Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce

I LOVE all things BBQ, especially a sauce with a great flavor. Most store-bought sauces have tons of sugar and added sodium, and I'm just not down with that.

Once I found this barbeque sauce recipe, I stopped buying it from the store! It's THAT good and SO SIMPLE!

Sweet Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Ingredients
1 Sweet Vidalia onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup whiskey (I prefer Jameson)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

1/4 cup tomato paste (optional, for a thicker sauce)

Directions
Prep: 15 m
Cook: 30 m
Ready In: 45 m

Combine the onion, garlic, and whiskey in a pan over medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Mix in the ground black pepper, salt, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Add in tomato paste and hot sauce if using, as well. 

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes. 

Run sauce through a strainer if you prefer a smooth sauce.

Start with Yourself

If you want to save the world, you've got to start with yourself.

I've spent a good portion of my life trying my darndest to help: people, animals, causes, even creepy bugs; whatever it was that needed help, I couldn't live with myself knowing that I could have made an impact.

I became a yoga teacher for that very reason -- to share a practice that helped me with others, to guide them through the process and be there when they needed me. Even though the desire to help everyone and everything has always been natural to me, I'd often forget one pretty big piece of the puzzle -- MYSELF.

Sure, I could lead a class about patience and strength but behind the scenes, I was quite possibly the worst example of both. I would submit to the requests of adding more classes to my schedule, even though I was already overwhelmed. I had to help, and I couldn't find it in me to say no.

No matter how much time and effort I put into my classes, no matter how far I traveled, how much time I spent away from my family, I could only reach so many people -- and it never felt like enough.

I had a wake up call when a freak accident in the kitchen left me unable to use my hand for a few months, forcing me to slow down. Instead of welcoming the break, my inability to live up to my own expectations had driven me into a dark place.

It took me far too long in life to realize that I NEEDED TO HELP MYSELF FIRST.

With the goal of a strong, healthy body and strong, healthy mind; I set aside 30 minutes each day for working out, stretching and mediating. It didn't take long to notice a change. I was finally able to live my truth and lead by example.

I am so grateful that my BeachBody support group found me when it did, because I don't know where I'd be right now without them.

Now that I'm able to care for myself, I have found that I can expand my reach to help more people by coaching and running online support groups. If you struggle to find the time or motivation to care for a healthy body and mind, message me and we can get there together.

You can't save everybody, but you've got to save yourself.
#TransformationTuesday

Pesto Chicken Roulade

This pesto chicken roulade was super easy to make and insanely delicious! Everyone cleared their plates, including our 3 & 4 year olds!
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PESTO CHICKEN ROULADE
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Start with chicken breast, and cut them in half lengthwise so they lay thin. Put them in a freezer bag and pound until about a half inch thick.
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Spread pesto (I made mine easily with basil, almonds, parmesan, olive oil, and lemon juice) along the inside, then stuff with a few chunks of fresh mozzarella. Roll up tight, secure with a few toothpicks.
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Dip roulade in egg wash (just crack a couple eggs and beat in a dish), then coat in bread crumbs. Bake in a pan at 375 for about 45 minutes.
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Pan sauce is easily made with 2tbsp butter, 2tbsp flour, 2 cups chicken stock, half a lemon, and a tablespoon of pesto.
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Serve with roasted veggies, a salad, rice would be nice. 😀

Meal Prep Saturday!

Killin' it on a Saturday afternoon!

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The boys went grocery shopping, the baby is napping (after being up every 2 hours last night), and my girl and I just got our workout on and are meal prepping for the week.
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I don't know how I'd get through the week without meal prep! On today's menu: turkey meatballs, mini muffins, roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and marinating steak for tacos!

10 Minute Flourless Mini Muffins

I promise you that these will be the easiest muffins you will ever make! Literally just toss everything in the blender, pulse a few times and they're done. They are super easy to customize, whether you want to top them with chocolate, nuts, coconut--whatever you like!

My 3-year-old LOVES mini muffins (yes, ONLY muffins of the mini variety will do). After reading the back of the package and not being able to pronounce half of the ingredients, I couldn't keep buying them. 

I found this recipe on Pinterest and adapted them to fit my mini muffin tin. I feel MUCH better giving her these secretly healthy, totally delicious muffins instead. 

10 Minute Mini Muffins

yield: 3 dozen mini muffins | prep time: 5 minutes| cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups old fashioned oats
2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2 Tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional: 2 tsp cocoa, chopped pecans or walnuts, chocolate chips or blueberries

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400ºF. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.

Combine the oats, bananas, applesauce, yogurt, brown sugar, egg, honey, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a blender. Pulse 10-15 times, or until the batter is smooth. It doesn't need to be completely smooth, just well combined.

Fill mini muffin tins with 1 TBSP of mixture. You want them to be about 3/4 the way full. Add toppings if desired to the top of the batter.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean.

Essential Oils + Restorative Yoga Workshop

When: October 8th, 2:00-3:30PM
Where: Kula Yoga, 1205 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove
Register online at KulaYogaLifestyle.com

Essential Oils and Yoga have been used for thousands of years. Both are powerful tools used to bring balance and healing to us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

This workshop is thoughtfully crafted to encourage the release of stress in the body and mind with a calm and therapeutic approach. A restorative sequence focused on opening the hips stimulates the kidney and liver meridians to clear energetic and physical blockages. Students will have the opportunity to experience the power of aromatherapy as a way to stay with intentional breath and focus, to facilitate releasing and softening into their practice.

Come join us for a 90-minute workshop and experience therapeutic applications of essential oils while rejuvenating your body and mind through a deeply relaxing, balancing, restorative yoga class.

Join us just before the workshop on Saturday, October 8th at 1:00PM for a *FREE* educational class on how to begin empowering your health with the gift of essential oils.

This complimentary 50-minute class is designed to introduce you to some of the ways essential oils can help you live a happier, healthier, more balanced life.

Walk-ins are welcomed although space is limited.

Reserve your space now at KulaYogaLifestyle.com.

This Little Shake of Mine

This little shake right here... ❤😍❤

I often hear that the superfoods shakes I drink are too expensive. But here is how I pay for them at a little over $4 per day...

✅ It feeds me for one meal each day, replacing my groceries or takeout for that meal

✅ I no longer feel the need to drink $4-5 lattes several times per week because my energy levels are up

✅ All the supplements I was taking are ingredients in my shakes so I don't have to buy 5 separate supplements every month, including a multivitamin

✅ I'm not buying bags of chocolate with the intention to have one per day and next thing you know the bag is empty 2 days later because I don't crave the sweets and junk food anymore

✅ Drinking it while running errands prevents me from spending $6-10 on fast food

✅ It keeps me from buying the entire grocery store because I am not running in there hangry

The first month was an investment, but it came with a 30 day money back guarantee if it didn't work for me. Now it just becomes part of my monthly grocery budget.

Isn't your health worth that initial investment?


Ready to get started with Shakeology? Visit My Coach Page to get started now!