Weight Watcher Wannabe...

Girl & The Goat Sautéed Green Bean Recipe.. As seen on Rosie Show

2012-02-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

I seen this recipe on the Rosie Show and after hearing her gush all about the damn beans I had to make them..

This is what hers looked like..

The recipe comes from the winner of Top Chef Stephanie Izard.. Pretty easy recipe to follow and I must say really really yummy. I think it's for a mature pallet to enjoy however. My little guy took one bit of the bean and did that little shake thing he does when something is gross and then spat it out.. HAHA

I however ate the whole bowl of beans.. YUMMY! Here are some pic's of my attempt at the recipe..

So good guys. But let me say this there is fish sauce in the recipe. Alot of it. So if your going to eat this the next day be aware it gets a tad salty.. But yummy just the same for sure. I'm so glad I gave it a try. I will for sure make it again..

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2012-02-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

I got my new copy of Food Network Magazine.. The light issue.. Most of the weeks menu is coming from there ... I'm trying a Green Bean recipe I seen on The Rosie Show as well..

Monday:
Parm Chicken
Green Beans ( Recipe from Rosie Show)
Green Salad

Tuesday:
Penne with Turkey Ragu ... Pg 72...12PPts
Side Salad ( Spinach)

Wednesday:
Roasted Pork ..Pg 69...11PPts
Lentils

Thursday:
Italian Wedding Soup... Pg68....9PPts
Panini Sandwich With Roasted Veggies

Friday:
Chicken Kiev ...Pg95.. (Have to tinker with the recipe still to figure out points..
Brown Rice Pilaf....

New To Me.... Reviews..

2012-02-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone...

Ive found some new to me products that I thought Id review for you...

Here we go....

WW Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae..

Oh how we loved this so. Yes it's tiny but the flavour is so there. My hubby was thrilled with this one and so was my little guy. They actually ate two of them. There are little chunks of cookie dough in the sundae and chocolate fudge sauce as well. When you get to the bottom there is crumbled cookies to scoop up. Very nice treat for a after dinner snack. you pop them in the microwave for 5 seconds.. To get the sauce gooey.

I have tried one of the Sundaes before and wasn't to thrilled with the appearance but this one was ok looking . Really after tasting it I didn't care what it looked like... Your looking at 4 Points Plus per sundae.. I still have the Key Lime Pie to try... Looking forward to that one...

Moving on...

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers... 9 Points Plus

Yummy Yum Yum!!! Ok I don't even know why I decided to try these. Normally I make my own sauces etc. But this sparked my interest. The first one I tried was the Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli... it was truly fantastic. And for a quick lunch it was perfect. The sauce was yummy and the pasta was perfectly cooked. The broccoli was generous as well. My son loved this and I really liked it. I would for sure buy this again to have a handy complete meal in the freezer for rushed day's.

The second one I tried was the Steamed Veggies in Alfredo Sauce.. This one was ok. Not as flavorful as the first one . There are 4 Points Plus in this one... So that's pretty good. But I wont be getting this one again because the veggies tasted frozen to me.. And to be honest I can make a 4 PPts veggie mix with sauce better than this one for sure.. :)

Have you tried anything new that your digging? Let me know.. Im always on the look out for new things to try...

Work Out Update and Stuff...

2012-01-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited!!! As many of you know I'm a Canadian living in Georgia.. YIKES!!!! Ive been living here for a bit now and I talk to my girlfriends from Canada alot. Well I miss the heck outta them all and I seem to have issues making tons of friends here in Ga. I swear the people here don't seem to give you the time of day unless they already know you. It's so hard for a Canuck to make friends people... Hoo Hum.. Ive actually had people tell me they can't understand my accent? HUH?

Anyhoo.

So I got myself the latest iPhone and you apparently can use Skype on it to talk with people in Canada.. So here's the thrilling thing. I Skyped today with my bestie from Canada while working out! It was FANTASTIC!! The time flew by so fast and before I knew it we were already into 1 mile .

My friend Tammy is a runner, and she is motivating me to get my running into gear... While I was power walking at 3.5.... she was power walking at 5.. Yikes..

One day I will be there too that's a given...

Diet...

OK so I'm tracking the heck out of everything. I'm doing good on portions and the only cheat I can recall is having some darn Doritos's my gal pal sent me from Canada.. OMG and Slurp... oh and she sent me some Sun dried Tomato Salad Dressing. I miss that stuff so much..

Ive been having tons of protein Smoothies for breakfast before my workouts and feel pretty good about that, they keeping me full till lunch so this is good. I'm still disappointed with the taste of the Somersize Shakes but I'm going to finish the protein powder since it was pricey..

How is everyone else doing? Keeping on track and getting it done? Hope so!!!

Have a great week Everyone
.......

Weight Watcher Wannabe

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2012-01-30T10:18:00.000-08:00

This months WW Magazine is fantastic as far as recipes go... Some great ideas for sure.
This weeks menu features some of the recipes in the Jan-Feb issue..

Monday:
Fiery Shrimp With Bok Choy.... 6 Points Plus pg.131
Rice ( Brown Rice)

Tuesday:
Pork Cutlets with Bourbon Cream Sauce....6 Points Plus pg 141
Green Beans
Side Salad

Wednesday:
Beef and Vegetable Ragu...5 Points Plus pg142
Brown Rice

Thursday:
Meyer Lemon Chicken... 5 Points Plus pg146
Roasted Veggies

Friday:
Lemony Linguine with Sausage....9 Points Plus
pg.146

RECIPE : Chicken Enchiladas 7 Points Plus..

2012-01-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

Hey nrhymes :

Here is the link for you to the recipe... Chicken Enchiladas...

7 Points Plus per serving....

Zuppa Toscana 7 PPts

2012-01-24T12:20:00.000-08:00

So my mum and I went to Olive Garden when I was visiting her in Louisiana. Yummy... I tried the Zuppa Toscana soup and OMG it was yummy . I wanted to try to make it at home but with out the heavy cream or the high points it comes with so I came up with this one after looking on line here and there.

Here's what you need:

2 uncooked Italian Sausage
48 oz Fat Free Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 Medium red onion diced
1 clove garlic
2 slices cooked bacon
1 cup diced (uncooked) potatoes
1 cup chopped Kale
1 1/2 cups Whole Milk
2 TBSP Corn starch

Heat a medium size pot. Remove casing from sausages. Break up and add to pot. Cook fully. Remove sausage and set aside.

Add diced onion and garlic to pot and cook till tender.

Add the Chicken Broth and add the diced potatoes. Cook on medium high till potatoes are fork tender.

Add the sausage back to the pot along with the milk and bacon. Heat through. Add the corn starch to the pot and blend well. This should make the soup a tad more thick.

Add the kale to pot and heat through till wilted.

The soup serves 5 people and were looking at 7PPts per serving. Give it a try . It made a really nice lunch .

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2012-01-22T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hey Hey what Do You Say.......

Here we go another week another menu... I need to work on my darn portions so much more than I have been.. I'm slacking off and not being as diligent as a Weight Watcher should be.... EEEK....

Monday:
Panko Herb Crusted Salmon ( Barefoot Contessa)
Yellow Lentils ( Barefoot Contessa) 4PPTs
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Chicken and Brown Rice with Mushrooms... 10 PPTs
Carrots...3PPTs
Side Salad

Wednesday:
Fennel and Spinach Salad... 7PPTs ( Cooking Light Mag pg,172)
Shrimp and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Stuffed Poblano Peppers ( Recipe in the making)

Thursday:
Chicken Enchiladas...7PPTs ( Cooking Light Mag pg,138)

Friday:
Homemade Pizza Party

Jambalaya Weight Watchers Friendly..

2012-01-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone..

I Thought Id share my Jambalaya Recipe with you all... I have shrimp coming out my ears so this is one of favorite way's to use it..

You will need:

4 Chicken Apple Sausage sliced up ( or any other lower fat sausage)
1 Large Onion diced
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 lb uncooked Shrimp ( peeped and cleaned )
1 Medium Green Pepper diced
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
2 cups chicken broth low sodium
Cooking spray
1 can crushed tomatoes 14oz
3 tbsp Cajun Seasoning such as Tony's
3 Green Onions sliced thin
Franks Hot Sauce optional

Spray a large skillet or pot with cooking spray. Add your diced peppers and onion and garlic. Cook till tender. Add your chicken and sausage.Cook for 10minutes on medium heat.
Add the rice and chicken broth crushed tomatoes and Cajun seasoning. Bring to boil and then reduce heat to low. Cook for 40 min or until rice is fully cooked. Add the peeled shrimp and chopped green onions. Cook till shrimp are fully cooked .

I sometimes add more seasoning depending on who is eating this dish. If my little guy is eating then I cut way back. I add Franks hot sauce to mine as well as a little sour cream.

Weight Watcher Points per serving..... 8 Points plus

Impossible Pie.... Recipe

2012-01-16T18:09:00.000-08:00

As per request.... Impossible Pie.. :)

To make Impossible Pie you need to go out and get a box of Bisquick. I love this stuff and have fond memories of my mom using it for loads of things when I was a kid. The Impossible Pie recipe is from the Bisquick Cookbook.

I usually change somethings up to make it less points and to make it more veggie filled. You can pretty much add what ever you want to make it your own. Sometimes I add broccoli to it and sometimes I add black beans etc... If you have the chance to get the Bisquick Cookbook get it.. Its really great.

Recipe:
1 lb Ground Turkey 99% fat free
3 eggs
1/2 cup Bisquick
1 cup whole milk ( low fat milk will make this only 5PPTs per serving.)
1/2 cup low fat cheddar cheese
2 medium tomatoes sliced
1 medium Onion diced
pepper and salt to taste

Heat Oven to 400 degrees

Spray 9 inch baking pie plate with cooking spray.

Cook Turkey and onion over medium high heat. Cook until turkey is thoroughly cooked. Stir in salt and pepper. Spread the turkey mixture onto pie plate, add the cheese on top.

In medium bowl mix the eggs, Bisquick and milk until well blended with a whisk or fork. Pour into the pie plate on top of the turkey and cheese mixture.

Lay the tomatoes on top of the mixture.

Bake 25 to 30 min or until a knife inserted into center comes out clean.

Serves 6
Weight Watchers Points Plus... 6Pts

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2012-01-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

Here we go... We have so much shrimp from Louisiana from my step dad we are eating it up and loving it...

Monday:
Impossible Pie ... 5 Points Plus
Honey Carrots....3Points Plus
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Jambalaya with Shrimp and Chicken Sausage.....8 Points Plus

Wednesday:
Pork Chops Ala Tosha... 3 Points Plus
Veggie Rice...3 Points Plus
Side Salad..

Thursday:
Sweet Chili Shrimp..3 Points Plus
Pasta..5 Points Plus

Friday:
5 Spice Drumsticks... 3Points Plus per drumstick
Creamed Spinach..
Spanish Rice..3 Points Plus

To the Farmers Market We Go

2012-01-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

Finally got out of the house .. We have been battling a yucky head cold in the house and it's been a pain in the butt.. But were on the mend and we decided to go to the Farmers Market to get our Haul....

To go to the farmers market is so great . The prices can't be beat that's a given.

My farmers market is a Spanish market mixed with Korean market. So the sign says outside.

Look at the eggplant and other squash variety.. I can't wait to make the BBQ Eggplant..

The apples looked great as well and there were tons to choose from.

Look at how pretty the Savoy looks..

I bought little man a Mexican Cookie. He loved it..

The Radishes were huge and so pretty I got a nice bunch for my salads.

I decided to get some Cream of wheat to try and some Spanish Rice mix. Also some Bisquick.. LOL

I was even able to get some Raspberries and Blackberries at only $1.00 per container.. Looks like I will be making the Weight Watchers Cobbler and freezing some of these lovelies..

And here is my fridge nicely stocked now with really healthy stuff.

Have You Tried It Monday?

2012-01-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

Rutabagas or Turnips As I like to call them...

Rutabaga's are my little guy's favorite veggie at the moment. The Rutabaga or what I call a Turnip is a root veggie. They have a some what sweet taste when there cooked. People say they taste like a Turnip. but I always thought that the Turnip and Rutabaga were one in the same.. Guess I was wrong. What ever I thought, there yummy and good for you.

Here is a little blip on the health benfits of a Rutabaga for you...

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Eating Rutabagas

Regular consumption of rutabaga increases milk production capacity, stamina and digestion.
Being an excellent source of vitamin C, rutabaga helps in reducing wheezing in asthma patients. Lack of vitamin C results in scurvy, which causes easy bruising. Consuming rutabaga considerably reduces the incidence of bruising.
Rutabagas are also known to reduce the risk of cataract formation and support the structure of capillaries.
An excellent source of potassium, rutabaga helps in decreasing stroke mortality. Potassium is also known to lower high blood pressure.
They are also recommended for people with problems of constipation.

When you buy them in your local market they have a waxy layer on top and you simply peel them with a veggie peeler.

Then you cut them up into cubes. I usually put my Rutabaga's into salted water with a hint of sugar. My grandma has always done this so Its just what I do.

