Let’s be honest, everyone knows the true winner in this town is The Cleveland Clinic. Home of Dr. Micheal Roizen, The Cleveland Clinic is one of America’s top hospitals. (Ranked one of the “Best Hospitals” in America and No. 1 in the nation for heart care and surgery by U.S. News & World Report)

The Cleveland Clinic has taken their expertise and wellness practices to the web and has created a space for a broader audience of wellness seekers.

Intoducing 360-5. At 360-5, the Cleveland Clinic will show you how and why you can sleep better or have more energy, among many other topics, by looking at how you handle stress, your exercise habits and diet.

The Cleveland Clinic understands that it takes work to be healthy, so they’ve made the information as simple (and — gasp — as fun) as possible. With easy to read articles, videos and interactive quizzes, getting healthy can actually become addicting (I’ve already spent almost an hour on the site!)

360-5 provides three ways for you to start improving your health today: a web site, guided online programs and an online wellness store.

At 360-5, the science is accessible and easy to follow (often using humor!), giving you a deeper understanding of the complex and often mysterious nature of your mind and body. With the best info, actionable ideas and a dose of inspiration, you’ve got the golden ticket to wellness. Whether you are from Cleveland, Chicago, Saskatchewan or the middle of nowhere, you’ll benefit from all the great information on this site. Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite healthy on-line resources?

Is everyone rejuvenated after a wonderful weekend? I hope so! I am SO excited because this is only a 4 day work week for me!

The Mister and I are taking off work on Friday to relax and get a head start on a mini-getaway we’re taking. We’re heading down to Columbus on Saturday to visit with two of our best friends and their adorable daughter — our favorite baby girl. Then it’s off to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. We are staying at a bed and breakfast around the Newport, which is an area with lots of restaurants, shops, a movie theatre and an AQUARIUM! The Mister and I both LOVE aquariums– this is the part of the trip I a most looking forward to. There is something so calming about watching all the different color fish swim around in harmony (with the occasional fish becoming a shark snack, I am sure!). I could just sit for hours, mesmerized by all that natural beauty.

Anyway, on Monday we will be spending the day at the ballpark to watch the Reds take on the Mets for opening day. Other than the Cleveland Indians, the Mets are the Mister’s favorite baseball team.

Fun fact: The Mister has a lifetime dream/goal of watching a game at every single ballpark in America (plus Toronto, of course). I, of course am 100% on board with this idea and think it’s a great thing for us to accomplish together. I love that the Mister is so passionate about sports. It’s one of the things I love so much about him. When people are truly passionate about something, they excite you, as well. Even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally be interested in. They reel you in to the little world and the enthusiasm is infectious. I think passions, in general, are some of the most beautiful things in life. I love seeing people get excited about what they love.

Anyway, we’ve already been to quite a few ballparks, but we like to cross one off the list every year. Even though we both grew up in Ohio, we have never been to a Reds game, so we’re exited to add this to our ‘seen it’ list! We have an album highlighting all our park-hopping adventures which is filled with ticket stubs, photos with mascots and any other evidence from our fun adventures.

I’m super excited for this trip because it is a 4-day weekend and the Mister and I haven’t taken a day off together since Christmas! We try and take these mini-trips fairly often. It helps getting though each workday when you have little events to look forward to throughout the year. Plus, we’re saving money right now so these little trips give us the illusion that we’re world-travelers. Plus, we’re making memories and sharing many experiences together, without emptying our pockets (too much!). I’m just crossing my fingers that the weather cooperates.

I’ll make sure to take lots of pictures so I can provide an update.

OK, on to ‘Make It’ Monday!

Last night I created a recipe and thought it was worth sharing. The whole meal was on the table in about 30 minutes and tasted delicious.

