Author name: laura@lauracipullo.com

roasted cauliflower recipe with chickpeas and chimichurri

Roasted Cauliflower with Cranberries

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Roasted Cauliflower with Cranberries Recipe: A Festive Side Dish Recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens Ingredients: 2 medium heads cauliflower, sliced and broken in florets (around 8 cups) 1 large sweet yellow or red onion, cut into wedges 3 tablespoons olive oil  1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries ¼ cup balsamic vinegar ¼ cup honey ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper 1 tablespoon snipped fresh mint Directions: Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place cauliflower and onion in a shallow baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt. Stir to coat. Spread in an even layer. Roast, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until cauliflower and onion are tender, stirring in cranberries halfway through roasting. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour balsamic mixture over roasted cauliflower mixture; toss to coat. Transfer mixture to a platter. Sprinkle with mint before serving.   photo courtesy of BHG online https://www.bhg.com/recipe/roasted-califlower-with-cranberries/?utm_source=emailshare&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-recipe&utm_content=20200412

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One Pot Hot Texas Chili

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One-Pot Hot Texas Chili Recipe: A Family Favorite by Lisa Mikus, RD, CNSC, CDN Recently, I reworked my mom’s chili recipe. Traditionally, Texas chili doesn’t have any tomatoes or beans and instead amplifies the flavor with a combination of various chili powders, Yet, my family always made our chili with both tomatoes and beans which add protein, fiber, and vitamins! I hope you enjoy the hot and rich taste of my home state. I think it’s even better the day after as leftovers!   Ingredients 1 yellow onion 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely 1 tbsp flour 1 lb ground beef 1 cup tomato sauce 28 oz can crushed tomatoes 1 can ranch style pinto beans 2 beef bouillon cubes 2 tbsp chili powder 1 jalapeno, diced (remove seeds if less heat desired) 1 bell pepper, diced 1/4 cup Frank’s hot sauce salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp brown sugar   Directions Heat olive oil on medium-heat in large pot Add onion and cook for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add flour to the mixture. Cook until flour coats the onion and garlic. Add the beef. Separate the beef with wooden spoon and continue to cook until browned. Add tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, ranch style pinto beans, beef bouillon cubes, chili powder, bell pepper, jalapeno, and hot sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Decrease heat to low and cook for at least 2 hours. About 30 minutes before you decide to stop cooking the chili, add the brown sugar.   Serve over a serving of tri-color quinoa and top with avocado and pickled jalapeno slices! Sauteed spinach or a hearty kale side salad work well with this dish.

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Caprese Eggs Benedict

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by Lisa Mikus, RD, CNSC, CDN Since practicing social-distancing and self-isolation the past five weeks, I’ve been missing one of my favorite activities: going out to eat, especially brunching with friends. I cannot wait to hear “Can I get you any appetizers?” once again! When I visit my best friend in Washington, D.C., we often go to a buzzy little restaurant called Brick Lane in Dupont Circle. We sit in the sun on the front patio with our iced teas while people and puppy watching. We usually share a beet & goat cheese salad. She orders the Rising Sun Omelette and I order the Caprese Benedict. Recreating this recipe brought me back to a carefree time with a dear friend. Here is my adaptation of Brick Lane’s Caprese Benedict! Ingredients 1 English muffin, halved 2, 1/2 inch thick slices of fresh mozzarella or packaged mozzarella such as BelGioso 1 tbsp olive oil 2 cage-free eggs, each cracked in a separate small bowl Salt Pepper 1/4 cup freshly chopped basil leaves 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar Directions Toast the English muffin halves until golden brown and crispy Place one mozzarella slice on each slice of English muffin Pour 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet and heat to medium-high Carefully pour egg into hot skillet and fry for about 1 minute or until whites start to solidify. With a spatula, move the white closer in toward the yolk as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper. Flip the egg and cook for another minute for a runny yolk Flip once again and look for some light browning on the egg. Cook longer for a less runny egg or as desired Transfer fried egg onto half of English muffin on top of mozzarella slice Repeat process with remaining egg Top eggs with chopped basil and halved tomato slices Drizzle with balsamic vinegar If you do not like the taste of balsamic vinegar, replace it with this creamy basil dressing that has more of the consistency of a hollandaise sauce. In a food processor, mini chopper, or with a hand immersion blender, blend 1/4 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp sour cream, 1/2 cup finely chopped basil, 1 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp lemon juice, and salt and pepper until smooth.

