Daily Om ~ March 18, 2011 Blending Thought and Feeling Leo Daily Horoscope
A need to explore the range of your abilities can come upon you suddenly today, prompting you to look for opportunities to make use of your intellectual and creative talents. You may feel innovative as you endeavor to imbue your practical projects with an aura of creativity. Similarly, your resourceful and clever mood can drive you to explore methods of using your creative skills in your professional life. You may discover today that the imaginative yet commonsensical ideas that appear in your mind help you to see your world in a more balanced way. This can be a wonderful time to tackle projects that have stymied you, because you may be able to perceive new techniques of achieving your goals.
While lying on the couch sniffling and sneezing for the past couple of days, I caught up on reading, favorite tv shows, and started planning some long-overdue house projects. Inspired by the book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston, I took a good look around the family room and, not happy with what I saw, decided to start purging. Choosing my bookshelves as the first area to tackle might not have been the best idea since the swirling dust contributed to a sneezing fit, but I did it anyway. By the time Beren got home last night, I had two out of three bookshelves cleared off & dusted, two huge stacks of books for donation and the remaining tomes neatly returned to their proper place. I freed up two whole shelves which I'm sure will fill up again eventually, but for now I'm quite content to leave them bare. I now have a bunch of books up for swap on Paperbackswap and another 50 or so set aside for donation to the library. Whew! As much as I adore my collection, so many of my books were no longer needed or loved, coming from a different time in my life. My interests have changed, why hold onto things that no longer make me happy?
This weekend I plan to continue with the de-cluttering, tackling the entertainment center next. It's very freeing to let go of this stuff, to clear out unwanted items to make room for fresh, new possessions, thoughts & ideas. The process is emotionally as well as physically fulfilling, and I can't help but wonder if purging myself of clutter is also contributing to the slight loss I noticed on the scale this morning? I'm clearing out unwanted junk in my home, in my mind, and maybe in my body as well! There are studies that back up this theory...hmm...something to think about while I tackle the dust bunnies today.
I finally, finally reached my 20-pounds-lost-goal! I know it's "only" been 4 months but that seems like forever! The last month especially has been rough as my weight loss has slowed down a bit, need to rev that back up just a bit.
Say tuned for pics/details of what I gifted myself for this occasion..we're in Ormond this weekend so it'll have to wait until we return home.
In the meantime, hope you have a Beauty-Full Day! TGIF!
* Mojo (African American culture), a magical charm bag used in voodoo * a slang word for self-confidence, self-esteem or sex appeal
Adorable little Polar's Mom summed it up so perfectly in her comment of my last post: I seem to have lost my Mojo! I'm not sure where it went but I am sure I'll find it zippity quick and be back to my usual sassy self in no time flat!
I had my Jenny consult this morning and it was no surprise that I didn't lose, but I had expected a gain and was quite pleased when Alice announced, "you maintained." Music to my ears after the tough week I had. I did a bit of soul searching and think I figured out what I did "wrong" last week.
As you know, I met my halfway goal which meant I could start incorporating some Meals on my Own (MOMO) and Days on my Own (DOMO) into my plan. I was so excited about cooking not only for my family but also for myself, but unfortunately I hadn't really gotten the portion thing under control and my own food triggered some eating patterns in me that I haven't experienced since Jenny. I felt off track, out of control, and just plain not happy.
Looking back, I realize a couple of things I did that didn't work for me. First, I decided to do both DOMO over the weekend. Bad idea. The weekends are already less structured and adding the confusion of Exchanges, etc. just threw me for a loop. Also, having never really done MOMO before now, at least not officially, two days on my own in a row was too much.
So, this week I have it planned differently. Instead of DOMO, I'm doing a couple of MOMO. I bought 5 days worth of food this week and will integrate those with my own meals and see how that goes. I have a Jenny cookbook and plan to make a couple of my family's meals from there, portioning out the proper amounts and serving them restaurant-style. Any leftovers will be measured out into individual containers and either refrigerated or frozen, my own little Jenny Cuisine boxes. (Thank you, Catherine, for this great idea!)
Also, I need to get back on track with my exercise so I added a couple of new playlists to my i-pod and am gonna hit the road this evening. Sorry, Loki, you'll need to stay home, Mama needs some time to herself!
