Healthy Diet

Hi Family! Well here is my my first post to our blog. I am super excited about this and hope to post something new every week. This year I have really started to get healthy again. I think I was in denial about my weight, but finally decided to try to do something about it. Since the beginning of the year I have been counting my calories and I have lost a little over 20 lbs so far.

So now that I feel I have a healthier body it's time to get a healthier life. I hope this blog will help me document what I am doing. This week to ease into things I thought I would post a healthy recipe. It's from Ellie Krieger and can be found on the food network website...

Chicken Cacciatore or Chicken CatchaSchipper

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
• salt and pepper
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine ( I used chicken stock )
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a saute pan over moderately- high heat. Brown the chicken on both sides. Remove chicken and put to the side.

Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and pepper, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the veggies are soft. Add mushrooms and brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half. I used chicken stock because Rob doesn't like the taste of wine in foods. Add the tomatoes and juice, oregano, red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon and simmer the mixture covered for 10 minutes.

Return the chicken to the pan and continue to simmer until the chicken is done about 2o minutes.

This recipe only has 293 calories and 5 grams of fat. We added some whole wheat couscous. Rob thought it was delicious, but didn't think it was so healthy since he ate 3 servings!! I hope everyone gets a chance to try this. It was a 5 star recipe in my book. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Miss you!

Love Mrs. Schipper

ROCK CLIMBING

Hey fam-damily!

Bob- I'm going to try that steak recipe, it sounds amazing. I still rarely cook meat, and usually only burgers, but I'm really interested in expanding my horizons.

On Monday I went rock climbing with a coworker of mine and LOVED it. We went to Metrorock which is an indoor gym. Last week I bought a groupon (super-coupon) for it, I have a month's free membership, free gear and an introductory class. I took the class on Monday, and learned how to tie proper knots, and the calls for belaying (being the rope-holder). Climbing is so exhilarating! Its challenging, and rewarding at the same time.

Last night I went again. It was a ton of fun. I took my belay test and now I can climb whenever I want, with whomever I want! I'll be going back on Friday. My hands are all scuffed up and my shoulders are incredibly sore, but I love it.

I'm sure you've all seen the garden I'm growing, I want to expand it. My chard sprouts are growing-they're fairly easy. And its my favorite leafy green so I may make a bigger box to plant them in! The cucumber plant is expanding too. And that awful tomato plant (which I'm actually starting to love, because its so easy) is growing wonderfully. Hopefully I'll have some tomatoes to give to Emily soon.

I also just got a free bike! My dutch one is a bit too heavy and large, I'm considering selling it- if any of you want it let me know! Otherwise, the poor baby is off to a new home. The new one requires a lot of work, but its all very accessible and easy. Its perfect for someone my height and great for city commuting. I'm hoping to have it running by next week, the summer schedule on the bus to work is TORTUROUS!

I hope you all are doing well. I love you and miss you all!

Summer

My first blog posting. Or is it just my first blog..written on a blog. I guess both, since it's a verb and a noun, although I believe it is assumed if you blog, it's written on a blog, and not toilet paper.

Glad to get that out of the way.

It's July! The second half of the year begins today. And with it, the start of the final calender month of my twenties..With my thirties looming, Amy and I started running twice a day, 4 miles total, back in Feb. We did well with it, until her allergies became worse. I carried on myself for a little while longer, but ultimately stopped once the weather became hot n humid. And what better weather to start back up again, than July !

As far as diet goes, we were eating a lot healthier before the baby came along, but have since gotten better at moderation and portion control. We usually hit up the local farmers markets every other weekend for veggies, and the last few months have been great for berries at the store, at least down here. I'm usually of the mindset when it comes to dieting, that life's too short to miss out on the good stuff, but just minimize the portions and frequency when possible.. (Italian food /pasta is a good example,can't live w/o it, but limiting how often I have it, lessens the negative effect the carbs have on ma bell-eh).

Fact of the day : At least 16 countries have their independence day in the month of July.

*something very liberating about the summer apparently; written into our genome..

Recipe of the day:

I made this last week and it came out awesome. I didn't have sherry, so I sub'd in red wine, and rather than using the rice pilaf, I used couscous..

Pepper Steak and Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms

Prep Time:

12 min

Inactive Prep Time:

hr min

Cook Time:

23 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 servings

Ingredients

Mushroom Rice Pilaf:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
1 tablespoon butter
10 white mushrooms, chopped
1 3/4 cups water
1 package rice pilaf mix (recommended: Near East brand), 6.09 ounces
2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Pepper Steak:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan

Coarse salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 green bell peppers, seeded, 2 inch dice
1/2 white onion, sliced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup dry sherry – eyeball it
1 1/2 cups beef consomme
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper

Directions

In a medium pot over medium to medium high heat add a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of butter. When butter melts, add chopped mushrooms and saute 3 to 5 minutes. Add water and cover the pot. Add rice and pilaf packet to water. Stir to combine, reduce heat and cook 18 minutes. Add parsley, fluff with fork. sear on all sides, 5 minutes. Season with salt and remove to a plate. Cover meat loosely with foil to hold heat. Reduce heat on pan to medium. Add butter to pan. Add peppers and a little onion. Saute peppers and onions 5 minutes. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook 1 minute longer. Whisk in sherry and start to pick up pan drippings. Whisk in consomme and continue whisking. Add tomato and black pepper. Slide meat back into the pan and coat with sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes.

Spoon Pepper Steak over Mushroom Rice Pilaf and serve.

HOWDY FAMILY

Mom wanted us to write a blog together about what we're doing to be healthy people- I think this includes all forms of health! Eating, exercise, being lazy, gardening, listening to music, making music, reading, beaching, volleyballing, commuting, etc. etc. etc.!!!!

I hope you all join, I think it will be a great way for us to keep in touch.

Love you all! Email me if you have questions on how to set up an account.