4.5 Hour Meetings w/Lunch

Ok, so we had a 4.5 hour meeting today, including lunch, which was the closest thing one could have to an indoor BBQ.  Hamburgers, hotdogs, chile for the hot dogs, boneless skinless chicken breast!!  There was BBQ beans,  potato salad, and coleslaw, bakers fries, peach and apple cobbler and ice cream.  Tea and lemonade. 

So how I do?  Well, I started out ok.  I had a chicken breast, a couple slices of tomato, some coleslaw, a little beans. And I had a little peach cobbler (I was really very, very good!!) and NO ice cream. Not bad huh?!  But then...

I went back thru the kitchen.  Damn!!  I had a little bowl of that chile with some more coleslaw on it.  Not once, but twice.  You'd think I was starving to death. 

I should have just ate the damned ice cream.  

Thank you, Grandma Rubye!

My grandmother could grow anything and did!!  One of "our" personal favorites was squash, any kind, any time, anywhere.  Tonight, cause I really just wanted to put something in my mouth, I ate about 3 cups of steamed baby yellow squash.  It was sooo good.   Hubby doesn't like squash, so I get his share too.  I am so happy. Oh, and .5 Points!  How awful is that?

Wounded!!

This, my friends, is the kitchen tool from hell!! 

It was purchased in a weak moment while strolling thru the State Fair Exhibits some 15 years ago and has been hidden from my sight until recently when I rediscovered it.  Notice those blades!!  They are sinister.  Unfortunately, they are not sharp enough to cut through, oh lets say, a sweet potato or a carrot.  Hard root veggies are this things down fall!!

Laura's palm, on the other hand, or actually this hand, was a piece of cake.  Cut through it like a hot knife through butter.  3 times!

As with all things, blaming the tool is kind of senseless.  I wasn't using it properly and was actually anticipating something like this happening.  Just trying to avoid it.  Not such a good job.  Well, I got no sympathy from hubby, but he's gonna wash the dishes.  And I am gonna trash this thing and get me a good mandolin.  I think my $20 spent at the State Fair 15 years ago has long out lived its value.

Tropical Fruit

You just know that the Good Lord was really happy the day he created mangoes and pineapple.  And kiwi and starfruit and strawberries.  And don't forget bananas!!

This Weight Loss Gig is Crazy!

This morning I get up and weigh myself and I am down 1.2 lbs!!  I know I shouldn't do that, but I do and it makes me want to pull my hair out!!  Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to this.  Let's just hope it foretells a good week. 

I posted earlier this week about a love of peaches and I actually made a 3 point Peach Cobbler this morning.  Now, if I only posted my successes, I would find that rather dishonest, because, frankly, cooking is all about trial and error. But, in this case, it was kind of a mixed bag.  It needs work, but all is not lost and, after all, its peaches!!

So lets dissect this thing a little bit.

Here's the ingredients.  Nothing fancy or out of the norm.  So why did my cobbler not quite cut it?  Well, I think I didn't use enough peaches or sweetner.  I used Stevia to sweeten it and according to the conversion charts, 12 little packs of Stevia is the sweetness equivalent to 24 teaspoons (1/2 cup) of sugar.  That just seemed awfully sweet to me so I only used 8 packs.  Should have stuck with 12!! And one cannot EVER have too many peaches!!  I also forgot to add any sweetner to the biscuit topping and when I do it over again, I will roll out the biscuit topping and cut it, instead of doing the "drop biscuit" style.  The breading won't be so thick that way and will probably accomodate "more peaches!"  Go figure. 

It wasn't bad, a little bitter, but I am not a big "syrupy sweet" fan so I ate it anyway.  I would just like to tweek it a little.  Its really nice to look at tho'!

I will post a recipe for this in a while after I have had time to play with it.  In the meantime, I will tease you. 

Weigh In and Unhappy Gypsie!

I have this damned pound that sticks to me like gum on my shoe and is every bit as irritating!  Weigh in today I was up .8.  Now, mind you, that's not much, but it just won't go away and I really have no one to blame but me.  (If I could blame YOU, I would feel so much better.)  Part of the problem is that its summertime.  In the wintertime, I can pop open a can of soup and be happy and satisfied and not be packing on the pounds.   In the summer, its more difficult for me because everything seems to take so much effort (even making salads is a chore if I have to make them every stinking night!). So, my leader challenged me to find a "go to" food that I can turn to in the summer like I do soup in the winter.  I am working on some things, new recipes that I can, hopefully, make on the weekends that will last me through the week for my lunches, at least.    I have also made a couple of purchases that I will fill you in on as I try them.

Today, in the recipe search process, I found this salad that is really, really good and pretty easy.  It would have been a cake walk actually except I had to cut some corn off a cob to use for the "corn" part of the ingredients.  I had other corn, but I didn't want to throw this cooked ear away and had no other particular use for it.  Still no big deal.   But look at this:

And it tastes every bit as bright as it looks.  Its still chilling in the fridge cause you want it to get good and cold, but it will go so well with dinner tonite.  It will go on my permanent rotation. 

Kidney Bean Salad

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 6

Ingredients

3 1/2 cup(s) canned kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 large corn on the cob (1 cup corn kernals.  I assume this would be frozen, cooked in advance or canned, drained)
1 cup(s) scallion(s)
2 cup(s) canned tomatoes with green chilies (Ro-Tel)
1/4 cup(s) fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup(s) cooked brown rice  (I used a cup of my Royal Rice Blend here, cause I am a rice snob)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (this was not in the original recipe, but I found the salad need "something" and it was the "something" I had on hand.  If you don't like cilantro, you might try parsley or another green herb that you really like)

Instructions

In a large bowl combine beans, corn, rice, green onions, cilantro and Ro-Tel; set aside. In a 1-cup measure combine remaining ingredients; pour over bean mixture. Toss to coat. Chill 3 to 4 hours before serving. Serves 6. (Depending how big a portion you are looking at here, I think this will serve more than 6!)

Found My Flatouts!!

There is a God and he likes to see me get my fiber!!  I had one more store to check out and whattya know?! They carried my Flatouts flatbread.  I really like these.  I can use them in so many ways, very versatile bread. 

This morning I went to my normal nail appointment, then to Kohl's for a little shopping and on to this store, Albertson's, to look for (and find) the Flatouts.  I didn't eat any breakfast and was starving by the time I got home around 10:30 am.  So I made myself a sammie.  Now this was one HELL of a sandwich and I can only forgive myself because its breakfast and lunch combined.  It was a Flatout spread with one tablespoon of Best Foods Light Mayo, 3 oz. Deli sliced Turkey, 2 oz Lacey Swiss Cheese and half an avocado schmeered all over.  Rolled that puppy and scarfed it down before I came in here and added it to my Point Tracker.  Um, can we say 12.5 Points!!?  Wow, but guess that's not too bad for two meals literally rolled into one.  I am full!!

Sweet and Chunky Chicken Salad

I love this salad.  I came home from work today and whipped some of this up, not for today, but for my lunch tomorrow.  I originally got this recipe from Hungry Girl but I have doubled it here and probably added some points in the process.  Play with it with your Recipe Builder (I bet TJ could rock this!).  Speaking of whom, I need to send an email. 

Sweet & Chunky Chicken Salad

POINTS® Value: 5

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 cup(s) cooked chicken breast

1 cup(s) kirby cucumber

1 cup(s) grapes, Red Seedless, sliced in half

1 medium apple(s), Red Delicious, chopped into bite size pieces

3 medium stalk(s) celery, Thinly Sliced

4 oz plain fat-free yogurt

4 Tbsp Best Foods Light Mayonnaise

1 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp lemon pepper

Instructions

Mix together yogurt, mayo, sugar, and lemon pepper.  
Chop all other ingredients and mix together. Coat with dressing. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Makes 4 good size servings.

Source: Hungry Girl

Frustrated!!

