31 Days and Counting....

Hey Everyone!

Here are some of the pictures Team Texas took around the city to promote the Transplant Games of America. It was an awesome day! This weekend we have another opportunity for a photo shoot. The photo shoot is for TMC Pulse which is the magazine of the Texas Medical Center. I'm excited to see and meet more of my teammates. This has been an amazing experience preparing for these Games and I can't wait to see what the next 30 days holds.

Go Team Texas!

Go Team Texas!

Hey Everyone! I'm sorry for the hiatus but I been very busy training. I am competing in the Transplant Games of America this July in Houston, Texas.

The Transplant Games of America is a multi-sport festival event for individuals who have undergone life-saving transplant surgeries. Competition events are open to living donors, organ transplant recipients, bone marrow recipients, and a limited number of corneal and tissue transplant recipients. More than an athletic event, the Transplant Games of America highlight the critical importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, while celebrating the lives of organ donors and recipients.

For more information you can visit their site at www.transplantgamesofamerica.org

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going around the city of Houston and taking pictures at the different venues the Games will be held. It was such a nice wonderful experience to meet some of my teammates and some of the sponsors. Since there are 42 days to go I will be sharing my experience and posting some new recipes. 

Hope everyone has a great day!  Go Team Texas!!!

 

 

National Go Red Day

Hey Everyone! February is more than Valentine’s Day; it’s also American Heart Month. National Go Red Day is on Friday February 7th, 2014. Help celebrate their 10th anniversary and show your support by wearing something red.

For more information visit: Go Red for Women

Happy Heart Month! <3

 

Cooking Class

Valentine's Romantic Dinner for Two

Skip the crowded restaurants on Valentine’s Day and share a home-cooked meal with your loved one. Our menu rivals those of the finest restaurants yet it’s totally do-able at home.

 

 

Menu:

Cocktail Mixer

Antipasto Platter

Shaved Zucchini Salad

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Chocolate Brownie Cake

 

Time & Date:

February 8th, 2014 at 12pm

Location:

Williams Sonoma

Baybrook Mall Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546

 

Call the store for pricing, questions or to sign up for the class

 at (281) 480-1705.

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone... Happy 2014! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and is enjoying the New Year. I must apologize for not posting in a while; things have been a bit busy. Later on this year I will be participating in the Transplant Games of America which is taking a lot of my time as I prepare for that. I'm also in talks of maybe teaching some cooking classes at Williams Sonoma.  2014 has started out to be an amazing year and it’s only going to get better. So stay tune for more updates and new recipes to come…  ;-)

Happiness & Joy Cookies

Hey Everyone! How is your December going? During the holiday season a lot of people have a cookie exchange which is the most amazing idea. You get to try a ton of different cookies; who wouldn’t love that?? Well here is cookie bar that I think everyone would like. Enjoy!

 

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Sugar

1/3 cup Butter (unsalted, softened)

1/3 cup Canola Oil

1 large Egg

1 tbsp Milk

1 tsp Almond Extract

1 cup all-purpose Flour

2/3 cup whole-wheat Flour

1 ½ tsp Baking Powder

3 tbsp Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (melted)

3 tbsp Coconut (toasted)

½ cup Almonds (sliced)

 Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

2) Beat sugar, butter, oil, egg, milk and almond extract in a mixer until light and fluffy.

3) Stir in all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and baking powder until well blended. (The dough will be soft.) Spread the dough into the prepared baking pan in a thin layer.

4) Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Cut into 48 bars.

5) Decorate each bar with a drizzle of melted chocolate, a sprinkle of toasted coconut and an almond slice.

 

 

 

 

Dark Chocolate Strawberries

Hey Everyone! I hope everyone had a safe and fun Thanksgiving. Now it’s time to prepare for a new set of holidays. In the month of December I will post different recipes and tips for cookie exchanges, dishes to take to your holiday parties and ideas for Christmas morning and dinner. I will put a twist on some of your holiday favorites and give you some new ideas.

Ingredients:

6 ounces Semisweet Chocolate, (chopped)

1 pound Strawberries with stem, (washed & dried)

 

Directions:

1)      Put the semisweet heatproof medium bowl. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. **

2)      Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries.

3)      Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

4)      Enjoy!

**Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.**