You’ll need (serves 2):

• Frozen or fresh baby scallops
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 clove of garlic (chopped)
• 8 stalks of asparagus
• 1 red pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• pinch of salt

Thaw the scallops according to the directions on the packaging.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Rinse and chop asparagus and roasted red pepper into whatever shapes you desire. Toss into a bowl with half on the juice from the lemon half, chopped garlic clove, 1 olive oil and balsamic.

Veggies takin' an oil bath

Spread contents onto a cookie sheet (I line mine with non-stick foil)
Cook for 10-15 minutes.

Sizzling veggies

In the meantime, sear the scallops in a nonstick pan for 2-3 minutes. (until opaque) Add the remaining juice from the lemon.

baby scallops - aren't they cute?!

Add veggies into the pan and stir. Add pinch of salt.

veggies and scallops, together at last

Plate and enjoy!

The finished product

Close up

So yum!

I love how the veggies really soak up the flavor from the balsamic. The olive oil rounds out the dish nicely and prevents the balsamic from overpowering the other flavors. The Mister loved this dish, as well! I loved it because it was incredibly tasty and SO simple. I think it would have been great with some fresh Parmesan or mozzarella, but we didn’t have any. I’ll make sure I remember it for next time!

Do you have any little roadtrips or excursions planned that you are looking forward to?

But what better way to celebrate that share some great grub?! We settled on one of our favorite laid-back spots… the Willoughby Brewing Co.

“Nestled in the heart of Historic Downtown Willoughby, Ohio lies Willoughby Brewing Co. Established in February of 1998, we are a full-service restaurant, bar and award-winning brewery in a 100-year-old building that was originally a rail-car repair depot for the Cleveland to Ashtabula Interurban Rail Line.” (http://www.willoughbybrewing.com/)

At first glance, the restaurant doesn’t look too impressive with its vast, flat exterior.

Willoughby Brewing Co. Exterior

But once you set foot inside you are welcomed with a wave of nostalgia. With it’s warm wood finishings, train station decor (complete with a toy train set running around the resturant!), it’s the kind of place that immediately welcomes you and makes you feel at home. I want to point out that the ‘train station’ decor is understated, classy and NOT cheesy but rather pretty authentic feeling.

Where the action happens...

This sits behind the bar. Pretty cool, huh?

Choo-Choo!

I love the menu at the Willoughby Brewing Co. It isn’t your typical bar fare. Ranging from fresh salads and sandwhiches to pizzas and grilled fish, there is something for everyone.

And for those beer connoisseurs out there, the Willoughby Brewing Co. does not disappoint! Many offerings are brewed on-site and the selection is pretty comprehensive. For those who can’t make up their minds, the restaurant offers a sampler, which touts the six beers they have on tap that month.

I myself am not a drinker, so I watched my dad and brother enjoy their refreshing brews! (Didn’t take a pic, as my camera was on its last battery bar!)

The Mister and I started out with some of the BEST soft pretzels I’ve have the privilege to taste

Pretzel goodness

For dinner, I ordered the Turkey Cranberry Salad, which includes:

• Mixed greens
• Dried cranberries
• Walnuts
• GOAT CHEESE
• Roasted turkey
• Raspberry vinaigrette (I ordered on the side and dipped my fork it in every now and then)

Turkey Cranberry Salad

I killed it.

The combination of goat cheese, walnuts and cranberries worked really well with the turkey. Love the combination of textures with the soft cheese and added crunch from the walnuts. It was light and refreshing — just what I wanted.

Salad close up

Hope you are all having a great weekend! Have you submitted a question for ‘solve it’ Saturday?

I’m not sure what I’m up to. The Mister and I will head to the gym at some point this morning and hopefully do something fun and spontaneous! (Because we don’t have anything planned!)

How do you celebrate good news with your family?

Have you submitted your photo for the Fashion Friday contest yet? Remember — SUPER cool prizes at stake

I’ve decided to post today’s daily delish a bit early today because I wanted to remind you all of the contest and give you a bit more time to send your photos. I received many emails telling me you were PLANNING on sending photos, but I haven’t received any yet. So, if you sent your photo, I didn’t get it. Send it again — info@thedailybalance.com

Anyway, today’s daily delish was actually my dinner last night.

