Red Snapper & Veggies Foil Packets

I love to cook and  must say, I am very good. Even with this I still  find myself making the same meals all the time. One part of the life coaching process is to make dreams and then promises to achieve those dreams. One of my promises to myself is to make 1 new recipe a week. I made this super easy dish this week and it was AWESOME! One of the best things - super easy and fast. Ten minutes of prep time. Placed in oven, hopped on my mat and got a short practice in while it cooked and then dinner was ready.

Red Snapper with Vegetables in Foil Packets

• 2/3 cup pesto (home made or store bought – I make large batches and freeze)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 4  5- to 6-ounce red snapper fillets
• 16 -20 asparagus spears, each trimmed to 4-inch length
• 10 ounces plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped (or cherry tomatoes sliced in half)
• 2 yellow squash or zhuchini, thinly sliced on diagonal
• 4 large handfuls baby spinach
• Balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 350°F. 

Blend pesto, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce in small bowl. 

Arrange four 12x12-inch pieces of heavy-duty foil on work surface. Place 1 handful spinach on the foil and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Place 1 fish fillet on top of spinach. Sprinkle fish lightly with salt and pepper. Spread each fillet with 1 tablespoon pesto mixture. Top each fillet with asparagus, tomatoes and squash, then dollop with remaining pesto mixture. Fold sides of foil over fish and vegetables, covering completely; seal packets closed.

Place foil packets on large baking sheet. Bake until fish is just opaque in center and vegetables are crisp-tender, about 25 -30 minutes. 

I LOVE vegetables so I doubled them from what the recipe is - you can never have too many veggies.You can substitute whatever veggies are your favorite.

overwhelmed

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed in the past weeks. I have a number of things going on between work, teaching, practicing, cultivating relationships, upcoming projects... I can keep going. 

I was having my weekly check in with my life coach and was sharing my feelings. She so wisely reminded me that when we are feeling overwhelmed it is often because we have lost site of our true intention. When we can pause and come back to what it is that we truly desire those overwhelming feelings will dissipate. They may not completely go away - they will become less. When we are clear in what we desire we then know what we have to do to align with that. The decisions of what to say yes to and what to say no to become clear in the face of knowing what we want.
 
What is your intention? Are you clear in what you want to achieve?

and now the work begins

Many of my teachers/peers have been talking and raving about the work they have been doing with The Handel Group. The Handel Group is an executive and life coaching company. They coach participants to look at their lives, consciously create their dreams, look at what is keeping them from their dreams and then author their life. Make the dreams a reality.

For some time now I have felt that where I am at in my life (professionally and personally) has just happened to me, that I didn't create (or author as the Handel Group would say) it. Through my practice I been questioning and contemplating this more & more.

    How did I get here?
    Is this where I want to be?
    Where am I going?
    I have a great life - is it enough?
    Is there more I can be?


I am stepping into the fire. Instead of leaving it up to the chance of what will happen,  I have decided to take charge, I will be the author of my life and design it how I want it to be.
 
Last night I had my 1st coaching session with my life coach. I have stepped into the crucible and ignited the flame - its going to get hot.

and now yoga begins

Atha Yoganusasanam

This is the 1st sutra in Patanjali Yoga Sutras. There are many translations to the sutras. One of the translations that speaks to me is

and now yoga begins

At each moment, yoga begins. My yoga is an invitation to connect deeply with myself and the intrinsic goodness within. At every moment this invitation is present.

when?   now    

where?    here

How comforting to know that the option to begin again is always present. Instead of beating myself up because I didn't live up to my own expection, didn't do something I set out to do, etc... I take comfort in knowing that I have the opportunity to begin again.

What a relief.