Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It's a bit nippy here at the Ormond house, at least by Sunshine State standards, perfect soup weather! We're going shopping this morning and then visiting some friends this afternoon so it'll be lovely to come home and find this hearty, savory dinner waiting for us!

The bread-eaters in the family will be eating Baked Tortilla Chips along with the soup.

Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken and Potato Soup

POINTS® Value: 5
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 420 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

This spicy soup is packed with chunks of chicken, potatoes and corn, and flavored with cumin. Hearty and delicious.

Ingredients:

3/4 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 medium sweet potato(es), peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion(s), chopped
29 oz canned diced tomatoes, salsa-style with chiles, undrained
14 1/2 oz fat-free chicken broth
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 cup(s) frozen corn kernels, not thawed

Instructions:

* Mix all ingredients, except corn, in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker; cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours.

* Stir in corn and cover slow cooker; cook on high heat until chicken is no longer pink in center and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.



Enjoy!

I've Been a Bad, Bad Girl

Despite my naughtiness and total lack of control this past month, even though I indulged in every sort of tasty treat and savory morsel put before me, Santa still deemed me worthy of a visit. However, in addition to lovely Yuletide treasures, he also gifted me with a couple of non-edible goodies to nudge me back in the right direction. *blush* Under my tree I also found a few "reminders" of my intention to be a good girl and lose weight in 2009, a promise I had clearly broken.

A light spanking from Santa, perhaps?



I started reading Living Low-Carb yesterday, mid-feast, gobbling up the tidbits of information along with my sugar cookies. I browsed Low-Carb Recipes between bites of chocolate and sips of wine. Both are interesting and informative, just the inspiration I needed to hop off this gravy train and back on the healthy dining wagon!

So, I'm not waiting for the New Year to start fresh. No holding out until the stroke of midnight or the traditional popping of the cork or making half-hearted resolutions under the influence of a holiday hangover. Today begins a new year of clean, conscious eating. With a pinch of perseverance, a dollop of determination and a hearty slice of self-control I will meet my goals this year and perhaps avoid the wrath of Old St. Nick next year.

Santa Came Early!

I decided that I needed some new clothes for Christmas so instead of sitting around waiting for St Nick to decide if I've been naughty or nice (umm...both, actually) I logged onto Macy's and gifted myself!

Here's me in one of my new work dresses, I didn't think I could get away with a sheath dress much less a wide belt but I'm pleasantly surprised at how nicely it fits & feels! Of course I'd rather it be a smaller size than 12 but that's ok, I'm getting there, slowly but surely.



In other news, at the risk of revealing TMI, my little monthly visitor arrived with little fanfare yesterday, actually surprised me which is something that never happens. Apparently no sugar/low-carb/lean protein/lots of veggies is a perfect PMS cure. Huh. I'd heard the rumors but never believed that diet had that much impact on such things. Just one more thing to keep me motivated!

Off to work for me, hope you all have a Beauty-Full day!