Here it is my favorite time of the year....time for pumpkins of course! And of course, the reason I love this time of year is simply because it leads us right into Thanksgiving and Christmas! I have already started dreaming of sugarplums and my crafty heart has already taken over. I have been making ornaments and planning my annual cookie exchange! I am going to share with you today my recipe for my ornaments and the instructions for hosting your own cookie exchange!
But first....news....I am down 64 pounds and hopefully still losing. For the past couple weeks I have been stuck on another plateau, but this morning I finally got the scales to drop 1 pound from last week...so hopefully that plateau is broke! Fingers crossed!
My daughter is just about potty trained. She practically has done it herself though she tends to be a little on the stubborn side and wants to do it on her own time. If she doesn't feel like dealing with it, then she won't. I have learned not to push it. She knows what she is doing. She completely understands what is going on with her body but refuses to do it the way I want her to, so I figure eventually she will do it. I just need to let her make her mind up to do it. It is in times like these, I say she takes after her daddy. Stubborness always comes from the daddy's side doesn't it ladies? :)
Ok, so I told you that my annual cookie exchange is just around the corner. This will be my 7th year and every year it seems to grow and get better. I have learned a lot in the past 6 years I have done it. So here is how it works. You invite approximately 20 friends. Always invite more than you expect to come that way you can get close to a dozen. This year my party may be closer to 15 people. If this happens you just ask them to bring more cookies. Each person gives me 2 unique cookie or candy recipes by a certain date prior to the party. (I type them all into a cookbook with pictures to hand out to the guests so I need enough time to type them and print them.) I ask the guests to pick out Christmas PJ's and crazy Christmas socks to wear to the party. I find that a morning party from about 9 to 12ish works best. The ladies love to come decked out in PJ's and enjoy brunch together.
Each guest brings with them 2 dozen of each recipe. (I always have them prebag 2 of each recipe in baggies so each guest can just go around and pick up baggies of each cookie. This is more santitary and keeps the cookies fresher longer.) They also bring a tray on which to collect their cookies. As guests arrive we arrange all the cookies on a huge table (sometimes 2 or 3 tables) and we mingle till everyone arrives. Guests are given the cookbook of all the cookie recipes. Once everyone arrives we eat brunch and play a few games. I prepare prizes ahead of time for the games (though I always make sure everyone leaves with a prize/present from under my tree). As the party begins to wind down, each guest grabs their tray and begins to go around the tables to collect 2 cookies/candies of each recipe brought to the party. Everyone usually has a full tray of cookies and candy to take home. Oh, and we pick the person wearing the craziest socks to win a prize too!
It is a lot of fun and if you have never done it, I recommend doing one. It is a great time for gals without the hubbies or the kids. We all need that girl time and this is the perfect way to do it!
Now as favors/prizes I have made some super easy salt dough ornaments. Do you remember making salt dough ornaments as a kid? I do. These are so much cuter than the ones we used to make.
You will need:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup warm water
Whole Peppercorns
Clear Spray Enamel
Red food coloring (Optional)
Gingerbread man cookie cutters (or any other design you wish to do)
A straw
Directions:
Mix together the flour, salt, and water with your hands in a bowl till a stiff dough forms. Sprinkle counter or surface with flour and roll out dough. I cut my ornaments about 1/2 inch thick maybe slightly less. Heat your oven to 325 degrees. Spray baking sheets with cooking spray. Cut gingerbread men out and lay on sprayed pan. Press peppercorns in for eyes and buttons to decorate. (Optional: I saved a little bit of dough, about golf ball size, to tint pink for hearts. Squeeze red food coloring onto the dough and work in by kneading and pressing till dough is colored pink or red. Take a pea size amount of the red dough and roll it till it is a snake shape. Take ends and wrap into the center of the strand to form a heart shape. Work and press your fingers to fill in gaps of the heart to make a solid heart shape. Attach heart by rubbing on a bit of water to the back of the heart and apply to the gingerbread man....pressing slightly). Poke holes for ornament string using a straw. I like to put a hole on each hand of the gingerbread man for evenly weighted hanging. Bake in the 325 degree oven for 50 - 60 minutes. Keep an eye on them after about 40 minutes as thinner ornaments can brown too fast. If they brown, I still keep them because I think it adds a bit of character. After they have cooled you can remove them from the pan and allow to sit out overnight. The next day you can spray them front and back with clear spray to seal and protect them. Attach your ornament sring or wire for hanging.
These little guys turned out so stinking cute. I decided to do 2 big ones with a little one in the middle for our family ornament this year.
Hopefully you have your Christmas thoughts dancing in your heads. Plan a cookie party and make some ornaments.....you will be glad you did!
Have a great one!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Yes, I'm Still Alive!
I know, you are wondering where in the world I have been! Life has happened and has taken me from my beloved pumpkin patch! I ended up having a very busy summer and have now been back in school for almost 3 weeks. I happily am down 58 pounds total and continue to go down each week!
I have already begun thinking about fall! My husband and I put out our fall stuff. No it isn't too early! We tend to do things about a month before everyone else does and Christmas stuff will be going up in about 2 1/2 months so in order to enjoy our fall decor it has to go out now! I love this time of year! I begin thinking about harvesting my pears from the pear tree, visiting pumpkin patches and festivals, and enjoying all those goodies covered with pecans, caramel, pumpkin pie spice, or cinnamon! I begin my hunt for the perfect smelling fall plug in to scent my house. I do love this time of year! Seems once school starts back, I am ready for fall.
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on us. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that day. I had just started my 3rd year of teaching. I had walked up to the front office to get my mail when I was told that the World Trade Center Towers had both been hit. My 1st graders were at specials so I walked back to my classroom and watched the television in disbelief. I remember wondering what in the world was happening. I remember being scared and sad. I remember asking, "Do we tell our class what has happened or go about our business and let the parents tell them when the time was right?" With them being only 1st graders, I believe the decision was made not to say anything but to carry on with business as usual. That was very difficult. I wanted to be glued to the television. I remember it being very difficult to turn it off and conduct regular business. I was in disbelief as was everyone else. The 10th anniversary has been made public and when I see the pictures and videos it all still seems like it happened yesterday. It is hard to believe how far America has come since that day. I am STILL proud to be an American and I will never forget that day and how it made me feel, even in my little county in Kentucky.
I have some nice recipes for dishes I have tried since we last talked. I have an awesome dessert recipe I am definately going to share with you today! I made them for my church's 130th homecoming celebration. They are called cake balls and they are sooooo simple and easy to make. I had so many people asking me for the recipe and when I told them the recipe they were shocked. BTW...these are not Weight Watcher friendly so beware! So here goes.....
CAKE BALLS
*1 cooled cake (you can use a cooled cake made from a mix or I just bought a bakery bundt cake from my local grocery store)
*liquid coffee creamer (enough to make a small pool of liquid and depends on how much cake you have)
*chocolate chips (can be any flavor...white, chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, mint, etc..)
Buy a cake, liquid coffee creamer and chocolate chips that go together...for example if you are using a chocolate cake you might use a hazelnut creamer and dark chocolate chips or a peppermint creamer and mint chocolate chips, or a chocolate mocha creamer and white chocolate chips. Be creative. You may want to do a white cake with coconut creamer and white chocolate or a pumpkin cake with a pumpkin spice creamer and white chocolate...or a strawberry, lemon, or orange cake with french vanilla creamer and white chocolate chips.....the possibilities are endless.
Crumble your dry cake with a fork. Use your hands to complete the crumbling process. Using your hands, push the crumbled cake to the sides of the bowl making a small well in the center. Pour enough coffee creamer to make a small puddle. You are just using the creamer as a binding agent so don't get too heavy but need enough that the cake crumbs will bind together. Using your hands mix the creamer and cake crumbs together till you are able to make small balls of cake. If the mix is too dry add more creamer.
Roll the cake into small balls about quarter size and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Place the balls into the freezer for about 30 minutes. Melt your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Pull the cake balls out of the freezer and roll in the chocolate. The cake bals will begin to crumble as they begin to warm so it takes a lot of the chocolate to cover them. Set up on the same cold baking sheet so that they set up quickly. Store in the fridge. Number of balls you make varies on the cake size.
I made lemon cake with white chocolate and a chocolate cake with peanut butter chips. They went over very well....like I said, a lot of people asked me how to make them. I have plans to make a strawberry version of these for my daughter's next birthday since it will be Strawberry Shortcake themed. Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully I won't stay a stranger in the pink pumpkin patch anymore! Ta! Ta!
I have already begun thinking about fall! My husband and I put out our fall stuff. No it isn't too early! We tend to do things about a month before everyone else does and Christmas stuff will be going up in about 2 1/2 months so in order to enjoy our fall decor it has to go out now! I love this time of year! I begin thinking about harvesting my pears from the pear tree, visiting pumpkin patches and festivals, and enjoying all those goodies covered with pecans, caramel, pumpkin pie spice, or cinnamon! I begin my hunt for the perfect smelling fall plug in to scent my house. I do love this time of year! Seems once school starts back, I am ready for fall.
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on us. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that day. I had just started my 3rd year of teaching. I had walked up to the front office to get my mail when I was told that the World Trade Center Towers had both been hit. My 1st graders were at specials so I walked back to my classroom and watched the television in disbelief. I remember wondering what in the world was happening. I remember being scared and sad. I remember asking, "Do we tell our class what has happened or go about our business and let the parents tell them when the time was right?" With them being only 1st graders, I believe the decision was made not to say anything but to carry on with business as usual. That was very difficult. I wanted to be glued to the television. I remember it being very difficult to turn it off and conduct regular business. I was in disbelief as was everyone else. The 10th anniversary has been made public and when I see the pictures and videos it all still seems like it happened yesterday. It is hard to believe how far America has come since that day. I am STILL proud to be an American and I will never forget that day and how it made me feel, even in my little county in Kentucky.
I have some nice recipes for dishes I have tried since we last talked. I have an awesome dessert recipe I am definately going to share with you today! I made them for my church's 130th homecoming celebration. They are called cake balls and they are sooooo simple and easy to make. I had so many people asking me for the recipe and when I told them the recipe they were shocked. BTW...these are not Weight Watcher friendly so beware! So here goes.....
CAKE BALLS
*1 cooled cake (you can use a cooled cake made from a mix or I just bought a bakery bundt cake from my local grocery store)
*liquid coffee creamer (enough to make a small pool of liquid and depends on how much cake you have)
*chocolate chips (can be any flavor...white, chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, mint, etc..)
Buy a cake, liquid coffee creamer and chocolate chips that go together...for example if you are using a chocolate cake you might use a hazelnut creamer and dark chocolate chips or a peppermint creamer and mint chocolate chips, or a chocolate mocha creamer and white chocolate chips. Be creative. You may want to do a white cake with coconut creamer and white chocolate or a pumpkin cake with a pumpkin spice creamer and white chocolate...or a strawberry, lemon, or orange cake with french vanilla creamer and white chocolate chips.....the possibilities are endless.
