What Music gets you pumping?

For me its my I-tunes Workout Playlist:
Agnelli & Nelson Feat. Aureas - Holding Onto Nothing 3:41 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 3



Alegria 5:23 Toño Rosario La Alegria del Merengue Latin 5


Amor como El Nuestro 4:52 Latin 5


Angel City Feat. Lara McAllen - Love Me Right (Oh Sheila) 3:34 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 4


Beautiful 4:59 Snoop Dogg The Best of Snoop Dogg Hip Hop/Rap 13


Benny Benassi Presents The Biz - Satisfaction 2:50 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 13


Bhangra Fever 4:56 MIDIval PunditZ Six Degrees 100 World 11


Boom Boom Pow 4:12 Black Eyed Peas Boom Boom Pow - Single Pop 91


Breaking The Habit 3:16 Linkin Park Meteora General Alternative 76


Closer 3:54 Ne-Yo Year of the Gentleman (Bonus Track Version) R&B/Soul 78


Dale Don Dale Remix 3:35 Don Omar & Fabolous Da Hit Man Presents... Reggaeton Latino Reggaeton y Hip-Hop 11


Dreamin' 4:12 Will to Power Will to Power Dance 3


Ella y Yo 4:27 Don Omar & Aventura Da Hit Man Presents... Reggaeton Latino Reggaeton y Hip-Hop 80


En Barranquilla Me Quedo 5:12 Joe Arroyo La Verdad de Joe Arroyo (El Original) iTunes Latino 14


Gasolina 3:13 Daddy Yankee Barrio Fino (Bonus Tracks) iTunes Latino 53


Glamorous 4:07 Fergie The Dutchess (Bonus Tracks Version) Pop 55


I Am 4:11 Chakra MOS - Clubbers Guide 2004 (CD1) Club 10


Ian Van Dahl - I Can't Let You Go 4:03 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 2


In da Club 3:13 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' Hip Hop/Rap 18


Jurgen Vries Feat. Shena - Wilderness 4:01 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 3


La belle et le bad boy 3:12 MC Solaar La belle et le bad boy - Single Hip-Hop/Rap 50


La Tortura (Shaketon Remix) 3:12 Shakira & Alejandro Sanz Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 Pop 80 44


Let U Go (Club Mix Edit) 4:52 ATB Trance Girl Voices Trance 28


Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna) 5:39 T.I. Paper Trail (Deluxe Version) Hip Hop/Rap 34


Lloraras 4:33 Oscar D'Leon Oscar D'Leon en Vivo Latin 1


Lo Hecho Está Hecho 3:13 Shakira She Wolf (Deluxe Version) Pop 26


Lose Yourself 5:22 Eminem 8 Mile (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) Soundtrack 23


Love Inc. - You're a Superstar 4:13 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 1


Love Lockdown 4:30 Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak (Bonus Video Version) Hip-Hop/Rap 10


Mega Dance [Hard Trance Mix] 3:17 Atomic Rave Rave 2001 1


Mi Mama No Quiso 4:25 Latin 2


Michael Woods' Warrior Feat. Imogen Bailey - If You Want Me (Antillas Remix) 3:57 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock


Michael Woods' Warrior Feat. Imogen Bailey - If You Want Me (Antillas Remix) 3:57 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 1


Murder She Wrote 4:05 Chaka Demus & Pliers Chaka Demus & Pliers: Ultimate Collection Reggae 52


One Mic 4:28 Nas Off the Hook Hip-Hop/Rap 38


Otra Como Tu 4:33 Toño Rosario Toño Rosario: Colecciones Y Exitos Latin 100 14


Plastic Boy Feat. Rozalla - Live Another Life 3:55 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 3


Rebelion 4:48 Joe Arroyo Grandes Exitos, Vol. 1 iTunes Latino 17


Salio el Sol 5:15 Don Omar King of Kings Reggaeton y Hip-Hop 24


Say It Right 3:43 Nelly Furtado Loose (iTunes Version) Pop 18


Soldier 5:26 Destiny's Child, Lil Wayne & T.I. Lose My Breath / Soldier R&B/Soul 100 18


The Sound of Goodbye 3:25 A. Van Buuren Pres. Perpetuous Trance Girl Voices Trance 8


