Holy Health Kick!!

My New Year's Resolution begins NOW.

I know, two days early, but it's here nonetheless.

To save you from complete triteness, I'm going to spare you the whole "I want to lose 10 pounds" shpeal. Instead my resolution is a bit more generic. I simply want to live a healthier life.

My exercise routine consists of my hubby dragging me to the gym twice a month. That's right. Twice a MONTH. I usually go kicking and screaming and leaving either skipping my way home or throwing up (yes, that happened the last time. Perhaps a 7 minute mile on the treadmill was pushing it juuuust a hair too much for my bi-weekly workouts).

Today I joined the gym. I'm buying a sports bra and updating my ipod. 2010 will be the year I get into a fitness regimen. I don't know why going to the gym 4-5 times a week has seemed so daunting in the past, but I'm ready to do what it takes to make it happen. (This MIGHT very well mean the 5:45am spinning class. EEK!)
My eating habits are already fairly healthy, although I love to indulge in the occasional brownie, cookie or 2+ glasses of wine. I'm going to vow to start bringing my lunch to work more often. Those $10 a meal lunches with co-workers aren't only impeding on my "saving for a down payment" plans but they're also doing my midsection no good.

A starting point will help me track my results and since I've never owned a scale, measurements are my preffered method. 35-28-36.
 
Ok, not terrible. I'd have to say my goal is 35-26.5-35. Reasonable? I think so. Attainable? Better be - and I'm going to work my butt off to find out!

The Yummiest Roasted Chicken EVER!!!

This is such a delicious meal - perfect for company, or a special date night at home. I don't know why I tend to lean towards recipes that call for so many ingredients, but it's so worth it. The pasta is a citrus take on Carbonara and the glaze on the chicken is out of this world. Trust me, this recipe will not dissapoint.

Lemon-Glazed Roast Chicken with Tangerine-Scallion Spaghetti

From: Rachael Ray

Ingredients
2 lemons
1 (4-5 lb) chicken, quartered (ask your butcher to do this)
Salt and ground black pepper
2 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus some for drizzling
1 whole bulb garlic, top 1/4 inch sliced off plus 2 cloves, chopped
3 small onions, halved
3-4 fresh bay leaves
1/2 11-ounce jar lemon curd (about 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon honey

1 pound spaghetti
6 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
3 egg yolks
Juice of 3 tangerines
1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
3 cups baby arugula

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Zest the lemons, catching the zest in a bowl, then slice them into discs about 1/4-inch thick.

Lay the chicken pieces onto a baking sheet and season with salt, pepper and a drizzle of EVOO. Scatter the lemon slices, garlic bulb, onions and bay leaves around the chicken and pop into the oven for about 40 minutes.

While the chicken is roasting, make the glaze in the bowl that the lemon zest is in: Add the lemon curd, white wine and honey to the bowl along with some salt and lots of black pepper. Stir to combine and reserve.

Place a large pot of water over high heat to boil the pasta. When the chicken has about 10 minutes left to cook, season the boiling water with salt and drop the pasta. Cook to al dente according to package directions. Save a couple of mugs full of starchy cooking water before draining the pasta. Reserve.

While the pasta is boiling, place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO. Add the scallion whites and chopped garlic to the pan and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add one mug full of the reserved pasta-cooking water and the cooked pasta to the pan and bring up to a bubble.

While that's heating up, place the egg yolks into a bowl and whisk to break them up. Add remaining cooking water to the egg yolks while whisking constantly to heat them up. Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium and add the egg mixture to the pasta, stirring constantly to incorporate. Add the tangerine juice, Parmigiano Reggiano, some salt and pepper to the pan, and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reserve warm.

When the chicken is done, remove it from the oven. Pour the glaze over the chicken and pop it under the broiler to caramelize the glaze.

Garnish the pasta with the scallion greens and arugula and serve alongside the chicken.

YUMMMMMMMMMMMM

SimaG Jewelry - must have!