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No-Maintenance Eggplant Parmesan

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Rebecca Jaspan MPH, RD, CDN, CDE Fun fact: eggplant parm is my favorite food.  I crave it on the regular and is my go-to order in an Italian restaurant.  When I try to make it at home, I realize it’s one of those foods that the restaurants just do better and I reserve to looking forward to it when I go out.  I wanted to give it one more shot making it myself, but decided to change up the style, and let me tell you, this worked beautifully.  Homemade eggplant parm, no mess, almost no clean up, and so tasty and comforting.    Ingredients 4 medium eggplants 1 cup ricotta cheese ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese ½ teaspoon dried basil Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup jarred tomato sauce 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese   Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Pierce eggplants in several places with a knife.  Place on a baking sheet and roast for 40-45 minutes. Let eggplants rest for 10 minutes, they will flatten slightly.  With a sharp knife, cut around skin on the top of the eggplant and peel off skin, it should come off very easily.  With a spoon, scoop up the inside of the eggplant from the skin, leaving it inside the eggplant skin. Pour in sauce and ricotta cheese mixture, mixing with the eggplant.  Top with mozzarella cheese.  Return tray back to the oven for 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and browned on top.  

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Five Favorite finds to practice imperfection and self-acceptance

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Cultivating Self-Acceptance Through Imperfection: Five Key Insights By Laura Cipullo, CEDRD, RYT I grew up setting and ultimately achieving goals whether it was around grades, exercise, food or even something as mundane as keeping my room perfectly clean. I soon realized this focused mindset was and is both a blessing and a curse. Making honor roll, learning to love physical activity and being organized were my successes. However, “losing sleep” due to disappointments over an A minus, third place, or a pound up, was the curse. Whenever we take something to an extreme, it can become detrimental to our mental, physical and spiritual health. Over 20 years ago, I was introduced to the idea of perfectly imperfect through many routes ranging from therapy, learning about Eastern philosophies and this one very memorable book called, The Art of Imperfections, Simple Ways to Make Peace with Yourself.  This began my journey into a life of moderation, of being in the grey zone (not black or white) and of course, eating Kale and Cupcakes. Here are five favorite finds to help you embrace your journey of self-acceptance, of finding balance on a daily basis and to share the message with your children and friends.  1. The Art of Imperfections, Simple Ways to Make Peace with Yourself By Veronique Vienne “Our innate idiosyncrasies are actually more endearing to others than our most glorious personal achievements,” writes author Veronique Vienne in this pretty little book, with its intriguing, sepia-tone photographs by Erica Lennard. Vienne offers 10 meditative essays about how to be successful and happy without being perfect. Quirkiness, after all, is creative. She encourages you to “find solace in your shortcomings and even celebrate your most embarrassing lapses.” The essays include “the art of making mistakes,” “the art of looking like yourself,” “the art of having nothing to wear,” and “the art of being neither rich nor famous.” 2. Real Not Perfect Sublimation Get a favorite old tee or canvas bag (consider one with the occasional tear or even stain). Iron on this great message to remind yourself and others to embrace your mistakes and move on. 3. Wabi Sabi: The Definition, Book and Tee Wabi Sabi is “Pared down to its barest essence, the of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather and loving use leave behind. It reminds us that we are all transient beings n this planet – that our bodies, as well as the material world around us, are in the process of returning to the dust from which we came” says author Robyn Griggs Lawrence the author of Wabi Sabi House. This philosophy aligns with ours here at LCWNY. Read her book or just start by wearing the Wabi Sabi shirt to start subliminally spreading the message. 4. 6 Wabi Sabi Strategies from Martha Stewart Wabi Sabi Your Life: Six Strategies for Embracing ImperfectionUnderstand the meaning of wabi sabi and how to incorporate it in your lifestyle. Read: https://www.marthastewart.com/2225027/wabi-sabi-strategies-tips Want more Wabi Sabi? We recommend you read: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20181021-japans-unusual-way-to-view-the-world 5. Plant, Love, Grow Resources Build Self Esteem and Self- Acceptance with these free tools for children as well as adults. This free download includes affirmations but most importantly a section for children to write what they are proud of rather than what their adult is proud of them for: http://www.plantlovegrow.com/self-esteem.html More books to support these concepts can be found on Amazon: http://www.plantlovegrow.com/journals.html http://www.plantlovegrow.com/activity-books.html https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Habits-Essential-Kid-Friendly-Nutrition/dp/0989706613  

