Why is it that anything with the name Florentine in it sounds delicious? I guess one would have to love spinach for that to be a true statement, but I do love spinach, and I do love florentine dishes. This recipe, Chicken Florentine, from In a Flash, had all kinds of promise, and in the end it wasn't too bad, but it was the stupidest recipe I've tried yet.
First of all, and this was my fault, it calls for 10 oz. of spinach. It doesn't specifically say fresh, but it's implied. Of course, I had frozen spinach, and didn't realize it until it was almost time to add the spinach. So I had to defrost it quickly, and then squeeze all the liquid out of it. Then, at the last minute, I realized I didn't have enough spinach, so I had to repeat the process. Well, you cook the chicken, and move it to a plate. Then you saute the onions with a little chicken broth. But there just isn't enough liquid so you have to add water Then you add the spinach. But it's dry now, after all that squeezing. So, what do you have to do? Add more water , and then more water, and then even more water. Did I mention the spinach is squeezed? Well, that results in clumps of spinach. So while you're busily trying to keep enough water in the pan to keep the spinach and onions from burning, you have to de-clump the spinach. Finally, it was time to add the chicken to the top of the spinach (you'll still need more water) and cheese on top of the chicken. The problem with the cheese was that it calls for lowfat shredded Jarlsberg or Swiss. I defy anyone to easily find lowfat Jarlseberg cheese. In fact, we couldn't even find lowfat shredded Swiss, so we used Swiss slices. You cover the pan until the cheese melts, and what do you know? You have Chicken Floretine...with lots of liquid because the cover makes the spinach lose some of its liquid (the same way mushrooms do).
As I said before, in the end it was a tasty dinner. But I sure griped and swore through the whole preparation. I served it with instant mashed potatoes. I'm tellin' you, if you haven't tried those, you should - they're a marvel of modern fast food!
By the way, the chicken florentine was only 5 points per serving - and I earned everyone of those points!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Jerky Turkey
Here I am again, and this time with a very small amount of good news. I lost one more lb! I'm down 12 lbs. now. Of course, I'll hover at 12 lbs. and a few lbs. above for another two or three weeks before I hit the 13 lb. mark, but at least eventually I head in the right direction again. I've learned that I can do it, and I would be much more successful if I consistently stuck to counting points and eating well, but it seems I've found a balance that allows me to monitor what I'm eating during the week but lets me enjoy what I like to eat (namely pizza and burritos) on the weekends.
I started cooking again this week. Monday night I made Jerk Turkey Cutlets from In a Flash, and it was pretty good, except my turkey cutlets were tough, and I have no idea why. I don't know if I over cooked them, or cooked them too fast, or maybe there wasn't enough liquid or what the problem was. But they tasted good, so I guess that was half the battle. I served it with yellow rice, which was just white rice with a little tamarack...no, I think it's tamarind...added to it. Tamarind doesn't add much flavor, but it makes the rice pretty.
Now, on a different and totally unrelated note, have any of you (of my two readers) watched Glee? It's a series on Thursday...or maybe it's Wednesday nights. That's the probably when you record everything and watch it when you have time - you lose track of when everything is on. Anyway, it's been off for a couple of weeks but starts again next week. If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest you try it out. It's about a high school teacher who starts a Glee Club in his school. The club is made up of a bunch of nerds and some cool kids, one of which is pregnant. We have the Glee Club teacher with a wife that isn't pregnant but wants to be so she is pretending to be pregnant...without her husband knowing the truth. We have the school counselor who is germaphobic and a neatfreak who is marrying, for reasons I won't go into, the school coach, who is this big doofas who reminds me of a sloppy hound dog. There is the cheerleading coach who is, to put it very midly, a jock, and cuts her "Cheerios" no slack. The story line is fun, and the music, singing, and dancing is great. I'll go out on a limb and say that the girl who plays the lead is the most talented young person on TV. Glee has become my favorite show of the season...at least until the final episode of LOST starts.
You might have wondered what a TV review is doing in a cooking blog. The truth of the matter is that I'm getting tired of writing about cooking and am branching out into whatever takes my fancy. No one (except my two loyal readers) reads this anyway, so I think no one will mind.
Two readers, have a wonderful day!
I started cooking again this week. Monday night I made Jerk Turkey Cutlets from In a Flash, and it was pretty good, except my turkey cutlets were tough, and I have no idea why. I don't know if I over cooked them, or cooked them too fast, or maybe there wasn't enough liquid or what the problem was. But they tasted good, so I guess that was half the battle. I served it with yellow rice, which was just white rice with a little tamarack...no, I think it's tamarind...added to it. Tamarind doesn't add much flavor, but it makes the rice pretty.
Now, on a different and totally unrelated note, have any of you (of my two readers) watched Glee? It's a series on Thursday...or maybe it's Wednesday nights. That's the probably when you record everything and watch it when you have time - you lose track of when everything is on. Anyway, it's been off for a couple of weeks but starts again next week. If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest you try it out. It's about a high school teacher who starts a Glee Club in his school. The club is made up of a bunch of nerds and some cool kids, one of which is pregnant. We have the Glee Club teacher with a wife that isn't pregnant but wants to be so she is pretending to be pregnant...without her husband knowing the truth. We have the school counselor who is germaphobic and a neatfreak who is marrying, for reasons I won't go into, the school coach, who is this big doofas who reminds me of a sloppy hound dog. There is the cheerleading coach who is, to put it very midly, a jock, and cuts her "Cheerios" no slack. The story line is fun, and the music, singing, and dancing is great. I'll go out on a limb and say that the girl who plays the lead is the most talented young person on TV. Glee has become my favorite show of the season...at least until the final episode of LOST starts.
You might have wondered what a TV review is doing in a cooking blog. The truth of the matter is that I'm getting tired of writing about cooking and am branching out into whatever takes my fancy. No one (except my two loyal readers) reads this anyway, so I think no one will mind.
Two readers, have a wonderful day!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Chicken and Mushrooms
Finally the run of bad recipes has ended! Monday night I made Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms from In a Flash and it was very good. Quick, easy, low points (only 4 per serving). What more could a cooker/dieter hope for?
All it took was a quick marinade of balsamic vinegar, cook the chicken and then saute the mushrooms. What could be easier?
Here's the bad part - don't ever buy the Kashi that comes in the foil packet that only takes 60-90 seconds to cook in the microwave. Sorry - I don't have more information than that. I can tell you, however, that it was really awful. In fact, we threw it away! Wasteful, I know. I also know there are children starving in Ethiopia. But the truth of the matter is that they wouldn't eat it either!
I'll have to add that to my ever growing list of things not to eat. It ranks right up there with bananas, in my mind.
And on that note...
All it took was a quick marinade of balsamic vinegar, cook the chicken and then saute the mushrooms. What could be easier?
Here's the bad part - don't ever buy the Kashi that comes in the foil packet that only takes 60-90 seconds to cook in the microwave. Sorry - I don't have more information than that. I can tell you, however, that it was really awful. In fact, we threw it away! Wasteful, I know. I also know there are children starving in Ethiopia. But the truth of the matter is that they wouldn't eat it either!
I'll have to add that to my ever growing list of things not to eat. It ranks right up there with bananas, in my mind.
And on that note...
Monday, October 19, 2009
Pizza Night!
Let me just start by saying that I'm disappointed that my cooking has dropped to only one night a week lately. Well, disappointed is probably overexaggerating - I'm not disappointed to not be cooking - it's not really THAT much of a treat for me. But I was hoping to blog more often. Maybe I'll write about something other than cooking on my off days.
And, I was supposed to be showing weight loss progress, too, but since I'm hovering around the 10 lb. mark, there isn't much to write about. It really does seem to be a direct correlation to how often I'm cooking.
Anyway, last Thursday night I made Artichoke-Pepper Pizza With Feta Cheese from Day By Day. I've been eyeing this recipe for a long time because I love a good pizza. But I have to say that I was disappointed in this one. The flavor was really strong. The crust was Boboli, and you spread the crust with a mixture of artichoke hearts, low-fat mayonnaise (I used fat free) and some salt, pepper and garlic that was pureed in the food processor to make a nice spread. Then you top that with the red and orange peppers and sprinkle on the feta cheese. It was just too much flavor. Maybe it's because I used flavored feta cheese. Who knows? Manny liked it, but I think he was being generous.
Where they get you is on the points-counting. It was 6 points per serving and each serving was one slice. Let's do a story problem. Two people are sharing one pizza that has been divided into six equally-sized pieces. If each person eats three slices, how many points did they consume? In case any of you went to Nevada public schools, as I did, you might need some help. The answer is 18 points! Now, of course, one doesn't need to eat three slices of pizza, but one slice? It's just not enough. I guess I could have made a salad to go with it, but I have a thing about pizza - if I'm having pizza, I want pizza. Not salad with a side of pizza.
So, I'm on a roll with recipes I don't like. Tonight I'm making something with chicken. Maybe it will be more exciting...although it's relatively hard to get excited about chicken! We'll see.
And, I was supposed to be showing weight loss progress, too, but since I'm hovering around the 10 lb. mark, there isn't much to write about. It really does seem to be a direct correlation to how often I'm cooking.
Anyway, last Thursday night I made Artichoke-Pepper Pizza With Feta Cheese from Day By Day. I've been eyeing this recipe for a long time because I love a good pizza. But I have to say that I was disappointed in this one. The flavor was really strong. The crust was Boboli, and you spread the crust with a mixture of artichoke hearts, low-fat mayonnaise (I used fat free) and some salt, pepper and garlic that was pureed in the food processor to make a nice spread. Then you top that with the red and orange peppers and sprinkle on the feta cheese. It was just too much flavor. Maybe it's because I used flavored feta cheese. Who knows? Manny liked it, but I think he was being generous.
Where they get you is on the points-counting. It was 6 points per serving and each serving was one slice. Let's do a story problem. Two people are sharing one pizza that has been divided into six equally-sized pieces. If each person eats three slices, how many points did they consume? In case any of you went to Nevada public schools, as I did, you might need some help. The answer is 18 points! Now, of course, one doesn't need to eat three slices of pizza, but one slice? It's just not enough. I guess I could have made a salad to go with it, but I have a thing about pizza - if I'm having pizza, I want pizza. Not salad with a side of pizza.
So, I'm on a roll with recipes I don't like. Tonight I'm making something with chicken. Maybe it will be more exciting...although it's relatively hard to get excited about chicken! We'll see.
Monday, October 12, 2009
I Love a Good Breakfast...
Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a let down! I made a Southwest Fritatta from In a Flash. Another not-too-thrilling recipe. Part of my disappointment is that I'm not a fan of bell peppers in eggs, and the main ingredients of this recipe were bell peppers and eggs, so I shouldn't have been surprised when it turned out to not be one of my favorites. It is the price I must pay for saying I was going to make every recipe in the cookbook.
Anyway, a few challenges along the way: the recipe called for red and green peppers - I only had red. It called for onions - I had none...which was ok by me, because I don't like onions in my eggs, either. The recipe called for 2 eggs and 2 egg whites, which seems like a waste of perfectly good egg yolks. They suggested using egg substitute for the egg whites, which is what I did, so all was ok there. And reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, but I only had reduced fat Mexican cheese, so that's what I used. I should have just rewritten the recipe!
So - you cook the peppers, add the eggs and cheese, and let it cook. At some point you have to flip it over in the pan, which is a challenge, so I slipped it onto a plate, inverted another plate on top of it, flipped the whole thing over and slid it back into the pan. Not a bad idea, I think! Then you cut it in half, and roll each half up burrito-style. That just didn't work at all, so we ate it flat, with salsa on top, which was probably the best part...although I don't particularly like salsa on my eggs, either. Let me just say this - red and green things don't belong in eggs! I think that is a throw-back from when I was little and my mother cooked tomatoes and eggs, and I had to eat them, even though I didn't want any part of it. It seems I remember sitting at the table in front of a plate of cold, congealing eggs and tomatoes, long after everyone else left the table. Mothers of the world take note - when you make your children eat things they don't like it leaves lasting scars!
Anyway, I digress. The good news is that it was only 4 points per serving - the bad news, it wasn't filling. Manny actually had a bowl of cereal after eating his half. I toughed it out until lunch.
What do you think - the round file for this one?
Anyway, a few challenges along the way: the recipe called for red and green peppers - I only had red. It called for onions - I had none...which was ok by me, because I don't like onions in my eggs, either. The recipe called for 2 eggs and 2 egg whites, which seems like a waste of perfectly good egg yolks. They suggested using egg substitute for the egg whites, which is what I did, so all was ok there. And reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, but I only had reduced fat Mexican cheese, so that's what I used. I should have just rewritten the recipe!
So - you cook the peppers, add the eggs and cheese, and let it cook. At some point you have to flip it over in the pan, which is a challenge, so I slipped it onto a plate, inverted another plate on top of it, flipped the whole thing over and slid it back into the pan. Not a bad idea, I think! Then you cut it in half, and roll each half up burrito-style. That just didn't work at all, so we ate it flat, with salsa on top, which was probably the best part...although I don't particularly like salsa on my eggs, either. Let me just say this - red and green things don't belong in eggs! I think that is a throw-back from when I was little and my mother cooked tomatoes and eggs, and I had to eat them, even though I didn't want any part of it. It seems I remember sitting at the table in front of a plate of cold, congealing eggs and tomatoes, long after everyone else left the table. Mothers of the world take note - when you make your children eat things they don't like it leaves lasting scars!
Anyway, I digress. The good news is that it was only 4 points per serving - the bad news, it wasn't filling. Manny actually had a bowl of cereal after eating his half. I toughed it out until lunch.
What do you think - the round file for this one?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Talk About Easy!
This was possibly the easiest recipe I made yet. Cajun Pork Chops from In a Flash. Ingredients - 3. Olive oil, pork chops, and Cajun seasoning, and that's all. All you do is rub on the seasoning and cook the chops. What could be easier? And each serving was only 4 points. So easy, even a cave...well, you get the picture.
In fact, it was so easy, that I'm going to make this blog follow suit and end it here!
P.S. Still at 11 lbs.
In fact, it was so easy, that I'm going to make this blog follow suit and end it here!
P.S. Still at 11 lbs.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Cheesy Lentils, Crusty Bread
Cheesy Lentils and Rice from Day by Day was the meal choice for last night, and it was good, but not thrilling. It tasted good, it wasn't difficult (although it wasn't fast, either), it wasn't disappointing, it just wasn't thrilling. I didn't have to have another serving (although I did have an extra spoonful). But it was filling, only 6 points, and healthy, so I can't really complain.
The one thing I learned last night is that red pepper flakes are not the same as ground red pepper. It called for 1/4 tsp. of ground red pepper and I didn't have any...I only had red pepper flakes. So I used 1/4 tsp. of flakes instead. My logic was sound, but wrong. I thought the larger flakes would be less potent that the ground stuff, but apparently that was not the case because the lentils we're a little spicy...the clear your sinuses, make your eyes water spicy. Still edible, but spicy. Let's just chalk that one up to inexperience, shall we?
Exercise-wise, I'm trying to get back to faithfully doing my Wiikouts and not finding excuses to be lazy. I've started the 30-day challenge on the hard level again and am going to try to get the whole thing done in 30 days, instead of the 45 or so it took last time.
So - cooking, check. Exercise, check. Losing weight, check. All is good. Now if I could just retire...
The one thing I learned last night is that red pepper flakes are not the same as ground red pepper. It called for 1/4 tsp. of ground red pepper and I didn't have any...I only had red pepper flakes. So I used 1/4 tsp. of flakes instead. My logic was sound, but wrong. I thought the larger flakes would be less potent that the ground stuff, but apparently that was not the case because the lentils we're a little spicy...the clear your sinuses, make your eyes water spicy. Still edible, but spicy. Let's just chalk that one up to inexperience, shall we?
Exercise-wise, I'm trying to get back to faithfully doing my Wiikouts and not finding excuses to be lazy. I've started the 30-day challenge on the hard level again and am going to try to get the whole thing done in 30 days, instead of the 45 or so it took last time.
So - cooking, check. Exercise, check. Losing weight, check. All is good. Now if I could just retire...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
I'm Back!
I'm discovering there is a direct correlation between how often I cook and blog, and my weight loss success. You may have noticed that I've been very lax in blogging, and that's mostly because I haven't been cooking. And what's happened? I've gained some pounds again. Apparently I didn't listen to myself last time I wrote when I said I was going to get back on the wagon again. So, I'm giving it another try. One thing I've learned is that it's never too late to start, or restart, if that's the case.
As for cooking, last week I made something that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was Cheddar Chicken with Warm Black Bean Salsa from In a Flash. It's billed as enchiladas without the tortillas, but it's really more like chicken with cheese, beans, and tomatoes. But it was really tasty! Only 5 points per serving, and quick. It's a 15-minute dinner recipe. I would highly recommend this one. However, don't forget to watch the points in the accompaniments. My preference would be to serve rice or tortillas, (or better yet, rice and tortillas), but that adds unnecessary points. They suggest spinach and grapefruit salad and diced mango with raspberries for dessert. Much healthier and points-friendly, but I'd rather have tortillas any day!
Tonight I'm going to make lentils and rice. And I'll try to be more prompt with my blogging!
As for cooking, last week I made something that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was Cheddar Chicken with Warm Black Bean Salsa from In a Flash. It's billed as enchiladas without the tortillas, but it's really more like chicken with cheese, beans, and tomatoes. But it was really tasty! Only 5 points per serving, and quick. It's a 15-minute dinner recipe. I would highly recommend this one. However, don't forget to watch the points in the accompaniments. My preference would be to serve rice or tortillas, (or better yet, rice and tortillas), but that adds unnecessary points. They suggest spinach and grapefruit salad and diced mango with raspberries for dessert. Much healthier and points-friendly, but I'd rather have tortillas any day!
Tonight I'm going to make lentils and rice. And I'll try to be more prompt with my blogging!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Yikes!
True confession: I took my eye off the ball for a few days...well more like a couple of weeks...and now I've gained a couple of pounds...well more like 5! So, I'm back on the wagon again and working diligently to get back on track. (Did anyone notice I used three different...what are they called - metaphors? No, that's not right. Maybe cliches. I used three different cliches in those two sentences. Eye off the ball, back on the wagon, and back on track. Very poor writing.
Anyway, my lackadaisical-ness has resulted in the need for me to get back on the cooking wagon (there it is again!). So last night I made the weirdest meal I've made yet. This one was Polenta with Sauteed Mushrooms from In a Flash. I really like this cookbook because the recipes are quick and easy, but this one was quick, easy, and weird. The polenta was mixed with smoked mozzarella cheese, and topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions. But that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was that it was served with minestrone soup. I didn't have any, so I used the Progresso's Weight Watchers 0 point soup...but it was Mexican vegetable, or something like that. The polenta and soup didn't even begin to go together. It was a lot like mixing plaid with polka-dots or green with purple! I told Manny that the next time I was going to make the polenta without smoked cheese and onions, and not going to serve soup with it at all. And all this for 7 points per serving! That's a lot of points, although a little polenta is very filling.
Anyway, I've planned a few meals for this week, so I'll be posting again soon. Until then...
Anyway, my lackadaisical-ness has resulted in the need for me to get back on the cooking wagon (there it is again!). So last night I made the weirdest meal I've made yet. This one was Polenta with Sauteed Mushrooms from In a Flash. I really like this cookbook because the recipes are quick and easy, but this one was quick, easy, and weird. The polenta was mixed with smoked mozzarella cheese, and topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions. But that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was that it was served with minestrone soup. I didn't have any, so I used the Progresso's Weight Watchers 0 point soup...but it was Mexican vegetable, or something like that. The polenta and soup didn't even begin to go together. It was a lot like mixing plaid with polka-dots or green with purple! I told Manny that the next time I was going to make the polenta without smoked cheese and onions, and not going to serve soup with it at all. And all this for 7 points per serving! That's a lot of points, although a little polenta is very filling.
Anyway, I've planned a few meals for this week, so I'll be posting again soon. Until then...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Chicken! Olè!
I wish I had good news to report weight-wise, but I'm still hanging at 10 lbs...sometimes a little less. Last week I got almost to 11, but then the weekend came along. Oh well - at least I'm not gaining!
I finally had the chance to cook again last night, so I made Spanish Chicken from the Day By Day cookbook, and I'm happy to report that I had no mishaps! Maybe I'm getting the hang of this cooking thing. I know some people who thought I would never be able to say that. One thing I learned is to do the prep work first, even though it takes a little longer that way. At least, with the chopping, dicing, cutting, pouring, measuring out of the way, the actual cooking seems a little less stressful.
But, I digress. The Spanish Chicken was good. It is a saucy dish...as in soupy, not sassy! (It didn't wink at me or show me it's thigh). The tip in the cookbook says to serve it in a bowl so the juice could be sopped up with some bread, and that's exactly what Manny did (I try to stay away from bread). The recipe was green and red bell peppers, chicken, prosciutto, onion, garlic and stewed tomatoes, and only 4 points per serving. The whole dish took 45 minutes, including the chopping, dicing, cutting, pouring, and measuring.