Crumble your dry cake with a fork. Use your hands to complete the crumbling process. Using your hands, push the crumbled cake to the sides of the bowl making a small well in the center. Pour enough coffee creamer to make a small puddle. You are just using the creamer as a binding agent so don't get too heavy but need enough that the cake crumbs will bind together. Using your hands mix the creamer and cake crumbs together till you are able to make small balls of cake. If the mix is too dry add more creamer.
Roll the cake into small balls about quarter size and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Place the balls into the freezer for about 30 minutes. Melt your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Pull the cake balls out of the freezer and roll in the chocolate. The cake bals will begin to crumble as they begin to warm so it takes a lot of the chocolate to cover them. Set up on the same cold baking sheet so that they set up quickly. Store in the fridge. Number of balls you make varies on the cake size.
I made lemon cake with white chocolate and a chocolate cake with peanut butter chips. They went over very well....like I said, a lot of people asked me how to make them. I have plans to make a strawberry version of these for my daughter's next birthday since it will be Strawberry Shortcake themed. Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully I won't stay a stranger in the pink pumpkin patch anymore! Ta! Ta!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Been a While!
I know, I know been a while since we talked. I have been soooo busy! Glad to say I have consistently been down on the scales each week since we talked last. July 1 was the deadline for meeting my goal. Did I make it you ask? I did not, but was very close. Actually I ended up losing 44.2 pounds which was 5.8 short of my goal. Which is very close so I am pleased with my accomplishment. I have set my new goal too. By Christmas I plan to lose 37 more. That would put my total at 81 pounds off. I am asking myself to lose less in the same amount of time that I had to lose the 44 pounds so I should be able to reach this goal easily. We hope!
I have been very busy. Potty training is a pain in the butt and I hate it. I am one of those people that doesn't like to do something that takes a lot of time. I tend to be one of those instant gratification people. Which is why diets never really worked well for me before. Anyway, Emma has good days and bad. Seems like we have a really good day, and then the next two days are horrible. Like 1 step forward, 3 steps back. Frustrating, but Emma is very intelligent and head strong so eventually she will get it. I have decided to wait until Christmas to break her of her binky/pacifier. With all this potty training, I want her to still be able to find her baby comfort somewhere. I have already taken her baby bed and baby diapers away. I don't want to throw her into big girlhood too quickly.
Okay, so above I told you I lost 44.2 pounds total. I was yet again stuck on that plateau fluctuating with 1 pound or less losses for several weeks in a row. But happily, last week I tried something different that broke it big time! I started drinking hot green tea. No sweetner, no cream just hot green tea. Not just one cup, but three cups. Every day I would drink my 1 cup of coffee with cream and sweetner, then I would heat up 3 cups of water and allow 3 bags of green tea to brew while I drank my coffee. Afterwards, I would pour the tea into my 32 oz. thermos. I drank on that up till noon. After that was gone, I would finish off the day with 5 cups of regular good ol' fashioned water. Last week when I stepped on the scales I had lost 3 1/2 pounds. Already this week I have lost 2 pounds and I have 1 more day to go till weigh in. I will most certainly lose more if I continue on this downward spiral. I am losing a little each day. So what they say about green tea is true! I continue to stock up with green tea in my pantry.
I am going to share one of my favorite recipes with you. I made this last night. My daughter loves this and it is easy to make and freezes well. We eat it with garlic texas toast.
Pasta Crab Casserole
Makes 8 servings at 9 points plus each
You need:
*8 oz. uncooked spiral pasta
*1/2 cup margarine (1 stick)
*2 8oz. packages of lump imitation crab meat (flaked works best)
*1/2 cup fat free sour cream
*2 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
*1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta. In a skillet over medium heat, mix the crab, sour cream, salt, margarine, and Italian Seasoning together. I also add a dash of garlic powder. Then add to the pasta and mix well. Transfer to a 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese on top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes! We eat this with a piece of garlic texas toast which comes out to be 4 more points plus points.
The sweetness of the crab mixes with the savory flavors of the sour cream and garlic to create a dish a lot like scampi or fettucini. It is soooo good. Enjoy!
Have a great week y'all!
I have been very busy. Potty training is a pain in the butt and I hate it. I am one of those people that doesn't like to do something that takes a lot of time. I tend to be one of those instant gratification people. Which is why diets never really worked well for me before. Anyway, Emma has good days and bad. Seems like we have a really good day, and then the next two days are horrible. Like 1 step forward, 3 steps back. Frustrating, but Emma is very intelligent and head strong so eventually she will get it. I have decided to wait until Christmas to break her of her binky/pacifier. With all this potty training, I want her to still be able to find her baby comfort somewhere. I have already taken her baby bed and baby diapers away. I don't want to throw her into big girlhood too quickly.
Okay, so above I told you I lost 44.2 pounds total. I was yet again stuck on that plateau fluctuating with 1 pound or less losses for several weeks in a row. But happily, last week I tried something different that broke it big time! I started drinking hot green tea. No sweetner, no cream just hot green tea. Not just one cup, but three cups. Every day I would drink my 1 cup of coffee with cream and sweetner, then I would heat up 3 cups of water and allow 3 bags of green tea to brew while I drank my coffee. Afterwards, I would pour the tea into my 32 oz. thermos. I drank on that up till noon. After that was gone, I would finish off the day with 5 cups of regular good ol' fashioned water. Last week when I stepped on the scales I had lost 3 1/2 pounds. Already this week I have lost 2 pounds and I have 1 more day to go till weigh in. I will most certainly lose more if I continue on this downward spiral. I am losing a little each day. So what they say about green tea is true! I continue to stock up with green tea in my pantry.
I am going to share one of my favorite recipes with you. I made this last night. My daughter loves this and it is easy to make and freezes well. We eat it with garlic texas toast.
Pasta Crab Casserole
Makes 8 servings at 9 points plus each
You need:
*8 oz. uncooked spiral pasta
*1/2 cup margarine (1 stick)
*2 8oz. packages of lump imitation crab meat (flaked works best)
*1/2 cup fat free sour cream
*2 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
*1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta. In a skillet over medium heat, mix the crab, sour cream, salt, margarine, and Italian Seasoning together. I also add a dash of garlic powder. Then add to the pasta and mix well. Transfer to a 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese on top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes! We eat this with a piece of garlic texas toast which comes out to be 4 more points plus points.
The sweetness of the crab mixes with the savory flavors of the sour cream and garlic to create a dish a lot like scampi or fettucini. It is soooo good. Enjoy!
Have a great week y'all!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Still On the Down Side!
I weighed this morning and lost another 1.6 pounds. I didn't report in last week. Last week I lost 1/2 pound also. So this puts my total right at 40 pounds off! I am still excited about the plan though I do get disappointed when the pounds don't come off as quick as I'd like. However; I am happy with any number as long as it is less than the number I had the previous week! So I am "Still On the Down Side"!
This summer break has been extremely busy already and it is flying by. I have been setting up photography sessions and I truly enjoy the art of photography. I had several things on my list to do with my daughter, Emma this summer. My list included, transfer from a baby bed to a toddler bed, potty train, wean from that just before bedtime bottle (I know, she's two!), and maybe wean from her binky. I have already accomplished her transferring to a toddler bed. That one was easy. We are currently potty training. Today makes day three. When someone asks me what I did over summer break I am going to say, "Well, I spent it cleaning up trails of pee and watching my daughter's every move. I spent it saying, "Gotta go potty?" I know this is an uphill battle for anyone who has ever potty trained a toddler. She is very smart, and I have no doubt that she will get it......I worry more about my patience running thin. I pray that the Lord gives me the right tasks, words, and patience with Emma to make this a success. After we accomplish this, I plan to wean her from the bedtime bottle. That, I think will be easy. I just have to add something to the bottle to make it not as tasty. I probably won't get to the binky till Christmas as I want to gradually transition her and let her body have time to adjust to each thing I do. It is a big step of independence for her.
Sometimes on the Weight Watcher's Website Message Boards you will find a thread that is titled "Daily Tried and Untried". It is a thread that lists people's recipes. They list one they have tried and one they have not tried. That is what I am going to do here today. I am going to give you 1 tried recipe for "BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza" and one untried that came from the Weight Watcher's Website for "Chocolate Chip Cheesecake". I am a HUGE fan of cheesecake so this one is on my list of recipes I will DEFINATELY be trying soon!
First, the Tried:
BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza
1/8 pizza is 8 points plus points
1/6 pizza is 10 points plus points
You need:
*1 pillsbury thin pizza crust
*2 cups low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
*6 Tablespoons of BBQ sauce
*1 package real bacon pieces (in salad aisle)
*1 package of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips (in deli/meat section not frozen)
*Red onion (to your liking)
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out pizza dough onto a Pam sprayed cookie sheet. Poke the dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles. Bake for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven, spread BBQ sauce over the dough. Layer evenly with the cheese, chicken, onion and bacon pieces. Place back into the oven and bake for 9 minutes. Slice into either 6 or 8 pieces depending on how many points you want to spend.
And now.....the Untried:
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Makes 12 servings at 6 points each.
You need:
*10 cream filled chocolate sandwich cookies (such as oreo or generic)
*8 Tblsp. Fat Free cream cheese
*8 oz. Low Fat cream cheese (in the tub)
*1 Cup sugar
*2 Tblsp. all purpose flour
*1 Cup Fat Free cottage cheese
*2 tsp. almond extract
*6 large egg whites
*3/4 Cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray. Crush the cookies and evenly sprinkle cookie crumbs over the bottom of the pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheeses on lowest speed until blended. In a small bowl, combine sugar and flour. Add to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Puree cottage cheese until smooth, using a blender or food processor. Add the cottage cheese and almond extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Add egg whites and beat until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour batter into the springform pan. Top with the remaining chocolate chips and bake until cheesecake puffs and center is almost set....about 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Run a knife around the sides and then release the sides of the springform pan. Cover and chill overnight. Cut into 12 slices and serve.
Well, that's all for this week! Enjoy this week! Hope there is less of me to report next week! Have a good one!
This summer break has been extremely busy already and it is flying by. I have been setting up photography sessions and I truly enjoy the art of photography. I had several things on my list to do with my daughter, Emma this summer. My list included, transfer from a baby bed to a toddler bed, potty train, wean from that just before bedtime bottle (I know, she's two!), and maybe wean from her binky. I have already accomplished her transferring to a toddler bed. That one was easy. We are currently potty training. Today makes day three. When someone asks me what I did over summer break I am going to say, "Well, I spent it cleaning up trails of pee and watching my daughter's every move. I spent it saying, "Gotta go potty?" I know this is an uphill battle for anyone who has ever potty trained a toddler. She is very smart, and I have no doubt that she will get it......I worry more about my patience running thin. I pray that the Lord gives me the right tasks, words, and patience with Emma to make this a success. After we accomplish this, I plan to wean her from the bedtime bottle. That, I think will be easy. I just have to add something to the bottle to make it not as tasty. I probably won't get to the binky till Christmas as I want to gradually transition her and let her body have time to adjust to each thing I do. It is a big step of independence for her.
Sometimes on the Weight Watcher's Website Message Boards you will find a thread that is titled "Daily Tried and Untried". It is a thread that lists people's recipes. They list one they have tried and one they have not tried. That is what I am going to do here today. I am going to give you 1 tried recipe for "BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza" and one untried that came from the Weight Watcher's Website for "Chocolate Chip Cheesecake". I am a HUGE fan of cheesecake so this one is on my list of recipes I will DEFINATELY be trying soon!
