Remember, I have never been an athlete.:  Never participated in any sport, nothing, nada!

 Now, at 58 I am riding a road bike and TODAY I got out of my seat and stood on my bike up a steep hill and made it in one shot and during my ride, was clocked doing 13mph!

If I can do this, at 58, so can you!

If I can be a vegetarian, (despite growing up in my Dad’s butcher shop and eating meat 3 times a day), so can you!

If I can start my day with an Herbalife Protein Shake, instead of bacon and eggs on a fluffy, puffy, stuffy roll, so can you!

If I could lose 4 dress sizes, so can you!

If I can hike, do Pilates and Golf, so can you!

Believe in yourself and give it a try!

 May I be your inspiration: as Natalie Woods’ character in “Miracle on 34th Street” said, “It’s silly but I believe” !!

How wonderful is the first nip in the air that conjures up memories of walking through stacks of fallen leaves in brilliant colors?  Undeniably one of the best seasons of the year!  A time for apple picking and canning and pie making and hearty veggie stew!  

Go out to the market, your garden (if you started early and planted), a farmer’s market, and breathe in the aroma of the bounty of harvest time.  Fill your cart, basket, arms full of the miracles of nature and come home with all your creative juices flowing and create.  There are no rules!  It’s harvest time and you’re immersed just go with your instincts!!

“Where have I been?”  Busy being a vegetarian with an active lifestyle.

Trying to become a road biker:  Clip in shoes, turned down handlebars, the works!

First I needed to stop crying hysterically each time I heard,  ”clip in shoes”, uttered.  HUGH FEAR, HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next, I needed to get over how much higher I was sitting off the ground with the raised seat.  (now adjusted for the proper bend in the knee).

Now I am working on keeping my back and neck neutral so I don’t have excruciating pain.

Is this fun?  Like hiking the reward is in the sights I see along the bike routes and maintaining my weight and fitting into my new clothes!

Lots of new recipes to share, so keep checking in….

Thank you again, Alicia Silverstone for this amazing recipe from your “Kind Diet”.

These were made with crushed graham crackers  ( I used Annie’s Honey Bunny Graham Cookies, which I crushed) mixed into 3/4 cup of crunchy PB ( I used Trader Joe’s) and 1 stick of melted Earth Balance.  Then topped with melted chocolate chips ( I combined semi sweet with bittersweet) in some almond milk and I topped it with a walnut halve.  Yummy!!!!!!

Herbalife formula one shake mix

frozen acai (1 packet by Sabazon, check Whole Foods)

4 frozen strawberries

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

8 oz almond milk (only 40 calories and tastes great)

6-7 cubes of ice

Blend to a heavenly thick shake

NOTE:  Expect the most:  delicious, nutritious, satisfying, energetic and not hungry!

Happy to report I am 58 years old…..

Did you start your day with a shake, (an Herbalife shake)?

 I did, a chocolate thick shake!  (check recipes for my favorite combo)

And, have you tried the vegetarian lifestyle?

Thanks for following me, now join me…..

So  I put on my big sun hat and headed out for my favorite garden walk:

and before I knew it….. I walk about 10-12 miles!

You can keep the gym, you will find me somewhere in the great outdoors. 

This preparation is a bit more elaborate with 2 types of sauce in the lasagna.  Special occasions call for special preparations.  

• Whole wheat Italian lasagna (boil for 4 minutes and reserve)
• spinach steamed and cooled
• zucchini sliced long and thinly and steamed and cooled
• meatless meat sauce (I use Quorn crumbles, (oil saute pan with scant amount of oil and add crumble, add large can of Italian tomatoes Pomodoro style ( I use La Valle brand), 1/4 cup of red wine, 1/2 cube of vegetable bouillon no salt added, 1/2 cup pasta water (from the cooking lasagna), crushed red pepper flakes, 2 cloves of garlic, sprig of fresh basil, and cook for about 10-15 minutes)
• Passata tomato, 1 jar (This is crushed tomato, no seeds, I use Cento brand and San Marzano variety
• ground pepper
• locatelli romano cheese grated to sprinkle on each layer
• Begin layers with Passato tomato on bottom of pan with a drizzle of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and top with slices of lasagna to cover pan and top pasta with meatless meat sauce to cover, add some torn basil leaves for added flavor_
• Top with lasagna slices to cover and add roasted onion and steamed spinach and a splash of passata tomato for color and added taste before adding another layer of pasta to cover
• Top pasta with ricotta and grated cheese and parsley torn in small pieces.  Add slices of steamed zucchini and drizzle more Passato tomato.  
• Top with final layer of pasta and a few pieces of mozzarella cheese, grated cheese, ground pepper and  remaining Passata tomato and torn basil pieces.
• A side view:
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
• Serve with Crusty bread (eat the crust, leave the fluffy middle of the bread)

Go to Trader Joes and stock up on the cube packets of minced garlic, parsley, basil.  Place a cube of each in a bowl, add a bit of extra virgin olive oil and mash with a fork.

Add tomatoes (I like strawberry tomatoes).  Toss in a few cubes of fresh mozzarella cheese and some fresh ground pepper.  (a pinch of sea salt, if you must have salt)

Voila! Mangia!!

Start with a variety of the freshest veggies:

Then oven broast them:  (place on oiled tray and add some water)  

The open tray and high heat (450 degrees) doesn’t steam and make the veggies soggy, it broasts them: a combination of roasted and moistened.

As the veggies cook, remove them and place in a serving dish.  The tomatoes and mushrooms will cook very quickly and the carrots will take the longest.   Check if you need to add more water.  All will be cooked within 15-20 minutes.

Mix in assorted olives and minced basil and parsley.  Top with ground pepper.  Serve and enjoy warm or refrigerate and eat cold.  Keeps very well if you happen to have any left over.