I'm still plugging away at the WII Active video. I'm on my 4th 30-day challenge now. I can honestly say that I'm noticing a difference in my physical strength, and overall I feel more physically fit, except for my knees, which protest mightily when I have to do lunges. The first set of lunges are fine, but when I have to do the second set, they scream bloody murder! And then they settle in and we get through the set...only to have the whole thing repeat with the 3rd set. I'm fairly sure that's not a good sign, but I don't know what to do about it. I'm sure the doctor will say to stop doing lunges. Nothing would make me happier...but then it throws my exercise routine out of whack. The things we go through to stay healthy!
I don't think I cook again until Thursday, so until then, happy leftover-eating!
I finally had the chance to cook again last night, so I made Spanish Chicken from the Day By Day cookbook, and I'm happy to report that I had no mishaps! Maybe I'm getting the hang of this cooking thing. I know some people who thought I would never be able to say that. One thing I learned is to do the prep work first, even though it takes a little longer that way. At least, with the chopping, dicing, cutting, pouring, measuring out of the way, the actual cooking seems a little less stressful.
But, I digress. The Spanish Chicken was good. It is a saucy dish...as in soupy, not sassy! (It didn't wink at me or show me it's thigh). The tip in the cookbook says to serve it in a bowl so the juice could be sopped up with some bread, and that's exactly what Manny did (I try to stay away from bread). The recipe was green and red bell peppers, chicken, prosciutto, onion, garlic and stewed tomatoes, and only 4 points per serving. The whole dish took 45 minutes, including the chopping, dicing, cutting, pouring, and measuring.
I'm still plugging away at the WII Active video. I'm on my 4th 30-day challenge now. I can honestly say that I'm noticing a difference in my physical strength, and overall I feel more physically fit, except for my knees, which protest mightily when I have to do lunges. The first set of lunges are fine, but when I have to do the second set, they scream bloody murder! And then they settle in and we get through the set...only to have the whole thing repeat with the 3rd set. I'm fairly sure that's not a good sign, but I don't know what to do about it. I'm sure the doctor will say to stop doing lunges. Nothing would make me happier...but then it throws my exercise routine out of whack. The things we go through to stay healthy!
I don't think I cook again until Thursday, so until then, happy leftover-eating!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Fettucini Fiasco
Good news - I'm finally back to 10 lbs! I had gained a couple, and have been hovering between 8 and 9 lbs. for two weeks. Finally the weight gods noticed they had been neglecting me and took those lbs. back again. Hopefully I can take off another lb. by the end of the week. There are no sabotages planned, so there is hope.
Last night I cooked Fettuccine Alfredo from Day By Day. I should never have tried. It was a crummy afternoon anyway, for reasons I won't bore you with now. If ever there was cause to go out to dinner, yesterday provided one. But no...I had to inflict more punishment on myself and cook!
I tried to be very organized. I got out the required pots and gathered the required ingredients. When it came to the cheese, though, the recipe called for finely grated Parmesan. We had a nice block in the refrigerator, and I got out my little grater and started grating away. In no time at all I realized it was going to take far, far too long to grate enough cheese by hand. So out came the handy-dandy food processor, which I might point out I haven't used in a very, very long time. So I put the whole thing together, put the cheese in the chute and turned it on. In no time at all I remembered I needed to close off the chute that shoots the grated stuff into a bowl instead of the food processing container, and I had cheese everywhere. So, after a little clean up, and a search for the thing that keeps these kinds of disasters from happening, I got grated cheese.
Then I put the pasta water on and started the pasta, only to realize that I grossly misjudged the time it would take to make the alfredo sauce and that the pasta was going to be done way before the sauce would be!
After much cussing, and fighting the urge to throw in the towel and go out after all, dinner was ready. It was pretty tasty, but I had forgotten how heavy fettuccine alfredo is. The recommended serving size was 1 cup, but I was fairly starving, so I gave myself 1 1/2 cups, and it was too much. Anyway, at only 7 points per serving, it was a rich and filling meal, without the fat that one usually finds in an alfredo sauce (this one was made with only a little butter, and some fat free cream cheese).
The good news - I don't have to cook again until Thursday, when we'll be having turkey piccata.
Til then, I hope you have better success than I did yesterday!
Last night I cooked Fettuccine Alfredo from Day By Day. I should never have tried. It was a crummy afternoon anyway, for reasons I won't bore you with now. If ever there was cause to go out to dinner, yesterday provided one. But no...I had to inflict more punishment on myself and cook!
I tried to be very organized. I got out the required pots and gathered the required ingredients. When it came to the cheese, though, the recipe called for finely grated Parmesan. We had a nice block in the refrigerator, and I got out my little grater and started grating away. In no time at all I realized it was going to take far, far too long to grate enough cheese by hand. So out came the handy-dandy food processor, which I might point out I haven't used in a very, very long time. So I put the whole thing together, put the cheese in the chute and turned it on. In no time at all I remembered I needed to close off the chute that shoots the grated stuff into a bowl instead of the food processing container, and I had cheese everywhere. So, after a little clean up, and a search for the thing that keeps these kinds of disasters from happening, I got grated cheese.
Then I put the pasta water on and started the pasta, only to realize that I grossly misjudged the time it would take to make the alfredo sauce and that the pasta was going to be done way before the sauce would be!
After much cussing, and fighting the urge to throw in the towel and go out after all, dinner was ready. It was pretty tasty, but I had forgotten how heavy fettuccine alfredo is. The recommended serving size was 1 cup, but I was fairly starving, so I gave myself 1 1/2 cups, and it was too much. Anyway, at only 7 points per serving, it was a rich and filling meal, without the fat that one usually finds in an alfredo sauce (this one was made with only a little butter, and some fat free cream cheese).
The good news - I don't have to cook again until Thursday, when we'll be having turkey piccata.
Til then, I hope you have better success than I did yesterday!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
True Confessions
In the spirit of honesty and straightforwardness, I must confess that I gained 2 lbs. Not surprising after that camping trip. I really need to learn how to go on vacation and not eat like there was no tomorrow! My total weight loss is only 8 lbs. now. However, there is no time like the present to get back on the bandwagon and count, count, count.
In that same spirit, I decided to be more diligent about cooking, so last night I made Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Pears from In a Flash. Yes, sweet potatoes and pears! Who would have thought those two would go together? And I think, after having tried it, they don't really go together at all. Manny loved it, and I really liked the pork chop and pear combination, but the sweet potatoes were definitely the outsiders. Anyway, it was easy (15 minutes!), hot, nourishing, and 8 points, which is more points than I like to have per serving, but c'est la vie.
I wrote so much yesterday that I don't have anything else to say today, so happy eating, everyone!
In that same spirit, I decided to be more diligent about cooking, so last night I made Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Pears from In a Flash. Yes, sweet potatoes and pears! Who would have thought those two would go together? And I think, after having tried it, they don't really go together at all. Manny loved it, and I really liked the pork chop and pear combination, but the sweet potatoes were definitely the outsiders. Anyway, it was easy (15 minutes!), hot, nourishing, and 8 points, which is more points than I like to have per serving, but c'est la vie.
I wrote so much yesterday that I don't have anything else to say today, so happy eating, everyone!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Camping adventures!
It's going to take me a very long time to get through my three Weight Watchers cookbooks at the rate I'm cooking. Last week, I think I only cooked two meals! Thursday night I made Jalapeno Chicken from Day to Day. All I had to do was mix up a marinade of jalapeno peppers, chicken broth, cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper, and something else, but I don't remember what it was, and I didn't have to foresight to look before I left the house this morning. Then I blended it all until smooth, put it in a ziplock bag with the chicken, and left for work. Thursday night Manny grilled it on the grill (I'm not adding grilling to my new-found list of cooking skills) and we were good to go. It turned out to be very moist, and not too spicy. I was afraid it would have too much of a bite, since we used three jalapenos, but the kick was just right. I served it with rice and beans (specifically, white rice that I mixed with a can of black beans and some saffron thrown in for good measure). For those of you counting points, each chicken breast was 3 points. Very economical from a points perspective!
We went camping over the weekend. It was a fun trip - we spent all day Saturday at the river kayaking, swimming, reading, talking, dozing - a perfect day. However, at my age, one would think I would have learned about the use of sunscreen. I'm a little crackly today - hopefully I won't peel, but experience tells me that is too much to hope for. At least I had the good sense to use spf 45 on my face!
The only down side was showering. As with many campsites these days, showers are available, and after a long day in the river, they always seem like a good idea. However, by the time I gathered all my showering necessities and clothes together, headed to the shower, realized I forgot something, and returned to the campsite before setting off to the bathrooms once again, reality began to set in. I had plenty of time to think while I was waiting in line for the next available shower because there were only two, and others had the same idea as me - shower early and beat the rush. Please let me share my showering thoughts with you. First of all, doesn't everyone want to shower in the same place as hundreds of strangers? Did I remember my flipflops? Yes, thank goodness! Once it was finally my turn, then it was time for the balancing act. I had to balance on first one foot and then the other while undressing without touching anything in the shower, and I then hung my clothes...all of them (the clean ones and the dirty ones I just took off)...together... on one little hook in the shower and hope that the water didn't get everything wet. As it turns out, not a problem, because the water pressure was so low that I had to bend down to get my head right under the spout and then stand up to let the water run down the rest of my body. Repeat for maximum dampness. With the water pressure a trickle, I had to be sure not to use too much shampoo, because I would be there all day if I needed to wait for enough water to rinse the shampoo, and then conditioner completely out of my hair. Then, the balancing act started all over again, because after drying off, without touching the shower floor with the towel (thankfully the towel hadn't already fallen off the one little hook!), I had to manipulate the clothes on the one little hook so I could get dressed in my clean clothes. Next it was gather everything up and move to the sink where I could balance (again, that word) everything on a skinny little shelf while I brushed my teeth and combed my hair. Of course, everyone I know (because this is a group trip) came into the bathroom while my mouth was full of toothpaste and wanted to talk. Makes NOT showering on Saturday and Sunday morning seem like a much better alternative!
And let me say this - when the bathrooms are a ways away, why is it that we have to use them several times during the night? The first night, I didn't go at all because I didn't want to walk all that way by myself and I didn't have the heart to wake Manny up and ask him to go with me. So, I didn't sleep a good part of the night. Not very smart. So Saturday night, I stopped drinking water early, walked down to the bathroom just before climbing into my tent, walked back to camp, said goodnight and went to sleep. Manny came in at about midnight, and crawled into the sleeping bag, waking me up in the process. Of course, my first thought was about whether or not I had to go. I finally decided not to make the same mistake I had made the night before and so I made Manny get up...