First, the Tried:
BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza
1/8 pizza is 8 points plus points
1/6 pizza is 10 points plus points
You need:
*1 pillsbury thin pizza crust
*2 cups low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
*6 Tablespoons of BBQ sauce
*1 package real bacon pieces (in salad aisle)
*1 package of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips (in deli/meat section not frozen)
*Red onion (to your liking)
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out pizza dough onto a Pam sprayed cookie sheet. Poke the dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles. Bake for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven, spread BBQ sauce over the dough. Layer evenly with the cheese, chicken, onion and bacon pieces. Place back into the oven and bake for 9 minutes. Slice into either 6 or 8 pieces depending on how many points you want to spend.
And now.....the Untried:
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Makes 12 servings at 6 points each.
You need:
*10 cream filled chocolate sandwich cookies (such as oreo or generic)
*8 Tblsp. Fat Free cream cheese
*8 oz. Low Fat cream cheese (in the tub)
*1 Cup sugar
*2 Tblsp. all purpose flour
*1 Cup Fat Free cottage cheese
*2 tsp. almond extract
*6 large egg whites
*3/4 Cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray. Crush the cookies and evenly sprinkle cookie crumbs over the bottom of the pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheeses on lowest speed until blended. In a small bowl, combine sugar and flour. Add to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Puree cottage cheese until smooth, using a blender or food processor. Add the cottage cheese and almond extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Add egg whites and beat until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour batter into the springform pan. Top with the remaining chocolate chips and bake until cheesecake puffs and center is almost set....about 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Run a knife around the sides and then release the sides of the springform pan. Cover and chill overnight. Cut into 12 slices and serve.
Well, that's all for this week! Enjoy this week! Hope there is less of me to report next week! Have a good one!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Woo Hoo! Summer Break is Here!
I have so much to celebrate this week! I lost another 2.2 pounds last week which put me up to the total of 38. I only have 12 more to reach my short term goal of 50 off. I don't think I will make it there by July but I will get fairly close. Someone asked me the other day what my long term goal is. Well, I would like to lose an additional 75 pounds after I reach my short term goal. I don't like thinking of that though because it seems so unreachable. I think I will keep my mind set on short term goals.
I am also celebrating my summer break! Woo! Hoo! It is finally here! I admit it will be a little more difficult staying out of the kitchen on this break and sticking to my plan, but it will be easier to exercise on a regular basis. So I am looking forward to that!
Sadly, my first week off, I am struggling. This is the first week that I have been put in several tricky situations that challenged my plan. This is the first time since January that I have ever used all my weekly extra points and my activity points. I realized that EXERCISE is CRITICAL this week if I want to lose! I had my "free" day on Friday and enjoyed lunch with a friend. We went to Cheddar's and I had a hamburger. Sunday we had our church picnic and of course I can't turn down good old fashion country cookin' from the ladies in our church. Tomorrow, I go with my friend to get a massage and we are eating out. Tomorrow, though, we are planning on eating the buffet and I think I can work my way around the buffet and stay in points. I know how to do it, and have a plan....but question is....how strong will my will power be when I get there?
We will see.
I know myself pretty well to know that I will see those desserts on the dessert buffet and will probably be overcome with desire. So yes, EXERCISE this week is CRITICAL! If I come out tomorrow without falling off the bandwagon I will be so proud of myself.
I have once again, picked up my geneology project this summer. It is so addicting! It is so hard to stop because every clue leads you to another one, and another one, and another. It is like a good book, you can't put down.
Today for lunch I created a very unique salad. I will share it with you.
BBQ Chicken Salad
11 points - 1 serving
*2 cups lettuce chopped
*1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
*4 ounces chicken breast
*1/4 cup chopped tomato
*2 Tablespoons croutons
*2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce
Place all ingredients in a bowl that has a lid. Shake till well coated with the BBQ sauce. You can switch out the croutons for a few crushed fritos if desired. You can also add corn, just remember to add points.
This was a very filling and flavorful salad. I know it sounds odd to use BBQ sauce as a dressing but it worked well with the tomato.
Have a great week! Hope I lose this week....fingers crossed!
I am also celebrating my summer break! Woo! Hoo! It is finally here! I admit it will be a little more difficult staying out of the kitchen on this break and sticking to my plan, but it will be easier to exercise on a regular basis. So I am looking forward to that!
Sadly, my first week off, I am struggling. This is the first week that I have been put in several tricky situations that challenged my plan. This is the first time since January that I have ever used all my weekly extra points and my activity points. I realized that EXERCISE is CRITICAL this week if I want to lose! I had my "free" day on Friday and enjoyed lunch with a friend. We went to Cheddar's and I had a hamburger. Sunday we had our church picnic and of course I can't turn down good old fashion country cookin' from the ladies in our church. Tomorrow, I go with my friend to get a massage and we are eating out. Tomorrow, though, we are planning on eating the buffet and I think I can work my way around the buffet and stay in points. I know how to do it, and have a plan....but question is....how strong will my will power be when I get there?
We will see.
I know myself pretty well to know that I will see those desserts on the dessert buffet and will probably be overcome with desire. So yes, EXERCISE this week is CRITICAL! If I come out tomorrow without falling off the bandwagon I will be so proud of myself.
I have once again, picked up my geneology project this summer. It is so addicting! It is so hard to stop because every clue leads you to another one, and another one, and another. It is like a good book, you can't put down.
Today for lunch I created a very unique salad. I will share it with you.
BBQ Chicken Salad
11 points - 1 serving
*2 cups lettuce chopped
*1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
*4 ounces chicken breast
*1/4 cup chopped tomato
*2 Tablespoons croutons
*2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce
Place all ingredients in a bowl that has a lid. Shake till well coated with the BBQ sauce. You can switch out the croutons for a few crushed fritos if desired. You can also add corn, just remember to add points.
This was a very filling and flavorful salad. I know it sounds odd to use BBQ sauce as a dressing but it worked well with the tomato.
Have a great week! Hope I lose this week....fingers crossed!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Happy Memorial Day!
Weight Report: Down another 1.3 pounds. I am now down 36 pounds total.
It's the kick-off to summer, the day to celebrate loved ones and heroes, the day to spend with family and friends! Tonight, my husband and I ate what I call "True Summer" for dinner. We had all-American Bacon Tomato Sandwiches! I know, I can hear you now...., "BACON??? I thought she was on a diet!" Well, I am! Oscar Meyer Prepared and Ready bacon has 2 points for 3 slices. I fixed 6 slices for 4 points. I put it on my Pepperidge Farms Deli Thin Bread (100 calories) for 3 points and added my free tomato and my free 1/2 tablespoon fat free mayo. MMMMMMM! Summer! I added 1/2 cup mustard potato salad for 4 points and enjoyed my 11 point meal!
Sadly, my extended family will not be celebrating Memorial Day with us. Our school just had graduation and there are a lot of graduation parties to attend, so hubby, Emma, and I are going to hang out at home alone. We are grilling tomorrow night though. I have been DYING to break out the grill and fix BBQ chicken! Our little menu tomorrow night will be grilled BBQ chicken, mustard potato salad and baked beans. I am looking forward to smelling that grill cooking chicken, sipping on homemade lemonade, and playing around with Emma in my bare feet!
Things are winding down with work. I have 3 days of professional development this week and I can honestly say, I AM DONE! I am so ready to be functioning on my own time without a care or schedule to follow! Pray I get through the next week quickly!
In honor of Memorial Day, I am sharing a Red, White and Blue Cake recipe!
RED WHITE AND BLUE CAKE
You need:
*1 Sugar Free Angel Food Cake (store bought)
*2 cups Sugar Free Vanilla pudding made with Skim Milk
*8 oz. tub of fat free cool whip
*16 strawberries sliced
*1 container of blueberries
*1 small can crushed pineapple in its own juice (drained)
Directions:
1.) Slice the angel food cake lengthwise through the center to make 2 layers of cake.
2.) Mix the pudding with the skim milk and allow to firm in the refrigerator.
3.) Mix the pudding with the cool whip till well blended.
4.) Add the strawberry slices and blueberries to the pudding mixture. Stir mixing well.
5.) Add the drained can of crushed pineapple and mix well.
6.) Divide the pudding mixture in half.
7.) Put 1/2 the pudding mixture on the bottom layer of angel food cake. Top the pudding mixture with the other layer of angel food cake. (Making what looks like a stacked cake)
8.) Top the cake off with the remaining pudding mixture.
Makes 16 servings at 4 points each!
Well, that's it for me! I am hoping this week brings me another good weight loss! I walked today for 60 minutes. It is amazing how the further in your walk you go, the more energy you have to keep going a little more. Wish me luck! Have a great week! Stay safe!
It's the kick-off to summer, the day to celebrate loved ones and heroes, the day to spend with family and friends! Tonight, my husband and I ate what I call "True Summer" for dinner. We had all-American Bacon Tomato Sandwiches! I know, I can hear you now...., "BACON??? I thought she was on a diet!" Well, I am! Oscar Meyer Prepared and Ready bacon has 2 points for 3 slices. I fixed 6 slices for 4 points. I put it on my Pepperidge Farms Deli Thin Bread (100 calories) for 3 points and added my free tomato and my free 1/2 tablespoon fat free mayo. MMMMMMM! Summer! I added 1/2 cup mustard potato salad for 4 points and enjoyed my 11 point meal!
Sadly, my extended family will not be celebrating Memorial Day with us. Our school just had graduation and there are a lot of graduation parties to attend, so hubby, Emma, and I are going to hang out at home alone. We are grilling tomorrow night though. I have been DYING to break out the grill and fix BBQ chicken! Our little menu tomorrow night will be grilled BBQ chicken, mustard potato salad and baked beans. I am looking forward to smelling that grill cooking chicken, sipping on homemade lemonade, and playing around with Emma in my bare feet!
Things are winding down with work. I have 3 days of professional development this week and I can honestly say, I AM DONE! I am so ready to be functioning on my own time without a care or schedule to follow! Pray I get through the next week quickly!
In honor of Memorial Day, I am sharing a Red, White and Blue Cake recipe!
RED WHITE AND BLUE CAKE
You need:
*1 Sugar Free Angel Food Cake (store bought)
*2 cups Sugar Free Vanilla pudding made with Skim Milk
*8 oz. tub of fat free cool whip
*16 strawberries sliced
*1 container of blueberries
*1 small can crushed pineapple in its own juice (drained)
Directions:
1.) Slice the angel food cake lengthwise through the center to make 2 layers of cake.
2.) Mix the pudding with the skim milk and allow to firm in the refrigerator.
3.) Mix the pudding with the cool whip till well blended.
4.) Add the strawberry slices and blueberries to the pudding mixture. Stir mixing well.
5.) Add the drained can of crushed pineapple and mix well.
6.) Divide the pudding mixture in half.
7.) Put 1/2 the pudding mixture on the bottom layer of angel food cake. Top the pudding mixture with the other layer of angel food cake. (Making what looks like a stacked cake)
8.) Top the cake off with the remaining pudding mixture.