I bring them to a boil and cook till fork tender. After there cooked I use a potato masher and mash them all up adding just a hint of butter and some salt and pepper to taste. I sometimes cook mine with potatoes for a really nice treat.

So there you have it. Go out and get yourself a Rutabaga. Your going to love them as much as I do..

Weekly Menu : Points Plus Friendly

2012-01-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Here we go, my menu for the week .. I found some good ones from Everyday Food Magazine and Nutmeg Notebooks blog.. :) and Weight Watchers.com

Monday:
Pasta With White Beans and Broccoli Pesto.... 12 Points Plus

Tuesday:
Salt and Pepper Shrimp with Snow Peas....8 Points Plus
BBQ Eggplant

Wednesday:
Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta ....12 Points Plus
Side Salad

Thursday:
Chicken Apple Sausages...5 Points Plus
Roasted Winter Veggies...5 Points Plus
Quinoa and Spinach ..3 Points Plus

Friday:
Garlicky-Kielbasa Spaghetti Squash.. 4Points Plus ( From Weight Watchers Website)
Side Salad
Garlic Bread

Making my Menu's

2012-01-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

So we went away for the holidays for almost 2 weeks. I stopped posting my weekly menu due to the fact that I was here and there and every where..

Let me tell you it is a pain in the arse not keeping one. My week goes by so much easier when I write down my menu and stick to it. My planning helps me keep on track and helps me plan out the weekend shopping trip.

I shall start posting my Menu again on Sunday's like before. Ive been poking around and have found some yummy looking recipes to try like Nutmeg Notebook's Butternut Squash Bacon Recipe.. OMG!!! So going to try that next week.

Have a fantastic day everyone!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

2012-01-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Everyone...

We had a fantastic holiday season with my family. We decided to make the drive to Sulphur Louisiana to see my mom and finally have Max meet his Great Grandparents.

We took the dog's with us for the 13 hr long drive. Oh what a treat. English Bulldog farts and lots of puke along the way from my fur babies as well. LOL They spent the whole vacation sleeping and eating... Here are some of the highlights from Sarah and Lulu's vacations ...

Max got spoiled rotten from everyone and he loved it. This was his very first time having X Mas with his Grand Parents.

He even got to pick Lemons and Oranges from my moms tree's in the back yard... WOW..

Yikes a tad tart.. LOL Pucker up baby boy...

Max got tons of Play - Doh... We played and played with it...

Here Max is cutting the Play - Doh hair off the thingy.. He is so freaking cute.. And he is learning to make real goofy smiles now..

Tons of kisses from my little man!!!!

We ate way to much and had too many treats. And Max did really good too. We even spent time in the kitchen at grannies baking Cajun Sand Cookies .. Yum... He also loved the Turkey Leg ..

I did manage to get in about 4 to 5 miles of walking a day on my Vacation.. I wore my pedometer everyday to keep track!!!! Oh yes I did....

I hope everyone one has a great New Year... I bet everyone has some pretty good resolutions as well. I have my usual ones and am looking forward to keeping them this year....

Lets make 2012 a good one people!!!!

Weight Watcher Wannabe..

XOXO

Soda Stream Review

2012-01-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Look what hubby got me for X Mas!!!

Here's what you get with your Soda Stream. You get the Soda Stream System, 2 plastic reusable soda containers, 12 different flavor samples, 1 large Co2 container.

All you do is add tap water to the bottle, screw it into the hole in the Soda Stream machine and press the Co2 button a few times to get the desired carbonation you like. I like mine really carbonated.

Some of the things I love about my Soda Steam is that the bubbly water is sodium free. Who wants extra salt really? I love that I can use plain old tap water if I want or my filtered water from the fridge. I love the fact that I don't have have empty cans in my house any longer. I also like that I can add my own things to the water as well like lemon or lime. It's nice to have a option of a diet soda now at my convenience .

But most of all it's a thrill making my own bubbly.. Yippee..so much fun guys. I'm a dork and little things amuse me..

Do any of you have this Soda Stream? Do you love it as much as I do?

Cream Of Mushroom Soup 3 PPs

2011-12-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

I posted this soup on the Weight Watchers Community Recipe Board. Its a really easy low point Cream of Mushroom Soup I came up with for when I'm craving something with out all the points and the guilt. Give it a try. Only 3 Points Plus per serving and it makes 6 generous servings.

Ingredients

1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth

32 oz fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 cup(s) whole milk

4 cup(s) fresh mushroom(s)

1 medium uncooked red onion(s)

1 Tbsp dried thyme

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp regular butter

2 Tbsp cornstarch

2 rib(s) (large) uncooked celery
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Add olive oil and butter to stock pot. Add diced onions and diced celery. Cook till tender. Add sliced Mushrooms and Thyme to the pot. Stir to coat with the oil. Add the broth and bring to a rolling boil. About 15 to 20 min. Turn heat down to med low. Add milk and heat through. Add cornstarch and whisk till blended. Bring to a simmer till it gets a little thick.

Protein Bar Try

2011-12-14T07:47:00.000-08:00

So today I tried the Somers Lemon Meringue Protein Bar...

Ok first off let me say Ive never had a protein bar before. So this is all new to me. Ive been asked a few questions about Protein Shakes and Bars etc. I was told to try to eat them before workouts for the protein. Apparently it's good for your muscles yadda yadda. I started trying these because I wanted to have a fast AM meal when on the go. I will get more info on these protein bars drinks etc for sure. If you have info on these and why you should have them let me know please!!!!

Now onto the review....

So I tried the Lemon one. I was expecting to have a burst of lemony goodness in my mouth but that didn't happen. It did taste like lemon but not a strong flavor at all. Disappointing .. OK so the bar was really really chewy. Like stick to your teeth chewy.. Is this common for a bar? I Don't really know.

The actual name of the bar is Lemon Meringue Pie. So I was thrilled to see and taste a little Graham cracker texture. Now was that actual cracker ? Who knows.
So it was filling, as I sit here and type I'm not hungry anymore. But I only ate it like 10 minutes ago.. HAHA

For one bar there is a 4 Points Plus Value.. and 15 grams of protein.

Will I buy these again? No I wont. There not what I expected after watching Suzanne talk about the lemony goodness on ShopNBC... Not even close in the lemontastic flavor she was talking about. A rather flat taste, but still it tasted good enough for me to eat the whole thing. Just not great. On the plus side there was no aftertaste like the shake. Very happy about this. I was actually dreading tasting it because I was thinking there would be that odd taste.

I still have the Lime bar to try.

Can anyone please recommend a really good protein bar for me. Let me know what you all like..

Suzanne Somers Protein Powder Review

2011-12-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

Hey all..

So I decided to go and get me some of Suzanne Somers Protein shakes and bars. I choose the Orange Cream Protein Shake, Key Lime Protein Bar, Lemon Meringue Pie Protein Bar.

Ive only tried the Orange Cream Protein Shake so far. And I must say that the taste really is like a Orange Cream Popsicle. Pretty yummy. There is a tad after taste of something in my throat but I can't really tell what it is. There is no sugar in her products only natural stuff . When you make the shake according to the pkg directions there are 11 points per shake!! Holly mother of pearl. OK so I didn't make the shake that way now did I. NO!!

I took two scoops of the protein which is 5 Points. I added 1 cup of whole milk which is 4 points. Some ice and that was it. Now I used the whole milk because that's all I had in the house. It's my sons milk. But I will be getting some skim milk in the house asap for these shakes for sure. Then the shake would only be 7 points plus which is much better for me. That I can handle.

So will I be buying the Somersize Protein Powder again? No I won't unless I get a gift card from her website from the hubby. Her stuff is way to expensive for my liking. But I love trying her stuff. I'm a product junkie for sure.. Mahahaaa..

I will add my review for the protein bars ASAP . I'm so excited about trying them.

Sick kiddo and Blah

2011-12-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hey all:
Well my little man spent a day in the hospital. 104.6 temp. Trying to get med's into a sick toddler is the hardest more stressful thing ever. Lot's of sleepless nights and lot's of tears.. But little Max is on the mend.

Ive managed to get on the treadmill 5 days out of the week and keeping to my new goal of becoming a runner/jogger. I finally hooked my iPhone up to have it play music. I know what the heck took me so long.. I love getting my walk on to music. Makes it go so much faster and also makes my speed increase as well . Hubby still needs to help me upload a little more music so that I can get more out of it.

The eat's have been pretty good as well. I'm usually having a breakfast of eggs, cheese, and some veggies. Lunch is pretty much salad with a mix of meat and beans. Yah hoo. I actually really enjoy this. And I'm trying my hardest to cut out the carbs at dinner. Like I said there doing no good for my quest to drop pounds and as much as I love them there nasty for me. NASTY!!!

All my decorations are up for X Mas and everything is looking great. I'm going to post my menu for the week ahead and plan plan plan....

Ive also wanted to share with you a fun little blog I found a few weeks ago. It's Jennifer Hutt's blog from the show Whatever. You know Martha Stewart daughter Alexis and Jennifer? If you don't know check out all the juice on google about them. A little drama I must say, but I love it.. Anyway... Jennifer has a blog and she has lost a good amount of weight. She does video blogs on her treadmill and there a hoot. Have a look see to get a chuckle....

Just Jenny

OK people have a fantastic day and keep up the good work!!

Today Im The Big 40...

2011-11-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hmmmm..

So ive decided instead of being caught up in the number 40 I will shake this sad feeling I have and make some goals for myself instead!! Yes GOALS!!

Here are my goals for my 40th year...

I want to become a runner. Yepp I said it. I want to see how far I can go with this goal. Ive forever dreamed of doing this for myself. Ive read others blogs about them becoming runners and I get so freaking jealous after reading about the amazing run they had.. Yes Im talking about you Happy Texan. I read her blog all the time and so want what she has found. She is doing great and I want that!!

I want to drop at least 80 lbs in this year. Yikes. That number seems very huge to me but I want this so bad.. SO VERY BAD... I need to give this my all and really stick to this goal. I can reach this im sure...
Time goes by so fast and I can count how many times Ive had a look see at the calandar and said holly cow where the hell did the month go? Never again.. I see others amazing progress and know that I too can have that sucess!! I just know it.

So instead of me dreading this damn birthday today im going to give it my all. Change my miind set and just go for my goals! Im not going to give up and Im going to get this right this year for sure!

Lunch Time Goodies

2011-11-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

Had a good work out this morning and the little man was enjoying a really good episode of Dora.. thank you Dora for letting me work out.. LOL 25 Min this AM. But I still have some more to do this afternoon. Yoga ball and weights...

I'm trying to cut the carbs out a little more or at least way down. Oh how I love those carbs. But I'm noticing as I'm getting older there not doing me any good at all. I feel sluggish after eating them and I feel so bloated. So I'm trying to cut back. Boo Hoo..

Here is my lunch today...

Veggies, Laughing Cow Cheese, Turkey, Shrimp in a little Chili Sauce. And my homemade Buttermilk Dressing.
I'm totally satisfied with my lunch.. Yippee..

What are you guy's eating for lunch? Anything thing new ? Any old fav's.. Fill me in...

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-11-21T07:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Here is the menu for the week. Some of the recipes are from Healthy Cooking Magazine. And the Pumpkin Pie is from Nutmeg Notebook's Blog!!! We love her blog in this house!!!

On a side note. Ive been asked if I post recipes for my menu's. I try to add links to recipes and sometimes I add the recipe when I give you guys a review. But to post the recipe every time is a little hard at times with my little guy. If there is a recipe you want ask and I will send it to you or make a recipe request blog entry for it. :)

Monday:
Hungarian Goulash ( Healthy Cooking Mag)
Egg Noodles
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Its my Birthday Dinner.. Hubby is getting me Thai Food.. Yummy..
A slice of Coconut Cake.. OMG..

Wednesday:
Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs
Whole Lotta Veggie Rice
Side Salad with Ranch Dressing

Thursday.. Thanks Giving Dinner
Turkey and Stuffing
Make Over Streusal Topped Sweet Potatoes (HC Magazine)
Braised Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Sauce
Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Pumpkin Pie ( Nutmeg Notebook) So yummy!!

Friday:
Left Overs Baby!!! Oh Yah. Mahhahaaa

Berry Cobbler 5pts Plus

2011-11-15T13:32:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let you all know that the Berry Cobbler from the Dr Oz show for Weight Watchers turned out really great. I have to say that it was easy to make and really really yummy. At just 5 points per serving I was really happy.

Here is the recipe. I'm going to tinker with it to get the points a tad lower, for days that I only have a few points left but still want a little treat. Any ideas how to get it lower ? Let me know please.. :)

Hubby of course picked off the top of the crumble and went to town on it. LOL . Little man had two helpings and we have enough for desert tonight too. Yippee..

Give it a try , you wont be sorry you did. I used a blackberry and blueberry combo but next time I going to try Raspberries. Yummy.

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-11-14T04:56:00.000-08:00

Here is the menu for the week. Ive added a desert this time from the Dr Oz Show . Its a Weight Watcher Desert and 5pts.

Monday:
Grilled Chicken Panini
Home Made Weight Watchers Soup
Berry Cobbler*

Tuesday:
Beef Sliders
Home Fries
Veggies and Dip

Wednesday:
Chicken and Rice with Lemon Thyme
Side Salad

Thursday:
Crock Pot Beef Stew with Veggie
Home Made Bread

Friday:
Homemade Pizza

Smart Ones Satisfying Selections Reviews UPDATE*

2011-11-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

I was asked to give the new Smart Ones Selection a try. So here are the reviews. Again I must say , I didn't even realize that the new Smart Ones were for one person. I actually thought it was a meal for two. That's why I hadn't tried them before. Hubby and I seen them and said there is no way I'm going to be full after sharing that with you. So we never got them. After I found out they were for 1 person I was happy. I think the packaging could be a little better, just to make it clear that this is a one person meal. Maybe I'm just a dork and didn't get the bigger size for one person fact on the packaging.. Hmmm.

First I tried the Sesame Chicken.

The portion size was bigger than the average Weight Watcher Meal. That is a plus in my book. They made the portion bigger by adding a really nice amount of veggies. The Sesame Chicken had a really nice assortment of carrots and snap peas and peppers. I was actually shocked at how large the carrot slices were. So happy about this. No little cubed carrots. For one serving there is a 9 Points Plus value.

The flavor was pretty good as well. There was a nice strong Sesame flav to the whole dish and I liked it a lot. The noodles were really nice and sweet. The chicken was moist and perfect. The bag allows you to cook everything inside and this was rather handy. You sit the bag up to cook it. The only thing I had to do was microwave it for about 1 min longer. This was due to me not knowing how to change the power setting on my nuker. :) I felt like I was eating at a Chinese restaurant without all the guilt..

I tried the Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese next. I love the combination of this one alot. The rice was cooked to perfection and the broccoli was crisp. My little guy loved this one so much. A nice blend of cheese made this so creamy and really satisfying to me. There is a 9 Points Plus value to this one as well. My microwave cooked this one to perfection. I didn't have to add any more cooking time to it at all. I wouldnt probably buy this again due to me making this often in our household. But it would be great to have in a lunch time rush.

On a side note my little guy loved this one too. He was very fond of the chicken. And he loves broccoli so this was a good match for him.

Last but not least Lasagna Florentine..

This Lasagna Florentine was amazing. There was so much flavor to it. I loved how creamy it was. And the veggies were perfect, not to much not to little. I was so satisfied after this meal. The lasagna noodles were perfect and not dry or raw tasting . The sauce was full of flavor. My son actually licked the empty container clean. LOL This meal has only 8 Points Plus Value. I would so have this for dinner with a salad during the week and feel totally content with it as a main meal. Even after taking it out of the container it stayed perfectly formed like a good lasagna should.. Yippee for this one. I will for sure get it again. If you suck at making lasagna like me, try this one. You will be happy.

Bottom line I will be getting trying these again for sure. I will have them on hand for no time lunches and sometimes even dinners. I liked them so much I even went out and bought a few more to try next week.

Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD Review

2011-11-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

So I decided to give the Biggest Loser Power Walk DVD a try.

Ok so first off let me say that Bob Harper is hot. Oh my word.. Seeing him in those black shorts and watching his cute little butt move was great. HAHA. OK Enough of the silly stuff..

I really liked seeing the past contestants on this DVD participate and even on some of the DVD there actually teaching. Pretty nice to see some other "real" people working up a sweat. Made me feel like if they can do it I can too. That's a good feeling .

OK so the music is crappy but hey I think its not a huge deal. I can put my own music on to get my sweat on. I prefer listing to yummy Bob tell me to keep moving anyways.

Here are some of the features to the DVD as copied from Amazon.com.

Special Features

• Walk 1(16 min./mile)
• Walk 2 (16 min./mile)
• Walk 3 (16 min./mile)
• Walk 4 (16 min./mile)
• Cooldown (5 min.)
• Music-Only Option
• Marathon Progress Tracker

The Biggest Loser Power Walk offers four indoor walking routines, from super-beginner to challenging. Each lasts 16 minutes, and can be combined with others for a longer workout. As the routines become more challenging, small weights and workout balls are added, as well as higher-impact moves like squats and jumping jacks. The set also includes a planner for anyone who would like to train to walk a full marathon, or 26.2 miles. One of the great bonuses of this workout is its ability to encourage the viewer/exerciser to take the moves outside, if desired. The routines are varied and never dull, but easy to follow and to build upon. And as with all of The Biggest Loser shows and workouts, bodies of all shapes and sizes are featured--and inspiring. The Biggest Loser Power Walk presents workout routines that are not fancy, but are inviting, inclusive, and effective--and fun to do again and again.

Here are my thoughts on the Biggest Loser Walk DVD:

I really enjoyed it. The DVD made me sweat, made my hips hurt and made me feel like I accomplished a good work out for the day. I will probably do this DVD on day's that I'm not able to get on the Treadmill due to my little man all up in the gym room. He actually enjoyed watching his mommy do some of the DVD and tried some of the moves as well. I liked the modified steps and exercises as well that the DVD offered for people that can't or have problems with certain things, like those damn jumping jacks. One day I will be able to do these in good form if it kills me!

I could actually see myself doing this DVD 2 times a day if not more since each mile is only about 16 min. Perfect to break up during a day . I would recommend this DVD to beginner walkers and also to experienced walkers as well. Anyone can do it and its user friendly for sure.

Have any of you tried this DVD yet? Do you like it?

Smart Ones Satisfying Selections Reviews

2011-11-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

I was asked to try some of the New Weight Watchers Smart Ones Satisfying Selections and give a review of them. Which of course I'm happy to give! After going to the store and really having a look at these I'm surprised, I was honestly thinking the new Smart Ones in the bags were for two people. Like 2 servings per bag. If I had known they were for one person and you get a larger serving I would of tried a lot sooner. Have you seen these in your local market yet?

I went to the market and picked up two selections.

The first is Chicken And Broccoli

And the second choice was Sesame Chicken

I also picked up a Lasagna Florentine to try as well.

Watch for my reviews this week guy's. Looking forward to trying everything for sure.

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-10-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Monday:
Spooky Stuffed Pork Chops
Gruesome Green Beans
Nasty Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday:
Spinach Quiche
Garden Salad

Wednesday:
Asian Pot Stickers
Miso Soup
Side Salad

Thursday:
Turkey Sliders
Sweet Potato Fries

Friday:
Pad Thai
Spring Rolls

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-10-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Yep another week of menu's ...

Monday:
Lemon Caper Chicken
Mushroom Risotto
Snappy Peas

Tuesday:
Pork Chops Ala Tosha
Rice Pilaf
Glazed Carrots

Wednesday:
Balsamic Salmon
Garlic Quinoa
Brussel Sprouts

Wednesday:
Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca with Acorn Squash

Thursday:
Chicken Caesar Pizza

Friday:
Take Out Friday

Mad Hungry Baked Potato Poppers. AKA Tater Tots

2011-10-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

I seen these yummy looking things on Mad Hungry and so wanted to try making them. There a healthier version of Tater Tots. Who doenst like tater tots?

Ok so there is a little work to do with the potatoes before you actually start to form the tots.

Here is what you need..

2	large russet potatoes (about 1 pound)
½	cup all-purpose flour
1	tablespoon cornstarch
½	teaspoon coarse salt
¼	teaspoon ground white pepper
1	large egg yolk
¼	cup olive oil
1½	cups panko flakes
	Here is how to make them..

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with oven rack in center position. Place a rimmed baking sheet in oven.
Peel and grate potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. Cover by two inches with boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drain potatoes in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Squeeze potatoes with hands to remove excess moisture and transfer back to large bowl.

Add flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and egg yolk to bowl and fold into potatoes.
Spread panko on another rimmed baking sheet. With wet hands, pinch tablespoons of potato mixture, form into balls, and toss in panko.

Carefully remove hot baking sheet from oven and coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Quickly transfer poppers to baking sheet, drizzle with remaining olive oil, and bake for 30 minutes, flipping once, until golden brown and crispy. Serve with ketchup.

Ok so here is my review.. for the Baked Potato Poppers. Boring... Now I must say my little son loved these. LOVED THEM!!! He ate like 4 and dipped them into the ketchup. There were right up his alley.

My hubby and I found them to be really really bland. There was no taste to them at all. I was dissapointed with them . They were however so crispy and that is great. I really really wantto make these little gems work for hubby and I so next time im going to season the heck out of them. I will try them with hot sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. Im going to make them with egg whites instead of the yolk to get the points plus value down. So remember if you make them add some seasoining to them and tinker with it. Let me know if you make them and what you did

Points Plus Values for My Weekly Menu Recipes

2011-10-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

Hey guys.
A few of you have asked for me to start including the Points Plus values on my menus.
I'm going to try to remember to add the Points Plus from now on. I keep making my weekly menu and then tinker with the recipes to get the points to change. I keep forgetting to go back and add the points for you. I sit at my kitchen desk and tinker away at the recipe point calculator adding and removing things while trying to keep points on track. If there is any recipe you want the points for please don't hesitate to ask.

Here is the Points Value for the Asian Pork Wonton as requested. :)

5 Points Plus per serving. And this dish makes 4 servings.
Some things to know..

I used lean ground pork. If you use regular pork then your looking at a 11 Points Plus Value. Hugr diffrence huh?

Remember lean pork can be just as moist as the fatty kind. Add a little water when cooking it .

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-10-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Another week another menu...I got a few recipes from Pioneer Women's web site. I'm enjoying her new show and have tried a few things . All good so far. And I'm trying a recipe for Baked Potato Poppers from Mad Hungry... Sounds good huh? Just click on the links for the recipes .

Monday:
Pineapple Turkey Meatballs
Whole Lotta Veggie with Rice
Garlic Bread

Tuesday:
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Side Salad with Best Ever Ranch Dressing

Wednesday:
Thyme Pork chops
Zucchini Gratin
Side Salad

Thursday:
Chicken Burgers
Baked Potato Poppers

Friday:
Mama's Easy Jambalya
Corn Muffins

Remember any recipe can be tinkered with to make it Weight Watcher's Points Plus Friendly . I'm not going to be adding all that cheese to my Chicken Burgers. Little things like this help each day to keep on track of your points. Keep at it guy's!!

Mad Hungry: Pork and Ginger Wonton Stir-Fry

2011-10-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

Mad Hungry TV Show:

Pork Ginger Wonton Stir-Fry

I'm so glad I gave this recipe a try. Yummy Yum Yum. We don't usually buy ground pork so this was a change. For some reason I keep thinking ground pork is not very tasty. WRONG ... This recipe is sweet and savory and way to easy to make. It shall be a repeat in my house for sure.

Here's what you need:

Ingredients

2 tablespoons safflower oil (or peanut oil)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon minced ginger (from a 1-inch piece, peeled)
1 pound ground pork
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 serrano chile, thinly sliced
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon coarse salt
8 ounces wonton skins
1 lime, cut into wedges

Here's the directions:

Have a large pot of water at a boil.

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and heat until shimmers. Once hot, add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant. Add ground pork, breaking it up with a spoon into small pieces. Cook the pork until it is fully cooked and no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sugar and stir together. Whisk in the cornstarch. When pork is cooked through, add sauce mixture to pan and cook until liquid has been absorbed. Stir in sliced chiles and scallions.

Season the pot of water with 1 tablespoon coarse salt. Separate the wonton skins so they do not stick together. Cut the wontons in thirds into wide, short noodles. Using your fingers, separate the wontons again. Sprinkle the wontons into the pot and stir. Cook for about 1-2 minutes until they rise to the top and are fully cooked. Drain well and add to the pan with the pork.

Squeeze lime juice over dish. Serve and eat immediately.

Weight Watcher Tips....

Remember to lighten things up just go easy on the oil. You can use half the amount or use some water instead to cook the pork. It really doesn't need any oil to be honest. I cooked it without. And the taste was just as good I'm sure. Try using Splenda instead of sugar. Or perhaps some honey. I omitted the Chile since little man was eating this dish. Still amazing and tasty.

Coconut Ginger Chicken Strips.. From the Chew

2011-10-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

I seen this recipe on The Chew from Aaron McCargo Jr for his Coconut Ginger Chicken Skewers and decided to give it a try. On the show they deep fried the crap outta the chicken but said that you can bake it in the oven at 375 for around 7 to 10 min.. I decided to make it the healthy way... Hmmm the picture above is what it looked like on the show.. Looks good eh?

Honey Scallion Dipping Sauce: 3 Points Plus per serving

OK so I gathered my ingredients...First I made the dipping sauce. and this was amazing and yummy and so good everyone loved it...

Here's what you need:

1 cup sour cream ( I used Light )
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup chopped scallions (white and green parts)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix everything together let sit in fridge for about 1 to 2 hrs.

Really you must try this recipe its so good and you can dip tons of things into it..

Now onto the Coconut Chicken: 6 Points Plus per serving.

Here's what you need:
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
3 tbsp fresh ginger shredded
2 large eggs

Here is a link to the cooking instructions for you the way they did it on the show..

I did everything the same but I made mine on a sprayed cookie sheet, and then baked in a 375 oven for about 10 minutes.

Here's what they looked like when done.

Here is my review.. There were OK but I couldn't achieve the crispiness that they seemed to have when deep fried. I was a tad disappointed. Now little man and hubby hated them. I mean really hated them. This is the first time little Max has ever had coconut so it could be that he didn't like the taste of something new. he refused to try a second bite until I took the coating off his chicken.. EEEK..

Hubby didn't like them at all as well. To bland he said. But he loved the dip and started dipping his baked fries into the sauce . Then later he dipped some crunchy Nacho chips into it.

I wont be making the chicken again sorry to say. I will however try making it with shrimp and I will be deep frying the crap out of them.. LOL Oh yes I will. I love coconut and i think the issue was also not enough salt. Oh well.

If any of you try making the chicken the deep fried way please, pretty please let me know how it turned out OK. I'm dying to know..

Yogurt Spread

2011-10-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

I was watching Mad Hungry on the tube the other day and seen a yummy looking yogurt spread for morning bagels. I had to give it a try. Ive made my Creamy Feta Spread and I decided to swap out the cream cheese with the yogurt and add a few things.

Here's what you need:

3 cups plain yogurt (I used Fat Free)

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

I added parsley, feta cheese, scallions,and garlic and a splash of hot sauce. The beauty of this recipe is to use what ever you have on hand to make it your own.

Line a sieve with three layers of cheesecloth ( I use paper towels) and set over a bowl. Place yogurt in center of cheesecloth; gather the corners, twisting to tighten the cloth around the yogurt; and tie with twine. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to three days. ( I did it over night and it was thick enough)

2. Remove the yogurt from the cheesecloth or paper towel and place in bowl. Add all the chopped ingredients , salt and pepper and hot sauce. Mix and let sit in fridge for about 1 hr to combine flavors.

The spread was fantastic and fresh and tangy. I will make it again and again. Per serving there is 2 Points Plus.. And if you skip the Feta Cheese it's only 1 Points Plus.. Yippee...

I didnt use 3 Cups of yogurt instead I only used about 1 1/2 cups. I was worried I wouldnt like it. But I loved it and now I will make it using the 3 cups for sure next time.

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-10-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Some of the recipes I’m going to try this week are from Mad Hungry and The Chew... Really looking forward to experimenting with the Coconut Chicken. I’m supposed to fry it but I shall try the oven instead. Im also going to use egg whites in stead of the whole egg for coating. I will post the outcome and the reviews from the boy's.

Monday:
Asian Pork Wonton Redo (Mad Hungry Show)
Miso Salad with Ginger

Tuesday:
Coconut Chicken Strips
Honey Sour Cream Dipping Sauce
Corn on the Cob
Garlic Beans

Wednesday:
Pot Roast
Veggies Galore
Horsey Sauce

Thursday:
Beef Au Jus on Scali Bread...
Home Fries Baked

Friday:
Pizza Party Roasted Veggie Style

Kale Chips

2011-10-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

I decided after hearing so much about the yummy Kale chips id go ahead and try making them. So simple to make.

Here's what you need:

Kale
Olive oil
Salt a little for taste

Wash the Kale and pat dry. De stem the Kale and break into bite size "chip" pieces. Use about 1 tbsp of olive oil to coat the Kale. Season with salt and bake in a over at 272 for about 10 to 20 minutes. you must keep a eye on it as to not burn the chips...

So here is my review of the Kale Chips...

Barf Puke!!! First off I don't know why the heck people say they taste just like chips, so good and crisp. OMG!! Crispy yes but it taste like your eating freaking grass/seaweed. And to some I'm sure you would love it. Believe me I thought id love it too.. Being a vegetarian for over 15 yrs made me love veggies... But this was freaking gross. Oh and adding the salt was a huge mistake. As you bite into the Kale chip and they start to disintegrate in your mouth its like eating salty grass. All I could think of was good thing you don't like these chips girl cause by the morning your ankles would look like cankles from all the salt..

EPIC FAIL!

Perfect Butternut Squash Soup 4Pts Plus

2011-10-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

I love having soup this time of the year. So warm and inviting. I decided to make my Butternut Squash soup yesterday for my little guy and myself. It was yummy and hearty. And only 4 Points Plus. Here's how you make it.

What you need...

1 TBSP Olive Oil
1TBSP Butter ( I use unsalted)
1 Peeled Butternut Squash diced into cubes
1 peeled and diced apple
1 medium Onion diced
6 cups low sodium Chicken Broth
3 sprigs thyme ( optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Add olive oil and butter to your pot, melt and add onions . Cook till tender. Add your diced squash, and diced apples. Add your 6 cups chicken broth and thyme . Cook on medium heat and simmer for about 20 min till all the diced squash and apples are fork tender.

Remove the veggies and some broth a little at a time and blend in a blender till smooth. Remember to pulse slowly or you will have soup all over your kitchen. Add back to the pot and season with salt and pepper to taste.

This soup is full of flavor without all the fat. And my kid loved it. Yippee.. 4 Points Plus Value per serving. which is about 1 1/2 cup serving.

Even More New To Me Cheese..

2011-10-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Weight Watcher Cheese Selection..

Finally!!!

Ive been waiting for more cheese selections from Weight Watchers and lookie what I found at my Walmart.

I brought home the Colby Jack Cheese Sticks and I love them... I mean really love them alot! This is the best tasting 2 point cheese I've ever had. It's the perfect size to break up in my salads. No measuring or weighing my cheese now. The taste is amazing and so yummy.

I'm actually rather shocked the Walmart is bringing in all the different Weight Watcher products. I honestly thought id be finding them at my local Publix or Kroger's. But I'm having the best of luck at Walmart.. Go Wally World... They also had Cheddar Cheese Sticks as well and I will try them next week.

Weekly Menu Points Plus Friendly

2011-10-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here we go... This week is going to be all about time saving and hearty meals.. The cool weather is upon us and I love it. The farmers markets are full of good hearty veggies....

Monday:
Thyme Lemon Chicken and Rice with Peas
Roasted Butternut Squash

Tuesday:
Balsamic Roasted Veggie Panini with Ricotta
Corn Chowder

Wednesday:
Pasta Puttanesca with Peas Kid Friendly
Acorn Squash Puree

Thusday:
Chicken Pa rm
Ceasar Salad
Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Friday:
Pizza Party...

Getting My Exercise In..

2011-09-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well little man has been busy as a beaver.. the other day I tried so hard to get into a groove on the treadmill. But no such luck. He was all over the place and 10 minutes into my workout Max decided he had enough and unplugged the treadmill. EEEEK...

So what's a mom to do..

Well go down stairs and play the XBOX 360 Kinect... Little man had a blast doing Zumba with me. We did a little dancing on Dance Central. And then we finished it all off with some adventures on Kinect Adventures... LOL

So I'm not the most coordinated gal. And I can hardly keep up with Zumba.. And that was just a demo.. But at least I found a way to get a workout in with my little guy and get some activity points in...

New To Me... Polenta

2011-09-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

I decided to give Polenta a try. In all my cookbooks and in my cooking magazines the Polenta looks so yummy and creamy... YUMMY...

Sooo..

I was prepared for was all the whisking... You need to continually whisk for 5 minutes while cooking the Polenta. And when you have a toddler who is getting into this and that you will need to be prepared to keep at it.. No kidding... I tried a recipe that took only 5 min in total cooking time. This didn't include the boiling of the chicken broth or cooking the onions..

So for the taste. Hmmm. Ok hubby hated it, Max refused to try it. I ate it. I decided on a scale of 1 to 10 id give it a 6.. Not that good really. Not creamy at all and kinda sucked.. I can also say that if I wasn't doing Weight Watchers I would of made it with all the cream and cheese some of the recipes called for. I made it pretty low fat and maybe that was the problem. I wont be making this again unless I'm prepared to use all the cream and yummy Parm cheese the really nice looking recipe's call for..

Hoo Hum...

Some New Weight Watcher Finds

2011-09-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

Finally!!! Ive been waiting for the Weight Watchers Smoked Cheese String for soooo long...
The flavor is great and nice and smokey. The cheese is pretty good. Of course its 1 Weight Watcher Point so it's not going to be a creamy cheese. But it's pretty good for a smoked cheese. I will for sure get it again,

I was also shocked to see some new Weight Watcher Points Plus Yogurts too. For the longest time all I could find was Apple Pie at my local food stores. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a bigger variety this weekend. They had Strawberry, Black Cherry, Lemon Cream Pie, and Peach

I just finished trying the Lemon Cream Pie and was very happy with the taste. Its tart and yummy. Yes it still is a tad over sweet like most of the Weight Watcher Yogurts but it was great. I really enjoyed it. And at only 2 Points Plus it's all good.

Finding Motivation When Something Bad Happens

2011-09-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

My friend from my childhood day's passed away last week. She died very suddenly and without any warning. She was only in her late 30's. When I found out she had passed and before I knew from what I was worried. I kept saying to myself why did she die? What did she pass away from? These thoughts kept coming to me at all hours of the day. Invading my thoughts till I was sickened by it. How can someone die so young? I’m in my 30's, I have a little boy, and if it can happen to her it can happen to me...

All my friends were also getting scarred, how can someone die so young? Was it do to her weight? My childhood friend was always a big girl. And she seemed OK with it. Did her weight cause her death? Did she die of heart disease? What went wrong?

The last time we talked I told her my hubby wanted another baby. I said I'm too old to do this again. She laughed and said “Are you kidding me, were in our prime".

We found out she had an advance stage of Ovarian Cancer. It was actually in the last stages. In the end an embolism traveled into her lungs and caused her death. She had no clue. No one knew she was even ill. This was so shocking. And so sad... This means that she hadn’t been to a Dr or even had a proper physical in a long long time. She didn't even know what was going on inside her! How can this happen?

I have found some motivation with my friends passing. I’m not going to be letting time pass like usual. I’ve had enough years of half-ass work outs, half- ass food tracking, half-ass just living. I should be further along in my weight loss goals than I am. What a total waste of time that I will never get back . I'm sure you have been there. You look up at the calendar one day and realize 3 months have gone by and you haven't accomplished jack... Where the heck did the time go.. ENOUGH...

If my friend’s death has taught me anything, it’s that life is too short to mess around and not give it my all.

New Recipe Try Meatball Curry

2011-09-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

I love that the new season of Aarti Party is back on the Food Network. I watched one episode where she puts a twist on Italian food. I decided to give her Meatball curry a whirl..

This dish was so full of flavor and color . So yummy. The sauce that the meatballs go in is Coconut Milk.. Can you beleive it.. Yummy. I really loved this recipe. I used Low Fat Coconut Milk instead of the full fat she reccomends just to keep everything more Points Plus friendly.

Here is the recipe If you want to give it a try. I also added a little hint of sugar to the dish to give it a little hint of sweetness.

Ingredients

Meatballs:

1 pound ground beef
1 green serrano chile, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Kosher salt

Curry:

3 tablespoons coconut oil or canola oil
1/2 teaspoon brown or black mustard seeds
4 shallots, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 (1-inch piece) ginger, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 medium tomatoes, finely diced
1 (14-ounce can) full-fat coconut milk
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons lime juice (about half a lime)
Serving suggestions: Rice, Indian bread, such as naan or chapatti or spaghetti

Directions

For the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, chile, ginger, cilantro and 1 teaspoon salt together using your hands until just combined. (Don't mix any more than this or you'll end up with tough meatballs!) Make 16 balls like this: divide the mixture in half, and then in half again. Take each quarter and divide it into 4 small portions. Roll each portion between your palms until smooth. Set aside and repeat for all 16 meatballs

For the curry: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the coconut oil until nearly smoking. Add the mustard seeds, covering the pan with a lid so you don't get popping seeds all over you.

When the spluttering subsides, add the shallots, garlic and ginger and cook until golden brown. Then add the ground coriander, cumin and cayenne pepper. Stir, and cook 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook until they soften, about 5 minutes.

Add the coconut milk, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Turn down to a simmer and add the meatballs. Simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

To finish, add the cilantro and lime juice. Shake the pan gently to mix them in, and then taste for seasoning. Serve over rice, with Indian bread (naan or chapati) or over spaghetti!

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly : Bills Food Week

2011-08-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hey there..

So this week I'm going to be making most of my menu up of recipes from one of my new to me cookbooks. The book is Bills Food. The writer is Bill Granger. He is a Australian cook and he has some different shows on the Cooking channel.. Everything he has made looks amazing so I went and finally got hold of his cookbook. So here is my menu for the week...

Monday:
Grilled Chicken with Spicy Coconut Sauce... Pg 135
Couscous Greek Style

Tuesday:
Burgers with Hummus Pg. 48
Sweet Potato Wedges

Wednesday:
Simple Pork Chops
Baked Risotto with zucchini, tomato and Parm Pg. 148

Thursday:
Glazed Honey and Soy Chicken with Sweet Chili sauce Pg. 128
Corn Fritters Pg. 115

Friday:
Tortellini and Snap Peas in Lemon Dill Sauce

Have You Tried Pickled Eggs. Yum...

2011-08-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

I love love love pickled eggs. Yeah Yeah I know they sound gross, but if your a vinegar lover like me and if you love eggs and want a 2Points Plus mid afternoon snack make these...

You will need the following:

Eggs
White Vinegar
Pepper
Thumb Tack
Ball Mason Jars

With the thumb tack pierce the eggs on both ends. This will make peeling the eggs so easy. Fill a pot with cold water and add your eggs to it. Bring the water to a full rapid boil. Turn heat off and let sit for 15 min. Remove the hot water and run cold water over eggs. Shake the eggs together in the pot till the shells are covered in little cracks. Let sit in the cold water for about 20 min.

Peel your eggs and place them into mason jars. Cover the eggs with vinegar and sprinkle come cracked pepper on top. Place mason jar lid on and refrigerate for about 2 weeks. The longer they sit the stronger the vinegar taste. YUMMY!

Yoplait Greek 2X Protein Review

2011-08-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hmmm..

When ever I start a post with Hmm there usually is a problem.. EEEK..

So I tried the Yoplait Greek 2X Protein yogurt this weekend. The yogurts are a whopping 4points Plus per 6oz container. There are a few different flavors to choose from.

Strawberry
Peach
Blueberry
Key Lime
Plain
Honey Vanilla

I tried the Peach and Blueberry. I shared the Peach with my little boy and he loved it. Truly loved it so much so that he ate the whole container because I didn't want anymore after the first bite. By the way he has a head cold right now so maybe thats why he loved it....

The yogurt is creamy and thick and looks amazing after you stir the fruit on the bottom into it. But my word it is the most sour tasting yogurt Ive ever had.. EVER!! As I type this my mouth is watering from the thought of how sour it is.. Not Good... Like when I think of vinegar chips.. But the chips are a good thing.

This morning I added some honey to it and it was tons better. But when you do the math 4 Points for the yogurt and 2 Points for 1 TBSP of honey forget that... A whopping 6 point breakfast for a freaking yogurt... Not for me...

So try it and tell me what you think. Is it just me or is it you too?

Flatout Foldit Flatbread Review

2011-08-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

Flatout Flatbread

I seen these little things the other day at my local food store. Flatout Flatbread .. There $2.98 for one pkg. Each Package has 6 flatbreads . They come in a few different flavors such as Rosemary and Olive Oil, 100% Whole Wheat with Flax, Traditional White, and Sliders Classic White.

Each Flatout Flatbread has 3 Points Plus. Averaging about 90 to 100 calories per serving as well. Pretty good.

They have a cute little shape making it easy to fold over .

The Flatout Flatbread has a little idea card inside as well, giving you some other ideas on what to do with them. Like making a Grill cheese with them, Pizza's and folded toast.

So I tried the Rosemary and Olive Oil Fatout Bread and really liked it. It was soft and had a nice mild Rosemary taste. I think the price is a tad to high for only 6 flatbreads. If they came in a pack of say 12 I would not think the price was wacky at all.

I made a Salmon Sandwich with one today for lunch and was impressed with the taste and ease in which the fold of the bread worked to make the sandwich. Cute and convenient. I will try making a pizza tomorrow for lunch and toasting some later . I have a feeling im going to enjoy them as well.

So I think the the Flatout Flatbreads are handy and yummy, but the cost is a not so nice. Hopefully I will see them at the Costco with some amazing deal making the pirce come down.. :)

Workout Today With New Orthotics

2011-08-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

My Orthotics finally are here!! I must admit I'm really excited about this. I can't wait to really try them out , so today is the day to do just that with my workout.

Ive been told to wear them a few hours a day for the first few weeks to see how they feel, and to get use to them. I'm really looking forward to this workout.. Ive worn them around the house for about 2 hrs for the last 3 day's and so far so good. Today I'm going to get on the treadmill and give them a whirl.

I do feel that the arch part collapses a bit too much and if that seems to effect the feel then I will have to get them adjusted pronto. These babies cost a bunch and I should get amazing results right? YES!!!

I shall get back here with a update pronto..

Have you Tried Beets

2011-08-09T05:37:00.000-07:00

While at the farmers market I seen some really pretty beets and decided to bring them home. Beets are so pretty and come in many different colors. You can bake them, boil them, roast them, and pickle them. My mum use to make use homemade Borscht with them from the garden when I was a kid. So yummy.

We decided to roast them for dinner last night , little man was a big helper and was thrilled with the red color.

Here's what we did.

First wash your beets and cut off the ends. Pre- heat oven to 375.

Then lay them on some tin foil and sprinkle with a good dose of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Finish with some Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Then fold up the tin foil , and place in oven for about 1 hr. Check after about 25 min for smaller beets. I had nice large ones so it took me about 1 hr to cook them. They will be done when you can take a knife and slide it into the beets nice and easy.

When mine were cooked I sliced them, arranged on a place and added some crumbled feta and a touch of Balsamic vinegar. Then just a hint of honey drizzled on top. So good!

Did I mention that beets are a zero Points Plus food.. Yepp..

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-08-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation and it's time to get back into cooking for everyone. It's still really hot outside so its BBQ time in this household..

Monday:
BBQ Drumsticks
Roasted Beets with Feta
Summer Squash with Red Onions
Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Tuesday;
Salmon on the BBQ
Roasted Veggies
Mixed Salad

Wednesday:
Italian Sausage with Linguine
Red and Yellow Peppers
Salad with Lemon Juice

Thursday:
Chicken with Rice and Pea
Corn Salad

Friday:
Sloppy Turkey Joe's
Sweet Potato Fries

Back From Vacation.. Ahhhhh

2011-08-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

We went on a week long vacation to Florida. We had a amazing time and got to see tons of things. It was wicked hot, hotter than Atlanta in my opinion.

We went to Bush Gardens one day and walked for 10 hrs. It was well over 100 degrees and so humid. Honestly I was not very happy , but it was worth it to see how happy little man was. The boy's got to go topless while I was dripping.

Look at the fella napping.. LOL

We tried tons of different foods... We had Fish Tacos for the first time. Oh my word they were to die for...

And we tried some amazing fresh seafood.. And yummy deserts...

We got to go to the Ocean as well. Little man collected seashells...

We also went to the beach. This was a great day and actually very breezy so much more relaxing and cool.

The house we rented had a pool. We went swimming everyday. And got in plenty of walking.

I'm looking forward to my weight-in this week to see how I did. I must of sweated off like 10 lbs of water.. HAHAH Gross but oh so true....

Baby Boy Hives.. Grrrrr

2011-07-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

Well my little man had a allergic reaction to something and I think, hope it was this new cookie we tried. Hubby was eating some and little man seen them and wanted to try one. One turned into 3 cookies. The next day hives all over my little guy.

Off to the Walk In Clinic we go. It was a Sunday..

So little man has been given Prednisone and and Antihistamine... I'm so hoping it was the darn cookie and nothing else that's going to be a huge issue for him later on.. Fingers crossed for my little guy...

Today is the last day of the meds and there were only a small amount of hives on him today... Here's hoping it's the end of it...

Now a little review of the Whonu Cookie.. There really yummy and my hubby ate so many I didn't keep count. There chocked full of vitamins . For one serving which is 3 cookies your looking at 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus Value..

But I wont be getting these again due to my baby boy's reaction to them. I'm not willing to chance it... If you have little one's be careful with these cookies.. Just a little warning from a mommy...

Lean Cuisine & Healthy Choice Review

2011-07-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

When at my local store I seen the Lean Cuisine Frozen Meals and Healthy Choice Steamers, I decided to whip out the Weight Watchers Point Calculator to do some point comparing.. And what did I find, most of the meals are pretty darn close in points. So I decided to go ahead and buy some . Sometimes at lunch I just don't want to cook, measure yadda yadda. So I buy a few frozen meals to use during the week.

So far I tried 3 of the frozen meals.

The first one is Chicken Fettuccine. This boxed meal has a 7 PPs value. the serving size was pretty much what you expect from a boxed "DIET" meal. The taste was fresh and lovely. The chicken was chunky and plump and I actually really enjoyed it. I added a little more pepper to the meal because I love my pepper. But that's all it needed. I had that meal with a large salad and it filled me up till my afternoon snack.

The second boxed meal I got was the Cheese Ravioli also from Lean Cuisine. This meal had 6 PP's value. This was by far my favorite. The ravioli cooked perfectly and the filling was so creamy and cheesy. The sauce was seasoned to perfection. I forgot to take a picture of this one. But it will for sure be a repeat for me . The only problem was that I really could of ate 2 boxes of the ravioli's. Per serving there was like 5 ravioli's so it was a tad small. But like before, a side salad made it filling enough. Hubby took one to work and by the time he came home he was starving. So for someone who isn't watching portion sizes I'm assuming this would be not enough for them.

Last but not least I tried a Healthy Choice Steamer. I decided to try the Orange Zest Chicken. Now this one was really different in the way it was contained. The box meal came in a bowl within a bowl of sauce that cooks and steams the upper part of the dish that holds all the food. This meal has a 8 PP's value which yes I admitt was a tad high. According to the box however it say's there is a Weight Watchers Points Plus Value of only 6 Hmmm.. Im going to go with the 8PP's by using my calculator. However the meal was totally filling so I didn't need to add a salad or anything like that. The veggies were so crisp and the chicken pieces were large for a box meal and tender. I was rather shocked at how healthy and yummy it was. The flavor was spot on and I really enjoyed the zesty orange taste. There was a hint of spice to the sauce .

There you have it. Sometimes its nice to try diffrent things and make life a little easier. All the frozen meals had no preservatives. Which is nice. I had zero guilt in eating them.

Paula Deen Review : Garlic Vinaigrette

2011-07-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

I went out and got some more Paula Deen dressing. Who knew she made yummy low fat dressing? WHO? LOL

Now Ive tried her Peach Salad Dressing and that was so yummy I decided to try this one as well. This dressing is amazingly refreshing. You can taste a hint of garlic and a little bite with the cracked pepper. I normally don't like Olive Oil in my salad dressing but this is great. I don't even taste a heavy Olive Oil taste in the slightest. I would even use this dressing to dip my veggies in for mid afternoon snacks.

For us Weight Watcher people there are only 2 Points Plus per 2 TBSP... Yippee!!!
I will for sure buy this dressing again and again because there is no guilt in using it at all. So go out and give it a try.. You wont be sorry.

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-07-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I posted a menu. Summer time makes me want to keep it simple and use the BBQ . Ive decicded to sweat it out in the kitchen after seeing some yummy recipes..

Monday:
Beef Kebabs with a Surprise Center ( Aarti Party-Food network)
Parsnip Hummus(Aarti Party- Food netowrk)
Veggie and Pita Chips

Tuesday:
Weeknight Bolognese ( Barefoot Contessa)
Orecchiette Pasta
Side Salad

Wednesday:
Roasted Sausages and Grapes ( Barefoot Contessa)
Spring Green Risotto (Barefoot Contessa)

Thursday:
Shrimp Scampi with Linguini
Side Salad
Garlic Rounds

Friday:
Turkey Burgers
Garlic Oven Fries

I still need to add the recipes to the Weight Watchers Recipe Builder. I shall get on that ASAP..

Foot News and Other Stuff

2011-07-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

I finally had my feet molded for real Orthotics.. YES!!! I'm very excited to get them and try them. If you remember I was so amazed when I tried the Orthaheel Sandal. I had no foot pain at all after walking for hours in them. But after wearing them for about 2 months the arch in the sandal collapsed due to my severe flat feet. Thankfully Amazon gave me my money back.. I love Amazon ever so.

So now I wait for the orthotics to be made. I have to go out and get new sandals to fit the orthotic so that should be a task. I'm very particular about my sandal and shoes. I'm actually looking forward to finding just the right sandal to fit the orthotic..

Moving on to other Stuff..

We are getting some really nice veggies from the garden. Little man has been enjoying picking everything. Sometimes a little too eager but oh well. I just let the tomatoes ripen on the counter. Ive been able to make some yummy salads and really experiment with salad dressings. Nothing beats the taste of fresh veggies from your own garden or a real farmers market. We've been having a few issues with ants however, but I want everything to be organic so I will keep trying different things to get rid of them. There trying to eat all my tomatoes.. ARGG

I had my very first ever S'more..I wasn't to thrilled but hubby and little man loved them. I had to try it just to say I did. Apparently your not suppose to buy large Hershey bars there suppose to be thin . Maybe that was the problem. Too much chocolate . I know too much? Am I nuts? HAHA

Little man is going through the terrible two's and yikes there crazy.. He was on a rip the other day and I had to take him to the mirror and show him how bad his pout was, so I imitated him. He stopped pouting and was very amused at my imitation.

