Weight Loss Food Diary, Monday 10-20-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight - 244.5 - up 1 pound
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - Cherry on Top smoothie - 186 calories
Lunch - Slim Fast, taco - 350 calories
Dinner - date night @ Copeland's - 766 calories
Snacks -leftovers, cheesecake, orange juice  - 562 calories
Total -1843  calories / goal - 1270 calories - 573 calories over

Water consumption - 24 ounces / goal - 130 ounces -106 ounces under

Exercise -  Pedometer recorded 5700 steps / goal 2150 steps - 3550 steps over.  1 hour cardio, burning approximately 313 calories.

Cherry On Top Smoothie

Hiya, folks.

As has probably been noticed if you're following me, I'm doing a complete weight loss, food diary, transformation, accountability thing right now.  In my first week of just counting calories, I lost 4 pounds.  I am elevating the next 30 days with a smoothie challenge, Slim Fast challenge, and continuing to count calories.

So, I thought I would blog about my smoothies here, too.  Day One Smoothie One is called the Cherry on Top.

This smoothie is the easiest thing in the world to make:

• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups water
• 1 banana
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup cherries, pitted

Blend and enjoy!

This recipe serves 2 (great for couples! or for seconds during the day!) and here's the caloric breakdown:

• 186 calories
• 46g carbs
• 0g fat
• 7g protein
• 83mg sodium
• 28g sugar

So, it's super healthy, super tasty, and super good for you because it's full of super foods.  :)

Weight Loss Food Diary, Sunday 10-19-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight - 243 - down .5 pounds
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - bacon, eggs, toast, juice - 528 calories
Lunch - skipped - 0 calories
Dinner - hamburger, fries, hot dog, coke - 695 calories
Snacks - cinnamon toast crunch, smores, coke - 428 calories
Total - 1651 calories / goal - 1270 calories - 381 calories over

Water consumption - 0 ounces / goal - 130 ounces -130 ounces under

Exercise -  Pedometer recorded 2000 steps / goal 2150 steps - under 150 steps.

Weight Loss Food Diary, Saturday 10-18-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight - 243.5 - up .5 pounds
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - skipped - 0 calories
Lunch - BLT, onion rings, coke - 626 calories
Dinner -  -  calories
Snacks - pretzel bites, coke - 310 calories
Total - 936 calories / goal - 1270 calories - 334 calories under

Water consumption - 0 ounces / goal - 130 ounces - 130 ounces under.

Exercise -  Pedometer recorded 5600 steps / goal 1850 steps - 3750 steps over.

Weight Loss Food Diary, Friday 10-17-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight -243 - down 1.5 pounds
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - skipped - 0 calories
Lunch - ramen - 450 calories
Dinner - grilled cheese - 567 calories
Snacks - pizza, coke - 479 calories
Total - 1496 calories / goal - 1270 calories - 226 over

Water consumption - 60 ounces / goal - 130 ounces - 70 ounces under

Exercise -  Pedometer recorded 2533 steps / goal 2150 steps - 383 steps over.  No other exercise.

Weight Loss Food Diary, Thursday 10-16-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight -244.5 - down 1.5 pounds
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - poptart - 200 calories
Lunch - McDonalds burger, cookie - 231 calories
Dinner - salad - 294 calories
Snacks - peanut m&ms - 125 calories
Total - 850 calories / goal - 1270 calories - 420 calories under

Water consumption - 60 ounces / goal - 130 ounces - 70 ounces under

Exercise -  Pedometer recorded 1300 steps / goal 2400 steps - 1100 steps under  No other exercise.

Weight Loss Food Diary, Wednesday 10-15-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight - 246 - no change
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast -  Frosted Flakes with milk - 183 calories
Lunch - Chef Boyardee lasagna - 250 calories
Dinner - Greek food, coke - 757 calories
Snacks - -  calories
Total - 1190 calories / goal - 1270 calories - 80 calories under

Water consumption - 28 ounces / goal - 130 ounces - 102 ounces under

Exercise -  Pedometer recorded 2684 steps / goal 2500 steps - 184 steps over  No other exercise for the day.

Weight Loss Food Diary, Tuesday 10-14-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight - 246 / down 1 pound
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - Toast with jam, milk - 200 calories
Lunch -Taco Bell with Sierra Mist - 739 calories
Dinner -Domino's pizza with Coke - 570 calories
Snacks -cake & coke - 158 calories
Total - 1673 calories / goal - 1440 calories - 233 calories over

Water consumption - 0 ounces / goal - 130 ounces - 130 ounces under

Exercise - Cardio - 220 calories burned.  Yardwork @ mom & dad's - 115 calories burned.  Pedometer recorded 3000 steps / goal 3000 / break even.

Weight Loss Food Diary - Monday, 10-13-14

Starting weight - 247
Today's weight - 247 / baseline
Current goal weight - 227 - by December 13, 2014

Calories consumed -
Breakfast - Toast with jam, OJ - 180 calories
Lunch - Spaghetti O's, milk - 313 calories
Dinner - assorted Chinese - 790 calories
Snacks - coke, mooo bar - 155 calories
Total - 1438 calories / goal - 1270 calories - over by 168

Water consumption - 60 ounces / goal - 130 ounces - under by 70 ounces

Exercise - The weather was unseasonably bad with tornadoes so I did not go for a walk.  Pedometer recorded 3500 steps / goal 3000 / over by 500.

With news of my 10 year high school reunion on the horizon, I'm determined to be a smaller me by the time it gets here.

Salmon Cakes and Roasted Asparagus

Looks amazing, right?

This morning, I've got two delicious, mostly healthy, super easy recipes to offer!  (We're gonna pretend that that couscous there in the top never happened, mmk?)

First up are the Salmon Cakes.  This recipe is modified from one featured on Ten Dollar Dinners by Melissa d'Arabian.
You will need:

• 2 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled, bacon fat reserved
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 lemon, zested
• 1 pound tinned salmon, skin and bones removed
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (leftovers work fine!)
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 2 tbs grated Parmesan cheese
• pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

1. Heat the reserved bacon fat in a small skillet over low heat.  Add the onion and cook until translucent.  Allow to cool slightly.
2. Mix the bacon, onions, egg, ranch dressing, mustard, sugar, and lemon zest in a large bowl.  Add the salmon and mashed potatoes, mixing gently.  Form the mixture into about 8 patties.
3. In a shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and pepper.  Coat the patties in the bread crumb mixture.
4. Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the patties in batches until golden, roughly 3 to 4 minute per side.  Add more oil as needed.
5. Remove the cooked patties to a plate lined with paper towels to help absorb some of the oil.  Serve hot.

The skinny (per Salmon Cake):

• 223 calories
• 9g carbs
• 13g fat
• 16g protein
• 396mg sodium
• 4g sugar

All in all, it's really not too bad for you.  You can eat 2 decent sized cakes and not feel guilty!


On to the Roasted Asparagus - again, super easy, and very healthy!
You'll need:

• 1 pound fresh asparagus, woody stems removed
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

For the Vinaigrtte:

• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 tbsp olive oil

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, toss the asparagus in the olive oil and liberally season with salt and pepper.
3. Spread the stalks out on a baking sheet, in a single layer.   Roast until tender but still firm and moist, about 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette.  In a small bowl, vigorously whisk together the mustard and lemon juice.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking quickly to emulsify the olive oil into the juice mixture.
5. Transfer the cooked asparagus to a serving plate, then drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve.  These asparagus are tasty served warm or cold.

And the skinny on these veggies?  (Roughly 6 spears)

• 115 calories
• 5g carbs
• 11g fat
• 3g protein
• 56mg sodium
• 2g sugar

So, this is a fairly easy dinner to make, and it's fairly healthy, too!  And even my 5 year old loved it!

First Day of Homeschooling

Today was Scott's first official day of Kindergarten!

He blew through his assignments in about an hour - he learned what lives in the ocean, how to distinguish living from nonliving, how to distinguish ocean plants from animals (anemones are hard!), he found the difference in comparative pictures, and he learned about how we use the alphabet in many different ways, the parts of a book, and he read the book Pig's ABCs.  When Jared gets home, we're trekking to the library for a few books about ocean creatures!

Tonight, I'll be preparing my first series of photos for my first cooking-blog-post in over a year!  Perfect Summer Basil Burgers, Salad with Grilled Grape Tomatoes and a Vinaigrette, and Fun Fruit Sushi....which I should go prep the fruit for now!