Makes 16 servings at 4 points each!
Well, that's it for me! I am hoping this week brings me another good weight loss! I walked today for 60 minutes. It is amazing how the further in your walk you go, the more energy you have to keep going a little more. Wish me luck! Have a great week! Stay safe!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Great Week!
I am getting that fever for summer break! It is so close, I can smell it! Only 4 more days of school with the kids! Then only 3 more work days after that and I am done! The days of sleeping in and enjoying myself doing whatever I feel like doing are just around the corner!
This has been a very busy but exciting week for me. I lost another 1.4 pounds. I am right at 35 off and getting closer and closer to my goal. I am very proud of myself today. This morning I was telling my husband how difficult it was going to be for me this week. I have a birthday party to go to tonight, the 1st grade grillout/picnic on Tuesday, a friend's retirement party on Wednesday, and the staff annual grill-out on Friday.
In the midst of this discussion, I heard the old shoulder friends whispering in my ears! Good Conscience was saying, "Well, you have enough points for tonight, you can take your own turkey sausages to grill on Tuesday, you can just visit on Wednesday, and Friday is your cheat day...you can do this." While on the other shoulder, sat Mr. Bad Conscience saying, "It will be so hard, you should just take this week off and enjoy yourself!" I made the decision to go with Good Conscience. I was going to the grocery and could get stuff for the picnic and knew I could take care of the other things with good old will-power.
Then, Bad Conscience decided he would test me again. I have a regular routine, on Saturday mornings as I go to the grocery, I go through McDonald's and order just an egg mcmuffin to eat. This morning though, while I sat in line, Bad Conscience was telling me I wanted a caramel frappe or a hashbrown. I kept telling myself, "No, you don't want to do that." Then you won't believe what happened next. He actually began to get to me.....it was like a movie being played in slow motion. The lady at the drive-thru said, "Can I take your order?" I said, "I would like an egg mcmuffin and".........(I hesitated).........(and again hesitated some more).......and slowly said, "....and thaaaaaaat's alllllllll." It was as if Bad Conscience had ahold of my mouth trying to get me to say, "and a hashbrown please." But I didn't. I was so proud of myself for tackling that demon! It helped me to see how making good choices has become a habit for me. Bad Conscience disappeared and I haven't heard from him anymore today.
This week my book came out. I am excited to introduce you to my book!
You can view it at http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=96446
Please check it out and let me know what you think!
Have a wonderful week everyone! Hoping there is less of me to report to you next week!
This has been a very busy but exciting week for me. I lost another 1.4 pounds. I am right at 35 off and getting closer and closer to my goal. I am very proud of myself today. This morning I was telling my husband how difficult it was going to be for me this week. I have a birthday party to go to tonight, the 1st grade grillout/picnic on Tuesday, a friend's retirement party on Wednesday, and the staff annual grill-out on Friday.
In the midst of this discussion, I heard the old shoulder friends whispering in my ears! Good Conscience was saying, "Well, you have enough points for tonight, you can take your own turkey sausages to grill on Tuesday, you can just visit on Wednesday, and Friday is your cheat day...you can do this." While on the other shoulder, sat Mr. Bad Conscience saying, "It will be so hard, you should just take this week off and enjoy yourself!" I made the decision to go with Good Conscience. I was going to the grocery and could get stuff for the picnic and knew I could take care of the other things with good old will-power.
Then, Bad Conscience decided he would test me again. I have a regular routine, on Saturday mornings as I go to the grocery, I go through McDonald's and order just an egg mcmuffin to eat. This morning though, while I sat in line, Bad Conscience was telling me I wanted a caramel frappe or a hashbrown. I kept telling myself, "No, you don't want to do that." Then you won't believe what happened next. He actually began to get to me.....it was like a movie being played in slow motion. The lady at the drive-thru said, "Can I take your order?" I said, "I would like an egg mcmuffin and".........(I hesitated).........(and again hesitated some more).......and slowly said, "....and thaaaaaaat's alllllllll." It was as if Bad Conscience had ahold of my mouth trying to get me to say, "and a hashbrown please." But I didn't. I was so proud of myself for tackling that demon! It helped me to see how making good choices has become a habit for me. Bad Conscience disappeared and I haven't heard from him anymore today.
This week my book came out. I am excited to introduce you to my book!
Please check it out and let me know what you think!
Have a wonderful week everyone! Hoping there is less of me to report to you next week!
Friday, May 13, 2011
It's Broke!
I did it! I did it! I did it! Hooray, hooray, hooray! I broke that stupid plateau finally! I lost 3.4 pounds today which puts me up to the total weight loss of 33 pounds! YEEEHAW!!!!! If you read last week's post, I told you what I planned to do this week and it worked! I changed my exercise up a bit (added an incline on my treadmill and worked in some high cardio dance in 10 minute sessions), I changed my diet by getting rid of all those process snack foods and replacing them with high protein foods, and I cut out eating after 7 pm. So guess what this means.....I am continuing these next few weeks with the same strategies and hopefully I can make up for the lost time.
I have to admit though, this week I have been craving, believe it or not, Chinese food! My recipe this week is a healthier version of my all time favorite item on a Chinese Buffet! I am posting a recipe for Chinese Crab Rangoon that is 2 points for 2 rangoon pieces.
This week my class went on an exciting field trip to the Krohn's Conservatory in Cincinnati, Ohio to see the butterflies from Brazil. I got to take some wonderful pictures while there with my new camera. I just love all the special features on it! You will have to check out the pictures below!
Here is a book update: My book will be released Monday! I will recieve my first copy hopefully within the next 2 weeks! I am very excited to have a published children's book and call myself an author!
I am hoping to have another great week with weight loss. I need it now because I know I will probably struggle with temptation once school lets out and I am home all day.
Here are those pics I got! Hope they inspire you!
Have an awesome week........hope there's less of me to report next week!
I have to admit though, this week I have been craving, believe it or not, Chinese food! My recipe this week is a healthier version of my all time favorite item on a Chinese Buffet! I am posting a recipe for Chinese Crab Rangoon that is 2 points for 2 rangoon pieces.
Chinese Crab Rangoon
Makes 24 servings (2 rangoons each) – 2 points
*6 oz. imitation crab meat
*2 green onions/scallions chopped
*1 clove garlic, minced
*1/2 tsp. soy sauce
*48 wonton wrappers
*8 oz. block fat free cream cheese
*1/4 cup sugar
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except the won ton wrappers. Mix well.
To keep skins from drying out, prepare one or two rangoons at a time. Place 1 tsp. filling in the center of each wonton wrapper. Pull top corner down and overlap slightly the bottom corner. Moisten one of the corners and press to seal. Lightly spray baking sheet with the non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the rangoons on the sheet and spray lightly to coat. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes, or until golden brown. 2 rangoons is 2 points.
This week my class went on an exciting field trip to the Krohn's Conservatory in Cincinnati, Ohio to see the butterflies from Brazil. I got to take some wonderful pictures while there with my new camera. I just love all the special features on it! You will have to check out the pictures below!
Here is a book update: My book will be released Monday! I will recieve my first copy hopefully within the next 2 weeks! I am very excited to have a published children's book and call myself an author!
I am hoping to have another great week with weight loss. I need it now because I know I will probably struggle with temptation once school lets out and I am home all day.
Here are those pics I got! Hope they inspire you!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Keepin' It Moving
Well, I lost another pound this week. Actually it was 1.2 pounds and I did say I wanted more than 1 pound. I just expected it to be closer to 2 pounds than 1 but I will take it none the less! I am now 1/2 pound away from being 30 off! I really wanted to hit that this week but looks like next week will be the week I hit that mark. I ABSOLUETLY WILL LOSE NEXT WEEK!!!! (or my scales are going in the trash!) Just kidding!
I am changing a few things this next week to see if that helps. I have been doing some research here the past few days about weight plateaus. A weight plateau is when your weight remains the same or fluctuates close to the same mark for several weeks in a row. My pounds that I have lost in the last 4 weeks have been very close pounds. By that I mean, I had to weigh several times to get the lowest possible weight. I have a set a digital scales and as many of you know, your body weight fluctuates from the time you get up to the time you go to sleep. On weigh in days, I would step on the scale (not like what I saw), go to the bathroom, and get back on the scales. (You girls all know what I am talking about......we have ALL done it!) If I didn't like that weight, I took a shower and tried going to the bathroom again! (Don't laugh.....I know you have done this too!) Now, this week, my 1.2 pounds was a true loss. I weighed 1 time.
Now, if you have hit a plateau or you are struggling to keep the scales moving in the right direction at a good pace, you might want to jot down these next few tips. These tips are all from my research (and I am trying them this week to see what happens).
Tip #1: Don't eat after 7:00 pm!
I have been reading that you actually want your tummy to be a little hungry when you go to bed so that your body dips into the stored fat within your body instead of processing a food at night. And whether you believe it or not, your body is supposed to burn calories while sleeping. I would much rather my body burn those stored up calories than have to work overtime to burn the ones I put in my body just before bed.
Tip #2: Exercise more or differently!
Yep, that dreaded word. Just like your body can become accustomed to your daily foods, it can also become accustomed to your workout routine! As if exercise wasn't bad enough.....now I have to add variety to it! Geesh! I have been regularly walking on my treadmill on flat surface. This week, I plan to either add a cardio/dance workout on alternate days of my walking or add an incline to my treadmill when I walk. Also, the more fat and pounds you lose the harder you have to work out to make up for the weight you lost. It is like walking with hand weights but then suddenly not walking with the weights but expecting to get the same results. It won't happen right?! That is why the intensity of your workout must increase with each 10 pounds you lose.
Tip #3: Change your daily diet!
ALL dieters do it.....they fall into the fat free/processed food trap! Why? It is more convenient. However; with all those processed foods comes a lot of sodium and a lot of carbs! I am the first to admit, that even though I am still eating a lot of fruits and veggies, I too am eating a lot of processed snack foods! They may be the root of my slow loss struggle. This week, I have planned out my grocery list to include higher protein foods such as fat free refried beans, cottage cheese, hummus, apples, peanut butter, tuna, eggs, turkey sausage, string cheese, chicken, roast, and almonds along with vegetables and fruits. I am going to try and avoid eating too many bananas as they have more sugar than the other fruits and could be contributing to my slow losses as well. I plan to do more strawberries, pineapple, apples, and grapes instead.
So........
In spite of it being Derby Day weekend as well as Mother's Day weekend, I still plan to lose a signicant amount of weight next week when I weigh in. We will see how these changes in my diet plan affect my weightloss. Fingers crossed!
Now, I know you all enjoy my Weight Watcher's recipes, but the first recipe is DEFINATELY NOT a Weight Watcher's recipe! It is a recipe in honor of the Kentucky Derby! (Which by the way, my horse pick is "Pants on Fire" for 2 reasons: I love the name and a female jockey will be riding that horse!)
Kentucky Hot Brown (So many points, I gained 2 pounds just typing the recipe!)
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups whole milk
½ cup Romano cheese,divided (Can use fresh parmesan)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sliced Roast Turkey Breast
8 slices white sandwich bread or 4 slices Texas Toast, crusts removed
8 slices bacon, cooked crispy
4 Roma tomatoes, sliced in half
Sprinkling of paprika
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Directions:
Cook the bacon until crispy. Set aside.
