Indulging

i didnt track at all friday and saturday.  do i regret it?  not at all!  i took a mental health day on friday so i was nice and rested for dinner at nessa in port chester.  wow!!  the food was incredible!!  i also had wonderful company so my night was fulfilling in many ways.  then, last night, i had dinner at my parents with my brother and sister-in-law.  my mother made a ravioli lasagna that was out of this world!  i had two unbelievably fantastic meals and i truly dont want to figure out the points for either of them.  i dont want to feel guilty about indulging at all.  friday & saturday were wonderful in many ways and im not disappointed with my decision to splurge.  but of course, today its back to tracking & counting points! :)

this weekend might effect the scale, but i accept the consequence of my actions.  we all deserve a day or two of indulging.  i truly believe that we need weekends like the one i just had every once and a while as long as you can easily put it behind you and get right back on track.  indulging actually helps me stay focused & positive about eating healthier because i know that i am not completely turning my back on the high point foods i love.  however, i fight indulging as a result of emotional cravings because those types of setbacks tend to lead to feelings of guilt.  once i start emotional eating, its harder for me to get over the guilt and there is a greater chance that i will continue to make bad choices for longer than a day or two.  this weekend's eating was not emotional.  it was surrounded by pure happiness and there is no room for guilt but i am very happy to back on track today!

onto some of my meals! :)  monday and thursday nights meals are definitely worth highlighting.

monday, may 2, 2011

Morning
Coffee (1/4 cup fat free half & half, 2 tsp organic turbinado raw cane sugar, 6 cups black coffee)	2
Honey Nut o's (1 large banana, 1/2 cup trader joe's organic vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup cascadian farms organic honey nut o's cereal)	2
Subtotal	4
Midday
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Light String Cheese	1
1  medium orange(s)	0
1  large pear(s)	0
1  small mango(es)	0
10  item(s) baby carrots	0
Subtotal	1
Evening
1  tray(s) Just for One Peas and Corn in a Basil Butter Sauce	2
1  Mexican Potato Casserole (see recipe below)	9
Subtotal	11
Anytime
1  bag(s) Healthy Pop® 100 cal butter mini bag	3
1  serving(s) Breyers Fat Free Creamy Vanilla	2
1  Chocolate Marshmallow Madness (see recipe in previous posts)	3
Subtotal	8
Food PointsPlus values total used	24

mexican potato casserole
2/3 cup betty crocker roasted garlic instant mashed potatoes
4oz trader joe's butcher shop ground beef 96/4
1/2 tbsp taco seasoning
1/2 cup trader joe's low fat vegetarian refried beans
1 tbsp trader joe's reduced fat mexican cheese

• preheat oven to 375 degrees
• spread prepared mashed potatoes across the bottom of a pyrex sprayed with trader joe's italian olive oil spray
• spray a frying pan with trader joe's italian olive oil spray (frying pan has been on medium-low heat for a few minutes) & cook the ground beef.  as it is cooking, break up the meat into small bits.  once the meat is cooked, add about 2-3 tbsp of water to the frying pan with taco seasonings.
• when the water has completely evaporated, add the refried beans to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.
• spread meat/bean mix on top of mashed potatoes
• sprinkle cheese on top
• bake uncovered for about 25 minutes

i really love this meal!!  im planning on making something along these lines this week but using cream of mushroom soup.  it should be delicious!!

