Impress Your Guests and Enjoy the Party with Easy Entertaining Ideas

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to entertain. I want to put out a spread that’s memorable and delicious. For me, the food I serve is like a gift to my guests. I want to impress them, but I don’t want to work my butt off while everyone else is having fun at the party. Ya with me?

I was on Let’s Talk Live this week sharing some of my tips to help you look like you spent all day in the kitchen (without actually doing it!). Read on for some highlights from my segment or check out the full video below:

Idea #1: Easy, Creative Cheese Pairings to Make Your Gathering Fun

Instead of the typical “wine and cheese” pairings, why not try something a little unexpected – KIND and cheese pairing. KIND bars make a great flavor accompaniment to a variety of cheeses, and they’re made with wholesome ingredients you can see and pronounce like nuts, dried fruits, and spices. Plus they’re a great source of protein and fiber, and they taste delicious.

KIND and Cheese Flavor Pairing Fun

Experiment with flavor pairings like:

• KIND Plus Blueberry Pecan paired with fresh goat cheese
• Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew with  hard cheese like Parmesan
• Apple Cinnamon and Pecan with a nutty, sharp cheddar

Idea #2: Save Time With Make-Ahead Dishes You Can Re-purpose Different Ways

Instead of making a dozen different dips for your next party, just make one realllllly good one, and then offer up a bunch of different choices to scoop it up with.

This yummy mango salsa recipe is a great choice because it’s delicious and nutritious. You can make it 1-2 days ahead of the party and the last-minute serving prep takes no time at all!

One cup of mangoes has only 100 calories and gives you 100% of your vitamin C for the day, plus fiber and vitamin A!

I serve this salsa a million ways — here are just a few:

• with pita or tortilla chips for dipping
• topped on warm crostini with a bit of goat cheese (toast french bread slices in a 450 oven for 8 minutes)
• on top of red pepper “boats” (cut big chunks of the peppers and top with the salsa)

If there’s salsa leftover use it to top tacos or salads later in the week. For even more mango recipes AND to learn how to cut a mango properly, you can visit www.mango.org. Watch me show Melanie Hastings, Let’s Talk Live’s co-host how to to cut a mango.

Idea #3: Surprise Them With Something “Special”

Everyone expects beef and chicken at parties. Next time you’re entertaining, impress your guests with a surprising flavor that’s easy and delicious — like lamb! You can cook it just like beef and chicken. Sub lamb in your tried and true recipes. I’ve even made lamb pizza!

Lamb is versatile, lean, and nutrient-rich. On average, 3 oz. of lamb provides protein, B12, and other key vitamins and minerals — all for only 175 calories!

For your next gathering, try these easy-to-prepare, impressive lamb and vegetable kebabs or lamb satay. Serve either alongside a cucumber yogurt or peanut sauce and your guests will gobble them right up. For more recipe ideas and inspiration you can check out www.leanonlamb.com.

What Are Some of Your Favorite Tips and Tricks for Easy Entertaining?

Leave me a comment below and share your favorite tips and tricks for being the hostess/host with the most. I’m always looking for new ideas!

Disclaimer: I was compensated to do the tv segment, but was not compensated to write this blog.

“Eat Right, Your Way” for National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme is “Eat Right, Your Way, Everyday”. The whole idea behind it is that there’s no single perfect way to eat. I could not agree more with this philosophy.

You can blend your taste preferences and nutrition. No matter what you’re trying to do to improve your eating habits, focus on adding in quality, nutrient-rich foods whenever you can and don’t worry about always hitting the “nutritional bulls-eye”.

Get Kickin’ in the Kitchen!

Have fun experimenting with food. Try out a new recipe. If you already like to cook, give yourself a real food challenge. Even if you don’t like to cook, you can get help from the grocery store and “assemble” nutritious foods into a delicious meal. You can’t go wrong with a very simple recipe. Check out some of my faves on Pinterest.