Preheat the oven set to broil. In a medium size saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for about two minutes, stirring constantly (you want the flour taste to cook off). Add the milk, whisking vigorously until all lumps are out and mixture has thickened and is smooth. Add ¼ cup of cheese and stir until the cheese has melted… remove from the heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Remove the crusts from the bread (2 slices of regular sandwich bread or 1 slice Texas Toast). Place bread in an oven safe dishes (individual dishes for each person). Put the desired amount of turkey on the bread. Place ½ of a Roma tomato on either side of the bread and turkey. Spoon sauce over each sandwich. Sprinkle each sandwich with a little cheese (make sure you save some for garnish.. see photo). Place dishes under broiler until cheese begins to brown and bubble. Remove from the broiler and cross two strips of bacon on each sandwich. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
And for those of us counting points:
Peanut Butter Pie Cups
Makes 12 cups at 2 points each
*2 Tblsp. creamy peanut butter
*1 small (8 oz.) container fat free cool whip
*12 foil lined muffin cups
*Hershey's chocolate syrup
*12 Nilla Wafers
Mix the peanut butter into the container of fat free cool whip. Mix it until well blended. Place foil lined muffin cups inside muffin pan holes. Put 1 Nilla Wafer in the bottom of each muffin cup. Top with 2 Tblsp. of the peanut butter mixture. If more is left, evenly distribute it amongst the muffin cups. Drizzle just a bit (about 1/2 tsp.) of the chocolate syrup over the top of the peanut butter mixture in each cup. Place in the freezer for 4 hours or until firm before serving. Store in the freezer.
Have a great Derby weekend and Mother's Day to all of you out there! I'm gonna do my best to stick to plan this busy weekend!
I am changing a few things this next week to see if that helps. I have been doing some research here the past few days about weight plateaus. A weight plateau is when your weight remains the same or fluctuates close to the same mark for several weeks in a row. My pounds that I have lost in the last 4 weeks have been very close pounds. By that I mean, I had to weigh several times to get the lowest possible weight. I have a set a digital scales and as many of you know, your body weight fluctuates from the time you get up to the time you go to sleep. On weigh in days, I would step on the scale (not like what I saw), go to the bathroom, and get back on the scales. (You girls all know what I am talking about......we have ALL done it!) If I didn't like that weight, I took a shower and tried going to the bathroom again! (Don't laugh.....I know you have done this too!) Now, this week, my 1.2 pounds was a true loss. I weighed 1 time.
Now, if you have hit a plateau or you are struggling to keep the scales moving in the right direction at a good pace, you might want to jot down these next few tips. These tips are all from my research (and I am trying them this week to see what happens).
Tip #1: Don't eat after 7:00 pm!
I have been reading that you actually want your tummy to be a little hungry when you go to bed so that your body dips into the stored fat within your body instead of processing a food at night. And whether you believe it or not, your body is supposed to burn calories while sleeping. I would much rather my body burn those stored up calories than have to work overtime to burn the ones I put in my body just before bed.
Tip #2: Exercise more or differently!
Yep, that dreaded word. Just like your body can become accustomed to your daily foods, it can also become accustomed to your workout routine! As if exercise wasn't bad enough.....now I have to add variety to it! Geesh! I have been regularly walking on my treadmill on flat surface. This week, I plan to either add a cardio/dance workout on alternate days of my walking or add an incline to my treadmill when I walk. Also, the more fat and pounds you lose the harder you have to work out to make up for the weight you lost. It is like walking with hand weights but then suddenly not walking with the weights but expecting to get the same results. It won't happen right?! That is why the intensity of your workout must increase with each 10 pounds you lose.
Tip #3: Change your daily diet!
ALL dieters do it.....they fall into the fat free/processed food trap! Why? It is more convenient. However; with all those processed foods comes a lot of sodium and a lot of carbs! I am the first to admit, that even though I am still eating a lot of fruits and veggies, I too am eating a lot of processed snack foods! They may be the root of my slow loss struggle. This week, I have planned out my grocery list to include higher protein foods such as fat free refried beans, cottage cheese, hummus, apples, peanut butter, tuna, eggs, turkey sausage, string cheese, chicken, roast, and almonds along with vegetables and fruits. I am going to try and avoid eating too many bananas as they have more sugar than the other fruits and could be contributing to my slow losses as well. I plan to do more strawberries, pineapple, apples, and grapes instead.
So........
In spite of it being Derby Day weekend as well as Mother's Day weekend, I still plan to lose a signicant amount of weight next week when I weigh in. We will see how these changes in my diet plan affect my weightloss. Fingers crossed!
Now, I know you all enjoy my Weight Watcher's recipes, but the first recipe is DEFINATELY NOT a Weight Watcher's recipe! It is a recipe in honor of the Kentucky Derby! (Which by the way, my horse pick is "Pants on Fire" for 2 reasons: I love the name and a female jockey will be riding that horse!)
Kentucky Hot Brown (So many points, I gained 2 pounds just typing the recipe!)
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups whole milk
½ cup Romano cheese,divided (Can use fresh parmesan)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sliced Roast Turkey Breast
8 slices white sandwich bread or 4 slices Texas Toast, crusts removed
8 slices bacon, cooked crispy
4 Roma tomatoes, sliced in half
Sprinkling of paprika
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Directions:
Cook the bacon until crispy. Set aside.
Preheat the oven set to broil. In a medium size saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for about two minutes, stirring constantly (you want the flour taste to cook off). Add the milk, whisking vigorously until all lumps are out and mixture has thickened and is smooth. Add ¼ cup of cheese and stir until the cheese has melted… remove from the heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Remove the crusts from the bread (2 slices of regular sandwich bread or 1 slice Texas Toast). Place bread in an oven safe dishes (individual dishes for each person). Put the desired amount of turkey on the bread. Place ½ of a Roma tomato on either side of the bread and turkey. Spoon sauce over each sandwich. Sprinkle each sandwich with a little cheese (make sure you save some for garnish.. see photo). Place dishes under broiler until cheese begins to brown and bubble. Remove from the broiler and cross two strips of bacon on each sandwich. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
And for those of us counting points:
Peanut Butter Pie Cups
Makes 12 cups at 2 points each
*2 Tblsp. creamy peanut butter
*1 small (8 oz.) container fat free cool whip
*12 foil lined muffin cups
*Hershey's chocolate syrup
*12 Nilla Wafers
Mix the peanut butter into the container of fat free cool whip. Mix it until well blended. Place foil lined muffin cups inside muffin pan holes. Put 1 Nilla Wafer in the bottom of each muffin cup. Top with 2 Tblsp. of the peanut butter mixture. If more is left, evenly distribute it amongst the muffin cups. Drizzle just a bit (about 1/2 tsp.) of the chocolate syrup over the top of the peanut butter mixture in each cup. Place in the freezer for 4 hours or until firm before serving. Store in the freezer.
Have a great Derby weekend and Mother's Day to all of you out there! I'm gonna do my best to stick to plan this busy weekend!
Friday, April 29, 2011
That's Life!
My desire to lose 4 pounds this past week added too much pressure. I only lost 1 pound again. I am up to 28.4 pounds. This is becoming a very slow process and I am trying to figure out why. I am reminding myself that this is a life change. I have the rest of my life to lose this weight. I am beginning to wonder if my pushing to meet a goal by July is making me deprive myself too much. So I am going to try and eat some of the foods I ate when I first started the journey. Maybe it is something I changed in my daily diet that is contributing to my slow losses recently. I also have to admit I have been weighing everyday and maybe that is adding to the pressure too. I wonder how much "pressure" weighs. I will let you know next week after I weigh in. It might surprise me to know that once I lose the pressure on myself, I might actually start losing better.
Some of the things I ate when I first started weight watchers were Italian Chicken (simple chicken breast marinated and baked in Fat Free Italian Dressing), BBQ pork chops, Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches, Salads with fat free dressing instead of Lite dressing, tomatoes, apples with peanut butter, and 100 calorie popcorn. I am going back to those things this week. We will see how things go. I do have a birthday party to go to on Sunday, but I am prepared. I will be taking the salad and myself a microwavable pizza so I can save some points. I might eat a piece of cake. Remember, self, this is a part of life. There will always be holidays, birthdays, and weddings to celebrate......and we can't deprive ourselves from celebrating those occasions. As long as we are not celebrating every single day, it is okay. We celebrate, have fun, and then get right back on the wagon!
Now, on another note, I do have to say....for it to have been Easter weekend, I still lost a pound. That chocolate bunny sat in my daughter's basket and laughed at me all week. That's okay because tonight, I ate his ears off. And you know.....you can tell you have been depriving yourself too much when even cheap and crappy chocolate tastes good. If you are wondering why I ate chocolate, well for one I deserve it and two, because Fridays are the days I choose to spend my extra points allowance on the Weight Watcher's program. Yes, I chose to spend some of those points attacking that chocolate critter hiding behind that candy carrot! I will be glad when it is all gone, especially the chocolate!
I don't really have a recipe for you this week but I do have a few new products I have found:
*Thomas Bagels - mini pretzel bagels (4 points) These would be great dipped in Frito Lay cheese!
*Litehouse Yogurt made Dressings - (2 Tblsp. 1 point)
*Peeps - Freeze them! They take longer to eat and satisfy a sweet tooth! (5 for 4 points)
*Chex Mix Chocolate Chunk Bars - (3 points)
Have a wonderful week and take some pressure off yourself! I'm gonna try! No more weighing every single day and no more telling myself, "You have to get 50 off by July". I am hoping if I lose the pressure, it will help me lose the pounds! Reverse psychology! Wish me luck!
Some of the things I ate when I first started weight watchers were Italian Chicken (simple chicken breast marinated and baked in Fat Free Italian Dressing), BBQ pork chops, Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches, Salads with fat free dressing instead of Lite dressing, tomatoes, apples with peanut butter, and 100 calorie popcorn. I am going back to those things this week. We will see how things go. I do have a birthday party to go to on Sunday, but I am prepared. I will be taking the salad and myself a microwavable pizza so I can save some points. I might eat a piece of cake. Remember, self, this is a part of life. There will always be holidays, birthdays, and weddings to celebrate......and we can't deprive ourselves from celebrating those occasions. As long as we are not celebrating every single day, it is okay. We celebrate, have fun, and then get right back on the wagon!
Now, on another note, I do have to say....for it to have been Easter weekend, I still lost a pound. That chocolate bunny sat in my daughter's basket and laughed at me all week. That's okay because tonight, I ate his ears off. And you know.....you can tell you have been depriving yourself too much when even cheap and crappy chocolate tastes good. If you are wondering why I ate chocolate, well for one I deserve it and two, because Fridays are the days I choose to spend my extra points allowance on the Weight Watcher's program. Yes, I chose to spend some of those points attacking that chocolate critter hiding behind that candy carrot! I will be glad when it is all gone, especially the chocolate!
I don't really have a recipe for you this week but I do have a few new products I have found:
*Thomas Bagels - mini pretzel bagels (4 points) These would be great dipped in Frito Lay cheese!
