Ginger Garlic Grilled Salmon Recipe

May 20, 2013 By Sarah Leave a Comment

Ginger Garlic Salmon

 

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about a Ginger Garlic Sauce. I’m for sure obsessed with the combination of fresh garlic and fresh ginger, but this is the most addicting version to date. (Although I have a slow cooker version in the works, stay tuned!). Adding this sauce to a classic grilled salmon recipe is a home run for weeknight dinners or weekend cookouts with company.

Our family is trying to incorporate more heart-healthy salmon into our diets lately.  It is important to buy wild salmon vs. farmed because farmed salmon can be infected with lice (!!) and treated with antibiotics. Wild is definitely my choice if you can find it. Almost all grocery store fish is flash-frozen, so don’t worry about buying your salmon from the freezer case.  Just enjoy all the heart-healthy Omega-3s!

When I make grilled salmon, I use 1 6-oz salmon fillet per person, because it’s so delicious everyone eats a whole piece. This recipe works for 4-6 fillets 6-oz fillets. This is a great dish to make for company because it tastes like a restaurant dish but can be made in less than 20 minutes! I like to serve it with some brown rice and lightly sauteed snow peas.

For the sauce:

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Wisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.

Ginger Garlic Sauce

To prepare the salmon:

Using a brush, thoroughly coat your raw salmon fillets (both sides). Reserve some of the sauce, and use it to baste the salmon with while it’s being grilled. Grill time is approximately 6-8 minutes per side. The salmon should just be cooked through but NOT overcooked.  Salmon is delicate so make sure to keep an eye on it.

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5 Ways to Deal with Seasonal Allergies | #MyAllerGenius

May 7, 2013 By Sarah 13 Comments

 

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and ALLEGRA® #cbias #SocialFabric. All opinions, ideas, and thoughts in this post are 100% my own.
Allegra Collage

Until 2 years ago, the scourge of Hay Fever was something that happened to other people.

I would blithely run around in the springtime, rolling in meadows of daffodils, lingering under trees, and smelling ALL the flowers.

Ok, not exactly. But I could have if I wanted to.

Then, out of the clear springtime sky, seasonal allergies struck.

#MyAllergenius

And since then, I’ve been permanently attached to my box of tissue for 3 months of the year. Since I like to use natural remedies as a first line of defense, I have come up with some ways to combat the itchy eyes, stuffy nose, and sneezing that happens this time of year.

1. Essential Oils-  Using an essential oil diffuser, I’ll combine eucalyptus, peppermint, and orange oils throughout the house (and especially my bedroom) to help with the morning congestion.

2. Neti Pot – Either you love it or you are terrified of it. I’m in the former camp. Used once or twice a day, it really relieves my sinus swelling and congestion. Some people report overdryness, and if that is the case, you can just use warm water with no salt. Make sure to stay hydrated when using the Neti Pot.

3. Check the Pollen Count. You can sign up for Pollen Count Alerts on www.myallergenius.com, and you will be alerted when the pollen in your area is high. I am signed up for this, and when I get a high alert, I try to stay inside a bit more, especially during peak pollen times. Peak pollen times are generally in the morning before 10 am, and then at dusk. Avoid being outside on days when the pollen count is  high.

4. Increase intake of anti-inflammatory Omega-3s. Omega-3′s lower inflammation in the body, including from auto-immune attacks (which is what causes the allergy attacks). Omega-3s can be found in coldwater fish, grass-fed beef, and flaxseed.

5. Try an Over-the-Counter remedy like Allegra. I wanted to learn more tips for handling my seasonal allergies, so I went to www.myallergenius.com to get some information. I found ideas for managing my allergies, an interactive Beauty App, and the Pollen Count Alerts. All were extremely useful in managing my seasonal allergies. Here is an image of the Pollen Count app — it only gives you alerts when the pollen count is high, so I’m not innundated with texts.

MyAllergenius

Let’s face it, some days it is just not realistic to stay inside with my two young children just because of allergies. On those days I take my Allegra, and now we can be outside from dawn to dusk! It makes my kids — and me — really happy.

Myallergenius

Right now you can also save money on Allegra at CVS! I went to the MyAllerGenius site and was able to print out two coupons:  $4.00 off Adult 30-ct and larger and $2.00 off Children’s and 15-ct and higher. Plus, through the month of May, all Allegra products are on sale at CVS with your ExtraCare card. Currently they offer $6 off the 45 pack, and children’s liquid and tablets are only $9.99 throught May 31 with the CVS Extracare card.

