Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Things I Put Ricotta On

Posted by terrepruitt on May 10, 2021

You may be familiar with the story from last year: My husband has been doing the shopping since we have been sheltering-in-place. One time I asked him to get ricotta . . . the only kind I know comes in a specific container and is in a specific spot in the store . . . I described both to him. He came back with different kind. He said that the one I wanted wasn’t there and I have experienced that myself so I am not saying he didn’t see it. He said he got some other kind from the deli case (THE DELI CASE? $$$) It doesn’t matter, what he brought home is heaven in a tub and I love. (It turns out is doesn’t cost more than the other brand.) Since I think this new-to-me-brand is so yummy I have been putting it on many things. While I used to put the other kind on things when I remembered I am going out of my way to put this stuff in and on things.

Things I put ricotta on:

My Quesadillas as you may have seen.
My breakfast sandwich
Our salads
Our pastas one was just the cheese and the other one I added to the sauce
And, our pizza, of course, that is what started this whole thing

I wish I would have taken a picture of what I used it on today for lunch. I toasted some sliced sour dough bread, spread on some ricotta, then piled on some chicken, sprinkled on a little shredded mix of cheese and toasted it more – to warm up the chicken and melt the cheese. It was so good. I was eating so late and was so very hungry I didn’t think of it being a great addition to “Things I Put Ricotta On”.

It is yummy.

Do you put ricotta on anything?

Posted in Food | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Flower Friday

Posted by terrepruitt on May 7, 2021

Sometimes I wonder if I should call if Flower Friday instead of Friday Photo.  It IS that time of year!

I love our orange yard roses.

Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , | 7 Comments »

A Good Idea

Posted by terrepruitt on May 5, 2021

The exercise dance I teach provides us with routines. So when we pay our membership fee we have the option to purchase a tier that includes licensing to teach and routines. Nia releases four routines a year. Since Nia had been around for 25 years before I even started it, there are a lot of routines available to me. I do not always do the latest routine. I tend to wait until the newness has worn off and there are less classes out there that are the same routine. That and I just don’t learn routines as fast as some of the amazing instructors. All this to say that there is a new routine out, but I am just now looking at the routine that was released before that. Sometimes it takes me a bit for the music to grow on me. Or the routine itself. And I just discovered something about the routine that piqued my interest. So I was listening to the first song and when I can I like to look up the lyrics. I feel like the lyrics to this song are so sweet. I also feel that, yeah, many of us could use to slow down, close the curtains and have some tea.

Herbal Tea by Velvet Moon

Gravel road, I’ve been asked to slow down
Fireplace do you know how?
Pass the paper, my help desk is out
Who will care for the world now?

Rest with me
Close the curtains
Brew some herbal tea
Reach out for me
Take my hand and lead, even when I disagree

Oh, how I love when it rains outside
And it’s okay to slow the ride
Discover books I forget about
And who will care for the world now?

Rest with me
Close the curtains
Brew some herbal tea
Reach out for me
Take my hand and lead, even when I disagree

Maybe then I can relax
(Maybe then I can relax)
Braid my hair, loosen my back
Oh, just rest with me
Close the curtains
Brew some herbal tea
Reach out for me
Oh and take my hand and lead even when I disagree

Hmm, rest with me
Close the curtains
Brew some herbal tea
Reach out for me
Take my hand and lead, even when I disagree

—

“Who will care for the world now?” Right? So many of us think we can’t step away from something because WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF IT? As a instructor of fitness, this is one of my fears. Not so much who will take care of it, but more the fact that exercise is a habit and I always fear if I take time off then my students will get out of the habit and not come back.

Then, “Take my hand and lead, even when I disagree”, sounds to me like “make me take time off even if I fight it”, right?  So I think this is a good idea, “Close the curtains -Brew some herbal tea”.

When I really listened and then looked at the lyrics, I really was able to sink into this song and I love embracing the choreography in a smooth relaxed kind of way.

Have you hear this song? Are you familiar with Velvet Moon?

Here’s were you can give it a listen:  Velvet Moon on Epic Sounds – you have to scroll down, I couldn’t find a direct link to artist/song (not someone on Youtube).

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Spaghetti Pie

Posted by terrepruitt on May 3, 2021

I saw this on Facebook.  It was a Tasty recipe.  I did a few things different:  I used salt when cooking the spaghetti, I increased the amount of Italian Seasoning from 1 teaspoon, and I added the garlic.  And I oiled the pan.

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Spaghetti Pie

16 ounces of dried spaghetti
Salt
4 eggs
1 cup Parmesan cheese – divided
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Olive oil
1 cup ricotta
1 1/2 cup mozzarella – divided
1 1/2 cup sauce

Cook the spaghetti (with salt if that is how you regularly cook your pasta).

While the pasta is cooking, beat the eggs.

Drain the spaghetti.  Mix the cooked, drained spaghetti with the beaten eggs, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the Italian seasoning, and the chopped garlic.

Oil/grease a baking dish/pan*.  Put the spaghetti mixture in a baking dish/pan.  Make a well in the middle, as if the pasta is a pie crust.  Put the ricotta cheese in the middle.  Sprinkle the ricotta with 3/4 cup of the mozzarella.  Put the sauce on top of the ricotta**.  Sprinkle the sauce with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake at 375° F for 45 minutes.  Then broil for 2 minutes.

Slice like a pie and serve.

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We liked this.  As we were eating it I thought it was a bit dry so I was trying to think of what to do to make it a little more flavorful and/or moist on the outskirts of the “pie”.  But when I was cleaning the pan I noticed that most of the egg/moisture had seeped out of the bottom of the pan.

*I used a cheesecake pan.  I noticed when I picked it up to put it in the oven that it was leaking.  I was hoping that I put it in quick enough that the egg would have solidified before all leaking out.  I think most of it leaked out.  Because I noticed it leaking I put the pan on aluminum foil while baking.

**The recipe shows the sauce being added on top of the ricotta in the “well” . . . I think when I make it again I might put a little on the outside of the well.

I will make this again because it was easy and it was good.  And we will be eating it for three nights.  You know how I love leftovers.  But . . . and I know this will “complicate” it . . . I think next time I am going to add meat.  I just wanted it to be a little heartier so I think ground beef will do it.  I will probably add more cheese to the spaghetti before I put it in the pan . . . probably some ricotta.  I did like how the spaghetti was crispy on the edges.

What do you think?  Spaghetti pie?  Do you have a recipe for a version of this?  I know it is basically just spaghetti with read sauce, but ricotta really makes it yummy.

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

April Flower

Posted by terrepruitt on April 23, 2021

Here is a gorgeous flower from our yard.  You may see a few of these over a few Friday as my Friday Photo.

Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Ricotta Cranberry Turkey Rolls

Posted by terrepruitt on April 22, 2021

I took out some turkey for dinner recently. I had thought it was ground turkey, you may know how I cook ground turkey all the time sometimes adding a vegetable sometimes not. I can serve it with anything; rice, pasta, potatoes, bread or in a tortilla. It is very easy to cook and very versatile. Well, it wasn’t ground turkey it was turkey breast fillets. They were somewhat of a mistaken purchase. I didn’t know what to do with them but then I remembered I have a bag of cranberries. People eat cranberries with turkey so I thought I could put them in the turkey.

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Ricotta Cranberry Turkey Rolls

Turkey breast fillets (5)
Salt
Pepper
Ricotta cheese (about 3/4 cup)
Dried cranberries (1 cup to 1 1/4 cup)
Sherry
Balsamic vinegar
Mozzarella

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Lay the turkey breasts out sprinkle them with salt and a little pepper. Put about a tablespoon of ricotta on one end and then sprinkle with cranberries. Roll up each breast and place in a baking dish. Sprinkle with sherry and balsamic vinegar. Add another sprinkle of salt. Place in the oven. After about 15 minutes take the dish out and put some mozzarella on top of each roll. Then put back in the oven for about 15 minutes. 

Make sure the meat is fully cooked before serving.

You can serve with some cranberries sprinkled on top. 

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This was yummy.  I was super happy that is was good.  But you know me I love that ricotta cheese!

What do you do with dried cranberries?

I forgot to take a picture of it on our plates, but it wouldn’t have looked any better than this.  I do not like to spend time pretty “plating” my food. 

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Posted by terrepruitt on April 19, 2021

Many years ago, and I think I have shared this before, my father-in-law made dinner.  He made a chicken casserole and said that he used canned chicken.  I was not looking forward to eating it.  But if he had not told me the chicken came from a can I would have thought he used chicken breast . . . which of course you can do with this.  I am not always so good about remembering to take meat out to defrost so when I need something quick for dinner canned chicken is great.  Plus I like to use it for chicken salad.  Here is a chicken salad recipe.

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Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

1 can of chicken
salt
2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup cranberries
1 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Drain the chicken then put it in a bowl, sprinkle salt onto chicken. Add the ricotta cheese and mayonnaise. Mix the chicken, cheese, and mayo together. Add the chopped pecans. Mix. You may want to pull the cranberries apart or chop them a bit. I find the stick together. Add the cranberries to the mixture. Add the vinegar and mix. Here is where you decide if you need to add more ricotta cheese or mayo. It depends on how dry you want the mixture.

Serve on crackers, bread, a spoon, whatever you want.

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PLEASE NOTE:  When I wrote the recipe I this is what I did.  Some pictures are of the one can recipe and some are of when I used TWO cans of chicken.

Since we got the cranberries I have made this twice so far.  It is really good.

Do you like to make different versions of chicken salad?  What is your favorite?

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Polenta Casserole

Posted by terrepruitt on April 7, 2021

We had purchased polenta, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it.  I like to make Polenta Fries, but didn’t want to do that so I was trying to think of what to do with it. We also had a little left over taco sauce and enchilada sauce so I thought, “What the heck.”

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Polenta Casserole

1 tube of polenta
olive oil
coconut oil
1/2 onion
1 lb ground beef
taco seasoning
1/2 cup taco sauce
1/2 cup enchilada sauce
4.5 cups shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 450° F.

Slice the polenta. (I was able to get about 20 rounds from the tube.) Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush a little olive oil on each slice. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. (They will be in the oven a total of 25 to 30 minutes).

Heat some oil in a pan. Chop the onion, then cook it in the oil. Add the beef to the cooked onion. Season with taco seasoning.

After 15 minutes take the polenta slices out of the oven and flip each one. Then put them back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Make sure not to overcook the beef because it will be in the oven for 15 minutes.

Mix the taco sauce and enchilada sauce together. Then mix it with the meat.

Once the polenta is cooked (I like it crispy and browned on the edges . . . of course, you will adjust to your tastes.) take it out of the oven and put 11 slices in the bottom of a greased (I used coconut oil) 8X8 baking dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese over the slices. Then put the meat on the slices spreading it out so it covers all the slices. Then sprinkle 3 1/2 cups cheese on the meat. Put the remaining slices of polenta on top and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes at 450° F.

Serve hot.

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I might consider using MORE polenta and less cheese. I’d like more complete layers of polenta. I also would like to add olives or bell peppers. For those of you that like chilies I think that would be a great thing to add.

I am never concerned with “plating” the food all pretty, I just want to eat . . . so, this does not look appetizing at all.  But it was good!  So we may be having this again. 🙂

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Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Yoga Quotes

Posted by terrepruitt on April 5, 2021

So recently I participated in a discussion on Facebook that had me thinking of a few of my favorite yoga quotes.  I thought I would share them here.

The last one really is my favorite.

“Yoga is not for the flexible. It’s for the willing.” -I don’t know

“Yoga is not about touching your toes. It is what you learn on the way down.” – Jigar Gor

“We don’t use the body to get into a pose, we use the pose to get into the body.”-I don’t know

People often ask me what they can do to “get into” a specific pose and the best way to learn how to do a specific pose is to DO the specific pose to the best of your ability.  It is a practice.


Do you have any favorite yoga quotes?  Do you have any favorite quotes about one of your hobbies or practices?  Please share. 

Posted in Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Gorgeous Lilies

Posted by terrepruitt on April 2, 2021

I received roses AND lilies for our anniversary!  These were so fragrant they scented the entire house!  I love to post flowers for my Friday Photo.  Do you see the roses in the background (left)?  I posted a picture last Friday.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via Zoom

Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

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