Earlier this week I was on “Let’s Talk Live DC” spreading the word about “eating right your way”, and shared a few tips about how to match up personal preferences with nutrition. You can watch the whole video here, and check out a few of the highlights below:

For “Meat Lovers” and Comfort Food Lovers: BBQ Lamb Sliders

Surprise them with a memorable meal! Lamb is lean and a nutrient-rich choice, with only 175 calories in a 3 ounce portion, and is provides vitamins and minerals like iron and B12. Slow cooker BBQ lamb sliders are perfectly portion-controlled, and they even have vegetables AND fruit (dried plums) cooked right in the sauce. Lamb is easy to cook, treat it just like beef or chicken. The sliders I made used lamb shoulder, but you could also use ground lamb if you like. For this recipe and many others delicious lamb recipes, you can visit www.leanonlamb.com.

For Folks With a Neverending “Sweet Tooth”

Colorful fruits like blueberries are nutritious and naturally sweet. A one cup portion only has around 80 calories. Plus all you need is a quick rinse and they’re ready to go — no peeling, no slicing, and no pitting needed! Most people think of them for adding to cereal and yogurt, but they’re also delicious in salads and baked goods too. You can find the recipes for this blueberry wheat berry salad, blueberry breakfast “cake”, and more at www.littlebluedynamos.com.

For Moms Who Need to Please a Crowd in a Hurry

For moms who need to please the whole family but don’t have time to be a short-order cook Quaker Perfect Portions are a great option. It comes in a resealable package so you can make as much or as little as you need. It’s wholesome, and it’s customizable! Perfect portions has no added sugar, so you can sweeten it your way and customize it with your favorite nutritious toppings. I made the Maple flavor with honey and raisins, and for the Cinnamon flavor I added fresh blueberries and sliced almonds.

For the “Texture” Cravers

If you crave foods with “crunch factor” then try to look for foods that also give you a nutritional “bang”. KIND snacks are one of my favorites because they deliver on taste AND nutrition. You can actually pronounce everything in them! Their Nuts and Spices bars are flavored with spices like cinnamon and ginger, so they’re full of flavor with 5 grams of added sugar (or less) per bar. Their Healthy Grains are “snack clusters” made with a blend of 100% whole grains like amaranth, quinoa, and buckwheat and “superfoods” like walnuts, chia seeds and flax. They’re delicious on their own or as a topping for greek yogurt or milk.

Savor the Real “Craving”

There’s no one “perfect” way to eat, and let’s be honest, sometimes you just want the “real thing”. For those moments when you want to have your cake and eat it too, then pick something really delicious that you’ll really enjoy, and remember a few key things:

1. Keep your portion in check — stick with something that’s the size of the palm of your hand.
2. Pick a good time to eat it, and think about if you want to share it with someone special.
3. Enjoy your treat slowly, mindfully, and with pleasure. This is how you avoid the guilt!

Why I Support “Imperfect” Eating

Perfection is a subjective (personal perspective, feelings, beliefs, desires or discovery, as opposed to those made from an independent, objective, point of view.) We need less  judgements about food. We don’t feel guilty for breathing, even though we need air to live. So why feel guilty about eating? Seeking perfection can have you avoiding and missing out on a satisfying food experience. Our health is a collection of choices (and genetics) over a long time. A simple choice does not define our overall self-care.

Maybe the more important question is why you’re eating something. Overeating foods on a regular basis to regulate your mood and cope with feelings is not normal, but there is help for that habit, which is not about the food. You are not “addicted” to food. It’s the “process” that is the problem. Having a piece of cake on someone’s birthday (yes, with sugar and fat) is a normal part of life for most people. To each his own if you don’t like cake and don’t want to eat it. But those of us who do are not less healthy than you!

It’s simply unfounded that “fat is gonna kill you” or “sugar is gonna kill you” — in unlimited amounts ANYTHING can kill you, even the delicious sunlight or water for that matter. My best tip I can offer is be careful of what you read. If it sounds alarmist or too “crazy” to be true, it probably is.

How Will You “Eat Your Way” This Month, and Beyond?

Leave a comment below and share how you think you can incorporate “eating your way” into your daily habits.

Disclosure: I worked with Tri-lamb Group, US Blueberries, Quaker, and KIND snacks on the TV appearance, but did not receive compensation for writing this blog.