Shrimp kabobs with cooked corn. I sprinkled the corn with some Parmesan cheese and pepper. Don’t tell the Mister (since he clearly thinks I’m a culinary goddess! – ha, not!), but I cheated on the shrimp kabobs and bought them pre-marinated. If you do the same thing — don’t tell anyone! They taste so great, just soak up the compliments and credit

However, when you choose pre-marinated dishes, MAKE SURE to read the labels! Many pre-marinated meats and veggies contain High Fructose Corn Syrup or other nasty sugars, fats and chemicals. Luckily, the one I selected was a healthy and delicious choice.

Shrimp and corn from above

Shrimp close up

Yummy spices!

While I prefer to come up with my own marinade concoctions, this really did the trick last night when I was pressed for time.

What is your favorite healthy shortcut when cooking?

I have received a few emails asking me about Fashion Friday and the contest, etc.

YES! There is a contest.

YES! There is a prize.

Here’s the deal. Each Friday, I feature my favorite outfit of the week, along with some fashion news, musing, etc.

Each week i invite readers to do the same. Submit a photo of your favorite outfit. Email info@thedailybalance.com. You do not need to pose in the photo (although it’d be more fun!), you can lay one of your favorite outfits out on the floor or keep in on the hanger.

I will then put it to a vote!

Each Friday, we’ll all vote on which person should be crowned the Friday Fashionista (or isto, for all the guys out there!). I promise one day I’ll feature the Mister’s threads…he’s got a great wardrobe (he’s learned from the best! )

Anyway the winner will receive a special prize (may or may not include some awesome foodie treats and something fashionably fantastic;)) from me. and of course, bragging rights. Submit your photos to me ASAP to be entered.
Moving on….

Today’s daily delish is pretty self explanatory.

One chocolate vitatop with PB2 “frosting.” di-vine. More on PB2 on another date, as it requires a lengthy review to accommodate multiple applications of the product, etc.

Just popped the lil guy in the microwave for 30 seconds while I prepared the PB2. I then entered into my piehole. The Mister stole a bite. 10 seconds later he asked me to make him one. I stole my bite BACK (and then some)!

from above

Chocolate gooey PB goodness

That would be the bite the Mister took....

side view

What is your favorite vitamuffin/top flavor?

Can’t wait to catch up and watch LOST tonight! The Mister and I stayed a bit longer at my parents last night and we too tired to watch when we got home. Now I get Greys. LOST and Office all in one night! Did any one watch Idol? Who do you think we’ll say goodbye to tonight?

I sat there thinking, no, scratch that, FUMING, “He said a few minutes, it’s been 5! – that’s way more than a few, right?” (by the way, when exactly is the cut off between a few and a lot?)
About 20 more minutes went by and finally he emerged! Yay! I ran to him with glee (little did he know I was actually excited about the scrumptiousness that was slowly becomming a reality)

30 minutes later (with the goods in hand) I was finally at peace.

So what so special about this salad at The Stone Oven, you ask?

Let me be perfectly clear – they have the best salad ever. Oh yea, that’s right, it’s $7. SCORE! Yes, there are other amazing salads out there, but this is at least in my top 5 and it’s most definitely the quickest and cheapest option.

The Stone Oven was started in 1993. “The Owner had a craving for the luscious, crusty breads of her European homeland and could not find them in her new home in Cleveland, Ohio. She began making her own bread and before long found herself working at all hours of the night to shape loaves for friends and family. What started as a passionate hobby later turned into a business, providing many Clevelanders their first experience of hearth-baked European bread.” (http://www.stone-oven.com/)

Today, the stores continue to serve European breads and pastries, along with a full menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

There are three locations in the Cleveland area and I am lucky enough to have one of them 5 minutes away from my house.