And on that note, tonight it's pork chops. I'll keep you posted.
We went camping over the weekend. It was a fun trip - we spent all day Saturday at the river kayaking, swimming, reading, talking, dozing - a perfect day. However, at my age, one would think I would have learned about the use of sunscreen. I'm a little crackly today - hopefully I won't peel, but experience tells me that is too much to hope for. At least I had the good sense to use spf 45 on my face!
The only down side was showering. As with many campsites these days, showers are available, and after a long day in the river, they always seem like a good idea. However, by the time I gathered all my showering necessities and clothes together, headed to the shower, realized I forgot something, and returned to the campsite before setting off to the bathrooms once again, reality began to set in. I had plenty of time to think while I was waiting in line for the next available shower because there were only two, and others had the same idea as me - shower early and beat the rush. Please let me share my showering thoughts with you. First of all, doesn't everyone want to shower in the same place as hundreds of strangers? Did I remember my flipflops? Yes, thank goodness! Once it was finally my turn, then it was time for the balancing act. I had to balance on first one foot and then the other while undressing without touching anything in the shower, and I then hung my clothes...all of them (the clean ones and the dirty ones I just took off)...together... on one little hook in the shower and hope that the water didn't get everything wet. As it turns out, not a problem, because the water pressure was so low that I had to bend down to get my head right under the spout and then stand up to let the water run down the rest of my body. Repeat for maximum dampness. With the water pressure a trickle, I had to be sure not to use too much shampoo, because I would be there all day if I needed to wait for enough water to rinse the shampoo, and then conditioner completely out of my hair. Then, the balancing act started all over again, because after drying off, without touching the shower floor with the towel (thankfully the towel hadn't already fallen off the one little hook!), I had to manipulate the clothes on the one little hook so I could get dressed in my clean clothes. Next it was gather everything up and move to the sink where I could balance (again, that word) everything on a skinny little shelf while I brushed my teeth and combed my hair. Of course, everyone I know (because this is a group trip) came into the bathroom while my mouth was full of toothpaste and wanted to talk. Makes NOT showering on Saturday and Sunday morning seem like a much better alternative!
And let me say this - when the bathrooms are a ways away, why is it that we have to use them several times during the night? The first night, I didn't go at all because I didn't want to walk all that way by myself and I didn't have the heart to wake Manny up and ask him to go with me. So, I didn't sleep a good part of the night. Not very smart. So Saturday night, I stopped drinking water early, walked down to the bathroom just before climbing into my tent, walked back to camp, said goodnight and went to sleep. Manny came in at about midnight, and crawled into the sleeping bag, waking me up in the process. Of course, my first thought was about whether or not I had to go. I finally decided not to make the same mistake I had made the night before and so I made Manny get up...
And on that note, tonight it's pork chops. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Somethin' Smells Fishy...
...and it's Salmon Teriyaki with Gingered Spinach from In a Flash. If you like that Asian/teriyaki/ginger flavor, and of course, salmon, this is the dish for you. The salmon is cooked only in a Pam spray - it's the spinach that is flavored with the teriyaki and ginger, and it was, as my Filipino friend says, quite nice. The the salmon is placed on the spinach and brushed with a teriyaki glaze - a very nice presentation and a good flavor combination. All in all, a successful dinner, and only 6 points per serving. I used more spinach than the recipe called for with no worries, because spinach has no points. I served it with mushroom risotto, which didn't go with the Asian theme at all, but I like risotto, so it doesn't matter that it didn't match. In fact, we should use that same philosophy with clothes. Love that plaid shirt? Love those polka dotted pants? No matter - wear them together. Who cares?
Now here's a pet peeve: The risotto box calls a serving 1/4 dry risotto. Now what good is that information? I'm not planning on eating a 1/4 cup dry rice - ever! Am I supposed to know how much that equates to in prepared risotto? Sure, the box says approximately 6 servings total. But I'm not going to divide the bowl of risotto into 6 individual servings, just to make sure I get only one of them. I wonder, if I complain to the company, will they send me a free box of risotto, risotto for life, maybe? That would make it all better, because I love risotto!
And, on that note...
Now here's a pet peeve: The risotto box calls a serving 1/4 dry risotto. Now what good is that information? I'm not planning on eating a 1/4 cup dry rice - ever! Am I supposed to know how much that equates to in prepared risotto? Sure, the box says approximately 6 servings total. But I'm not going to divide the bowl of risotto into 6 individual servings, just to make sure I get only one of them. I wonder, if I complain to the company, will they send me a free box of risotto, risotto for life, maybe? That would make it all better, because I love risotto!
And, on that note...
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Milestones
I am happy to report that I hit the 10 lb. mark yesterday. That's a milestone marker for me, and a sure sign that I'm on the right track.
It took me a few days to make those Tuna Burgers I said I was going to make a few days ago, from "Day by Day". But when I finally got around to it, they were actually quite tasty and very easy to make. I'm always leery of burgers because of the mess of having to shape patties, but these weren't sticky like hamburger patties usually are before they're cooked, so my hands weren't greasy, and it was easy to wash up. (I really don't like hamburger grease all over my hands!) The only problem, and I've had this one before, is having a can - the right-sized can - of tuna. I ended up using a little more tuna than the recipe called for, so I had to use a little more egg to hold them together.
The recipe, including tartar sauce and a bun, was 6 points per serving. But, I was able to shave off a couple of points because I didn't use the tartar sauce, and I used the thin buns that are available now. They're only 1 point instead of the 2 points buns usually are. So I figure that each serving ended up being only 4 points. The recipe makes 4 servings, but since I used more tuna, I got 5 patties out of it.
Well, time to do a Wiikout. I'm telling you, this hard level is really challenging for my wimpy legs. Squats, squats, squats, a few upper body exercises, and then more squats, with some tennis and volleyball thrown in for good measure. A few laps around the track, and then squats, squats...you get the picture. Doesn't this sound like fun?
It took me a few days to make those Tuna Burgers I said I was going to make a few days ago, from "Day by Day". But when I finally got around to it, they were actually quite tasty and very easy to make. I'm always leery of burgers because of the mess of having to shape patties, but these weren't sticky like hamburger patties usually are before they're cooked, so my hands weren't greasy, and it was easy to wash up. (I really don't like hamburger grease all over my hands!) The only problem, and I've had this one before, is having a can - the right-sized can - of tuna. I ended up using a little more tuna than the recipe called for, so I had to use a little more egg to hold them together.
The recipe, including tartar sauce and a bun, was 6 points per serving. But, I was able to shave off a couple of points because I didn't use the tartar sauce, and I used the thin buns that are available now. They're only 1 point instead of the 2 points buns usually are. So I figure that each serving ended up being only 4 points. The recipe makes 4 servings, but since I used more tuna, I got 5 patties out of it.
Well, time to do a Wiikout. I'm telling you, this hard level is really challenging for my wimpy legs. Squats, squats, squats, a few upper body exercises, and then more squats, with some tennis and volleyball thrown in for good measure. A few laps around the track, and then squats, squats...you get the picture. Doesn't this sound like fun?
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Black Bear Diner
Before I launch into my tirade this morning, let me just say that I'm well on my way to 9 lbs. now! (In lay terms, that means 8.6 lbs. but 9 sounds much better!)
We were supposed to meet another couple at the Black Bear Diner last night. They cancelled, and Manny and I felt gypped that we weren't going to get to go out to dinner, so we went anyway. We've eaten at Black Bear for breakfast, but wanted to try dinner. Besides, it's a new restaurant in Napa, and any new dining opportunity is worth trying out at least once. For those of you who aren't familiar with Black Bear, their specialty is comfort food...and lots of it. They actually have large and small portions of almost everything. And the small portions (as we now know) are the same size as what you would get in any other restaurant. So the large portions are for the likes of Paul Bunyon! The menu, well, "comfort food" really says it all. Anytime you need to drown your sorrows in something other than alcohol, this is the place for you. Think fried chicken, meat loaf, fish and chips, mashed potatoes, steaks, trailer-trash green beans (and no, I don't mean that as a cultural slur), macaroni and cheese - you get the picture.
I am nothing if not determined, so I ordered the safest thing on the menu - a taco salad. The waitress asked, very politely, "Large or small?" I asked what a small was like, and she made a shape with her hands that was the size of an appetizer salad, so I ordered large. The good news was that there were no beans - the bad news was that it came on, not a plate, but a platter big enough to hold a 15 lb. turkey! (I exaggerate, but only a little). There was the requisite fried tortilla shell on one end, and then the rest of the plate, to overflowing, was covered with lettuce and tomatoes, with a little cheese, chicken, olives, and avocados. Now I have to say - this was one fresh salad, and the salsa I used instead of dressing was very good. But does any human need to eat the equivalent of a head of lettuce in one sitting? I think not!
So, in summary, my tirade revolves around overabundance. The whole there are poor people starving in Ethiopia thing. When I looked at the size of the people in that restaurant last night, it was abundantly apparent that we, as a country, need to give some serious thought to portion sizes, waste (and waist), and general self-control. The next time we feel the need to drown our sorrows, we should forgo the alcohol and the food and try exercise or some other diversion instead. WE DO NOT NEED TO EAT SO MUCH!
I'll leave you with that thought for today.
We were supposed to meet another couple at the Black Bear Diner last night. They cancelled, and Manny and I felt gypped that we weren't going to get to go out to dinner, so we went anyway. We've eaten at Black Bear for breakfast, but wanted to try dinner. Besides, it's a new restaurant in Napa, and any new dining opportunity is worth trying out at least once. For those of you who aren't familiar with Black Bear, their specialty is comfort food...and lots of it. They actually have large and small portions of almost everything. And the small portions (as we now know) are the same size as what you would get in any other restaurant. So the large portions are for the likes of Paul Bunyon! The menu, well, "comfort food" really says it all. Anytime you need to drown your sorrows in something other than alcohol, this is the place for you. Think fried chicken, meat loaf, fish and chips, mashed potatoes, steaks, trailer-trash green beans (and no, I don't mean that as a cultural slur), macaroni and cheese - you get the picture.
