HOMEMADE CUBAN MOJO (Basic)
2 c. sour orange juice
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
1 head garlic
1 c. oil
Stir together sour orange and lime juices. Peel garlic cloves and mash thoroughly. Blend with the oil. Add oil mixture to juices along with salt and oregano. (If desired, add cumin or other favorite seasoning.) Place in a bottle with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate at least a day before using. Use for basting meats, pork, fish and chicken. Makes about 3 1/2 cups.
Some things, I discovered, you can't live without to maintain your personal fitness goals and for me, Mojo Criollo is one of them! My Floridian relatives are a happy mix of Italian, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Ecuadorian, Cuban, Irish, Caucasian and African American... So with the family being primarily of Latin decent, many of our family gatherings are celebrated with authentic cuisine from our many diverse cultures. Typically, I will spend $30.00 on a bag of thinly sliced Fajita meat from the local Latin Market and buy a bottle of Mojo Criollo (Spanish Barbecue Sauce) to use as a marinade.
So, today I am digging through the pantry and cleaning out my refrigerator to make my own Cuban Mojo to marinate my Tri-Tip and Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts. This will sit in the fridge, covered, over night then I will freeze any meat that I will not need for today and tomorrow because I will be fasting again from Sunset Friday to Sunset Sunday.
I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pico de Gallo! Here's a very simple Homemade Recipe that can be modified to taste. I like mine HOT so this is a medium heat version of it:
Pico de Gallo (All ingredients should be FRESH)
4 ripe plum tomatoes
1 small onion
.5 cup chopped cilantro
2-3 jalepeno peppers
1 tablespoon lime juice
.5 tsp. S&P
1 clove garlic minced
(Photo from mexicoinmykitchen.com)
Homemade, Italian Tomato Bruschetta (Usually served on Home-made Bread, sliced) consists of:
Garlic cloves
Fresh tomatoes
Fresh Chopped Basil
EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Salt
My Aunt Mary loves to serve this with Artichokes (Bruschetta al carciofi) and I usually serve this with either Feta, Ricotta or Mozzarella cheese (Unfortunately, for the next 30 days, BOTH bread and cheese are to be avoided and/or very highly restricted in my menu plan. I do not miss it right now, which is a good thing, because bread and cheese are my nemesis!)
Three other condiments that will help me maintain my nutrition plan are: Foccaccia by Italian Rose, Flora's Sundried Tomato in Olive Oil, and Grey Poupon's Harvest Course Ground Mustard. Each of these items are under 5 grams of fat per serving and low in calories. The Grey Poupon is FAT FREE and has the added benefit of being helpful for digestion and speeds up your metabolism. It's a good thing!Making The Cut is Fitness Guru Jillian Michael's (Biggest Loser)new 30 day diet and Fitness Plan. I am NOT following this plan 100% at this time but I am using some suggestions that I found from her online assistance program. The "Making The Cut" Nutrition Plan that I am following today comes from Jillian's website... it's ALOT to eat in one day!
I plan to cut the meat portions in 1/2 (2 OZ vs 4 OZ) , and maintain this program Monday - Friday evening. Here's what a typical Making The Cut-5 Meal a Day Program Looks Like:
I prepared the fish in the photo above in 1 TBS Foccaccia which is a blend of olive oil, water, garlic, oregano, basil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, salt, parsely, red pepper, black pepper and sodium benzoate.
Totals: Calories-1170 (add 50 calories for the Foccaccia), Fat-63, Sat. Fat-14, Cholesterol- 107, Sodium- 749, Carbohydrates- 75, Fiber- 21, Sugar- 14, Protein- 104My Personal Maintenance Plan...
I have learned that no matter were I am spiritually, emotionally or otherwise that it is very important to maintain oneself. When depressed or out of shape, don't let yourself go. The way I see it, we only have one "me" and we need to be the BEST "me" we can be. If you walk around looking like junk, you will be treated with the same regard... In fact, with a lack of regard. It will not matter how many degrees you have attached to the end of your name or well educated you are if you walk into a room looking like you just rolled out of bed or you dress shabbily. Putting it another way, we ARE judged by what we look like. It DOES matter. You know it, I know it, and we all know it, even though we don't all agree that this should be the case. Treat "Your" temple with respect and others will too.
This is my Maintenance Plan:
~Every two weeks, go to a spa.
~Every day, for 15 mins. before I shower - Dry brush.
~Every day, Foot Soak & Groom, as needed.
~Everyday, apply body astringent/essential oils & creams.
~Make sure I take care of my skin & use Pure & Natural products.
~Make sure I take proper care of my clothes & shoes.
~Buy only clothes that go well with majority of other clothes in my wardrobe.
~Don't skimp on Signature Scents/Fragrances. Avoid Sprays.
~Every day, twice a day- Practice Strong Oral Hygiene. (Floss~Pre-Brush Rinse~Whitening Booster~Extreme Clean~ ACT Restoring ~Teeth Whitening (Before bed) w/Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide)
