What are your New Year's Eve and New Year's Day plans? My plans include having this shrimp with lemon butter. My plans do not include resolving to lose weight, as that plan is already in motion and all I need to do is keep doing what I'm doing. This year, I resolve to do other things, such as having more joy in my life. What about you? Since you too have this program down, what resolutions are you making?

Shrimp with Lemon Butter

Whatever your plans are, I wish you all a happy new year. May your new year be full of many new experiences and may your heart be full of joy like you've never know before.

Shrimp with Lemon Butter

When I saw this recipe, I knew this would be the perfect dish to bring in the new year. It promises to be an easy and quick dinner, full of wonderful.

Ingredients

• 1 stick of butter (I used a 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 packet Italian seasoning* (I used jarred herbs instead: red pepper flakes, chives, dill, and black pepper)
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• fresh parsley or basil (optional)

*One of my key friends suggested packets of Italian seasoning may not be allowed, so you may want to use jarred or fresh Italian herbs instead. I thought that taco seasonings are okay, so it seemed logical that Italian seasoning packets should be okay too. I'm not always right. Remember, I'm just one person sharing my weight loss journey and I refine my journey along the way.

Instructions

1. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil. I used a glass baking dish.
2. Melt a stick of butter and pour into the foil. I added the butter and oil to the baking dish and melted it in the dish in the oven. Be careful not to burn the butter.
3. Add lemon slices and minced garlic on top of the butter.
4. Place fresh shrimp on top of butter mixture. I added the olive oil on top of the shrimp.
5. Sprinkle one pack of dried Italian seasoning (or jarred herbs of your choice) on top of shrimp. 
6. Bake in the oven at 350 for 15 min. 
7. Optional: top with fresh parsley or basil when the shrimp first comes out of the oven.

01/05/14 Update
I made this recipe yesterday and it was so delicious that I didn't stop to take a photo. I tasted a piece of shrimp, to make sure it was cooked enough, and immediately plated up my dish and ate every bite.

I served it on top of spaghetti squash.

Another great option is to serve it on zucchini noodles.

Zucchini noodles made with a spirooli

December 30, 2013

Are you looking for an appetizer to bring with you to a holiday party? These mushrooms may be just what you're looking for - they're stuffed with sausage and spices - no bread! I'm thinking these mushrooms might be a good metaphor for Julie's reference to her sausage-sixes (while on maintenance, she know it's time to go back in the river when her size 6 clothes are tight). While at a party, I can eat these mushrooms and ask myself which do I want more: to reach my goal size or to eat that non-key food being offered? Easy choice. What about you - what do you plan to do to stay on program the rest of this holiday season?

Stuffed mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 8" sausage links
• 12 2" Bella mushrooms
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 green onions
• 2 Tbsp Parmesan
• 1/3 cup mozzarella (optional; you also may use less)
• 1/8 tsp oregano
• 1/8 tsp parsley
• 2 fresh basil leaves, diced

Directions

1. Chop the sausage finely. 
2. Brown the outside of the sausage.
3. Add a little water and steam sausage to cook it thoroughly while maintaining its moisture.
4. Remove about 2/3 of the insides of the mushrooms.
5. Discard the hard stem tips and then dice the rest and add it to the sausage. 
6. Finely chop 2 large cloves of garlic and the bulb ends of 2 green onions and add the sausage.
7. Remove from heat.
8. Dice 2 more cloves of garlic and mix that in with sausages. 
9. Dice the lower half of the green onions and add to mixture as well. 
10. Add in the Parmesan, mozzarella, oregano, parsley, and basil. 
11. Mix thoroughly
12. Spoon mixture into the mushroom caps; the mixture should mound in each mushroom without falling out. 
13. Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and put the mushroom caps onto the foil with spacing between each. 
14. Cook at 400F for about ten minutes. 
15. Let cool before serving.

This how the mushrooms look before they go into the oven.