Soy La Candela 3:44 Oscar D'Leon Latin 6


Steve Murano - Passion 3:42 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 3


Suavemente 4:27 Elvis Crespo Suavemente World 29


Sunday Afternoon 4:17 G & M Project MOS - Clubbers Guide 2004 (CD1) Club 4


Tomcraft - Brainwashed (Call You) 3:00 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock 1


Tomcraft - Loneliness 3:35 Ministry Of Sound The Annual 2004 - Disc 1 Rock


Tremble 3:30 Amber Electronic 4


Tremble 2 3:21 Amber Latin 3


Viva la Vida 4:01 Coldplay Viva la Vida Alternative 43


Yeah! 4:10 Usher featuring Lil' Jon & Ludacris Confessions (Special Edition) R&B/Soul 16

Just to name a few. I wouldn't be able to get through a full workout if it wasn't for these guys. They keep me rocking and running, sweating, pumping, and makeing sure my "hips that don't lie" become "slightly slimmer hips that don't lie":)
 
******************
My weight goals for this year have been up and down. I continue to hover around 35lb to 36lbs total weight loss since last January of 2009. Ive noticed that albeit I haven't been as consistent with my cardio workouts due to lots and lots of  new work projects and activities these past few weeks, I have been able to keep up my power walking and ocassional zumba and my clothes continue to feel looser and look better. Ive also been strict about my calorie consumption and water intake, not to mention my green juices.
 
My goal is that by June 15th - this healthy hottie will be 10lbs healthier:)  Will make sure I keep consistent on this blog to keep me accountable as well.
 
How about you guys, please comment and share how your doing with your health goals. Its motivating to hear from others!
 
xoxo
 
The HH

Work it Girl!

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 2003

See that picture there, that is me on the right hand-side in black, I was proudly wearing a (modest by most Carioca  standards :) bikini while on the Ipanema beach of Brazil. I think I look pretty good in it, I know I felt good while wearing it - consequently, this is my goal weight.


In that picture I was a  misses size 12. Being 5'7 and of large bones, a size 12 for me is ideal beleive it or not. I am currently wearing a misses size 14 in most clothes (give or take a few jeans that run small),  which means I am about 15lbs away from my goal weight. I decided to post this picture as motivation and an incentive to keep myself accountable.

EXERCISE
I also  wanted to take a little time to discuss one of the most important components of achieving and maintaining a healthy life-style - side from the fundamentals of proper nutrition and portion control - there is no substitute for the vital role Exercise plays in our lives. Not only does excercise help us burn calories, lose fat, gain muscle, reduce triglycerides, improve circulation, help our sleep patterns and aid in longevity of life, but it is also essential in keeping us mentally and emotionally sane:) Everytime you push your body hard enough to break a continuous sweat and keep that pattern for at least 30 minutes a day - you have released very important feel-good chemicals in the brain called - Endorphins.  A little blurb from Wikipedia, gives us a good synopsis on these: 

"  Endorphins are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise...and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being. Endorphins work as "natural pain relievers." 

So basically, every time your workout you are self-medicating with a very legal, very positive natural "drug" that is released into the brain and leaves you feeling incredibly good. A natural high of sorts.  Like any "high", the effects eventually wear off after a few hours but it provides just enough of a dosage to keep you energized and happy the rest of the day!

How's that for a reason to exercise?

The good news is that I have ALWAYS enjoyed a good cardio workout. Throughout my lifetime I have tried them all. I spent many years following the Taebo/Kickboxing Craze with Billy Blanks and loved the results I was seeing, that workout whipped me into an incredible shape. Unfortunately, it also whipped my knees into a bad state; apparently all those high kicks and roundhouses were too intense for my delicate meniscus.

I also have tried and thoroughly enjoyed Spinning, I enjoyed the amazing spinning effects for more than a year, I saw what it did for my legs and gluteus maximus. Firm and not Flabby was the result:)

I have also continued to enjoy the effects of good, old-fashioned power walking. There is something incredibly beneficial of exercising outdoors and allowing your body to take in fresh (or not so fresh depending where you live. ha!) doses of O2 while your burning calories. While living abroad on a mission to the DR I lost 40lbs just by walking. Never underestimate its power.

