1st REAL TASTY post of this newly remastered blog: The Secret To Making The Best Turkey Burgers At Home

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Who says eating and being healthy has to be boring? We certainly don't and that's why we want to share our awesome Turkey Burger recipe with all our new readers. Like we said, we want this fitness/health journey to be fun and that's why we will feature fully organic recipes besides all the other get in shape info. We made this old recipe fully organic so don't be afraid to shop Whole Foods or other organic grocers because we have found in our new lifestyle change that eating fully organic is not only healthier but tastier. More on that buying organic thing in a future post.

Another reason they are tastier is in the way we make them. Yes, that's because the way we make them aren't your usual run of the mill turkey burger way. Yes these got taste, and a lot of it. Here's how to do them at home using our method.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground turkey 
• Small red onion pureed 
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 tsp of pepper
• 1 to 2 cloves of garlic (jarred)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Looks like something alien but it's all part of the plan

 Step 1: In a blender, place cut up pieces of red onion, garlic, salt, and pepper, and puree until desired constancy. Then a medium sized skillet heat a small amount of olive oil. When the oil is heated, add the puree, and saute for 5 minutes (above).

Step 2: After sauteing for 5 minutes your red onion puree should look like the above image. Then in a large bowl, mix together the sauteed onions, egg white, soy sauce, and raw ground turkey.  The best method for mixing these ingredients all together is with your hands.  Make sure that they are clean!

Step 3: I choose to make my own bread crumbs (however, you can use store brought if you desire). To make your own, put two pieces of toasted bread in a blender and make crumbs using the chop setting.

Step 4: Add the bread crumbs to the ground turkey and then using your hands, mix throughly. 

Step 5: Spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat to medium. Then split the meat into 4 equal parts and fry on the already heated skillet for 5 minutes per side.

Enjoy these super tasty homemade turkey burgers. Not only are they very satisfying but they're healthy so you can be full yet enjoy a low fat meal. This will entirely feed a family of four and leave everybody completely satisfied. Also, unlike a cooked beef made burger, they stay better in the fridge and will reheat very well (which helps so you don't have to make a mess of a pan again) and will make a quick and great lunch or dinner.

Blog Change In The Works

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Sorry, I haven't updated this blog in a long time. I've been working on other projects like losing close to 30lbs. Go me but this is only the beginning because now I'm addicted to trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Not a bad thing to be addicted to, right? I don't think so but it doesn't stop there.. I think I have a lot to offer in helping others to get in shape. Why? Because it's more important than ever given the times we live in so let's to do this together.

Where are going with this? What would you witness on this new experiment of a blog? A focus on organic foods with reviews of all of the best products out there. Yes, buying organic is expensive and we all have budgets but we'll do our best to show you the most inexpensive organic products so you can get more value for your buck.

While we focus on that aspect of a healthy lifestyle we will explore ways to get in shape with a emphasis on doing it at home, for those that want to save money on a gym membership.

Last but certaintly not least we will explore some of the best health supplements on the market which by the way, can be found in the Youngevity product line up. We will give a lot of their products a trial run and break them down, how they work and how effective they are in keeping you healthy.

Sound good to you? We think so. It's time get P90x healthy..if you're not there because we know we're not there yet, then let's do this together. Stay tuned for more!

In the meantime.. You'll be interested in the full line of the awesomely powerful Youngevity products but one of the best ones is Beyond Tangy Tangerine multi vitamin mineral complex. Why? We've heard a lot of testimonials that say it works miracles for those of us trying to lose weight. Look at all the product info here and decide for yourself it's right for you.

Ever more later...oh yeah, one more thing, I'd still review restaurants and great places to visit because we all need to have while getting in shape..everything in balance..the main focus would be fitness and health though..

What BBQ Dreams Are Made Of -The Weber Q Grill

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Fajitas on the grill will make you think warm summer thoughts

Oh yes, it's here... it's the warmer months that make me want to grill more. I decided today would be that day when I broke out my serious BBQ tongs and fired up my grill for the first time in months. What better time to do that than Friday after work. I had been thinking about it all day at the office... should I or shouldn't I? Do I really feel like working after work? Somehow, I managed to convince myself that it would be worth the effort in the end. 

Assisting me in my effort was my old companion of 4 years and it's known as the Weber Q. Gotta love it. This grill of mine has fashioned many great grilling memories of great BBQ of years past. No, this is not a huge macho grill. All the better because it uses less propane and plus, it's not like I'm grilling for the masses. 

That's part of the reason I decided to do this post, I wanted to share with you this meal of fajita greatness in hopes that it'll inspire you to grill up some mean tasty meats but also to recommend to you a great little grill that I've come to know well. As mentioned above, it is the Weber Q but alas, I need to  introduce it to you properly so here it is... a picture so that you have a visual idea of what this smooth grilling machine is made of.

What were you expecting? I told you that it wasn't a beast. What it is though, is a grill that does its job well and won't let you down. It also helps that it comes with a porcelain enameled cast iron grilling plate. When I first broke it out of the box many moons ago and saw that grilling plate staring back at me, I just knew that it was going to champion meat fit for a king. 

I did get the smallest version of the Weber Q affectionately known as the Baby Q or Weber Q 100 that the great grilling company Weber produces but in my book it's just right. Coming in at 189 square inches of grilling space, this grill is perfect to feed a family or guest list of at least 5 to 6. Depending on the feast that you are mastering, you might have to do 2 rounds but who cares... after you shake off the lazy cob webs and actually fire up a grill to do some work, it pulls you in and you bond with the grill. This in turn will make it sad to twist the propane knob off. You'll make an excuse to thaw out more meat that I know you have stored away in that freezer just to see what you can do with it. Didn't we come from caves? It's in our blood. 

I could go on at length about this exceptional grill but it would take up lots of space and not fit in with the story of the grill that doesn't. However, I will tell you that the way it cooks meat is very methodical and efficient. It doesn't blast it with tons of BTU but coming in at 8,500 BTU, the Weber Q 100 is just the right amount. To give you an idea what I'm talking about, when I grill with it, it makes me envision a small campfire on the beach and over that campfire is a spit and it's slowly but surely cooking my meat but not zapping the juices from it which is exactly how the Weber Q operates. Speaking of which, the Weber Q series of grills are portable so you could actually and very easily take it to the beach with you or anywhere for that matter. Now try lugging that propane hogging beast that you have in your sitting in your backyard somewhere. I know, it's hard to move even a couple of feet, isn't it?

You might be asking yourself, I see a grilling lamp in the picture. Did it come with that? The answer is no but I can't tell you how efficient that plug in light is for grilling at night when the patio lights just won't cut it. If you even remotely think that you'll be grilling at night, then by all means get a grilling lamp as you want to make sure that meat is cooked using a spotlight instead of dim lights above. Thought you'd ask.. those tongs don't come with it either but are highly recommended if you're serious about grilling. Trust me, after using my trusty tongs, I wouldn't go back to grilling with a fork if it was the last thing left. 

The Weber Q Cart that's holding this beauty of a grill was bought separately but is an awesome piece of work in of itself and so worth it as it folds up so you can have that grill in one hand and the stand in the other when your transporting it... can't beat it. 

Partake o ye gentleman, this view from above about the feast be preparing for thee

All in all, this grill ain't a paper tiger so I hope I've inspired you to push that little button that has gas written all over it and in turn ignite the propane that will do the hard work for you by getting a Weber Q. Also, here's wishing you many great spring and summer memories and air filled with the smoke of many a loving meat giving off it's wonderful aroma to entice you to eat more than you should but go to bed happy. This is by no means the end of the grilling saga so stayed in tune with Live Goode because I will keep you posted in the future about my grilling adventures as the hot months wear on. 

Warrior Dash - Not Just Another Fun Run

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Our first post to fit the mold of being your one stop source for a good time, couldn’t be more appropriate. We heard about this fun run from one of our friends. At first we thought, what the heck is that about, especially when we heard that it’s called the Warrior Dash. Is that where people dress up in customs and run? Actually, as a matter of fact, it is! A Of course, you don’t have to dress up but there’s a custom contest that you could win if you do.

More about the run…from what we’ve gathered, this sounds like it’s a cross between a renaissance festival and a marathon obstacle course that stretches many miles. Also, afterwards you shed those unwanted calories you just burned by consuming beer and turkey legs...makes sense right? As a bonus, the band is provided. We're thinking maybe you can even have a beer before and hear the music while you run and make yourself sick. Sounds ridiculous, fun, and perfect.

Where: Events All Over The U.S. (see the website for a handy schedule)
Cost: $55 to $65 bucks depending on which day of the weekend you choose
Website: http://www.warriordash.com/

Oktoberfest in Southlake, TX

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It's that time of year again! Oktoberfest has come or gone depending on where you live. We're assuming most cities hold their annual Oktoberfest in the first week of October. If you were fortunate enough to partake, as Live Goode did in the well to do city of Southlake Texas in the DFW area, then we raise our ale to you.

For those of you that don't know, Oktoberfest dates back to 1811 when the 1st Oktoberfest was celebrated in Munich, Germany. Live Goode dreams of a day when we can actually go to the real deal Oktoberfest still going on in Munich every October. That would be quite a story to bring back to you. Until then we'll have to settle for America's version of Oktoberfest.