*Litehouse Yogurt made Dressings - (2 Tblsp. 1 point)
*Peeps - Freeze them! They take longer to eat and satisfy a sweet tooth! (5 for 4 points)
*Chex Mix Chocolate Chunk Bars - (3 points)
Have a wonderful week and take some pressure off yourself! I'm gonna try! No more weighing every single day and no more telling myself, "You have to get 50 off by July". I am hoping if I lose the pressure, it will help me lose the pounds! Reverse psychology! Wish me luck!
Friday, April 22, 2011
I Did It!
Hey all!
Well, last week I told you I was ready to break that century mark and yes.....I did it! Not by much, which disappoints me, but I did it none the less. I lost a pound this week. I was expecting more than that, but sometimes we have those weeks. I am looking back at my week to see what happened that caused me to have another slow week of weightloss. (I know, I've lost 27.4 pounds and that is a lot.....I've actually lost my daughter in weight!) I am thankful for how much I have lost and I am sure my body is just catching up again, but as everyone who has ever dieted knows, when this happens you have to look at what you did differently. It is like an experiment....when the outcome isn't what you thought it would be, you have to look at your variables again.
So I am now in week 11 (I think) which means I am becomming very comfortable with this change of eating habits and may be becoming a little too comfortable. I have quit measureing things and am doing more judging by the eye, which could easily be masking some points I am not accounting for. I also have been very busy, so I have been only exercising 2 days a week instead of 3 like I was. I am eating a lot of the same things each week, which could be slowing my weightloss if my body is becoming accustomed to those foods. And the worst thing, while my daughter is eating.....I am sneaking a bite here and a bite there. I am trying to count those points but I don't really know how accurate I am. I know why I do this....it is because I feed my daughter her supper before I cook mine and that is my "craving" time of the day.
So how do I fix this? I need to start preparing me some fruit for myself to nibble on while Emma is eating. I need to get back to my 3 days of exercise. I need to get back to measuring ALL foods. I need to change my menu items up a bit. Hopefully next week, I will be back on track. Now, don't get me wrong....I don't expect a 4 pound loss every week but I at least expect 1 1/2 to 2 pounds each week. So my goal this week is to fix all my messed up variables and we will see what happens.
So what is on my menu this week?
For breakfast this week, I am doing away with the banana burrito and eating more egg sandwiches (5 points), nutrigrain bars (3 points), or bagelfuls (5 points). I will choose a different one each day. I am also going to make sure to eat the yogurt I pack for myself. I have been packing it but taking it back home instead of eating it. I am wondering if yogurt has something in it that helps with weight loss.
For my lunches this week, I am going to eat more lunchmeat (turkey and swiss) sandwiches (6 points), carrots with dip (2 points), apples, and going back to my 100 calorie pack popcorn. I have been taking a lot of green salads to work but again, haven't been measuring my dressing (or croutons), so this week I am substituting my green salad with a fruit instead and maybe saving my salads for supper when I have measuring spoons handy.
My suppers this week will consist of:
Sunday - Since Sunday is Easter and I am anticipating a larger lunch, I will allow myself points to eat maybe an egg sandwich for supper.
Monday - Kroger Brand Teriyaki Frozen Grilled and Ready Chicken Breasts (4 points) on top of 1 cup of Pasta Roni (5 points) with a side of garlic toast (4 points) and some sort of free vegetable.
Tuesday - My lower calorie version of Beef Stroganoff (original recipe in older post) (7 points), on top of 1 cup of egg noodles (5 points), topped with 2 tablespoons of Durkee French Fried Onions (2 points).
Wednesday- Salmon Georgia (original recipe in older post) (4 points), 1 cup rice (5 points), apple salad (2 points...recipe below), 1/4 Schwan's French Bread (4 points).
Thursday - Salmon Georgia (leftovers 4 points), 1 cup rice (5 points), green salad with lite dressing (2 points), and 1/4 Schwan's French Bread (4 points).
Notice that I end my week with 2 days of Salmon. This is a ritual I just can not break. 1 - because it is soooooo good and 2 - because it is lower in sodium and that close to weigh in day it is important to watch my sodium intake.
Of course, each day I get in my daily 64 ounces of water and sometimes more.
Apple Salad
Serves 1 - 2points each
1 apple chopped
1 Tablespoon Fat Free Mayo
2 Tablespoons slivered almonds
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Chop up your apple. Add slivered almonds. Mix together with the 1 Tablespoon of fat free mayo and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Enjoy.
This next recipe is perfect for Easter! It is wonderful...sort of a souped up version of Banana Pudding!
2/3 c nonfat dry milk
1 c water
1 c pineapple tidbits in own juice- drain but save juice
1/2 c FF Cool Whip
1 c diced banana
2 c sliced strawberries
2 TBSP chocolate chips
2 TBSP chopped pecans
In a bowl combine pudding, dry milk, water and reserved juice.
Mix well with a whisk.
Blend in Cool Whip then add pineapple, banana, strawberries, chocolate chips and pecans.
Mix gently to combine.
Cover and refrigerate.
Mix your bananas with a little lemon juice so they will not brown.
You can use crushed pineapple and it will turn out fine.
Well, last week I told you I was ready to break that century mark and yes.....I did it! Not by much, which disappoints me, but I did it none the less. I lost a pound this week. I was expecting more than that, but sometimes we have those weeks. I am looking back at my week to see what happened that caused me to have another slow week of weightloss. (I know, I've lost 27.4 pounds and that is a lot.....I've actually lost my daughter in weight!) I am thankful for how much I have lost and I am sure my body is just catching up again, but as everyone who has ever dieted knows, when this happens you have to look at what you did differently. It is like an experiment....when the outcome isn't what you thought it would be, you have to look at your variables again.
So I am now in week 11 (I think) which means I am becomming very comfortable with this change of eating habits and may be becoming a little too comfortable. I have quit measureing things and am doing more judging by the eye, which could easily be masking some points I am not accounting for. I also have been very busy, so I have been only exercising 2 days a week instead of 3 like I was. I am eating a lot of the same things each week, which could be slowing my weightloss if my body is becoming accustomed to those foods. And the worst thing, while my daughter is eating.....I am sneaking a bite here and a bite there. I am trying to count those points but I don't really know how accurate I am. I know why I do this....it is because I feed my daughter her supper before I cook mine and that is my "craving" time of the day.
So how do I fix this? I need to start preparing me some fruit for myself to nibble on while Emma is eating. I need to get back to my 3 days of exercise. I need to get back to measuring ALL foods. I need to change my menu items up a bit. Hopefully next week, I will be back on track. Now, don't get me wrong....I don't expect a 4 pound loss every week but I at least expect 1 1/2 to 2 pounds each week. So my goal this week is to fix all my messed up variables and we will see what happens.
So what is on my menu this week?
For breakfast this week, I am doing away with the banana burrito and eating more egg sandwiches (5 points), nutrigrain bars (3 points), or bagelfuls (5 points). I will choose a different one each day. I am also going to make sure to eat the yogurt I pack for myself. I have been packing it but taking it back home instead of eating it. I am wondering if yogurt has something in it that helps with weight loss.
For my lunches this week, I am going to eat more lunchmeat (turkey and swiss) sandwiches (6 points), carrots with dip (2 points), apples, and going back to my 100 calorie pack popcorn. I have been taking a lot of green salads to work but again, haven't been measuring my dressing (or croutons), so this week I am substituting my green salad with a fruit instead and maybe saving my salads for supper when I have measuring spoons handy.
My suppers this week will consist of:
Sunday - Since Sunday is Easter and I am anticipating a larger lunch, I will allow myself points to eat maybe an egg sandwich for supper.
Monday - Kroger Brand Teriyaki Frozen Grilled and Ready Chicken Breasts (4 points) on top of 1 cup of Pasta Roni (5 points) with a side of garlic toast (4 points) and some sort of free vegetable.
Tuesday - My lower calorie version of Beef Stroganoff (original recipe in older post) (7 points), on top of 1 cup of egg noodles (5 points), topped with 2 tablespoons of Durkee French Fried Onions (2 points).
Wednesday- Salmon Georgia (original recipe in older post) (4 points), 1 cup rice (5 points), apple salad (2 points...recipe below), 1/4 Schwan's French Bread (4 points).
Thursday - Salmon Georgia (leftovers 4 points), 1 cup rice (5 points), green salad with lite dressing (2 points), and 1/4 Schwan's French Bread (4 points).
Notice that I end my week with 2 days of Salmon. This is a ritual I just can not break. 1 - because it is soooooo good and 2 - because it is lower in sodium and that close to weigh in day it is important to watch my sodium intake.
Of course, each day I get in my daily 64 ounces of water and sometimes more.
Apple Salad
Serves 1 - 2points each
1 apple chopped
1 Tablespoon Fat Free Mayo
2 Tablespoons slivered almonds
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Chop up your apple. Add slivered almonds. Mix together with the 1 Tablespoon of fat free mayo and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Enjoy.
This next recipe is perfect for Easter! It is wonderful...sort of a souped up version of Banana Pudding!
Banana Split Salad
Makes 6 servings. Serving size is 3/4c.
Makes 6 servings. Serving size is 3/4c.
2/3 c nonfat dry milk
1 c water
1 c pineapple tidbits in own juice- drain but save juice
1/2 c FF Cool Whip
1 c diced banana
2 c sliced strawberries
2 TBSP chocolate chips
2 TBSP chopped pecans
In a bowl combine pudding, dry milk, water and reserved juice.
Mix well with a whisk.
Blend in Cool Whip then add pineapple, banana, strawberries, chocolate chips and pecans.
Mix gently to combine.
Cover and refrigerate.
Mix your bananas with a little lemon juice so they will not brown.
You can use crushed pineapple and it will turn out fine.
Well, hoping to have a great week and a wonderful Easter! I am begging the candy cravings to please not enter this week! It will be rough, but I can do this!
That chocolate bunny with the good lookin' long chocolate ears may call out to me; I am hoping I can distract him with a bag of carrots! Trying not to think about those little yellow peeps, chocolate eggs, and that handsome bunny.......trying to think only of that 4 pounds I want off next week!
To all of you out there on this journey with me; Be strong! Don't fall for those cute little eyes and sweet long ears - You will regret it! Have a good one!
Friday, April 15, 2011
I'm Ready For a New Century!
Oh, my fellow pumpkin lovers, I am happy to report that I am down another pound and 1/2 today! However; I am only .4 pounds away from entering into a new century mark! Yes, that is right.....POINT FOUR pounds away! I weighed 5 times this morning hoping that I would break that double zero mark but had no luck so that is my goal next week....to enter the new century set of numbers!
My week next week though, will have to be better than this week. This week, no matter what I did, I couldn't curb my sweet tooth! I tried everything, brushing my teeth, distracting myself, feeding myself something else, nothing helped. I craved it all this week...peanut butter, chocolate, doughnuts, candy, you name it, I craved it. No I am not pregnant just feeling slightly deprived I think. Since I weighed in today, I have to admit; I satisfied my cravings tonight! I have enjoyed some sweets tonight and I am going to bed praying I didn't hurt my goals.
