Sunday, April 5, 2009

2 Weeks Clean/Steak Marinade/Blogging Schedule

Hi All! Sorry for my long time absence. I have made the decision to cut back on blogging a bit because I was getting a little overwhelmed! I will also be returning to my original blogging roots and will be posting more recipes! Hope you're all ok with this!!

Ok, so this past Friday marked 2 weeks of clean eating! I have done VERY little cheating and am feeling fabulous. These upcoming two weeks, I am going to try to continue MOSTLY clean eating while starting to test bringing a few of my favorite more processed foods back into my life. I want to find a nice balance so that when the month is over, I am eating about 85-90% clean. Tonight was one of those tests!

I made up the following steak marinade using this recipe (I only adjusted the amount of vinegar):

1/3 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce (my un clean ingredient)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

I put the steak in the marinade about 4 hours prior to dinner and stuck it all in the fridge. It was probably twice as much marinade as we needed, but the result was awesome! Josh had tons of steak and brussels:

While I had tons of veggies and just a few pieces of steak (haha):

Did you guys have a good weekend? It was SO nice here! We went to the beach for the first time and the weather was just perfect! I got some nice color! I also taught Body Attack on Friday and Body Step yesterday. Today was a mostly relaxing day with some errands! Talk to you all later this week!

56 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Grrreat meal!! Lots of colors and nutrition :-)

No worries, girl - just blog when you can and have a fabulous week!! :-)

Sara said...

I'm very jealous that you live near a beach :)

Your food looks great and healthy. I love to see recipes so post as many as you want!

Have a great week :)

vanillasugarblog said...

Yes you are doing good! I'm sticking pretty good to it too. I love love love the idea of clean eating because it really is fairly easy to do. I eat a lot more sushi, which is good anyways (I don't miss the soy sauce that much). I stopped the diet coke stuff, it was so bad for me anyways. On the weekends I cheat; I had a a few sliders and ice cream this weekend, but that's it.

Maria said...

You went to the beach, no fair? We got snow yesterday. Glad you are enjoying the clean eating still. We eat pretty clean and will eat even cleaner this summer once we have access to fresh produce from our garden and the local farmer's market. I can't wait!
I understand about the blogging, it takes a lot of time. I am going to slow down too, I have been sick a lot lately-esp. this weekend, so cooking, eating, isn't fun anyways. Have a good Sunday night!

Evelyn Fisher said...

The food looks delicious. Keep up the good work

I Run for Fun said...

Congrats on 2 successful weeks! That's a well-balanced plan you can stick with.

So jealous you went to the beach.

Zesty Cook said...

Have a great week... I will be watching for you.

zesty

The Purple Carrot said...

That steak marinade sounds really good!

Ha, yeah, I understand ... I was getting very overwhelmed, too ... feeling like I have to comment on so many blogs, I have to blog more, etc and I just cannot do that. I agree ... I'm trying to take my blog back to its roots also (even though I haven't been blogging as long as you ; ) It's easy to loose track of why you started it! (At least it is for me ... and I just want to be myself, so that's what I'm doing ; )

I love the sound of more recipes ... yum! : )

Sharon said...

Oh wow, totally delicious - brussel sprouts!

Anonymous said...

Mmm brussels! I love them so much.

Hope you're feeling less stressed. I love when you post recipes, so I'm excited! Have a great week :-)

Elyse said...

Brussel sprouts are my favorite thing right now!! My boyfriend Todd is not liking this phase in my life because cooking them makes the kitchen, well, stink! But, of course, I could care less-they're delicious, and they pair well with other ingredients and so many flavors. Wow, what a long rant! Anyway, the point is, your veggies look FABULOUS, as does the steak. Sounds like your doing a fabulous job on your clean eating!

Unknown said...

beach?? jealous!! ive been thinking i need to cut back too... but i love hearing from everyone!

Megan said...

you are doing so well with this clean eating! sometimes it can be hard but i love how after eating really well for a few days, i just feel amazing.

<3

Hungry Hungry Dancer said...

congrats on the clean eating!!!! real life comes before blog life!!! (i get nervous ill lose readers too though :)

Alison Can Read said...

Great marinade. Why is soy sauce not clean? Is there a difference between "clean" and just cooking with natural, whole foods? By clean, do you mean gluten-free, soy-free?

Hungry Hungry Dancer said...

congrats on the clean eating!!!! real life comes before blog life!!! (i get nervous ill lose readers too though :)

Hungry Hungry Dancer said...

congrats on the clean eating!!!! real life comes before blog life!!! (i get nervous ill lose readers too though :)

K from ksgoodeats said...

Blog when you can, I'll still be here reading :D

Glad you're enjoying clean eating so much! I always feel so much better when I eat purer things but I still have to give in to my PB crackers now and then!

Yay for a fantastic weekend!! Rock of Love is on tonight ;) What are we going to do when this train wreck ends?!

Krista said...

Great looking meal!

Blogging can sure be a time sucker, eh?!

Balance, Joy and Delicias! said...

I'm craving meat now!!!!!!

Erica, what differences in your body have you noticed these last two weeks of clean eating?! It would be nice to share your experience with us! Thanks!

Pearl said...

that looks good!

Julie said...

don't stress girl! we'll still be reading no matter what :) yay for your clean eating!

Heather said...

mmmm. that marinade sounds delicious! nick and i make one that is pretty similar and it always turns out well.

priscilla joy said...

Taking a break from blogging is sometimes fun and relaxing. I'd LOVE to go to the beach. Your dinner looks so good!

HangryPants said...

I am look forward to your recipe posts!