 

I love saving money. :)

Myallergenius

Would you like to learn more about how Allegra can help you control your seasonal allergies?  Join me at a Twitter Party May 14th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST. You can RSVP here:  http://cbi.as/e8or5. Make sure to follow Allegra on Twitter so you can get all the updates. And don’t forget to sign up for Pollen Count alerts, special offers, and discounts at My AllerGenius.

You can also check out my Google+ Album wherein I document my journey from hay fever misery to relief.Pollen Counts, Allegra

 I had so much fun enjoying the outdoors when I finally got relief from my seasonal allergies!
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My #GElighting Adventure | Reduce Reuse Recyle

April 23, 2013 By Sarah 5 Comments
As part of my partnership with GE, I received coupons for my GE light bulbs. All opinions posted about my GE Lighting experience are my own.

 

GELighting

 

My family moved across town two weeks ago. Along with all the other random stresses a move brings (like all 4 of us sleeping in the same room!!), we realized after moving in that none of the rooms except the kitchen and bathroom have overhead lights. I guess we were spoiled in our old house as all the bedrooms had built-in ceiling light fixtures.  The first couple of days in the new house, consequently, were spent in the dark.
Fortunately, I received coupons for GE EnergySmart lightbulbs to use at Walmart. I was able to buy a new lamp for our living room AND plenty of lightbulbs to use in the rest of the house.
Here’s what I picked up:
Picture 13
I was able to purchase 12 Energy Smart bulbs – I hope that’s enough to light up the new house!
My family has made a commitment to only using energy efficient light bulbs in our home. Just 1 EnergySmart light bulb can last up to 11 years and save $72 over the life of the bulb.  I also really like that since these EnergySmart CFL bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs, there is less waste!  We are reducing our energy bills and energy usage.
Ready to try them out:
Picture 14
If you’d like to see more of my #GElighting journey, you can check out my Google+ album!
It is important to recycle CFLs when they (finally) reach the end of their life.  Many retailers such as Home Depot,  Ace Hardware, and Lowe’s have CFL recycling programs. Call your local store to verify participation.
And don’t forget: Turn off the light when you leave a room!!
GE Lighting
If you are interested in learning more about GE Lighting options, you can f

Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and GE Lighting #cbias #SocialFabric. All opinions and experiences are my own.
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My Brightspring Detox: The After

April 21, 2013 By Sarah 2 Comments

Six days ago I completed the Brightspring 10 Day Detox. As I sit with my forbidden cup of coffee (hold the sugar!) in front of me, I am looking back at the past two weeks – what worked, what didn’t — and what parts of the Detox I want to incorporate in the future.

But first, what were my results?

I want to repeat, I did not do the 10 day Detox to lose weight. I did it to see if a new way of clean eating would improve my gastro-intestinal symptoms.

That said, I did lose weight: 9 pounds. Not too shabby considering I ate bacon every other day!  When I saw the number on the scale at the end of the detox, I was in shock.

Before and After

I entered my food into My Fitness Pal (an awesome app) during a few  days on the detox, because I was curious about my macro and micro nutrient profile on the detox. Here’s an idea of a day on the Detox:

Fat – 69 g
Carbs – 34 g
Fiber – 15 g
Sugar – 13 g
Protein – 98 g
Vit A – 287% RDA
Vit C – 90% RDA
Calcium – 42% RDA
Iron – 78% RDA

In contrast, here is a day that I was counting calories, BEFORE the detox:

Fat – 59 g
Carbs – 200 g
Fiber – 23 g
Sugar 80 g
Protein – 41 g
Vit A – 672% (I had carrot squash soup that day)
Vit C -146%
Calcium – 106%
Iron – 63%

It seems crazy to me now how high the numbers for carbs and sugar are!  And kind of scary, especially since I did fine on SO much less sugar during the Detox!

As for my gastro symptoms, on a typical day, I vacillate between hungry and nauseous. There is no middle ground. During the whole 10 days on the Detox plan, I was only nauseous once, and for less than an hour. I think that’s a record for me!

Here’s where we’re going to get into some TMI:  I would recommend drinking a LOT of water. Despite the high amounts of fiber I was getting through the smoothies and veggies, I did find the Detox slightly constipating. Not distressingly so, but in the spirit of full disclosure, there it is.

Was I hungry?

Yeah, there were definitely times that I wanted to grab a non-liquid snack. But those times were fewer than I thought they would be. Nighttime was definitely the hardest. We happened to move from one house to another smack in the middle of the detox, so during the day, I was way to busy to even think about snacks. And I never had those annoying mid-morning blood sugar dips that I usually get.