Currently, I alternate between the elliptical machine and zumba, with power walking, bicycle riding and Latin dancing mixed in whenever possible. The elliptical is a god-sent for those of us who may have sensitive knees and can't handle the impact of the treadmill or running outdoors. The trick with really working up a good sweat and burning calories with the elliptical is the resistance and settings. I always set my machine to "manual" mode, which is best for you to control your workout. To warm-up I start with the resistance at level 10 (which by most standards is considered in the medium to high range) I then continue to higher the resistance throughout the workout until I get to level 17 all while maintaining a rather fast pace (from 6.0 to 12.0), this I do for 40 to 60 minutes a day. The calories burned (via a heart-rate monitor which is the most accurate) doing this method is up to 850 calories a session. Last year I lost the 30lbs mainly using the elliptical as my top  choice for cardio exercise. I highly recommend it!

More recently I have decided to try new cardio workouts to mix it up, keep things interesting and shock my body into burning calories in different ways. Zumba has been the answer, this fast-paced, super fun Latin dance workout has you sweating bullets from the moment you start merengueando! Here is a YouTube video showing how incredibly fun this workout is:



For those of you that love to dance like me you even forget your burning up to 600 calories a session!:)


So there you have it. A recap of my exercise history. What about you? What are your favorite cardio workouts and why?

In a future post I will discuss the other essential exercise component - weight lifting - and my love/hate relationship with it:)

xoxo

The Healthy Hottie

Healthy Hottie Appetizers.

So what to eat when you’re hosting a party and want to serve healthy, delicious, colorful appetizers? I have a few yummy options for you... last Friday I hosted an all ladies soiree and made the following four appetizer dishes as healthy and yummy alternatives to the higher calorie, more indulgent platters  and desserts that would also be served:

Mini Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs with a Tzatziki Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Homemade Hummus with Crudités and Black Olives

Arugula & Spinach Cranberry Pecan Salad with Feta

Mini Baked Quesadillas

Here they are all  finished and ready to be taken to where the festivities would be held (happened to be my sister's bacholorette pad;)

And here are the easy to follow recipes below:

For the Meatballs.
 Cast of Characters: 2lbs of organic ground turkey (dark meat), 4 cloves of garlic, grated, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of finely diced onion, 2 Tbs of finely diced cilantro, 1 Tbs of Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup of plain bread crumbs, 2 tsb of cumin, 2 tsp of cayenne pepper, 2 tsp of coriander, 2 tsp of Arabic all-purpose seasoning (can be found at any ethnic food store where Middle-Eastern products are sold. The seasoning contains cinnamon, coriander, curry, turmeric among other yummy and intense flavors and really adds quite the delicious depth to the meatballs.) Salt and Pepper and  Extra Virgin Olive Oil for cooking.

Preparation: Make sure the meat has been properly thawed and is at a comfortable room temperature put in large mixing bowl and set aside. Peel 4 large garlic cloves and either dice very finely or grate into a pulp. Add the garlic, onions, cilantro, Dijon mustard, all the spices above into meat mixture and mix well. Take the egg and beat in separate bowl and then add to the meat mixture, mix well. Finally, add the breadcrumbs, the breadcrumbs should add just a little texture to help hold the meatballs together but should be added judiciously so as not to add to much starch to the meatballs.  Clean your hands well and then use them to mix the meat mixture thoroughly and form into about an inch thick balls. Once all balls have been formed, heat a large sauté pan (like a Dutch oven) and add about 1 Tbs of olive oil to the pan. Make sure its well heated and then start adding the meatballs. You will need to let them brown about 4 minutes each side and then cover adding a little water or chicken stock to help steam the inside. The meatballs will have to be made in intervals unless you would like to add two sauté pans at the same time. To keep them warm make sure you keep them under aluminum foil until they are all prepared and are ready to be served along with the cool tzatziki sauce, the perfect complement to the spicy meatballs.  (serves about 10 - 15 people)


For the Tzatziki sauce.
Cast of Characters: About a 1 1/2 cups of non-fat Green Yogurt (oikos or fage are good brands), 1 cucumber peeled, 3 cloves of garlic, a few mint leaves, salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:
Cut the cucumber in chunks, peel and roughly chop the garlic cloves. Add all ingredients to either a blender or food processor and blend or pulse until creamy but slightly chunky. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add to serving bowl and keep cool until serving time.

