Not Your Regular Pesto

Happy healthy Friday! Today I thought I’d share a recipe that has become an easy and healthy go-to for me: Kale Pesto! Using kale instead of basil creates a homemade pesto that is just as tasty as the classic, but even healthier. This recipe is really easy to make and uses just a few simple ingredients. Plus, it’s a great way to get in your extra greens.  Use this pesto in your favorite pasta recipes, or even substitute it in lasagna or a chicken dish.

What you’ll need:

food processor

½ cup of pin nuts

2 cups of fresh kale (firmly packed, I also remove the large stems, which is optional)

2-3 cloves of garlic

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon of pepper

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons to ½ cup of olive oil (depending on the desired consistency)

What to do:

           

Place the pin nuts in a dry skillet, and toast, shaking occasionally until the nuts are golden brown, about 3 minutes. (Be careful not to burn the pine nuts!)

Place the garlic cloves in the food processor and pulse until they are minced.

Add the kale to the food processor, then add in the toasted pine nuts, and then the salt and pepper. Pulse until the kale is finely chopped.

Add the cheese, and pulse until cheese is incorporated evenly. (Be careful not to over pulse, the pesto should stay a little chunky.)

Drizzle in some of the olive oil and pulse. Continue to add olive oil and pulse until the pesto reaches the desired consistency.

Enjoy!

What I like to do is combine sun dried tomatoes, olives, steamed broccoli and some chicken into a bowl of whole-wheat fusilli pasta, and toss everything together with the pesto for a delicious and nutritious meal.

Please share with me how your pesto comes out and include any variations you may have made in the comment section below. I’d love to hear how you like it! You’ll be surprised at how many dishes you can whip up using this twist on the classic pesto.

TODAY: Lorna Jane $500 Wardrobe Raffle at the Hollywood Studo Trunk Show!

A big thank you to LaLaScoop for posting “Pilates Platinum –Hot Spot for Fitness, Philanthropy & Shopping” and sharing the news of our Lorna Jane Trunk Show that’s going on today, Tuesday January 28th! 

  

For those of you who are just hearing about the trunk show now, here’s what you need to know:

WHAT: 

Pilates Platinum and Lorna Jane Trunk Show. Come shop the newest styles and receive 20% off any purchase made (cc accepted).

WHEN: 

TODAY! Tuesday, January 28^th, 2014 

OPEN: 6am-1:30pm and 6:30pm-8:30pm 

(You don’t have to take a class to shop.)

WHERE: 

Pilates Platinum Hollywood Studio 1330 N. Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

WIN: Enter to win a $500 Lorna Jane Active Wardrobe Voucher!

 

Lorna Jane may be new to the U.S. (with 23 stores in California as of last year), but the company has been kicking butt in Australia for over 20 years, with up to 100 new styles offered each month. Their mission is “to inspire women to live their best life through Active Living” which is something Pilates Platinum totally agrees with!

I hope you can make it to the Hollywood studio to shop the Lorna Jane Collection and to sweat, tone, and lengthen your body with a Pilates class!

Here are some photos from earlier this morning of Pilates Platinum members and our Lorna Jane representative, b-RyaN, from the Lorna Jane store at the Beverly Center.

Lorna Jane representative, b-RyaN, at Pilates Platinum Hollywood. She's there to help you shop the collection and answer any of your questions. She's also a dancer and a performer! Check out her personal website here:  www.b-ryan.com. 

Lorna Jane's b-RyaN wearing the "Super Star Tank" and Pilates Platinum member wearing the "Team LJ Excel Tank".

Pilates Platinum member wearing the "Sage Excel Tank".

2014 Detox 101: Continued

Earlier this week I talked about Juice Cleansing and how popular Juicing is in Los Angeles, but a post-holiday detox doesn’t have to involve a juice-only diet. There are so many ways to start living a healthier lifestyle, and I’m going to share with you some of the things I like to do to get back on a healthy track, and detox sans-juice.

REST: Get some more ZZZzzzz’s! Chances are you’ve tried to cram everything in your schedule- cooking and cleaning and traveling, in between working and staying active. This can leave even the most energetic person exhausted. My post-holiday detox always includes getting more rest. Try turning off the lights early, not using your computer or phone in bed, or reading instead of catching another episode of television.

FUN: Have some fun! It’s easy to get stressed and feel defeated when tackling new lifestyle changes. Make sure you put some focus on having fun, too. Take a new class, or go on a hike you’ve never tried before. Go explore your neighborhood, say hi to strangers, pet a dog, or cook dinner for a friend… When you’re having fun, you’re smiling and laughing and happy. And that’s a huge part of my post-holiday detox.