We took him to the local Best Buy and let him try on 3D glasses. He was rather mesmerized by them.. Totally thrilled at the look of 3D... Ive already told hubby were not getting one..
Hubby was just as thrilled.

Ive been getting in 3 workouts a week so far and I'm not losing anything .. Getting a tad discouraged but I'm going to keep at it. Isn't it amazing how we want to lose the weight fast fast fast but we put it on slow slow slow... Need to remember that and not feel the need to rush everything during this journey I'm on. I do wish I could go walk outside with little man but its been in the 100's here. The humidly is the worst. It makes me feel sluggish.

Were off to the library this week for a book haul.. Oh the summer reading is in full force here and we love it!

Weight Watchers Cheese Wedges Review

2011-07-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

I love finding new WW Foods to try. I found some new Cheese Wedges..

There are 6 individually wrapped cheese per container. So far Ive found Swiss and Jalapeno flavors. I have yet to try the Swiss because Ive tried the LOL Cow ones and didn't like them that much. Too strong a taste. But next time I will try the Weight Watchers Swiss wedge just to give it a try.

In comparison the LOL Cow Wedges have 8 Individually wrapped cheese but there smaller than the WW ones . And guess what? The Weight Watcher ones are cheaper.. Shocking huh? I'm very happy about this..

OK so for the taste... The Jalapeno Pepper Wedges are zippy and spicy and pretty good. The texture is smooth and creamy just like the Laughing Cow ones. I don't know if its me or what but the size seemed to make me really happy. More bang for my buck.

Each Cheese Wedge has 1 Points Plus . Walmart is selling one container for $2.48. I can't wait to see the other flavors of cheese they start to carry. I'm still waiting to try the Smoked Gouda Cheese String...

I hope you get a chance to try these Weight Watchers Points Plus friendly wedges. I think you will enjoy them for a afternoon pick me up .

In My Kitchen Part #2

2011-07-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

In my kitchen there are some things I must have at all times. I’m never without these things because of the great flavors they add to any dish .

I always have fresh Lemons and Limes on the counter. I use them to freshen up loads of things. I often use the zest as well, and after I throw them into my sink to freshen up the garbage disposal.

Garlic is used daily . I refuse to buy pre chopped garlic or jarred garlic because I just don't think it tastes the same. As I said earlier I hate chopping it so my garlic press gets tons of use.

Olive oil is used in most of my dishes. The only thing I don't use it in is salad dressings. I find the taste is too strong for the dressings. . We go through a lot of Olive oil . I usually buy a big container and it last about 3 months. We always get Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Shallots are great in dressings and they give a milder taste instead of larger stronger onions. We usually have a good amount on our counter as well and they seem to have a good counter life. They don't spoil fast at all.

Fresh pepper is also one of those things we love. I don't like the fancy rep pepper or tri colored stuff. Just plain old black pepper is what we like and it's used a lot. I really need to invest in a good pepper mill instead of wasting my money on these jarred grinders... I will add it to my list for this weekend..

We only use Kosher Salt. We use it in baking and cooking. I love the mild taste and it’s always on the counter too. It sits in a little glass jar so I have easy access to it.

Honey... What can I say? It’s a great sweetener for sauces and salad dressings. I use it in my tea and my oatmeal as well. Yummy...

Balsamic Vinegar is something we go through really fast. I use it to marinate my fish. I make a lot of yummy reduction sauces with it. We always get the dark thicker aged stuff. I could drink the stuff right from the bottle. That’s how much I love it. I pour it over my fresh tomatoes from the garden and my cukes... So good. Ive also been know to add it to my popcorn. I know that sounds gross to many but it's so good.

Worcestershire sauce and rice vinegar are good staples to have. The Worcestershire sauce adds flavor to meatloaf, hamburgers etc... The Rice Vinegar has a more mild taste , we use it when a recipe calls for a light vinegar. We use the vinegar in different Asian recipes as well.

Our Margarine of choice is Smart Balance. We use this every day. It’s yummy and has just the right amount of salt.This margarine has natural oils and is a great source if Omega-3 ALA and Vitamins such as D, B6, and B12...It melts well when using it on the stove top and ive used it in banana breads etc and had great results. I don't like the light one. It’s rather watery and doesn’t work well in my recipes.

I still use butter when a recipe calls for it and it’s in a small amount... Who doesn’t love butter?

Those are some of my favorite things. I also have fresh herb as well from the garden .

What are some of your staples in your house..

In My Kitchen

2011-07-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

There are a few things in my kitchen that I can't live without. I keep using these items almost every day.

I use my measuring spoons and cups every day. When you’re on Weight Watchers measuring even the littlest of things matter. I have different types but I love my metal ones the most.

My lemon Juicer is my latest favorite thing. I can get twice the amount of juice from using this gadget than using my hands. It’s great when you’re trying to get as much juice possible for recipes. It’s easy to use . Ive been using it for Limes as well, but I’m thinking of actually getting the lime juicer now...

I have a really good sharp knife. I use this for chopping up my herbs and everything else that needs cutting up. It really does make a difference having a really good sharp knife to cut through everything. It makes my prep time go faster and makes my work in the kitchen more efficient.

I’ve always been a Meat Thermometer kind of girl. I can't use my hand to estimate a temperature of a piece of say pork or beef. I like knowing the internal temp of all my meats to be in the safe side. Also there is nothing I hate more than sitting down and cutting into a pork chop and its still raw.

My Lemon Zester is great for getting all the rind off my Lemons and Limes. I have so many recipes that call for zest so this is handy dandy.

Garlic Press... What can I say about this amazing easy gadget? I hate chopping up garlic. Hate it. This press makes dealing with garlic easy as pie. I sometimes forget to peel the garlic first and I’ve gotten squirted in the eye many times with garlic juice due to that. I’ve learned my lesson now.

Mason Jars are great for shaking up dressings and sauces in. I pour everything into it and shake shake... The dressing's keep well in the fridge and I really like the look of these cute jars.

My wooden Spoon gets use every day. I love how big it is and how versatile it is. I use it for everything from sauces to mashed potatoes... Remember don't wash your wooden spoons in the dish washer... Wash them by hand to make them last longer.

I’ve talked about using my food scale and it's something that is also pretty important for a Weight Watchers follower. Measure Measure....

Are there any gadgets that you can't live without in the kitchen? Fill me in me love finding new gadgets...

Creamy Basil Dressing

2011-07-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

Try this recipe if you have some fresh Basil on hand...

1 Cup fresh Basil
2 cloves Garlic chopped
20 Fresh Cut Chives
1 tsp Anchovy Paste
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 cup Lite Mayo
1 cup Lite Sour Cream
1/4 cup Low Fat Buttermilk
Fresh Pepper and Salt.. ( I use Kosher Salt)

Put everything into food processor and blend till smooth and creamy..
I keep mine in a mason jar..

Elomi Energise Sports Bra Review

2011-06-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

I went back to the Bra Lady to get a new fitting for the girls... I really needed a good sports bra and decided to get some advice on one and try them on.

I told the lady I didn't care what it looked like but I wanted amazing support and wanted one that was going to last ...

So what did I get....

The Elomi Energise Underwire Sports Bra....

Ok so this bra is pretty good. I love that it's designed with good quality fabric, and I really like that the backing has 4 clasps. I like that the under wire doesn't come up to my neck where the two cups meet. It you have big girls you know what I mean. There is no side spillage with this bra as well which is fantastic. I feel really supported and tucked in nice. The bra was $65.00 . I know that seems alot but when you have large breast you can't just go to a Walmart or a Target to get a good fit. You just can't and that sucks.

The look is pretty nice as well and it makes me feel good. Here are the stats on the bra for you..

The Elomi bra is available up to a J cup, and it provides a four-section cup with side support panels that give excellent uplift and hold, it's made of double layered silky soft micro fibre with a moisture management finish to wick away moisture from the skin, offers ultimate comfortable support..

I highly highly recommend getting a bra fitting to see what your proper size is. Its not a big deal I promise. You keep your bra on during the fitting and you can ask the bra lady to leave when trying on the bra's she recommends.. Its so important to get a fantastic fitting bra .. If you have bulges up top spilling over your bra, if your band keeps getting little rips, if you are getting little red pimples on the side of you chest where you have side bulge then more than likely your wearing the wrong bra!!!! It really will change your life.. No joke...

GET A FITTING!!!! IT's FREE ...

Crystal Light Pure Review

2011-06-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

Ive been seeing these around in my local shops and decided what the heck.. I don't mind water but it sure is better with some flavors.

I decided to try the Grape one first. I actually thought it was cherry becasue I never really looked at the grapes on the front.. thought they were big fat cherries.. so when I tasted it I was kinda thinking hmmm this taste like grape not cherry.. Mahahaaaa...

So yes it does taste like Grape and it's pretty good. The drink mix has 0 Calories and it kind of reminds me of True Lemon drinks but in different flavors. The Crystal Light Pure tots that it's made with no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives. Instead its sweetened with natural sugars like Truvia.. Which I have in my house right now. The drink also has Electrolytes.. Not bad...

The thing that made me want to try it is I'm try to stop using chemical sweeteners. I use to buy the Crystal Light drinks and I really liked them but so much crap in it.. Not good...

I tried the drink this morning with my work out and it was really refreshing to me. I will for sure try the different flavors next since I liked it that much.

For Weight Watchers Points Plus people were looking at a 0 Points ...

The Eat's

2011-06-22T15:59:00.000-07:00

Well so far this week has been good. Breakfast and lunches have been simple due to how busy ive been.

Breakfast has been fresh tomatoes and cukes from the garden, Eggs, Bacon and my beloved HP Sauce that was my all time fav sauce in Canada .. Finally found this in my local Publix.. Yippee...

I found some Miso soup from my Asian Farmers Market we gave it a whirl for a light lunch snack and it was pretty good.. Only 1 Weight Watcher Point... Yippee...

We ate Chick Fil A 2 times this week and I kept it pretty Healthy, but for some Waffle Fries hubby and I sharred. The Chargrilled Chicken sandwich is pretty good. To be honest I don't miss the Original fatty yummy regular one..

My Balsamic Green Beans turned out great. Little man loved the sauce and ate oodles..

Thats about it so far... Were about to have a massive rain storm now and it's looking pretty dark outside..

I hope everyone is doing great and keeping on track. Im trying my hardest and seem to be doing pretty good....

Are you guy's keeping cool?

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-06-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Here is the menu for this week ahead... So many yummy veggies to eat from my garden and our newly discovered farmers market.. Yummy...

Monday:
Turkey Sausage
Green Beans with Onions and Balsamic Vinegar
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Peachy Tuna Steaks
Rice Pilaf Veggie Style
Side Salad

Wednesday:
Pork Chops on the BBQ
BBQ Eggplant with Queso Cheese
Cucumber and Sweet Vidalia Onion Salad

Thursday:
Jerk Chicken
Fat Girls Rice
Carrot Salad with Raisins

Friday:
Veggie Panini with Warm Ricotta Sauce
Bibb Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

This week is going to be a great cooking week. I'm trying to keep the kitchen cool so I'm going to make almost everything on the BBQ...

Library Haul

2011-06-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Went to the Library and found some good reads...

The First one was Rob Lowe's book, Stories I Only Tell My Friends..... Yes I got it for the juice... LOL

I also seen the Suzanne Somers book Sexy Forever... EEEK... Kinda wish I didn't read it but then again I'm glad I did... Makes me want to go out and only buy organic food.. My hubby and I are having huge conversations about what was in this book. He thinks its all crap and I of course believe every word.. I'm a EX Somersizer, but I still follow some of her diet ways.. I really like Suzanne Somers and I think she has some good points.. Go ahead and get the book if you want to read about the state of your food and the different toxins in your home that you probably never even thought about...

Simply Delicioso.. By Ingrid Hoffmann.... Pretty nice book. Lots of yummy Latin recipes . She has a cooking show on TV and I'm sure you have seen it a few times.

Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights...By Sophie Dahl... This book was OK. I pretty much already new most of the recipes which I guess means I liked the book. That being said , I like books that are new and bring me some new and exciting recipes . This book didn't do that so it isn't a repeat book for me...

Do any of you have any good Cookbook suggestion you want to share? I love cookbooks so much... Let me know..

Black Bean and Corn Salad

2011-06-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to try to a new salad with our Chicken dinner tonight so here's what I came up with...

1 Can Black Beans Drained
1/2 Yellow Pepper ( diced)
1/2 Green Pepper (diced)
1 Roasted Red Pepper (diced)
2 Corn Cobs Roasted on the grill..
1/2 Vidalia Onion (diced)
3/4 cup Cilantro ( chopped) more if you love this herb.. Yummy..
the juice of 1/2 a lime
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1/2 cup Rose's Salad Dressing from Mad Hungry Cookbook
Heat your BBQ or a stove top grill, spray with some cooking spray. Place your cobs on top and rotate till all sides have some nice grill marks on the corn.

Chop up all of your veggies and Cilantro and add to a large bowl. Drain 1 can of Black Beans and rinse. Add to the bowl of veggies. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lime into the bowl. Add the Rose's salad dressing to the bowl and mix well.

