Clean Eating And Healthy Snacks

May 20, 2014

I am a snacker. There I said it. I like to snack pretty much… well, a lot of the time. Especially in that 10 am and 2 pm time frame. It is like clockwork. My body is yelling – “feed me!” And, I usually oblige. The key however, to snacking is choosing the right foods.

If you have been joining me on my Blog journey you may have read my post – Belly And Food – Love/Hate Relationship. There I introduced you to my quest to adopted a healthy lifestyle through Clean Eating. A lot of times I get asked – “Well, what can you snack on?” I will admit, when I first started this journey I asked myself that question too. My biggest struggle was my work week. Having an office job, you get stuck behind your desk all day and with the crazy hours and deadlines came skipped meals or really poor meals on the fly. I felt like crap.

However, once I invested the time to learn more about Clean Eating, I realized that it was foods I already loved but needed to look at differently. I always tell people my biggest struggle was with my sweet tooth. I always crave chocolate at the end of the day. But guess what? It was all mental. My body was hungry but it really didn’t have to have chocolate. I found the sweetness in fruit, well, it did just the same thing as a candy bar except this time my hips were yelling – “Yeah, take that chocolate!” and “You go girl!”

Snacking has actually become easy! I find now I am in a routine during the work week and my biggest struggle is maintaining through the weekend. I decided to round up some of my favorites to share with you.

1 – Bananas! They are my top favorite. I love fruit, so this was very easy, but I chose bananas because they are easy to transport. You just throw in your lunchbox or even purse and go!

2 – String Cheese – I love me some String Cheese. It is portable and offers a great source of calcium.

3 – Clementines. Oh my darlin’, oh my darlin’, oh my darlin’ Clementine. I pack just for the song! Nah, again a super easy fruit on the go. These are my perfect mid-afternoon snack when the sweet tooth kicks in.

4 – Hard Boiled Eggs – Yes. It is true. Hard Boiled Eggs are low in calories and high in nutrition, containing a great source of protein.

5 – Hummus. Yum! Pair with some Pretzels or Pita Chips and let’s have a party! Hummus is made with chickpeas which are a great source of complex carbohydrates and protein.

6 – Edamame – Cook ahead of time and sprinkle with some sea salt. It is a wonderfully addictive treat.

7 – KIND Bars! These are my go-to! The Oats and Honey tastes like a Rice Krispie treat too!

Please comment below on your favorite Clean Eating Snacks!

Dear Ol’ Dad…

May 6, 2014

I am sure we could all argue right now… but I don’t want to fight. But if I chose to go down that road with you I am sure the conversation would go something like this…

Me: “I have the best Dad!”
You: “So, do I.”
Me: “I know, but mine is really special.”
You: “Well, so is mine.”
Me: “I know, but I really think mine is the best of all bests.”
You: cricket cricket – blank stare – mentally you are thinking “Is she 5? Are we really going there?”

The point is for many, your Dad is the best of all bests. And, rightfully so. I mean he is your Dad. And how special is that? That we each have this special someone that we call our own and love through and through. He is the best and you couldn’t imagine anyone better to fill the shoes of the man you call “Dad.”

Well, that is how I feel and today is that special man’s birthday.

My Dad is a quiet guy. A man of few words. He doesn’t like attention. In fact, our family teases him on his seriousness. If he cracks a smile, well that is equivalent to your and my chuckle and if he chuckles, well boys and girls we just peed our pants with laughter. With all that seriousness comes respect. When he talks you listen.

But for me and my four siblings, we all know a different side to our Dad. There is a humorous and witty side that few see. For a man who is so quiet, I believe he fights uncomfortableness with goofy humor. And, I cannot tell you how many times he has made us children put our hands together and yell out the “rally cry” which he created and sort of sounds like a dying Falcon, just in case we ever get separated.

He is extremely difficult at times. So, set in his ways. If you didn’t know him well, like we do, he can be hard to read. He is meticulous in the manner in which he does certain things and by golly he is not a fan of you wasting money. So, don’t brag about something you bought because you wanted it.

But for his family, we know that he is extremely giving, caring and kind. Being the oldest of five kids, which range from 27 – 11, I have watched him and my Mom make sacrifices over the years so each one of us in due time could have a car and go to college. And, I have seen him light up when he has spent more than he would ever allow us to in order to buy one of us something we wanted.