Now, here's some TGIF fun for you. This "game" is floating around blogland, I found it on Fat, Angry Blog as well as other places, thought I'd try it here myself....
30 days of photos - Day 1
1. A picture of yourself and 15 facts:
1. I am 46 years old 2. I am a Leo (and even if the new zodiac had altered that, I'm not buying it) 3. I was a preemie, born 3 weeks early, weighed in at 4 pounds 12 ounces. 4. Kali, my first daughter weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces. She was 6 days late. 5. My parents were divorced before I was born (don't ask) and my mom remarried (a couple of times) so I now have a big ol' blended family! 6. I have 3 daughters from 2 different husbands but am now happily shacking up sans the legal stuff 7. I reconnected with my high school sweetheart after Divorce #2. We've been living together in non-marital bliss ever since (see above) 8. I love to cook but I refuse to believe that has anything to do with me gaining weight. Cooking didn't get me fat, eating did! 9. I love animals of all kinds. Especially cats. And wolves. (Loki made me add that) 10. I love to read and am starstuck by authors much more so than actors. 11. My mother died of lung cancer on February 4, 2009. It's not a happy fact but it is very much a part of who I am. (if you're a smoker, rest assured I'm gonna nag you go quit). 12. I love the color red. Big time. 13. I guess it goes without saying that I adore pin-ups. 14. I wear heels whenever possible, the higher the better, flats only when necessary and sneakers only when exercising. Otherwise, I'm barefoot. 15. When I was a little girl my mom forced me to have a pixie cut. It was not flattering. I eventually forgave her but in rebellion I grew my hair long..and longer..and still longer. I've recently cut it to a more manageable length more suited to an..ahem..woman of my age but you'll never see it shorter than it is right now. Rapunzel forever!
Still to come:
2. A picture of you and person you’ve been the closest with the longest
3. A picture of the cast of your favourite show
4. A picture of your night
5. A picture of your favorite memory
6. A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day
7. A picture of most treasured item
8. A picture that makes you laugh
9. A picture of a person who has gotten you through the most
10. A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with
11. A picture of something you hate
12. A picture of something you love
13. A picture of your favourite band or artist
14. A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
15. A picture of something you want to do before you die
16. A picture of someone who inspires you
17. A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
18. A picture of your biggest insecurity
19. A picture of you when you were little
20. A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
21. A picture of something you wish you could forget
22. A picture of something you wish you were better at
23. A picture of your favorite book
24. A picture of something you wish you could change
25. A picture of your day
26. A picture of something that means a lot to you
27. A picture of yourself and a family member
28. A picture of something your afraid of
29. A picture that can always make you smile
30. A picture of someone you miss
So, doesn't that sound like fun? You may end up knowing much more about me than you ever thought you would..or cared to. *wink*
As I'd hoped, I reached halfway-to-goal at my weigh-in yesterday, whoo-hoo! 19 (official) pounds down, 19 more to meet my original Jenny Craig goal (though I'm probably going to lose more, more about that later). Jenny rewarded me for reaching the halfway point by giving me $50 credit toward this week's food. Yay! Also, this milestone means that I will now start weaning off the Jenny Cuisine and onto my own food. I'll be eating JC five days a week, 2 days on my own. Double yay! Don't get me wrong, the food is really, really good, but 13 weeks of anything can get boring. And, you all know how much I love to cook so I am really looking forward to getting back into the kitchen, cooking and eating my own food.
Now, the way the diet works is by using Exchanges, similar to the old Weight Watchers system I used back in the 1990's. Honestly, I found that program much healthier and more effective and I'm familiar with it so this should be relatively easy. I'm on the 1,200 calorie plan and I get 5 Starches, unlimited (non-starchy)Vegetables, 2 Fruits, 5 Meat/Meat Substitutes, 3 Milks and 2 Fats. Of course there's an Exchange List in the JC literature which I'll be referring to frequently until I get the hang of this.
