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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
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?
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