The One point cupcake!

You have to love Curtis Stone.. I think his mission in life is to show people that they can make food that is good and good for you! He can even make cupcakes! :) When you make them with the modifications in the frosting that I did, you get a yummy 1 point cupcake that has almost zero fat and lots of fiber! :) I used the same cake recipe.. find it here!

One point vanilla cupcake ( 1 point/ 90 calories/6 cupcakes)

Batter
5 organic egg whites
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Icing
4 oz FF cream cheese
1/2 banana
1 T Strawberry low sugar preserves

See directions in above link..They are very easy to follow.. when making the frosting.. stir in the preserves as well it adds a great flavor to a kind of boring frosting!

Light General Tso's

The entire time hubby was eating this he kept saying.. "This is good.. but the fried stuff you make is better..you should fry it again!" Keep dreaming buddy...this is a yummy low calorie alternative to the full fat original. I think next time I will double the sauce and add steamed broccoli.

General Tso's (14 points/668 calories/ 1 serving) This makes about 2-3 servings so split your calories or points however you wish

3/4 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon chopped  fresh ginger

Cooking Spray

3 dried red chilies, boiled and chopped (use gloves!)

3 cloves garlic 

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into pieces 

In a bowl, whisk together broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, and vinegar. set aside.

Add cooking spray to a non stick pan and saute ginger and garlic for about 1-2 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for about 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Add sauce and simmer until it thickens.

Serve with brown Rice. (2 points for 1/2 cup)

Pumpkin Turkey Sloppy Joes

My four year old ate every last bite of his dinner ( and the little bit of leftovers the next day!).. and My 2 year old kept yelling  "look Pumpkin!" They really enjoyed this meal and it was super easy!

Pumpkin Turkey Sloppy Joes (5points/270 cals/4 servings) (this is for joes only the pie crust is 100 calories and 7 grams of fat for 1/8th.. the boys ate it.. I used a whole wheat bun!)

1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
1 can Manwich Bold
1 green bell pepper, chopped
Cooking Spray
1 Pillsbury pie crust

Roll out pie crust on ungreased baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, cut out your face, then bake at 425F for 9-10 minutes.

While crust is baking, Spray non-stick pan with cooking spray and cook green bell pepper om medium heat until soft.. add ground turkey and break it apart with spoon, brown until cooked through. Stir in Manwich sauce.

Take out pie crust and place it on top of the joes!  Eat immediately!

Pasta with Butternut Parmesan Sauce

 Butternut Squash Parmesan Sauce (4 points / 170 cals/4 servings) original recipe here.

1 butternut squash average size

1-2 chopped shallots

1/2 cup Half and Half

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

 1 T fresh parsley

 2 t lemon juice

water as needed to thin sauce ( mine was pretty thick)

Pasta ( whatever kind you like.. not included in cals)

Salt and pepper

cooking spray

Cut Squash in half and lay in baking dish , skin size up, cool for about 10 minutes. Scoop out the squash flesh from the skins and purée with a blender adding water as needed. ( I yielded about 4 cups of puree for this recipe)

Saute chopped up shallots with cooking spray in a non stick pan. add squash and mix. Incorporate H&H into sauce and add parmesan. Salt and pepper to taste.. Stir in water to desired thickness.

Serve over cooked, hot pasta.

2 more pounds...

AND..

feeling great and excited about future goals..2 more pounds and I get to buy my first reward prize!

Iron Skillet Pizza

Have you ever purchased a pre-made wheat crust at the store? Not cheap! so I made my own.. and it was pretty good if I do say so myself! :) The picture only shows 1 pizza but there is plenty enough dough for two! Original recipe here.

Iron Skillet Pizza

Dough (4 points/225 cals/6 servings)
1.5 cups warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1tsp sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
3 T  Promise light margarine

Toppings ( total of 9 points and 380 cals..depending on how puch you put on each pizza)
1 c Reduced fat cheese
1 1/4th cup sauce
1 serving turkey pepperoni

Dissolve yeast in warm water with salt and sugar. Add 2 cups of Wheat flour. Mix. Add 3 T melted Margarine. mix in cup of white flour..knead together and let rest for about an hour. Spread dough out into oiled (cooking spray) skillet. add toppings and bake at 425 until dough is cooked through. about 20 minutes.

