• Grill Week Recipe #1- Cedar Plank Salmon

    Memorial Day weekend has always seemed like the unofficial kick off to summer! So with that behind us, I thought it would be fun to feature recipes from the grill all week. There’s nothing I love more than grilling out!
    Today’s recipe is easy, delicious and SO flavorful. The secret is in the cedar plank! It brings out the most delicious flavors and keeps the fish from sticking to the grill. Don’t be intimidated! This is an easy, healthy dinner option!

    Salmon

    Total Time: 4 hrs. 50 min.
    Prep Time: 15 min.
    Cooking Time: 35 min.
    Yield: 6 servings

    Red – 1 Yellow – 1   1/2tsp

    Ingredients:
    1 untreated cedar plank (about 17-by-10-1/2 in.)
    2 Tbsp. water
    ¼ cup pure maple syrup
    2-inch slice fresh ginger, peeled, finely chopped
    ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
    3 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
    2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
    Ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
    1 Tbsp. olive oil
    1 bunch green onions
    2½ lbs. raw center-cut salmon fillet with skin

    Preparation:
    1. Soak plank in water for 3 hours before grilling.
    2. Bring water, maple syrup, ginger, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, and pepper (if desired) to a boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; gently boil, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until reduced to about ½ cup. Let cool. (Maple glaze may be made 2 days ahead of time and chilled, covered. Bring maple glaze to room temperature before using.)
    3. Preheat grill on high.
    4. Lightly cover the cedar plank with oil. Arrange green onions in one layer on plank to form a bed for salmon.
    5. Place the salmon skin-side down on the cedar plank.
    6. Drizzle with half of maple glaze, reserving other half of glaze to serve with grilled salmon.
    7. Grill, covered, without turning, for about 20 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork.
    8. Serve salmon with reserved maple glaze.

    • Recipe adapted from teamBeachbody.com
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  • 3 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Workout

    shoes.usagerightsI was sitting watching my daughter play softball and listening to some personal development.

    It’s so crazy listening to how many people give up on themselves before they see success.

    I wish more people were like my daughters team.

    They don’t give up until the game is over and even then, they learn from their mistakes and are determined to beat them next time.

    They keep going even though they are losing.

    So many people want to settle for average.

    I think it’s safe to assume that we’ve all been there.

    Even when it comes to working out…we have good intentions on getting up and pushing play and then the morning comes. We hit that snooze button a thousand and one times. We drag our feet and we don’t feel like doing much of anything, let alone working out.

    I’ve been in the health and fitness industry for many years and the thing I hear the most is “I don’t have any motivation.”

    I wish there was one magic button that would cure all, but the truth is, there isn’t.

    It all boils down to making a few minor adjustments and doing little things to set yourself up for success. It’s about working with your lack of motivation, rather than against it.

    You can start with these three things:

    1. Put Your Clothes Out – Yep. The night before get your workout clothes all ready to go for the next morning.
    2. Workout in the Morning – I can hear some of you saying “But I’m not a morning person and I have no motivation!” That’s why you do it in the morning. The more hours that pass you by, the more you’re lack of motivation will kick in and have its way with you.
    3. Grab an Index Card – What’s your WHY? WHY do you want to workout in the first place? How bad do you want it? Write down 1-3 why’s and pin in up where you can see it every day.

    Like I said, we’ve all been there. I have my days when I’m tired and have zero motivation.

    But here’s the biggest “trick” of all, I suck it up and do it anyway.

    We don’t have to “overcome” lack of motivation (I’m not sure if that’s even possible to do completely), but you can decide to do it anyway.

    ~Alesha

    P.S. I am currently looking for those who would like to start their fitness journey! Click here to apply to join my next accountability group to reaching your fitness goals! http://bit.ly/1TrjBqW

     

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