Ho, ho, what?!

Yeah, yeah, it's coming to be that time again...

You know, that time when you dust off your old Bing Crosby cd (the old disc things that go in that player you never use) and VHS player (giant black plastic bricks with tape in them); the time of year where we watch classics like White Christmas and follow it up with remixed songs for today's youth.. to be more specific Destiny's Child's album 8 Days of Christmas.

We all know we will break up with our men (who makes us feel both lovely and sexy in the holiday season) if we don't get our CLK Mercedes for Christmas..

Thought I'd share a little treat from a staff get together the other night.. you know, get you in the spirit.

Our little miracles are getting older..

James, Wendy and Angus are all celebrating birthdays this month. It may shock you, but it's Wendy's 50th, Jimbo's 33rd and Angus's 67th... Ok, so I lied. But they are on their way there..

Adrien and Lovisa will be accepting gifts all weekend long on their behalf, preferably giftcards, we know their sizes (or at least our own and we know to rip the tags off so they can't return them..)

It's Judgement Day

Thirsty? Hungry? Tired? Broke?

Good news! It's weigh in day, and Halloween, so for the lucky people who signed up for the 10lb challenge this fall, it looks like today is the day you can turn it all around.

Get down to the studio before 2 to get weighed in, and then maybe after you can have a mini chocolate bar.. to start prepping for the next contest in January.

A few new good reads..

For all you people looking for new recipes and not knowing where to start, here's a couple blogs that I like to frequent on a regular basis (so Diane- when I haven't posted in a while and you need a new recipe, you can check out one of these bad boys..).

www.onefrugalfoodie.com

www.NourishingMeals.com

www.healthyindulgences.blogspot.com

www.simplyrecipes.com

www.eatingwell.com

And for those of you who don't want to bomb around these sites for afternoons, I will hunt the good recipes down for you and leave the rest.

Cauliflower What?!

Cauliflower Risotto.. Fancy? Yes! Complicated? Nope!

Cauliflower “Risotto” with Fresh Basil (Grain-Free AND Dairy-Free)

This recipe is Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Soy-Free, and Sugar-Free.

I like to use just a bit of nutritional yeast, but keep the amounts moderate so that it enhances the meal without creating an overpowering fake cheesy taste.

****Make sure it is specifically called “nutritional yeast;” brewer’s (which the grocery attendants will try to hand to you) is not the same thing.

• 3 Tablespoons Pine Nuts (about 1 ounce)
• 1-1/2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
• ½ Teaspoon Salt, or to taste
• 1-1/2 to 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• ½ Cup Minced or Diced Onion
• 3 Cups Grated Cauliflower (about ½ medium to large head – if you have a food processor, you are golden; though you can grate it by hand)
• 1 Garlic Clove, minced
• ¼ Cup Broth (chicken or vegetarian)
• 6 to 10 Fresh Basil Leaves (you can use dehydrated basil as well, it tastes fresh, but easier to find in the fall/winter)
• Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste (optional)

Combine the nuts, nutritional yeast, and salt in your spice grinder, and give it a few pulses. The nuts should grind up, and begin to clump. It is best if it stays a bit powdery and doesn’t turn into a paste, but if it does, no loss. Set aside while you cook the cauliflower.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add the grated cauliflower and continue to sauté / stir-fry for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and suate for 1 minute more. Add the broth, reduce the heat to medium-low, stir, cover and allow it to sit for 2 to 3 minutes. This cooks it to the perfect “al dente” consistency for us, but feel free to cook it to your desired tenderness.

Remove the lid, turn off the heat, and stir in the reserved nut mixture. It may clump a bit, but continuing to stir it in the hot pan will help it to distribute and become creamy. Stir in the basil and fresh ground pepper to taste, if using. Serve.

Makes around 2 side servings

Happy Eating Bootcampers and future Cheese-Fakers!

And lunge..

With the fast approaching end date of the 10lb challenge, I'm sure many of you are wondering "How am I ever going to get that extra burn to drop my last 5 in three days?". Well, you can always do what this guy has done, and lunge with your pumpkin. It's an option to say the least.

This week around the studio, we've been working on our own transformations for the big weekend. James and Jes are going as senior citizens, which won't be hard for James to pull off, our newly discovered German, Lovisa, is going to be juggling jugs of beer (ha) all night on Saturday, Michele will be hiding her regular trainer self and turning a little bit meaner, but a whole lot less pretty and going as Gillian Michaels, and Trumps will be cartwheeling in a unitard around the studio as a Shawn Johnson look alike (knocking her teeth out with all her gold medals).

What are you all going as? Any big plans? The BDHQ team might make it to your party, we just need an invite, and a cheque... ok kidding, we'll do it for free!

We'll be chatting very soon...

I just made these..

And thought I better snap a photo and post the recipe before I forget and you get a fake photo with the real recipe... so here you are (thanks to crumbsunderthetable.com):

Corn Bread Mini-Muffins

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cups of yellow corn meal


1/4 cup agave nectar (add a little more or some sugar for a sweeter muffin)


2 teaspoon baking powder


1/2 teaspoon of salt


1 cup non-dairy milk


3 tablespoons applesauce


1 tablespoon oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray your muffin pan with oil.

Sift together the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients to that. Mix to combine!

Pour into your muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes.