Much has happened this week! Let's see if I can sum it all up without overlapping from last week's post....
General Life
David and I decided several months ago that we wanted to look into Foster Care. (did I tell you about this? If I did, sorry!) So, back in June, we turned in our paperwork and attended the orientation. 6 weeks later... We've been approved to take the classes!!!! Basically, our background checks came back clean (duh!) and they like what they see on the somewhat basic application. We start the classes on October 6. They are 10 weeks long and basically teach you how to help children the best you can in the situation they are in. It also involves 3 home visits - they will come in and let us know what we need to fix to make it safe for children (smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, chemicals/medicines locked up, etc...). We finish the class December 8, and then wait for the license to come through. After that, they can place kids in our home when needed. Yes, we can tell them "No." But, we're thinking we will have kids in our home by the end of January! Please pray for us through this adventure... We are nervous, but excited!!
My sleep study consult appointment is coming up - it's in 1 week! I'm hoping we can get this sleep study done quick so that I can find out why I am SO DAMN TIRED! David is going with me, and I have to do a sleep diary for the next week.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I report back to school in 11 days. EEK! Where in the world did the summer go? I've been at an early childhood training all week (optional, but paid) and have gotten quite a few good ideas. I'm excited to get back and implement the new things with my kids! I am thinking about going back a day or two early so that I can get a head start. I need to get organized, and I'm the first to admit that I'm not. I don't utilize all the materials that I have in the classroom. This is my 5th group of kids and I don't think that I even know everything that I have! So I'm changing that this year. It is going to be a great year!
5K Training
Well, we only have 15 days left! I really can't believe that the summer has gone so fast and we are so close to the race! Last night, David and I decided to go out to the lake where the race will be. We don't know the route - hopefully it is posted soon - but we picked a way and went. We went at our own pace and I made it out about 2 miles in 25 minutes. I was able to jog all but 7 minutes of the 4 miles! I got done with the entire thing in about 50 minutes. I'm happy with this time because that's almost a mile more than the actual 5K distance! One thing I found out: Zorinsky has WAY to many hills! Oh. My. Goodness!
We are going to go out a few more times before the race and try different routes. From the posted starting point, there are 3 different directions, so we want to do all 3. Hopefully the other 2 won't be so darn hilly!
Weigh In
We were back home this week and got to go to our normal meeting. I was expecting to gain, or maintain, because we had Chinese the night before. Granted, I didn't eat all too bad, but I always retain water because of the sodium. I also ate a REALLY big lunch at my district training because I was bored and there were cookies... Yes, I still fall to the trigger foods. But, yesterday, I only had 1 cookie! I didn't eat 4 like the day before!
So, I gained 3 lbs. David did amazing this week. He lost 13 lbs!!!! He got his 50 lbs charm, and we figured out that he's actually lost 70 lbs from the first time he started! I am so, so proud of him. He is melting in front of my eyes. When we hug, we can both put our arms around each other and touch our hands together. We've never been able to do that because we were both heavy. Now, I'm down 66 lbs and he's down 70!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Green Monster
So, I'm sitting here, looking through my blogs while I wait for dinner to finish grilling, and I realize something.... I haven't dedicated a post to my new favorite breakfast! I know that I talked about it here before I had actually tried it.
Now, I've tried the Green Monster and I'm in LOVE! I even got David to try it, and he likes it too! Even he will tell you that you do NOT taste the spinach!!
The recipe I used was:
1 cup milk
1 banana
1 TBSP peanut butter
1 cup spinach (or a couple handfuls - I don't really measure, and it's 0 points, so that part doesn't matter)
A couple handfuls of ice (this took me a couple tries to get the right amount of ice to make it the right thickness)
So, I figure 6 points, and this is SO filling! The first morning, I drank it around 8:00 and wasn't hungry until almost 12:00!!! This continued pretty much every morning. I think one morning, I needed to have a small snack (yogurt), but other than that... I'm set for the day!
Tomorrow, I'm going to try it with Mango and Vanilla Whey. I love my banana and peanut butter, but I feel like changing it up a little! Plus, I'm counting the mango as an "unusual" food - I've had it before, but only in tropical fruit mixes!
Check out the website for other people's versions of the same recipe. Some use yogurt, soy milk, etc... Any fruit works - same with protein! Be creative and find what works for you! And if you try something that works well, you are REQUIRED to report back here! :-)
Now, I've tried the Green Monster and I'm in LOVE! I even got David to try it, and he likes it too! Even he will tell you that you do NOT taste the spinach!!
The recipe I used was:
1 cup milk
1 banana
1 TBSP peanut butter
1 cup spinach (or a couple handfuls - I don't really measure, and it's 0 points, so that part doesn't matter)
A couple handfuls of ice (this took me a couple tries to get the right amount of ice to make it the right thickness)
So, I figure 6 points, and this is SO filling! The first morning, I drank it around 8:00 and wasn't hungry until almost 12:00!!! This continued pretty much every morning. I think one morning, I needed to have a small snack (yogurt), but other than that... I'm set for the day!
Tomorrow, I'm going to try it with Mango and Vanilla Whey. I love my banana and peanut butter, but I feel like changing it up a little! Plus, I'm counting the mango as an "unusual" food - I've had it before, but only in tropical fruit mixes!
Check out the website for other people's versions of the same recipe. Some use yogurt, soy milk, etc... Any fruit works - same with protein! Be creative and find what works for you! And if you try something that works well, you are REQUIRED to report back here! :-)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Weekly Update
Well, it's been another week! So much to talk about...
Infertility
We met with David's family doctor, who is also a licensed endocrinologist. The urologist had told us that we needed the help from the endo because David's estrogen was high. Well, Dr. M looks at it and says "No it's not! This guy is an idiot." Basically, his estrogen levels are slightly elevated because of his weight. Looking back from last year, his FSH and LH are in normal range, as is the "free" testosterone, which is a big improvement! So, the "treatment": Keep losing weight.
This is so frustrating to me. If you know me, or if you've been following my blog for longer than a week or two, you know how badly I want to be a mom. I want to make David a dad. We will be great parents. No, I'm not trying to be cocky about it, but after all of this... and we have it in our hearts. We WILL have a baby. We WILL be awesome parents. Our children will be spoiled, but not so spoiled that you can't stand them!
So, David is going to keep taking all of his vitamins and keep losing weight... He's going to redo the sperm analysis in October (3 1/2 months from now), and see what happens. If his numbers improve, then we can do an IUI in October or November.
Wine
Yep. More wine! David and I came down to Kansas City for mom's 61st birthday. We met some friends of mine from high school for dinner on Tuesday night, which was really nice. On Wednesday, we went to weigh in (more on that shortly...), hit lunch at California Pizza Kitchen on the suggestion of the WW leader, and then went and explored a few wineries!
David lived in KC for 5 years before we met. He worked for the 911 service down here, so he knows the area fairly well. He surprised me by taking me to Stonehaus Farms Winery. Out of all of the wines we've tried, these were seriously some of THE BEST we have ever had. He let us taste his latest vintage of the Traminette and it was to DIE FOR. I can't wait for it to be on the market in a few weeks!
Then, we drove to Knob Noster, MO and visited 2 wineries right next door to each other. Bristle Ridge and Montserrat were both excellent wineries as well!
We ended up with 6 bottles of wine, one of which was opened for Mom's birthday dinner, and we will DEFINITELY be going back to visit all 3 again!
5K Training
We are getting closer and closer! Check out that tracker on the side - August 15 is going to be here before we know it!
This week was better training wise. I'm still dealing with a major lack of energy, but David has been able to push me a little to get off my butt and go run. We went to the gym one morning and I was able to jog for 26 minutes straight. I walked for a few minutes and then jogged the last 5 before my cool down.
So, I figured... If I can do 26 min on the treadmill, I should be able to do 20 outside on the trail. So, I started with my 1/2 mile (7 minute) warmup through the neighborhood. Then, I started jogging. I kept going... and going... and going... and going! When I got to my turn around spot, I had made it 19 minutes and 40 seconds! I had been fighting a pretty good side pain for a few minutes, so I started walking a few seconds early. I walked for 3 minutes and 20 seconds and then started jogging again. I ended up jogging a little over 15 minutes before I hit the neighborhood again, which ends up being right about 3.1 miles! It ended up being 42 minutes to complete the 5K, and I only had to walk 3 minutes of it! Next week, I'm going to go 25 minutes before I stop to walk, and I'll try to cut it down to a 2 minute walk before starting up again.
Someone asked me how quickly I want to finish the 5K. My goal? To finish it! I really want to run the whole thing, and right now, I know that that's doable. I'm just praying that it won't be extremely hot or humid that morning. It starts at 8:00, so it *shouldn't* be too bad yet.