Holy Update, Batman!

Alright, so.

I haven't updated here in almost a year and a half.

But worry not!  New things are coming.

Like.  Today.

Turkey Biscuit Turnovers

I've lost another pound on this diet!

Last night, I made another hearty, yet healthy, meal.  These were like tasty turkey meat pies.

Here's what you'll need!

• 3 tbsp light cream cheese, softened
• 2 tbsp fat free Cream of Mushroom soup
• 2 tbsp evaporated skim milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1 lb ground turkey, cooked and broken up
• 1 tbsp minced onion
• 1 can mini biscuits (6 ct)
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp bread crumbs

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, soup, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth.  Add the turkey and onion.  Mix well.
3. Separate the dough into 6 biscuits.  Roll two biscuits together to form a ball. Use your hands or a rolling pin to press the dough into a 6" circle.  Repeat with the remaining biscuits.
4. Spoon about 3/4 cup of the turkey mixture onto half of each biscuit circle.  Fold the other half of the biscuit over the filling to form a turnover.  Seal with the tines of a fork.
5. Brush the tops with the egg white and sprinkle with bread crumbs.
6. Transfer turnovers to the cookie sheet.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Here's the important info!

Calories:  431
Total Fat:  18g
Cholesterol:  108mg
Sodium:  1041mg
Potassium:  71mg
Total Carbohydrate:  29g
Protein:  36g

All in all, not too bad for you!  And tasty, too!

Creamy Seafood Linguine

I've lost my first pound on this diet!  Woo!

Last night, the weather was dreary, and comfort food was in order.  What better comfort than to snuggle down with your hunny and a big bowl of creamy pasta?  This recipe was surprisingly delicious and filling.

Here's what you'll need!

• 8 oz linguine
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp white wine
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 cup evaporated skim milk
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 8 oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.  Keep warm.
2. Lightly spray a large skillet with non-stick spray.  Add the olive oil and heat over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and garlic.  Cook and stir about 5 minutes, until the onions are golden brown.
3. In a small cup, mix the wine and flour until smooth.  Stir into the onion mixture.  Add the milk.
4. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat.  Stir in the coriander and cook for 1 minute.  Add the shrimp.  Return to a simmer.  Cook, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes, until the shrimp turn pink.
5. Stir in the parsley, salt, and pepper.  Serve over the hot pasta.

 Serves 3.

This is a little higher on calories than my usual offerings, but it's wonderful!

Calories:  583
Total Fat:  7g
Cholesterol:  115mg
Sodium:  518mg
Potassium:  216mg
Total Carbohydrate:  79g
Protein:  26g

Chicken Sloppy Joes

This week, as part of my whole "Finally Catching Up to My New Year's Resolutions" thing, I started the Special K Challenge.  You know, lose 6 pounds in 2 weeks eating cereal!  I also picked up a new-to-me cookbook at the thrift shop - Healthy Homestyle Cooking.  I'm not crazy about all the recipes...that is, I still think some of them have room for improvement, but I think it's going to give me a good baseline on healthier, tastier cooking.  Soooo....the first recipe out of the bag is as follows!

You'll need:

• 8 oz ground chicken
• 1/2 medium red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 1 medium carrot, shredded
• 1/2 clove garlic
• 4 oz tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Lightly spray a large, unheated skillet with no-stick spray.  Add the chicken.  Cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the pepper, onion, tomato, carrot, and garlic.  Cook over medium heat until tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, flour, and Worcestershire sauce.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, again, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve on bread or buns.

This makes up about 3 servings, 4 if you're not feeling very generous! The following nutrition data is based on the above recipe being split 3 ways!

Calories:  179
Total Fat:  8.3g
Cholesterol:  63.3mg
Sodium:  387.5mg
Potassium:  330.6mg
Total Carbohydrate:  12.1g
Protein:  15.7g

As you can see, it's quite healthy!  And sooooo tasty!I was skeptical that it would come as well as it did, but it surprised me pleasantly.

Pastitsio!

So, last night, we had this "Greek lasagna."  It was quite tasty, very filling, and not too hard on the pocketbook!

