New Recipe, New Workout, New Restaurant!

Hey friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! Things have been crazy busy around here, working working working and getting ready for Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is by far one of my favorite food holidays. I love everything about it-the turkey, stuffing, sides and what makes it even better is the time spent with my family. I love to take a step back and really truly try to dive head first into spending time with the most important people in my life. This year, I will be heading to my parents house for the holiday and my job is to make my all time favorite and famous homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest!  (Feel free to click the link and check it out!) I made it for the first time in 2010 and it was such a hit! For the past two years my mom’s one request is for me to make that cranberry sauce. It comes out not too sweet with hints of orange and ginger. It is thick, similar to a chutney and an absolutely amazing compliment to any Thanksgiving dish!

Besides working my butt off, I also have been enjoying the beautiful weather we have been experiencing in Boston for this time of year. Last weekend my roommate and I puppy sat my brother and his Wife’s puppy, Kai! We took her all around the city including some fun dog stores where we spoiled her silly! I bought her a $5 doggy donut
My brothers wife told us that she loves pumpkin, which we happen to have a lot of around our apartment so she was one happy girl!
That same day we went to Brunch at Life Alive in Cambridge. I had been wanting to try Life Alive for a couple years now but had never made it over there. I couldn’t believe I waited this long. Bostonians-if you have not been to this restaurant–GO. This quote was taken from their website “Whether you are an omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, macrobiotic, raw, gluten-free or other foodie…We know you want to feel great after a meal.” They serve organic, therapeutic food
The restaurant was SO cute, colorful, vibrant and cheery. From the second I walked in, I fell in love. The line wasn’t too bad despite what I had heard that the line could be out the door! The menu is BIG with almost too many choices! I finally landed on the Mystic Mountain Salad A seriously sensational salad of mesculin greens, sweet corn, celery, shredded carrots and beets, cucumber, sunflower seeds and sprouts made even more special with our Lemon-Vitality Vinaigrette…then we add the most delicious roasted garlic lemon parsley hummus you’ll ever have (we’re not bragging it’s just the truth) along with granny apple slices and cashews, and you get the mountain on the mystic. Don’t miss out on this high!”
 And that was Life Alive! I HIGHLY suggest it!!

Workout wise? For my ‘cardio’ I have been focusing on quick and dirty workouts. I still dedicate one day to a HEAVY lower body lift, one day to a HEAVY upper body lift, one day of sprints but the most fun I have been having is with these metabolic booty busters. 

I did this on Friday:

When I was finished I ran 2 rounds of 0.5 miles on the treadmill as fast as possible. with 2 minute rest in between the rounds. It was an awesome workout. Quick, dirty and sweaty.

Food wise? I have been cooking and cooking and cooking! I feel so happy to be back in the groove! I made this awesome cod dish the other week. It literally took me 5 minutes to throw together and it came out much better than expected!
 Cod with Lemon and Tomatoes
Yields: 2 hungry people!

Ingredients
  • 1lb cod
  • 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes (I got mine at Trader Joes)
  • zest and juice of 1 fresh lemon
  • 1/2 T basil
  • 1/2 T oregano
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Method
  • Wash and rinse fresh cod. Place in a pre-sprayed baking dish. Set aside
  • Zest the lemon and place on the fish. Juice the lemon in a separate bowl and pour over the fish directly in the baking dish
  • Add the remaining spices on the fish
  • Top with tomatoes (you can leave them whole or cut them in half)
  • Cook for about 20 minutes at 350 (flipping halfway) or until fish is flaky and fully cooked through
  • ENJOY!

 **I loved this dish. It was simple, healthy, flavorful with no added salt or other crap ingredients. Just plain awesome. 

And for today I will leave you with a workout for you to complete this week before TURKEY DAY!

The ROUND ‘EM UP Workout!
**This workout is a complete full body workout combining cardio, strength and sweat! This workout consists of 3 rounds in which you will complete each round BEFORE moving onto the next round.  I have written alternative exercises in case you do not have equipment and want to make this a ‘do anywhere’ style workout

Round 1
  • 0.5 Mile run as fast as possible
  • 20 jump squats
  • 20 straight leg sit ups
  • 20 push ups
  • 20 push presses (with Dumbbells) (alternate: 10 on each side-plank climbers)

Round 2
  • 0.5 mile run as fast as possible
  • 12 TRX back rows (alternate: 12 each side- high plank alternating glute lift)
  • 12 ball slams with 10lb ball  (alternate: 10 sumo jump squats)
  • 20 plank twisters
  • 20 burpees

Round 3
***10-8-5 (10 reps of everything, 8 reps of everything, 5 reps of everything)
  • 1. Box jumps (jump onto a step or perform squat jumps if you prefer)
  • 2. floor jacks (high plank position, jump feet out and together)
  • 3. jump lunges (10 is 10 on EACH SIDE)
  • 4. elbow plank, alternate knee to elbow AKA Spiderman planks

HAPPY SUNDAY!!

What are you cooking up for Thanksgiving? 
What workouts are you enjoying lately?