Tis the Season... of Candy, Cookies, and Sugar.

Tis the Season!

On Thursday night, I got on yahoo.com and was mindlessly scrolling through the news articles. Amidst all of the black friday deals, there was an article about how to beat holiday weight gain. ON THANKSGIVING. How ironic that I'm reading this article as my Thanksgiving dinner is digesting right? This article was followed by two more similar articles on Friday, and one each day there after. The worst part was that all of these articles gave different advice. One said not to eat for three hours before going to a holiday party, and the other said to eat right before you go. Or, these articles gave completely unrealistic advice like, “make sure you’re still getting 8 hours of sleep each night.” Yeah right. I think we can all agree that getting 8 hours of sleep each night is not going to happen in the month of December.

It’s obvious why people pack on the pounds this time of year. The holidays bring with them cookies, candy, stress, lack of sleep, sugar, big dinners, over-eating, parties, alcohol, and lots of eating out. What isn’t obvious is the way to prevent weight gain around the holidays. If you’re confused, that’s ok! I am here to help:

Make sure you’re drinking water.

With lots of parties, comes lots of alcohol and lots of sugar. Lot's of alcohol leaves you dehydrated. Lots of sugar is hard on your digestive system. Water will help to counteract your alcohol consumption and aid your digestive system. Drinking water in the morning is great for flushing out all the crap that you ate from the day before.

Don’t try to make it through the holidays alone. 

If you are a person that has a hard time saying no, then Christmas probably isn’t your favorite time. If you want to be able to actually enjoy Christmas this year, you need support. If you have a weakness for sweets, find a friend that will help to keep you accountable, so that you don’t eat a dozen Christmas cookies at every meal. 

Plan ahead. 

Have a plan set in place for January. No matter how hard you try, your health will take a hit during the holidays. Instead of worrying about the stresses and goodies (that are unavoidable anyways) for the whole entire month of December, get a plan together for January. And get that plan together right now! Whether it’s a new diet, an exercise routine, or a health related goal. Have a plan that gets you back on track to a healthier lifestyle once the holidays are over.

If you're a person looking for extra support this holiday season, so that you can enjoy Christmas without worrying about gaining weight or feeling exhausted, sign up for my 30 day support program. I will help you navigate your diet through the holiday junk food, and I will support you with getting back on track come January. Sign up HERE! If you sign up between Nov 29th - Dec 2nd, you will receive 30% off of your program fee.

You can also visit my website for more information on this exclusive deal by clicking here.

Wishing you all health, hope, & happiness
Abby

Sautéed Harvest Veggies

Sautéed Harvest Veggies

I had to end my recipe week with a vegetable recipe, because veggies are almost always lacking at Thanksgiving. Let me warn you in advance, this recipe has brussels sprouts in it. I have to admit that I LOVE brussels sprouts. When I was younger, I would always ask my mom for brussels sprouts for dinner, but the only time I got them was on my birthday because everyone else in the family couldn't stand them. However, this recipe is great, because it really helps to tone down the flavor of the brussels sprouts. It's also a unique recipe that will get a lot of attention at your table. I promise this is a good one, so please give it a try!!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed
• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• Thyme and Savory (amount varies depending on preference) 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of pepper
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. If sprouts are very small, cut in half; otherwise cut into quarters. Cook the sprouts until barely tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until brown but not crisp, 3 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a paper towel. Pour out all of the bacon fat from the pan.
3. Add oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until soft but not browned, reducing the heat if necessary, about 4 minutes. Stir in thyme (or savory), salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high, add the Brussels sprouts, and cook, tossing or stirring occasionally, until tender and warmed through, about 3 minutes. Add the bacon and lemon juice, and toss.

Let me know what you and your family think of this dish! I can't wait to hear back from those of you who tried it. Tweet me your thoughts @Abby_Shroka. If you're still wanting more side dish recipes,  there are many more healthy recipes on my website www.abbyshroka.com. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all health, hope, and happiness this Thanksgiving

Abby

Tassies Dessert

Tassies

Tassies are one of THE BEST desserts! They are not one of the easiest desserts to make. I swear it is totally worth your time to make them though!

Ingredients:

Crust

• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Pinch of salt

Filling

• 4 ounces pitted dried dates (about 3/4 cup)
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• Confectioners’ sugar for dusting or whipped cream for garnish

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 
2. To prepare crust: Pulse flour, brown sugar, walnuts, cornstarch, 2 tablespoons butter and salt in a food processor (a mini food processor works well) until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Divide the crust mixture among mini muffin cups (about 1 1/4 teaspoons per cup) and press evenly into the bottoms.
3. To prepare filling: Combine dates, water, brown sugar and 2 1/2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has cooked away, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly, then process the date mixture in a blender or food processor until processed into a paste. Add cream cheese and vanilla; blend or process to combine. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in pecans. Divide the date-nut filling among muffin cups (1 generous teaspoon each), gently pressing the filling down and smoothing the tops.
4. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is lightly cooked, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Loosen the edges of the crust with a small spatula or butter knife and transfer the tassies to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar or serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

I hope you're brave enough to try making tassies. If so, let me know how they turn out! Check back tomorrow for my last recipe before Thanksgiving. It's a veggie recipe, and it's a good one! For more side dishes, go to my website www.abbyshroka.com 

Wishing you all health, hope, & happiness this Thanksgiving

Abby

Roasted Pears with Brie Pistachios

Roasted Pears with Brie and Pistachios

It's officially Thanksgiving week! Can you believe it? Todays recipe is roasted pears with brie and pistachios. This is delicious as a first course or a side dish. Leave the stems on if you want a prettier presentation. (I'm all about pretty presentation at holidays, with fancy dishes, pretty tablecloths, and lots of amazing food).