I had a great weekend and wasn't even that sad about the game. They did, after all, kick Duke's butt!

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

yay- I love recipe posts!
this looks delish... I keep hearing about this clean eating thing, but how do you know what's "clean"? Is there a list somewhere?

Sara said...

That steak looks great! The weather was really nice here too, I hope it stays that way :)

Anonymous said...

Girly I hear ya on the blogging and I am SO ok with whatever you want to do! I loved Itzy's Kitchen from the beginning and getting back to your original blogging roots sounds like a great plan!!

I'm so glad that the clean eating is going so well. I think eating 85-90% clean is perfect!

I'm so jealous reading about how nice it was where you were this weekend. Currently it is snowing outside and the wind is blowing hard against my window here in Chicago. WHAT?! It's April, Mother Nature!

"See" you again soon, girly!

Unknown said...

Clean eating sounds like a great idea. I would like to try and do more of that myself!

MizFit said...

that looks SO GOOD.
man, it is trite but so hammered TRUE in food blogs that colorful meals make it all more (nutritious and) attractive.
are you exploding with energy since youre eating clean?

youre doing fantastic!

Holly said...

No apologies - you are one busy lady! We will be here whenever you post. Love to see your yummy recipes! :-)

SO jealous you got to go to the beach! It WAS sunny and 61 on Saturday, so I guess I'll take what I can get.

amanda said...

Fabulous meal!

I love the recipes-so I'm all
about thatttt.

The weather was pretty awesome
here all weekend as well.
However, it is now pouring and
dark outside. Pshh.

RhodeyGirl/Sabrina said...

i am with you on the blogging thing... for me it is purely hobby (i use the money I make to pay for blog stuff + charitable donations for fellow bloggers) and I was starting to get overwhelmed with it! so now i only blog when I feel like it~

lauren said...

you have done such a great job with the clean eating. looking forward to your recipes!

Apples and Butter said...

Good job on trying to find some balance! I used to try and blog every day, but it does get a bit overwhelming! I finally decided that it made the most sense to blog as often as I like. No more, no less. Good luck with your new schedule!

Michelle @ Find Your Balance Health said...

I was wondering where you got all the time for blogging! Good for you, taking a break when you need it and readjusting your schedule.

The Blonde Duck said...

What cut of meat did you use? I'd love to try that! Ben adores steak!

Diana said...

Awesome job on the clean eating - I'm so impressed!

The weather was really nice out here too! Made me ready for summer! :)

Anonymous said...

oh i missed you!
love all your veggies!

congrats on the 2 weeks clean!

Erin said...

AHHH! i just caught up on this week and saw you went to east bay deli & king street grille...


love them both so much
i love that you can build that massive salad at king street..

my brother used to live on queen street! haha

Anonymous said...

definitely take it easy when you need to!! i think anyone who blogs understands how much effort goes into posting :D congrats on your clean eating - i like your goals muchly :)

Zesty Cook said...

I am loving the steak marinade!! great job!

Erin said...

Glad you're back!

Sabrina said...

Hi! I've been following your blog for a few weeks now and I look forward to all your posts! Today I signed up for a gym that teaches BodyPump, BodyStep and BodyAttack. I am so excited and PUMPED up to go to class tomorrow because of how excited you are to teach it! When you're teaching tomorrow think about your pal in Arizona who you helped create a healthier lifestyle for!

Thanks!

Selba said...

Looks so healthy and also yummy :D

Esi said...

Glad you had a great weekend and I am so proud of you for keeping up with the clean eating!

Erica said...

Sabrina- you are too sweet!! Please let me know how class/ the gym goes :) :)

HEAB said...

Erica,
I missed you! I freaked out and thought my Google Reader wasn't picking up your feed, but glad to know I didn't miss out on any posts!

Your steak dinner looks yummy. I swear you and Josh are so much like Chris and I when it comes to our dinners. I'm always HEAVY on the veggies and light on the meat.

So glad you're feeling so great. I'm thinking of ways to clean up my diet. I really don't think I should be eating dairy. Ever since going to town on my Oikos Greek yogurt, I'm not feeling so hot. Why why why is the Greek stuff so freaking good?!? Too bad my Coffee-Mate doesn't bother me. :)

Tina said...

I'm debating doing the same thing with my blogging. It's overwhelming at times!

Katie said...

I look forward to your recipes! Congrats on the clean eating success.

Nicole (Sweetie Pie) said...

I'm so glad you are feeling fabulous! Good for you!!

I'm looking forward to the recipes. :-)

Sabrina said...

The BodyPump class was great! I loved how high energy it was and the instructor was awesome! It will definitely be my after work decomp. There was even a visiting instructor from NC there. I thought it was awesome that she came to our class while traveling.

Tomorrow I am trying a water aerobics class because I love the water and think it will be a nice, hopefully low impact, workout. BodyPump again on Thursday!

Fitnessista said...

that meal looks beautiful!
it's amazing how much better clean eating makes you feel... keep up the awesome (and very inspirational) job! :D
hope your week is going well!
xoxo

Bridget said...

I am feeling the blogging strain lately too! Hence my lack of posts. I am just crazy stressed lately.
LOVE LOVE that marinade! Delicious!!

Erica said...

Sabrina- so glad you loved it!!!! Please feel free to email me/comment and let me know how the rest of the classes are! Itzyskitchen at gmail dot com!

Anonymous said...

Hi Erica! How is the love of my life? I hear you on the schedule! Totally can appreciate how blogging sucks time out like whoa! All I ask is the occasional picture of Frank ;) Love love!