The Dish

What's the dish?
Allow me to tell you all about it! Cookin' Lean Like Paula Deen is a project of mine that spun off of a passion for doing healthy recipe makeovers. I have been cookin' lean for as long as I can remember. Finally, I decided to take the leap toward blogging as a way to share the proof that eating well doesn't mean giving up the food that we love.

Now, my days are not spent in the kitchen or writing about my dishes, although I would not be opposed to the idea. My 8-3 is teaching elementary physical education and nutrition. It is an amazing opportunity to reach hundreds of children at a very impressionable time in their lives. Our goal as elementary physical educators is to create an experience where children learn useful information about nutrition and exercise, therefore developing a positive association with being physically active and eating well. Children that are educated in fitness and nutrition are more likely to become healthy and happy adults. That is our mission; my mission.

Although I spend a lot of time working, my top priority is family. I am blessed to have a wonderful, supportive husband....Rudy.

Together we are parents to our amazing little girl...Kimberlyn. They are the inspiration in my life; the reason for all I do. Life for me doesn't get much sweeter than this.

We love a good time! My husband and I enjoy having family and friends over as much as we can. The two of us make a good party team; he coordinates the guests and I take care of the details (food, drinks, decor, etc). There is just something so fulfilling about cooking and entertaining for my family and friends. That is why I knew it would be so amazing to share these recipes and ideas with you. Great food is almost always associated with a great time, and we should live for those times. Food brings people together to share laughter, friendship and love. I hope the same holds true for you.

As far as "foodie credentials" are concerned...I am not a professional cook, dietitian or nutritionist. There isn't a single cooking course to add to my resume(although I did get to cook with Paula Deen in Savannah last June). Not everything I make will look the best or come out perfect the first time, but that's all part of the fun! Recipe makeovers are trial runs to determine if these delicious recipes can be nutritious too. Each recipe is also a lesson in cooking; learning more about food and technique as I go along. I am simply a women that loves food, has a blast trying out new recipes and won't attempt making anything without finding a way to make it lean. Health and fitness are my life's work...it's what I know, it's what I do and it's what I enjoy.



With my RWOP friends in Savannah.




















Through this blog, I hope to share with all of you that healthy eating doesn't mean that you will never again be able to eat something that tastes good. If you can crave it, than we can create it in a way that is nutritious AND delicious!

Swing by for a visit any time and see what's been cookin'!