Agave Nectar

What's that you ask? About a year ago, when a friend first told me about agave nectar, he was met with my puzzled face, and the dreaded "what did you say?"

Ah-GAAAHHHH-vay? What is thaaaaaaat?

One would think he proposed cooking with innards, or Pepto Bismol, or eye of a newt. He would have received a better response had he told me that tequila comes from the same plant. Agave nectar has come a long way in our culinary consciousness, thanks to its low glycemic index status. Awareness of a low glycemic index in food was made popular by the Atkins Diet. While I still get the occasional uuhhh?, now I receive a "oh, yes, I've heard of that."

Agave nectar comes from the tall, spiky, blue agave plant, native to Mexico and resembling a giant aloe vera. When the plants are 7-10 years old, the core (called the pina, because it looks like a pineapple) is removed. The pina is then crushed to extract the sap inside. The sap is heated for a long time at a low temperature and the carbohydrates break down into sugars -- specifically into a complex form of fructose called inulin, which resembles the sugar found naturally in fruits. Agave nectar is higher in fructose, which does not stimulate insulin secretion to the extent that other sugars do, and lower in glucose, so it's easy on your metabolism, preventing the familiar but unpleasant sugar rush and then crash.

Sweeter than refined sugar and with just 60 calories per tablespoon, agave nectar adds sweetness, solubility and moisture to baked goods and beverages like smoothies and even iced tea. You can substitute agave for sugar or honey in most recipes, but double check first before you start baking with it. Agave nectar comes in two grades: light, which is flavor neutral; and amber, which is a bit like a thin maple syrup. I recommend keeping both in the pantry. You can find agave nectar now in most grocery stores, but certainly you can find it in the more popular organic health food stores.

Here's a recipe to get you started on your journey with Agave Nectar:

GRILLED PEACHES WITH BALSAMIC AND GRANOLA
Easy, impressive and look out, addictive.
Make this with any stone fruit, or even with firm pears. Serves 6.

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup light agave nectar
6 peaches, halved, pits removed
1 Tbsp olive or canola oil
1/2 cup granola (homemade or storebought)

In a small, deep saucepan, heat the vinegar and agave nectar over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Continue heating, watching carefully, for 10 minutes or until reduced by 3/4 to a thick (but still pourable) syrup.

Meanwhile, scoop out a bit of the insides of the peach to remove any bits of the pit.
Heat a stove-top grill pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, brush the cut side of each peach half with olive oil, and place cut side down on the grill pan. Do not move the peaches! Cook for 2 minutes or until nice grill marks appear. Remove peaches from the pan and place cut side up on individual serving plates. When the syrup is reduced to desired consistency, drizzle it over the peaches. Top with a bit of granola, and serve immediately . . . and enjoy!

~ Live Well ~
Trinity Fitness

Great advice from an expert

Here are 5 tips from Jillian Michaels about being kind to yourself and defeating temptation. Take heed, my Friends.

~ Live Well ~
Trinity Fitness

Media that will get you moving!!

Train for any race
TV: Pilates for Indies Rockers ($18, amazon.com)
Book: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Website: Activetrainer.com
Music: "Stronger" - Kanye West
"Pump It" - Black Eyed Peas
"Steady, As She Goes" - The Raconteurs
"Harder Better Faster Stronger" - Daft Punk

Have an Adventure
TV: The Travel Channel's Samantha Brown
Book: Where to Buy the Best of Everything by Suzy Gershman
Website: Realtravel.com
Music: "Roam" - B-52s
"Wide Open Spaces" - Dixie Chicks
"All I Wanna Do" - Sheryl Crow
"Where the Blacktop Ends" - Keith Urban

Be a Domestic God
TV: Home & Garden Television
Book: One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds
Website: Designsponge.com
Music: "Our House" - Madness
"Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M.
"Home" - Daughtry
"Hands Clean" - Alanis Morissette

Escape a Lousy Job
TV: Reality Bites
Book: What's That Job and How the Hell Do I Get It? by David J. Rosen
Website: Jobschmob.com
Music: "Take This Job and Shove It" - Johnny Paycheck
"I Quit" - Vince Gill
"Bang the Drum All Day" - Todd Rundgren
"Brand New Day" - Sting

~ Live Well ~
Trinity Fitness

Fall means comfort food . . .

. . . but that doesn't mean "unhealthy" food. Fall is a wonderful time to begin making homemade soups and chili to help keep you warm from the inside out. However, even dishes like these can be filled with unnecessary calories and fat.

Here's a simple, healthy recipe for Turkey Chili for all of you Trinity Fitness fans out there, that won't pack on the pounds! Enjoy!

Basic Turkey Chili
This recipe serves: 6
Preparation time : 15 minutes Cooking time : 45 minutes

Ingredients
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Cooking Instructions
1. Combine the garlic, chili powder, black pepper, salt and 1/2 cup of the tomatoes in a food processor. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet or soup pot, heat the olive oil over high heat.
3. Add the ground turkey and brown it, while breaking the meat into small chunks with a wooden spoon.
4. Add the onion, lower the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Add the chili powder mixture and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Add the remaining tomatoes and broth and simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Add the kidney beans, heat thoroughly and serve.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size about 1 1/2 cups
(knowing your serving size is very important!)

Amount Per Serving
Calories 208
Protein 21 g
Total Carbohydrate 10 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Soluble Fiber 0 g
Insoluble Fiber 0 g
Sugar 3 g
Total Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g

~ Live Well ~
Trinity Fitness