The Fitness Guru

The Fitness Guru is going to be offering FREE Pilates Mat Classes in Brooklyn Bridge Park every Tuesday evening through the Summer, beginning July 7th!! Come and join us for a terrific workout at the base of the Beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. Sign up is at 6:30pm with the Class starting at 7pm on the dot!!

The Countdown To Class!!

No dates present

Yea!!! We made it!! After what seemed to be an ENDLESS, COLD, DOWNRIGHT-FROM-THE-MIND-OF-SATAN winter, we have finally arrived at Memorial Day– the start of all things sun and funable.

Here are some ideas– drinks, bar-b-q bites and tools to help you relax and unwind. If you feel like exercising, make it fun! Go for a run, a swim, a bike ride or just toss around the Frisbee. Have a terrific weekend!!

Strawberry Mojito (for the grown ups)

1/2 of a lime
10-12 mint leaves torn

3 strawberries
3/4 oz simple syrup or 2 teaspoons of sugar
2 oz white rum
Club soda
In a 10 or 12 ounce glass add juice of lime, mint, 2 strawberries and simple syrup. Muddle ingredients with a twisting motion. (This will releases the essential oils in the mint and lime.) Fill the glass with ice, rum, and last strawberry cut into smaller pieces and shake well. Top off with club soda.

Raspberry Lemonade (for the kids or grown ups with a hidden bottle of vodka)

1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate
3 cups water
3/4 teaspoon lime juice
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup fresh raspberries, garnish
18 Mint leaves, for garnish (optional)

In a large punch bowl, combine raspberry lemonade concentrate, water and lime juice. Stir in lemon-lime soda and crushed ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh raspberry and a mint leaf.

Shish Kabobs

1 pound beef roast, sirloin or any cut of meat your prefer (2″ chunks)
2 bunches of green onions (medium sized)
Cherry tomatoes (about 2 doz)
Mushrooms (about 2 doz)
3 bell peppers 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green

Cut the meat into cubes and slice the peppers. Clean and remove tops of the green onions.
Place a cube of meat, onion, tomato, mushroom, yellow pepper on the skewer and then place another piece of meat, onion, tomato, mushroom, red pepper on the same skewer, then repeat process again ending with the green pepper this time. You can also add a slice of an apple or potato in place of a tomato.
Add some pineapple to the skewers in place of the mushrooms for the kids.
Cook over BBQ grill till meat is brown and vegetables are tender.
This will make 4 to 6 kabobs or a couple more if you put less on per skewer.

Okay, the weather is all over the place. But the weekend got me in the mood for Summer and EVERYTHING thta brings with it: the sun, the fun and the food. I found this great recipe for Shrimp Ceviche.

Before I start getting the feedback, yes, shrimp are high in cholesterol. But they can serve to increase the ratio of HDL to LDL (good to bad cholesterol) and lower your triglycerides. As for the papaya, the bell pepper, the limes, the oj– let’s just say they are all kinds of goodly nutrients to bump your health just a little. Enjoy!!

Ingredients
2 pounds small shrimp, peeled, steamed for two minutes and cooled
1 red onion
1 red bell pepper
1 small bunch cilantro
1 cup passion fruit juice
1 cup orange juice
2 limes
1 large papaya
salt and pepper

Cooking Directions
Place lightly cooked shrimp in a large bowl. Set aside.
Peel and thinly slice the red onion, cutting into a julienne. Cut the red pepper in a similar fashion and set aside. Pluck the cilantro leaves and set aside.
Combine passion fruit juice and orange juice in a mixing bowl. Squeeze the lime juice and combine with the shrimp. Allow to marinate for 10 minutes.
Cut the papaya in half, cutting through the center, lengthwise. Remove and discard the seeds and place the papaya on a platter.
Pour half the passion fruit-orange juice over the shrimp and allow to marinate five minutes longer. Add half of the red onion, red pepper and cilantro leaves to the shrimp. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the shrimp into the papaya and top with the remaining onion, pepper and cilantro. Serve immediately.

The Fitness Guru brings Pilates classes back to Brooklyn Bridge Park for another exciting summer of evening classes. Classes will take place every Tuesday evening, with registration beginning at 6:30pm and the class starting at 7pm. Class is FREE. Come and enjoy!! And check out the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Web Site while you’re at it!!