Orange Beef and rice (crockpot)

This was just OK..I normally love stuff from the Crock-pot Lady, But try as I might, with the exception of lemon and lime, I just can't get into fruit mixed with meat. I am posting this  because although the taste was just OK for me, the combination of veggies and beef was top of the line! I will be making this again without the orange juice and honey.. but instead, replacing it with more traditional flavors of ginger, garlic, soy, and lemon. The way that the sub-par beef was fall apart tender was great.

Hubby thought it would be funny to put his finger in the pic.. funny him ..har har! Orange Beef (4 points/ 195 cals/4 servings)
1 lb Beef round steaks..cut into pieces
1/2 cup orange juice
2 T honey
2 T soy sauce
2T chopped Ginger
1 big huge red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
4 green onions
1 head bok choy
Brown rice ( 2 points/108 cals/ 1/2 cup)

Marinate first 5 ingredient for a few hours or overnight. Dump everything in the crock pot, chop veggies and put on top. Cook on low for about 6 hours.

:)

160!  That is all. :)

Egg Foo Scramble

Egg Foo Scramble (4 points/188 cals/4 servings)
6 eggs
8 oz sliced mushrooms
4 green onions.. chopped separate white and green
8 oz chicken breast.. cut into pieces
1 T soy sauce
1 T fish sauce (or oyster sauce)
1 t white vinegar
pepper
cooking spray

Mix soy sauce, vinegar, and fish sauce together, set aside. Scrabble eggs in a bowl and add pepper.  Coat non- stick skillet with cooking spray and cook chicken until done about 3-4 minutes. add white scallions cook for additional minute. Saute mushrooms until desired doneness. add eggs and scramble..add sauce. garnish with green onions.



Chicken=good  Chocolate= even better!
Chicken and chocolate together.. not even close!
I also made this and it was a complete disaster.. but if you want the recipe and you think you may like it.. you can get the recipe here. I won't be making it again, but everyone is different. I'm still kinda mad I wasted 1.5 pounds of chicken. For 4 servings it is 294 cals and 6 points.

Strawberry Soda Cake

The biggest thing I have learned so far in this journey is everything in moderation. Most days I need to watch what I eat and make the right choices, but I know I would fail and fall flat on my face if I didn't enjoy food as well. Here is the cake that I made for the hubbies 30th birthday. It was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!
Adapted from Mommy's Kitchen

Strawberry Soda Cake ( 13.4 points/ 570 cals/ 8 servings)

Cake
box strawberry cake mix
Strawberry flavored soda (amount of water called for on box)
2 eggs
5 T oil (about 1/3 cup)
about 1/2 cup fresh smashed up fresh strawberries

Blend all together and bake according to package directions.. ( may need 2-3 more minutes because of fresh fruit)

Frosting
1 cup Confectioners sugar
8 oz cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat.. saved me a few cals right?)
1 tub cool whip
about 1/4 cup mashed up  fresh strawberries

Cream together room temperature sugar and cream cheese. Hand stir in cool whip and strawberries. Frost on cooled cake.

Moving on.. no regrets!

Last night my hubby and I went out to celebrate the last night in his 20s. We went to see a movie and I knew that after we were going to the new Mexican restaurant in the area. I already knew I would go way over my daily food allowances and had prepared myself that I was OK with not losing any weight this week..( I was not OK with gaining however!) So when the time came.. I ate wayyyyy to many chips.. and then dinner came and even tho I only ate maybe 2/3rds of what was on my plate.. I instantly started to regret what I had done..The ground beef  was extremely greasy (note to self and anyone else that may go there.. get the chicken in your dishes!). The meal, while good, has actually made me sick, not because there was something wrong with the food, but because my body is no longer used to the high fat, high calorie ingredients. My stomach as been bloated and blah since last night. I did not weigh in this weekend because I feel my choices from last night has hurt all the progress I may have made this week. I plan on waiting a few days before I step back on the scale to counter balance what I ate.. Moving on.. no regrets.. today is a new day!