For the Hummus.
Cast of Characters: 2 cans of drained canned garbanzo beans. 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped, 1 Tsb of Tahini (found in Ethnic food stores and Middle Eastern specialty shops), the Juice of one lemon, 1/2 cup of good quality extra virgin olive oil. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Preparation: In food processor combine garbanzo beans, garlic, Tahini, and lemon juice, pulse ingredients together. When the ingredients start combining slowly add the olive oil until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth. Finally add the salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowl and add a little olive oil on top for garnish. Serve along raw veggies such as cucumbers, celery, carrots, broccoli and whole wheat pita chunks.  (serves 10 - 15)

For the Salad.
Cast of Characters: 2 cups of organic baby spinach leaves, 2 cups of organic arugula. 1/3 of dried cranberries,  1/2 cup of finely sliced red onion, 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts, 1/2 of good quality crumbled feta cheese. 2-3 Tbs of organic balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbs of extra virgin olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation: In mixing bowl add the vinegar, extra virgin oil, onion slices and salt and pepper. Mix well until a vinaigrette has been made. Then incorporate on top of the vinaigrette the spinach, arugula, cranberries, pecans and then toss well until all the leaves have been covered by the vinaigrette. Finally add the crumbled feta put in serving dish. Leave in fridge to chill until ready to serve.

For the Quesadillas.

Cast of Characters : About 8 Corn Tortillas, 1  Cup of reduced-fat Monterey jack and/or cheddar (Sargento low-fat Mexican blend shredded cheese is a good option.) Organic Olive Oil cooking spray.

Preparation: On large cookie sheet spray both sides of the tortillas with the olive oil. Position the tortillas in neat rows, and then add a handful of the shredded cheese in the middle. Finally spray the remaining tortillas with the olive oil and place on top of the cheese. Turn the broiler on and add the quesadillas until the tops are golden and the cheese starts melting (about 5 minutes each side) after one side is golden turn them over and put them back under the broiler for another 4 to 5 minutes for the other side.

Once done, take out and cut quesadillas in halves and then quarters (pizza style) serve with fresh salsa or cherry tomatoes for a nice fresh pop.

And there you have it. Easy, Peasy, Delicious, Low-Cal and Healthy! The above were a hit at the party:)

***********************

Weekly Progress Updates

• Happy to report that I'm back on track. Ive lost about 1.5 lbs since last weigh in. Very excited, any progress, even if its in 1lb intervals,  is good news to me:)
• Kept to my workout regime of approx 2 workouts a day. I alternated between walking 3.5 miles, 45 minutes of elliptical, 40 minutes of intense zumba, dancing  and was also able to add a 3 mile (with hills) bike ride in there.
• Water intake and green juicing was on track.
• Energy levels were good with the exception of a few days of bad allergies. Having to take Claritin and other over the counter meds was a bit draining.

But enough about me. How are you doing with your goals? Would love to hear all about them!

Next up - Exercise. The good the bad and the ugly...:)

Green Juicing It.

Green. Not particularly the color you envision when dreaming of a cold, refreshing, thirst-quenching, typically fruity and sweet, concoction of liquid goodness - Juice.  However, its probably the most health-enhancing, de-toxifying, weight-loss-inducing, makes-you-feel-all-kinds-of-good-inside beverage you'll ever drink.

I'm talking about vegetable juices. Made with the freshly extracted vitamin-packed juice that is found in many leafy, green vegetables as well as non-leafy vegetables alike.  Green juices contain chlorophyll, the main ingredient found in green vegetables. The reported health benefits of chlorophyll consumption are quite numerous. Taken consistently in sufficient amounts, here are some of the powerful remedial effects of this amazing substance:


Increases blood count

Detoxifies and cleansing

Alleviates blood sugar problems

Reduces or eliminates body odors

Relieves gastric ulcers

Greatly relieves respiratory troubles like asthma and sinuses

Kills bacteria in wounds and speeds up healing

Reduces inflammation pain

Improves bowel functions

Improves milk production in lactating mothers

Soothes painful hemorrhoids.
 