My salad contains:

Homemade croutons (so good!)
sun dried tomatoes (my favorite part!)
roasted red peppers
romaine lettuce
feta cheese
chicken

House-made dressing (Extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper) — I wish I knew the exact proportions, because it’s one of the best I’ve tasted!

Roasted Chicken Romaine Salad from The Stone Oven

YUM

Salad, close up and personal

I’m not kidding when I say that I get CRAVINGS for this salad. It is that good. I’m sure it’s super easy to create at home, but where’s the fun in that?! Plus, The Stone Oven gives a complimentary side of bread (your choice) with any salad.

All Stone Oven breads are baked fresh daily in a stone-lined oven and are made with only natural ingredients – no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Today I chose: whole wheat walnut raisin. So chewey and delicious. I dipped it in my dressing to sop up olive-oil goodness  

Whole Wheat Raisin Walnut Bread (chewy goodness)

The Stone Oven has a great ambiance, very laid back and modern, with a touch of at-home country-style  comfort.

The Stone Oven - I guess it was too cold for outdoor seating

Adorable coffee bar with appropriate condiments

Check out those goodies!

The Stone Oven’s other offerings always look delicious, as well! I’m always tempted to get one of the homemade soups and the Mister loved the turkey sandwich with a side of couscous. But I’m sorry, as long as my salad is on the menu, I just cannot pass it up!

What craving must you always give in to? What’s your favorite HEALTHY fast food joint (think Panera, Cosi, etc.)?

Let me just take a moment as I envision myself strolling a Farmer’s Market (in a straw hat! just because that sounds fun right about now) perusing over all the fresh veggies and fruits I can imagine. I cannot WAIT! I love supporting local farmers and obviously love buying their scrumptious offerings. I feel like food dishes take on a whole new personality in the summer – transforming from hearty, comforting and heavy (which is also good!) to light, refreshing, bright, colorful and crisp — I’m excited just thinking about it!

Anyway, while shopping this Saturday, I spotted some strawberries. And get this- they actually looked fresh! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to allow myself to feel like it was summer.

I decided to incorporate these juicy gems into a fresh salad.

In the mix:
Organic mixed greens
Pistachios (I would have preferred pecans or walnuts, but didn’t have any on hand)
A generous helping of strawberries
Parmesan cheese

I dressed the finished product with a drizzle of my favorite homemade dressing (olive oil, Italian seasoning, black pepper and Parmesan cheese – so easy!)

The bowl of goods

All dressed up and ready to go...into my mouth

So even though it may be cold outside, I’m feeling like summer

What fruit are you looking the most forward to this summer? What are you go-to salad mix-ins?

We love sushi. Like ohmygoodnessgottahaveitnow love it. We’d been wanting to try out “one of the best sushi places” in Cleveland for awhile now. The restaurant is known for having the freshest ingredients.

Pacific East, located in Coventry (a few blocks from where we live, which makes it even crazier that we haven’t been). Coventry is a trendy area in Cleveland, located near the Case Western Reserve University campus. The area has several trendy, affordable restaurants, as well as bars, coffee shops and fashion boutiques. The area hosts art walks, festivals and Farmer’s Markets throughout the summer, as well.

The restaurant’s Web site lists the top reasons they’re considered the best:
1.) We use only super premium short grain rice. (Not long grain or medium grain rice.)

2.) We use only pure rice vinegar which imported from Japan.

3.) We use quality blue fin tuna or toro (fatty tuna).  (Not yellow fin tuna, ahi tuna or frozen tuna.)

4.) We use only gold & silver grade nori (seaweed).

5.) We use only natural white pickle ginger.  (Not artificial pink color.)

6.) We use top grade wasabi to served our sushi.

7.) We carry the most sushi items than any other restaurant in Northeast Ohio.

I ordered the King Crab Maki roll and the Philidelphia Maki roll.
In the King Crab: King crab, avocado, lettuce, fish roe.
Philedelphia: Smoked salmon, cream cheese,avocado, scallion.