This week has been very tiresome. I am so glad it is finally Friday. It is really difficult going back to work after being off an entire week. This week has seemed like an eternity!
Something funny; Thursday we had an awards ceremony for kids that passed state testing last year. (This is a yearly awards program my school district does. Each year, I get to ring the necks (I know ha, ha) of my former students with nice shiny medals if they passed the state testing while in my class.) Usually the boys think it is so uncool to hug their former teacher. So as I was ringing the kids I would ask them, "Do you want a hug or a fist bump?" I was greatfully surprised when the most unlikely of students (the boys) were the ones that wanted hugs! I just thought that was funny. Usually you have to beg boys for any type of affection and here they were wanting those hugs. I was so proud of them and their accomplishments and yet surprised that they weren't too cool to hug their former teacher. Teaching is a wonderful profession. I love my job.
Okay, so I know you love those recipes and I have a couple to share with you this week.
Cheery Cherry Turnovers
Makes 8 servings at 3 points each
*1 can reduced fat crescent rolls
*8 Tblsp. Light Cherry Pie Filling (you can also do apple)
*8 tsp. Betty Crocker whipped butter cream frosting
Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into triangles as directed on he can. Place 1 Tblsp. each of cherry pie filling on the end of each triangle and roll up as you would if baking crescent rolls directed on the can. Bake as directed. While still warm, spread 1 tsp. of the frosting on each turnover. It melts and goes a long way.
Pizza Soup
Makes 8 (1 cup) servings at 5 points each
*1 can mushrooms stems and pieces (optional)
*1 green pepper chopped (optional)
*1 onion chopped (optional)
*64 oz. tomato juice
*1 can diced tomatoes
*1 (14 oz.) jar of pizza sauce
*70 turkey pepperoni, quartered
*1 (3 oz.) jar of Hormel bacon pieces
*2% part skim mozzarella shredded cheese (1/4 cup per bowl of soup) If you choose not to use the cheese, the soup is 4 points per serving.
In a pan, spray Pam nonstick cooking spray. Saute the mushrooms, pepper, and onion until soft over medium heat. In a large soup pot, dump the sauted veggies along with all the other ingredients and stir to mix. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1/2 hour. Top each serving with the 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Serve with a breadstick and a green salad for a complete meal (just remember to add in those points).
Hoping to break a century mark this next week! Wish me luck! Have a wonderful weekend and a great week!
My week next week though, will have to be better than this week. This week, no matter what I did, I couldn't curb my sweet tooth! I tried everything, brushing my teeth, distracting myself, feeding myself something else, nothing helped. I craved it all this week...peanut butter, chocolate, doughnuts, candy, you name it, I craved it. No I am not pregnant just feeling slightly deprived I think. Since I weighed in today, I have to admit; I satisfied my cravings tonight! I have enjoyed some sweets tonight and I am going to bed praying I didn't hurt my goals.
This week has been very tiresome. I am so glad it is finally Friday. It is really difficult going back to work after being off an entire week. This week has seemed like an eternity!
Something funny; Thursday we had an awards ceremony for kids that passed state testing last year. (This is a yearly awards program my school district does. Each year, I get to ring the necks (I know ha, ha) of my former students with nice shiny medals if they passed the state testing while in my class.) Usually the boys think it is so uncool to hug their former teacher. So as I was ringing the kids I would ask them, "Do you want a hug or a fist bump?" I was greatfully surprised when the most unlikely of students (the boys) were the ones that wanted hugs! I just thought that was funny. Usually you have to beg boys for any type of affection and here they were wanting those hugs. I was so proud of them and their accomplishments and yet surprised that they weren't too cool to hug their former teacher. Teaching is a wonderful profession. I love my job.
Okay, so I know you love those recipes and I have a couple to share with you this week.
Cheery Cherry Turnovers
Makes 8 servings at 3 points each
*1 can reduced fat crescent rolls
*8 Tblsp. Light Cherry Pie Filling (you can also do apple)
*8 tsp. Betty Crocker whipped butter cream frosting
Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into triangles as directed on he can. Place 1 Tblsp. each of cherry pie filling on the end of each triangle and roll up as you would if baking crescent rolls directed on the can. Bake as directed. While still warm, spread 1 tsp. of the frosting on each turnover. It melts and goes a long way.
Pizza Soup
Makes 8 (1 cup) servings at 5 points each
*1 can mushrooms stems and pieces (optional)
*1 green pepper chopped (optional)
*1 onion chopped (optional)
*64 oz. tomato juice
*1 can diced tomatoes
*1 (14 oz.) jar of pizza sauce
*70 turkey pepperoni, quartered
*1 (3 oz.) jar of Hormel bacon pieces
*2% part skim mozzarella shredded cheese (1/4 cup per bowl of soup) If you choose not to use the cheese, the soup is 4 points per serving.
In a pan, spray Pam nonstick cooking spray. Saute the mushrooms, pepper, and onion until soft over medium heat. In a large soup pot, dump the sauted veggies along with all the other ingredients and stir to mix. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1/2 hour. Top each serving with the 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Serve with a breadstick and a green salad for a complete meal (just remember to add in those points).
Hoping to break a century mark this next week! Wish me luck! Have a wonderful weekend and a great week!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Really? It's Already Thursday?!
Geesh! Where does the time go?! I am now officially in summer mode. This week has gotten me in the mood for SUMMER BREAK! Not that I hate my job because I love my job, but because I simply like the idea of 'running on my own time'.
The weekend flew by of course. I can't even remember what we did, it went so fast. Monday and Tuesday were "bummer" days for me. I spent those days in and out of 4 different doctors' offices! My thyroid levels are all out of whack, but since January when I was there last, I have lost officially 25 pounds. I am hoping tomorrow when I step on the scales it shows that too. Scales are very different from place to place. But I can say, since I weighed on the same doctor's scales in January that I did on Tuesday.....my loss is officially 25 pounds! Yay! Go Me!!
Wednesday, I worked on putting together some LITE recipes for my Weight Watcher's personal cookbook. I will be pulling recipes from it to share with you! I am so excited to share all my found treasures! These recipes help to keep my life normal on this weight loss journey. I can not, absolutely, can not do away with preparing and enjoying dinner with my family so these recipes are a crucial component to my weight loss journey! I can't wait to share either!
Today, I went to my parent's house. They had my niece Layla, so I took a few pictures of Emma and Layla for Easter. They turned out super cute! I am posting my favorites below!
Tomorrow, I plan to weigh in and then enjoy my last weekday of freedom! I plan to surf the net, watch tv with Emma, and make the difficult decision to either nap or walk on the treadmill while Emma naps. Hmmmm!
I would really like to share what I am eating with you! So on this week's shopping list will be items needed for the following recipes: ENJOY!
I will check back in tomorrow and report my official weekly total! Thanks for visiting the pumpkin patch!
The weekend flew by of course. I can't even remember what we did, it went so fast. Monday and Tuesday were "bummer" days for me. I spent those days in and out of 4 different doctors' offices! My thyroid levels are all out of whack, but since January when I was there last, I have lost officially 25 pounds. I am hoping tomorrow when I step on the scales it shows that too. Scales are very different from place to place. But I can say, since I weighed on the same doctor's scales in January that I did on Tuesday.....my loss is officially 25 pounds! Yay! Go Me!!
Wednesday, I worked on putting together some LITE recipes for my Weight Watcher's personal cookbook. I will be pulling recipes from it to share with you! I am so excited to share all my found treasures! These recipes help to keep my life normal on this weight loss journey. I can not, absolutely, can not do away with preparing and enjoying dinner with my family so these recipes are a crucial component to my weight loss journey! I can't wait to share either!
Today, I went to my parent's house. They had my niece Layla, so I took a few pictures of Emma and Layla for Easter. They turned out super cute! I am posting my favorites below!
I would really like to share what I am eating with you! So on this week's shopping list will be items needed for the following recipes: ENJOY!
Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Makes 6 servings – 8 points each
*1 lb. extra lean grown beef
*1 (15 oz.) can chunky Italian style tomato sauce
*Cooking spray
*1 (10 oz.) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
*1 ½ cups (6 oz.) shredded 2% skim mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brown the meat in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat until done. Add tomato sauce, and cook until heated. While meat cooks, coat a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Unroll pizza crust dough and press into the bottom and halfway up the side of baking dish. Top bottom of pizza crust with the meat mixture. Bake uncovered at 425 degrees for 12 minutes. Top with the cheese and bake 5 minutes more or until crust is browned and cheese is melted.
*You can add 0 point veggies to make it more filling if desired such as mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomato slices, etc.
Shredded Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Makes 8 good size sandwiches for 6 points each
*1 can Diet Dr. Pepper
*1 cup Barbecue sauce
*8 thin 100 calorie buns
Spray the inside of your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken breast pieces in the crockpot. Cover with the can of diet Dr. Pepper and the barbecue sauce. Allow to cook on low for 8 hours. Shred the chicken using two forks.
Divide out the pulled chicken into 8 equal servings. Serve on a thin 100 calorie bun.
I will check back in tomorrow and report my official weekly total! Thanks for visiting the pumpkin patch!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Hello Spring Break!
So it started today at 3:15 pm......my much needed Spring Break! A full week of running on my own time and hopefully sleeping in (though with a 2 year old...it never happens the way you want)! I will probably be awakened earlier than usual this next week, but I am hopeful that I will be able to sleep till at least 7 am.
This week was another successful weight loss week! I lost another pound and a half which puts me up to 20 off! I am so excited that I only have 30 more to reach my short term goal. I have much more I would love to lose in the long run, but my goal is 50 by July. So I am much closer than I was back in February when I started!
I have not come across many new foods because I am currently enjoying all the foods I have found already. I did however; find 1 new food. At Kroger in the produce section, I was looking at mushrooms. I have always loved stuffed mushrooms and I thought I would create my own stuffed mushroom recipe. Though, upon closer viewing, I spotted some stuffed portobello mushrooms. They were bacon cheese flavored stuffed mushrooms. I can not remember the brand name only that the label was maroon and yellow. They were very good for someone that likes that sort of thing. They were only 3 points a piece. 2 of them with a salad hit the spot for me last weekend! If you are looking for them, search the fresh mushroom section at your local Kroger store. Later in this post I will also share a couple new recipes I have found. And don't think I won't try to create my own stuffed portobello. That is my goal this week: create my own recipe for stuffed portobellos that is low in WW points!
I have to tell you that I am becoming very excited about my book being published. I got to preview my book via email this week. Though, there were some changes I will definately be having the publishers change, I was still very excited. It is such an accomplishment to have done something full cycle and not give up. I am hoping I can do the same with my Weight Watchers plan. I am sure I will be just as proud of myself when I meet my goal as I am about publishing my book.
I had to send in a picture of myself for my author autobiography and it was difficult because normally, I am behind the camera! Not in front of it! Thankfully, for Christmas, I got a new spiffy camera that can detect a smile and snap a picture at that moment. I set it up, got my daughter, and took some shots. I didn't feel right just putting my picture in there since the book was written for my daughter and all my illustrations were done with her as my inspiration. Here are a couple of the photos. I think they turned out very well. I ended up going with the first one, but thought I would share the others too.