Recipe and photo source: Bella Online

December 27, 2013

With all the special holiday foods on our tables at home and in the office, it's easy to feel deprived of all those foods we see our friends and family eating. I haven't felt deprived for most of my weight loss journey, but this holiday season--all kinds of sweet things are calling my name. Recently one of my key friends asked another key friend: how do you deal with feeling deprived? Her reply: I go buy a pound of shucked lobster with real butter! How deprived can this program be if we can eat lobster with melted butter?

I had this shucked lobster appetizer at Masses Seafood, Chicopee, MA.

Every year I go to a handful of holiday parties, but this year, I bowed out of two big parties that I've always enjoyed, because I didn't feel like I could deal with all those foods. Later, I felt sorry for myself that I was deprived of the parties. Sigh. This is crazy talking.

I went to one party because the food seemed easy enough for me to handle. Upfront I knew most of the foods would not be key-friendly, so I resolved I would go to the party, but I wouldn't eat anything. The party started at 3:30, and since I don't normally eat at that time of day, I figured how hard could this be? At the party, I found a few key foods and I ate them, but I felt deprived, because everyone was enjoying gluten-free cookies. Wah, wah, wah...why can't I at least have gluten-free cookies...? This is crazy talking.

I survived that party, but yesterday I was offered one of Ben's homemade cookies. It was like a watching a slow motion movie scene: a long shot of the big smile on his face,  zoom in on his arm stretching out to me, holding the container. . . focus on the container. . . zoom. . . zoom. . . pause, stop camera on a close up of cookies. This is crazy talking.

That was one of those killer days with lots of pressure. Those cookies would relieve me of the pressure right? Just one right? Sigh. This is crazy talking.

No, no, no. Tap, tap, tap. Walk away from the cookie jar. Step away from the crazy talk.

I've decided to just face it: this holiday season is harder for me than the previous two years on this program. Done. Deal with it. Tap, tap, tap. Walk away from the pity pot. Stop with the oh, poor me drama and focus on what this holiday season has to offer me that the other two seasons did not: vitality, high energy, and a desire to live my life with as much joy as possible.

What brings me joy is being full of enough energy to run around with my niece and her children after Thanksgiving dinner. Running in the 2013 Hot Chocolate 5k in Northampton (just over 3 miles) was  joyful too!

Wishing joy to all of you, through this holiday season and into the new year!

My niece and her children.

Dec. 2013 Hot Chocolate 5k Run Northampton

December 18, 2013

It's that time of year that many are cooking food to share at gathering with family and friends. For many, this means baking. I debated long and hard about baking for our family gathering coming up this weekend. But then I had a dream and that changed everything.

Meatballs are what's cooling in my kitchen. Photo by Theresa.

After waking from my dream, I decided I needed to be one of the people who bring real food to this gathering. I decided there will be enough people bringing baked goods and I didn't need to be one of them. I don't care if the baked goodies are store bought or homemade. Although 2 weeks ago, when I debated about what to bring, it seemed important to me that there be home baked items and I should be one of the people baking them.

Then I had my dream and I came to my senses.

I make really incredible meatballs, so that's what I decided to make. Last night I went to the store and  bought 6 pounds of beef and the other ingredients I needed.

This morning, I poured the first crock pot of cooked meatballs and sauce into the tin pan, and as they cooled, I began to make the next batch of meatballs. As I rolled the meatballs, I was happy about my decision to dice enough onions last night for this second batch. Crying over onions at 5am is not my ideal way to start a day.

I was also happy that I was rolling meatballs and not making cupcakes. Based on the amount of meatballs I was making, I could not imagine myself baking this many cupcakes. Yes, meatballs was a much better choice for me. Plus, I enjoyed having 3 meatballs this morning. Have I told you I make delicious meatballs? Yes, I do!

About that dream. I often have vivid recall of dreams. Some dreams I remember for years. This one I will remember for a while and it was definitely on my mind as I made my meatballs. Many people say when we are on this program and we dream about food, we're getting ready for a big drop in weight. I welcome such a drop!