To be honest with you, Southlake's 3 day celebration of Oktoberfest is the one and only Live Goode has been to but that is the fun of this blog. This year we may of gone to the Southlake Oktoberfest but next we'll get the scoop at maybe a even better one and be able to guide you to the best one. For now, Live Goode will show you how Southlake, Texas celebrates this world renowned festival...

Not to judge a festival by it's sign we'll move on....

Ahh... the line up, now we are getting somewhere....

You can't tell by looking at em but these guys were rockin' trust me...

Let's take a break, and check out the scenery before we get to the the good part.

Oops, those are the portapoties but you wouldn't know that because they are disguised with perfectly placed bushes, interesting but unnecessary. Moving on...

A strategically placed Texas Longhorn, is a picture opportunity every time, we'll take that over the portapoties.

We see food somewhere in this picture, of course we couldn't leave without getting our hands on some.

As with any festival especially if you don't drink, food will always be a highlight. This time, that was no exception as we found this delicious well seasoned Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for 12 tickets (equivalent of $6.00). I'm not a Philly Cheese Steak fan as this was probably only the 2nd I've had in 10 years or more but count me as a fan after this snack. We hope my waistline doesn't disagree.

What would Oktoberfest be without a bratwurst? We don't know but Live Goode had to go after one. Unfortunately because they are so popular and it fits the mood, they were out! Instead, we had to settle for this beer wurst. It was a worthy replacement!

You got us, we got a little carried away but it's Oktoberfest after all. Hey, don't be too hard on us...we could of gone for the deep fried Oreos they were offering but we resisted. Instead, we picked up this Apple Strudel at a vendor booth on the way out and as we were walking back to our car, it was happily consumed. We never expected it to be as messy as it was but it definitely set our sweet tooth right and was an excellent way to end Southlake's Oktoberfest.

If you're really looking for something to do, then this Oktoberfest will entertain you with plenty of music, events, exceptional food, a myriad of vendor booths, and as always, something for the kids. If that doesn't satisfy you, then one of the local eateries or shops might foot the bill as Southlake's Oktoberfest takes place in their town square which is one of the best in the DFW area. When we say local eateries, we need to emphasize that Southlake Town Square features many quality restaurants and you'll have a hard time deciding what you want because the choices are that good. My advice, if you got the money, stay for a weekend at the Hilton in Southlake Town Square and really make it quite a celebration. Plenty to eat and see whether it's that or the festival, you can't go wrong as Southlake holds this festival in the middle of the perfect spot for entertainment. For that Southlake's Oktoberfest earns:



Ranking: 4 Goode Points




  

A Trip Through Grapefest (Festival) in Grapevine TX

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In Grapevine, TX a thriving city in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex right next to DFW airport, one of the busiest airports in the nation there is a nationally recognized 4 day festival that you've probably never heard of. It's called Grapefest and it happens to be one of the biggest wine tasting festivals in the Southwest. All the fun of Grapefest takes place as the summer comes to a close, usually in the third week of September.

To be honest with you I haven't been to Grapefest in over 10 years. I decided to go back this year, only because they offer a day to get in free, which always falls on a Friday. I'm usually working on that day but I had the day off this year. It was a good thing because I really wanted to take the opportunity to go back and get the scoop on this festival for all my readers. Now, stop right there. I see something wrong with that picture. You shouldn't have to worry about having to secure a day off during the week to get in free. It should always be free no matter the day. Every, festival on this scale that I've been to, I've found that it doesn't cost a thing to get in and just be able to walk around. At Grapefest that's what $8 per adult, $5 dollars per senior and kids older than 6 gets you; the ability to walk around. Ok, let's say that price is worth it. I'm not going to completely write off Grapefest because they charge you to get in. However is it worth the price of admission? Whether you got in free or not let's take a trip through Grapefest...

What happens after we've walked under this scenic Grapefest sign and into the waiting excitement of this festival?

Something gives me a feeling that they don't close off the Main St. in Grapevine for 4 days on a Wednesday at 7pm for nothing...

There is plenty of booths to be found at almost a mile long stretch of blocked off real estate. 

Let's get a better perspective...

As you can see, the Main Street in Grapevine is an old time shopping/business district that is a main attraction in Grapevine, TX and this is true even when there is no festival on it's street. 

Let's try out the food, they have multiple ticket booths set up in Grapefest. In exchange for buying the tickets you can exchange them for a variety of fair ground food. Let's see what a whopping $20 gets you.... 

Bingo, we found a highlight! You didn't think I'd go to a festival in Texas and not get a Jumbo Corn Dog did you? I've got you've covered! There was a freshly squeezed lemonade with that but it was an epic fail. I know better next time.

Look at that, you can get an Italian Meatball sub at a festival... looks good and it was.