I am a little (ok, alot) demanding sometimes and I want what I want, when I want it.  Its frustrating as all get out to go to the store looking to buy something you know and like, only to find IT'S NOT THERE.  Nor is it at any other store you have been to recently. 

Case in Point:  Flatouts Flat Bread.  This stuff is so good and I have only found it once at Frys (which is Kroger).  It didn't sell apparently, so they haven't ordered it since.  Did they make an effort to market it?  Uh, NO!  Anyway.

So I have this brilliant idea.  I will procure and send to anyone that wants something that we have here in trade for someone doing the same for me.  Example is the Arizona Brand Corn Tortillas for Tacos and Tostadas.  These are exquisitely thin and make the best tacos.  I will send several dozen to whoever is willing to buy some Flatouts and send them to me.  Of course, because these things are perishable, we can't send them by mule train so I will have to look into costs on this, but I am willing to investigate if there is anyone that thinks this is a worthwhile trade off.   I damned tired of chasing something I can't find when I know good and well one of you has a stash of it somewhere!!

Edit:  Yes, I know I can buy them from the manufacturer, but I don't need 7 pkgs and the shipping cost for those 7 pkgs is equal to or more than the cost of the goods. That's crazy to me.  I work in the shipping industry, I know we can do better than that!

Sick!!

Yesterday took Hubby and myself to Urgent Care because we have both been coughing and hacking and carrying something awful.  Well, poor man has DOUBLE PNEUMONIA!  and I am on the verge of it myself!  Where do you pick up pneumonia in June and how come we don't feel sicker?  I mean, I feel sick but I thought pneumonia made you feel a whole lot sicker than this.  Father's Day was a bust.  I did cook, but neither of us really wanted to eat much.  Had a ear of corn and some black eyed peas and about an ounce of country style pork rib.  Hey, if I have to get sick to stay on plan, so be it!

Weigh In and I Did It!!

Yessiree, I knocked that bad boy 1.7 lbs to the curb!!  So, now I am back to where I was at Weigh in on May 22nd.  Its so much easier to put it on than take it off!!  But I did it and can start the "going forward" again. 

Today's meeting was about tracking.  I am a sporadic tracker if I don't plan at least a day, preferably a week, in advance for what I am going to be eating.  I just don't think about tracking so doing it ahead of time lets me do that - Not think about it!

But whatever I am doing, its working, so I am ok with that.

I Love Peaches!

Ok, so I am like Peach crazy.  I can't think of anything peach flavored or peach scented (I have candles, for God Sake!) that I don't just love.  So Fresca has this 0 calorie Peach/Citrus Soda and its so damned good!!  Well, I know how to make it better.  Mix a shot of Peach Schnapps with one can of the soda and enjoy.  Its a nice hot summer day drink.  And only 2 Points, I might add!!  I rarely drink soda.  For this I make an exception.

Breakfast Frittata

Back in the kitchen with Breakfast stuff today.  Breakfast is probably my favorite meal and the one I generally expend the most Points on.  That's because I don't eat dinner during the week, so come breakfast I am 1) Starving 2) Breakfast is Protein time for me.  I never have understood eating heavy carbs in the morning when I need protein for energy to keep me going, then eating heavy protein at night when I am getting ready to shut down for the day.  Its just bass ackwards for me.   But I do need to watch what I eat for breakfast, of course.  

This morning I decided to make a frittata.  I really like these because they are sorta one pan meals and they make a lot that I can stretch over a few days.  And they are pretty yummy.  So lets reconstruct this thing.  

I start with a potato, what ever kind you have.  I had Yukon Golds.  

Just peel it and slice it along with an onion (again, whatever you have) and a bell pepper. 

Mix those up together.  Heat an oven proof frying pan over medium high heat, spraying lightly with oil or a non stick spray.  I use olive oil in a small spray bottle that I found from a company called Prepara.  I can actually use any oil in it and one day, I want to have an entire collection of bottles of tasty, healthy oils that I can spray into my cooking.  Here is my little bottle that I love. 

The lid pulls up and pushes down to pump air into the bottle. 

Then comes off to reveal a spray nozzle.  Clever, eh?

Don't you love kitchen gadgets?  Anyway.  So, where was I?

Ok, so add your sliced potatoes, onion and bell pepper to your heated pan and brown everything lightly.  You may need to spray the food a couple of time in this process.  It helps with the browning.   Remove from pan and set aside.  You can season this to your hearts content.  I just added some salt and pepper.

Respray your pan and add some mushrooms.  Spray the mushrooms a couple of times while they are cooking also.  Do not season your mushrooms until the are almost done.  Salt pulls water out of them and makes them soupy!

Try not to eat all the mushrooms before you put this thing together.  It will be a temptation, I promise you.

Remove from pan and set aside.

Add some lean diced ham to your pan and cook until any water is removed and you have lightly browned the ham.  I used prepackaged stuff and when I post the recipe at the end of this, the Points are based on the use of this ham.  Others may have more or less fat, sodium etc.  Watch your packaging.

Put everything back in the pan and mix around well so the entire list of ingredients so far is well combined. 

While your ham is browning, add 4 eggs and 4 egg whites to a bowl and whisk together well.  Pour over all the ingredients in your frying pan. 

Cook on top of stove for a few minutes, maybe 5, and then put in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Remove and add 1/2 cup low fat cheese of your choice.  I used WW Mexican Style.

Return to oven for another 7 to 10 minutes or until cheese is completely melted. 

I have a wonderful set of non stick cookware, so this slides out of the pan very nicely onto a plate.

Then I cut it into six servings and scarf it on up while its still hot. 

Aint' it purty?!!  For my Weight Watcher Buddies, everything in this Frittata is considered a filling food except the ham and cheese. And trust me, that wedge is filling. 

Breakfast Frittata

POINTS® Value: 4

Servings: 6

Ingredients

4 serving(s) (1 8 oz pkg) Diced Ham, John Morrel
1 medium potato(es)
1 cup(s) red onion(s)
1 item(s) bell pepper(s)
12 oz mushroom(s)
4 item(s) egg
4 item(s) egg white(s)
1/2 cup(s) Weight Watchers Reduced Fat Shredded Mexican-Style Cheese
Seasoning to taste
Instructions

Lightly spray non stick fry pan with oil of your choice (I use olive oil).

Slice and lightly brown potato, onion and bell pepper Additional sprays may be used to help brown potato. Remove from pan and set aside. Respray pan and add mushrooms , spraying tops before turning. Cook mushroms completely. Remove from pan and set aside. Add ham and cook water off and brown gently. Recombine all ingredients.

Scramble eggs and egg whites thoroughly and pour over frittata mixture in pan. Move mixture around and allow the egg to penetrate throughout . Allow to cook on stovetop another couple minutes and then move to preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and spread cheese over the top. Return to oven for another 10 minutes or until cheese is well melted.

CAREFUL, this will burn easily if left too long on stove or in oven.

Weigh In and Not Bad for a Vacation

Ok, then!!  I am up .2!  I am soo happy with that.  I was scared to death that all those scallop tacos and beer and Nachos, did I mention beer? and chips and dips, and oh, and don't forget the beer!!  So you can see, I didn't deserve the break that my body cut me on this one.  But I will take it and have already re-committed to getting back on track immediately. 

I just got back from the grocery store and damn near bought out the produce section.  Everything is ripe and on sale.  What a wonderful combination.  Lettuce, tomatos, sweet onions, carrots, zucchini, you name it!!  Its going to be a wonderful salad that I hope will last me the week.  I also bought a watermelon and a cantaloupe and some cherries!! I can add a little lean protein to a salad and nosh out on fruit and I will be back at my pre-gain weight in no time.  I am rockin' this!!

