Gabose & Gabose Pocha

Ashley and I checked out a Korean restaurant up in Lauderhill last night.  I should say, two Korean restaurants (with the same owners).  It’s also in the same shopping center: Gabose & Gabose Pocha.

Pocha is a little more modern and young feeling with Korean hip hop and dance music playing.  Thursday night is happy hour for shrubs, a fermented drink with soju and fruit that’s served in a bowl. We had two for one specials after trying a plain bottle of soju.  Ashley and I had the Ginger Shrub that tasted a little spicy, the Pineapple Rosemary that comes with a little jalapeno floating around in it, and the Pineapple Lemongrass.  My favorite was probably the lemongrass since it was really fresh-tasting and just a tad sweet.  All of them were worth travelling a little ways just to try- and the service was excellent.  We got there early and had personalized attention from a very knowledgeable waiter/bartender.

We were also served a complimentary Korean pancake with spicy ketchup and cheese and vegetables inside (it may sound a little odd but I had to hold myself back from eating it all).  I’m totally hooked on Korean food now.  They may have spoiled me though, this is not only one of the best Korean food places in town but all around just a great place to eat.  How will I ever go to another Korean restaurant?

After drinks and appetizers at Pocha, we wandered over to Gabose to have dinner.  We ordered the vegetable Bibimbap which is basically a very hot bowl with veggies, an uncooked egg, rice and hot sauce but it’s served so hot that you mix it all together when it gets to the table and it starts cooking the egg and the rice and makes it all nice and crispy on the sides.  They also bring about 5-6 little bowls of veggies to the table that are different side dishes.  The Bibimbap can also be served with tofu but we decided to just try the vegetable one.

Overall, a really great night out and two places I’ll be returning to when I want something adventurous and fun to eat!  Just be aware that Gabose can get very busy so call ahead or get there early.

You can find them at:

4933 N University Dr Lauderhill, FL 33351

 

4991 N University Dr, Lauderhill, FL 33351

 

greenbar & Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale

 

I’ve driven this strip of Fort Lauderdale going towards A1A hundreds of times and didn’t realize that back inside one of the little strip malls, was a great Plant-based restaurant! I’ve never even heard of them till this past week!

They have this adorable little patio area that is draped in plants and greenery and kind of takes you out of feeling like you’re in the city.  Inside the restaurant it’s very hip and modern and fresh-feeling.  If you’re looking for a great place for just grabbing some lunch or actually want to take someone out for a casual date-night, it’s the place to go (hint hint-go take someone out this weekend).

I ordered the avocado toast because someone had recommended it somewhere and I didn’t want anything too heavy that night.  Four half-slices of toast with tons of avocado and yumminess piled on top.  My son ordered the nuggets of which he ate three and said he didn’t want anymore- no worries! Mommy saved room for that.  He’s a picky eater and has a hard time trying new things.   Literally, we eat three main items at home.  The nuggets weren’t my favorite but they were the typical vegetarian nugget- I expected the flavor, though it did have an interesting spice thrown in there.

He did however, devour that chocolate cupcake you see below and mommy had to slyly take a bite while he wasn’t looking.  Thank goodness they were offering tons of cupcake samples that night.

On top of the wonderful food options, we were able to listen to a little info session on locally grown foods.  Check them out if you want to learn more about growing your own farm here locally or if you’d like to purchase some of their veggies and plants (just note that growing season in Florida for their veggies is coming to an end for them so now is the time to go before it’s over).  They also sell their own coconut milk.

A great evening all around, so glad I could use this opportunity to check out a new place.  Please let us know if you’ve ever visited and what you had when you were there- inquiring minds want to know what else is good!

For info on greenbar, go to : gb&k
For info on Harpke Family Farm, go to: Harpke Family Farm

Holiday Detox Series: Publix Edamame Steam-in-Bag

 Like most of the country this past week, I ate waaaayyy too much over Thanksgiving. Too many desserts to count – who can say no to ricotta pumpkin cheesecake? I learned I definitely cannot! And so many savory carbs like bread, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, rice and gandules, russian potato salad….ehhh. Needless to say, it’s only the beginning of December and already the holiday pounds are starting to creep up on me. I don’t want it to get out of hand so I’ve decided to start my “new year’s resolution” early – instead of January, why don’t we start in December IN BETWEEN all of the horrible eating that accompanies this time of year? This will be a mini-series of posts as I go along my holiday season natural detox diet. There will be cheat days, of course, on the days that I have a party or family gathering, but I will limit them and also keep portions in check. Everything in moderation!

This time of year is also one of the busiest, meaning that I don’t have a lot of prep time for my healthy meals. I’m looking for quick, cheap and healthy meals and snacks. So far I raided my local Publix who had a sale on their steam-in-bag vegetables. I love edamame, but had actually never made it at home. Typically in restaurants it comes covered in salt or sauces, which are not part of my holiday detox plan, so the Publix brand edamame is a perfect snack or side dish being that the ingredients listed are just: edamame!