Was it worth almost $20 in tickets for this food? And the verdict is? Barely, if you have money to burn then it's certainly worth it but if you're on a budget and you care, then a tip for you would be to eat at one of the restaurants along Main St. You'll get better value for your money and cool A/C as a bonus.

They do have an amusement area with plenty of rides and games. Just don't eat all that food I showed you before you get on one of more intense ones please...

You read this right, it wouldn't be a wine festival without a little of that or maybe a whole lot. I didn't partake in the wine tasting but a little birdie told me that $20 gets you taste after taste of some very good wine. Thanks, for the tip birdie, I'll be thinking about trying that out next year.

Looks like Happy Hour came early for these ladies. There is plenty of Happy Hour opportunities at Grapefest including the main wine tasting event and when you've had enough, a grape stomping event.

What would a festival be without music... it wouldn't. The main stage pictured here features more acts than you would believe.

Was it worth it? It seems like they jam pack a lot on that street, so if you have time to spend and that includes a little cash, you certainly can see how you can have more than a good time.

Ranking: 5 Goode Points...only because they offer a lot of entertainment for the cost of getting in. 

Take A Stroll On Kemah Boardwalk

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With Fall within grasp and increasingly cooler days on the horizon, you may want to get outdoors especially after a long hot summer. It might look like the picture above is small town 1950's America straight out of the movie The Truman Show. It's not, but it did have that feel which made it nostalgic. Aside from being nostalgic, what I did stumble upon literally was a place as unique as it is fun and its name is Kemah? To be honest, I asked myself the same question a couple days of ago, as I had never heard of it. I found out quickly though that it's a small town, that happens to be located on Galveston Bay on the Texas Gulf Coast, just outside of Houston, TX. What you see a picture of is their entertainment district called Kemah Boardwalk which is the subject of this post. The reason for this is because I never thought when I went to Houston for a weekend getaway, that the first place I'd end up would be this unique little gem of a tourist attraction on Galveston Bay. I'm thankful that Kemah Broadwalk is once again a polished gem as it was pretty much destroyed by Hurricane Ike that hit the Galveston/Houston area on Sept 13, 2008. Please see this: Kemah Boardwalk In the Aftermath of Hurricane Ike to view of slideshow to get an idea of how badly it was hit.

    How did I come to end up here? Simple, Chef Megs my partner in food crime, because we are foodies after all, wanted to take me to a seafood restaurant that she had heard rave reviews about. We drive the long distance there thinking that we were just going to a restaurant outside of Galveston. Imagine our faces as we drove into Kemah Boardwalk. The best part about our surprise was that this restaurant we wanted to go to just happened to be one of 1 of 9 great restaurants that are part of the boardwalk.

    Now that you have the background, let me try to impress upon you, that if you're in Houston or nearby or are planning on going to Houston, this is the place to go take a nice leisurely stroll...

As you can see, Kemah Boardwalk has it's own train. If you have a family, that would thrill the kids. Maybe, you should watch out though and obey the the railroad crossing if your going to that seafood restaurant (The Flying Dutchman) you see the train whizzing past. Yes, wish I could of gone to every restaurant and given you the scoop on those but time and budget didn't allow that. Go with plently of that, the more the better because you'll need it as there is plenty to spend it on here.

Kemah Boardwalk has it's own hotel, actually it's called Kemah Boardwalk Inn, but it looks as big as hotel. Wish I had some spare time...but you might!

There are literally too many restaurants to chose from on the Kemah Boardwalk as you can start to see. That's a good thing though.

A boardwalk wouldn't be complete, without amusement rides for families and even a roller coaster. Kemah has that too.

If you build a boardwalk, make sure it has water that springs up without warning in true fountain form. That can be interesting to watch. Lots of recreation to be had as you can see, for families or couples without kids. There's something for everybody at Kemah Boardwalk. One thing I know for sure, you won't go hungry in Kemah because there is food for everybody. Everything from sushi, Mexican food, seafood, a steakhouse, and world famous Texas BBQ...starting to see the trend of the words everything and everybody here? I thought so. There's even a restaurant called the Aquarium and you guessed it, you eat with a beautiful aquarium filled with exotic fish surrounding you, it's a seafood restaurant. How ironic is that? If you want truly good seafood though, it's hard to not to leave satisfied from Laundry's Seafood restaurant which overlooks the bay. In fact, we did just that. Want coffee?  You don't have to eat at one of the restaurants for that. Kemah has its own coffee house. Want to shop? Kemah has gift and t-shirt stores. Actually want to stay on Kemah Boardwalk, they have their own hotel on site. I just can't say enough about what Kemah doesn't have because well... they have it.

I had to end with an eye-catching sign we saw on the boardwalk. I bet you didn't know that seagulls had diets, apparently here they do here. Please visit their website for more info: Kemah Boardwalk 


Ranking: 5 Goode Points