I am nothing if not determined, so I ordered the safest thing on the menu - a taco salad. The waitress asked, very politely, "Large or small?" I asked what a small was like, and she made a shape with her hands that was the size of an appetizer salad, so I ordered large. The good news was that there were no beans - the bad news was that it came on, not a plate, but a platter big enough to hold a 15 lb. turkey! (I exaggerate, but only a little). There was the requisite fried tortilla shell on one end, and then the rest of the plate, to overflowing, was covered with lettuce and tomatoes, with a little cheese, chicken, olives, and avocados. Now I have to say - this was one fresh salad, and the salsa I used instead of dressing was very good. But does any human need to eat the equivalent of a head of lettuce in one sitting? I think not!
So, in summary, my tirade revolves around overabundance. The whole there are poor people starving in Ethiopia thing. When I looked at the size of the people in that restaurant last night, it was abundantly apparent that we, as a country, need to give some serious thought to portion sizes, waste (and waist), and general self-control. The next time we feel the need to drown our sorrows, we should forgo the alcohol and the food and try exercise or some other diversion instead. WE DO NOT NEED TO EAT SO MUCH!
I'll leave you with that thought for today.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
No Complaining Allowed (Mostly!)
I don't want to spend my blogging space complaining, but I didn't lose any of yesterday's gain! It's so discouraging. And that's all the wallowing in self pity I'm going to allow myself. Today is another day.
Don't tell Manny, but he hid the scale from me yesterday, and I found it this morning so I could weigh. Do you think I have a problem?
Last night's dinner was Pork Medallions in Lemon-Thyme Sauce from In a Flash. This was much better than the no-taste dinner I cooked Saturday. In fact, I wouldn't even make any changes to the recipe. They do give one tip that I should have followed, though. They say that pork tenderloin is easier to slice into medallions when the pork is very cold or partially frozen. I think they must be right. Mine was thawed, and it didn't slice as cleanly as I would have liked. Anyway, accompanied by mashed potatoes that were covered with the gravy from the pork dish, it was a nice, hot, satisfying meal. Unfortunately, and this is a result of not cooking for so many years, I forgot to plan the vegetable component of the meal. So our dinner was white - white pork, white-ish gravy, white potatoes, and even white wine. Julia Child is probably rolling over in her grave! But then, I don't aim (or claim) to be Julia Child!
Note to self: There is no room in the kitchen for butter-fingers. Mine weren't even buttery and I dropped a pot anyway! Luckily it was empty, so all was ok, but it could have been really ugly! Only the dogs would have appreciated pork all over the floor.
Tonight's dinner? Tuna burgers...although I think I have to use chicken!
Don't tell Manny, but he hid the scale from me yesterday, and I found it this morning so I could weigh. Do you think I have a problem?
Last night's dinner was Pork Medallions in Lemon-Thyme Sauce from In a Flash. This was much better than the no-taste dinner I cooked Saturday. In fact, I wouldn't even make any changes to the recipe. They do give one tip that I should have followed, though. They say that pork tenderloin is easier to slice into medallions when the pork is very cold or partially frozen. I think they must be right. Mine was thawed, and it didn't slice as cleanly as I would have liked. Anyway, accompanied by mashed potatoes that were covered with the gravy from the pork dish, it was a nice, hot, satisfying meal. Unfortunately, and this is a result of not cooking for so many years, I forgot to plan the vegetable component of the meal. So our dinner was white - white pork, white-ish gravy, white potatoes, and even white wine. Julia Child is probably rolling over in her grave! But then, I don't aim (or claim) to be Julia Child!
Note to self: There is no room in the kitchen for butter-fingers. Mine weren't even buttery and I dropped a pot anyway! Luckily it was empty, so all was ok, but it could have been really ugly! Only the dogs would have appreciated pork all over the floor.
Tonight's dinner? Tuna burgers...although I think I have to use chicken!
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Backward Slide
Up 2.5 lbs. today. Not a red-letter day in my diet world, but I'm taking it as a minor backslide. I suspect the reason, not something I want to post on this blog, has to do with forces that are out of my control. So we'll leave it at that. I'm hoping that with a little work, in a few days I'll be down to 8 lbs. again, and on my way to 9. Keep your fingers crossed.
Now for cooking. The meal I cooked on Saturday, Fusilli with Sausage, Spinach and Peppers from In a Flash, jumped off the pages of the cookbook. It was going to be a quick and easy, but tasty, flavorful, a culinary delight, if you will. It had such promise. Well I couldn't have been more disappointed. It was quick and easy - possibly the easiest dish I've made so far. Ok, I know these recipes aren't real high on the difficulty chart, but difficulty isn't the point of this project. When I want difficult, I'll turn to Emeril or Wolfgang or even Julia (isn't it nice that I'm on a first-name basis with THE people to know in the cooking world?) And it didn't taste bad...it just didn't taste at all. There was no flavor. The sause was chicken broth, sausage, red peppers and spinach. Seems like they should have made our palattes sing with delight, but the flavor didn't stick to the pasta, and so the sauce only made my palatte forget the words to the song it was ready to belt out minutes before we sat down to dinner. So - my suggestions - add some chili pepper flakes (just a little), and maybe some tomate sauce to add some stick-to-it-iveness. Maybe that will help.
Tonight's dinner will hopefully be much more exciting.
Now for cooking. The meal I cooked on Saturday, Fusilli with Sausage, Spinach and Peppers from In a Flash, jumped off the pages of the cookbook. It was going to be a quick and easy, but tasty, flavorful, a culinary delight, if you will. It had such promise. Well I couldn't have been more disappointed. It was quick and easy - possibly the easiest dish I've made so far. Ok, I know these recipes aren't real high on the difficulty chart, but difficulty isn't the point of this project. When I want difficult, I'll turn to Emeril or Wolfgang or even Julia (isn't it nice that I'm on a first-name basis with THE people to know in the cooking world?) And it didn't taste bad...it just didn't taste at all. There was no flavor. The sause was chicken broth, sausage, red peppers and spinach. Seems like they should have made our palattes sing with delight, but the flavor didn't stick to the pasta, and so the sauce only made my palatte forget the words to the song it was ready to belt out minutes before we sat down to dinner. So - my suggestions - add some chili pepper flakes (just a little), and maybe some tomate sauce to add some stick-to-it-iveness. Maybe that will help.
Tonight's dinner will hopefully be much more exciting.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Size DOES Matter!
8 lbs! I'm so relieved to finally have some forward progress, especially since I haven't been able to cook all week. As I said in an earlier blog, this is an eating-out week, and has been difficult at best.
I learned a valuable tip last night. At our weekly try-to-speak-Italian get together at a friend's house one of the group brought pizza. To be specific, it was a Papa Murphy's Gourmet Vegetarian pizza. If you haven't had one, I suggest you try it - they are...I can't even think of a good word to describe them...tasty, delicious, yummy - those don't even come close. The good thing about their gourmet pizzas is that they use white sauce instead of red sauce - and I'm a sucker for white pizza. Having only one slice is as impossible as eating only one Lays potato chip, so I had two. But I made sure each slice was small, so in total I had the equivalent of one slice, but it took longer to eat it and so I had the illusion of eating more. Apparently size matters!
Continuing along that vein, I've been told that one of the keys to successful weight loss is to chew slowly. Frequently I tell my husband that I didn't get enough chewing pleasure, and then I'm scrambling through the cupboards trying to find something to satisfy that chewing need (what am I, a teething baby?), or even worse, having seconds of whatever we had for dinner, when it would have been better not to eat so quickly - to extend the chewing pleasure, if you will.
Anyway, tonight is yet another eating out venture. This one will be easy - I already have my meal choice made - another good tip for whenever you already know what's on the menu.
I'm going back to cooking again on Saturday - I know it's hard to believe, but I'm actually looking forward to it! What IS this world coming to?
I learned a valuable tip last night. At our weekly try-to-speak-Italian get together at a friend's house one of the group brought pizza. To be specific, it was a Papa Murphy's Gourmet Vegetarian pizza. If you haven't had one, I suggest you try it - they are...I can't even think of a good word to describe them...tasty, delicious, yummy - those don't even come close. The good thing about their gourmet pizzas is that they use white sauce instead of red sauce - and I'm a sucker for white pizza. Having only one slice is as impossible as eating only one Lays potato chip, so I had two. But I made sure each slice was small, so in total I had the equivalent of one slice, but it took longer to eat it and so I had the illusion of eating more. Apparently size matters!
Continuing along that vein, I've been told that one of the keys to successful weight loss is to chew slowly. Frequently I tell my husband that I didn't get enough chewing pleasure, and then I'm scrambling through the cupboards trying to find something to satisfy that chewing need (what am I, a teething baby?), or even worse, having seconds of whatever we had for dinner, when it would have been better not to eat so quickly - to extend the chewing pleasure, if you will.
Anyway, tonight is yet another eating out venture. This one will be easy - I already have my meal choice made - another good tip for whenever you already know what's on the menu.
I'm going back to cooking again on Saturday - I know it's hard to believe, but I'm actually looking forward to it! What IS this world coming to?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Challenges!
I wish I had a recipe to report on today, but yesterday turned out to be another eating challenge. I didn't plan ahead, and we hadn't done the grocery shopping, and so there was nothing for me to fix. So, we went to Whole Foods to pick up "something healthy." Well, the only healthy thing there are the healthy prices! Ouch! I ended up with tabbuli, melon, and black bean soup - all good choices. But at a steep price!
So the question is this: How do serious dieters cope with today's hectic schedules,that don't always allow time for cooking, or result in eating out too often? One reader suggested planning and fixing meals the day before. A good idea, I think, but I need some help with restaurant meals. I can only eat so many salads, and the dishes I order that I think are dietarily safe seem to always arrive at my table laden with fat! It's really a challenge. But, case in point, I'll be eating out for lunch and dinner today and Thursday night and Friday, so I need help NOW!
I'll leave you with this thought for the day: There is nothing "dietarily safe" on a Mexican restaurant menu!
So the question is this: How do serious dieters cope with today's hectic schedules,that don't always allow time for cooking, or result in eating out too often? One reader suggested planning and fixing meals the day before. A good idea, I think, but I need some help with restaurant meals. I can only eat so many salads, and the dishes I order that I think are dietarily safe seem to always arrive at my table laden with fat! It's really a challenge. But, case in point, I'll be eating out for lunch and dinner today and Thursday night and Friday, so I need help NOW!
I'll leave you with this thought for the day: There is nothing "dietarily safe" on a Mexican restaurant menu!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Note to Self: Don't Open That Menu!
I'm very happy to report that after a weekend fraught with pitfalls, my 7 lbs. are still lost! I don't know why or how, considering my meal choices over the weekend, but I'm not complaining. It all started smoothly enough, and then my whole eating plan went to hell in a hand-basket on Saturday morning. I started the day with a bowl of oatmeal - harmless enough, right - just needed something to give me energy to get moving. But then I met my friend a couple of hours later for breakfast. I was just going to have a cup of coffee and an english muffin. But I made the mistake of opening the menu and two words that I love to see jumped right off the menu - BREAKFAST BURRITO. So I ate again - breakfast burrito with chorizo, no less! What was I thinking? I figured I would offset some of the chorizo fat by having egg whites instead of whole eggs - how silly of me. That burrito reminded it was there for the rest of the day. Finally, at about 8:00 that night, I had a small salad, but I was so hungry by the time we got back to the room at 11:30 that I ordered room service and ate a chicken sandwich - yes, at 11:30 at night! Again, what was I thinking? So on Sunday, I started repairing the damage, and herein lies the answer. We all fall down, but then we have to pick ourselves up again and continue with our program. No looking back. So, that's what I did. And look - I can't find those 7 lbs!
Anyway, I was anxious to have a nutritional meal last night, I think as a result of my poor eating on Saturday, and my irregular eating on Friday. So I made Lemon-Caper Chicken from In a Flash. This was one of the best things I've cooked so far. This and the linguine and clam sauce are my favorites. There were no problems, no hazards (no chopping), and no drama. My kind of cooking experience! I served it with Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Couscous (pre-packaged) and peas.
On a different note, I met a woman over the weekend who said she lost 60 lbs. on Weight Watchers, and I thought, "If she can do that, I certainly can lose my measly 15-25 lbs." She's accomplished quite a feat - she's an inspiration!
Anyway, I was anxious to have a nutritional meal last night, I think as a result of my poor eating on Saturday, and my irregular eating on Friday. So I made Lemon-Caper Chicken from In a Flash. This was one of the best things I've cooked so far. This and the linguine and clam sauce are my favorites. There were no problems, no hazards (no chopping), and no drama. My kind of cooking experience! I served it with Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Couscous (pre-packaged) and peas.
On a different note, I met a woman over the weekend who said she lost 60 lbs. on Weight Watchers, and I thought, "If she can do that, I certainly can lose my measly 15-25 lbs." She's accomplished quite a feat - she's an inspiration!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Eat, Sleep, Play
I didn't cook at all yesterday - just no time. So, since I'll be away for the weekend, I'm leaving you with a few thoughts.
As I mentioned yesterday, I seemed to have hit a weight-loss plateau, so I've been thinking about what I did differently over the last few days that may have caused my already slow-as-the-coming-of-cool-weather weight loss to stop completely. A couple of things come to mind.
First, I had a glass of wine with dinner for three nights now. Heavens to Murgatroid! They were each only a carefully measured 4 oz., or 2 points in WW parlance, but I've been told that wine contributes to weight gain. It may be that something in the wine counteracts the trend towards losing that other foods (like the salad (again) I ate last night or points-conscience WW meals) promote.
The other thing that's different is that I've only gotten 6 hours of sleep for the last two nights. It's those dang video games - who said they're not for grown-ups? Anyway, I've heard that not getting 8 hours of sleep per night contributes to weight gain - something to do with metabolism. So I'm wondering if being tired the last two days has slowed my metabolism enough that weight loss is slower. The question is are the games worth it? That's a tough one!
I'll leave you with that. As I said, I'll be away for the weekend, so until Sunday, or maybe Monday if I'm too lazy Sunday afternoon, get some sleep, stay away from the wine, but play video games - we have to have at least one vice!
As I mentioned yesterday, I seemed to have hit a weight-loss plateau, so I've been thinking about what I did differently over the last few days that may have caused my already slow-as-the-coming-of-cool-weather weight loss to stop completely. A couple of things come to mind.
First, I had a glass of wine with dinner for three nights now. Heavens to Murgatroid! They were each only a carefully measured 4 oz., or 2 points in WW parlance, but I've been told that wine contributes to weight gain. It may be that something in the wine counteracts the trend towards losing that other foods (like the salad (again) I ate last night or points-conscience WW meals) promote.
The other thing that's different is that I've only gotten 6 hours of sleep for the last two nights. It's those dang video games - who said they're not for grown-ups? Anyway, I've heard that not getting 8 hours of sleep per night contributes to weight gain - something to do with metabolism. So I'm wondering if being tired the last two days has slowed my metabolism enough that weight loss is slower. The question is are the games worth it? That's a tough one!
I'll leave you with that. As I said, I'll be away for the weekend, so until Sunday, or maybe Monday if I'm too lazy Sunday afternoon, get some sleep, stay away from the wine, but play video games - we have to have at least one vice!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Gone Fishin'
One of the challenges I've had with this new cooking venture is in making sure we have variety. I tend to seek out the chicken and pork recipes, for some reason, and have to work at doing something different. If I start clucking or start snorting you'll know I failed at diversity. So last night I decided fish was the thing.
Pan-Fried Flounder with Corn and Tomatoes from In a Flash was on the menu for last night. I used halibut instead of flounder, and I imagine any kind of fish that comes in steak-form would work just as well. The corn and tomatoes were really good...although having to slice a pint of cherry tomatoes into quarters was a bit of a drag (knives and I don't usually get along all that well). In reality, it was a 15-Minute Meal, so the whole thing didn't take very long at all. The fish was bland, though. I like spicier, more flavorful things. The next time I make it I'll add some kind of seasoning to the fish and then it will be perfect.
But the best thing about the dinner, believe it or not, was the Idahoan Garlic and Cheese instant mashed potatoes I made to go with it. I was very surprised. I wonder, when all is said and done, what it means about the rest of the dinner, if the prepackaged powdered potatoes got the highest rating?
As for weight loss, well I seem to be at one of those dreaded plateaus everyone always talks about. The good news is that I haven't gained anything and am still holding at 7 lbs. The problem is that I'm leaving tomorrow for a weekend of scrapbooking - which means eating away from home for a few days. The red Danger lights are flashing. I'll have to be really diligent...
Pan-Fried Flounder with Corn and Tomatoes from In a Flash was on the menu for last night. I used halibut instead of flounder, and I imagine any kind of fish that comes in steak-form would work just as well. The corn and tomatoes were really good...although having to slice a pint of cherry tomatoes into quarters was a bit of a drag (knives and I don't usually get along all that well). In reality, it was a 15-Minute Meal, so the whole thing didn't take very long at all. The fish was bland, though. I like spicier, more flavorful things. The next time I make it I'll add some kind of seasoning to the fish and then it will be perfect.
But the best thing about the dinner, believe it or not, was the Idahoan Garlic and Cheese instant mashed potatoes I made to go with it. I was very surprised. I wonder, when all is said and done, what it means about the rest of the dinner, if the prepackaged powdered potatoes got the highest rating?
As for weight loss, well I seem to be at one of those dreaded plateaus everyone always talks about. The good news is that I haven't gained anything and am still holding at 7 lbs. The problem is that I'm leaving tomorrow for a weekend of scrapbooking - which means eating away from home for a few days. The red Danger lights are flashing. I'll have to be really diligent...
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Bivalves, Bread, and Wine
I'm a slug. I didn't cook yesterday, and I didn't make breakfast this morning, either. I had good intentions about breakfast, but I couldn't get my laziness out of bed in time to make it before Manny had to leave for work, and what I was going to make was too much for just one person. Oh well, there are plenty of cooking days left.
We went to locals' night at the Oxbow, a little market-y place in Napa. Hogs Island had happy hour oysters, so 8 of us dined on oysters, bread, and wine. It wasn't nearly enough to fill Manny up, but I was fine - that's the benefit of not working out like a fiend, like he does. Less exercise means less food - hey! An idea for a new diet plan - The Don't Exercise and Lose Weight Plan. That'll be a best seller for sure! Anyway, the best part was that oysters are only 1 point for 6 and it was better than any dinner I could have fixed.
No cooking means no opportunity to hurt myself, so all is well in my world!
We went to locals' night at the Oxbow, a little market-y place in Napa. Hogs Island had happy hour oysters, so 8 of us dined on oysters, bread, and wine. It wasn't nearly enough to fill Manny up, but I was fine - that's the benefit of not working out like a fiend, like he does. Less exercise means less food - hey! An idea for a new diet plan - The Don't Exercise and Lose Weight Plan. That'll be a best seller for sure! Anyway, the best part was that oysters are only 1 point for 6 and it was better than any dinner I could have fixed.
No cooking means no opportunity to hurt myself, so all is well in my world!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Choppers are Dangerous!
7 lbs today! I know it may be hard to believe, but I can actually feel a small (very small) difference in my clothes.
I was home yesterday, so I had a little time to make something special for lunch instead of the usual Smart Ones frozen lunch. And so I chose Tuna-and-Bow Tie Pasta Salad from Day by Day. This was an easy recipe, even for me, and it didn't take too long to prepare, but in the end, it wasn't all that wonderful. I mean it tasted fine, but it needed some pizazz. Maybe my lack of enthusiasm has something to do with the fact that I had it for lunch, and then again for dinner. In any case, for those who aren't adventurous eaters (and you know who you are), this might be a good recipe for you. Pasta, tomato, carrot, cucumber, celery, and tuna. You can't go wrong there.
Note to self: Keep your fingers out of the way when chopping. No, I didn't cut myself with the knife, but I pinched my finger between the top of the chopper and the thing you push down on. And, as you might imagine, when chopping one uses quite a bit of force. So, there was a little swearing and some jumping up and down, but the pasta needed to be drained, so I couldn't dwell on my misery for long. A messy kitchen and a bruised finger later I had a nice (although boring) salad for lunch.
Second note to self: Do not sip wine vinegar from a spoon. All I wanted to do was see what flavor of vinegar I wanted to use in the salad, so I sipped a little to taste. Maybe slurp was more accurate, because that vinegar went right to the back of my throat and I started coughing...gagging...choking...struggling for breath...and diving for water. I caused so much of a rucus that the dogs came in to see what was going on. Maybe I should teach them CPR?
I think tomorrow I might try breakfast - maybe it's safer. Stay tuned!
I was home yesterday, so I had a little time to make something special for lunch instead of the usual Smart Ones frozen lunch. And so I chose Tuna-and-Bow Tie Pasta Salad from Day by Day. This was an easy recipe, even for me, and it didn't take too long to prepare, but in the end, it wasn't all that wonderful. I mean it tasted fine, but it needed some pizazz. Maybe my lack of enthusiasm has something to do with the fact that I had it for lunch, and then again for dinner. In any case, for those who aren't adventurous eaters (and you know who you are), this might be a good recipe for you. Pasta, tomato, carrot, cucumber, celery, and tuna. You can't go wrong there.
Note to self: Keep your fingers out of the way when chopping. No, I didn't cut myself with the knife, but I pinched my finger between the top of the chopper and the thing you push down on. And, as you might imagine, when chopping one uses quite a bit of force. So, there was a little swearing and some jumping up and down, but the pasta needed to be drained, so I couldn't dwell on my misery for long. A messy kitchen and a bruised finger later I had a nice (although boring) salad for lunch.
Second note to self: Do not sip wine vinegar from a spoon. All I wanted to do was see what flavor of vinegar I wanted to use in the salad, so I sipped a little to taste. Maybe slurp was more accurate, because that vinegar went right to the back of my throat and I started coughing...gagging...choking...struggling for breath...and diving for water. I caused so much of a rucus that the dogs came in to see what was going on. Maybe I should teach them CPR?
I think tomorrow I might try breakfast - maybe it's safer. Stay tuned!
Monday, August 3, 2009
I'm Back!
I took a few days off - from cooking and from blogging. We had leftovers that needed to be eaten, and it's been a busy few days.
We had a yard sale on Saturday, which meant Manny and I spent a Saturday a few weeks ago going through all that stuff that accumulated over the years. Then I spent last Friday cleaning it all up and tagging it for the sale. Then we spent Saturday putting it all out so we could pick it all up again in the afternoon. In the end, we made some extra money - according to my calculations, we made approximately $4.68 per hour. But, we got rid of some stuff, and we went to Goodwill with the majority of the rest of it, so we'll have a tax write off. I remember now why I don't like to do yard sales!
Now it's back to the grind. Today I'm going to make a pasta salad for lunch (I took today off). I don't think I'll be making dinner tonight - our schedules are getting in the way again!
By the way - 6 lbs in spite of burritos on Friday and dinner out on Saturday!
We had a yard sale on Saturday, which meant Manny and I spent a Saturday a few weeks ago going through all that stuff that accumulated over the years. Then I spent last Friday cleaning it all up and tagging it for the sale. Then we spent Saturday putting it all out so we could pick it all up again in the afternoon. In the end, we made some extra money - according to my calculations, we made approximately $4.68 per hour. But, we got rid of some stuff, and we went to Goodwill with the majority of the rest of it, so we'll have a tax write off. I remember now why I don't like to do yard sales!
Now it's back to the grind. Today I'm going to make a pasta salad for lunch (I took today off). I don't think I'll be making dinner tonight - our schedules are getting in the way again!
By the way - 6 lbs in spite of burritos on Friday and dinner out on Saturday!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Day 11 - Chops
Last night's dinner was as good as I had hoped. It was Peppered Pork Chop Casserole from Day by Day. It's chops and rice, with tomatoes and green peppers. Not quick, because it has to bake for an hour, but I had time last night so that was ok.
Working out has become more of a challenge. I'm in my 3rd 30-day challenge and working on the hard level...and it is hard...much harder than the intermediate level. I do lunges and then squats and then jump lunges or jump squats one after the other until my legs feel like the noodles I ate with the linguine and clams a few nights ago. And then it's a couple of upper body exercises, and then the whole thing starts all over again. That which doesn't kill you makes you strong - literally!
No cooking for me today, we are having dinner at a friend's house. It's another Italian dinner - this time homemade gnocchi - a sabotage opportunity for those calorie gremlins. You know them - they're the sneaky critters that add calories (or WW points) before you know what hit you. It goes like this - "Mary Beth, you have to try this appetizer. It's so tasty, and it's shrimp - not fattening at all." After the fourth shrimp, you find out that it's so tasty because it was marinated in oil and than sauteed in butter! I'll have to be on my guard the rest of the day today just to be prepared for tonight.
Note to self - Don't weigh tomorrow!
Working out has become more of a challenge. I'm in my 3rd 30-day challenge and working on the hard level...and it is hard...much harder than the intermediate level. I do lunges and then squats and then jump lunges or jump squats one after the other until my legs feel like the noodles I ate with the linguine and clams a few nights ago. And then it's a couple of upper body exercises, and then the whole thing starts all over again. That which doesn't kill you makes you strong - literally!
No cooking for me today, we are having dinner at a friend's house. It's another Italian dinner - this time homemade gnocchi - a sabotage opportunity for those calorie gremlins. You know them - they're the sneaky critters that add calories (or WW points) before you know what hit you. It goes like this - "Mary Beth, you have to try this appetizer. It's so tasty, and it's shrimp - not fattening at all." After the fourth shrimp, you find out that it's so tasty because it was marinated in oil and than sauteed in butter! I'll have to be on my guard the rest of the day today just to be prepared for tonight.
Note to self - Don't weigh tomorrow!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 10 - Lessons Learned!
5 lbs! After all that agonizing and moaning and fretting and wondering what I was going to do if I gained weight in front of everyone instead of losing, I weighed myself this morning (even though my note to self yesterday was not to weigh everyday) and I lost all the weight I had gained plus a few more ounces! Now I'm at exactly 5 lbs! When I think of how much mental energy I wasted yesterday because I was upset and annoyed at what I was viewing as a major (can you believe it?) setback, I see that I really need to make a change here.
Repeat note to self: Save myself the agony and don't weigh every day! The scale is my enemy! Maybe it's time to have Manny hide the scale again so I can stop this obsessiveness.
I didn't cook at all yesterday because we had leftovers that needed to be devoured. But tonight I have something yummy planned. I wonder if it's a bad thing to be looking forward to dinner at 8:00 in the morning.
Repeat note to self: Save myself the agony and don't weigh every day! The scale is my enemy! Maybe it's time to have Manny hide the scale again so I can stop this obsessiveness.
I didn't cook at all yesterday because we had leftovers that needed to be devoured. But tonight I have something yummy planned. I wonder if it's a bad thing to be looking forward to dinner at 8:00 in the morning.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day 9 - I Love Clams!
Linguine with clam sauce has always been one of my favorites, so I was especially excited to try last night's recipe - plus I was very hungry. Spicy Linguine and Clams from In a Flash. It was really tasty, but there were a couple of things I would do differently next time. First, I used too much garlic - not surprising, since I used more than what the recipe called for. I love garlic, too. Second, I should have used less red pepper. They didn't lie, it was fairly spicy. I didn't use the optional wine, either. My philosophy - no need to add extra points - I eat enough points as it is!
Disaster! I did the unforgivable and used a metal whisk (briefly) on a nonstick Calphalon pan! Luckily for me, there were no scratches, or I would be buying a new pan today. I'm very lucky Manny even lets me use his pans and all of a sudden he was on the verge of banning me from the kitchen for good, but one whiff of the garlic and clams made him realize on which side his bread was buttered! Whew - that was a close one!
On a different note, we've (this is the queen's we, because Manny does the shopping) have had some difficulty finding some of the ingredients in these recipes. For example, we couldn't find the right size can of clams, so we had to buy two smaller ones. I used both, which added more clams that what was called for, and that turned out to be good, but that's beside the point. Also, we couldn't find the type of sausage the cassoulet required, so we had to improvise there, too. I guess improvising makes them my own recipes, though, so I shouldn't complain. Maybe I should write a cookbook.
On a weight loss note - disappointment again today! I gained a little more, so as of today, I've lost only 3 pounds (give or take a few ounces). The only thing I can attribute it to is that we've eaten very late the last few nights, and that can't be good. I have been very diligent about what I eat and I've been getting my exercise. I would like to think I'm building muscle, but really. What little bit I've gained in muscle mass can't possible weigh anything at all!
Note to self: Stop weighing every day. We all know our weight fluctuates, and the ups are very hard to take!
Tomorrow will be better!
Disaster! I did the unforgivable and used a metal whisk (briefly) on a nonstick Calphalon pan! Luckily for me, there were no scratches, or I would be buying a new pan today. I'm very lucky Manny even lets me use his pans and all of a sudden he was on the verge of banning me from the kitchen for good, but one whiff of the garlic and clams made him realize on which side his bread was buttered! Whew - that was a close one!
On a different note, we've (this is the queen's we, because Manny does the shopping) have had some difficulty finding some of the ingredients in these recipes. For example, we couldn't find the right size can of clams, so we had to buy two smaller ones. I used both, which added more clams that what was called for, and that turned out to be good, but that's beside the point. Also, we couldn't find the type of sausage the cassoulet required, so we had to improvise there, too. I guess improvising makes them my own recipes, though, so I shouldn't complain. Maybe I should write a cookbook.
On a weight loss note - disappointment again today! I gained a little more, so as of today, I've lost only 3 pounds (give or take a few ounces). The only thing I can attribute it to is that we've eaten very late the last few nights, and that can't be good. I have been very diligent about what I eat and I've been getting my exercise. I would like to think I'm building muscle, but really. What little bit I've gained in muscle mass can't possible weigh anything at all!
Note to self: Stop weighing every day. We all know our weight fluctuates, and the ups are very hard to take!
Tomorrow will be better!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 8 - Tribute to the Tour
In honor of the last day of the Tour d' France (not really) I cooked Stovetop Cassoulet from In a Flash. It was good, although the breadcrumb topping was a bit much. I think the amount used needs to correspond to the diameter of the pan. Mine must have been narrower than theirs, because the result of mine was a mouthful of dry crumbs. Yuk! If I had used less crumbs, though, it would have been perfect.
Disappointment this morning - I gained 1.5 lbs. How did that happen? Oh well, it's still 3.5 lbs. for the week, and that's not too bad.
I haven't mentioned yet the exercise part of this plan. I've been doing (don't laugh) the Wii Pro Active as my workout. I've done the 30-day challenge on the easy and intermediate levels, and have now started the INTENSE level. Ooohhhh! When you're finished rolling around the floor laughing your head off, remember that exercise is exercise, and it seems to work for me. So, while I may look goofy jumping up and down in front of the TV, I'm burning some calories. Since some magic potion isn't going to take away these extra pounds, it looks like I'll have to do it myself.
Disappointment this morning - I gained 1.5 lbs. How did that happen? Oh well, it's still 3.5 lbs. for the week, and that's not too bad.
I haven't mentioned yet the exercise part of this plan. I've been doing (don't laugh) the Wii Pro Active as my workout. I've done the 30-day challenge on the easy and intermediate levels, and have now started the INTENSE level. Ooohhhh! When you're finished rolling around the floor laughing your head off, remember that exercise is exercise, and it seems to work for me. So, while I may look goofy jumping up and down in front of the TV, I'm burning some calories. Since some magic potion isn't going to take away these extra pounds, it looks like I'll have to do it myself.