I am hoping that next week is as successful as this past week. It will be tough since I will be home a lot instead of following my normal day to day routine. Wish me luck and now for those recipes!
Honey Chicken (8 points)
3 large chicken breasts (sliced in half to creat 6 thinner pieces of chicken)
12 Tablespoons of Kraft Light Honey Dijon Dressing
6 slices of cooked bacon
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Place the chicken breasts in a sprayed casserole dish. Cover with the Dressing (2 tablespoons dressing per chicken piece). Bake in a 400 degree oven for 35 - 40 minutes or until chicken is well done. Pull out of the oven. Break each piece of bacon in half. Place 2 half pieces of bacon on each chicken piece and sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Place under the broiler till cheese is melted. Enjoy with veggies or a salad.
Coconut Dream Pie (4 points a serving)
1 8oz. tub fat free cool whip
2 individual servings Light and Fit "Toasted Coconut and Vanilla" flavored yogurt
1 reduced fat graham cracker crust
In a bowl, fold yogurt into the whipped topping. Spread into the crust, invert plastic crust cover onto your pie and place in the freezer for 4 or more hours. Allow about 5 - 10 minutes to thaw before trying to slice into it.
Makes 8 servings! (4 points each)
**NOTE: You can make different variations of this pie....for Key Lime Pie, trade out the coconut and vanilla flavored yogurt for Yoplait's Light Key Lime Pie flavor. Or for a Banana Pie, use the Yoplait's Light Banana Cream Pie flavored yogurt.
Well, that is it. I hope you enjoy the week. I will probably report back in with a new post sometime this week since I will be off. I look forward to sharing more of my life with you! Have a good one!
This week was another successful weight loss week! I lost another pound and a half which puts me up to 20 off! I am so excited that I only have 30 more to reach my short term goal. I have much more I would love to lose in the long run, but my goal is 50 by July. So I am much closer than I was back in February when I started!
I have not come across many new foods because I am currently enjoying all the foods I have found already. I did however; find 1 new food. At Kroger in the produce section, I was looking at mushrooms. I have always loved stuffed mushrooms and I thought I would create my own stuffed mushroom recipe. Though, upon closer viewing, I spotted some stuffed portobello mushrooms. They were bacon cheese flavored stuffed mushrooms. I can not remember the brand name only that the label was maroon and yellow. They were very good for someone that likes that sort of thing. They were only 3 points a piece. 2 of them with a salad hit the spot for me last weekend! If you are looking for them, search the fresh mushroom section at your local Kroger store. Later in this post I will also share a couple new recipes I have found. And don't think I won't try to create my own stuffed portobello. That is my goal this week: create my own recipe for stuffed portobellos that is low in WW points!
I have to tell you that I am becoming very excited about my book being published. I got to preview my book via email this week. Though, there were some changes I will definately be having the publishers change, I was still very excited. It is such an accomplishment to have done something full cycle and not give up. I am hoping I can do the same with my Weight Watchers plan. I am sure I will be just as proud of myself when I meet my goal as I am about publishing my book.
I had to send in a picture of myself for my author autobiography and it was difficult because normally, I am behind the camera! Not in front of it! Thankfully, for Christmas, I got a new spiffy camera that can detect a smile and snap a picture at that moment. I set it up, got my daughter, and took some shots. I didn't feel right just putting my picture in there since the book was written for my daughter and all my illustrations were done with her as my inspiration. Here are a couple of the photos. I think they turned out very well. I ended up going with the first one, but thought I would share the others too.
I am hoping that next week is as successful as this past week. It will be tough since I will be home a lot instead of following my normal day to day routine. Wish me luck and now for those recipes!
Honey Chicken (8 points)
3 large chicken breasts (sliced in half to creat 6 thinner pieces of chicken)
12 Tablespoons of Kraft Light Honey Dijon Dressing
6 slices of cooked bacon
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Place the chicken breasts in a sprayed casserole dish. Cover with the Dressing (2 tablespoons dressing per chicken piece). Bake in a 400 degree oven for 35 - 40 minutes or until chicken is well done. Pull out of the oven. Break each piece of bacon in half. Place 2 half pieces of bacon on each chicken piece and sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Place under the broiler till cheese is melted. Enjoy with veggies or a salad.
Coconut Dream Pie (4 points a serving)
1 8oz. tub fat free cool whip
2 individual servings Light and Fit "Toasted Coconut and Vanilla" flavored yogurt
1 reduced fat graham cracker crust
In a bowl, fold yogurt into the whipped topping. Spread into the crust, invert plastic crust cover onto your pie and place in the freezer for 4 or more hours. Allow about 5 - 10 minutes to thaw before trying to slice into it.
Makes 8 servings! (4 points each)
**NOTE: You can make different variations of this pie....for Key Lime Pie, trade out the coconut and vanilla flavored yogurt for Yoplait's Light Key Lime Pie flavor. Or for a Banana Pie, use the Yoplait's Light Banana Cream Pie flavored yogurt.
Well, that is it. I hope you enjoy the week. I will probably report back in with a new post sometime this week since I will be off. I look forward to sharing more of my life with you! Have a good one!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Too Fast? Are You Kidding Me?!
Hello all you visitors to the Pumpkin Patch! It has been a chaotic week for sure but a great one with weight loss, yet again!
I lost another 3 1/2 pounds this week which puts me up to 18 1/2 pounds in 6 weeks. However; this morning when I punched in my loss, the Weight Watcher's site said I was possibly losing weight too quickly and wanted to give me recommendations to slow down my weight loss! I thought, "What!? Too fast?! Are you kidding me!?" In my opinion, I think I am losing exactly the way I want to. I have a deadline (July) to get 50 pounds off!
I know, I know, I get it.....losing weight consistently too quickly is dangerous and can cause health issues, but I have done this before.....I know my body will slow down. Eventually it will become 1/2 pound weeks instead of my 3 1/2. So I want to get as much off as I can while I am losing well. I am not depriving myself, people.....I am eating trust me. In fact, this week I greatfully decided to dive into a scrumptious orange triple layer cake at my granny's birthday shindig! I ate like a pig last Friday. I ate all my weekly extra points this week too! I AM eating!
This is a wonderful weight loss program! I have figured out why I wasn't successful all those other times I did Weight Watchers......I was changing what I was eating and taking away the foods I love. This time, I am not doing that. Before, I would sit down to a dinner of a Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine while my husband would enjoy regular food as I drueled over his dinner. This time, though, I am learning to adjust my favorite recipes and eat what my husband is eating which has led me to feel like I am not taking away anything. I fixed my Beef Stroganoff recipe this week and instead of sour cream and regular cream cheese I used fat free cream cheese and fat free plain yogurt! My husband would have flipped his lid had he known I did that, so we won't tell! Yet, he had no clue that I had switched anything out! Again, loving the changes I am making in my life!
Okay, so enough of that.....I know there are those of you out there that are not doing weight watchers and are longing for other stuff besides weight loss info! So I have a treat for you! My husband's 2nd cousin, a wonderful woman I love a lot (love you Dana) gave me a recipe I will have to fix for a treat. I think as a reward when I get this 50 pounds off, I will make this for myself! I am going to share it with you! I do have to warn you though.....reading it makes you feel 20 pounds heavier!
Go CATS! Number 1!
I lost another 3 1/2 pounds this week which puts me up to 18 1/2 pounds in 6 weeks. However; this morning when I punched in my loss, the Weight Watcher's site said I was possibly losing weight too quickly and wanted to give me recommendations to slow down my weight loss! I thought, "What!? Too fast?! Are you kidding me!?" In my opinion, I think I am losing exactly the way I want to. I have a deadline (July) to get 50 pounds off!
I know, I know, I get it.....losing weight consistently too quickly is dangerous and can cause health issues, but I have done this before.....I know my body will slow down. Eventually it will become 1/2 pound weeks instead of my 3 1/2. So I want to get as much off as I can while I am losing well. I am not depriving myself, people.....I am eating trust me. In fact, this week I greatfully decided to dive into a scrumptious orange triple layer cake at my granny's birthday shindig! I ate like a pig last Friday. I ate all my weekly extra points this week too! I AM eating!
This is a wonderful weight loss program! I have figured out why I wasn't successful all those other times I did Weight Watchers......I was changing what I was eating and taking away the foods I love. This time, I am not doing that. Before, I would sit down to a dinner of a Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine while my husband would enjoy regular food as I drueled over his dinner. This time, though, I am learning to adjust my favorite recipes and eat what my husband is eating which has led me to feel like I am not taking away anything. I fixed my Beef Stroganoff recipe this week and instead of sour cream and regular cream cheese I used fat free cream cheese and fat free plain yogurt! My husband would have flipped his lid had he known I did that, so we won't tell! Yet, he had no clue that I had switched anything out! Again, loving the changes I am making in my life!
Okay, so enough of that.....I know there are those of you out there that are not doing weight watchers and are longing for other stuff besides weight loss info! So I have a treat for you! My husband's 2nd cousin, a wonderful woman I love a lot (love you Dana) gave me a recipe I will have to fix for a treat. I think as a reward when I get this 50 pounds off, I will make this for myself! I am going to share it with you! I do have to warn you though.....reading it makes you feel 20 pounds heavier!
Coconut caramel pie
¼ cup butter
1 7oz. pck flaked coconut
½ chopped pecans
1 8oz. pck cream cheese
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 16oz. cool whip
2 baked 9 in. pie crusts
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
Directions
Melt butter in skillet. Add coconut and pecans. Cook until golden brown, stirring frequently. Set aside. Combine cream cheese and condensed milk- beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Layer cream cheese mixture, caramel, nut and coconut mixture.
Doesn't that sound yummy? Come on 50 pounds! Thanks again Dana for this recipe!
Now for all you weight loss people, I tried something last night for dinner that knocked my socks off! Again, I have to pay credit where credit is due! I thank my Uncle Mike and Aunt Marcia for this one! I tried salmon (Georgia style)! Here is what I did:
I used Schwan's fresh caught salmon fillets. If you don't order from Schwan's you can use fresh or another good cut of salmon. If you are using a frozen fillet, I recommend cooking it under the broiler for 8 minutes without anything on it. After 8 minutes turn the fillets over and add to the top, 1 teaspoon margarine spread across the top and then crumble up 1 tablespoon of light brown sugar on top. Place back under the broiler for another 6 minutes. Enjoy over a bed of rice! YUMMY! If you are using fresh salmon, skip the first broiling session. Go on and spread on the margarine and brown sugar then broil for 8 minutes. This was wonderful and very low in points. I counted it up as 4 points for the salmon.
I also tried this week dipping my apple slices in chocolate pudding instead of caramel and have to admit, I liked it better!
Tonight Kentucky plays Ohio State. Go Kentucky! I am posting my daughter's Kentucky picture just for good luck! I am praying I don't regret this! Hoping they win! Fingers crossed! Hope there is less of me to report next week (though not too much)....who am I kidding?! Ta Ta!
Tonight Kentucky plays Ohio State. Go Kentucky! I am posting my daughter's Kentucky picture just for good luck! I am praying I don't regret this! Hoping they win! Fingers crossed! Hope there is less of me to report next week (though not too much)....who am I kidding?! Ta Ta!
Go CATS! Number 1!
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