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons honey mustard
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 ripe pears
• 2 ounces Brie cheese, cut into 4 slices
• 4 teaspoons chopped pistachios

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 
2. Whisk mustard, oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Cut pears in half lengthwise, hollow out the core and slice a small piece off the other side so they will lie flat when served. Brush all over with the mustard glaze and place cored-side down in the prepared pan.
4. Bake the pears for 30 minutes, basting halfway through with the glaze. Gently turn them over, baste again and place a piece of Brie in the hollow of each pear. Bake until the pears are tender and the Brie is slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle each pear half with 1 teaspoon pistachios.
   
   

Send me pictures, or let me know how your roasted pear dishes turn out! For more thanksgiving recipes, visit my website www.abbyshroka.com. I will be posting one more dessert, and one more vegetable recipe, so check back on for those recipes in the coming days.

Wishing you all health, hope, & happiness this Thanksgiving holiday

Abby

Brown Carrots

Brown Carrots

We can't forget our veggies on Thanksgiving! This is a great recipe for Thanksgiving because it transforms a simple vegetable into a super easy yet elegant side dish.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds carrots. (this varies depending on how many people you're cooking for, so go with your instinct on this one)
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

Directions

1. Peel carrots and cut off the tops. Cut or chop the carrots to your size preference.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots and season with salt and pepper; stir to coat with oil. Let cook for 3 minutes, then add brown sugar and molasses; stir to coat. Cook until carrots are tender and sauce is thick, 5 to 8 minutes, adding 1/2 to 1 cup water as necessary to prevent sugar from burning.

3. Add butter and rosemary to skillet; cook until butter is melted. Remove rosemary and discard. Transfer carrots to a serving dish.

Tweet me @Abby_Shroka and let me know how your Brown Carrots turn out! They are one of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes! For more recipes, keep checking back each day through Thanksgiving, or go to my website www.abbyshroka.com

Wishing you all health, hope, & happiness this Thanksgiving

Abby

Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Cake

My mom started making pumpkin cake as a healthier alternative to pumpkin pie. Keep in mind though, it is still a dessert, and let's be honest, "dessert" and "healthy" don't really belong in the same sentence. But, if they happen to work together, then great!

Ingredients:

4 eggs

2 C sugar

1 Can Pumpkin

¾ C Margarine

2C Flour

2t Baking Soda

1/2t Salt

1/2t Cinnamon

Directions: 

1. Mix wet ingredients first then add dry ingredients (mix ingredients in order above)

2. Place in a deep cookie sheet

3. Bake 325°F for 30 minutes.

Check back each day through Thanksgiving for more recipes. Tomorrow I will be posting a vegetable recipe that is a great side dish for Thanksgiving. 

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness this Thanksgiving!

Abby

Holy Yoga Retreat

Where do I even start..? Well I flew into DC the day before hurricane Sandy was supposed to hit land. I was one of the last flights that actually made it to DC. When we landed, everyone on the plane started clapping, but I have to admit, I wasn't one of them that was clapping. I wasn't too thrilled to be in Sandy's path. I wanted to go to my Holy Yoga retreat, but not in the middle of a hurricane. I've never experienced a hurricane first hand, but I've seen enough footage of hurricanes on the weather channel to scare me away. Long story short, we were on the very bottom edge of the hurricane's path, so we really didn't experience anything besides a bad thunder storm. I didn't see any damage, but we did lose power for 3 days and 3 nights. It was dark, it was freezing cold, it was wet, and we couldn't shower.  And then there was light! We got the power back for the last four days and all was good.

What did I learn?
1. Holy Yoga is all about grace. If you want to come to class and sit in child's pose the whole time, awesome! If you want to sing along to all the songs, go for it. It isn't about doing the poses exactly right, and breathing correctly. While the poses and the breathing are important, they aren't the most important thing. At it's core, yoga is about having a deeper relationship with your body. It is about recognizing the warning signals your body is sending you before they get serious. This means that if you are in a pose, and you are doing the pose correctly, including the breathing, but you are feeling pain, then you need to honor that pain. Get out of the pose and go into child's pose. GRACE. I have been in classes before where they say to go to child's pose if you feel uncomfortable, but then if you do go into child's pose, they make a huge deal out of it because you aren't pushing yourself. This has caused me to ignore the signals that my body is sending me. In Holy Yoga, we truly honor this by giving grace to all of our students.

2. Holy Yoga is a time to praise God. I'm not a singer. By that, I mean that I cannot sing. At all. Unfortunately for me, singing is the main way that the christian community praises God. So, I've never really FELT the power of praising God until doing Holy Yoga. If there is one thing I can promise you about Holy Yoga, it is that you will leave every class feeling uplifted.

3. I actually developed an appreciation for restorative classes. I am a girl that likes to sweat when I'm working out. I want my heart to be racing, and I want to feel exhausted when I'm done exercising. When I first started attending yoga classes, I was bored. I thought I was wasting my time because I wasn't sweating and I wasn't tired enough when it was over. Eventually I found power yoga, and I fell in love with the intensity of that. At retreat, we did some restorative yoga and it totally transformed my views. Yoga serves many purposes. One of them is stress relief. Restorative yoga is all about stress relief, and when it is taught properly, it brings a sense of calm that I have rarely experienced. Stress relief is huge for your health! I hope you will give restorative classes a try, instead of avoiding them like I always did.

If you want to hear more about all the gritty details of retreat, or if you have more questions about what Holy Yoga actually is, please reach out to me abby.shroka@gmail.com I would LOVE to share my experiences and attempt to answer your questions!

For information on where and when I'll be teaching my classes, visit my website. All the info is under the "yoga" tab.

I'm also on twitter @Abby_Shroka Let me know if you're on twitter too, so I can follow you.

Wishing you Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby