Bone Weary

I am getting to old for this work crap!  I am so tired today, I can barely think. 

I am going to work from home tomorrow, which I love mostly 'cause I get to work in my pajamas.  But not tomorrow.  I am going in to have some blood drawn early in the a.m. because I have a Dr.'s appointment on the 8th.  Its been over a year since I last saw him and I think he will be pleasantly surprised that I have lost 40 lbs since the last time he saw me.  That means I have to put a bra on (and other clothes too!) Damn!

But I get the relative freedom of sitting at my own desk in my own office doing my job.  I don't screw off!  I have a good job and I would not jeopardize it for anything.  And my employer can tell that I am on line and working, so its not like I can hide what I am doing, even if I wanted to.

I will let you know what the Dr. says.  Should be interesting!

On the Mayo Front...

As previously posted, I like mayonnaise and am somewhat of a mayonnaise snob.  And damned proud of it, I might add. 

Now, mind you, I am not one of those people who glops mayo on things.  That is the grossest, biggest turn off in the world to me.  If I go somewhere to eat where I know the meal contains mayonnaise, I generally ask for it on the side, because I am very judicious in its use.

Per my post, a few posts ago, I have been debating about trying the Olive Oil mayos.  I, in addition to being a mayo snob, am a brand snob (or at least very loyal). I am a Best Foods/Hellmans user exclusively.   Or at least I was until yesterday. 

At our WW meeting yesterday, I was talking to a couple of other members and someone piped up and said the Kraft Olive Oil Mayo was good.  So when I was shopping, I grabbed a small bottle to try.   We had asparagus for dinner last nite and one of my mayo "things" is mayo (fake hollandaise) on my asparagus.  It was a really raw taste test and IT PASSED!!  Really good stuff. 

So, I will try it on/in future things, see if it holds up as a salad dressing, will I like it on sandwiches, etc.  For half the Point count, I can figure out all kinds of things to do with it as long as it tastes good.  And it does!!

Stuff and Nonsense

Sunday is my laundry day.  With just me and hubby, there is generally about 4, maybe 5, loads to do and as I am such an early riser, its normally done by 10 or 11 in the morning. I get it started early out of habit because before I got "rich" and got a dryer, I hung my clothes on a clothes line in the backyard.  Trust me, you do not want to be hanging clothes outside in Arizona at noon in the summertime.  Heat Stroke is a distinct possiblity! Unfortunately, as I get greener in my life, I think about using an outdoor line more and more.  We have the best dryer ever, the sun, and when the humidity is down, the air is so dry, clothes actually dry faster than in a machine!  Its pretty awesome.

Kittens!  I should have known better than to foster kittens because now I can't part with them.  So we are now the proud parents of 4 kittens, 2 males, 2 females.  The males will be neutered this Tuesday and the females spayed shortly afterward.  They are good kitties and they love the dogs so we are going to have this crazy little furry family.  I have had as many as 6 cats at a time.  Cats are easy to care for - feed, water, provide a place to go potty! The more aloof they are, the better I like it.  I prefer it if they don't want to share my pillow or sleep on my bladder at night.   We bought them a kittie condo, a veritable Pussy Palace, if you would!

Pretty cool, huh?
















I am going to start posting about things other than my weight loss.  While that will remain my primary focus, I am so much more than my scale numbers and measurements and I fear I have become quite boring!!

I am a reasonable interesting person.  And I do have things to talk about besides food and Weight Watchers.  So be prepared!  Changes are afoot!

Weigh In and Holding Steady

Down 1 lb even.  I thought it was going to be more!  I need to stop weighing myself on the home scale.  Its just too unreliable and either gives me a crazy high number and scares me death or a low one and then I am disappointed when I get to the meeting.   Again, as long as those numbers continue in a downward vein, I will be satisfied if not ecstatic. 

Tonite, we are going to grill a bit of steak, have some corn on the cob and asparagus.  Tomorrow, I am going to bake some stuffed pork chops and sweet potatos.  My long suffering hubby is making noise about eating too much chicken and fish, so I need to placate His Highness, The Red Meat Eater, or I will be hard pressed to get him to play Weight Watchers with me.  He's playing, I am playing for keeps.  There is a big difference.

Mermaid Salad

Yum!  I love this salad on a hot day.  Lettuce, tomato, scallion, celery, surimi (fake crab), salt and pepper.  And mayo!  And there, my dear friends, is my problem.

I love mayo.  And I have a hard time using light mayo in some of the salads that I use it in.  Lite Mayo doesn't quite stay together like the real thing and in breaking down has a tendency to look old and really puts me off!

So, I have a question for you.  Has anyone tried the Olive Oil Mayonnaise(s).  I am a true blue Hellmans user, but I would try the Kraft if it had better flavor.  I could buy both and try them, I suppose, but thought maybe, just maybe, one of you has already pulled that stunt and could give me some guidance.  Whattya think?

As Expected...

I was down close to 2 lbs this morning.  Let's hope that bodes well for the rest of the week.  I don't have any dinners out planned, no margaritas on the horizon, chips and salsa are just a figment of my imagination.  Should be a good week!

Weigh In and Water Retention and Food from the Sea

I woke up this morning all swollen up like a poisoned pup!  My fingers were so swollen they hurt.  Where did that come from?  And why do I have to stand on a scale today?  So, yes, I was up today, 1.2 to be exact.  I will probably be down 2 tomorrow, because I know its all water weight.  What I don't know is why.

I found these beautiful shrimp.  Look at these things!  Shrimp is an inappropriate name for them.

They are fresh water shrimp and 6 of them came to almost a pound!  They were a little pricey ($15.99 a lb) but thats ok for a now and then thing and still cheaper than eating out and when we eat out, I don't get to control the calories.

So, I found this amazing recipe for Crab Stuffed Shrimp at My Wooden Spoons.  I basically followed her recipe, I just made my own bread crumbs and added some lemon zest to the stuffing.   For me, this recipe was a lot of work!!  But it was really good.  I can honestly say, I only ate 1 stuffed shrimp!! Using the Weight Watchers Recipe Builder they came out to 4 pts per shrimp.  I plated up 2 thinking 1 would not be enough, but it really, really was.  And it made for a very pretty plate.

And A Good Time Was Had By All

I had so much fun last nite.  I enjoy my friend so much and we see each other so rarely (our faults!) that we can't really help but have a great time.  We are both Weight Watchers but she's made goal and looks like a million dollars.  I have a little bit to go yet and look like a half million or so!!  But we had fun!  There was beer, and margaritas, and fish tacos and man bashing and eye lash drug discussions and perfume admiration.  You name it, we managed to cram it into a very short 3.5 hours. And I love my friend and we need to do this more than once a year!!!  She said she would be a guest blogger, so I need set that up and I will let you all know when we are ready to do that.  Did I tell you I really love my friend?

A New Follower!

Hi, CCMervin!!  Welcome!!  Why you have decided to follow right now, when I in lame-O land, have had nothing of interest to write, I will never understand, but Hell, we love the company!!  So, in my fine upstanding tradition, I welcome you!

Still have nothing to really blog about.  Haven't cooked since Sunday and don't plan on it until Saturday and I am still waiting for my muse to inspire me sometime between now and then so I know what to shop for.  Work has kept me really busy.

Tomorrow, I am having drinks after work with an old friend.  We haven't seen each other in months and she has not seen me since I really started to show the weight loss.  Should be fun!!  Maybe I can get her to post something to the blog to tell you her reaction.  That would be fun!!

Weigh In and Quietitude

I didn't get excited about blogging today because there is not much going on.  I was down .2 which is ok but certainly nothing to have a party about.  And my life is quiet and peaceful and for that I am grateful.

Today, I have marinaded chicken breast strips for fajitas for dinner tonite, made a Sweet and Chunky Chicken Salad  and a Kidney Bean Salad for the week.  A tip on that Kidney Bean Salad, if you do make it be warned it has a bite!  I use the regular Rotel but noticed there is a hot and mild also.  I can't imagine what kind of 3 alarm fire that hot stuff could cause!  The regular is very, very spicy.   If you are not into hot, try the mild, but you really need to use it. 

I got a catalog in the mail today and it had a dress in it that I want soooo bad.  Its incredibly beautiful and is just my style.  And expensive!  I showed it to Hubby and he said "Order it".  So I did.  And if it doesn't fit when it gets here, it will be a goal to get into it.  I love a good challenge.

Bestest Friends!!

Do you have a really good friend, not including your significant other?  You know a sister in crime?  A cohort that just gets you?  Understands and sympathizes and is willing to kick anyone's butt including your own when necessary? 

That's my cousin Valerie.  She is my mother's brother's daughter, but my father and stepmother raised her from about 12 years old on.  I will tell you Valerie's whole story in another post.  Its a good one.

We call each other Sister.  She's about 5 years younger than I and is my nail tech.  We can talk about anything, from kids to bowel movements.  We laugh and joke and the people at the salon where she works get the biggest kick out of the two of us, because "You are always having so much fun!".  And, generally,  we are!  We can also be very critical of each other and BLUNT!  No holds barred between us! 

Val is also very good friends with my daughter.  The two of them started Weight Watchers last year together and their dramatic body changes were inspiring to me.  I knew when I was quitting smoking that I was going to gain weight and watching them lose was somewhat disheartening, but I also knew that once my "quit" was solid, that I would be returning to WW and "getting with the Program", too.   And I did.  In the meantime, they both fell by the wayside.

I have now exceeded Val's weight loss and she has decided that "Laura cannot beat me at this!".  So the competition is on.  It will be good for both of us and, ultimately, we will wind up raiding each others closets.  Just like any good sister would do.  I am sooo gonna beat her at this! 

Pigging Out!!

What a phrase!  But today, I did.  The only good thing was I pigged out on good food.  This morning I had an Eggbeaters Omelette with bacon, green chili and salsa.  No toast, no nothing to go with, I even forgot my milk!!  For lunch I had a big cup of garden veggie soup and a salad with all kinds of good stuff on it, including shrimp I rescued from my failed Shrimp and Fruit Salad and repurposed for just this salad.  I had grapes and watermelon for snacks.  It was perfect.  I plan to pig out like this lots more!!

To Recipe or Not to Recipe?

Yesterday, I made a Shrimp and Fruit Salad.  It looked great on paper.  It took a long time to make, with multiple steps, which I don't normally mind.  And when it was complete, it was gorgeous.  It photographed well, but guess what?  I didn't really like it! 

So, my question is, do I post it anyway and let you try it for yourself or trust my own judgement and just not post this one?  My instinct is to let it go, but we don't all have the same taste buds so it could be something you would really like. 

Such a dilemma!!

Weigh In and Weigh To Go!!

Great Weigh In today -2.8 for a total loss of 36.2 lbs.  This morning started out crazy, overslept, was running around trying to get ready for my meeting.  Threw on some black shorts and a shirt I bought before we went to Cabo San Lucas.  It was WAYYY to small to take on vacation but I grabbed it this morning and, whattya know, it fit!!  I knew it was gonna be a great day!! 

Lot to do today.  Already got my shopping done, need to finish laundry (just a couple loads, thank God!).  I am making the Kidney Bean Salad and a Shrimp and Fruit Salad along with some scallops, corn on the cob, and rice.  Now those are not all one meal, just elements of my weekend cooking adventures.  As I don't like to cook during the week, I like to make loads of good things on the week ends that will carry through.  Like last weekends frittata.  That made 8 breakfasts!!   The Kidney Bean Salad recipe says 6 servings, but I would say that might be the case if you were eating it as a meal.  Its really filling so a little goes a long way.  I can dump a 1/2 cup on a bed of lettuce and add some home made chicken tenders for a yummy lunch and I would be very satisfied.  You really should try the Kidney Bean Salad.  If you don't like it, it didn't cost a fortune to make and you can always toss it out!!  I will post pics and recipes (if I remember! I am not just losing weight, I am losing my memory too!)

Really Enjoying Cooking This Weekend

Well, I made the frittata yesterday for breakfast this morning.  It was excellent and will cover me for breakfast for the week.  Today, because the weather was awesomely cool and I could turn on my oven and I just bought these beautiful plums, I decided to make some plum tarts.  These are not that high in Points, about 5 points a serving, higher than I normally like any "treat" to be.  But they are yummy and beautiful and I take a great deal of pleasure in just making them.  Cooking is my creative outlet in many, many ways.  I won't post a recipe unless someone requests it specifically, but here's a picture to drool on.  And I promise, it tastes every bit as good as it looks.  My co-workers love me.

Weigh In and Washington DC

Well, as I figured, I was up 1.6 lbs for this week, but you know what, I didn't (don't) care.  I really enjoyed myself, I ate good food and not junk and I will take it off, I am sure.  One cannot go and eat at the finest restaurants where the wine and butter flow freely and hope to even maintain, much less lose, weight.  Even knowing I was up, I went to my meeting and will continue to go.  I learn so much and even when I am not being the best Weight Watcher, I am still a Weight Watcher and meetings keep me from falling off the wagon completely.

I made a frittata last night for breakfast this morning.  Recipe looks like this:

Breakfast Frittata

POINTS® Value: 8
Servings: 8

Ingredients
1 lb. Jmmie Dean Breakfast Sausage
2 tblsp Olive Oil
1 bag Simply Potatoes Southwest Hashbrowns
6 item(s) egg
6 item(s) egg white(s)
4 oz Kraft 2% Milk Natural Cheese Mexican four cheese shreds

Preheat Oven to 350.

I break up and brown the sausage then remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel.  I add about a tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan, get it hot and add the potatos and cook until they are golden brown.  You want lots of brownness, so turn them a couple times adding a bit more oil if necessary to assist in the browning.  Once nicely browned, add the sausage into the potatoes and mix well.  Scramble eggs and egg whites together and pour over the potatoes and sausage. Gently move the potato/sausage mix around and let the egg settle in.   Cook slowly on the stovetop for a few more minutes until eggs start to set up. 

Place into a 350 oven for 10 to 15 minutes, watching it.  When it appears to be almost completely set, sprinkle some cheddar or Mexican cheese blend (use the 2% stuff) over the top.  Turn on the broiler and put it back into the oven until cheese melts and gets beautiful.

Its very dense and rich and while traditionally this might make 8 servings at 8 Points, I cut it much thinner for a smaller portion. Its really good, tho', especially with a good salsa on it.  It keeps well and I can take a half serving with me to work for breakfast and, along with some fruit, start my day off just right.  And it can be eaten hot or cold.  Very versatile.


Hubby said "You've GOT to get a picture of that!"  I must admit its really quite lovely. 

I recommend cooking this in a really good non stick pan.  It will slide right out on a plate whole if you do.

Meet Romeo and Juliet

These guys serenaded each other all night long last night from the comfort of our swimming pool. When I got up this morning, I rescued them from drowning (toads only swim so well) and took them out to a nearby wash and turned them loose where they could hobnob with their own kind and let me get some damned SLEEP! Cheeky little bastards!!

Actually, they are kind of cool.  They spend the majority of their lives underground, like 10 months out of every year, only coming out during our torrential monsoon rains to breed. Their call is amazing!!  Very loud and when they are out and about its generally in great numbers so it can be quite the cacophony.  Oh, and they can get to the size of a dinner plate, really really big.  And they are toxic to other animals. 

When I was a child we played with them all the time.  One time, my mom had called us in to dinner and we had one with us when we came in.  It was the size of a saucer, big ol' portly thing.  My mom said "Put in the bathtub for now and wash up for dinner.  You can turn it loose later".  Well, after dinner we went to check on it and it had laid about 75,000 eggs in the bathtub.  Yes, that number is fairly accurate and I am not exaggerating.  My mother (yes the same one I had a love/hater relationship with) was all about us kids learning things so when we begged and pleaded to keep the eggs in the tub, she acquiesced.  So for the next few weeks, we watched the miracle of eggs turn to polliwogs, turn to tadpoles and the joy of releasing little baby toads in the wild.  It was very cool.  