Day 7 - A Day of Rest
Yesterday I cooked nothing! The day was far, far too busy for cooking, and we had plenty of leftovers from the other nights.
Weight loss is going well. I'm at almost 5 lbs. now. I'm feeling guardedly optimistic.
Weight loss is going well. I'm at almost 5 lbs. now. I'm feeling guardedly optimistic.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Day 6 - Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!
4 lbs!
Yesterday was Friday, the day I said was so fraught with pitfalls. And in spite of that, I still lost a little more weight! I defeated my enemy with oatmeal for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and then I was able to have pizza for dinner. I saved most of my extra points for the pizza and a glass of wine and boy was it worth it!
My culinary experiments switched to dessert yesterday. Blackberry Cobbler from All Things Sweet. It was delicious! Yes, I even ate a small serving of cobbler and yes, I really did lose a few more ounces!
Note to self:
It really is not necessary to throw empty cans and yogurt tops into the sink while cooking. They can go in the garbage or recycling just as easily, as Manny so kindly pointed out last night while he was cleaning up. It was a comment, which I have to admit, I did not accept all that graciously! Oh well, something else to work on. It's progress, not perfection, right?
Yesterday was Friday, the day I said was so fraught with pitfalls. And in spite of that, I still lost a little more weight! I defeated my enemy with oatmeal for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and then I was able to have pizza for dinner. I saved most of my extra points for the pizza and a glass of wine and boy was it worth it!
My culinary experiments switched to dessert yesterday. Blackberry Cobbler from All Things Sweet. It was delicious! Yes, I even ate a small serving of cobbler and yes, I really did lose a few more ounces!
Note to self:
It really is not necessary to throw empty cans and yogurt tops into the sink while cooking. They can go in the garbage or recycling just as easily, as Manny so kindly pointed out last night while he was cleaning up. It was a comment, which I have to admit, I did not accept all that graciously! Oh well, something else to work on. It's progress, not perfection, right?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 5 - I Might Be Liking This!
So far, so good. I haven't burned the house down, ruined any of Manny's pots, or cooked something unedible. There's still time, however...
Last night's dinner was Tortellini in Garlic Broth with White Beans and Greens from In a Flash. So easy even a caveman can do it...har har. I thought it was going to be tortellini cooked in broth, but it was more of a very thick soup, and delicious! My favorite so far.
Minimal mess, good food, a few more ounces lost - things are looking up!
Last night's dinner was Tortellini in Garlic Broth with White Beans and Greens from In a Flash. So easy even a caveman can do it...har har. I thought it was going to be tortellini cooked in broth, but it was more of a very thick soup, and delicious! My favorite so far.
Minimal mess, good food, a few more ounces lost - things are looking up!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Day 4 - I Love Peanut Butter!
It's true. I'll eat anything peanut butter flavored. When I saw the recipe for Peanut Butter Breakfast Shake in the In a Flash book, I knew I had to try it (admittedly I have to try every recipe, but that's besides the point!)
Note to self:
Don't use the stick blender, an open container, and large ice cubes - I'm sure I don't need to describe the possibilities. Luckily I was quick on the release, so the mess was minimal!
I survived last night's dinner. I did have two servings of malfatti - they were delicious - but they were very small servings, only a couple of crackers and cheese, a large salad, and only 1/2 glass of wine. And I didn't gain anything!
Tomorrow will be a day off from cooking - and sabatoge day. I saved all my extra points to get me through Friday, because we go out to breakfast (danger) and I'm meeting a friend for lunch (danger) and we always eat pizza, burritos, or something equally as bad for Friday night dinner and movies (extreme danger).
Note to self:
Don't use the stick blender, an open container, and large ice cubes - I'm sure I don't need to describe the possibilities. Luckily I was quick on the release, so the mess was minimal!
I survived last night's dinner. I did have two servings of malfatti - they were delicious - but they were very small servings, only a couple of crackers and cheese, a large salad, and only 1/2 glass of wine. And I didn't gain anything!
Tomorrow will be a day off from cooking - and sabatoge day. I saved all my extra points to get me through Friday, because we go out to breakfast (danger) and I'm meeting a friend for lunch (danger) and we always eat pizza, burritos, or something equally as bad for Friday night dinner and movies (extreme danger).
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Day 3 - Ham
3 lbs so far - a little success is a wonderful thing. (Hey all you nay-sayers - I know the first 5 lbs. are easy, but there's nothing wrong with a little self-congratulation!)
Last night's menu was Ham Steaks with Apricot-Mustard Glaze from the In a Flash cookbook. No matter how carefully I plan, I never seem to have exactly the right ingredients and last night was no exception. So I substituted apple butter for the apricot jam the recipe called for. Actually, it was very good! This is a quick and easy recipe in the 15-minute recipe section of the book. So, with some couscous and some veggies, I had a quick and easy meal. This was important, because I didn't even start cooking until 9:30!
Wake up call - when I was desperately searching the internet yesterday for the name of the cookbook my first recipe was from (it was Day By Day, by the way), I realized that there are many, many WW cookbooks. In my first blog entry I believe I said I was going to make every recipe in every WW cookbook. In retrospect, it seems that may be an overly optimistic goal. I think I may just stick with the three books I have and be happy with that.
Today is going to be a dieting challenge because I'm having dinner at a friend's house, and she's making malfatti, and there will be appetizers, and wine, and dessert. I just have to remember - portion control, portion control, portion control...and watch my points during the day today.
Last night's menu was Ham Steaks with Apricot-Mustard Glaze from the In a Flash cookbook. No matter how carefully I plan, I never seem to have exactly the right ingredients and last night was no exception. So I substituted apple butter for the apricot jam the recipe called for. Actually, it was very good! This is a quick and easy recipe in the 15-minute recipe section of the book. So, with some couscous and some veggies, I had a quick and easy meal. This was important, because I didn't even start cooking until 9:30!
Wake up call - when I was desperately searching the internet yesterday for the name of the cookbook my first recipe was from (it was Day By Day, by the way), I realized that there are many, many WW cookbooks. In my first blog entry I believe I said I was going to make every recipe in every WW cookbook. In retrospect, it seems that may be an overly optimistic goal. I think I may just stick with the three books I have and be happy with that.
Today is going to be a dieting challenge because I'm having dinner at a friend's house, and she's making malfatti, and there will be appetizers, and wine, and dessert. I just have to remember - portion control, portion control, portion control...and watch my points during the day today.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Day 2 - The Beginning
Well, I did it! I cooked a meal...and it was pretty good! Three Bean Enchiladas from...well...I forgot the name of the cookbook! I'll have to add it later.
Note to self:
Don't put more in the food processor than what the food processor can hold. Seems like common sense. But I tried overload and what happened was the stuff at the bottom got over-chopped and the stuff at the top didn't get chopped at all! It should have been obvious it wasn't going to work when I had to smash the lid on to get the bowl closed In the end, I mixed it all up and got the texture I was after anyway. But then I had to fish out the garlic and chop it by hand. I didn't think that biting into a clove of garlic in the middle of an enchilada would add very much to the overall eating experience!
I served the enchiladas with artichokes, because we had them already. I know, when was the last time you saw artichokes on a menu in a Mexican restaurant? But I wanted artichokes, and I'm not a Mexican restaurant, so as far as I'm concerned, anything goes, as long as I stay under my points limit and I cook one thing from a WW cookbook. Those are the rules. Anyway, I made a Mexicany dip for them. It was very filling, and I stayed one point under my quota for the day.
Success!
Note to self:
Don't put more in the food processor than what the food processor can hold. Seems like common sense. But I tried overload and what happened was the stuff at the bottom got over-chopped and the stuff at the top didn't get chopped at all! It should have been obvious it wasn't going to work when I had to smash the lid on to get the bowl closed In the end, I mixed it all up and got the texture I was after anyway. But then I had to fish out the garlic and chop it by hand. I didn't think that biting into a clove of garlic in the middle of an enchilada would add very much to the overall eating experience!
I served the enchiladas with artichokes, because we had them already. I know, when was the last time you saw artichokes on a menu in a Mexican restaurant? But I wanted artichokes, and I'm not a Mexican restaurant, so as far as I'm concerned, anything goes, as long as I stay under my points limit and I cook one thing from a WW cookbook. Those are the rules. Anyway, I made a Mexicany dip for them. It was very filling, and I stayed one point under my quota for the day.
Success!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Cooking the Weight Watchers Way
Yes, being an honest person, I have to admit that I borrowed the idea from the movie. It's a good idea - why not use it? But I really didn't think that there would be anyone who cares about what I think about cooking. Then Manny had the idea that I could cook my way through the WW cookbooks and write a blog about my experiences (my friends and family know I don't cook, so this is a big deal for me!), and that I could include my weight-loss progress as well.
7 or 8 years ago I lost 25 pounds through the WW plan, and was able to keep it off until I hit that magic number, 50! Now that I'm here, the weight appears in the blink of an eye, but doesn't come off no matter how much chips & salsas I skip, how much excercise I get, or how many tantrums I throw with threats to never eat again until I lose some weight. Although I can do very well with counting points during the day, the nights are difficult. Manny does the cooking, and he's a very good cook, conscientious about fat content and ingredients. But it appears I have a problem with portion control (that's the only excuse I haven't used yet).
So, I'm here to make a pledge - I will make every recipe in every WW cookbook, and I will lose 25 lbs. (I would be happy with 15 lbs.) in the process. And, I'll record my experiences with each recipe here for anyone who is interested. Feel free to comment, take any tips you see, or share your experiences and encouragement. This is my very public way to lose weight, start cooking again, and hopefully have some fun in the process.
Happy eating!
7 or 8 years ago I lost 25 pounds through the WW plan, and was able to keep it off until I hit that magic number, 50! Now that I'm here, the weight appears in the blink of an eye, but doesn't come off no matter how much chips & salsas I skip, how much excercise I get, or how many tantrums I throw with threats to never eat again until I lose some weight. Although I can do very well with counting points during the day, the nights are difficult. Manny does the cooking, and he's a very good cook, conscientious about fat content and ingredients. But it appears I have a problem with portion control (that's the only excuse I haven't used yet).
So, I'm here to make a pledge - I will make every recipe in every WW cookbook, and I will lose 25 lbs. (I would be happy with 15 lbs.) in the process. And, I'll record my experiences with each recipe here for anyone who is interested. Feel free to comment, take any tips you see, or share your experiences and encouragement. This is my very public way to lose weight, start cooking again, and hopefully have some fun in the process.
Happy eating!
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