Turkey Sausage, Kale and White Bean Soup

This was yummy! My 4 year old who turns his nose up to anything green ate the entire bowl! I also got this from Gina! I promise to have other recipes soon from several different places.. But its hard since everything I have made from her blog is SO GOOD!

Turkey Sausage, Kale and White Bean Soup
(5 points/ 250 calories/4 servings)

1 lb Jenni-O Turkey sausage (mild)
1 bunch of fresh Kale (ribs and stems removed)
1 can Cannellini beans- drained and rinsed
4 cups 99% FF chicken broth
1-2 cups water.. didn't measure it exactly
Pepper
2 cloves garlic
cooking spray
All Natural French Baguette ( 3 points/150 calories for 1/4th..optional)

Coat bottom of cooking pot with spray and brown turkey sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon until cooked through. add chopped garlic and saute 1-2 more minutes. add broth, water, beans, and pepper to the pot and simmer about 8-10 minutes. add kale and simmer for about another 8 minutes..Enjoy!

Happy 2nd Birthday baby boy!

Hard to believe its been 2 years since they placed this little guy in my arms..I love you and can't imagine what life would be like without you!

Rewards and Dijon Lime Chicken

So I have heard along the way that rewarding yourself when hitting milestones is a good thing..But
I have also heard the arguement.. "Well, losing weight is its own reward!" Yeah, I get that, but at the same time, I'm thinking why not? If you do well at your job, you get a raise. If a dog learns a new trick, he gets a treat. If a child fills up a sticker chart, he gets a reward. So with taht thought process.. Sarah loses weight.. she gets a prize. I tend to reward myself with food in other avenues of my life so I set out to make a list in which none of it involves food.

178..Starting weight
162.. current weight
156.. (Smallest since having children) New nail polish
152..(smallest since becoming pregnant w/ Fhillip)..New shirt
148..(30 pounds)..Healthy cookbook
142..(wedding weight)..new hair cut and foils
138..(40 pounds gone!).. Family portraits
130.. (just a big deal!)..new swim suit!


Beyond this.. I will have to see how I look and feel. I have never stepped on a scale with a 1-3 something in front of it in my adult life.. so we will have to see.

I also made Dijon Lime Chicken from Gina last night for dinner.. very yummy and I will 100% make this again. No need for me to post the recipe as I didn't alter or change a thing!

Homemade Fish Sticks

Fish sticks are yummy.  I remember as a newlywed I would buy  the frozen variety pretty much every time I went to the store.. they were fast, cheap, and easy to make.. pile on the tarter sauce and I was ready to go! The box had 40 in it and hubby and I would each eat 10.. making it the protein for 2 meals..The problem with this.. those 10 fish sticks were LOADED with salt and saturated fat..around 400 calories and 20 something grams of fat! The picture doesn't really do much for the dish.. but they did taste good.. I used cod.. but next time I will defiantly use tilapia.. as the whole family prefers it to cod. The recipe came from Mommy's Kitchen

Homemade Fish Sticks (5.25 points/236 cals/4 servings)
1lb Cod fillets cut into pieces ( or tilapia or sole..whatever you prefer)
1/2 cup flour ( but only about 1/4 cup is used and that is reflected in the cals)
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 egg
1/8 cup milk ( I used 1%)
salt/pepper
Cooking spray

Beat together egg and milk in a shallow bowl. Put flour and bread crumbs on two separate plates .Sprinkle fish sticks with salt and pepper. Dredge fish sticks in flour and dip in the egg mixture. Coat with bread crumbs. Place fish on  lightly sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes.

Happy dance!

My parents took the boys for a few hours.. so for the last couple hours I have been childless and husbandless.. something very rare! When I am in this situation I tend to take me time, which lands me in from of the TV, or maybe I take a nap, and sometimes I clean.. sometimes. Well today was different, I took a walk, and I really enjoyed  what will most likely be the last warm weekend before the frost and the snow comes rolling in! I grabbed my cell, a bottle of water, and a few slices of bread and went and fed the ducks.

