Acai Rio Bowl

Opera raves about it, Rachael Ray can't live without it, no one can pronounce it (ah-sah-EE) , and I freaking love it.

Recently I've been buying it in juice form and adding it to my morning smoothies. I really like Sambazon, it's organic and has 80% juice (it's got some agave in there to help sweeten and smooth it out) At around $7.99 for a 32 oz bottle, and even cheaper when it's frequently on sale, it goes a long way for little cash. They also have an organic Acai, Pomegranate and Blueberry mix, but I'd yet to try it, if you have let me know.

I usually have my Acai 2 different ways, as juice in my smoothies, or in a frozen almost sorbet like form with granola and bananas (Rio style!). I got my idea from Robeks Juice, they have a great one.

So yesterday I went down to Albertson's to replenish my staples and look for a frozen version before I figured I'd just have to google it and make it myself, and lo and behold! (Sambazon also has one but I've yet to make it to a store that carries it)


So I decided to be a champ and make some of the granola I saw at Robeks on my own and see if I could get the same results.

Following my granola recipe, I used;
1 c Rice Krispies
2 c Coach's Oats (or your favorite oats)
1/2 c Bran flakes
1/4 c raw sunflower seeds
1/4 c flax seeds
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp brown sugar

Here's the Rio Bowl at Robek's;

And here's mine;
(more banana ftw!)


The bran and sunflower seeds add a nice flavor, and the krispies give it a great crunch. Overall very close to the original, especially if I can find the Acai sorbet, and forgo this Blueberry Pomegrante blend.

My other method involves a blender, so if you want my Acai Smoothie recipe you gotta go here.

All American Sunday

Today I got in around 40 minutes of step aerobics on the Wii Fit before I was kicked out of the living room for Golf.

Lunch consisted of;



1/4 c edamade; steamed (MUFA's!!), 1/4 of a lemon pepper chicken breast, 2 tbsp hummus (spicy and garlic from Trader Joe's) 3 corn crackers snapped in half, and 1/4 c of Black Cherry Sugar-Free Jello with blueberries and strawberries for "dessert".

Then I grabbed my tub'o'granola I made yesterday, and put 1/2 cup into a plastic baggie with 4 tsp of semi sweet chocolate chips (OMG more MUFA's!).



I threw this into my purse for a snack later when I was out running errands.



I'm also currently in love with these pink pouches of happiness.



I used to drink the Tangerine ones, but these are so much yummier! 25 calories a pouch, and I just throw one in a water bottle and shake 'n' chug. It's got like 1600% of my vitamin C, so I think I won't be getting any colds anytime soon.

After some buddy time down at Starbucks in the freezing coldness of San Diego in early February, I came home and had dinner.

It consisted of;



A lean burger; grilled, with 1 slice of American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard. A hot dog with kraut, spicy horseradish mustard (OMG YUM) and relish, and 1/4 cup pinto beans with Frank's red hot sauce. Not the HEALTHIEST dinner, but it was far less calories than any fast food place could have served up for the same thing.

Homemade Granola!

One of my AB FAB Favorite clients and I were exchanging recipes (as we often do) and she told me about her new favorite snack. GRANOLA!! Well I am all for new recipes and I am all for granola, it just gets SO DARN expensive. So thanks to Jennifer for this yummy recipe, cuz it literally costs PENNIES to make!!

This is the recipe Jen gave me; but me being me I tweaked it a bit.

1.5 cups oats
1/4 cup unsalted almonds, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup unsalted walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup pecans,  coarsely chopped
3 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 Tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 300 and spray a large baking sheet with cooking oil.
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, mixing well to  be sure everything is coated with the syrup and honey. Spread the mixture onto the prepared sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden  brown. Let cool completely before storing.

Berta's Tweaked version;



I started off with 1 cup oats, and 1/2 a cup steel cut oats, maple syrup, clover honey, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a nut mix I picked up in the bulk section of the market (it includes peanuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews ect ect...) I also added a handful of sunflower seeds, and a handful of pumpkin seeds.

It's my MEGA MUFA MIX!



Then basically, throw everything in a bowl and stir it until its well mixed.



Spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 for about 25-30 mins, stirring it around to make sure it doesn't burn every 5-10 minutes.



The great thing about granola is that as long as you add Dry (oats), and Wet (honey), you can mix ANYTHING into it and make lots of different flavors.

I even made a batch with brown sugar and maple syrup only for cereal in the morning.



As the granola cools it will harden. Store it in an airtight container for up to 10 days, if it lasts that long.

For a great to go snack, add some chocolate chips, raisins, cranberries, whatever and put it in a sandwich bag and throw it in your purse/bag/backpack if you get hungry in the middle of the day!