Farmers’ Market Ratatouille

Posted on June 5, 2013 by

Christa Crawford

IMG_0005The farmers’ market is bursting with delicious fruits and veggies this time of year. Last weekend, we picked up a few baskets of zucchini and a couple bunches of carrots. While they may not have had the picture-perfect visages of supermarket produce, those veggies sure were tasty.

Ratatouille is one of my faves because it requires only one pot. There are no fancy cooking techniques involved, and it complements whatever protein is on hand. A traditional ratatouille includes eggplant and excludes carrots, but I say you should use whatever veggies are in your kitchen. This recipe makes six to eight servings. Continue reading →

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Salmon with Spinach, Feta, & Sundried Tomatoes

Posted on May 30, 2013 by

Craig Valency, CSCS

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I was on expectant father cooking duty last night. According to the mom-to-be, I hit this one out of the park. And I would have to agree! We used to love the salmon stuffed with spinach and feta from Trader Joe’s, but I thought I could do better by making my own version. Of course, being from the more is better school of thought, I figured I’d add fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, bell peppers, the kitchen sink… STOP THE TRAIN, because Christa is about to jump off! She saved me from myself and explained the genius of less is more and the importance of letting the ingredients shine. Well they did. Enjoy!

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READER SPOTLIGHT: Chris’s Story

Posted on May 23, 2013 by

By Chris Gonaver

“I finally began to feel that I was in control of my weight, and what I ate, and I didn’t need to be running 40 miles a week.” 

BEFORE

BEFORE

Until the mid-1990’s, I was a dedicated marathoner and triathlete.  My training focus and intensity changed with continuing knee discomfort. While my training level and frequency declined, my diet and calorie consumption did not. Running 40 plus miles a week allowed me to eat anything. Without that level of effort, I beefed up to a high of 225 pounds about 6 years ago and developed unfavorable changes to some blood chemistries.

My father passed away at 52 from a massive heart attack.  One of the many things I inherited from him is mild hypertension. I found out 5 years ago that I had elevated blood glucose levels classifying me as pre-diabetic, which got my attention.  For the first time I realized that my weight was leading me on an unhealthy path and that it was my fault for being unfocused and letting that happen.

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Moroccan Ground Lamb & Beef Lettuce Wraps

Posted on May 19, 2013 by

By Craig Valency, CSCS

Moroccan lettuce wrap

Well, Wifey is pregnant and in no mood for slaving over a hot stove, so her loving, half Moroccan husband decided to make an original creation based on basic Moroccan flavors and whatever was in the fridge.  And it was good! Happy wife, happy life!

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Easy Eats (Part 3): Snacks, Appetizers, & Sides

Posted on May 17, 2013 by

Craig Valency, CSCS

handful_of_wild_blueberriesThere’s nothing like grad school to throw off your blogging mojo! After a relaxing semester of neurobiology and advanced exercise physiology, I am finally ready to resume writing. The long wait is over. Easy Eats Part 3 is finally here.

We’ve already talked about some on the fly meals that don’t involve a telephone or a coupon (Part 2). You may still be looking for convenient snacks and appetizers. There are times when a celery stick or apple is just not enough. You need something a little more interesting, but you don’t want junk food, and you are not about to start cooking. Here’s a few of our favorites: Continue reading →

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Hanger Steak with Strawberry Balsamic Salad and Cilantro Gremolata

Posted on April 9, 2013 by

Christa Crawford

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Last Friday, we went to Starlite San Diego for dinner. As an appetizer, we ordered an avocado with mushrooms and truffle oil. For our main course, we each ordered a hanger steak. We opted out of the potato gratin because it had flour in it. I have to admit that I was pretty sad when the server told me I’d have to replace it with a salad. I settled on the strawberry salad. Yawn. Right? Continue reading →

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Our Outrageous Food Budget (and What We’re Doing to Trim it Down)

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

Christa Crawford, MA

piggy bankI think I’m finally ready to crawl out of my winter cave. I’ve been hibernating my way through several never-ending, miserable colds, thanks to my generous second graders. Can any of you relate?

Anyway, onto the point of this post. We were short on money in March. Distraught over my first world problems (the soaring prices of dark chocolate and the fact that I want a new vacuum and a new phone but can afford neither one), I sat down to get a better look at where all our money has been going. I already knew that we spend a lot on food. But when I saw what it really costs for both of us to eat for a month, I was shocked. We need to seriously trim our food budget. While I do understand that disclosing the dollar amounts would attract more readers, I think I’ll just share a little glimpse of what my bank statement looked like: Continue reading →

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Roasted Squash Soup

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

Christa Crawford, MA

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I’ve been freezing cold all week. I can’t seem to warm up. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t get butternut squash soup off my mind. It’s perfect on a cold night. I know – this is a fall recipe. We are approaching Valentine’s Day. But better late than never, right?
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Easy Eats (Part 2): I’m Hungry NOW!

Posted on January 27, 2013 by

Craig Valency, CSCS

Hopefully by now, you’ve found the Fridge Fairy (Easy Eats, part 1) and have lots of tasty, good-for-you meals that last well into the week. But there are still times when you get home and realize that you’re facing a bunch of raw meat, fish, eggs and vegetables. What do you do then? Here are some of my favorite quick meal ideas.

raw meat & veggies

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Endometriosis: It’s About Time Someone Talked About It

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

Christa Crawford, MA

867275_aloneIt was Christmas Eve. I was thirteen years old. I was sitting in church wearing my new Christmas dress, thinking about the chocolates I was about to devour. Suddenly, I was overtaken by the most excruciating pain I had ever felt in my life. My entire abdomen was enraged. The pain was accompanied by nausea, anxiety, and a systemic deathly feeling. My teeth began to chatter. I was sweaty and cold. I didn’t know what was going on.

On the way home, I was too embarrassed to tell anyone that I was on my period. I felt like I was dying. The pain grew so unbearable that I blacked out. For a few seconds, everything disappeared. You can’t feel pain when you’re unconscious. As soon as I awoke, I realized that the Pain Monster had not gone anywhere. It was unrelenting. I vomited. This cycle continued for several hours: Vomit, faint. Vomit, faint. Several injections of dilaudid later, the pain finally subsided. It was the worst experience of my life. Continue reading →

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