A “Nutrition Prescription” For Fighting Cold and Flu

Medicine isn’t the only way to fight off cold and flu. Food can be your medicine too. I was on Let’s Talk Live recently sharing a nutrition prescription to help you stay healthy. Below are some highlights from the segment.

There are basically two big tricks to beating winter “bugs”: reducing inflammation and boosting immunity.  So whether you’re trying to prevent sickness or recover ASAP, all the foods I mention below will help you.

Spicy Lamb Korma

I created this recipe for www.leanonlamb.com – it’s a spicy lamb korma that you make in the slow cooker. Lamb is nutrient rich, and packed with ingredients that support immunity and fight inflammation. Even though this looks rich, it’s good for you. On average lamb is lean and has only 175 calories per 3 oz portion and this entire dish has about 300 calories. You’ll be able to find the recipe soon on www.leanonlamb.com.  What makes this dish so healthy?

• It’s an excellent source of protein, which is the key macronutrient for a healthy immune system. The protein you eat can literally become the immunity cells that fight viruses and bacteria that could make you sick.
• Lamb also has vitamin B12, iron, and zinc – all vitamins and minerals that play a role in supporting immunity.
• I’ve included 7 different vegetables in this recipe: onions, carrots, tomato, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli and  peppers which are full of powerful antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which support immune defense.
• It’s full of spices including turmeric, garam masala, cumin and coriander, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric is  a very powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent. In fact, in holistic medicine turmeric tea is usually “prescribed” at the onset of a cold or flu or preventatively.

Choose low sugar foods for snacks

Sugar is pro-inflammatory. So if you are already sick, your body creates “inflammation” to help you heal. You want anti-inflammatory foods to help reduce inflammation. The typical American gets 3.5 times more sugar than what’s recommended. Rather than reach for a sugary cereal bar or granola bar, which can have a half a day’s worth of sugar, choose some of these low-sugar snacks:

• Hard-boiled eggs – they’re packed with protein and selenium which promote a healthy immune system.
• Seeds and Nuts — All are great for your health. I featured pistachios, which offer 30 different nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and vitamin B6, which helps active that immune system. They’re also a good source of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that support your GI tract — your body’s most important barrier to “invaders”.
• Oatmeal with fruit like blueberries or raisins — oatmeal is a whole grain which also contain antioxidants that help keep our cells healthy. Raisins give a natural sweetness as well as antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Eat Fermented Foods for a Healthy “gut”

Fermentation is a way of preserving foods since ancient times. What we discovered is that fermented foods contain beneficial bacteria that help restore and balance healthy bacteria that live in our digestive tract – so you can better fight off potentially harmful viruses and bacteria that can make you sick. Here are a few fermented foods you can try:

• Kefir – this comes from dairy. Think of it like a drinkable yogurt. It’s full of good bacteria and when you digest it, they’re going to land in your intestines and strengthen your immunity.
• Pickles, sauerkraut, and olives are all fermented and easy to find in most grocery stores. Even condiments like soy sauce and vinegar are fermented foods.
• Speaking of soy sauce – another recipe I created for www.leanonlamb.com is a wasabi ginger lamb chops with Asian vegetables. The recipe will be available on the website soon. Both the chops and the veggies have ingredients that support a healthy “gut”.  Plus we have the healthy protein and vitamins of the lamb and vegetables. Since the lamb loin chops are typically around 4 oz. helping to take the “guesswork” out of portion control for weight management.

Reduce stress and get your sleep.

Lack of sleep and stress suppress the immune system. Even if you think you can function on 5 hours or less of sleep, your immune system can’t. Here are a few ways you can get more sleep:

• Avoid caffeine too late in the day, especially if you are using it for “energy” from a bad night’s sleep.
• Unwind earlier in the day so you can get your ZZZZZ’s – try a hot bath with lavender oil which is “calming”
• Turn “off” the screens from ipad, iphone, laptop the white delays melatonin release your natural sleep and you are up longer.

Do you have any tips you can share to keep your immune system in tip-top shape this flu season?

