Summer in San Francisco means the perfect time for Portuguese Stew...

While it may be summer in virtually every other zip code in the US other than my foggy little corner of San Francisco, it's still a fun time to practice your stew in time for the Fall (ironically when summer finally arrives to our great city). 

My husband and father's families come from Portugal where stew is as common as the Sour Dough to a San Franciscan. I have made it a Sunday tradition to always make a batch of my own mix on this portuguese tradition to enjoy throughout the week. Once made, enjoy some that evening or place in the fridge for the following nights, the flavors only get better with time. This is an excellent healthy option, keep in mind the greens really fill you up. Add arugula salad and a great cabernet and you have a great meal for entertaining. 

Prep time: 30 minutes 

Ingredients: 

1 Quart Low Sodium Chicken Stock 

2 Cups of Water 

Two yellow onions chopped

4 cloves of garlic chopped

Kale (1 -2 bunches depending on other greens) cut in edible pieces

Chard, red, green and/or yellow (1 - 3 bunches, whatever you can fit in the pot) cut in edible pieces

4 large carrots sliced 

2 cups of sliced mushrooms 

Red Pepper Flakes to taste 

Salt and Pepper to taste 

1 Teaspoon Chili Garlic Sauce

6 organic chicken sausage links (substitute sliced and grilled pork/ chicken pieces or no meat at all) 

Two tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

1 teaspoon of soy sauce 

Directions: 

Heat a large pot on medium heat and add olive oil 

Once olive oil is hot, add chopped garlic, onions

Once onions are soft and golden, add leafy greens. Greens will suck down in side based on heat, continue to add greens as room allows in pot

Add mushrooms, carrots and any other vegetable you'd like 

Add Chili Garlic Sauce 

Once all veggies are tender add Chicken Stock and water

Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and soy sauce 

Meanwhile, heat sausage or meat in a frying pan until lightly browned so they are not soft but firm. Once done (about 15 minutes on med - high heat) slice into bite size slices. 

Stir in sausage or meat to soup pot, tasting, add more spice as desired. Bring soup to a boil then reduce heat and cover. Let sit for 30 - 45 minutes, the longer it sits the more flavor results. 

Arugula Salad: 

Arugula 

2 Vine Tomatoes sliced

1 Avocado cut into cubes

3 Carrots chopped

1 Yellow Pepper chopped

2 Stalk of Celery chopped

1 Tablespoon of Parmesan 

1 Tablespoon of Balsamic 

1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Salt/Pepper to taste 

Directions: Simply add all the vegetables to a large salad bowl, mix in Balsamic and EVOO with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste and serve. 

What every woman over 30 must do every morning...

Growing up I would roll my eyes as older women in my life complained about the "changes" that were associated with passing years. Low energy, wrinkles, a lethargic metabolism...I assumed these were all merely excuses for a lethargic lifestyle. I noticed a lot of women simply did not stay active or keep up their beauty regimes once they hit their 30s and as naive as it sounds, when I was in my early 20s I assumed this was all due to laziness. 

And then I turned 30...and between my crazy work schedule with my Silicon Valley based career, my commute to said Silicon Valley, my projects, family responsibilities and the desire to see my husband as much as our schedules could afford, spending hours at the gym and the esthetician  simply weren't in the cards any more. Oh yeah, and my metabolism was slowing down, like a snail at a stop light. For the first couple of years I just forced it where I could; I wake up at 5AM, run 4 - 6 miles, do sit ups, push ups, rush through a healthy breakfast then jump in my car would I would sit for 55 - 85 minutes every morning on the way to work. At a certain point, my body just wasn't responding to my routine, my hips were growing and my butt looked like a catchers mitt. I couldn't understand what was going on; I was physically active with great endurance but my body was simply remaining stagnant and worse, looking older. I didn't feel fit like I used to. And so, while sipping sauvignon blanc (there are certain areas of my life I simply refuse to change in the interest of beauty, my wine is one of them) and complaining about my physical fears to my husband's college rugby buddy who happens to train with the US Rugby team, he asked me if was doing any jump training. He indicated that running is great for your cardio vascular system but to see changes in your body, you have to constantly push, challenge and shock your system. He told me I that since my neighborhood was in the forrest (I live in a federal park in San Francisco surrounded by tree trails), I should simply find some logs and jump them every morning. While filling a second glass of wine, I replied that jumping logs just didn't seem my style but I'd look into this jump training business. He had peaked my interest. I had noticed that while I truly loved my runs, they had become more of an opportunity for mediation rather than physical challenge. I sweat regularly while running but my body wasn't fatigued after long runs any more. Perhaps this was the problem, I was basically going on 4 - 6 mile strolls instead of sprints since I had been doing the same practice for so long. I needed to shock my system. 

And then I found her. We don't have real television, we primarily watch our media via the Apple TV (my favorite product) and so we don't see commercials. One evening however, while at my grandmothers, I saw an ad for the Biggest Loser and what appeared to be an incredible bitch yelling at people clearly struggling with their weight. I commented to my grandmother that the show looked depressing, and asked why anyone would watch this for enjoyment? Grandma Louise looked at me shocked and said, "oh you have to watch Jillian, she changes these peoples' lives Erin!" And so we watched an episode together and after tearing up a few times (these brave peoples lives are really changing!) I found myself intrigued by Jillian's exercises. I had done pilates, yoga, kick boxing over the years but nothing was the perfect mix to actually compel me to return. This on the other hand, looked really hard but fun too because she moved through the different exercises so quickly. 

Later that night, I downloaded Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. I tried the workout in the morning and it totally kicked my ass. I thought I was going to die - she was pushing my body in ways I just hadn't, ever. She made me do things I hated (mountain climbers for example) but just when I thought I was going to pass out, the move was over and we were on to something new. 

Fast forward three years later and my friends now call me Jillian obsessed and perhaps I am. I still run 4 - 5 days a week but then I incorporate a quick Jillian video on top or in lieu of the run. My favorite video is 30 Day Shred, Level 3; and my favorite move, the one that every woman over 30 must do every morning is the Jumping Lunge. When I first saw the move I thought it would be too hard on my knees but I've now been doing it for a year and my knees feel fine. It is the only move that actually targets your thighs but keeps them lean rather than bulking up. Also, because it is a jump training move it is spiking your metabolism for the day. After my long commute to and from work, I will slip out of my shoes and do a few sets in my office to wiggle off that seat imprint on my butt. Looking and feeling good, doesn't mean you have to spend your life in the gym or running significant mileage every day. If you can spare 20 minutes every morning, do this workout and I promise you will become stronger, leaner and your energy will last longer through the day due to that kick of endorphins. 

Now, about those wrinkles...that's another story entirely. 

The Jump Lunge: 

1. Start by lowering into a lunge position with your left leg forward and your right leg back. 
2. Launch both legs off the ground and jump up, switching your leg positions while in the air.
3. Land with your right foot forward and your left leg back. Lower back down into a lunge and repeat. 

I do two sets of ten (on each side) incorporated with Jump Squats and a series of other Jillian Michael Exercises. 

Download her videos on iTunes.