I recently discovered Sima Gilady - after reading about her awesome handmade jewelry on theluxuryspot.com. Being a fan of judaica pieces in particular, I went on etsy to check out this very unique designer. All I can say is LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Sima makes everything from bracelets to necklaces, and everything is customized. I had "Ani ledodi vedodi li" written on mine. This phrase meaning "I am my beloved and my beloved is me" has significant meaning to me as it was my wedding vow, it is written on my Ketubah (Jewish wedding license that hangs above my bed) and is tattooed (in not so "Jewish" fashion) on my husband's under arm in remembrance of our sacred vows.

Sima will inscribe your jewelry with any name or phrase (English or Hebrew) and is wonderful to work with - she responded immediately to my questions (via email). I am very excited to be receiving my necklace soon!

Infidelity? Just say No!

Given all the recent attention to Tiger Woods and his obnoxiously multiple infidelities, I'm left baffled and wondering why all of these men with wealth, health and happiness (and hot wives to boot!) ruin quite possibly the best thing they had going. Take a look at just some famous women subject to this public humiliation:

Halle Berry - her husband Eric Benet claimed to be a "sex addict"

Christie Brinkley - her husband cheated on her with an 18-year old receptionist!

Brigitte Moynahan - Tom Brady knocked her up and left for Gisele

Ali Larter - who cheats on the hot Doritos girl?! And who cheats during your bachelor party? Way to go Mario Lopez!

Elizabeth Hurley - her boyfriend Hugh Grant picked up a hooker on the side of the street in LA! And she stayed with him for another 5 years


So why do men cheat? A well-known therapist recently did a study and found three major reasons:

- Not enough satisfying sex.

- Not enough affective affirmation.

- Poor communication.



Although my year and a half of marriage by no means makes me an expert (and quite frankly, I don't believe any of us are "experts"), I do believe there are a few necessities in making marriage work:

1. Always make each other a priority - work, friends, hobbies - NOTHING is more important than your spouse knowing you're there for them

2. Turn off the bberry (this sort of ties into #1)

3. Communicate! The old adage is partially true that men don't love to discuss warm and mushy things like "feelings" but when an important issue arises, it is crucial to discuss them with your partner.

There are so many things that make a marriage strong, but if you want to focus your efforts on just a few, eating cookie dough together in your pjs, monthly Brazilians, laughing until you're about to pee your pants and always remaining best friends almost guarantee a happy ending.

Reproducing and its Repercussions

For those of you who may not know, I hold a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. I studied abroad and graduated in 3 1/2 years halfway due to my pure excitement of getting out in the real world, and half in part to the fact that the days on the payroll were coming to a scary close and money needed to be made - and fast.

Well fast forward four years and here I am. A corporate Marketing and Communications Manager for a $6 billion dollar international company. I travel the country, work with amazing peers and have accomplished many feats in my few years in the "real world." So you'd think I would be content. Think again.

Recently I have had thoughts of going back to Grad School for.... wait for it... wait for it... Journalism! (Shocking, I know) My current employer is actually even willing to help finance my degree. My husband supports me. So what's the problem?

Who will make the dinners, take care of our dogs, clean the house (ok fine - I don't even clean now) and more importantly than anything else I could include in the list, what will happen to our baby making plans? My grandmother (married for 52 years) always told me the key to a successful marriage - "Madela, (for all my fellow yiddish speakers out there!) when your husband comes home you need a hot dinner on the table, a full face of makeup and silence - do not speak to him for at least one hour after he arrives home) Nice in theory, however I've found it hard to live up to my grandmother's advice. My makeup has worn off since it's 6:30AM application, dinner is usually half-ready considering I just got home as well and let's face it, I could talk to a brick wall for hours.

Although not practical in today's dual households, the theory my grandmother had is nice. There is something to be said for creating a traditional home and this is where my cunnundrom occurs. How do you find balance ? How can you work a 50 hour week and be an all star wife (and potentially mom!) How can you think about how you'll design a nursery when you're looking at class schedules for Grad School? How can you succeed at work, excel in school, be a mother, a wife, a daughter and friend, all without letting the ball drop? So now my official "plan" will be figuring out how to combine my goals and achieve what everyone else in this world hopes for - to have it all.