I have learned from my Dad that – life is not fair, you are not entitled to anything and that the best people in this world are the ones who get up, work hard and do it all over again. I have also learned that family comes first and if ever you need someone to be honest with you – Dear Ol’ Dad will be there. Whether it is what you want to hear or what you know you will hear but wish you hadn’t. The brutal honesty that comes from our parents, well it comes from a lot of love.

As, I get older I look at my Dad differently. He is my Dad yes, but also a great friend. When I watch him with the baby of our family, Liv, or as Dad likes to call her “Sugar Bear.” Well, my heart swells as I watch him and her interact and see their relationship change through the years like ours.

Happy Birthday, Dad! Oh, and there is that smile, or for all of us a nice chuckle…

Hey, Ladies… It’s Swimsuit Time!

May 1, 2014

It is the most dreaded time of year for females all over the world… Swimsuit Season. You know, the time where you psych yourself up, maybe throw back a shot or two and over and over in your head you prep yourself… “I got this!” And, then it happens. You stand there in front of three, sometimes you are lucky and there are five or maybe you have hit the jackpot and get the dressing rooms with full panoramic mirrors and, if you are like me, you cringe. Thoughts that go through your mind may include…

“I am so pale I can see my veins.”
“Who the heck invented florescent light?”
“Why does St. Patrick’s day fall between Winter and Summer? Darn dark beers!”
“Who the heck invented low-rise bikini bottoms?”
“Who the heck wears low-rise bikini bottoms?”
“Why does Easter fall between my New Year’s Resolution and Summer? Darn chocolate!”
“I could always walk sideways to the ocean.”

But Summertime comes and our mentality changes. I just love this saying…

It is true though! Especially, once you finally, finally get by the water. Cares seem to fade away. You forget about the materialistic side of life and the stress of being perfect and as you put on your summer swimsuit to head to the beach, you pass a mirror and say, “I got this!” and you mean it! Because who cares? It is summer! And hopefully, you are work and stress free with a beverage in-hand.

So, as I get into my summer mindset and face the reality that it does include swimwear of some kind. I actually push all those negative thoughts behind me and find the excitement in a new season and the carefree attitude that comes with it.

I cruise the internet instead of stepping foot in the store to find the perfect swimwear. For me, trying on my purchases in the comfort of my own home is much more appealing.

These are some of my favorite swimsuit fashion trends for summer 2014:

Bright Colors – Think Neon
One Pieces are back
Hello, Fringe and Ruffles
Lace and Vintage Looks
Bold Prints

1 – Saks Fifth Avenue – 165 | 2 – Victoria Secret – 42.50 (Top) and 18.50 (Bottom) | 3 – AE – 19.99 (Top) and 14.99 (Bottoms) | 4 – asos – 50.80 |- Anthropologie – 132

In honor of social media’s appointed #ThrowBackThursdays… I thought I would be vulnerable and share a picture of my all-time favorite swimwear. In all honest, after this winter it feels like it has been this long since I enjoyed sweet summertime!

Super Easy Raspberry Banana Smoothie

April 23, 2014

I am a sucker for smoothies. They are just so easy and with the right ingredients, very healthy for you. Eat Well, Clean Eating – you may have heard such phrases? While some may argue that these are just trends… I would disagree. Wellness and taking care of our bodies is important and has to be seen as a lifestyle if we want to succeed.

If you read my past post – Belly And Food – Love/Hate Relationship, you learned why I have decided, with baby steps, to reevaluate the food I put it my body and incorporate clean eating into my lifestyle. It is a challenge because I feel like I am always racing the clock. Time is not on my side. I am sure others will agree and are in the same boat with me. Rowing against the current. When this is the case, it is easy to slip. The holidays did not help my cause either. Between the doughnut at Sunrise Easter Service and the amazing goodness of desserts on display at my Grandmother’s, I felt bloated and blah the last few days.

So, just like most relationships have their ups and downs… my Belly and Food needed to mend things and get back on the saddle as one happy couple. I, of course am always the mediator. It is exhausting!

My immediate go-to are Smoothies. Since I blame time a lot, they are easy – so no excuses! Biggest thing with smoothies is to be smart about what you blend. Juices and flavored yogurts have sugars and can increase the calorie count making what you thought was a healthy choice, actually a sugary sweet dessert. Oh, and adding ice cream, while yummy… makes a milkshake!!