Since the weather here has turned chilly again, I think a nice pot of soup is in order, don't you? Beren found me an older Jenny Craig cookbook at the thrift store & I spent some time browsing through it this morning, found a yummy-sounding Vegetable-Beef Soup recipe that will be a perfect dinner tonight. I'm pleased to see that the recipe uses only 1/2 pound of meat for 10 cups of soup! I'm sure you could even eliminate the meat, making it vegetarian, which is what I'd do if I didn't intend to share this meal with my meat-lovin' man! *wink* I'll probably serve it with some type of whole-grain (80 calorie) bread and a big green salad.
Vegetable-Beef Soup
-------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1/2 pound top round steak -- boneless vegetable cooking spray 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onion 1 teaspoon sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 1/2 cups water 2 cans no-salt-added beef broth -- (14-1/4-ounce each) 1 can no-salt-added whole tomatoes -- (141/2-ounce) undrained and chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 bay leaf 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped cabbage 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup sliced carrot 1 medium yellow squash -- cut into 1-inch chunks 1 small zucchini -- cut into 1-inch chunks
Trim fat from steak; cut steak into 1-inch pieces. Coat a Dutch oven with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add steak; cook until browned on all sides, stirring often. Remove steak from Dutch oven and set aside.
Add oil to Dutch oven. Place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion; saute 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium-low; add sugar and salt. Cook 15 minutes or until golden, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute.
Add beef, water, and next 5 ingredients to onion mixture. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour. Add cabbage and remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove and discard bay leaf.
Thank you so much for all of your healing thoughts and cyber-soup, they worked! By Wednesday afternoon I was feeling so much better, was able to participate fully in Kali's birthday celebration!
After spending the morning some quickie housekeeping, I met the Birthday Girl, her beau and my dad for lunch at a wonderful local Cuban restaurant, Las Vegas. Keeping in mind my fragile tummy, I ate a delicious bowl of chicken soup and a piece of plain Cuban bread. Mmmmm..just what the doctor (or nurse) ordered!
I then parted with the family and went shopping for the celebratory feast. Kali requested deli food which in our family means only one thing: Gino's Italian Market. I'm a regular shopper there, try to stop by every week or so to take advantage of their great prices on fresh meat, cheese, and sometimes just to "window shop" in the bakery.
This particular day I spent a good amount of time at the deli counter..Provolone and Salami and ham, oh, my! Along with Italian bean salad, macaroni salad & some fresh loaves of bread, a feast was in the making! The best part of the trip was the special attention I got from the elderly butcher who insisted that I sample everything I purchased and when I protested, accusing him of making me fat, he exclaimed, "I lov-a the way-a you look! Don't worry 'bout it!" God, how I love Italian men..
One last cruise by my favorite area of the store..but nope, no vino for me today..sigh..
Eschewing my Jenny Craig meal just this once, I joined my family in the consumption of our delicious feast..in moderation. Small sandwich, bite of bean salad, but when it came to dessert, I was not passing up the Cassata Cake!
I had a small slice that, seriously, was worth the hour on the treadmill it cost me. Oh. My. Goodness. This stuff was fantastic!
So, birthday celebration and tummy troubles behind me, I awoke Thursday morning ready to return to work..but first, my JC Consult. I am thrilled to report that I have broken through the 160's and weighed in at 157.6! Yippee!!
Well, dear readers, I really should get off the computer and finish a few things around the house. Beren and I are headed up to our other home for the weekend, am hoping it's nice & chilly up there so that we can light the fire pit and do some serious cuddling.
Getting measured this morning was a sobering experience: 44, 37.5, 45. Oh, and by the way, my height: 5'2"
Oh. My. God. Although I'm sure Beren will be impressed by the..ahem...breast measurements, the waist & hips are awful and I daresay larger than he is!
Well, enough of that, it is what it is, the measuring tape doesn't lie. Next measuring day will be different, no doubt about it. I confessed my dissatisfaction with those numbers to a friend of mine who said, "No worries. You will soon be counting your victories!" To which I added, "and measuring my successes!" I like those phrases, don't you?
I took a picture of today's dinner, not a very good shot considering the poor lighting and my inefficient camera phone, but here you go:
This is the Cheesy Enchilada lunch entree with my own broccoli. This was very filling and quite tasty, will definitely have this one again!