The Dream

In my dream, I was making large amounts of cupcakes. I was done with all the baking and most of the cupcakes were beautifully frosted. With a spatula in hand, I picked up the next cupcake and then I froze.

Should I? Could I? Do I dare?

I was debating about eating just one.

I was debating about having just a taste of the frosting.

I decided for the later. I took a taste of the frosting. A really big taste.

Suddenly a strong wind blew into the room and within moments--the kitchen was a mess. Sprinkles started falling from the ceiling. Sprinkles, dry ingredients, and batter, were splashed on everything. The floor. Counter tops. The sink. The walls. My hair. My clothes.

I couldn't get away from the mess. Every step I took made more of a mess. My desire to eat just one cupcake or just a taste of frosting was gone. Everything looked disgusting to me. Standing in the middle of my kitchen and looking at the mess, I didn't know what to do next. Then I woke up.

What about you?

What's cooking in your kitchen this holiday season?

What are you doing to stay on program through the holidays?

What are you doing to assure this New Year's Eve, you will not need to resolve to lose weight in 2014, because your weight loss journey in already happening and 2014?

I say let's all join Jane and waltz into 2014 feeling the best we've felt in a long time!


12/12/13 update: Here's my meatball recipe, which I altered to make 6 pounds meatballs. Holy mole, that's a lot of meatballs! I made 3 pounds (1 package) at a time, and then made a second batch. My crockpot won't hold more than 3 pounds plus 1 84 oz jar of sauce. I also modified my recipe a bit; for three pounds of beef: I used 3 eggs, a nameless brand 84 oz jar of tomato sauce, added an entire bulb of fresh chopped garlic, and I added a package of (nameless brand) Italian Seasoning mix to the meat mixture. I think the whole prep time was about 45 minutes (per 3 pounds).

December 12, 2013

This week I had a chance to attend a refresher with Julie, and also met Molly. A double positive experience for me. I had been on the fence as to why I was going and if I really needed a refresher now. I started back in July and have had success on the program. As I have said on my other posts, I have a few times, gone in and out of the river. I feel pretty good, but knew I wasn't on the same strong path as I had been back in the summer, and I still had another size that I wanted to go down. So off I went on Monday afternoon. Let me just say that it was money and time well spent. Here is why:

As I looked around the room, you could see that this wasn't a beginner session, but it was a session of successful KH graduates. Some were at goal, others close. All were there because they needed to be there. We all needed a refresher.

Some folks had tried carbs, some sugar and others were at goal and afraid to go off. Julie assessed the room, asked a lot of questions and then proceeded to talk with us as to "Why" we were there.

Just like before, the 3 hours flew by. I left feeling powerful and invigorated. Knowing that, I have the tools to succeed.  Knowing that, when I am at goal, I know what to do, how to do it and follow the plan. Loose pants - 1 Potato at a meal/day, pants getting tighter.... Back to protein/veggies. Over and over.... Once successful, try another carb. STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR. This was drilled into my head.

I feel invigorated. I feel strong and I feel like I can waltz into 2014 feeling the best I have felt in a long time. knowing that my New Year's Resolution isn't going to be about weight.... Now it's going to be about maybe ... Exercise? Savings? Family? Vacation.... But surely not about my weight or pounds.

If you're on the fence about setting up a refresher, do it. I can say that I am very happy I did.

Happy Holidays,

Jane

December 11, 2013

Here's another Trader Joe's recipe. I'm on a roll here. This veggie dish looks delicious and would be perfect with any of your favorite meats.

Squash Carbonara

Cooking Time: 30 - 40 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 large Spaghetti Squash
• 3 slices Bacon, cut into moderate-sized bits
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, cubed
• 3/4 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese

Cook the squash: 

1. Use a sharp knife to cut squash in half lengthwise. 
2. Use a large table spoon to scrape out the seeds and string. 
3. Season with salt and pepper, place cut side up in a microwave safe dish and add about an inch of water to the bottom of the dish. 
4. Cover dish with cling wrap and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes. 
5. Allow to cool enough to handle before unwrapping. 
6. Use a table fork to scrape squash from top to bottom to separate flesh into strands of "spaghetti." 