Let sit in fridge for 2 hrs to let the flavors blend...

I added this to my Weight Watchers Recipe Builder and for 1/2 cup serving I got 5 pts. Now its a little high in points but I shall tinker with it next time to lower it. I think I can for sure lesson the amount of Olive Oil and still have a good dressing...

Salad Dressing Reviews

2011-06-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

Today I tried making 2 new recipes from the Mad Hungry Cookbook that I finally bought... Yummy yummy...

The first dressing was called Roses Vinaigrette..

Here's what you need...

1 TBSP Minced Shallots
1 tsp Dijon Mustard
1tsp Light Brown Sugar
3/4 tsp Coarse Salt
1/4 tsp Fresh ground Pepper
1/4 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar
2Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In a Mason jar pour everything in and shake like crazy.... This can be kept for up to 6 months in the fridge...

Very fresh tasting and yummy... I could do with out the Olive Oil and use Canola instead but that is just my preference.... you can use what ever you like..

I will for sure make this again and the little man loved it and asked for more...

The second dressing I made was Green Goddess Ranch Dressing..

This one is a creamy salad dressing free from any commercial stabilizers... So the book tells me. Which is nice to know ...

Here's what you need...

2TBSP Minced Chives and 1 small scallion
2 tsp anchovy paste
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1/2 cup sour cream ( I used light Sour Cream)
1 cup mayo
2 TBSP mild vinegar such as white wine or tarragon
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 small clove garlic smashed and minced
Buttermilk or Milk

In a large blender mix everything but the buttermilk. Add just enough buttermilk to thin it out to your desired consistency. Pour everything into a mason jar and let sit for a while to combine the flavors.
Keeps in the fridge for up to 1 week...

Fantastic dressing, I added a tad more lemon juice to thin mine out instead if adding the milk. Turned out great...

Shrimp And More Shrimp..

2011-06-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

My Step Dad lives in Louisiana and before he came for his annual visit he went out and caught us 40 lbs of fresh Shrimp...

Yes 40 lbs of fresh Shrimp... Can you imagine all the things we can make with that? I feel like I'm in the movie Forest Gump... LOL

Here we are preparing it all. Yes cutting off the little heads, peeling them and D veining them... WOW It was a bunch of work but so worth it... This batch was really wee and tiny but ever so tasty...

We even found a little wee fish in the batch.. So sad.. :(

The little guy loved them and must of ate like 10 of the little shrimp... I will be adding some of my Shrimp Recipes as I cook them for you all.

Doesn't it make you wanna go out and get some shrimp for yourself? HAHAHA

Italian Summer Salad

2011-06-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hey ...

My garden is growing, growing well.. I have fresh Basil and Italian Parsley coming out the ying yang...

So I decided to make a summer salad with all my goodies...

Here's what I did..

3 cups cooked Orzo Pasta
1/2 cup dices Grape Tomatoes
1/2 cup Fresh Basil Chopped
1/2 cup Italian Flat Leaf Parsley Chopped
1/2 cup Orange Pepper diced
1/4 cup Aged Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp Fresh Cracked pepper
1/4 cup crumbled Queso cheese

Mix everything together and let sit in fridge for about 2 hrs to mesh the yummy flavors...
I added this to my Weight Watchers Recipe Builder and I got a 3 PPs value per serving ...

Everyone likes it so It will be a remake again...

Biggest Loser Food Scale

2011-06-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

Wow.. It's been a busy few weeks having family visiting etc.. I have finally been able to get myself acquainted with the scale...

I'm loving all the features it has and it's great. Here are some of the features the Biggest Loser Food Scale has...

The scale has a pre programmed list of foods for you already. Like say a peach.

The scale tells you how much the peach weighs, how many carbs, proteins, calories, saturated fat, where it falls of the Glycemic index.. YES even that.. LOL

You can add foods to the memory as well for easy look up and storing. Fantastic feature that one is...

I found my scale at Ross and it was dirt cheap. It's definitely a new toy, aide I'm going to love using...

Bread Review

2011-05-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I seen some Sara Lee low calorie bread at my local Costco, and to my surprise there was only a 1 point plus value per one slice. Yippee. What a fantastic find. The bread has 5 grams of fiber as well. Pretty good.

The bread is soft enough and the flavor is pretty good. Not diet tasting at all really. Now I must admit the bread is a tad slim and not thick at all. Other than that its nice. I will get it again for sure. Have you guy's tried it yet? What do you think?

Weight In Results..

2011-05-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

Well I got on the scale and I'm down 7lbs.. Yah hoo mountain dew... Looking forward to the week to come.. Im getting in plenty of walking and drinking my water...

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-05-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

The new Cooking Light Magazine has oodles of yummy recipes I'm going to make this week. My dad and step dad will be here this whole week so I'm going to cook for them. Grandpa from Louisiana is bringing with him some shrimp he caught so I'm guessing shrimp will be on the menu somewhere as well. LOL

Monday:
Open Face Blackened Catfish Sandwiches......9PPts
Side Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Tuesday:
Shrimp Korma and Basmati Rice....7PPts

Wednesday:
Tequila-glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs....5PPts
Roasted Potatoes
Side salad

Thursday:
Grilled Farmers Market Sandwiches.....10 PPts
Sweet Potato Fries ( Baked)

Friday:
Burgers with Blue cheese Mayo and Sherry Vidalia Onions ....11PPts
Side salad

Hey Guy's

2011-05-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Good gosh...
Were pretty much all sick here.. Little Max got something and he has shared it with me and now hubby. Just in time for my mom and daddy's visit. EEEK.... We've all been having temperatures and little Max hasn't been sleeping well at all. I'm all grumpy and snotty. Oh well at least I get to be with my family and that's all that matters right? YES!!!

I went out and got a Biggest Loser Food Scale. So excited to try it and start using it. I'm going to do a review on it coming up here soon. Wait for it... Do any of you have it? Do you love it?

I finally got my new laptop. And finally got rid of the crappy MSI laptop I had. What a bad bad laptop... Never get one people it will fall apart in no time flat. I'm getting use to my new laptop now and its all set up ready to go.

Ive been cooking up some really good things and trying some new recipes. I finally bought the Mad Hungry Cookbook since I kept taking it out from the library. I love love love that book.

I will get my stuff together and get my weekly menu up for next week . Ive been a tad off track and not sticking to a menu this week or last due to company and my mum cooking and what not. Ive been getting in lots of walking so that's good.

I actually bought a new type of flip flop from Orthaheel and there amazing... I can't wait to get a another pair... I seen them on QVC and there amazing for flatfeet. And I have really bad flat feet to the point where I'm noticing lots of pain after walking for long periods of time. By the time it's night time my feet usually ache and it's getting to be a real drag. My dad has orthotics and I know I should get off my butt and get me some proper fitted ones as well.

Mothers Day came and went. Hubby got me a really nice set of Temptations Cookware.... I love them.. I seen them on QVC as well. Can you tell that I love QVC.. HAHAHAH I really wanted the green set but the wait was too long so blue was my second choice.. I love it....

That's it for now. I hope everyone has a great week...

Jessica Seinfeld Recipe Review... It's a Good One...

2011-05-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to check out Jessica Seinfeld cute blog and recipe videos a few day's ago. I loved them. On her blog there are tons of videos and recipes for yummy healthy meals.

I bet she will get her own cooking show on The Cooking Channel soon. And so she should. She has a easy fun way about her. When she cooks you can tell she is really comfy in her kitchen. If you have a chance check her blog out, you will love it too...

I tried her Chicken and Rice recipe and we loved it.. This is a easy one pot meal . It got an all thumbs up in this house hold..... The chicken was really moist and full of flavor and the lemon juce at the end was a yummy touch...

Fisrt you season some chicken thighs with a good dose of salt and fresh cracked pepper.. Then add 2 tbsp olive oil to a deep pot and add the chicken to brown...

Then you add 3 cloves of chopped garlic and 8 sprigs of fresh thyme... Add 2 cups of rice, 2 cups of low sodium chicken broth and 1 cup water..

Then you add some lemon zest from 1 whole lemon... Bring to a boil. Lower heat to a medium low. Then cover for 45min...Near the end of your cooking time add some Frozen green peas and heat them through....

Add some lemon juice at the end and serve.... So good!!!

This will be a remake for sure since everyone ate it up....

Recipe Review Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken

2011-05-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Cooking Light Magazine Maple Mustard Chicken....

Last week I tried the Maple Mustard Chicken from Cooking Light Magazine...

Well it was OK but not great. The mustard was a tad over powering... For this recipe you are to use a grain mustard plus a yellow mustard.. So lots of mustard.. LOL

It was however a really easy recipe to follow and I put everything in a large Ziploc bag , marinated it for about 2 hrs and that was that.

I grilled it on my stove and it was a really fast cooking time..

Next time I will try mixing it up a little and adding some different flavors.. Tinker with it .

*Just a side note.. My hubby disliked this , and little man refused to eat it after licking the sauce..

Weekly Menu.. Points Plus Friendly

2011-05-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Monday:
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Feta and Sun dried Tomatoes ....6PPs
Orzo Pasta in Basil Sauce....6 PPs
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Pork Chops...5PPs
Roasted Potatoes....5PPs
Balsamic Zucchini....1PPs

Wednesday:
Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs...10PPs
Flat Garlic Bread ...4PPs

Thursday:
Chicken Fingers....5PPs
Sweet Potato Fries....4PPs

Friday:
Homemade Pizza on the Grill.... Yummy...7 PPs

Giveaway!!! CoverGirl NatureLuxe Makeup

2011-05-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hey guy's...

Over at ReviewQueen4You there is a great giveaway going on.. Free CoverGirl NatureLuxe foundation and $10.00 worth of CoverGirl coupons...

Have a look see... Looks pretty good...

Balsamic & Lime Vinaigrette

2011-04-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

As I was flipping through Gwyneth Paltrows new cookbook My Fathers Daughter, I came across this most fantastic dressing.This recipe calls for fresh Lime Juice and Balsamic Vinegar.. Yummy.. So full of flavor and a little goes a long way..

Give it a try... You will love it..

2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
2 TBSP Light Agave nectar or Honey
1 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
1/4 Olive Oil
Coarse Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper

Whisk the vinegar,agave or honey, lime juice together in a bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

I added this recipe to my Weight Watchers Recipe builder and for 1 serving that's 3 Points Plus.. The recipe yields 1/2 cup of dressing. I usually double this recipe up since I could eat it everyday.

Weekly Menu Weight Watchers Friendly

2011-04-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guy's, this weeks menu is from the May 2011 Cooking Light Magazine...

The recipes look amazing and really easy.. Looking forward to this week..

Monday:
Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken..4PpT
Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
Roasted Zucchini

Tuesday:
Roasted Shrimp with Broccoli....6PpT
Sesame Miso Cucumber Salad...2PpT

Wednesday:
Ancho Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Avocado Cream.. 8 Ppt
2 per serving

Thursday:
Parmesan Polenta with Spicy Sausage Sauce.. 6Ppts
Side Salad

Friday:
Take out

Finding Some Inspiration... In a Blogger World. :)

2011-04-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

I added some new Blogs to my blog roll. There are so many amazing Bloggers out there that help me find the motivation that I need when I'm looking for some other ways to keep going on this weight loss journey.

I feel that it's so important to find inspiration for myself to keep me going and not just give up on my new way of life. I like finding others that are going through what I am.

Have a look see at some of the blogs Ive added. I'm sure your going to like them and find them helpful ...

1. We Can Lose The Pounds

2. Skinny Emmie

3. A Small Loss

4. 42 Magic Number

5. Busting Though It

6. The Fat Mom

7. Plushbelle

8. PlumpNonFiction

Weekly Menu Points Plus Friendly

2011-04-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Recipes from this week are form the Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook. Trying some new things again but the Lemon caper Chicken.. That's a new Fav....

Monday:
Monterey Jack Turkey Burgers...7 Points Plus ..Pg 189
Home Fries

Tuesday:
Southwestern Salmon... 5Points Plus...Pg 198
Roasted Red baby Potatoes
Roasted Green Beans

Wednesday:
Chicken In Lemon Caper Sauce...4 Points Plus ..Pg 178
Risotto Milanese .... 4Points Plus...Pg 288

Thursday:
Jerk Chicken {Need to add recipe to Recipe Builder still} Mad Hungry Cookbook.
Fat Girls Red Rice

Friday:
Honey Mustard Pork Chop... 4Points Plus..Pg 151
Roasted Asparagus
Risotto Milanese ...4 Points Plus.Pg 288

Lovin My WW Pedometer...

2011-04-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

I received my Weight Watchers Pedometer on Thursday and Ive been using it faithfully for the last two day's.

Its pretty cool. It's nice and secure on my hip so I don't think I will be loosing this one anytime soon. There is a nice little clip on it along with the usual big clip for your pant belt loop. I don't wear pants when I'm working out with a belt loop so I'm just clipping it to my waist band.

I think it's also pretty accurate since I keep looking down at it as I walk.. LOL. Here is the tally of my steps so far..

