Tonight is the season finale of the Biggest Loser, really the only show worth watching on TV… after The Carrie Diaries, that is, a prequel to Sex and the City that I recently stumbled upon! BL is the most inspiring show I’ve ever watched and I get so excited to see all of the old contestants returning tonight in their “new” bodies. Of course I will cry because I am so happy for all of them and the hard journey they traveled to get this far… and Andy will laugh at me and ask if I’d like a tissue!

Olivia has been my favorite Biggest Loser thus far!

You know who else inspires me? My Monday 10:30 a.m. group of yoga students at Yoga Village who are ages 55 through 70 and who are are ridiculously dedicated. For the last two years, we have met for an hour each Monday for a vigorous vinyasa practice. You didn’t think for a minute that I take it easy on them did you?! This is Niccola Yoga… not restorative yoga people! HA! I am amazed at how they keep going even though some of them have had knee and hip replacements, surgeries, and now, arthritis. But they credit yoga for keeping them young and active and it’s because of that attitude that I love them all!

Kit, Kathy, Gary and Kathleen! We miss you Darlene!

I just wish I had taught my Gram yoga when she was younger and not having to sit in a chair all day. It would have benefited her greatly and I have seen what the power of yoga can do so I can only encourage you to teach your elders too! Speaking of my Gram, I sent her a Valentine’s care package in the mail and she called me today ecstatic over it! “Oh Niccola, you shouldn’t have. There are just so many things in this box. And the yarn! I love the yarn. I wasn’t working on any scarfs but now I am!” You gotta LOVE her.

Anyways, onto food, shall we? We had pizza night yesterday, my favorite night of the week but I switched it up totally on Andy and although he was skeptical at first, he loved what I prepared in the end! I’m calling this “Easy Peesy Pizza” for a reason… because it is! It takes only minutes to prepare and less than that to eat. And because there’s no crust, all you gluten-free heads out there can finally enjoy some good pizza! Oh! And I paired this meal with my favorite grape, Verdelho, that you can easily find at Trader Joe’s for $4.99 a bottle. Hey now!

Go get some!

Easy Peesy Pizza- serves two 

Ingredients:

-2 large mushroom caps

-tomato sauce

-4 cloves garlic, smashed

-olive oil and balsamic vinegar

-Veggie cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Cut the stems off of the mushrooms and using a spoon, scoop out the insides.

2. Sprinkle some oil olive and vinegar on the mushroom and bake for 5 minutes.

3. Take out the mushrooms and pour some tomato sauce into the caps with the smashed garlic.

4. Bake for another 10-15 minutes or until hot.

5. Sprinkle some Veggie cheese on top and Mangia!

And yes, it is filling!

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I served this with a side salad using the Persian cucumbers, breakfast radishes and the HUGE head of red lettuce I picked up at Rutiz Family Farm’s last Friday. Oh! And check out the cute Oil and Vinegar dispenser we bought last weekend, fancy right?!