Okay, first... weekly weigh in: David lost 4 lbs (YAY!), and I lost 2.6. This puts me back to where I was Dec 11, before all the holidays... YAY! I've been doing really good about going to the gym. I did my walking video on Sunday and then I've been to the gym the last 3 nights. I had a hard time getting through my 30 minutes tonight, but I did it! So, I think I might take tomorrow night off.
Then, the fun, blog-topic-starter from Nikki:
4 favorite memories from 2008:
Getting our new house; When my tutoring kid wrote his name!; Graduating with my master's; passing my comps (had to happen before I could graduate though)
4 favorite movies in 2008:
Sex in the City, Marley & Me, Horton Hears a Who, NOT MamaMia!
4 favorite foods in 2008:
I've tried lots of new things this year! I think my favorite recipes are Sloppy Joes, Chimichangas, Chicken Fingers, and the Overnight Egg Bake. Foods... sweet potatoes, WW ice cream!, Pink Lady apples, and cucumbers
4 places I loved in 2008:
I'm a whino, so: James Arthur Vineyard, Too Far North Tasting Room, Miletta Vista Winery, Prairie Creek Winery
4 things I liked in 2008:
Celebrating 1 year of marriage, joining Weight Watchers, joining a gym, graduating!
4 things I am looking forward to in 2009:
Getting pregnant, family reunion in June, hopefully getting a new position in my district, minimizing our debt!
4 people I tag:
Anybody who needs something to do!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Maryland Crab Cakes
I LOVE crab cakes - this has been the worst part of eating healthy - crab cakes are traditionally not healthy. But, this recipe is healthy and they taste yummy too!
POINTS® Value: 7
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 1 hr 10 min (or so)
Cooking Time: about 10 min
Ingredients
1 lb cooked crabmeat (we use canned crab because we can't find fresh anywhere)
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 shallots, finely chopped
1/4 cup 1% milk (we used skim)
3 tbsp reduced-calorie mayonnaise
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp Chesapeake Bay seasoning
1/4 tsp ground WHITE pepper
3 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups mixed green lettuce leaves
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the crabmeat, bread crumbs, shallots, milk, mayonnaise, parsley, Chesapeake Bay seasoning, and pepper. With moistened hands, form into 8 small round cakes; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour (we only refrigerated about 30 min and it was fine)
Place the flour on a sheet of wax paper; lightly coat each cake on both sides.
In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter. Cook the crab cakes until golden brown and crispy, 4-5 minutes on each side. Line a platter with the greens; top with the crab cakes. (We just made a salad and served next to the crab cakes)
*They definitely aren't as "crispy" as fried ones at a restaurant, but I'll take a little less crispy and healthy over NOT healthy!
POINTS® Value: 7
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 1 hr 10 min (or so)
Cooking Time: about 10 min
Ingredients
1 lb cooked crabmeat (we use canned crab because we can't find fresh anywhere)
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 shallots, finely chopped
1/4 cup 1% milk (we used skim)
3 tbsp reduced-calorie mayonnaise
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp Chesapeake Bay seasoning
1/4 tsp ground WHITE pepper
3 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups mixed green lettuce leaves
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the crabmeat, bread crumbs, shallots, milk, mayonnaise, parsley, Chesapeake Bay seasoning, and pepper. With moistened hands, form into 8 small round cakes; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour (we only refrigerated about 30 min and it was fine)
Place the flour on a sheet of wax paper; lightly coat each cake on both sides.
In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter. Cook the crab cakes until golden brown and crispy, 4-5 minutes on each side. Line a platter with the greens; top with the crab cakes. (We just made a salad and served next to the crab cakes)
*They definitely aren't as "crispy" as fried ones at a restaurant, but I'll take a little less crispy and healthy over NOT healthy!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Shrimp Marinara with Angel Hair Pasta
David and I both love pasta. Instead of Angel hair, we used the Smart Taste pasta by Ronzoni. It's actually healthier than the wheat pasta that we normally buy, and it tasted better too! David HATES the wheat pasta - it always seems dry and bland so until now, we've used the regular pasta that isn't healthy!
Anyways... here's the recipe:
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 12 min
Ingredients
1 9oz package refrigerated angel hair pasta
1 teaspoon olive oil
Cooking spray
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined large shrimp
1 (15.5 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (Warning: don't use too much! It really goes a long way!)
Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add shrimp; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done, stirring often. Add marinara sauce, lime juice, and red pepper; cook until thoroughly heated.
