Monday, February 14, 2011

Partner, Rocky Road Brownies, Pairs


Happy Valentines Day everyone!!


Tip of the Day: Partner

Set a goal with your significant other to get in shape together! You'll be surprised how much easier it is when you both are striving towards the same goal. It will not only help you to motivate each other, but it'll bring you closer as a couple. Don't have a lover? Do it with your best friend!

Healthy Recipe: Rocky Road Brownies


1 cup less 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably natural (see Note)
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
8 regular-size marshmallows
2/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 cup chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate or large chocolate chips

-Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper or foil coated with cooking spray. (Leave enough of an overhang to be able to lift the brownies out of the pan later with the liner.) If you don’t plan to let the batter rest at the end of Step 3 before baking, position a rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F.

-Thoroughly whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.

-Melt butter in a medium saucepan until sizzling. Remove from the heat and stir in cocoa, then sugar. (The mixture will look like a mass of very dark brown sugar.) Add egg, egg whites and vanilla. Stir briskly until smooth and glossy. Stir in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Then stir briskly for about 50 strokes. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. The batter will be very shallow in the pan. If you have time, cover the pan and refrigerate for a few hours or up to 12 hours. (This hydrates the cocoa powder and flour and brings all the flavors into sharper focus.) Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking; preheat oven to 350°F.

-Quarter marshmallows with an oiled knife. Distribute the pieces over the batter, pressing them in. Distribute nuts and chocolate (or chips) around the marshmallows.

-Bake the brownies until the marshmallows are golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. (If you can find a place to test for doneness where there is no melted chocolate or marshmallow, a toothpick should come out with some moist, gooey batter clinging to it. Brownies in a metal pan will bake faster than those in a glass pan; if you’re unsure, bake a few minutes longer to make sure the brownies are done in the middle.) Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for about 2 hours. Lift the ends of the pan liner and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 16 brownies.

Only 190 calories per brownie, and a ton less fat than your regular brownie!


Exercise: Pairs

Doing two exercises at the same time can really help tone your muscles! You're not exhausting a specific muscle group to quickly, and you're also bringing the chances of injury down a lot lower! Try these couple exercises.

Push Up-Row
Get into pushup position with your hands gripping a pair of dumbbells; your hands should be slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Keeping your hips parallel to the floor (you'll need to engage your core and glutes the entire time), bend your right elbow to pull the weight up toward the side of your body. Pause, then slowly return the weight to the floor and repeat with the left arm.

Side Plank-Rear Fly
Grab a dumbbell with your right hand and lie on your left side, then prop yourself up on your left forearm and raise your hips so your body forms a straight line. Extend the weight in front of you at shoulder level. Slowly raise the weight toward the ceiling, keeping your arm straight and pulling your shoulder blades together. Return to start. That's one rep. Do 12 to 15, then switch sides

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