by Laura on September 3, 2010
This variation on the traditional crunch is a great way to target your obliques. You should feel your entire core engaged while performing these which makes for a great burn all the way around your mid section. If you’ve got hard wood floors or tile, you’ll want a mat to do these on, unless you’re glutton for punishment.
1. Begin by laying face up on the ground with your feet flat on the mat, knees bent. Bring your right foot up, place your right ankle on your left knee.
2. Make sure to support your head but be careful not to pull your head forward as you crunch up and come across your body to bring your left elbow as close as you can to your right knee. Repeat for a total of 15 reps.
3. Now switch feet and elbows and do 15 repetitions on the other side. Repeat both sides for a total of 2-3 sets each side.
A lot of people find that they feel their abs burning while they do this version of the crunch, but trust me, it is hitting your obliques- give it a day or two -you’ll feel it! 
by Laura on September 1, 2010
As I was walking through the Farmer’s Market last Saturday, I felt invigorated with all the fresh fruits and veggies that I found around me. I went from stand to stand loading up on the freshest produce available and before I knew it, just carrying my goodies became a small workout. My biceps were actually getting a bit tired from carrying the bags that held all of my fresh finds! I felt a little twinge of disappointment as I finished up at the last stand and turned to go to the next, but there was nothing there. It was quickly replaced with excitement as my thoughts turned to showing my kiddos what I had purchased. I could already hear the excitement and see the looks on their cute faces when they saw the fresh peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon and raspberries. I knew they would be excited to learn that we would be having fresh corn on the cob for dinner that night, grilled zucchini the next night and that they could have their fill of fresh green beans. I found some of the smallest new potatoes that I have ever seen and couldn’t wait to show them to my baby (who isn’t actually a baby anymore given the fact that he is 6…but hey, he’s mybaby) who thinks that everything in this world that measures under an inch was made especially for him. He wrinkles up his little nose, squints his eyes and says, “Aww Mama, look how cute. It’s almost as cute as me.” and darn it- he’s right! As good as it has all tasted the green beans still stand out in my mind. They were so good, in fact they were scrumptious!
Today I’m sharing a recipe with you that my mom made, now I make it for my family and hopefully some day my girls will make them for their families. Enjoy!
Garlic Green Beans Almondine
Keep in mind when you look at this recipe and the amounts that are listed that I am cooking for a large group of people. You may not want to use the amounts listed below if you are making this recipe for yourself alone, for you and a loved one or even for a family of four. On the other hand, leftovers are always a good thing!
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans
- 1 1/2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced (you can adjust the amount of garlic to your suit your taste)
- 1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds (I prefer sliced-they brown better)
Heat oil in a large skillet over med-hi heat. Once heated, add garlic and almonds and saute until the garlic starts to caramelize and the almonds begin to brown. Add the green beans and continue to saute until the beans start to brown as well. Take off the heat and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Serve them from the pan or a dish of your choosing, they’ll taste great either way!