Serve over pasta. Yields about 3/4 cup shrimp mixture and 3/4 cup pasta per serving.
Anyways... here's the recipe:
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 12 min
Ingredients
1 9oz package refrigerated angel hair pasta
1 teaspoon olive oil
Cooking spray
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined large shrimp
1 (15.5 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (Warning: don't use too much! It really goes a long way!)
Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add shrimp; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done, stirring often. Add marinara sauce, lime juice, and red pepper; cook until thoroughly heated.
Serve over pasta. Yields about 3/4 cup shrimp mixture and 3/4 cup pasta per serving.
Chicken Fingers with Barbeque Sauce
Yet another favorite... David and I have been cooking 2-3 meals on Sundays and having left overs throughout the week. These reheat really well, so they are a new "staple" in our menu.
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 12 min
Ingredients
2 tbsp honey mustard
2 tbsp buttermilk
1/2 cup(s) dried bread crumbs
1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 12 equal strips
6 tbsp barbecue sauce, hickory-flavored preferred
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place a large baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
In a shallow dish, whisk together mustard and buttermilk. Place bread crumbs in a separate dish. Add chicken to mustard mixture; turn to coat. Transfer chicken to bread crumbs and turn to coat.
Remove the hot baking sheet from oven and coat with cooking spray. Place chicken on baking sheet and bake 6 minutes; flip and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes more.
Serve chicken fingers with barbecue sauce on the side. Yields about 3 chicken fingers and 1 1/2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce per serving.
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 12 min
Ingredients
2 tbsp honey mustard
2 tbsp buttermilk
1/2 cup(s) dried bread crumbs
1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 12 equal strips
6 tbsp barbecue sauce, hickory-flavored preferred
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place a large baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
In a shallow dish, whisk together mustard and buttermilk. Place bread crumbs in a separate dish. Add chicken to mustard mixture; turn to coat. Transfer chicken to bread crumbs and turn to coat.
Remove the hot baking sheet from oven and coat with cooking spray. Place chicken on baking sheet and bake 6 minutes; flip and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes more.
Serve chicken fingers with barbecue sauce on the side. Yields about 3 chicken fingers and 1 1/2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce per serving.
Creamy Corn
I'm due for a few new recipes, and I just ate so I'm waiting a little bit before I go workout. You all are benefiting from this! You're welcome. :-)
This recipe is one of our new favorite side dishes. It goes well with everything and the portion is huge!
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 7 min
Cooking Time: 16 min (it doesn't take this long when we make it - maybe I keep my burner too hot)
Ingredients
2 tsp butter
1/4 cup(s) scallion(s), minced
2 1/2 cup(s) frozen corn kernels, or fresh corn (no need to thaw frozen corn)
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or more to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add scallions and sauté until soft, about 2 minutes. Add corn and sauté 1 minute to heat through (or slightly longer if using frozen corn). Add flour and stir to coat corn and scallions. Add milk and bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, until mixture thickens, about 10 to 12 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.
This recipe is one of our new favorite side dishes. It goes well with everything and the portion is huge!
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 7 min
Cooking Time: 16 min (it doesn't take this long when we make it - maybe I keep my burner too hot)
Ingredients
2 tsp butter
1/4 cup(s) scallion(s), minced
2 1/2 cup(s) frozen corn kernels, or fresh corn (no need to thaw frozen corn)
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or more to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add scallions and sauté until soft, about 2 minutes. Add corn and sauté 1 minute to heat through (or slightly longer if using frozen corn). Add flour and stir to coat corn and scallions. Add milk and bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, until mixture thickens, about 10 to 12 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
1 year ago...
At about this time, actually... I was walking in to a Weight Watcher meeting, scared to see what the scale had to say, mad at the world because I wasn't pregnant, and nervous as hell that I was going to have to TELL somebody my weight!
My how things have changed in a year! Yeah, I'm still annoyed I'm not pregnant, but I'm okay, most days. I know I don't have to talk during a meeting if I don't want to, and I'm EXCITED to go to the meetings! I LOVE working out (never thought you'd hear ME say that, huh?). AND I love the way I look 45 lbs down!!!!
Things I've learned this year....
* Portion control - just because it's packaged or served that way doesn't mean it's a portion
* Veggies and fruits are my friends! I can eat them all day long and not get bored. I can't wait for Farmers Market this summer!
* Exercise: Even I can do it! Yeah, it's tough. But, I've found things I love and I do those. I mix it up with the "less fun" things, but then reward myself somehow.