Prepare Sauce: 

1. Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. 
2. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel. 
3. Pour off bacon drippings. 
4. Add garlic to pan and sauté until opaque, about 1 minute. 
5. Add milk, cream cheese and peas; simmer over very low heat until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended and heated through. 
6. Add more milk if too thick. 
7. Add squash and bacon; toss to coat. 
8. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese and serve right away.

December 09, 2013

This spicy roasted corn salad recipe comes from Trader Joe's. I've made something similar, but the feta cheese is a new addition for me.  I add beaten eggs to my corn mixture and it's quite yummy. I'm going to try it with feta. This is the perfect quick veggie to have with a nice piece of meat for dinner or with cold chicken at lunch.

Spicy Roasted Corn & Feta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp TJ's Unsalted Butter
• 1/2 cup diced TJ's Red Onion
• 1 package TJ's Frozen Roasted Corn
• 1/2 package Pastures of Eden Feta (green & yellow bag)
• 1/4 cup chopped TJ's Organic Cilantro
• 1/4 tsp TJ's Red Cayenne Pepper
• 2 TJ's Limes
• TJ's Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large frying pan. 
2. Saute diced onion for 2-3 minutes until it softens. 
3. Add frozen corn and heat 6-7 minutes, until warm. 
4. Chop half of the package of feta into small crumbles, it should be about 1 cup. 
5. Add feta, cilantro, cayenne pepper and the juice of two limes, to the corn and stir. 
6. Add pepper to taste. 
7. Serve warm. 

Recipe and photo source: Trader Joe's

December 09, 2013

While organizing photos on my new iMac last week, I found photos from a conference I went to this past October. As I looked at the photos, I realized how much more fun this year's conference was vs the one I went to in 2010. For starters, I'm half the size I was in 2010. I'm also far more mobile than I was in 2010. I remember how exhausted I was walking from my hotel room to the conference in 2010. At this year's conference, I went to Niagara Falls twice and walked for hours both times.

2013 vs 2010

Three years ago when I went to this conference, I ate EVERYTHING they served. Everything at the buffet table. Every snack. Every dessert. Let me be clear here: I didn't eat just one snack and one dessert, I ate one of each snack and one of every dessert. Plus I stuffed my purse with snacks and ate them when I was alone in my hotel room each night. Every night I was so full my stomach ached.

Looking back, I'm so embarrassed at how obsessed I was with food, how I had no shame about the quantities of food I ate in public (and alone), or that I was stuffing my purse with treats for later. I thought everyone else was nuts because they weren't indulging this way too.

At this year's conference I had a blast. Mind you, I really enjoyed myself in 2010, but I was exhausted all the time because I was constantly loading up on sugar. This year I walked between the hotel and the conference with great enthusiasm because each step added to my FitBit goals. I went to the gym 3 of the 5 mornings I was there and I walked rather than taking the bus to our nightly excursions.

Before I left for this year's conference I debated about whether to bring food with me. I was going to be there for a full week, so it seemed a bit much to pack my own food. My final decision was not to bring food. I decided this would be a great opportunity for me to continue to learn how to work the program outside my home. Plus, if I needed to, I could leave the conference and buy food nearby.

The conference meals were full of key friendly-foods. There were a lot of foods that were not on program, including snacks and desserts. I focused on foods I can eat. And guess what - there were 2-3 meat dishes served at every meal. When snacks were served, I had coffee or water and spent time talking to others rather than indulging in sugar.

One shortcoming was that I didn't think about the trip home. I joined co-workers in a van and after the morning breakfast stop we didn't stop except for gas all the way back. I was pretty hungry by the time I got home, because I didn't eat breakfast with the others (I wasn't hungry) and I refused to pay $9.99 for a $4.99 bag of beef jerky at the rest stops. Next time, I will pack a bag of jerky for the road.  But I made it home and I did not starve to death.