Smoothies are always a fun experiment for me and this one turned out great! It was the ideal blend of tart and sweet. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

RASPBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE:

Serves 2

1 Cup of Frozen Raspberries
2 Bananas
1 Cup of Almond Milk – Original
1 Tbsp of Honey (If you can choose Local or Organic)

Combine the the raspberries, bananas, almond milk and honey in a blender and mix until well blended. Serve up!

Soul By The Sea – Nautical Trends

April 21, 2014

I am pretty sure that my soul belongs by the sea. During a stressful day or situation, when someone says, “Go to your happy place,” mine is always by the water. If I had my choice or say, I would always go with the ocean. The waves, the sand, the breeze… there is nothing better in my opinion. However, give me a lake, stream or bay and I am an equally happy girl!

Maybe it is the way of life of such waterfront towns that pull me in the most? Especially, those off the beaten path. Drive the coastal Carolina’s or even along the bay of good ol’ Maryland, and you will understand what I am saying. Kent Island, St. Micheal’s, Easton, Cambridge – all Maryland Bay towns, that you not only remember for their attractions but for the way you feel when you visit.

It is a way of life. A slower pace. A calm. I long for it this time of year.

The nautical trend is seeing its way back into stores and closets. Here are some of my favorite picks from this season’s trend. I plan on embracing the style while I work away in the mountains and long for my summer days by the sea! Enjoy!

Top 10 Spring Must Haves

April 18, 2014

The warmer temperatures have me re-evaluating my closest, and I must say… it is pretty dreary! I am so over my leggings and sweaters, and so ready for new options. I want to look in the mirror and say “ah!” instead of “eh…”

In my quest for a new outlook on my wardrobe and some direction for Spring shopping, I took some time to investigate what the fashionista’s are labeling as the top trends this Spring. There are lots of fun trends this season, but I rounded up my Top 10 Spring Must Haves below.

So, out with the winter wear and hello, Spring fashions!

Please share in the comment section below, what your favorite Spring Trend is or what you must-have this season. Enjoy!

TOP 10 SPRING 2014 MUST HAVES:

1 – FLORALS
Sundress – J.Crew Factory | $118.00 – ON SALE NOW for $58.00

2 – ESTATE JEWELRY
Ring – ModCloth | $12.99

3 – BOYFRIEND JEANS
Pants – J.Crew | $135

4 – TRENCH COAT
Coat – YesStyle | $53.90

5 – WHITE PANTS
Pant – The Loft | $69.99

6 – FRINGE
Top – YesStyle | $18.90

7 – FLATS
Shoes – Express | $39.90

8 – WHITE PUMPS
Shoes – ASOS | $47.04

9 – CROPPED JACKET
Jacket – AE | $99.95

10 – SMALL HANDBAG / PURSE
Purse – Anthropologie | $88.00

Don’t Whine Over Spilled Wine…

April 11, 2014

So, I was chilling out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool. And all shootin some b-ball outside of the school.

Nah, just kidding but I had to go there when I mentally started my Blog with how I was chilling out. The lyrics just came rushing out of my mind. However, I really was just chilling out and relaxin all cool. It was a long day. It had been a long week.

I rolled up to the house at 8 pm after working all day. We made dinner, and by 9 pm it was just me, a glass of wine and the iPad… you know, just chilling out. I was cruising some of my favorite Blogs, having some “me” time. I was just getting ready to start a Blog post on a completely different topic, when I sat my wine glass on the end table. Or, so I thought. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw drops of wine go midair and in slow motion watched the wine glass slip from the edge and crash all over my tan carpet. Yes, tan carpet.

Ugh! Really? Red Wine all over my carpet. I wanted to cry. Although, I think I was too tired to do so. I wanted to whine, really I wanted to whine, but it was too late to call anyone and no was around to listen to my whoas.

In a hurry I grabbed some items from the kitchen and attempted to tackle the stain. Guess what? It worked! Therefore, I am sharing it with you.

The Red Wine Stain!

Now I have heard of using salt, club soda and even white wine to remove red wine stains. I have been lucky to not have to deal with red wine on my carpet up to this point. However, I was unlucky that the only ingredient I had on hand was salt. So, I attempted another version which includes mixing liquid Dish Detergent and Distilled White Vinegar.

