Presto Pesto!

Why hello there! :) It's been a little while since we spoke last. Things are crazy here lately. I'm extremely busy feeling well. Yes, you heard me... 

I'M FEELING GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Not just 'sort of great'. REALLY great. Something has changed. Ever since I quit chicken, things have continued to improve. Who would've guessed! My mom is convinced that my problems with chicken were not from the chicken per se but from their DIET. 

If you eat thighs from a chicken that eats corn, you are essentially eating that corn. Let me say that again. A chicken eats corn = YOU eat corn. Now you're probably thinking, "what the heck does that have to do with this?!". Uhhhh folks... It has EVERYTHING to do with it. For a person who struggles with sugar, starchy veggies, & disaccharides, eating corn is not a smart move. However, if that's all you can get your hands on right now, I completely understand. Just do yourself an enormous favor & get organic corn-fed chicken if you have access to it or can afford it (I know; healthy food is expensive!). The best choice would be organic pasture-raised chickens that are at least offered the option of eating grass. Or, if you've got friends in high places, eat strictly grass-fed chicken. The farmer's market we go to every Sunday down in D.C. has a meat vendor that offers grass-fed chicken. It tastes like steak if you catch my drift. ALSO, be sure to eat chicken that's free of probiotics & hormones. YUCK! You don't want to be putting that junk into your system. Another option would be to indulge in more seafood. That's what I'm doing. :D 

Wild-caught flounder fillets with lemon slices, a pinch of sea salt, & a sprinkle of pepper! :) Pop them into the oven at 375 for about 20 minutes per pound. 

Wild-caught scallops cooked on the stovetop with a little organic extra-virgin olive oil.  Just keep an eye on the scallops & flip them when they start to brown. The scallops are finished cooking when they're no longer translucent. SO delicious. :) 

Wild-caught shrimp cooked in a pot of boiling water. Total cooking time? About 3 minutes once the water begins to boil. Could that be any easier? :) 

You cannot sit there & tell me those dishes do not look appetizing. :D And what's even better is how easy they are to prepare!!!! They're basically one-piece (one pot, one pan, one cookie sheet) meals. Name me one SCDer who wouldn't appreciate having to wash only one piece of cookware. ;) Give this a try, guys & gals. I'm telling you seafood is the new buzzword. You will feel BETTER, I promise you. Don't forget to have a veggie, too!! 

If you're feeling really brave, buy a whole fish! :) 

We bought a whole wild-caught red snapper & baked it in the oven at 400 for about 40 minutes (until the thickest part read 145 degrees). SO tasty!!! :) Lots of bones though, just to warn you!

Cooking a whole fish is a great meal. I put a little olive oil (organic e.v.o.o., of course), a smidgen of himalayan sea salt, & a nice pinch of pepper over the entire fish. I'm all about simplicity but if you'd like to kick the spices up a notch or two, feel free! As long as it's incredibly delicious, right? :) 

More seafood and no chicken aren't the only things bringing me relief. Hot yoga is the other missing link. I mentioned it in my last post. IT IS AMAZING. :) I've been going 3-4 times a week & am absolutely loving every second of it. I sweat more than I thought was humanly possible; I stretch beyond my imagination; I am in very little muscle pain! 90 minutes of continuous breathing & relaxation. Doesn't that sound better than going to the gym & killing yourself on the treadmill? And instead of being a gym rat, you're a yogi. MUCH nicer. 

Before I go, I must tell you about my latest invention. :D Frozen basil/spinach pesto!!!!!! I have my dear mom to thank for this.

Frozen Basil/Spinach Pesto

(all ingredients are organic) 

• Wash fresh basil/spinach
• Place washed basil/spinach into a food processor 
• Pour in e.v.o.o. one tbsp. at a time (I added two) 
• Squeeze fresh lemon over the top for a little kick! 
• Add some pressed garlic to give it depth 

• Process until you reach desired consistency

• Spread onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper & place it in the freezer until hardened

• Break into pieces

• Place the pieces into a baggie & date it! VOILA! :) 

And there you have it! :) Now whenever you need pesto for your zucchini pasta, you can just grab a square from the freezer, put it in with your zucchini, cook it, & BAM! You've got yourself a nice bowl of gourmet pesto zucchini pasta! YUM! 

Alright, I believe it's time for me to go. I've got to do some research on hot yoga!!! Look out for tips on what to eat before & after class, how much water you should drink prior to yoga, how to rehydrate afterwards, & much more! :) 

Until next time, BE HAPPY! BE HEALTHY! :D 

~Allie

p.s. this Sunday is my one-year anniversary on the diet so get ready for a MAJOR post! :)