Disclosure: I was compensated by Tri-lamb group for creating the recipes and appearing on TV, but not for writing this post.

Healthy Seasonal Foods Your Family will Love

Last week I was on Let’s Talk Live! sharing some delicious, and healthy recipes that are perfect for the holiday season and take advantage of seasonal produce. Check out the full video here and see below for a few of the recipes I shared:

Lean on Lamb!

Most people are familar with beef, chicken and fish, but lamb can be a great meat alternative as well. Lamb is available year round, ask for it in your grocery store. It’s packed with B vitamins, iron, zinc and of course protein, and it’s only about 175 calories for a palm size piece. I shared a few recipes — a lamb pizza with peppers and arugula and a peanut lamb stew that are delicious, a cinch to make and are perfect for the cooler fall and winter months. Arugula has a nice peppery flavor and is in season right now, so it makes a nice topping/garnish on the pizza. The stew has carrots, potatoes, peas, and onion – all seasonal vegetables at their peak right now. Both recipes would be great for a weeknight dinner or even for a holiday party. You can visit www.leanonlamb.com for more recipe ideas.

Acorn Squash with Grapes

Fall and squash seem to go hand it hand. Acorn squash stand up great to roasting, and are especially delicious with naturally sweet grapes and walnuts. Welch’s 100% Grape Juice provides a nice braising liquid and sauce to serve alongside the squash and is packed with polyphenols that have been shown to support a healthy heart. And even though you can get Welch’s 100% grape juice year-round, the Concord grapes are being harvested now, are picked at their peak and pressed into juice within eight hours of harvesting to capture their perfectly ripe flavor. Welch’s is family farm-owned as well, so you can feel good about supporting family farms. You can visit www.welchs.com for additional recipes.

Cooked Winter Salad

Instead of a traditional garden or ceasar salad, try a warm roasted kale and tomato salad. You can usually get kale year round but it’s especially easy to find in the fall months. Just roast kale and sliced garlic with salt, pepper and olive oil at 350 degrees for about 7 minutes until wilted, and roast grape tomatoes at the same temperature for about 25 minutes and toss together. Make it your own by adding in your favorite roasted veggies!

Stove Top Cooked Apples

Get all the flavor of an apple pie with a fraction of the calories and saturated fat! Just core and slice your favorite apples (I love honey crisp!) and saute for about 5 minutes with a little cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice — that’s it! Top with a little whipped cream and you’ve got a cozy dessert you can feel great about without sacrificing any flavor. A whole bowlful has under 200 calories!

What are your favorite seasonal recipes???

Disclosure: I was compensated for my TV appearance by the Tri-Lamb Group and Welch’s, but was not compensated for this blog post.

Spice Up Your Summer BBQ

Everyone loves summer barbeques- they’re a great way to get everyone together and enjoy some delicious food. But by mid-July some of us are sick of the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, etc. I was featured on News Channel 8’s Let’s Talk Live to give some great tips for spicing up a summer BBQ. The tips I provided are easy to prep the night before the BBQ, so you can enjoy the party with your guests. Click here to watch the whole clip!

Little Known Facts About Lamb

Most people avoid choosing to make lamb for a BBQ because they are unsure how to make it, or think that it takes a long time, but it is actually just as easy to cook as chicken or beef. Not only that, but lamb in a nutritional powerhouse. It has more protein than beef and a 3 oz serving is just 175 calories.  It contains tons of vitamins and minerals, including B12, niacin, zinc, and iron. Vitamin B12 is important for maintaining energy and keeping our skin, hair, and nails healthy. Niacin helps with your glycogen stores in your muscles and helps speed up your recovery time. Zinc is so important because it is found in every tissue of the body. Lamb is good source of zinc, which benefits you by providing you with an antioxidant, helps maintain normal hormone levels, and boosts your immune system.  I found a couple great recipes from leanonlamb.com—one that had lamb skewers marinated in a ginger garlic satay and a lamb mango tostado.

