(FitFlax is loaded with Omega 3's, fiber & antioxidants and helps with weight loss.)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup nonfat milk
1/2  cup FitFlax
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Combine pumpkin, beaten egg, oil and milk in a medium bowl. Make a well in dry ingredients; add pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in FitFlax and walnuts. Fill muffin cups and bake for 22-25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins:  220 delicious calories per muffin

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Metabolism Boosting Foods!



Some foods have a strong metabolism-boosting impact when eaten (no ice cream is not one of them!). Some of the calories are burned off just being digested, so the net amount of calories is less than the amount contained in the food. This process is not called magic; it is dietary induced thermogenesis. Here is a list of some of these wonder foods:

Dairy products can boost weight loss efforts, according to a recent study in obesity research. People on a reduced-calorie diet who included three to four servings of dairy foods lost significantly more weight than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. Low-fat yogurt is a rich source of weight-loss-friendly calcium, as well as protein. Studies show that not getting enough calcium may trigger a hormone that causes us to store fat.

Strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are all high-fiber berries. Fiber acts like a sponge and absorbs and moves fat through our digestive system faster so that less of it is absorbed. Fiber keeps you full and satisfied all day on little calories. A one cup serving of raspberries contains 8 grams of fiber and only 60 calories! FitFlax with flax seed and chia seeds is also a great source of fiber. For flax seed weight loss and chia seeds weight loss, check out FitFlax.

Green tea contains caffeine, which is a natural stimulant that can help your body burn more calories while at rest. Caffeine speeds up the heart rate and also frees fatty acids stored in the body, making them more readily available for energy use. Also, green tea contains a compound called ECGC that may help to boost your metabolism as well by speeding up the brain and nervous system.

Water helps to rid the body of toxins and chemicals that may be slowing down your overall metabolism. A new study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss. Researchers found that subjects of a study increased their metabolic rates by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water. Water is also a natural appetite suppressant that banishes bloat as it flushes out sodium and toxins. FlaxVibrance with flax hull lignans and milled chia seeds is another great source of antioxidants.


FlaxVibrance is also a terrific immune booster which is essential during the upcoming cold and flu season.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Demi Moore looks a little "Less"


You may call me a hater, but I think Demi Moore looks like she needs a couple of chocolate cupcakes! Being fit and toned is great; looking like you are going to pass out is not so great.   Her shoes look fabulous though.

It is ironic that the word cheat is right behind her on the movie poster.

October 18th - National Chocolate Cupcake Day!






Seriously, today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day.  In honor of this momentous day, I am sharing the world's best chocolate cupcake recipe.This recipe is from Modern Day Baker by Nick Malgieri


Insanely Decadent Chocolate Cupcake Delight
(makes 18 cupcakes - share with friends!)


  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350F. Line a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
For the cupcake batter, stir the sugar, flour, baking soda and salt together in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Put the cut up chocolate in a large mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Let stand for 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Whisk in the butter, then the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition until smooth. Whisk in the vanilla and sour cream.
Whisk in the flour and sugar mixture in 3 separate additions, whisking until smooth after each.
Divide the batter equally among the cavities in the pans, spooning it in. Bake the cupcakes until they are well risen and feel firm when pressed in the center with a fingertip, about 20 minutes.
Cool in the pans on racks for 5 minutes, then transfer the cupcakes to racks and cool completely before frosting. Start the frosting while the cupcakes are cooling since it also needs time to cool.
chocolate fudge icing
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 12 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine the cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan and whisk well to mix. Place over low heat until simmering and pour into a bowl to cool to lukewarm, about 110F.
Add the cooled cream mixture to the melted chocolate and whisk until smooth. Distribute the butter in small pieces all over the top of the chocolate mixture, then whisk it in smoothly. Whisk in the vanilla. Cool the icing until it is firm enough to spread. (I chilled mine in the fridge for 20 minutes and then stirred it and let it sit on the counter until firm.)
Use a small offset spatula or knife to spread some of the icing on each cupcake.
Okay, so today it feels to me to be mandatory to have a chocolate cupcake or you may be considered to be a bad American.  You also don't need to turn the oven on either.  NYC has so many great cupcake shops:  Magnolia Bakery, Crumbs and Baked by Melissa...just to name a few.  
I plan to enjoy a cupcake, not two or ten.  Just one incredible one and eat healthy the rest of the day.  That is my intention.  As I am told in Yoga, set your intentions!
I have already had a great cup of coffee with a bowl of 0% fat Greek yogurt, berries, almonds and FitFlax.  FitFlax is a golden roasted flax and chia blend that is loaded with Omega 3's, fiber and antioxidants.  It is low carb/low cal, gluten free and yummy.  It helps with weight loss, gives you energy and is great for your skin, hair and nails. This is my go to power breakfast almost every day.
Happy National Chocolate Cupcake Day!  Namaste!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

OINK, OINK!


I used to write a fitness blog as I try to lead a healthy lifestyle.  I found it to be too much pressure.  I am not fit every day, and don't eat the healthiest every day.  I am a New Yorker every day with a certain New York sensibility.