Since I’m a glutton, I need these nutrient dense, low calorie options so I can eat large quantities. I ate the ENTIRE BAG as part of my dinner yesterday and it came out to only 275 calories, 8.8 grams of fat, 27.5 carbs and it gave me a whole 12.5 grams of protein. A great way to add bulk to your diet without packing on the calories. It’s super easy to make: pop in the microwave for 5-6 minutes, let sit for a minute or so to cool and then eat. For the holiday detox, make sure not to add any salt or sauce. The more you eat veggies on their own, the more your taste buds will become accustomed to not needing as much salt. Also make sure to drink as much water as you can throughout the day. I try to drink about 16 oz an hour, sipping constantly. Your body will adjust to the increase in your water intake after a few days, but the first couple of days you will go to the bathroom a lot more often. This is great for your whole body, giving your skin a great glow and also cleaning out your organs.

You don’t need to do an expensive juice cleanse or detox pills to really clean up your body and your nutrition. Focus on lots of water, cutting back on refined sugar and sodium, as well as eating lots of whole foods. If you’re struggling with flavor, try adding fresh garlic or herbs to your food. Make sure you don’t use any mixed seasonings that have sodium. You’ll want to limit your sodium intake on your “clean” days as much as possible!

Quickie Post: Tempeh Balls in Red Sauce

Just wanted to share a quick picture of the amazing Tempeh Balls in Red Sauce I made last night.  It is a recipe out of the Emily Skye F.I.T. plan and it’s delicious!  So simple and I never even thought of grinding up tempeh and making it into “meat” balls.

Thanks to Emily for helping me to fall in love with healthy eating again!

Not Another Overnight Oats Post!

My new friend, Kara Kerr (at Kara Kerr Fitness Facebook Page) posted an almond joy oats post a week or two ago and I had to try it.  Honestly, the whole overnight oats craze has kind of passed me by because I can’t stand the weird consistency of cold smooshy oats.  But mostly, I’m just addicted to my awful, disgusting for me, can’t let go of, Cuban Toast.

I’m trying to mature, change my fitness habits and eat a little better.  I’m sure you have that thing, that one thing that you can’t give up no matter how hard you try.  Mine is Cuban Toast and Cafe con Leche (don’t even try to talk me out of my coffee).  So, instead of giving it up, I’m replacing it here and there with something a little healthier.  I don’t overeat it so if I make a decision to eat at home, before I get to work, I am able to eat right and stick to the plan.  If I run out of the house in the morning, crazy, without a plan, I eat crap.

What I loved:  The chocolate chips and coconut.

What I hated: The smooshy oatmeal and unsweetened taste

Calories: 310- 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 cup coconut milk unsweetened, 17 large semi-sweet chips, 1 tbsp sweetened coconut

Next time I have some overnight oats I’ll try a tablespoon of honey, some almond slices and raspberries but my adjustment for this mornings cup would have been to add in a little baked or sauteed banana.  It just needs something a little sweeter because the chocolate chips run out too quick.  I’ll definitely get smaller chips next time too because the jumbo chips run out too fast and I’m left with nothing in the last few bites.  I need to trick my mind into thinking it’s indulgent or I won’t stick to it.

What OO recipes have you tried and loved (or hated?).  I’m going to keep striving for a better one but it’s a start!

Bring on the Edamame

Ashley tried the Edamame Hummus from Eat Well Embrace Life last week and she raved about it so much I had to try it myself. This stuff is uh-mazing, smooth and tasty and only 60 calories (3 carbs, yes you saw that right, 3) per serving. I have only seen three flavors in the store but EWEL has several different bean flavors on their site. I paired this with Tamari black sesame crackers I found at Whole Foods and it was the perfect combination.  I actually had this as dinner last night and felt sated. However, the drawback is that I could only have 5 crackers (22 carbs-eek), normally not horrific but I’d already met my limit for the day.  The crackers are nice and chunky though, not thin and empty and the taste was mild, not at all what you would expect from this type of cracker. For more information on the Edamame Hummus, go to http://eatwellembracelife.com/.  For the Sesame crackers, http://www.san-j.com/products/tamari-black-sesame-brown-rice-crackers.

Eat healthy 2015!

Month 1 of Nutrisystem Down!

Today is the last day of Month 1 on Nutrisystem.  Well, at least it’s the end of 5 weeks on Nutrisystem.  After one month, here is what I have found:

1. Obsessive weighing can keep you from going off plan but can also kinda mess with your head.

2. Keep those pair of jeans you can’t seem to fit into yet- it’s sooooo motivating putting them on and having them fit!

3. A piece of fruit is actually a treat!!

4. No matter how much weight you lose, you still need to go to the gym to lose the pooch (blame my son for that).

5. I still need to go to the gym.

6. It’s totally possible to go out to eat on this plan.

7. I’ve actually saved money not eating out all the time.

8. 8.2 lbs later, I feel pretty accomplished and realize that 1 or 2 lbs a week is an incredible goal and so easy if you stick to your plan.  It adds up so quickly.