Verdict?
The sushi was amazing. For those of you who eat sushi regularly, you know what a difference fresh ingredients make.

This will definitely be a new ‘stand-by’ for me and The Mister.

For anyone in the Cleveland area (or those visitng!), make sure to check out Pacific East.

Pacific East - bring on the sushi!

Pacific East - sushi lovers unite!

My rolls

Close up of the goodness

Do you like sushi? What are your favorite flavor combos?

P.S- Special thanks to the Mister for letting me embarrass him and call attention to our table with my photography I told him it’s something he’ll have to get used to

How long did it take all of you to feel comfortable snapping photos of your food in public? (I think I’m almost there!)

How was everyone’s weekend? The Mister and I enjoyed an AMAZING concert last night. Ben Folds was incredible! If any of you get a chance to see him live, you should.

Here is where I would normally share a fantastic, artistic shot of Ben Folds. The angle would be perfect, the lighting mysterious and captivating. Why can’t I, you ask? Let me tell ya…

As the Mister and I were leaving the house I had my camera strapped around my wrist.

Mister (matter-of-factly): “You can’t bring that.”
Me: “Um, why?”
Mister (like, duh!): “You can’t take pictures”
Me (not giving up…): “People were taking pictures at Coldplay….”
Mister: “Yea, that guy got kicked out!”
Me(reluctant): “Aright, if you say so…”

Fast-forward 1 hour.

The Mister and I take our seats. Great venue! It’s small, intimate and extremely laid-back. The lights darken and Ben Folds steps onto the stage welcomed by a sea of flashing cameras. The Mister turns to me and says: “Yea, we really should have brought the camera”

ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH

Anyway, just imagine this (two of my favorite Ben Folds songs):
The Luckiest 

Landed

Today I’m going to share a recipe my mom and I put together at our last family dinner.

My parents live in the area and the Mister and I see them at least once a week. This may seem like a lot to most people, but if you knew my parents, you’d be asking me why I didn’t see them more often. They are two of the coolest people in the world and two of my best friends. No joke. I love you, Mom and Dad

Side note: I also have a little brother who’s finishing up school in Pittsburgh. He’s a graphic designer and also has a line of T-shirts (check them out here!). This kid is also one of my favorite people in the world.

My family rocks, I am so blessed. An added bonus (and I’m not making this up), my in-laws are nothing short of amazing. My mom and the Mister’s mom (and me!) are the best of friends and we try and get together often. I am so lucky to have been welcomed into their family and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

Anyway, back to today’s regularly scheduled programming…

We used a recipe from Good Housekeeping: Gingered Shrimp and Asparagus

I was initially drawn to this recipe due to its use of ginger. Ginger, known for its distinct aroma and spicy taste is most often used in Asian-inspired dishes, such as stir-frys and cooked vegetables. Ginger is most notably known for its effectiveness in alleviating gastrointestinal issues and serves as a relaxer, or soother, of the intestinal tract. In addition, Ginger has been linked to protecting the body from colorectal cancer and boosting immunity.

Take a look at the following links to read more about Ginger root and its healthy attributes.
http://realwomensfitness.com/womens-health/health-benefits-of-ginger/
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-ginger.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72

My mom and I made a few adjustments to the recipe. We added water chestnuts, which added a nice crunch to the dish and absorbed the spices, adding flavor to each bite. To make things easier, we used pre-shelled and de-veined shrimp. We also used a bit more gingerroot than the dish originally called for.

This recipe was very simple and only required a few steps before cooking.
Ingredients:

1 cup (quick-cooking) brown rice (We used this kind - omitted butter)
3 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
1 1/2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
1 cup of waterchestnuts

Cook rice as label directs

Meanwhile, in 12-inch nonstick skillet, (we used a griddle, it was much easier to spread everything out and cook evenly) heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil on medium 1 minute. Add asparagus and cook 7 to 8 minutes or until asparagus is tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp and ginger; cook 5 to 6 minutes or until shrimp are opaque throughout, stirring occasionally.