Tonight we are meeting a friend for Friday night happy hour, am more than a bit concerned about how I'm going to resist the temptations of bar food and too much alcohol, but I already have a plan: eat Jenny's soup beforehand. Drink lots of water. Order wine with a glass of ice on the side, something I normally do anyway. I learned that I can have one "free" glass of wine; if I choose another I have to give up one "fat" for the day. Not a problem, I would rather have vino than salad dressing any day.
Those of you who read my other blog will understand why this is one of the weeks when there was no freakin' way I was going to lose weight. With everything going on in my life, I honestly didn't even try. Last night I was at a bar, decompressing with a nice glass of chardonnay and some good music when I smelled french fries. I looked at Beren and without a word he put in the order. The two of us devoured the whole huge basket and I don't feel an ounce of remorse. I know, one shouldn't turn to food for comfort..blah..blah...but I do so mindfully, with a purpose, enjoyed every bite of the hot & salty goodness...and then I moved on! I don't want french fries again today; in fact, after a week of hellish chaos I'm looking forward to some structure in my life, even if the only way I find it is in my diet.
I'll be spending today cleaning & running errands, attempting to gain some control over one other area of my life, am going to throw this stew into the slowcooker & look forward to a nice dinner at the end of a productive day. Yep, I'm declaring today to be peaceful, stress-free and productive..did you hear that, Universe?
-------- ------------ -------------------------------- 24 oz boneless -- skinless chicken breast 1 yellow bell pepper -- diced 1 red bell pepper -- diced 1 can cannellini beans -- (16 oz) drained and rinsed 1 can petite diced tomatoes with basil and oregano or any style of canned tomatoes -- (14.5 oz ) 1 dash salt 1 dash black pepper 2 t dried basil 1 t dried thyme
Place all ingredients into a slow cooker, stir and cover with lid; cook on low heat for 7 hours. If you are running late, the mixture will hold for 8 hours, so don't rush. Makes 6 one cup servings.
For a couple of years now, I've been asking Beren to take me to New Orleans. With my passion for all things French combined with my appreciation of burlesque (and sexy ladies in general), I just know I'd love it! He's already been there and though he enjoyed it, he would prefer to visit somewhere new on vacation. Well, now that we've been living part time in North Florida, it's "only" about a 9-hour drive from our doorstep to his favorite bar, a much more do-able trip. So, we just might be taking a little vacation sometime in the very near future! In the meantime, I'll start planning and getting into the spirit with some Canjun cooking!
Let me tell you, my man loooooves his Jambalaya. He's been tweaking the recipe for years, taste testing from various restaurants in order to perfect his own version. Honestly, I couldn't share the recipe with you even if I wanted to, it's such a mishmash of ingredients which of course he doesn't measure or weigh. I know that he starts with this basic recipe which as you can see is pretty high in calories & sodium, yikes! I admit, it is delicious but not very healthy and certainly not "clean."
So, while Beren's in the kitchen cooking up his dinner, I'll be alongside him whipping up this healthy version:
Shrimp Jambalaya
-------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1 clove minced garlic 16 ounces stewed tomatoes 1/2 cup water 2 bay leaves 1/2 tsp thyme 1/4 tsp basil 1/4 tsp red pepper 1 dash pepper 1 pound shrimp -- Shelled and deveined 2 cups cooked brown rice Pam cooking spray
In a saucepan coated with Pam, cook onion, pepper and garlic until tender. Stir in stewed tomatoes, water, bay leaves thyme, basil, red pepper, shrimp, and cooked rice. Bring to a boil and reeduce heat. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Stir frequently.
My laptop is still out of service, have a wonderful Geek friend attempting to repair. I don't care what else is lost, I'm just begging him to save my pictures! Keep your fingers crossed, dear friends, that it's returned to me with all of my precious pin-ups intact! In the meantime, Beren has been generous about allowing me to use his, probably since he knows I'm downloading all kinds of sexy pin-up ladies onto his hard drive. *wink*
After a week of no weight loss and much frustration, I'm going back to the basics this week. Lots of lean protein, fruit & veggies. No processed white stuff. Exercise. It sounds so easy, doesn't it? Then why the heck can't I manage to do it? I'm sick & tired of dealing with this weight, tired of looking at myself in the mirror with total disgust. Can't stand the sight of my body in a bathing suit or, worse yet, in the nude. Angry about the closet full of cute clothes that I can't fit into, and the larger sizes I continue to buy out of necessity. Something has got to change, I can't live this way anymore.