Not to mention these kind of juices aid greatly in breaking up fat and alleviating water retention.
 
But let's not leave it at "green" juices,  for vegetable juices come in all colors of the rainbow. Take for instance this beautiful purple-hued beverage below. This I made with 3 raw organic beets, one carrot, a broccoli stem, slice of apple and a little bit of ginger. This is  excellent for building up iron levels and cleaning out the gallbladder.

This other purplish-looking juice contains one of my favorite juicing ingredients: Red Cabbage. Cabbage has been  used to treat a number of health conditions including colitis, constipation, hair loss, skin problems but it is probably most well known for its ability to heal ulcers. It is believed that the glutamine content of cabbage is the main driving force behind the use of cabbage juice to heal ulcers. It is excellent to maintain a healthy digestive system and encourages digestive enzymes after a good meal.

Finally, this light-green mixture contains quite a bit of a another excellent juicing ingredient. One that has enough anti-oxidants that if taken daily can guarantee not ever developing cancer cells, it is that powerful!!  I am talking about none other than the miniature tree itself - broccoli. This particular juice contains a lot of broccoli, cauliflower, green cabbage, apple and cucumber.
 
How does one juice you may ask? With the help of a handy dandy machine like this one - The Jack La Lane's Power Juicer. Hands down one of the best anniversary gifts I ever received (thank you my wonderful in-laws.) This gadget is super duper powerful and extracts the vegetables almost dry. No need to cut or peel the veggies either, the machine is designed to do this for you. The only minor inconvenience is the cleaning process, a little cumbersome having to take it apart and make sure all the vegetable residues have been eliminated, but its worth it when drinking that glass of marvelous healing liquid.
 
I hope those of you that are a bit skeptical to the taste of these beverages give it a chance. You'd be amazed at what a little bit of apple can do to cut down the intensity of the other less "sweet" ingredients. I've actually gotten to the point of yearning for my green juices, developing an affinity for the drink. I typically drink one green juice a day, it has aided so much in feeling and looking better and I encourage you to do the same!
 
As a weekly recap, here is how I am doing with  my 2010 goals:  

• Weight-loss has been minimal these past few weeks.  I am still in maintain mode. I did lose about 2lbs a few weeks ago and am still in the same vicinity. Of course I did go on holiday and enjoyed a little bit (and a lot of bit:)of all kinds of delicious food. Also, this week was the anniversary of a very unwanted "visitor", fortunately Aunt Flo is gone and with her goes the bloating, water retention and naughty food cravings. Always a good thing!  Therefore, my total weight-loss up to this point is 32lbs (Jan 2009 to March 2010.) I am Really hoping to increase this number at least by 5lbs by the end of April.
• My water intake has been really good. Happy to report. I have been O’Ding on water, as well as drinking my green juices often.
• My exercise and activity schedule has been somewhat affected by AF, but today I was able to get back into the swing of things and had a nice, intense workout outdoors.  By Monday, my plan is to resume my schedule of exercising two times a day. Hoping the beautiful Spring weather cooperates.

And there you have it. Next up, tons of yummy-licious recipes coming your way...

Holiday Eating....

Do you "cheat" while on Holiday? I do. I encourage you to do the same. Do not deny yourself, you will regret it.  All in moderation of course.

Confession: I've been a naughty, naughty girl. During my approximately 8 day stay in Ireland I did absolutely no calorie counting, consumed and tasted a little bit (sometimes a lot a bit) of every thing I fancied and boy, was it worth it!

The food in Ireland was incredible. Fresh. Organic. Chemical and processed-free and absolutely delectable.
Most of our stay was at a 500 year-old Gaelic castle where we had the entire facility to ourselves. The "facilities" included two amazing kitchens complete with commercial-sized ovens and dishwashers, who wouldn't be motivated to cook? We purchased groceries from the local markets, guaranteeing only the freshest farm-raised produce, since the castle was situated in the agricultural hub of the  country, we had no doubt we were getting only the best. With so much fresh food at our fingertips, it would be a heinous crime not to cook incredible banquets, and banquets we made indeed. Menu items included mashed potatoes (probably the fluffiest, most divine "taters" I've ever tasted), wine-marinated pork chops, fresh steaks, spinach salads, garlic bread, fresh brie with honey and walnuts, steamed carrots, delicious organic eggs made in a variety of yummy ways, we even baked fresh cookies and scones....