This was the best kept batch of toad eggs that ever existed, I can assure you.  Because they are cannibalistic when food sources get scarce, which is beyond icky!, we fed them and they had their water refreshed regularly.  It was kind of like being born at the amphibian Ritz.

I like critters and the toads are no exception, except when they keep me up at night.  Little boogers.

These two are pretty small.  That's a mascara wand for perspective.

Shrimp for Dinner

I am a seafoodaholic.  If that's not a word, it should be!!  I really like seafood on Friday night before Saturday Weigh In.  Even if I have a gain (which I probably will tomorrow) it won't be because of what I ate on Friday nite!!  I wanted a Shrimp Salad for dinner tonight and found this one and another.  This one really caught my eye and medium shrimp were $3.99 a pound.  Must have been an omen.  So here was whats for dinner tonight, with Weigh In looming over my head for tomorrow.  I will be brave!

Margarita Shrimp Salad

POINTS® Value: 7
Servings: 4

Ingredients
1 pound(s) shrimp, medium shrimp, 50-60 count, peeled and deveined
2 oz tequila
2 tsp orange zest
1 tsp lime zest
1 tsp table salt
1/4 cup(s) red onion(s), thinly slivered
4 serving(s) Creamy Lime-Chili Dressing (recipe follows)
4 cup(s) romaine lettuce
1 large head(s) endive (I used 3 small ones)
1 1/2 cup(s) orange sections (2 oranges?)
1 medium avocado (I forgot this and missed it!)
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium lime(s), wedges

Instructions

1. Toss shrimp, tequila, orange zest, lime zest and salt in a medium bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slice and place onion in a small bowl, cover with cold water and some ice; let stand for 10 minutes, or until ready to use.

2. Meanwhile, make Creamy Lime-Chile Dressing.

3. Toss romaine, endive, orange segments and the drained onion in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Divide among 4 plates. Toss avocados with lime juice and divide among the salads.

4. Drain the shrimp, reserving the marinade. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and saut until pink and firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide among the salads. Add the reserved marinade to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring; spoon over shrimp. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

As usual, I didn't really follow the directions so well.  But, it came out soooo good.  My advice is to follow the recipe unless you are confident in the kitchen, then let it all hang out and do it your way.  I will say, Don't forget the avocado!  My mouth really missed it when I realized I had forgotten it.  And try endive if you haven't ever (like me!).  Its good.  A little pricey at 3.99 @ lb, but hell, I don't eat it every nite, so once it a while I can throw a couple bucks away to try some (insert something new here).

Here's a picture of my plate.  I am proud of this one and Hubby thinks I am a  rock star (and I am so full!).  All is right with the world!

Edit:  I just realized I didn't post the Creamy Lime-Chili Dressing that goes on the lettuce mixture.  Here it is.

Creamy Lime Chile Dressing


POINTS® Value: 0
Servings: 8

Ingredients

6 Tbsp light sour cream
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp jalapeno pepper(s), minced
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp table salt

Instructions

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl.  Add to lettuce/orange/avocado mix before adding shrimp.  I found this kind of bland on its own, but it worked well with the salad.  I bet with some work, I could jazz it up really good.

Hot Damn!!

Well, a dress I order a couple weeks ago showed up today.  I have to send it back cause IT'S TWO SIZES TOO BIG!! What a problem to have! I love it though and will definately reorder it in the correct size.  I might even be convinced to get a picture in it.  We'll see!!

Spanish Delight

Well, so far so good.  Last night we went to a Spanish restaurant called Bodega's.  I lived in Spain for 3 years and I miss the food which is so good.  This restaurant satisfied my cravings for Spanish food and wine in the best of ways and I was able to introduce several of my co-workers to some unique and tasty treats.  A good time was had by all and, other than the the Sangria, it wasn't too bad points wise. 

Tonite, assuming we decide we need anything else to eat (doubtful!), we will go for seafood.  One thing I love about major metropolitan areas like DC is the variety of restaurants and ethnic choices.  You just don't find it at home.