9. Take the time you have while on your diet to retrain your brain to eat healthier- I have already changed my July order to include only breakfast, lunch and snack so that I can teach myself how to eat dinners on my own.  For August, I may go it alone.

10. For the first time in a very long time, I might actually be able to wear a cute bikini for the summer and look half decent in it.

So there you go, diamonds of wisdom.  Go forth!

Baklava to Die For by Natalie

I have a great friend who is of Moroccan and Israeli descent.  I met her through an online moms group and we’ve been friends ever since, I love her (in the purest sense of course).  She’s not only taught me the value of being an incredible host, she also taught me how to make baklava, my absolute favorite dessert.

This past weekend I invited myself over for a culinary lesson on how to make this delicate dessert and was pleasantly surprised to find out that though it is a lengthy process, it’s relatively easy.  I’m not going to give away the entire recipe because I know she’s going to start her own bakery or online blog one day and this will be in it but I’ll give you a teaser.  She looked up a recipe online but changed it to make it amazing.  There is one key ingredient that I will let you find for yourself, I won’t list it:

Here are the main ingredients:
Honey
Phyllo Dough (one package should be plenty)
Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice does amazing
Zest of lemon
Butter
Tons of Walnuts (amazing- I always thought it was pecans)
Vanilla

We first started the sauce as it needs to cool for about an hour in the fridge so it’s a little thicker.  Then, we went about layering the phyllo: 2 pieces at a time, buttering them.  After each 8 layers, we would add the nuts (nuts should be toasted for max taste and then blended to a crumble consistency).  Remember:  DO NOT ADD THE SAUCE UNTIL AFTER IT’S BAKED!  Before baking, cut diagonal/diamond pieces from the top layer only.  This way, the layers underneath also get a good crisp.

We baked it for about 30-40 minutes allowing it to get nice and brown.  Next, allow it to cool for a few minutes and finish cutting it so the syrup will be able to reach all the lower extremities.  Pour the syrup and and enjoy this decadent dessert.

We took half a pan home and it was done within two days.  We now cannot leave the house because we’re too fat but at least we’re happy!

Thank you to Natalie Abernathy for such an amazing recipe!

For The Glow Test Drive for Veg On The Run Readers!

Jenn at “For The Glow” has a special offer just for our Veg On The Run readers! Meal plans, cleanses and much more! Check out her “TEST DRIVE” here:

http://www.fortheglow.com/promotional-test-drive/

Pass On Your Healthy Eating

My happiest memories of childhood come from mom and grandma’s trips around the country.  Whether it be Yellowstone or Colorado or somewhere else new and exciting, each trip was an adventure.  Some trips were made in the dead of winter, up snowy mountain passes, others in the heat of summer wearing a yellow and white striped shorts and tank to keep cool.

Along with these great memories come memories of food.  We were frugal passengers in our adventures- snacking on “gorp” (according to wikepedia Gorp is -Good old Raisins and Peanuts) which was basically trail mix with tons of M&M’s mixed in.  I never worried if I was getting too much fat or sugar, it was actually quite healthy and I can say that I was a very fit kid till I started making my own food choices.  Another treat that I remember were little sesame candies that you can still find at your local health food stores.  They are delicious, get stuck in your teeth and to this day still remind me of vacation.

The closer I get to birth, the more I am preparing my mind for raising a healthy child.  I wish I was as savvy as my mother who knows her edible plants and actually eats them (and to our chagrin sometimes, made us eat them- cattails are edible but that doesn’t mean they taste good).  Instead, I’ll have to go on what I know and teach him to make healthier choices at the grocery store.  I hope I can be a good example as well- one that not only teaches eating healthy but actually lives to better herself and the planet.

I think Americans have created a sense of entitlement in ourselves, we deserve to eat what we want, we deserve to not get fat for eating hamburgers and fries every day.  We deserve for people to treat us as if we were fit though we are obviously not.  “How dare someone tell me I’m not eating healthy”.  I think the entitlement is wrong.  Instead, we should be telling ourselves, “I’m entitled to be healthy, I’m entitled to make better choices for myself instead of the crap that tv commercial try to shove down my throat”.  We are entitled to have the best body possible and to live healthy lives but without making those choices, we won’t get to where we want to be.

It’s our duty to pass on the healthy entitlement to our children.  I can’t imagine my child dying of lung cancer because he smokes or dying of diabetes because he eats too much sugar.  I would love to find a community of parents who are raising their children to be healthy adults, what a great way to teach your kid healthy habits- having them grow up with peers who are doing the same!