Friday I walked 12931 Steps

Saturday (so far) 10479 Steps

This pedometer keeps track of how many activity points you have achieved. Fantastic little feature huh? It also tells you how many miles you have walked and there is a timer feature as well.

I can't wait to use it on the treadmill as well.

So far Id recommend this to people who want to actually see how many steps there taking and to see if they have reached the recommended 10000 steps per day..

On Line Weight Watchers VS Going to Weight Watchers

2011-04-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

The other day hubby and I were doing our shopping. In our strip mall there is a Weight Watchers. We got to talking about why I choose to do WW at home on line instead of going to the actual Weight Watcher place ... I stopped and really thought about why I decided to do it alone at home and not go to the actual WW building..

I first started to give Weight Watchers a try on my own at home with all of the tools that a girlfriend had given me a long time ago. I was trying to follow it but was finding it a tad hard at times making point calculations for recipes that I had. Lets just say I was estimating way too much and estimating wrong most of the time..

I had finally decided to give the online Weight Watchers a try after hearing about the Recipe builder etc... Loved that tool, and I was dying to try the IPhone app as well.

The reason why I didn't decided to go to the Weight Watchers Meetings was due to my shyness. And most of all not wanting to be a failure in front of people.. By this I mean getting on a scale and having some person see if I gained . That to me would be dreadful...

I even told my hubby that I bet if I would of joined an actual WW place where you had to get on a scale in front of a person It would drive me even more to get this weight off my butt and make me work even harder.

My Darling husband then proceeded to tell me that I can get on the scale in front of him and he will make fun of me and make me feel bad if I gainned anything.. LOL Geesh thanks babe.. He said it could motivate me more just like at the WW place...FAIL!!!!! I know that if your at Weight Watchers they don't make fun of you if you gainned.. LOL

For the people that actually go to the meetings, do you think you could be just as successful at home doing it online? How does going to the Weight Watchers meetings help you?

Last Week in a Nut Shell

2011-04-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Last week was a pretty crappy week. . My little boy got ahold of a Q Tip and rammed it in his ear, Injured it, off to the ER we went due to all the blood in his ear ...Then my little man fell off his little red foot stool onto the coffee table drawer. Now he has a black eye. Went to the Dr and he is going to be ok.. It would appear that my little man has the accident prone gene from his mama..

I got on the scale after having a new sense of determination to following my Weight Watchers plan to a T... And what do my eyes see but a freaking gain. Ok its only 2 lbs but it pissed me off enough to think gee can I ever get a break on this dieting journey I'm on?

Then I said Suck It Up Butter Cup...... :) BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT....

But for real Ive not had a single cheat not a single crappy food choice for two day's.. Yepp I'm bitching about 2 freaking day's. I need to shut up now and stop this internal dialogue in my head. I always do this and I start saying to my self just go back to Low Carb, just drink a few Slim Fast . Just Just Just! NO.... I won't do that again...
I keep reminding myself I'm changing my way of life and not going to do a fad diet.

I keep noticing if I use my extra weekly free points I don't loose a dang thing? Any of you have issues with your free points? Do you use them up? Let me know what you think about them ....

I went on line to Weight Watchers.com bought my self a Weight Watchers Pedometer that actually tally ups your activity points for you. I treated myself and I'm excited about getting it in the mail. I lost my old one a while ago .

It was weight in day on Sunday and I accidentally put in that I was 128 lb!!! HAHAHAHAH Oh my freaking god.. You should of seen how perky the WW program gets. All these cute stars flash at you congratulating you .. I had to re set everything...
My new Weight in Day is Wednesday.. I think I like this day oodles better...

On the weekend I went to the Library and got some good books, some funny some yummy .

The Gwyneth Paltrow book is surprisingly amazing.. I really really like it and have already tried a recipe or two!!! YUMMY...

I already had gotten the Double Delicious cookbook once before but didnt have enough time with it.. so I took it out again..

Here's to this week being better.... Hope you all have a good week.. And I will keep tracking everything that enters my freaking gullet if it kills me!!!!!

Weekly Menu Points Plus Friendly

2011-04-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here we go......

Monday:
Pork Chops with Apples and Onions...6 Points Plus Value
Curried Quinoa with Raisins.... 5Points Plus Value
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Roasted Red Pepper Sausage...3 Points Plus
Corn on the Cob...2 Points Plus
Salad with Paul Newman Dressing ....3 Points Plus Value

Wednesday:
Spaghetti and Turkey Meat Balls....10 Points Plus Value
Garlic Bread....3 Points Plus Value

Thursday:
BBQ Chicken Breast.....6Points Plus Value
Asparagus with Lemon ....0 Points Plus Value
Baked Potato....5 Points Plus Value

Friday:
Take Out or Homemade Pizza

Weight Watchers Ice Cream Giant Sandwich Review

2011-04-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

We gave the Weight Watchers Points Plus Giant Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches a look see and let me say they were freaking good !

Each Ice Cream Sandwich comes individually wrapped and there are 6 sandwiches per box.

Each yummy sandwich has a 4 points Plus Value.

Now for the taste. The black cookie part has a little crispness to it when you chomp down on it and we loved this so much. Rich chocolate flavor made this even better. Now the vanilla ice cream was the typical Weight Watchers Vanilla low fat kind which I love. Reminds me of the Skinny Cow stuff.

I will for sure buy these again as a treat when I'm feeling like a ice cream yummy. Only issue I have with the Weight Watchers Points Plus Ice Cream Frozen treats are that hubby keeps eating them.. Getting tired of going to freezer for a treat and hubby has ate everything in the boxes.. ARGGGGG

Just for Giggles

2011-04-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

I decided to break down a frozen Weight Watchers Smart One.. I separated everything and put it in my little guy's plate..

What do you think? This shows you a proper serving of pasta and it's the serving size I'm striving for from now on. I should just use my little guy's plate when I'm trying to be a slack ass and not measure..

WINNING!!!! DUH....

Weight Watcher Points Plus Cheese Blend

2011-04-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

I Found the Weight Watchers 2 Points Plus Mexican Cheese Blend at Walmart. One serving is 2 Weight Watcher Points Plus.I tried the blend on my salad for lunch.

What a nice blend of cheeses, the portion was pretty nice as well. I don't mind shredding my own cheese one bit , but the probability of me having the different cheeses all at once in my fridge is pretty slim. So this will do great for when I'm looking for a blend .

Portion Control

2011-04-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

MUST REMIND MYSELF ABOUT PORTION CONTROL ...

WEIGHT WATCHERS IS NOT A DIET BUT A NEW WAY OF LIFE AND BEING CONSCIOUS OF WHAT I'M EATING

LEARNING TO SLOW DOWN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M EATING AND LEARN THE TELL TALE SIGNS OF WHEN I'M FULL.

I find myself having to repeat this same stuff to myself over and over again on a weekly basis. Coming from a LOW CARB back ground and not having to worry about the amount of food I was eating but just eliminating certain things was a whole heck of alot easier.. I was fantastic at restricting my self and not giving in to certain foods.

But as you guy's know after I had my baby I swore to myself no more freaking low carb, no more having to make myself different meals from my hubby or my son..I refuse to live life like a twit who is a slave to the kitchen. EEEK... Even though I love cooking.

I read so many of your blogs and I see how alot of you have this new way of life down and your doing great. I want to be there... Right with you and I still find my self messing up near dinner time.

Funny seeing as how I make my menu for the week, and yes I follow it but I'm not being honest with myself when it comes to measuring my food.

Ive even been tempted to say screw it and get 1 weeks works of frozen Weight Watcher meals and only eat then at dinner with a salad and see it that makes a huge difference with the number on the scale. Breakfast time and Lunch are fantastic I measure, count out everything and do great.... It's dinner time that's messing me up...

How do you guy's remind yourself of your goals ? How do you stick to it? What part of the day do you find the hardest when it comes to tracking?

Hellmann's Olive Oil Mayo Review

2011-03-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

I decided to give the Hellman's Olive Oil Mayo a whirl. For 1 tbsp of the Mayo your looking at a Weight Watchers Points Plus of 1..

I so wanted to like the Hellmann's Olive Oil Mayonnaise but I didn't.

There is some kind of a odd after taste to it and I can't really place what it is. It could be the olive oil, but Ive never tasted Olive oil that gross before if that's the taste I'm tasting.

There are 10 grams of fat in the original Hellmann's and the Olive Oil one has only 5 Grams of fat. The Olive Oil one has 1 g of carbs as where the original one has 0...

I will give this a try again in a recipe instead of straight up on a sandwich next time and I will hope for a better taste . I shall let you know how I feel about it.

I think I will still stick to my yummy Dukes Mayo.. this may be a southern products so some of you guy's may not of heard about it.. IT'S SOOOO GOOD !!!!!

Have any of you guy's tried the Olive Oil Hellmann's yet? What are your thoughts on it.

Weekly Menu Points Plus Friendly

2011-03-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

YUMMY... Im even excited about this week... Mahahahaaaa

Some of the recipes are form 5 Ingredient Fix by Claire Robinson..

Monday:
Teriyaki Garlic Salmon.. 9 PP.
Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter ...4PP
Side Salad

Tuesday:
Pot Roast With Roasted Veggies and Garlic...6PPs
Horseradish Sauce

Wednesday:
Chicken Breast With Capers.... 5PPs
Polenta Fries with Roasted Tomato Sauce ... 4 PPs
Honey Roasted Carrots....1PPs

Thursday:
Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa .... 6PPs
Zucchini Ribbon Salad...3PPs
Herb Quinoa .... 5PPs

Friday:
Individual Pizza's Homemade ...6PPs

Library Haul Time. Yah Hoo

2011-03-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Finally was able to get to the library. My darling hubby took Max to the kiddie section while I went to my favorite area.. Cookbooks where else.. LOL

I picked up one that I had on hold Mad Hungry. I keep coming back to this one over and over again. I'm going to just buy the book this time I think. It has fantastic recipes and I really like it. I still watch her show called Mad Hungry all the time and get oodles of ideas from her.

I also picked up Claire Robinson's Five Ingredient Fix. The recipes are fantastic and so easy to add to my recipe builder on Weight Watchers.

Rachael Ray's Book Of Ten.. This book looks pretty good. Only thing about her cookbooks that I don't like are the lack of pictures. I like seeing what I'm making before I start. Hmmm

I picked up a Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U book. I love doing fun things with the little guy during the day and this book seems to have tons of ideas for us.

Hope you guy's get to make it to the library soon.

My favorite Blogs....

2011-03-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hey guy's :

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite blogs that I read on a daily basis. They inspire my butt and make me think this goal I'm trying to attain is possible. I usually get up a tad earlier than the little one and have my tea and read and catch up on everyones blog.

I love blogs that have oodles of pictures, recipes, and words of wisdom. You will get plenty of this from the blog links I've shared.

If your new to this blog world then this list should help you get started finding some really good blogs that can help motivate you and move you towards your goals.

So here we go....

1. Nutmeg Notebook

2. TJ's Test Kitchen

3. Project 365

4. Happy Texans

5. Festively Plump

6. Cupcakes to Carrot Sticks

7. The Opposite Of Thin

8. Fashion Meets Food

9. A Small Loss

10. Plump Nonfiction

11. Loser For Life

12. Bitch Cakes

So there you have it. I'm going to start sharing with you now and again my favorites so you too can have an opportunity to get motivated and stay on track with these lovely gals .... There are so many more blogs I follow and I will add them on the next Favorite Blogs post....

Weekly Menu Points Plus Friendly

2011-03-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Here it is...

Monday:
Sweet and Tangy Chicken Thighs... :6 PPts
Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Tuesday:
Cilantro Turkey Burgers.... 4 PPts
Carrot and Bean Garlic Toss... : 1 PPts
Baked String French fries..... 3PPts

Wednesday:
Chicken Fajitas: 7 PPts
Yellow and Red Pepper Rice : 4PPts

Thursday:
Salmon with Brown Sugar Mustard Rub : 8 PPts
Red and Yellow Pepper Rice 4PPts
Honey Glazed Carrots with Parsley: 1 PPts

Friday: Take Out

Dentist Yuck..

2011-03-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

Look at how huge my choppers are.. My friends used to say they look like Dentyne Ice Gum.. lol

Back from the Dentist... And I can't feel my face.. So shocked at my X-Ray results.. Three little cavities.. What the hell? Apparently I got them only after 6 months.. HUH? What the heck? But Dr I used my Sonic Toothbrush everyday , just like you recommended... And I floss as well every day.. HUH? What happened?

Apparently after having babies your teeth can go to the crapper.. I am so numb right now it sucks .. Half way through part of the drilling they had to stop because I started to feel the drill .. Yep... Oh My GOD!!!!!

Oh and they want me to see a Oral surgeon to get my wisdom teeth out since they have come in, well at least two have come in. Apparently they say its impossible to get them clean and that root canals are un avoidable.. Oh No !!! Im not doing it.... Nope No Way....

There my pity party is over.. ENOUGH.. LOL