Cleaning Carpet:

First, soak up as much stain as possible with a sponge or wash cloth.
Mix 1 Tbsp of liquid Dish Detergent and 1 Tbsp of Distilled White Vinegar with 2 Cups of warm water.
Using another sponge or wash cloth soaked in the mixture, apply pressure to stain.
Blot in between with original, dry sponge or wash cloth.
Continue steps 4 and 5 until stain is gone.

I used sponges to clean up my mess.

Here is a picture of the after. I waited until the morning to see if the stain would set in and rise over night. To my delight, my tan carpet looked, well tan! I would recommend testing a spot before you attempt on your carpet. Although, if you have spilled red wine before, you know the panic that sets in as you quickly try to clean up.

My carpet after…

The culprit….

If you have some red wine cleaning tips, please feel free to share below! After the madness, I did what many stressed out, tired women would do… I grabbed another glass of wine!

Leftover Open Face Breakfast Sandwich

April 5, 2014

I have never been a breakfast sandwich kind of girl. Now when I say that, it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy eating them, I just tend to not make them. When Nathan gets in the kitchen during breakfast hours, it is all about mastering the ideal breakfast sandwich, which usually includes a fried egg, sausage patty or bacon and lots and lots of cheese. I will reiterate, lots and lots of cheese.

For me, an open face style sandwich is much more appealing during breakfast.

This recipe was born out of my need to clean out the refrigerator and use up some leftovers, but it was so delicious that I just had to share. The night prior, we had salmon for dinner. I baked three salmon filets in the oven at 450 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. I brushed the salmon with some olive oil and then seasoned with lemon pepper, garlic salt, pepper and dash of sea salt. We also had a random amount of asparagus stalks leftover from a previous weeknight meal. Does anyone else have the same problem as me? Asparagus that is pre-bundled is usually too much for two people but not enough for two separate meal sides? I always feel I throw away a few random stalks.

Don’t you just love how confident that asparagus is in the photo below?

LEFTOVER OPEN FACE BREAKFAST SANDWICH:

Serves 2

1/2 tsp of Olive Oil
Asparagus Stalks – Cut into thirds
1 – English Muffin – You can use wheat, whole grain, white, or switch it up to a bagel half. Anything your heart desires!
1/2 Tbsp of Light Butter
5 – Eggs or 7 – Egg Whites
Splash of Almond Milk – Original
1 – Salmon Filet
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste

Start by prepping the Asparagus. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Wash The Asparagus, snap the ends and cut the stalk into thirds. Coated with 1/2 a tsp of Olive Oil and season with pepper and sea salt. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside. Add 1/2 a Tsp of Light Butter to a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Beat eggs in glass bowl, add a splash of Almond Milk and season with pepper. Add eggs to pan. Let the eggs cook for a minute before you begin to push around mixture. Cut your English Muffin in half and toast both sides. Add eggs, salmon and asparagus to top of an English Muffin half.

Please Note: Salmon was a leftover in this recipe, so no cook time was needed for Salmon; however, if you make this recipe from scratch, bake a Salmon Filet at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Season with Olive Oil, Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Garlic Salt, Pepper and a dash of Sea Salt.

Optional: Garnish with Salsa.

Enjoy!

Oh, Hey Pittsburgh, Hey…

April 3, 2014

So, if you have been a friendly visitor to my Blog since I started the first of the year, you may have read my Weekend Warriors – Deep Creek Lake post. There you would have uncovered a little fact about me and that is that I love spontaneous weekend trips. While I won’t shy away from a vacation opportunity when it presents itself, sometimes I get the most giddy over just a weekend or even a night somewhere new.

Earlier in the year Nathan and I got our hands on some Pittsburgh Penguins tickets… literally!

So, we set out to make a day and night of our time in Pittsburgh. Lately, work has been getting the best of me with some crazy hours and for Nathan, who has a landscape business, this long winter of plowing and the impending Spring rush had us both longing for just a quick getaway. Sometimes it is all you need to clear your mind and get back on track.

We headed straight for the CONSOL Energy Center in hopes of parking the car and getting in some pre-game action. I would highly recommend the Blue Line Grille, which is where we ended up. It is directly across the street from CONSOL.

TIP: The Blue Line Grille was packed! But, we learned they offer Bar only service on the 4th Floor. Instead of waiting in the crowds in the restaurant, head up to the 4th Floor. The views are great and service is quick!