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person holding breast cancer awareness ribbon

Meet Melissa Berry, the Cancer Fashionista!

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Melissa Berry is a seven-year triple negative breast cancer survivor and the founder of Cancer Fashionista. Throughout her breast cancer journey, which included chemotherapy and surgery, Melissa struggled to look and feel her best during such a difficult chapter of her life. She has now made it her mission to help women find a way to look and feel their best in a different body. Cancer Fashionista is a great resource for someone dealing with breast cancer as Melissa posts advice and promotes products that are safe to use before, during, and after cancer treatment. During Laura’s journey with breast cancer, she met Melissa who guided Laura on choosing local businesses and products that were safe and helpful for her during chemotherapy. These included safe nail salons, bras that were appropriate for post-surgery, and resources for wigs! Laura’s favorite recommendations from Melissa included eyelashes from Muah Makeup and Lash Bar in Bergen County and The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen cookbook by Rebecca Katz! (recipe included at bottom of page) Cancer Fashionista quickly grew in popularity with its readers and followers on social media, and Melissa has become a trusted voice in the breast cancer community. She has been tapped by several media outlets, including the Associated Press, Self, and The Huffington Post, to share both product recommendations and self-care tips for cancer patients. Melissa has been recognized for her outstanding support of women affected by breast cancer by many organizations. In 2016, she received the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation’s Courage Award, and last year she was honored with the YWCA Bergen County’s Beacon of Light Award.   Check Out Her Latest Blogs: Phototherapy for Breast Cancer Thrivers. It’s a Thing. Beauty 911. What’s Your Emergency? My Favorite Things   Curried Chicken Salad from The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz Makes 6 Servings Ingredients: 1.5 pounds roasted organic chicken 1 Granny Smith apple, diced into 1/4-inch pieces 1/4 cup raisins or currants 1/4 cup minced scallions, green part only 2 stalks celery, diced small 1/2 cup organic plain Greek-style yogurt 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice 1 tablespoon curry powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 6 butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried 1/4 cup slivered toasted almonds for garnish 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish   Directions: Chop the chicken into 1/2-inch pieces and put them in a bowl. Stir in the apple, raisins, scallions, and celery. Separately, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, curry powder, ginger, and salt. Add the yogurt mixture to the chicken and stir gently until thoroughly combined. Serve atop the lettuce leaves, garnished with the almonds and cilantro, if desired.

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laura cipullo practicing girokenesis yoga

GYROKINESIS Applications for Yoga

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The GYROKINESIS® method was created by Juliu Horvath. It is a movement method that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion and creating functional strength through rhythmic, flowing movement sequences. Spiraling and undulating movements increase the functional capacity of the spine and create a spherical and three-dimensional awareness, resulting in total equilibrium. Exercises, synchronized with corresponding breathing patterns, enhance aerobic and cardiovascular stimulation and promote neuromyofacial rejuvenation.

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