Sometimes when I am stressed there is nothing like a Bikram yoga class to help.  Other times, there is nothing better than pizza, cookies and wine.  I started my day today with a 4 year old child screaming at me and having an epic tantrum.  That is where we had ended our day the night before.  Today my solution to my stress has been ice cream straight from the pint with a candy bar chaser.  I am attractively bedecked in a lovely pair of sweat pants.  I am not proud!

Tomorrow, I plan on taking a long walk in my SmartSoles  (a toning insole that I developed with my brother and business partner) with a pedometer.  Right now I am going to wipe the chocolate off my face, brush the crumbs off my lap and try to pick up the schmutz that is all over my apartment.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Goldie's daughter now has BROWN hair!

Presently I am obsessed with hair color.  I keep looking at my hair in the mirror as I am letting it go silver (I far prefer that word to grey!)  A lot of my friends and family have weighed in that it is crazy, but so far I am loving it.  My hair is the healthiest it has ever been as I eat lots of flax seed and chia seeds.  I also have been having way too many coconut M&M's, but I don't think my hair is benefiting from that in any manner.  The benefit of flax seed is HUGE!  Flax helps with digestion, elimination (I know so not sexy to discuss), weight loss and makes your hair thicker and healthier. 

But I digress...let's get back to hair color.  I am not only obsessed with my hair color, I am obsessed with everyone else's as well.  I stare at people on the street and ponder whether they color their hair or not, and if they would look better with a different color.   I don't share my thoughts with the person whose hair I am examining, but if my husband is with me, I will let him know my views.  He couldn't care less.

Well, imagine my delight today to see a big pic of Kate Hudson with BROWN hair.  So much fun to analyze.  I hope she is doing it for a movie role!  I thought she looked fantastic as a blonde.  I think the brown on her is beyond horrendous.  Goldie's daughter as a "brownie"...not so much.


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

So Natural!

I may be pale and have some body fat, but this is not a look that I would want to  achieve.  I would rather look like I have enjoyed a few extra Snickers bars than to look like this.  Does anyone want to hug her? Her name is Jodie Marsh, and she is a HUGE star in England.  I still don't understand why she is  famous, but I am sure it is not for curing cancer or adding 2+2!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Yom Kippur-Ish


Today is one of the most religious days of the year in the Jewish religion, and to atone for your sins, one is supposed to restrain from eating or drinking all day until dinner.  I am clearly not without sins, but I don't fast. I become crabby and unpleasant if I don't eat for a few hours; a day without eating would cause me to be so rude that I would have more sins to atone for.

I celebrate what I call Yom Kippur-Ish.  I make resolutions about being a kinder, gentler me to my family, friends and to the planet.  I do all this while eating and drinking.  To all my friends that are fasting, "Have an easy fast!".  To everyone, "May this year be wonderful and filled with joy!"

Friday, October 7, 2011

I LOVE Flax!


I wake up in the morning and my first thought is usually about what I am going to have for breakfast.  I wish I had more lofty morning aspirations, but truly I am only thinking of what I am going to eat and how I can get the most for my calories.  My favorite breakfast presently is Page 0% Greek yogurt with a handful of almonds, some berries and FitFlaxFitFlax is a golden roasted flax seed and chia seed blend that is low in calories and low in carbs.  It is also loaded with Omega 3's, fiber and antioxidants.  This flax blend tastes kind of like peanut butter and has a satisfying crunch.  The chia seeds give me incredible energy and are filling.  FitFlax promotes weight loss which is always a good thing in my book!

I wish I was the kind of person that sat down elegantly (in a beautiful white robe) and ate my breakfast on china with a pretty napkin on my lap while listening to Mozart and browsing the New York Times.  Nope, I am usually standing, eating it out of a take out container, listening to see if one of my kids is yelling for me while wearing a t shirt and shorts.  It still tastes great.

The coupon ww10 gets you a 10% discount for FitFlax.  If you buy 6 bags or more there is free shipping and a larger discount.


Leading My Life

Steve Jobs passing made me evaluate my life.  He was a visionary and a genius, but like the rest of us a mere mortal.  I made the decision that I have to make the most (are at least not the least) of every moment.  I am a cynical New Yorker with too much on my plate and sometimes little if no patience.  I don't take the time to appreciate all I have.  I don't know if I will be able to do that every moment, but I am going to try to step back and be more cognizant of all I have.

First up, I  have been coloring my hair (blond, red, black, purple) forever!  Today I stop. My present color is somewhere between blondish, brownish and maybe possibly reddish in certain lights.  My roots are practically pure white and have been like that since I was in my late twenties.  Let's see if I stick with that.  I don't want to spend the hours in the salon chair and would rather spend that time doing something I love.  Yesterday instead of putting chemicals on my head, I did a Bikram yoga class...and loved it.  I then took my very active 4 year old twin daughters to the library where they screamed, yelled and had tantrums...and acted in general like 4 year olds.  It was fabulous....not so much so for everyone else in the kid's section of the gorgeous Battery Park City Library.

This blog is about being an unapologetic New York Chick who is grateful for her life and looking to finding and sharing the best things, to do, have, eat, acquire and of course at the best price.  I will share deals that I find in New York and online. It is also about being healthy, feeling great and giving back.   And still doing everything with attitude!