Smart Food
This weekend, I was able to make my first dinner using things from our garden. And man, was the Garlic Vegetable Couscous delicious! I picked some zucchini (yes, I realize I look like a dork in that picture 
), spinach, sage and basil for this dish. Our cucumbers weren’t quite ready yet, so I used some from the Farmer’s Market instead.
You don’t have to use Garlic Gold for this recipe, but I really like the flavor the oil brings out. Plus, the nuggets add a fantastic finishing CRUNCH!
Garlic Vegetable Couscous
Inspired by a recipe from Hudson Valley Mediterranean
1 1/2 c. Israeli couscous
4 T. Garlic Gold Oil OR 4 T. olive oil and 4 cloves garlic, minced
2 zucchini, sliced
2 1/2 T. fresh basil, minced
1 T. fresh sage, minced
2 c. spinach
2 cucumbers, sliced
1 T. lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Garlic Gold Nuggets (optional)
In a large shallow pan, cook the couscous with 3 c. water over medium heat. When most of the water is absorbed, pour the couscous into a large bowl and stir in 1 T. of the oil.
In the same pan, heat 1 T oil over medium-high heat. If you aren’t using Garlic Gold, add the garlic cloves now and cook 2-3 minutes, until soft. Add the zucchini, basil and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-9 minutes.
Add zucchini mixture to couscous. Stir in the spinach, cucumber, lemon juice, and remaining oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with Garlic Gold Nuggets.
Smart Fitness
As I mentioned yesterday, I got some new cycling gear that has been making a world of difference in my training!
Since I’m so short, my bike frame is too small for me to easily get a water bottle out to drink from during a ride. As a solution, I got a Camelbak last week!
I got the Aurora 1.5 L (50 oz) pack, and it is so nice to be able to take a drink while in motion! Three cheers for hydration!
Smart Life
We are experiencing a serious HEAT WAVE here this week, and I’ve discovered some tips for BEATING THE HEAT when you don’t have AC.
- Keep the blinds closed during the day to keep the hot sun out.
- Open the windows in the evenings, and only keep them a crack open during the day. You’ll get some fresh air in, but keep much of the hot air out!
- In the evening, put fans in front of the windows to blow more cool air in. Move them away from the windows during the day to keep the air moving.
- Take a COLD shower.
- Wear light-colored and light clothing.
- Put a lipped cookie sheet full of ice in front of a fan. As the ice melts, the fan will blow cool air across the room! <– This is GENIUS, and I wish I thought of it before last night!
What are your tips for beating the heat?
{ 23 comments }