Weekly Weigh In
Granted, I weighed in first thing in the morning, without eating breakfast... But, I showed a .2 lb gain. I know that, if I had been at home, weighing in at my normal time, I would be up at least 1 lb. It was just one of those weeks... And I'm okay with that! That's what Lifetime is about, right? Making it work for me.
The leader, Ann, at this particular meeting was wonderful! I love Leah, our leader at home, and now I know when we visit Mom, we have to come see Ann! The best part? She has a blog: The Hungry Poodle. I added it to my list of blogs to follow, but feel free to check her out. She just posted a recipe for fish tacos that sounds AWESOME! She was very motivating in the meeting, and I'm excited to start reading her blog regularly!
The Challenge!
As a recap... The first week, we aimed for 3 different colors each day. The second week (last week), we filled half of our plate with vegetables or fruit....
And this week.....
Try at least one new fruit or vegetable every day.
David and I eat so many veggies and fruits already. We buy a big variety of things, although we have our favorites. So, if we can't find totally new things to try, we think if we do fruits or veggies that aren't "normal," we could count that. Right? David has only had rhubarb in pies, so I think that's going to be in one meal at some point this week.. And we may explore with squash, something we've both had in the past, but never prepared in a HEALTHY way!
So, how did you do this week with filling your plate up? And... What new fruit or vegetable are you going to try? Give me some ideas or suggestions!
Infertility
We met with David's family doctor, who is also a licensed endocrinologist. The urologist had told us that we needed the help from the endo because David's estrogen was high. Well, Dr. M looks at it and says "No it's not! This guy is an idiot." Basically, his estrogen levels are slightly elevated because of his weight. Looking back from last year, his FSH and LH are in normal range, as is the "free" testosterone, which is a big improvement! So, the "treatment": Keep losing weight.
This is so frustrating to me. If you know me, or if you've been following my blog for longer than a week or two, you know how badly I want to be a mom. I want to make David a dad. We will be great parents. No, I'm not trying to be cocky about it, but after all of this... and we have it in our hearts. We WILL have a baby. We WILL be awesome parents. Our children will be spoiled, but not so spoiled that you can't stand them!
So, David is going to keep taking all of his vitamins and keep losing weight... He's going to redo the sperm analysis in October (3 1/2 months from now), and see what happens. If his numbers improve, then we can do an IUI in October or November.
Wine
Yep. More wine! David and I came down to Kansas City for mom's 61st birthday. We met some friends of mine from high school for dinner on Tuesday night, which was really nice. On Wednesday, we went to weigh in (more on that shortly...), hit lunch at California Pizza Kitchen on the suggestion of the WW leader, and then went and explored a few wineries!
David lived in KC for 5 years before we met. He worked for the 911 service down here, so he knows the area fairly well. He surprised me by taking me to Stonehaus Farms Winery. Out of all of the wines we've tried, these were seriously some of THE BEST we have ever had. He let us taste his latest vintage of the Traminette and it was to DIE FOR. I can't wait for it to be on the market in a few weeks!
Then, we drove to Knob Noster, MO and visited 2 wineries right next door to each other. Bristle Ridge and Montserrat were both excellent wineries as well!
We ended up with 6 bottles of wine, one of which was opened for Mom's birthday dinner, and we will DEFINITELY be going back to visit all 3 again!
5K Training
We are getting closer and closer! Check out that tracker on the side - August 15 is going to be here before we know it!
This week was better training wise. I'm still dealing with a major lack of energy, but David has been able to push me a little to get off my butt and go run. We went to the gym one morning and I was able to jog for 26 minutes straight. I walked for a few minutes and then jogged the last 5 before my cool down.
So, I figured... If I can do 26 min on the treadmill, I should be able to do 20 outside on the trail. So, I started with my 1/2 mile (7 minute) warmup through the neighborhood. Then, I started jogging. I kept going... and going... and going... and going! When I got to my turn around spot, I had made it 19 minutes and 40 seconds! I had been fighting a pretty good side pain for a few minutes, so I started walking a few seconds early. I walked for 3 minutes and 20 seconds and then started jogging again. I ended up jogging a little over 15 minutes before I hit the neighborhood again, which ends up being right about 3.1 miles! It ended up being 42 minutes to complete the 5K, and I only had to walk 3 minutes of it! Next week, I'm going to go 25 minutes before I stop to walk, and I'll try to cut it down to a 2 minute walk before starting up again.
Someone asked me how quickly I want to finish the 5K. My goal? To finish it! I really want to run the whole thing, and right now, I know that that's doable. I'm just praying that it won't be extremely hot or humid that morning. It starts at 8:00, so it *shouldn't* be too bad yet.
Weekly Weigh In
Granted, I weighed in first thing in the morning, without eating breakfast... But, I showed a .2 lb gain. I know that, if I had been at home, weighing in at my normal time, I would be up at least 1 lb. It was just one of those weeks... And I'm okay with that! That's what Lifetime is about, right? Making it work for me.
The leader, Ann, at this particular meeting was wonderful! I love Leah, our leader at home, and now I know when we visit Mom, we have to come see Ann! The best part? She has a blog: The Hungry Poodle. I added it to my list of blogs to follow, but feel free to check her out. She just posted a recipe for fish tacos that sounds AWESOME! She was very motivating in the meeting, and I'm excited to start reading her blog regularly!
The Challenge!
As a recap... The first week, we aimed for 3 different colors each day. The second week (last week), we filled half of our plate with vegetables or fruit....
And this week.....
Try at least one new fruit or vegetable every day.
David and I eat so many veggies and fruits already. We buy a big variety of things, although we have our favorites. So, if we can't find totally new things to try, we think if we do fruits or veggies that aren't "normal," we could count that. Right? David has only had rhubarb in pies, so I think that's going to be in one meal at some point this week.. And we may explore with squash, something we've both had in the past, but never prepared in a HEALTHY way!
So, how did you do this week with filling your plate up? And... What new fruit or vegetable are you going to try? Give me some ideas or suggestions!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Part 2 - Challenge
Tonight was Weigh In, so I got the 2nd part of the challenge... But, first, you have to read my ramblings! Enjoy!
Life
David's mom was in the hospital this week. Monday morning, she woke up and her heart was racing. And by racing, I mean OVER 200 beats! When the medics got there, they had trouble finding her blood pressure. They got her heart rate calmed back down, but then she started "throwing" weird rhythms. Even the ER doctor didn't know WHAT the rhythm was. So, she spent Monday, Tuesday, and today in the hospital. She had a heart cath done yesterday, which showed "normal functioning" with the same blockages she had 5 years ago - way down deep in the branches. It's safer to just leave them alone than to try to break it up. But, the overall health of her heart isn't that great.
She came home today, and boy was she ready! She's still very tired, and since nobody in her house will help her... I get the job while David is working. I took them to dinner tonight and will cook dinner tomorrow night. She should be okay lunch wise - she has a few left overs from last night and frozen pizza she can heat up if she needs to.
I had some blood work done this week because I've had no energy. I haven't even WANTED to exercise, which is unusual for me. I can usually be a little tired but still want to work out, and then have energy afterwards! The last couple weeks - nope! David has had to DRAG my butt to the gym to do even 1/2 of my normal workout. All my blood work came back normal, so my doctor wants to do a sleep study. I'm waiting for them to call and set it up.
Fertility
We got some news this week. I'm scared. David's labs came back. Basically, his testosterone and estrogen levels are reversed - he has very low testosterone and very high estrogen. His semen analysis was also not good. Good volume but low count. Also, it says that he had 0% motility, which is worse than it was last year. And, the count was so low that they could not tell how the morphology was, but we know that's off from last year's analysis.
So, he called his new urologist, the one that we had so much hope in, and he said that he can't help David at this point. Right now, his physiological needs are more important than the fertility needs. The levels of estrogen in his body are DANGEROUS for him, as is the testosterone. It may even explain some of his struggles to lose weight in the past. So, he said David need to see an Endocronologist.....
His family doctor is also a licensed Endocronologist. So, we have an appointment to see him on Tuesday. The Urologist recommended a specific drug (I can't remember the name of it) that is used in women to treat breast cancer. Basically, it should lower the estrogen, which will then raise the testosterone. We don't want David to be on an actual testosterone supplement because that will hurt the sperm that ARE there!
We'll know more on Tuesday, but we are both scared. We know that adoption is a definite option for us. We will not do donor sperm (our own personal reasons), but adoption is there... But, why do things have to be so difficult?? I'm trying not to be angry, to not blame people who aren't to blame, to still be happy for friends who are pregnant, for friends/family who have children... But, you know what? Sometimes, I just can't be! Every time we turn around, we are getting more bad news with every doctor, every month that goes by.... When will OUR miracle be here?????
Weight Loss
Onto a happier subject.... Tonight was weigh in! I lost 3.8 lbs this week! I am down to 183.4! I can't believe it!!!! I'm a stress eater, and hospital food is not exactly healthy. Yes, the salad bar is, but the pecan roll or the slice of sausage/mushroom pizza I had yesterday WERE NOT so healthy. As a running total... I am down 68.8 lbs! I keep thinking: If I carried all of my dogs all at once, I would be carrying the body weight that I had 18 months ago!
David was up a little. He realized something this week: How important tracking is. His phone died a few days ago, and that's how he tracks what he eats. He hasn't had it for a week, so hasn't tracked his points. He's not a "writer," so he was keeping points mentally. Well, mental points + your mom in the hospital + your wife being crazy psycho for a few days + overal, general stress = a gain. He got his phone back yesterday, so things will be better next week!
This Week's Challenge
Last week's veggie & fruit challenge was to get 3 different colors each day. How did you do?? Writing down, I realize I stick to "comfortable" colors, or maybe just "comfortable" fruits/veggies. But, I did throw some different colors in throughout the week.
So, this week, we are building on that... Get 3 different colors a day (or even shoot for each meal!) AND fill half of our plate with fruits and veggies EVERY SINGLE MEAL. Not just once a day, or once this week - but every meal. Can you do it??? We talked about the proportions of a plate - 1/4 should be your protein; 1/4 grains; 1/2 veggies/fruits. This is how it should ALWAYS be. Not just for our challenge. But, that is what Weight Watchers is doing - teaching us to incorporate more fruits and veggies into our lives!
I went to farmer's market today and picked up tons of veggies and it only cost me $19! I got corn, green beans, blueberries, new potatoes, yellow and green zucchini, and cucumbers. Yummy! Tomorrow I'm going to try a Green Monster smoothie for breakfast. I'm using peanut butter for protein (and an oil!) and a banana for my fruit. I figured out it will be 6 points if I drink the entire thing. BUT it should keep me satisfied for most - if not all - of the morning!
Well... I guess that's about it for my update. I know.. lots of random stuff but things that I needed to get off of my chest. Thanks for listening. Let me know how you are doing with the fruits & veggies challenge!
Life
David's mom was in the hospital this week. Monday morning, she woke up and her heart was racing. And by racing, I mean OVER 200 beats! When the medics got there, they had trouble finding her blood pressure. They got her heart rate calmed back down, but then she started "throwing" weird rhythms. Even the ER doctor didn't know WHAT the rhythm was. So, she spent Monday, Tuesday, and today in the hospital. She had a heart cath done yesterday, which showed "normal functioning" with the same blockages she had 5 years ago - way down deep in the branches. It's safer to just leave them alone than to try to break it up. But, the overall health of her heart isn't that great.
She came home today, and boy was she ready! She's still very tired, and since nobody in her house will help her... I get the job while David is working. I took them to dinner tonight and will cook dinner tomorrow night. She should be okay lunch wise - she has a few left overs from last night and frozen pizza she can heat up if she needs to.
I had some blood work done this week because I've had no energy. I haven't even WANTED to exercise, which is unusual for me. I can usually be a little tired but still want to work out, and then have energy afterwards! The last couple weeks - nope! David has had to DRAG my butt to the gym to do even 1/2 of my normal workout. All my blood work came back normal, so my doctor wants to do a sleep study. I'm waiting for them to call and set it up.
Fertility
We got some news this week. I'm scared. David's labs came back. Basically, his testosterone and estrogen levels are reversed - he has very low testosterone and very high estrogen. His semen analysis was also not good. Good volume but low count. Also, it says that he had 0% motility, which is worse than it was last year. And, the count was so low that they could not tell how the morphology was, but we know that's off from last year's analysis.
So, he called his new urologist, the one that we had so much hope in, and he said that he can't help David at this point. Right now, his physiological needs are more important than the fertility needs. The levels of estrogen in his body are DANGEROUS for him, as is the testosterone. It may even explain some of his struggles to lose weight in the past. So, he said David need to see an Endocronologist.....
His family doctor is also a licensed Endocronologist. So, we have an appointment to see him on Tuesday. The Urologist recommended a specific drug (I can't remember the name of it) that is used in women to treat breast cancer. Basically, it should lower the estrogen, which will then raise the testosterone. We don't want David to be on an actual testosterone supplement because that will hurt the sperm that ARE there!
We'll know more on Tuesday, but we are both scared. We know that adoption is a definite option for us. We will not do donor sperm (our own personal reasons), but adoption is there... But, why do things have to be so difficult?? I'm trying not to be angry, to not blame people who aren't to blame, to still be happy for friends who are pregnant, for friends/family who have children... But, you know what? Sometimes, I just can't be! Every time we turn around, we are getting more bad news with every doctor, every month that goes by.... When will OUR miracle be here?????
Weight Loss
Onto a happier subject.... Tonight was weigh in! I lost 3.8 lbs this week! I am down to 183.4! I can't believe it!!!! I'm a stress eater, and hospital food is not exactly healthy. Yes, the salad bar is, but the pecan roll or the slice of sausage/mushroom pizza I had yesterday WERE NOT so healthy. As a running total... I am down 68.8 lbs! I keep thinking: If I carried all of my dogs all at once, I would be carrying the body weight that I had 18 months ago!
David was up a little. He realized something this week: How important tracking is. His phone died a few days ago, and that's how he tracks what he eats. He hasn't had it for a week, so hasn't tracked his points. He's not a "writer," so he was keeping points mentally. Well, mental points + your mom in the hospital + your wife being crazy psycho for a few days + overal, general stress = a gain. He got his phone back yesterday, so things will be better next week!
This Week's Challenge
Last week's veggie & fruit challenge was to get 3 different colors each day. How did you do?? Writing down, I realize I stick to "comfortable" colors, or maybe just "comfortable" fruits/veggies. But, I did throw some different colors in throughout the week.
So, this week, we are building on that... Get 3 different colors a day (or even shoot for each meal!) AND fill half of our plate with fruits and veggies EVERY SINGLE MEAL. Not just once a day, or once this week - but every meal. Can you do it??? We talked about the proportions of a plate - 1/4 should be your protein; 1/4 grains; 1/2 veggies/fruits. This is how it should ALWAYS be. Not just for our challenge. But, that is what Weight Watchers is doing - teaching us to incorporate more fruits and veggies into our lives!
I went to farmer's market today and picked up tons of veggies and it only cost me $19! I got corn, green beans, blueberries, new potatoes, yellow and green zucchini, and cucumbers. Yummy! Tomorrow I'm going to try a Green Monster smoothie for breakfast. I'm using peanut butter for protein (and an oil!) and a banana for my fruit. I figured out it will be 6 points if I drink the entire thing. BUT it should keep me satisfied for most - if not all - of the morning!
Well... I guess that's about it for my update. I know.. lots of random stuff but things that I needed to get off of my chest. Thanks for listening. Let me know how you are doing with the fruits & veggies challenge!
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
This was another recipe I got from the Recipe Review board on WW. It's definitely a "comfort food" recipe, and super easy. We used regular spaghetti noodles, but you could use other shapes for different textures/variety. The picky eaters? Loved it! David's dad was told the "brown specks" (mushrooms) were black olives (he thinks he doesn't like many vegetables; if only he knew!), and his nephew didn't even question what it was. We also made garlic cheese bread with hamburger buns, a little melted butter, garlic salt, and just a touch of mozzarella cheese!
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 6
Ingredients
8 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta
1/2 pound(s) Kraft Velveeta Light Reduced-Fat Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product
6 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
10 3/4 fl oz canned cream of chicken soup made with fat-free milk, undiluted
4 oz mushroom(s), sliced or diced
10 oz canned tomatoes with green chilies, drained
2 tbsp whole wheat bread crumbs
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook and drain pasta. Cook chicken, and cut into bite-sized pieces (We're going to try shredding it next time, just for something different!)
Mix velveeta, soup, chicken, mushrooms, and Rotel. Stir to combine and melt over low heat. Add spaghetti.
Pour into a casserole dish (sprayed with PAM. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese.
Cook at 350* for 30 min or until bubbly. (It only took 10-15 minutes for me)
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 6
Ingredients
8 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta
1/2 pound(s) Kraft Velveeta Light Reduced-Fat Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product
6 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
10 3/4 fl oz canned cream of chicken soup made with fat-free milk, undiluted
4 oz mushroom(s), sliced or diced
10 oz canned tomatoes with green chilies, drained
2 tbsp whole wheat bread crumbs
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook and drain pasta. Cook chicken, and cut into bite-sized pieces (We're going to try shredding it next time, just for something different!)
Mix velveeta, soup, chicken, mushrooms, and Rotel. Stir to combine and melt over low heat. Add spaghetti.
Pour into a casserole dish (sprayed with PAM. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese.
Cook at 350* for 30 min or until bubbly. (It only took 10-15 minutes for me)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
I got this recipe on WW's chat boards. It was super yummy! Just the right level of "kick" but if you're with someone who doesn't like spice you can easily take it out!
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1/2 cup(s) fat-free blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
1 tbsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
8 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
2 tsp olive oil
6 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta (I used Ronzoni's Healthy Harvest)
Directions
Season and cook chicken breast in olive oil. (I left the olive oil out and just did it on the George Foreman)Cook pasta according to package directions ad drain.
Place all ingredients together and heat thoroughly.
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1/2 cup(s) fat-free blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
1 tbsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
8 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
2 tsp olive oil
6 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta (I used Ronzoni's Healthy Harvest)
Directions
Season and cook chicken breast in olive oil. (I left the olive oil out and just did it on the George Foreman)Cook pasta according to package directions ad drain.
Place all ingredients together and heat thoroughly.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Adventures in Wine Land
Welcome to Adventures in Wine Land! David and I were lucky enough to both have today off, so we took a little trip.... They were doing a Grillin' with Iowa Wines weekend. We got lots of food and gifts along the way, and had a blast! We made it to all 7 wineries and bought several bottles of wine.
If you are a "local" reading my blog - you HAVE to check out these wineries. They are awesome! All of the people are so friendly and love to talk. And in Iowa, the tastings are free! :-)
Sugar Clay
They served a blackberry cobbler and ice cream with their Blackberry Mead. Yummy! We sampled their III Vines and brought a bottle of that home.
King's Crossing
We have been to King's Crossing before and loved it. They were serving a BBQ chicken leg, paired with their new Edelweiss. They also served a brownie with fresh strawberries, paired with their White St. Croix. We didn't get a bottle of wine because we go see them fairly often. :-)
Prairie Crossing
We have had several of their wines, but never been to the winery. Their facilities are really nice and the people are great! They served a BBQ beef sandwich with the Frontenac. They also had sharp cheddar cheese, served with Windswept White. We also tasted the Wagon Trail Red (a little dry for me, but good), Kit Cat (have a bottle but haven't tried it yet - yum!), and Cardinal Red (YUM!). We took a bottle of the Cardinal Red home.
Whispering Hills
The people at Whispering Hills were AWESOME! It almost felt like "home" when we walked in. They had smoked turkey and glazed corn on the cob with their brand new Skinny Dippin'. #1 - LOVE the name of the wine! #2 - the corn was marinated in honey and a little hot sauce. We are doing this the next time we get corn! They also made an apple crumble with pomegranate glaze that they served with their Edelweiss - and we got the recipe for this! We tried their Concord, Catawba, Traminette, Moondance (which we've had before), and Serendipity. They also made a Sangria with the Concord, lemon, lime, orange, and Sierra Mist. Yummy! We took home a bottle of Catawba.
Side note: if you are counting, that's 3 bottles of wine so far. David said "maybe we'll get 1 from somewhere." Hee hee hee :-)
Back to the regularly scheduled program....
Breezy Hills
We were served stuffed pork and a chocolate chip cookie. They served it with St. Croix. We also tried the LaCrosse, Tres Hermanas, Misbehavin', Vignoles, and Edelweiss. We took home a bottle of Misbehavin' and something fun for me:
Yep! David got me this super cool shirt! I mentioned when I came in that it was very "me." When he got the bottle of Misbehavin', he got me my shirt also! Love it!
Danish Countryside
This was the farthest out winery... It took us about 30 minutes to get there, but it was very worth it! They served BBQ Beef and let us choose which red we paired it with. I tried the Sweet Caroline and David had the Countryside Red. I loved, loved, loved the Sweet Caroline! David liked it okay, but he liked the Countryside Red (I didn't like it as much). They also made pineapple upside down cake and served it with Twilight White, which was good. We tried several of their wines also. The Maid of the Harbor was similar to a riesling, and good. David and I both really liked the Classy Lady and their fruit wine, Pretty Belle Peach. Those BOTH got to come home with us. Current bottle count: 6!
Loess Hills
This was the last stop on our tour.. I had been here a few years ago, but David had never been. We went in and tried a few wines first, and then had the food. We tried the Rivers Mist (dryer), Sunset Blush, Blonzy Bell Blush, Edelweiss, September Sweet, and Vignoles. Their Vignoles was AWESOME, so we got a bottle of that.