A Roman Take on Spaghetti and Meatballs

Sundays pre-marriage consisted of me sleeping in bed till 12, eventually dragging myself out of bed to make a bowl of ramen and plop myself in front of the television until around 6pm.
Sundays post-marriage are now fondly spent in the kitchen whipping up something yummy for my husband and I. Although neither one of us are Italian, we have a particular attraction to all foods Italian - hence my recent obsession with Giada De Laurentiis. Her style is classic Italian - and her dishes from Rome never disappoint. This particular recipe is a huge hit in my house. Now please don't be intimidated - I know it's a long laundry list of ingredients but once you put this into your roster, you'll be sure to always have these ingredients on hand. I've made notes where I make my substitutes, but the only ingredient I highly suggest you avoid substituting is the bucatini pasta – it MAKES the dish! Other than that, no matter how you make this dish you will not be disappointed.


Bucatini All'Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs

Ingredients:


All'Amatriciana Sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces pancetta, diced *I omit*
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes *If you don't like spice, omit*
1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano

Meatballs:
1 small (6-ounce) onion, grated
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus 1/4 cup *I omit*
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus 1/4 cup
1/3 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
1 large egg
2 tablespoons ketchup
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes *If you don't like spice, omit*
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
8 ounces ground beef
8 ounces ground veal *I use 16 oz of beef*
2 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese, cut into 16 (1/2-inch) cubes *I use regular mozzarella*
1 pound bucatini or other long pasta

Directions

For the sauce: In a large heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pancetta and reserve. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and the cooked pancetta. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

For the meatballs: Position an oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the onion, 1/2 cup parsley, 2/3 cup Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, garlic, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the beef and veal. Using your hands, combine all ingredients gently but thoroughly. Shape the meat mixture into 16 (1 1/2-inch-diameter) meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Make a hole in the center of each meatball and place a cube of mozzarella inside. Reform the meatball so that the mozzarella is completely covered with the meat mixture. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes until cooked through.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place in a large serving bowl. Add the meatballs and sauce. Toss gently and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and Parmesan.

Addictions of a Gratuitous Nature

Hanky Panky Thongs
This underwear is the CURE to that annoying little bulge even skinny girls get from skimpy underwear. These thongs lay perfectly and once were only available in one size fits all, yet now they are now expanding their offerings and making them in various sizes. They come in vibrant colors and have both high and low rise fits. I’m also somewhat obsessed with their boy shorts. LOVE! I hear they’ve come out with a new t-shirt line!! Super excited to try those next!

Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products

In my continued effort to make my house more “green,” I’ve recently begun using these products and absolutely love them.

To date, I’ve purchased:

Lavender Countertop Spray- this spray has magical powers. Ever since purchasing my husband magically wants to clean the kitchen. Let me say that again – my husband WANTS to clean. This product smells so delicious (not too strong) and leaves the countertops spotless clean with no residue.

Lavender Hand Soap- I am totally into this hand soap. Bath and Body Works hand soap used to have a large presence in my house, but after discovering this soap I’ll never switch back. It has the slightest lavender smell that isn’t overwhelming but manages to relax me every time I use it!

Lemon Verbena Window Spray - I use this product for the mirrors in my bathroom and our French doors. It works better than Windex and has a wonderful smell to boot.

I would recommend these products to anyone – whether your ultimate goal is to make your home more green or not, you too will fall in love with these products. I‘m dying to try their candles and home fragrances!! Sign up for their e-newsletter and get a coupon for $5 off your first purchase.

Mario Badescu Flower and Tonic Mask

A 20 minute facial in a jar! I’ve been using this product on a bi-weekly basis for about two years after I discovered Mario Badescu Skin Care when I moved to NY (they’re located on East 52nd Street in Manhattan). Don’t live in the city? Fear not! They ship anywhere in the country – if you sign up for their newsletter you’ll often receive coupons for free shipping or free samples of other products. Select Nordstrom stores also carry the line.

The mask feels great going on – similar to the texture of a mud mask – and sits on your skin for about 20 minutes. While it’s drying, you feel your skin tightening and your pores clearing. After you’ve washed it off, your skin will feel clearer and more refreshed as if you’ve just had an expensive facial.

Mario Badescu recommends using the product 2-3 times a week, but I think weekly or bi-weekly does the trick so you can buy it less often.