thursday, may 5, 2011

Morning
Coffee (1/4 cup fat free half & half, 2 tsp organic turbinado raw cane sugar, 6 cups black coffee)	2
Honey Nut o's (1 large banana, 1/2 cup trader joe's organic vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup cascadian farms organic honey nut o's cereal)	2
Subtotal	4
Midday
1/2 serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Nonfat Yogurt French Vanilla	2
1/2 cup(s) fresh blueberries (in yogurt)	0
1  medium orange(s)	0
1  large pear(s)	0
1  small mango(es)	0
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Light String Cheese	1
10  item(s) baby carrots	0
Subtotal	3
Evening
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Premium Angus Steak Tips (broiled)	5
1  cup(s) mixed greens (trader joe's organic romaine lettuce, trader joe's organic broccoli slaw, grape tomatoes, red onions, and cucumber)	0
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Low Fat Parmesan Ranch Dressing	1
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Soyaki (steak marinade)	1
1  serving(s) Margie's Mango Teriyaki (steak marinade)	0
1  serving(s) Betty Crocker Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes 80 cal	2
1/2 serving(s) Trader Joe's Center Cut Seasoned Uncured Bacon (in salad)	1
Subtotal	10
Anytime
4 1/2 cup(s) Healthy Pop® Kettle Corn, Popped	3
1  serving(s) Edy's Slow Churned Thin Mint Ice Cream	3
1  Chocolate Marshmallow Madness (see recipe in previous posts)	3
Subtotal	9
Food PointsPlus values total used	26

im addicted to broiling steak & pork and really enjoy experimenting with marinades.  this one was incredible!  ive used trader joe's soyaki and margie's mango teriyaki before, but forgot how much i love it! 

i hope everyone enjoyed the weekend with no guilt!! :)

Three Great Recipes!

last nights meal was fantastic!  making all three for one meal was far from my normal lazy cooking style, but it was worth it!  i will definitely make all three again......just not at the same time! :) 

saturday, april 30, 2011

Morning
Coffee (1/4 cup fat free half & half, 2 tsp organic turbinado raw cane sugar, 6 cups black coffee)	2
Honey Nut o's (1 large banana, 1/2 cup trader joe's organic vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup cascadian farms organic honey nut o's cereal)	2
Subtotal	4
Midday
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Creamy Corn & Roasted Pepper Soup	3
Subtotal	3
Evening
Baked Macaroni & Cheese (see recipe below)	9
Honey Mustard Pork Chop (see recipe below)	6
Brussel Sprouts w/Bacon & Syrup (see recipe below)	1
Subtotal	16
Anytime
4 1/2 cup(s) Healthy Pop® Kettle Corn, Popped	3
1  serving(s) Edy's Slow Churned Thin Mint Ice Cream	3
1  Chocolate Marshmallow Madness (see recipe below)	3
Subtotal	9
Food PointsPlus values total used	32

baked macaroni & cheese
2 oz trader joes organic penne, about 2/3 cooked
1/4 tbsp canola oil
1/4 tbsp flour
1/2 cup skim plus
1/4 cup trader joes reduced fat mexican cheese

• preheat oven to 350 degrees
• heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.  add flour and cook, whisking constantly for 2 minutes.
• slowly whisk in milk until smooth.  increase heat to medium high and bring to boil.  boil for 1 minute.
• remove from heat and whisk in 3 tablespoons of cheese until cheese is melted.
• stir pasta into sauce.  pour into pyrex sprayed with trader joe's italian olive oil spray and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• bake for about 15-20 minutes.  let stand 5 minutes.

it was wonderful but could use a little more flavor.  i am going to look at baked macaroni & cheese recipes to see what other people do.  regardless, it was delicious!!


honey mustard pork chop 
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp honey
1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 trader joes butcher shop boneless center cut pork chop

• whisk mustard, honey, and vinegar
• pour over pork in a tupperware and cover (make sure both sides of pork are covered).
• chill for at least 4 hours shaking tupperware occasionally.
• broil pork chop for 20-25 minutes; at least 10 minutes each side. 

i had all the ingredients for the marinade but they were expiring within the month!  talk about perfect timing!  im more than happy to replace them though because i loved this recipe!  im going to use dijon mustard next time too.


brussels sprouts w/bacon & syrup
1 cup frozen brussel sprouts, defrosted and halved
1 slice trader joes center cut seasoned uncured bacon, cut into small pieces
1/2 medium shallot, cut into small pieces
1/8 tbsp trader joes evoo
2 tbsp spring tree sugar free low calorie syrup

• preheat oven to 425 degrees
• combine brussels sprouts, bacon, shallots, and oil in a bowl.
• spread mixture in a pyrex sprayed with trader joe's italian olive oil spray with cut side of brussels sprouts down.
• roast for 10 minutes.  add syrup and stir well.
• roast another 5 minutes or until brussels sprouts are tender.