* I didn't gain the weight overnight. It isn't going to disappear overnight.
* I like water! Not purified or out of the tap, but Spring Water is awesome. And I drink TONS all day and pee just as much.
* I'm an emotional eater. Things get bad, I resort to food. I'm still learning ways to deal with that.
And the biggest thing..... I love being healthy! I love being able to walk into a store and not be embarrassed about the size I wear, or struggle to find something that doesn't make me look like my grandmother or a couch!
So, here's to the last 15 lbs.... and a lifetime of healthiness! (And if you want pics - look to your right - the before and current are there for your viewing pleasure)
My how things have changed in a year! Yeah, I'm still annoyed I'm not pregnant, but I'm okay, most days. I know I don't have to talk during a meeting if I don't want to, and I'm EXCITED to go to the meetings! I LOVE working out (never thought you'd hear ME say that, huh?). AND I love the way I look 45 lbs down!!!!
Things I've learned this year....
* Portion control - just because it's packaged or served that way doesn't mean it's a portion
* Veggies and fruits are my friends! I can eat them all day long and not get bored. I can't wait for Farmers Market this summer!
* Exercise: Even I can do it! Yeah, it's tough. But, I've found things I love and I do those. I mix it up with the "less fun" things, but then reward myself somehow.
* I didn't gain the weight overnight. It isn't going to disappear overnight.
* I like water! Not purified or out of the tap, but Spring Water is awesome. And I drink TONS all day and pee just as much.
* I'm an emotional eater. Things get bad, I resort to food. I'm still learning ways to deal with that.
And the biggest thing..... I love being healthy! I love being able to walk into a store and not be embarrassed about the size I wear, or struggle to find something that doesn't make me look like my grandmother or a couch!
So, here's to the last 15 lbs.... and a lifetime of healthiness! (And if you want pics - look to your right - the before and current are there for your viewing pleasure)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Fun Day
David and I went to the gym tonight. I decided I wanted to brave a class and did Pilates. I was nervous, but excited. I've heard really good things about it, so thought I'd give it a shot. This particular instructor did everything really slow - really focused on the muscles. It felt really good - I know I'm going to be sore in the morning, but I think I'm getting back into the race! I can tone and relax at the same time! Next week, I'm going to add 30 min of cardio beforehand to get an all around good workout!
And.... my family's family reunion is being held this summer. The last reunion was the summer we got married, so obviously we didn't make it. It's in California - hotel is expensive, flights are insane. So, we decided to drive! We're leaving June 22 (Monday), driving out - getting there on Wednesday. Family reunion is the 22-28, but the "big stuff" is the weekend. Then, we'll leave the 29th and drive home. There is so much to do - hiking cliffs by the ocean, wineries, horseback riding on the beach...... OMG, I am SO excited! We're gonna start saving today so that we have lots of fun money! We're really hoping that we can announce we're pregnant at the family reunion. If not, that's okay. We're still able to see family, 90% of them David hasn't met, and have an awesome time. (The winery won't be much fun if I'm knocked up!)
David got an MP3 player tonight. I get to get one next week. So, when we go to the gym and nothing's on TV, we have something to listen to. He's up adding songs already. I can't wait to get mine!!!!
So, even though it was a LONG day at work, my night was awesome. I really liked the pilates class - I feel like a totally different person now - and I'm so excited about California! That's all for now... more to come soon, I'm sure!
And.... my family's family reunion is being held this summer. The last reunion was the summer we got married, so obviously we didn't make it. It's in California - hotel is expensive, flights are insane. So, we decided to drive! We're leaving June 22 (Monday), driving out - getting there on Wednesday. Family reunion is the 22-28, but the "big stuff" is the weekend. Then, we'll leave the 29th and drive home. There is so much to do - hiking cliffs by the ocean, wineries, horseback riding on the beach...... OMG, I am SO excited! We're gonna start saving today so that we have lots of fun money! We're really hoping that we can announce we're pregnant at the family reunion. If not, that's okay. We're still able to see family, 90% of them David hasn't met, and have an awesome time. (The winery won't be much fun if I'm knocked up!)
David got an MP3 player tonight. I get to get one next week. So, when we go to the gym and nothing's on TV, we have something to listen to. He's up adding songs already. I can't wait to get mine!!!!
So, even though it was a LONG day at work, my night was awesome. I really liked the pilates class - I feel like a totally different person now - and I'm so excited about California! That's all for now... more to come soon, I'm sure!
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