So, tonight I'm having Beren grill some chicken for me, using tips posted by one of my favorite bloggers, Kalyn. I'll serve it over a big green salad and fresh fruit for dessert. Simple. Tasty. Good for me. Period. Since we're in Ormond this weekend, some beach walks are definitely in order as well.
Hope you're all having a Beauty-full day so far, TGIF!
Good morning and happy Friday!! I'm so excited to be here, sipping my coffee in the company of only felines & canines, all the two-legged family members still snoring or off to work. Ah...how I adore my Friday morning alone time!
I have a couple of recipes to share with you, both by Giada De Laurentiis (love her!) and both using up the springtime vegetable bounty. Though I don't have many veggies ready for picking in my garden yet, I did have just enough leaf lettuce to make a small salad. What a thrill it is to go out to one's own garden and prepare a meal using fresh ingredients that we've grown ourselves! It really makes you appreciate the hard work that went into growing it, no?
The first recipe, Pasta Ponza, I made last night to rave reviews. Quick, easy and oh-so-delicious! I served it alongside the aforementioned salad and a nice loaf of Italian bread. I know, it's pretty high in calories/fat/POINTS but it was truly worth it, I promise! Besides, I've decided that it works better for me to eat less of the "real deal" instead of so many substitutions, but more about that later.
Pasta Ponza
-------- ------------ -------------------------------- 4 cups cherry tomatoes -- (12 ounces) halved 1/4 cup capers -- rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil -- plus extra for drizzling 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt -- plus extra for seasoning 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper -- plus extra for seasoning 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs 1 pound ziti pasta 1 1/4 cups romano cheese -- (Pecorino Romano) 1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley -- chopped
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
Place the tomatoes, capers, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the prepared baking dish. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tomato mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the pasta. Add the cheese and toss well. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Beren and I are leaving for Ormond tonight, will be spending 10 blissful days of vacation up there, yay! Before we head north, though, I'm going to make my children one more healthy meal because God knows what they'll eat while I'm away. *grin*
Tomato Vegetable Casserole
-------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 medium potato -- peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 medium yam -- peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 red bell pepper -- seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 carrots -- peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 red onion -- thinly sliced into rings 2 small zucchini -- cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces Salt and pepper 2 large ripe tomatoes -- cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons Italian bread crumbs Fresh basil sprigs -- for garnish
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Toss the potato, yam, bell pepper, carrots, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss until coated. Spread vegetables evenly over the bottom of the pan.
Arrange the onion slices evenly over the vegetable mixture. Arrange the zucchini over the onion. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the tomato slices over the zucchini.
Stir the Parmesan and bread crumbs in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the Parmesan bread crumbs over the vegetables in the baking dish. Drizzle with the last tablespoon of olive oil.
Bake uncovered until the vegetables are tender, and the topping is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs, if desired.
Oooh, you all have no idea how happy I was to wake up this morning after a fabulous night's sleep, knowing that I have the whole day off and tax season is OVER! Yippee!! I still have a couple more weeks of Quarterlies but that's a regular thing, nowhere near the pressure & stress that occurs from Jan 1 - April 15th!
Now, I promised you some recipes and failed to deliver, I'm so sorry! I'll post them below right after I pour a big mug of fresh coffee and bask in luxury of a day completely to myself! Ahh....
Moroccan Slow-Cooker Stew
POINTS® Value: 4 Servings: 6 Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 365 min Level of Difficulty: Easy
Though delicious on its own, our cumin-scented stew can also please heartier appetites when spooned over whole wheat couscous and sprinkled with minced cilantro.
Ingredients 1 spray(s) cooking spray 1 small onion(s), chopped 1 medium garlic clove(s), minced 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes* 1 cup(s) carrot(s), baby 1 cup(s) canned crushed tomatoes 1/2 cup(s) vegetable broth 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 15 oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/2 tsp table salt Instructions
* Coat a small skillet with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 5 minutes.