Stir in soy, lime, basil, and remaining sesame oil; remove from heat.

The recipe directed us to serve the dish over rice, but we served it on the side so everyone could determine how much he or she wanted.

This recipe was DELICIOUS, a real crowd-pleaser. The fresh bite of the ginger The Mister said it as one of the best meals he’d ever had.

I enjoyed my dish with some fresh whole wheat bread and extra-virgin olive oil. In my book, this is the best complement to any meal

I really stress that you take the extra effort to use fresh ingredients, such as the lime and ginger. The flavor is really unbeatable. I’ve had similar dishes with dried ginger, and while it’s still flavorful, it cannot beat the refreshing taste of the actual root.

Let me know if you try it out and if you change anything up! I’d love to hear different variations of the recipe. I’d imagine the recipe would work pretty well with any vegetables you have on hand. I think broccoli would have worked just as well as asparagus. Don’t be afraid to change things up a bit!

Sizzling Shrimp

Close up

Pretty and plated

Time to dig in!

What is your favorite FRESH ingredient to incorporate into your dishes?

I’ll admit it, I wanted to sleep in, as well. We had a busy weekend, complete with a trip to Columbus, Ohio to visit two of our best friends and their adorable baby one-year-old girl. But after indulging this weekend (Pasquales rolls are my drug…anyone from Columbus, OH? — YOU MUST get yourself a taste of these Pasquales garlic twists. Westerville, Ohio — it’s where it’s at!) we both knew we wanted to get a good workout in.

Side note about the amazingness of these rolls: When I would visit friends in Columbus, I would actually have Mr. Pasquale cook rolls halfway and then freeze them for me. I would come back with 3 dozen rolls each time. What is the problem you ask? I HAVE NO CONTROL around these little demons! I CANNOT have 3 dozen of these sitting around within my arms reach or I will eat them all. I’m not kidding. From now on, I rely on my visits to Columbus for the opportunity to indulge. When the Mister and I lived in Columbus, he made the mistake of telling me Pasquale’s delivered. The delivery man knew my name and order. Dinner salad (see? I still got my greens in!) with a basket of garlic twist rolls, thank you very much!

Anyway, I digress. After our later-than-usual workout, the last thing I wanted to do tonight was spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

This is when I thank my lucky stars that I live in an age where convenient and healthy options are available. I really don’t think I would have cut it back in the day when everything was homemade. As much as I try to pretend, I am not a domestic goddess

One of my favorite go-to meals is whole wheat gnocchi sweet potato .

The gnocchi is made by Gia Russa

Take a look at the fantastic nutritional info!

I split the recipe in half between myself and The Mister, so it works out to be about 355 calories each, and almost 10 grams of protein. Not bad for an incredibly rich pasta dish!

Product shot

From above….

 Close up

To add a bit more protein, I brown some extra-lean ground turkey meat and add it to the sauce. Today, I was extra lazy and used store-bought sauce, but I have an excellent recipe for making sauce from scratch.

I’ve actually adapted the recipe from all recipes, and it was actually titled the “World’s Best Pasta Sauce!”

Using healthy substitutions, I was able to create a recipe with all the flavor– but not the fat!

3/4 pound extra lean ground turkey
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

If you like your sauce a bit sweeter, you can add some sugar, to taste. I find that the natural sugars from the tomato work very well and don’t see a need to add additional sugar.

In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the turkey, onion, and garlic until well browned; drain fat. Stir in tomato-based ingredients and water.  Season with basil, fennel seed, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

This sauce freezes and re-heats wonderfully (I find that with most sauces, it actually tastes better after sitting ‘in their own juices’ for awhile).

Pour over your favorite whole wheat pasta (I STRONGLY suggest the gnocchi I mentioned above)

Enjoy!

OK, I know I’m not the only one who gives in to cravings….

Where do you go to indulge in your favorite foods?