Also, since we were moving, I was much more physically active than usual. I definitely had the energy to do everything I needed to do. In fact, my dad later said he was shocked that I managed to peel wallpaper and paint in 2 rooms in less than 24 hours!

It was also easier than I thought to eat out and on the go with the detox plan. A few nights during the moving chaos, I went to the hot bar at Wegmans and had either a grilled chicken or roasted salmon with sauteed veggies.

My take-away? I’ll definitely continue some aspects of the detox.

Nutrient Density — Pick foods that give the most bang for the buck –fresh, well-prepared whole ingredients.

Eat a Detox Breakfast every day. Eggs with sauteed greens are filling, yummy, and healthy.

Baby carrots are just a delicious with homemade guacamole as with chips.

I also have a new favorite side dish – brussels sprouts, bacon, and butternut squash. Nom nom.

Chia really is a superfood. High in fiber and omega-3s, Chia is not just for informercials anymore.  I’m going to start including it in my homemade smoothies and juice.

Finally, while I don’t believe that grains are the devil, I think reducing the amount of processed carbs and sugar I am consuming has a positive effect on my health.

Picture 10

The Brightspring 10 Day Detox isn’t a budget program. Prices start at $20 per day for pick-up. But I’ve paid $6.50 for an 8 oz veggie smoothie at my favorite juice bar.  If I had three of those a day, it would be about the same price as the Detox, but with the detox you get Carrie’s expertise, advice,  and meal plans to support you through the process.

Would you like to read more about my Detox Journey?

If you would like to learn more about the foods featured on the detox, here is some recommended reading:

I also urge you to check out the other services Brightspring Health provides, like 1 on 1 nutritional counseling, Brightspring Parties, or a Healthy Pantry Makeover!

Disclosure: I received a promotional version of the Detox gratis. All opinions are my own.

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My Brightspring 10 Day Detox: The Halfway Point

April 12, 2013 By Sarah 1 Comment

Picture 3So there is good news and bad news.

We’ll get the bad news out of the way first: I cheated on my Detox. 

But here’s the good news: It was with a glass of champagne to celebrate my family moving into a new house!

Honestly, I don’t feel guilty. It was truly  a once in a lifetime event, so I’m cool with it (And I think Carrie at Brightspring Health would be cool with it too). Especially since my whole family ate Dibella’s subs, chips, soda, and cookies in front of me right before and I sat dutifully eating my grilled chicken with avocado and sauteed green beans (thank you Wegmans $6 meals!). Considering the fact that I prepared my own chicken/bacon/avocado/ romaine wrap in the car on the way to the closing, I think I earned it.

Today was hard though. On one hand, I am 100% sure that  eating this way and drinking my smoothies kept my blood sugar under control as I packed, loaded, unloaded, ran to the closing, picked up kids, and on and on. I got hungry, but it was more because I didn’t take the time to stop and eat, and it wasn’t that panicky low-blood-sugar hungry.

On the other hand – DiBellas. Cookies. Chips. COFFEE.

Avocado and Bacon

What have I been eating instead. Lots of avocado. Lots of bacon. Lots of butternut squash, romaine, and greens. Frankly, there is a huge variety of things I can eat on my Detox, but with the craziness of moving, I’m not exactly preparing a ton of food. I have a batch of premade bacon, some cut up veggies, and some avocados, and I’m just taking them from house to house with me. I’m hoping by day 7 I can branch out a little more.

But I made it through moving day. Phew. 5 days down, 5 days to go.

Make sure to check out my “Before” picture and read more information about the Brightspring 10 Day Detox. And don’t miss the one where I gulp an entire glass of green smoothie!

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My First Green Smoothie

April 9, 2013 By Sarah 7 Comments

I’m a veteran green juice drinker but I had my first green smoothie yesterday as part of the Brightspring 10 Day Detox.

Watch the video to see what I thought (and please excuse my 5-year-old cameraman):


Does it look yummy to you??

Day 1 down, 9 days to go! The good: I felt physically quite well yesterday. No gastroparesis after lunch like I usually get. Also, the food I ate was all really yummy. The bad: I was a little bit hungry, and ended up going to bed super early to take my mind off it (although that is just as well since I was exhausted today).

Make sure to check out my “Before” picture and read more information about the Brightspring 10 Day Detox.

This post may contain affiliate links, which help support this site.
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