Cook Up Your Color

We all know how important veggies are, but the key to having your guests enjoy them is to make them tasty. You can have your guests asking for seconds by making hearty veggie skewers marinated with Mazola corn oil, water, white wine, lemon, and mixed dried herbs with a dash of red pepper flakes for some heat. Mazola corn oil is great to use because it has four times the plant sterols than olive oil and has the most plant sterols of any other oil you can purchase. Plant sterols are important because they essentially lower the amount of cholesterol in our bodies.

And while you’ve got the grill hot, why not throw some fruit on it? Using Mazola corn oil and some simple herbs and spices as a marinade, you can grill watermelon, pineapple, mango, peaches, etc.

What Would a BBQ Be Without Some Chips and Dip?

Chips and dip are great because the grocery store really helps you cut down on prep time. Tostitos makes these great Artisan chips in mouth-watering flavors like roasted garlic and black bean. They’re great because they provide 8 grams of whole grains in each serving! What is even better is that they are made with “real ingredients” that you can see and taste in every chip. Pick up a bag along with some store made guacamole and black bean dip, spice them up a bit, and you’ll have an appetizer you know everyone will love.  I spiced up my guacamole by adding Weber Chipotle Marinade for a sweet and spicy Tex-Mex flavor and added chopped mango and jalapeno for an extra kick.

Disclosure: I worked with The Tri-Lamb Group, Mazola Corn Oil, and Tostitos on the TV appearance.

Women — Let’s Put Wellness on the Front Burner! 4 tips For Better Self Care

D.C. women lead busy and often hectic lives. Sometimes we put our wellness needs on the ‘back burner’. So what I went on Let’s Talk Live yesterday to share some simple reminders for how we can take better care of ourselves. I was excited to get to work with the Quaker and Tri Lamb folks on this segment.

1. Get Whole Grains at Breakfast

Studies show being crunched for time can take a toll on eating wholesome meals, in particular when it comes to breakfast. The temptation might be to reach for something “easy” like a bagel or pastry, but I really like these new Quaker Real Medleys oatmeal. They are portable, portion controlled, delicious and nutritious. Hearty rolled oats and multi-grains with real fruit or crunchy nuts already in the container so all you do is add hot water or pop it in microwave with water. Each serving offers at least 30 grams of whole grains and a good or excellent source of fiber (containing 3-8 grams fiber),which helps manage a healthy weight.

2. Get Lean Protein for Lean Muscles

Choose lamb—it’s a nutrient-packed powerhouse. On average, a 3 oz. portion of lamb is only 175 calories and naturally nutrient rich. It’s packed with essential nutrients such as protein, B-vitamins, and iron. Women need over twice the iron than men. If you don’t get enough iron you could have low energy and can even develop anemia, an iron deficiency.

• The last thing a busy woman wants is to get sick. Lamb also supports a healthy immune system. Lamb contains a significant amount of nutrients essential for immune function: zinc, selenium, protein, and iron.
• Visit www.leanonlamb.com for great lamb recipes that your family will love. Lamb kebobs are one of my favs!

3. Reach for smart snacks

Calcium rich foods are important for strong bones. 80% of people with osteoporosis are women. Women need 1000 mg of calciuma day – that’s like three servings of dairy foods or calcium fortified foods.

• I love greek yogurt, cheeses (goat, feta, cheddar), and low fat cottage cheese as snacks.
• Collard greens, kale, broccoli, bok choy are all plant based sources of calcium as well.
• Get your berries – strawberries, blueberries, cherries, etc. all contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C. Vitamin C allows you to keep collagen in your skin so it stays health and supple.

4. Schedule time for exercise

Exercise gives you energy, helps reduce stress, helps you sleep better, and helps lower your risk for chronic disease.

• Less than half of women over 18 meet therecommendations for physical activity. At a minimum we should be getting 2.5 hours a week just to maintain health. Get 5 hours if you want to see substantial improvement.
• During work week – 20 minute walk breaks – walk the stairwell, do laps around the office, hit the work gym for 20 minutes of weights and still have time for lunch. Or get up early and start your day witha heart pumping workout.

So ladies, how do you fare at these health tips? Which ones would you like to share with other busy women??