there is not one thing i would change!  this recipe was superb!!!  


i got each recipe from the january/february 2011 issue of weight watchers magazine.  i made a few modification to each recipe, but nothing drastic.  i hope you enjoy them as much as i did! :)

here is the link to the chocolate marshmallow madness cupcakes.  i love these cupcakes!!!  i took a picture of them because they look as great as they taste!!
http://www.hungry-girl.com/show/chocolate-911-chocolate-marshmallow-madness-cupcakes-recipe

hope you enjoyed the weather this weekend!!  have a great week with no guilt!! :)

Cooking For One

prior to weight watchers, i didnt pay attention to serving sizes so i had a tendency of cooking too much food for me to eat in one sitting.  however, since i really dislike leftovers, i would typically end up eating all the food i made.  it was shocking to learn that i was really cooking for three or four instead of for one.  i was appalled that i was eating so much more than i needed.  within a month of being on weight watchers, all my cooking habits and my "go-to" meals were thrown out the window.  i was beginning to learn a whole new way of cooking.  even though i am still learning and growing as a lazy cook, i am at a point were i feel very comfortable in the kitchen and modifying recipes has become much easier.  when i find recipes i would like to try, since i am cooking for one, it is not difficult to change it to serve one.  furthermore, when i am experimenting with ingredients, i usually stick with the serving size of each ingredient.  the majority of the time, that works out perfectly.  i also found that storing certain foods by serving size helped me avoid overeating.  this works especially great for meat.  i currently have in my freezer 3 tupperwares of steak (4 oz each), 5 tupperwares of pork chops (one chop each), 3 tupperwares of ground beef (4 oz each), 4 tupperwares of ground turkey breast (4 oz each), and 3 tupperwares of chicken breast (4 oz each).  in the morning, i put a tupperware in the fridge and when i get home from work, ill take it out of the fridge.  by the time i start to cook, the meat is defrosted.  my routine is second nature now, but it does take time to break habits.  so all of you that are just starting out, hang in there!  you will figure what works for you! :) 


wednesday, april 27, 2011

Morning
Coffee (1/4 cup fat free half & half, 2 tsp organic turbinado raw cane sugar, 6 cups black coffee)	2
Honey Nut o's (1 large banana, 1/2 cup trader joe's organic vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup cascadian farms organic honey nut o's cereal)	2
Subtotal	4
Midday
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Light String Cheese	1
1  large apple(s)	0
1  large mango(es)	0
1  medium orange(s)	0
10  item(s) baby carrots	0
Subtotal	1
Evening
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Low Fat Parmesan Ranch Dressing	1
1  cup(s) mixed greens (trader joe's organic romaine lettuce, trader joe's organic broccoli slaw, grape tomatoes, red onions, and cucumber)	0
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Ground Beef 96/4 (in quesadilla)	3
Quesadilla ~ 2 pt tortilla (see recipe below)	8
Subtotal	12
Anytime
1  bag(s) Healthy Pop® 100 cal butter mini bag	3
1/2 cup(s) Fat-Free Mint Cookies 'n Cream Frozen Yogurt	3
1  Brownie Cupcakes (recipe in previous posts)	4
Subtotal	10
Food PointsPlus values total used	27

quesadilla
4 oz trader joe's butcher shop ground beef 96/4
1/2 cup trader joes vegetarian refried beans salsa style
2 tbsp trader joes reduced fat mexican cheese
2 tsp taco seasoning
2 la tortilla factory low carb large tortilla