• 1 pound ground lamb (beef works, as well!)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• .5 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp flour
• 3 cups milk
• 12 oz penne pasta
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• .5 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
3. Cook pasta.  Drain.
4. While pasta is cooking, brown meat in a heavy skillet.  Add onion and garlic and cook until soft.  Mix in cinnamon and tomato sauce.
5. In a saucepan, melt butter.  Whisk in flour and cook one minute.  Whisk in milk and let simmer 20 minutes, stirring often.
6. Add beaten eggs and .25 cup parmesan to the white sauce.
7. Add half the pasta to the casserole dish.  Top with all the meat mixture.  Add the rest of the pasta.
8. Pour the white sauce over the top.
9. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese on top of the white sauce.
10. Bake for 45 minutes.

If I were to change anything about this, I would salt everything, use about half the pasta, and perhaps leave the eggs out of the white sauce.  Otherwise, it was very, very tasty.  Hubby loved it, too, so that's always a plus!

For the diet-conscious, here's the deets:


Calories          476
Total Fat         26.4g
Cholesterol     111mg
Carbs               41.5g
Protein             21.7g

All in all, not too shabby! 

Things have settled back to normal!

It's nice to feel like things are on track!
I got some writing done, played with my son, hung out with my husband, had a pleasant work day...
And! In World of Warcraft (from here, WoW!), we got our first new boss kill of the year!  Looks like our second "new kill" will be on Sunday!  :)  Very proud of my team!
Not a lot of other news to report.  Took the easy way out for dinner & let hubby order pizza...
Tomorrow, however, there will be lamb lasagna....and it will be documented here....and it will be glorious!
Hump Day is over - it's almost Friday!  Hooray!  :)

Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone...
And I'm really (no, seriously!) going to keep up with a blog this time.
More like an online diary/recipe book/art space, etc.  But who's counting, right?
We've recovered from our Disney World Christmas Vacation Extraordinaire, and things have been kinda quiet.  (If you're looking into taking a trip of your own, I wholeheartedly suggest checking out this book! Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2012 By Birnbaum Travel Guides  Tons of great info and coupons!)
Jared got me Skyrim for Christmas during the Epic Christmas Steam Sale (not the actual title!), and I've been hacking away at it, so to speak.  LOVE it.
Made a Spaghetti Frittata tonight...but it was not very good...so I will not be passing that recipe along!  Perhaps there will be a new one in the works tomorrow!  (Recipe, that is!)
Not much else of value to report at this time...
I'll be back here tomorrow, with fancy important new things!

Peanut (Butter) Chicken Pizza

Let me preface this recipe by saying that if you, in any way, dislike peanut butter, this dish is not for you. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you need a VERY healthy appreciation for PB, if you hope to enjoy this dish as is. Remember, you can always modify the amounts to suit your own personal taste!

Looks pretty great, right?

If you're ready to make it, here's what you need:

• 1 pre-cooked pizza crust, any variety
• 1 and 3/4 TBS peanut butter
• 1 and 1/2 TBS brewed black tea
• 1 and 1/2 TBS rice vinegar
• 1 TBS soy sauce
• 1 TSP chili oil
• 1 and 1/2 TSP ground ginger
• 1 TSP honey
• 1 LB boneless, skinless chicken (breast or thigh, your choice!), cooked and sliced into thin strips
• 1 TBS toasted sesame seeds
• 1 and 1/2 TSP paprika
• 1 small red chile pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 TSP salt
• 1/2 CUP grated mozzarella

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. To make the peanut sauce, combine peanut butter, tea, rice vinegar, and soy sauce.  Add the chili oil, ginger, and honey.  Mix until smooth.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, sesame seeds, paprika, chile pepper, salt, and 1.5 TBS of the peanut sauce.
4. Spread the remaining sauce over the pizza crust.  Top with the chicken and cheese.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is lightly browned.

I will admit, this was not my favorite dish.  For such a small amount of peanut butter, it sure packed a heavy punch! I'd double the spices if you like it hot, otherwise, it's got a nice slow burn.  :)

Actual, Consistent Updates Incoming...

That's right. Starting tonight, with Gourmet Thai Chicken Pizza (working title), there will be regular blog updates. About food, family, life, and how to get the most out of all three! <3