After a quick drink, we raced across the street to our main event. The CONSOL is beautiful!! Clean, sleek and impressive.

TIP: Be careful if you carry a clutch and it has a zipper. This goes for just walking around in life, in general. What does that mean you ask? Well all I can say is that I seriously said a nice prayer of thanks when I realized I lost my car key in the CONSOL and thankful found it! Talk about complete panic and buzz kill. I transferred my phone, ID, lip gloss, some cash and car key lock to my clutch so we didn’t have to worry about my key set. I walked across the street from the bar and up about three sets of escalators, around half the arena, stopped in a bathroom and then met my husband at a concession stand for goodies. I mean I love food! It was only when I giddy from excitement for a night away and the thrill of my first Penguins game did I notice my clutch was unzipped. No big deal right? ID, check, Lip Gloss, check (whew for that one), cell phone, check, Car Key, Car Key, CAR KEY. All belongings were intake except for my car key. You know the key to get in the car after the game, drive to hotel, check in with luggage and continue with trip? I panicked. My husband chuckled. I wish I had his carefree attitude. I distinctly remembered going into the bathroom and hearing something hit the ground. So, I raced back to bathroom, through crowds of people and sure enough. There was my key starter laying in the bathroom stall. Pure relief! So, note to self: Make sure you ALWAYS zip up your clutch.

Once the game was over we headed to the Parking Lot to get our car and head to the Fairmont Pittsburgh where we were staying. Oh, and Penguins won in overtime! Great first game.

TIP: If you choose to stay at the Fairmont, just Valet your car at the hotel before the game. It is a few blocks, but we could have easily walked to the hotel quicker than the traffic we sat in after the game. There are some other hotels very close to CONSOL, but we enjoy the Fairmont, which leads me to accommodations.

Photo credit: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com

We LOVE the Fairmont Pittsburgh! The staff is gracious and helpful, the accommodations are sleek and beautiful and the location is very convenient. Working in the Hospitality Industry, I am pretty picky regarding accommodations and the Fairmont is top-notch! Some of my favorite room features are the in-room Keurig and the very comfortable beds. I adore their spa product line, Le Labo Rose 31, which includes Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel, a Body Bar and a cute hair cap. I think the packaging sells me more than anything!

The Pittsburgh Penguins game brought us to the city, but I was equally excited to venture out to explore the food scene. I have been eyeing up Pittsburgh’s MEAT AND POTATOES, located on Penn Avenue, for some time now.

TIP: Make reservations early! Don’t wing it like us. Or, if you do, cross your fingers that it works out in favor as it did for us.

We waited until we checked-in to decide on dinner and make plans, which resulted in a, “We can seat you at 10:00 pm, or you can come in and enjoy first come, first serve at the bar.” We had the hostess write our name down for 10:00 pm and took our chances. No luck! The place was packed and there were other hovering vultures like ourselves, eyeing up the prey, or fellow bar diners. Which diner would leave first?

We decided to keep our reservation and explore Penn Avenue and the surrounding area for some cocktails and appetizers. Luckily, we snagged two bar seats at Six Penn Kitchen and ordered a round of drinks and some delicious appetizers! I would highly recommend their Smoked Chicken Wings appetizer. They are coasted in a Gogujan hot sauce, garnished with sesame carrots and served with white miso aioli. Delicious!

Before we knew it, 10:00 pm had rolled around and I think by this point I was skipping to the restaurant. MEAT AND POTATOES did not disappoint. I repeat… did not disappoint. In fact, after we filled our bellies my husband said to me, “I think that is the best meal I have ever eaten!” I agreed! The Waitress suggested their Tartare appetizer. Dry aged strip with smoked eggs, chili, seaweed aioli and peanuts. The raw beef scared us yet intrigued us so we did what anyone would do… we ordered.

Amazing! Oh, my entree… well that was delicious too. I ordered the Wagyu Flat Iron which is served over Anson Mills nori grits. I have never been a grits girl but this flavor combination was wonderful and the beef was cooked to perfection.

TIP: This one is simple… Just go to MEAT AND POTATOES. You will not be disappointed.

Overall, I could talk Pittsburgh up even more. It is a great city. My overall suggestion, tackle the city in small bites. Plan multiple trips and make plans to experience different portions. There really is an endless list of possibilities. Check out VisitPittsburgh.com to learn more about the city and plan your itinerary. If you love Pittsburgh like we do, then share your favorite locations for lodging, dining, nightlife and sightseeing below.