I have a digital scale and there was a moment this morning that it kind of rocked me back on my heels a little.  I stepped on and it read 185!! I was dumb founded and then angry and I thought about not going to my meeting this morning because that would have meant I gained 6 pounds and I was ashamed!! But then me and myself sat down and had a little heart to heart and me convinced myself that going to the meeting was essential regardless of the gain.  Maybe even more importantly BECAUSE of the gain.  I need to be accountable for that! Running away from it wasn't going to make it any prettier, for damn sure! So I went ahead and got ready to go, all the while steaming about my traitor scale.  Then the more I thought about it, the more improbable that much of a gain became so I pulled the scale out again, moved it to a different spot and stepped up.  179.6.  Now thats more like it!  Regardless, I was going to my meeting tho' and I think that is as much a victory as slapping the scale into submission.

We're Back!

Wow, what a day!!  Our 7:15 am flight was cancelled and we were moved to a flight that didn't leave Cabo until 3:40 pm! We did not get home until after midnight and I didn't get to bed until around 2:00 am.  That was not in the plans.  Also, the hot water heater isn't working for some reason, so no way to shower this morning.  Not going to work like this!!

On a lighter note:  Looks like I maintained fairly well this week.  Its back on full plan now though.  Hope to actually show a loss come Saturday.  Join me for Weigh In news then!

Food, Glorious Food

Ok, here are a few of the things I have tried and really, really liked.  Aguachiles, kind of a marinated shrimp dish, hot and spicy!!  Beer Butt Chicken!!  Can you believe I had to come all the way to Mexico to try this?  But not anymore.  Will be making this at home on a regular basis, to be sure!  My cousin turned us on to the wonder of Taquieria Rossy, a taco stand that makes the best stinking shrimp and scallop tacos you ever, ever ate!!  Actually it was the first time I have ever had a "fish" type taco and I could like move into the back room and wash dishes for tacos.  They were soooo good.  OH, almost forgot the pulpo (thats octopus) salsa we had the first day we were here.  That was delicious too.  Ah, who the hell am I kidding?!  Its all been a gastronomic vacation of the best kind. 

Tonight we are grilling steaks and I am making Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad.  Not sure if I have posted this before, but if you love and trust me, you will make this.  And if you don't love and trust me, if you make it, you will afterwards!!

Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad

Peel and clean one cantaloupe and cut into bite size pieces.  Depending on the size of your cantaloupe, peel and cut 1 to 2 cucumbers into bite size pieces.  Your goal is to have equal (or close to equal) amounts of each.  I always complete the cleaning and cutting part long before we are actually ready to eat it, so I put the components into their own individual ziploc bags and refrigerate until I am ready to serve the salad.  You don't want to mix this up too early or it gets soupy!  Right before you are ready to serve this, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of Best Foods Mayonnaise.  Do Not Use Miracle Whip!!  You want enough Mayo to coat everything but not too much!  Add Salt and Coarse Ground Pepper, mix and serve.  With a large Cantaloupe, 2 cucumbers, 3 tablespoons of mayo, you should be able to serve about 10 people!  Yeah, makes alot of salad!!  and is only 1 WW point per serving.  You heard it here first!!  Buen Proveche!

Time Share Presentations

We sat through a time share presentation this morning at a resort here in Cabo.  A spectacularly beautiful place that I would give my left arm to have bought into, but we don't have that kind of money readily available and I am reallly quite fond of my left arm.  For putting up with the "Bullies" tho', we got 3 days free rental on a car, $100 in dining certificates, rental on a jet sky for 30 minutes, more food and beverage certificates, and Day Spa certs for 2.  Score!!  I felt kind bad knowing I wasn't going to buy in from the beginning and that I would be getting all these freebies regardless, but not bad enough to not do it anyway. 

I am trying like hell to watch what I am eating and only marginally succeeding.  Oh, well, it is vacation and how many more times to I expect to do something like this.  Zero!!

My cousin does not have a USB cable that fits my camera, so close your eyes and imagine a patio overlooking the Sea of Cortez with an ocean breeze blowing over you seducing you to buy time shares.  Um, I will post pictures when we get home!