* Place squash in a 3-quart or larger slow cooker (crockpot). Add sauteed onion and garlic, carrots, tomatoes, broth, cinnamon, cumin and red pepper flakes. Cover and turn on to low heat; simmer for 6 hours.
* Add chickpeas and salt. Stir, cover and heat for an additional 5 minutes. Yields about 1 1/3 cups per serving.
Notes
* *Partially cooking a hard-shell squash makes it easier to peel. Pierce the gourd in several places with a fork, microwave on HIGH for 6 to 10 minutes, depending on size, and then peel.
Top with plain, fat-free Greek yogurt to help cut the spice (may affect POINTS values).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shrimp Scampi with Spaghetti
Was POINTS® Value: 14 Now POINTS® Value: 8 Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 20 min Cooking Time: 10 min Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Traditional shrimp scampi is loaded with butter. Our version eliminates most of the fat, but still packs in all the flavor.
Ingredients 2 tsp olive oil 6 medium garlic clove(s), minced 1 tsp dried oregano 1 pound(s) shrimp, medium, peeled and deveined 1/4 cup(s) wine, dry white or vermouth 2 tsp cornstarch 3/4 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth 3/4 tsp table salt, or to taste 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste 8 oz uncooked linguini, cooked and kept hot 1/4 cup(s) parsley, fresh, chopped 2 Tbsp basil, fresh, thinly sliced
Instructions
* Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add oregano and stir to coat. Add shrimp and sauté until bright pink, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Add wine and simmer about 1 minute.
* Dissolve cornstarch in chicken broth in a small cup and whisk until blended; add mixture to skillet and simmer 2 minutes, until sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
* Transfer cooked linguini to four individual shallow bowls and spoon shrimp and sauce over top; sprinkle with parsley and basil. Yields about 1 1/3 cups of pasta, 1/4 cup of sauce and 3 ounces of shrimp per serving.
* very opposed in nature or character or purpose; "acts contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a contrary conclusion" * reverse: a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true" * of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms" * exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty" * resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior" * adverse: in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind"
The reason I quoted the above definitions is because I myself feel quite contrary as of late in that I say I want something but over & over I do do just the opposite! Of course I'm talking about losing weight and becoming healthier. I say I will stay on target, follow my eating plan and write down every single morsel of food that enters my mouth yet a quick glance at my journal proves otherwise. I say I will exercise every day because I feel absolutely fabulous afterward and know it's good for my body & mind, yet my running shoes stand neglected in the corner and my treadmill is covered in dust. I say I enjoy preparing healthy meals for myself and my family yet last night I ate pizza because I was too lazy to cook. I even say I love gardening and the fresh herbs and vegetables my garden provides but I'm staring outside my window at an overgrown mess of weeds and dirt! (The weather is no excuse; here in Florida I can grow something year round).
The list goes on & on, so many examples of my actions being in direct opposition to what I profess to be my goals! It's frustrating to step on the scale each week to see absolutely no change but I have no one to blame but myself! My weight loss has stalled along wit my efforts and something seriously has to change or I'm going to enter my 47th year the same way I did my 46th: overweight and unhappy about it.
So, today I am headed out to the garden to hoe those weeds and prepare the soil for some new herbs and veggies. Perhaps in the process I'll not only stretch my muscles but also clear some of the weeds out of my head, especially the ones that are choking my motivation and spirit!
Ugh, I don't normally work on Fridays and really look forward to that whole day to myself when the rest of my family is at work/school! I get so much done, cleaning and generally puttering around the house, and usually find an hour or two of "me time" to read, watch a movie, whatever. Well, since I'll be out of town on Monday & Tuesday (more about that later), I needed to go in and make up those hours. So..I put on some cute shoes for consolation and trudged into the office.
Knowing that I wouldn't feel like cooking once I got home, I threw this little soup into the crockpot before I left. The original recipe is from My Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, copyright 1938.