They served pulled pork and italian sausage with SBR (Sneaky Bastard Red). A little dry, but paired VERY well with the pork. They also had really AWESOME watermelon with their Loess Hills Blanc.
We had a BLAST today! We ended up with 7 - yes 7 - bottles of wine! We came home, made Buffalo Chicken Pasta (recipe to come), peach cobbler, and opened the bottle of the Pretty Belle Peach from Danish Countryside!
Now we're relaxing, watching Mall Cop. Hillarious movie! Anyways... That recipe will be on here tomorrow. Tonight, I'm relaxing with the hubby. I'm also trying to get my MP3 player charged so I can go for a run in the morning.
If you are a "local" reading my blog - you HAVE to check out these wineries. They are awesome! All of the people are so friendly and love to talk. And in Iowa, the tastings are free! :-)
Sugar Clay
They served a blackberry cobbler and ice cream with their Blackberry Mead. Yummy! We sampled their III Vines and brought a bottle of that home.
King's Crossing
We have been to King's Crossing before and loved it. They were serving a BBQ chicken leg, paired with their new Edelweiss. They also served a brownie with fresh strawberries, paired with their White St. Croix. We didn't get a bottle of wine because we go see them fairly often. :-)
Prairie Crossing
We have had several of their wines, but never been to the winery. Their facilities are really nice and the people are great! They served a BBQ beef sandwich with the Frontenac. They also had sharp cheddar cheese, served with Windswept White. We also tasted the Wagon Trail Red (a little dry for me, but good), Kit Cat (have a bottle but haven't tried it yet - yum!), and Cardinal Red (YUM!). We took a bottle of the Cardinal Red home.
Whispering Hills
The people at Whispering Hills were AWESOME! It almost felt like "home" when we walked in. They had smoked turkey and glazed corn on the cob with their brand new Skinny Dippin'. #1 - LOVE the name of the wine! #2 - the corn was marinated in honey and a little hot sauce. We are doing this the next time we get corn! They also made an apple crumble with pomegranate glaze that they served with their Edelweiss - and we got the recipe for this! We tried their Concord, Catawba, Traminette, Moondance (which we've had before), and Serendipity. They also made a Sangria with the Concord, lemon, lime, orange, and Sierra Mist. Yummy! We took home a bottle of Catawba.
Side note: if you are counting, that's 3 bottles of wine so far. David said "maybe we'll get 1 from somewhere." Hee hee hee :-)
Back to the regularly scheduled program....
Breezy Hills
We were served stuffed pork and a chocolate chip cookie. They served it with St. Croix. We also tried the LaCrosse, Tres Hermanas, Misbehavin', Vignoles, and Edelweiss. We took home a bottle of Misbehavin' and something fun for me:
Yep! David got me this super cool shirt! I mentioned when I came in that it was very "me." When he got the bottle of Misbehavin', he got me my shirt also! Love it!
Danish Countryside
This was the farthest out winery... It took us about 30 minutes to get there, but it was very worth it! They served BBQ Beef and let us choose which red we paired it with. I tried the Sweet Caroline and David had the Countryside Red. I loved, loved, loved the Sweet Caroline! David liked it okay, but he liked the Countryside Red (I didn't like it as much). They also made pineapple upside down cake and served it with Twilight White, which was good. We tried several of their wines also. The Maid of the Harbor was similar to a riesling, and good. David and I both really liked the Classy Lady and their fruit wine, Pretty Belle Peach. Those BOTH got to come home with us. Current bottle count: 6!
Loess Hills
This was the last stop on our tour.. I had been here a few years ago, but David had never been. We went in and tried a few wines first, and then had the food. We tried the Rivers Mist (dryer), Sunset Blush, Blonzy Bell Blush, Edelweiss, September Sweet, and Vignoles. Their Vignoles was AWESOME, so we got a bottle of that.
They served pulled pork and italian sausage with SBR (Sneaky Bastard Red). A little dry, but paired VERY well with the pork. They also had really AWESOME watermelon with their Loess Hills Blanc.
We had a BLAST today! We ended up with 7 - yes 7 - bottles of wine! We came home, made Buffalo Chicken Pasta (recipe to come), peach cobbler, and opened the bottle of the Pretty Belle Peach from Danish Countryside!
Now we're relaxing, watching Mall Cop. Hillarious movie! Anyways... That recipe will be on here tomorrow. Tonight, I'm relaxing with the hubby. I'm also trying to get my MP3 player charged so I can go for a run in the morning.
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