GREENS: Add greens to your diet! This is a must for any time of the year. Green vegetables are one of the most energy-rich foods out there. Dark, leafy, yummy, and filled with nutrients- you can eat raw greens in a salad, blend spinach or kale into a smoothie, or get creative with your mid-day snacks (celery with almond butter, or homemade kale chips for example). There are so many ways to add green veggies to your day and doing so will help you reach your healthy detox goals.

TEA:  Drink more tea! Green Tea, Herbal Tea, Dandelion-Root Tea, Chamomile Tea…I could go on and on. Green tea in the morning gives me the boost I want without grabbing a cup of coffee (and leaves me with much better breath than my lattes!). Herbal Teas have such strong flavors and I love to drink one as an afternoon pick-me-up. Dandelion-Root Tea, which is well known for detoxing the liver, is great if you’ve overdone it with the champagne this past season. It’ll also help cleanse your skin, and although it’s not as common as Green Tea, you can find it at Whole Foods. Chamomile Tea has become my nightly favorite. Add a splash of Almond Milk and some Honey and thank me later.

(above image from healthylifestyletea.com)

2014 Detox 101: Juice Cleansing

It’s officially 2014! Many people made a New Year’s Resolution to start a healthier diet, or to stick to a healthier lifestyle, and I agree there’s no time like the present for a fresh start.

Some people may have already begun 2014 with a detox or cleanse. There are many ways to detox and cleanse your body and initiate good habits, and here in Los Angeles, Juice Cleanses are a huge trend. Cleansing by juicing creates radiant skin, kick-starts healthy eating habits, and decreases bloating (that may or may not have been caused by overeating this holiday season…).

Where you’ve joined the Juicing trend or not, here are a few companies based in Los Angeles that’ll help you start a cleanse- and you can even have juices shipped to you so you don’t have to worry about a thing!

My Glow Bio

www.myglowbio.com

@GlowBio

7473 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046

323-782-3939

My Glow Bio says, “Cleanse Today, Glow Tomorrow!”

They offer 100% Organic and Probiotic Juices, Fiber to remove Toxins, and Boosters, with the option to pick up the juices in store or have them shipped nationally. Choose between Level 1 or 2, for a 1-day, 3-day, or a 5-day program. All cleanses include Bio-Available Smoothies, Probiotic-enhanced Cold-Pressed Juices, and Specific Boosters like “Debloat”, “Enhance Immunity”, or “Support Digestion”. The smoothies are delicious- my favorite is “Glowing Green!”

Juice Served Here

www.juiceservedhere.com

@juiceservedhere

8366 West 3^rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90048

323-944-0409

Juice Served Here says,  “A Cleanse Without The White Knuckle Ride.”

 

This brand’s motto is “Never Conventional”, and they mean it! They have 3 different levels of cleanses that come in reusable and recyclable glass bottles. The juice names are clever and they have over 21 options to choose from. You can even make your cleansing experience “a little cushier” by adding a Raw Soup, a Superfood Bar, or a made-in-house LAX tea.  If you love coconut, don’t miss #12, “Cream Party”!

Earth Bar

www.earthbar.com

8365 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

323-301-4980

Earth Bar Says, “Organic Whole Body Health.”

Earth Bar offers a wide range of vitamins and supplements, and has over 12 different 100% Organic Cold-Pressed juices and 8 different juice “shots.” Like the other companies I’ve mentioned, Earth bar offers 3 different levels of juice cleanses. All levels come with a “Almond Mylk” drink, which is a yummy treat as a dinner juice.  Two of the levels also include morning and nightly vitamins, a “Wellness Shot” and a “E3 Live Shot.” If you’re feeling a under the weather, a “Wellness Shot” is famous for kicking out a cold before it moves in. Another Earth Bar favorite is the “Radiant Skin” smoothie on the regular menu.  

Juicing isn’t the only way to get back on track after the holidays. Stay tuned later this week for some of my Post-Holiday Detox ideas that don’t involve juicing.

Cool find: Uashmama

I’m constantly on the hunt for interesting products and businesses. I like making things to give as hostess gifts, birthday presents, and other occasions, but often I need to throw something together quickly and need a little help to stay creative. My go-to gift item usually consists of a package of a few small things that each have a special meaning to the recipient- a favorite flower or wine, a card and a trinket, or even something I baked.

I recently came across a company that I love for so many reasons: Uashmama. Uashmama, pronounced “Wash Mama”, is one of my new favorite brands. The company, run by 4 sisters in Tuscany, Italy, hand-makes amazing paper bags that feel like leather, wash like fabric, and are completely malleable so you can use them for anything you can dream of. They come in 7 sizes (XS-XXL, and Giant) and are perfect for displaying around your home or for filling up with goodies to give as gifts like I’m planning on doing. They are beautiful AND sustainable! All of the bags are made from virgin paper fiber and responsibly harvested through cultivation (no deforestation!). Visit the Uashmama Website or find a stockiest near you and start falling in love.