Hamburg-Vegetable Chowder
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 pound ground beef
3 tablespoons fat
2 cups canned tomatoes
2 medium carrots -- diced
1/2 cup diced celery
1 medium onion -- chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup rice -- or barley
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 quarts water
2 cups potatoes -- cubed
Brown meat in fat; put all ingredients except potatoes in large kettle and simmer slowly, about an hour.
Add potatoes and continue simmering 1 hour.
Serve with toast or cracers as main dish for luncheon or supper.
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
12 ounces Boca® Meatless Ground Crumbles
2 cups canned tomatoes
2 medium diced carrot
1/2 cup diced celery
1 medium onion -- chopped
1/4 cup brown rice, cooked
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 quarts water
2 cups potatoes -- cubed
Put all ingredients except for rice in slow cooker; cook on low for 4 - 6 hours or until vegetables are tender. Add rice about 15 minutes before serving.
The Verdict: While this was a bit bland for my taste, it was still a healthy, filling soup and a lovely to meal to find waiting after a long day! I would definitely make it again, any ideas about how to flavor it up just a bit?
Ooh, it's one of those rare chilly days here in South Florida! I have the windows flung wide open, a pot of chili simmering in the crockpot and am sipping a hot cup of Hazelnut coffee preparing for my day. It seems like everyone has more energy when the temps drop a bit, including the four-leggeds in my house! The dog is racing around the yard at record speed, kitties are leaping around the back patio greatly appreciating the cool breeze.
I hopped on the scale this morning and found that I'm back down to 163.8, right back where I started before Moontime. Sigh. I'm happy that the numbers have gone back down but really expected more of a loss at this point. Instead of moaning about it, though, I'm taking action!
Last night I sat down and planned the next week's menu, including possible lunches & snacks, headed to the grocery store and loaded my cart with healthy goodness. I now have a Positive Plan of Action and just know that I'm going to have a great week! The carb cravings have disappeared, my body is adjusting to the new Way of Eating, things are finally falling into place!
I'll be posting some more recipes over the weekend but in the meantime I'm going to finish this cuppa, put on my sneakers and burn some calories with a major houseblessing. Yeah, that's a nicer way of saying that I'm gonna kick some dustbunny butt around here!
I don't normally work on Fridays but since I took Monday off I'm going in to make up the hours. After work we'll probably be headed to a friend's house for happy hour and I know that I'm not going to want to cook afterward so I'm throwing this dish into the crockpot right now in preparation for tonight. I surely don't want to end up starving and grabbing just anything, especially after a couple of cocktails when my inhibitions are lowered, shall we say. *wink*
I've been making this recipe with great results but noww that I'm back on WW I have tweaked it slightly and made it my own. Since I am using a sweet & spicy barbecue sauce there's no need for the additional sugar in my opinion and adding a bit of onion spices it up a bit. And, yes, I know that it's not recommended to cook frozen chicken in the slow cooker but honestly I've never had a problem with it. If you do, feel free to use fresh and just shorten the cooking time.
With my tweaking, this turns out to be 4 POINTS per serving. I plan to serve it on light hamburger buns or Sandwich Thins for an additional POINT but it's also great over baked potatoes!
Great news on the scale this morning, lost 2.4 pounds this week for a total of 5 pounds! That entitles me to a little cyber star on Weight Watchers online and a big ol' gold star in my head! Yippee! Even more exciting is that I'm now "in the 9's," you all know what that means, right? I've dropped down to the lower range..oh, what the hell, might as well reveal my weight - 159. Whew..there I've said it. I've never weighed this much in my life, highest non-pregnant weight in the past was 152 and here I found myself more than 10 pounds over that. But, that was then and this is now, I'm on the right track and will never see the 160's again! Unless I got pregnant, goddess forbid, but that would be practically a medical miracle, believe me.
So I'm feeling really good this morning with my 5 pound weight loss, gonna keep reminding myself of that number when I get frustrated or tempted to give up. In the past, each week I lost weight I'd reward myself with a little treat, a small gift to myself. Guess where I'm going today? You got it, shoe shopping, darlings! A sexy pair of stilettos is definitely in order for this happy gal!
"Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul, when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood."
"Beautiful? It's all a question of luck. I was born with good legs. As for the rest... beautiful, no. Amusing, yes."
"I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on."
~ Josephine Baker
