Edamame Corn Salad

I'm done!  Thank goodness!  The Ultimate Reset was a rewarding and challenging experience; I learned a lot about food, different ways to prepare simple dishes such as stir-fry and soup, incredible salad dressing recipes, and how to listen to my body when it needed more.  I will definitely cleanse again at some point, maybe not for 21 days, but for a shorter length of time.  I feel lighter, have more energy, and am excited about continuing these recipes and changes for my family.  Kathrina, Melanie, Erin, Allison and Stacey had incredible weight loss results, increases in energy, clearer skin, and gained an awareness of how they were fueling their bodies.  I'm so proud of them!

This Edamame Corn Salad recipe is one I will make forever.  It would be a great dish for a picnic, family cook-out, or to divide into Tupperware for a grab-and-go lunch all week.  Plus, it's delicious and filling!

Here's what I used.  I roasted the corn on 400 degrees for 8 minutes, chopped red onion, green onion, and red bell pepper.

Cooked the Edamame for 5 - 7 minutes.

Sauteed the onion and pepper in olive oil.

Added the corn and edamame.

Topped with fresh lime juice, a Tablespoon of rice vinegar, and Himalayan salt.

I'm excited to share some non-reset recipes later this week!

JOY

I am feeling extra grateful this morning after returning from a full weekend in my beloved Beaufort for WEEKEND FIVE of my yoga teacher training program.  I can not believe I have only three weekends to go!  We talked a lot about shifting our vision to JOY in our lives, especially in those circumstances we can't control or that come unexpectedly.  We generate experiences; why not generate a great one?

I love Danielle Laporte's essay on the difference between Happiness and Joy.  I plan to read this on Thursday in the mid-day power class I am teaching.  Here's an excerpt of what she says...

Happiness is like rising bubbles — delightful and inevitably fleeting. Joy is the oxygen — ever present.

Happiness is always passing through. It can claim your full attention for the ten seconds it takes to swallow a sip of incredible coffee. Or it can stream through your being for weeks on end. 

Joy is the fibre of your Soul. It’s the stuff of your essence. And since you, your Soul, can never be annihilated, your access to joy never vanishes. Because joy is so foundational to your true being, every other state or emotion can rest on top of joy, it can accommodate everything.

This means that it’s possible to grieve with your whole heart, and still sense your joy. You can feel rage, and be aware of joy waiting patiently for you to return, and take deep comfort in that. You can get fired, dumped, dumped on, and pulled through the eye of a needle, and still feel held by the container of joy — the truth of your existence.

It has never failed that when I have been through the most heart-breaking passages of my life — betrayal, financial hardship, divorce, dreams dashed — the pain brought me to the floor of my being, and what was there to be found?

The simple joy of being alive. So cosmically basic it’s mind-blowing: the joy to be here, connected, animated, breathing, blessed, resilient, to be broken, to be open, to have what was, what’s left, what’s coming. The joy just to be part of reality.

Happiness. Love it when it comes.

Joy. It’s the love that lasts no matter what.

While I was laughing with my yogi friends, learning about the anatomy of different postures, and enjoying Beaufort, my little boy was having a blast swimming with his Gaga and playing Putt-Putt with his daddy.

Papa was enjoying himself on a fishing trip in the gulf with his buds.

Me....I soaked up as much salty air as I could and came home inspired and thankful.

Thank you, Beaufort, for always finding a way to bring out the best in me.  I've said it before...it's the magic of the Lowcountry.  

Reset Week Two

Life got in the way a little in week two of the reset.  This week was all about releasing animal products, dairy, eggs and meat from our diets and moving more into whole grain, vegetable and fruit based meals.  Although I didn't follow the meal plan exactly, I tried to keep that in mind while traveling and doing hours of yoga.  I missed a few supplements over the weekend, ate a wider variety of foods, but feel great moving into week three.

I ate a lot of fresh fruit on my new patio furniture.  :)

Veggie sandwiches on whole grain bread are always a staple in my diet and were super easy and convenient for the busyness of this week.  This is a "Holy Moly" sandwich from Earth Fare - tomato, sprouts, guacamole, and cucumber.

I made the sweet potato and roasted red pepper bisque early in the week.

I had no idea what to do with this, but the recipe called for fresh grated ginger. 

The ginger-sesame dressing is very similar to what you find at a hibachi style restaurant.  It wasn't my favorite and didn't compare to the creamy garlic dressing, but it was still a nice change for the abundance of salad that I ate.  

1/2 of a strawberry vegan shakeology with extra strawberries

Reset Day 6

Breakfast was sauteed kale with pine nuts, whole grain toast and scrambled eggs.  This was my first time preparing kale, and I loved it!  It will definitely become a staple in my meals.  I ended up making a sandwich out of this.

Quinoa salad with fresh parsley, mint, lemon juice, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and olive oil for lunch.

A yogurt bowl with fresh fruit, raw oats, and coconut for snack.

Stir-fry veggies in coconut oil for dinner.  

I am planning to continue with some of week one's recipes into week two's detox phase.  I have a big yoga weekend ahead, and I need the energy and calories to have a powerful practice with the stamina required!  Plus, I just love week one!  :)

High on Summertime

Have I mentioned that lately my little boy only wants to watch music videos on TV?  We don't watch as much Mickey Mouse, Chuggington, or Pirates.  He wants "Wagon Wheel,"  "Get Your Shine On," and "Island Song" (Pirate Flag.) I guess he gets it honestly because his daddy is also obsessed with music. We have to limit the number of times we watch them.  But, one of his new favorite songs is what he calls "Boom Boom."  Since he actually means Luke Bryan's "Drunk On You,"  I don't mind watching. ;)

These days, like Luke sings, we are all "high on summertime."

Popsicles on the porch!

Date night and live music in the park.

Pool Time with Friends.

Cruising home after dinner.

Wills was secretly thinking, "Girl, you make my speakers go Boom Boom!" :)

Reset Meal Ideas

Here are a few more week one reset meals.

Plain organic yogurt sweetened with Grade B maple syrup and fresh fruit.

Lentil Lime Salad.

The ingredients for Zucchini Cashew Soup.

Simple and delicious.

A large pot of apple oatmeal.

Shared with Wills.  I topped mine with a tablespoon of flax seed.

This is the best recipe I've come across thus far.  Creamy Garlic Dressing.

Even if you aren't on the reset, or a health conscious eater, you should make this!  And then share it with your friends and family.  It is that good.

1/2 cup of EVOO, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp of Dijon mustard, one fresh squeezed lemon, Tablespoon of raw honey, 3 garlic cloves diced, fresh parsley, and Himalayan salt (I'm sure sea salt would be fine)

Micro-greens salad with avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin seeds and creamy garlic dressing

More vegetable sushi

Veggie snack plate with hummus.

Although, I've had a few slip-ups, and I plan on enjoying myself tonight with my hubby and a glass of wine at The Swinging Medallions concert, I feel incredible, am learning so many new recipes, and am fueling my body with fresh foods rich in antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins!  Week One is a balanced success, so far!