Yes, we ate, and rejoiced.

We also did a lot of running around, including climbing the 73 narrow stone steps in the castle to get from the ground floor kitchen to the tip top where we would convene nightly in the "great hall." To say that was not an intense workout would be to fib. All in all, my clothes seemed to fit just as good at the end of the trip as they did in the beginning, if not a tad bit loser. Ironic isn't it?

That being said, I am back on track. Back on the Healthy Hottie wagon after a brief, but much enjoyed hiatus.

Meanwhile, let me share one of the many incredible feasts we enjoyed while in Ireland...hope to leave you salivating :)

Our first breakfast at the castle. Bacon, Potatoes and Scambled Eggs with veggies. Aside a pot of steaming french-pressed coffee....

Favorite Low-Cal Quick Dessert

Cast of Characters:

1 cup of Non-fat Organic Greek Yougurt - my favorite is Oikos or Fage

1 cup of organic frozen rasberries (frozen is key)

handful of walnuts

drizzle with raw organic agave

and enjoy!!!!!

Will be leaving on an airplane to an Emerald Isle today...promise to be as Healthy and Hottie as possible!

Updates coming soon:)

Healthy Hottie Banana Bread.

Hello lovelies. Today I will be sharing a brief updates on my progress as well as one of my favorite baking confections of late (you know those cold, snowy winter days that put you in the mood to do nothing more than bake warm yuminess....) Banana Bread, done the healthy hottie way.

First is first,after spending quite some time trying to record a video with updates for this week and trying to upload it to this post - I gave up. Me and videos and youtube are not getting along right now....ha! As a result here goes a summary of updates in a very concise format. Last week, this is what I accomplished:

• I met my calorie and water intake goals, despite being sick for 3 days.
• Because or the aforementioned sickness, I was only able to work-out 3 days out of the intended 6 days. .However, I Zumba'd to my heart's content the rest of the week.
• As much as I tried, getting to bed by 11p.m.still proved to be very difficult for me -  hoping I do better with this goal for this week.
• On Sunday, my "weigh-in" day - I was happy to report that despite the sickness, I was down 1.5lbs! I also like using clothing and a measuring tape as a progress indicator instead of the scale alone (which can identify water weight but not inches) and when I tried on my "goal pants" this morning - there was definitely an improvement from last week:)

On to the recipe...
 Here is the recipe I use for my Banana Bread. I take a traditional recipe and modify a few ingredients to make it lower calorie, lower in fat and more rich in whole grains. (on those items I have replaced with a healthier option or reduced I will italicize.)

Cast of Characters: 

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/4 cup melted butter (original recipe calls for 1/3)
1/2 cup of organic cane brown sugar and 1/2 cup of raw organic agave  (original recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar.)
1 cup of roughly -chopped walnuts.
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of stone ground organic whole-wheat flour (original recipe calls for all purpose-white.)


Method
 Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In food processor or large bowl combine:  butter,  mashed bananas, sugar, agave, egg, and vanilla. In separate, larger bowl, combine the flour,baking soda and salt. Then pour the wet ingredients from the food processor into the dry ingredients and mix well with a spoon. Lastly,  add the chopped walnuts.  Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Wet Ingredients. Mixed and ready to be combined.

Dry Ingredients. Remember to always sift your flour.

Mix both ingredients together  by hand with a spatula. You will need to mix very thoroughly to make sure all ingredients are incorporated correctly. As a final step,add the walnuts.

Pour into greased loaf-pan. I typically use the  PAM spray-baking butter that is zero calories.

Baked and ready to eat:) I typically serve a slice along a cup of home-made Healthy Hottie Chocolate.

Recipe for the HH hot chocolate is easy peasy.  Simply break up about half a dark cocoa chocolate bar (I buy Greenback organic chocolate with 70% cocoa) into about 2 cups of non-fat milk steaming in a pot. Stir until the chocolate melts and then add about 2 tablespoons of raw agave or raw cane sugar and enjoy!!!!

Next post will be all about green juices....doesn't it sound divine?;)