And, because I love food and travel… I had to share!

Easy Beef Stir Fry

March 26, 2014

After a day of work I am beat. I mean beat. The kind of beat that when you jump in your car to head home and flip down the visor mirror just to see what your working with… you gasp. Hair awry, dark circles under eyes, make-up in desperate need of either a fresh bare face or retouch… you get the picture. Note to self – just don’t look in the mirror.

My day usually begins around 5:30 am when the alarm goes off, out the door a little after 7:00 am and into work around 8:00 am. I am blessed to have a lot of projects on my plate, meetings and deadlines to meet. The day goes by quick. By the time I walk in the door in the evening it is usually around 7:00 pm, and I still have to make dinner! So, what’s a girl to do?

Order Chinese and call it a day. THE END… I am going to bed. Just kidding,

The correct answer… make a quick, easy meal!

I have become accustomed to the work hours during the week, but I still have yet to perfect the quick, easy meal route. But, I try, boy do I try, and I am getting there. Every now and then I overestimate my time and energy and tackle a meal that would be better suited for a weekend night. I distinctly remember cussing out my dinner at 8:30 pm one evening when I poured my soul into a stock pot of simmering soup and then read… “now transfer ingredients to a blender.” I just wanted Broccoli and Cheese soup! Other nights I succumb to my laziness and just order delivery.

Then other nights, I turn on my superwoman switch and make a meal from scratch that is delicious and homemade. I stuff my belly and then pat myself on the back, “you did good, kid, you did good.”

Meet my friend, Easy Beef Stir Fry. And, really he is easy!

I promise if you Like, Pin and Share this recipe you will thank yourself, because one day it will come to you like a dream and you will think, “Man, I wish I had saved that one.” It is so easy and so good!

Start with some ingredients…

I season both sides of the Top Round Sirloin with Pepper, Sea Salt and Garlic Salt .

Then cut into very thin strips and add to skillet that has been heated up with some oil.

The key here is to get the skillet on a nice medium high heat, and brown the steak slices quickly then toss. I leave on no more than a minute in a half to two minutes and remove. I also do them in batches. As the steak slices cook, remove and place on plate with a paper towel to drain the grease.

Once you have cooked the steak, add your chopped veggies to the same pan. Notice those two cloves of garlic? I add those babies in and toss frequently to infuse the flavor.

Don’t over cook those veggies! No one likes gummy broccoli. Add your steak into the mix and give everything a good toss. It should look a little something like this…

Lower the heat to low and now it is time I introduce you to a new food sport. Have you ever gone garlic fishing? You don’t need a license! Dig through the goodness to find the cloves and toss out. Now for the fun part. I pour 3/4 of a cup of Tsang Classic Stir Fry Sauce over the veggies and steak.

Give everything a good toss. Now for the really hard part. Open a bag of 90-second rice and microwave. If this was a weekend, I may make rice from scratch but again, this was a quick and easy night. Then plate up some rice and a big spoon full of your stir fry and you got yourselves a delicious, simple no need to call take-out dinner! Enjoy!

EASY BEEF STIR FRY:

1 Tbsp of Oil
2 lbs. of Top Round Steak
Pepper, Salt and Garlic Salt to taste
2 Cloves of Garlic
Any Vegetables you want! I used two Broccoli Stocks, 1/2 of a Green Pepper, 1/2 of a Red Pepper, 1/2 of a Yellow Pepper and a handful of Snap Peas.
3/4 Cup of Tsang Classic Stir Fry Sauce
1 – Bag of 90-Second Rice

Add your oil to medium high heat. Season both sides of your Top Round Steak with Pepper, Salt and Garlic Salt, to taste. Slice your Top Round Steak thinly on an angle. Add batches at a time of the sliced steak to the skillet. Brown then toss for a minute and a half. Transfer cooked steak to a plate with a paper towel to drain grease. Continue until steak is cooked. Add vegetables to skillet and two garlic cloves for flavor. Toss frequently. Once crisp but cooked, add steak back into skillet. Lower the heat to low and remove the two garlic cloves. Add 3/4 of a cup of Tsang Classic Stir Fry and toss. Cook 90-Second Rice in microwave according to directions. Plate the rice and top with Stir Fry.