• spray a frying pan with trader joe's italian olive oil spray (frying pan has been on medium-low heat for a few minutes).  add ground beef & cook completely while chopping it up into small pieces.  
• add about 2-3 tbsp of water to the frying pan with about 2 tsp of taco seasonings.  when the water has completely evaporated, the beef is ready to go into one of the tortillas.
• place the beef, refried beans, & cheese on a tortilla.
• put the tortilla with the ingredients on top back into the frying pan which has been sprayed with olive oil spray again.  place the other tortilla on top & press down a bit to evenly spread out the ingredients.
• cook both sides for about 3-4 minutes or until browned.
• top quesadilla with salsa

thursday, april 28, 2011

Morning
Coffee (1/4 cup fat free half & half, 2 tsp organic turbinado raw cane sugar, 6 cups black coffee)	2
Honey Nut o's (1 large banana, 1/2 cup trader joe's organic vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup cascadian farms organic honey nut o's cereal)	2
Subtotal	4
Midday
1/2 serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Nonfat Yogurt French Vanilla	2
1/2 cup(s) fresh blueberries (in yogurt)	0
1  medium apple(s)	0
1  cup(s) grapes	0
1  medium orange(s)	0
10  item(s) baby carrots	0
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Light String Cheese	1
Subtotal	3
Evening
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops (broiled & seasoned with spicy montreal streak seasoning)	5
1  serving(s) Betty Crocker Creamy Butter Mashed Potatoes 80 Calories	2
Brussels Sprouts w/Bacon (see recipe below)	2
Subtotal	9
Anytime
4 1/2 cup(s) Healthy Pop® Kettle Corn, Popped	3
1/2 cup(s) Fat-Free Mint Cookies 'n Cream Frozen Yogurt	3
Subtotal	6
Food PointsPlus values total used	22

brussels sprouts w/bacon
1 cup frozen brussels sprouts, defrosted & cut in halves
1 slice trader joe's center cut seasoned uncured bacon
1/4 tbsp trader joes evoo

1 tbsp onion, chopped finely

1 clove garlic, minced

• heat the evoo in a frying pan on medium-low heat for a few minutes.  then add garlic & onions and cook for a few minutes.  be careful it does not burn.
• mix in brussels sprouts & bacon.
• cook until brussels sprouts are browned. 

here is the link to the recipe that inspired this side dish.  it really was yummy!  i found another recipe similar to this one that i am trying tonight!
http://www.bethenny.com/2011/04/19/brussels-sprouts/

friday, april 29, 2011

Morning
Coffee (1/4 cup fat free half & half, 2 tsp organic turbinado raw cane sugar, 6 cups black coffee)	2
Honey Nut o's (1 large banana, 1/2 cup trader joe's organic vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup cascadian farms organic honey nut o's cereal)	2
Subtotal	4
Midday
1/2 serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Nonfat Yogurt French Vanilla	2
1/2 cup(s) fresh blueberries (in yogurt)	0
1  medium apple(s)	0
1  medium orange(s)	0
1  large mango(es)	0
10  item(s) baby carrots	0
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Light String Cheese	1
Subtotal	3
Evening
1  cup(s) mixed greens (trader joe's organic romaine lettuce, trader joe's organic broccoli slaw, grape tomatoes, red onions, and cucumber)	0
2  Tbsp Fat Free Chunky Blue Cheese Salad Dressing	1
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Roasted Potatoes w/Roasted Peppers & Onions	2
Cheese Steak Sandwich (see recipe below)	8
Subtotal	11
Anytime
4 1/2 cup(s) Healthy Pop® Kettle Corn, Popped	3
1  serving(s) Breyers Fat Free Creamy Vanilla	2
1  Brownie Cupcakes (recipe in previous posts)	4
Subtotal	9
Food PointsPlus values total used	27

cheese steak sandwich
2 tbsp onions, long strips sliced thinly
4oz applegate roast beef humanely raised
2 tbsp trader joes sliced lite cheddar

1 flatout light italian herb flatbread

• spray a frying pan with trader joe's italian olive oil spray (frying pan has been on medium-low heat for a few minutes).  cook the onions until caramelized.  put onions in a bowl.
• spray the same frying pan with trader joe's italian olive oil spray.  cook the roast beef.  1-2 minutes each side.
• place cooked roasted beef, onions, and cheese in frying pan together to melt cheese.
• place all ingredients in flatbread and roll up.

i love this sandwich!!  i do wish that i could use more roast beef but ill take what i can get! :)

i hope everyone is enjoying the weekend with no guilt!! :)