So now onto the big news!!! Are you ready? Are you excited? I did the happy dance today.. I decided to weigh myself!! :) I had to do it twice as I didn't believe my eyes! In a week and a half I lost...3 POUNDS! beginning to slide and then getting back on track can really do wonders! Annnnddddd.. I get to post this..

:) woohoo! Please continue with the prayers and encouragement so I can keep this up!

Chicken Parm

I am feeling so good today! I had a sweat pouring workout on my eliptical that left my legs feeling like rubber! That can only mean great things! I was planning on weighing in on Sunday..but I may do it tomorrow, have not decided quite yet.. I'm on a high from doing such a great job this week that I'm afraid when I step on the scale, I will become instantly deflated.. but only one way to find out right?

Anyway, I made Chicken Parmesan for dinner last night. Good old-fashioned comfort food with gooey cheese and tomatoey goodness. Easy way to tip the scales right? Wrong! It's all about portion control and watching how much you put into the dish.  I know I have made this before... and boy oh boy was it good..but I'm guessing I gained a pound just by looking at it.

Chicken Parmesan (7 points/305 cals/ 4 servings)
1 pound chicken boneless skinless chicken breast ( 4 pieces)
2 cups home-made tomato sauce ( or any jarred sauce just watch cals)
1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Italiam bread crumbs
egg white (enough to coat chicken)
1 cup  shredded motzerella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste.

Ronzoni whole grain pasta ( 3pnts/ 180 cals/ 1 serving) - not included with chicken. If you want to skip the pasta.. Have a yummy garden salad instead.

Combine parm, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl. cover chicken in egg white and coat chicken in bread crumb mixture. place in baking dish and put 1/2 cup sauce and 1/4 cup motzerella on each chicken breast. Bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes.

Asian Turkey Meatballs

I'm always searching the web for yummy recipes. The Internet is one big cook book to me, whether I am watching what I eat, or making a cake for a birthday. So, it's time to share the love! What a better way to pass on my ventures for a healthier me than to share my versions of what is cooking in the kitchen! :)

I took this recipe from Gina's skinny taste. I have a feeling that I will be stealing many of her recipes..She took out some of the guess work. I modified it just a little.. (not the best pic.. I don't see myself being one of those major foodie blogs!)

Asian Turkey Meatballs (4pnts/ 170 cals/ 3 meatballs)
1 lb 99% FF ground turkey
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 T chopped ginger
pepper to taste
1/4 cup cilantro
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 T olive oil
1.5 T Maggi Seasoning (or soy sauce)

Blend all of it together.. and form it into 12 meatballs.. Bake in oven at 500°F for about 15 minutes!

And So it begins...

Well, here it is..my first post.  (Go me!)

I need a way to stay accountable in this yo-yo weight loss journey. My entire adult life has been a constant up and down battle with my weight.. and well I'm tired of it! In most of my attempts to lose weight I generally lose somewhere between 10-15 lbs...and then I gain it all back.. every time.

Well that time has come.. I am down 13 pounds and my head is starting to say crazy things again. (It doesn't take much!) I start cheating here and there.."ahh that one cookie won't hurt".."I haven't had anything fried in a long time" I feel down about myself and wonder why most of the yummy things have to be so bad for you..I gripe about my hubby who at almost age 30 can eat whatever he wants and still be within a few pounds of what he was in highschool.

But no more excuses.. today I am going to do something extreme... today...via the internet I am going to share my weight..and put it all out there. This is a big deal.. 99% of the time the only other person that knows my weight is my DR. I even tend to hide from my husband when I pull out the scale.. I'm generally just embarrassed.

So here it is..as of a few days ago ( I plan on weighing in sometime this weeked)..165..it may not seem like a HUGE number.. but at 5ft 3 in,  i am a couple pounds away from being OBESE.. not just overweight.. but OBESE..I want to be in a normal healthy range. I will get there.

Here is my motivation photo..on vaction at the end of July, 178 pounds. It can only get better.