We always have choices. When you go to your next conference or vacation, think about how you want your life to be: full of sugar and empty on energy, or full of energy and eating on program. You have free will, so you get to choose. I'm happy I chose to stay on program.

What about you? I'd love to hear about your conference experience and how you stayed on program!

December 07, 2013

If you're one of those people with an obsession for buffalo wings, this recipe may be just what you need to help you change your repertoire. This recipe gives a whole new twist to buffalo chicken. The zucchini are stuffed with chicken, carrots, celery, and a nice surprise - corn for a whole new way to enjoy buffalo chicken.

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1/2 cup carrot
• 1/2 cup celery
• 1/2 cup corn
• 4 medium zucchini 
• 1/2 cup Buffalo hot sauce
• 8 strips of bacon
• 1/4 cup blue cheese dressing*
• 1/4 cup blue cheese*
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese*
• green onion sliced thin

Adjust type and amount of cheese and dressing to suit your tastes.

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, hollow out the zucchini leaving them 1/4 inch thick, reserving and chopping the insides.
3. Cook the bacon in a pan until crispy, set aside on paper towels to drain and reserve 1 tablespoon of grease in the pan.
4. Add the carrots and celery and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Add the reserved zucchini and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
6. Mix in the chicken, corn and hot sauce and remove from heat.
7. Place the zucchini halves in the boiling water and boil for a minute, remove from water and place in large baking dishes.
8. Stuff the zucchini halves with the buffalo chicken mixture sprinkle on the cheese and bake in a preheated 350F oven until the zucchini is nice and tender and the cheese has melted, about 30-40 minutes.
9. Top with green onion slices
10. Optional: drizzle blue cheese dressing over everything.

Recipe inspired from a recipe by Kevin Lynch

December 07, 2013

Oven Roasted Squash with Garlic and Parsley

Ingredients

• 5 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Toss squash with 4 teaspoons oil, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. 
3. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet. 
4. Roast, stirring occasionally, until tender throughout and lightly browned, 30 to 45 minutes (depending on the variety of squash).
5. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat. 
6. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
7. Toss the roasted squash with the garlic and parsley. 
8. Taste, adjust the seasoning and serve.

Recipe and photo source: Eating Well

December 07, 2013

Parmesan Chicken Wings

Ingredients

• 4 lbs. uncooked chicken wings (frozen or unfrozen)
• 5-8 cloves garlic minced (cut back if you don’t like a lot of garlic)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese of choice
• cumin
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon dry basil
• 1 teaspoon dry oregano

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400-425
2. Cut tips off wings and separate the 2 sections and add the wings on a cookie sheet or similar and sprinkle with salt, pepper and cumin. 
3. Bake about 35 minutes or until wings are cooked to your preference.
4. While the wings are baking, add the butter and melt in a small saucepan. 
5. Add the minced garlic and cook on low for about 5 min stirring frequently. 
6. Just before the wings are ready, add 1/4 cup of Parmesan and cook about 2-3 min.

When the wings are done:

1. Remove from cookie sheet and put them in a large bowl. 
2. Add the butter, garlic, Parmesan mixture to the wings and mix well. 
3. Make sure you get the mixture on all of them. 
4. Put the wings back onto the cookie sheet and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. 
5. Broil for about 5 minutes about 3-4 inches from the broiler element. 
6. Keep an eye on them so the cheese doesn’t burn. 
7. Remove from oven and transfer to a plate. 

Recipe and photo source: Tasty Kitchen

December 07, 2013

Zucchini Spaghetti is made with veggies - not pasta. To make veggie noodles, you'll need a either a mandoline slicer or a gadget called a spirooli, which shreds or peels veggies in the shape of spaghetti noodles. I use a spirooli, which a key friend game me.

Spaghetti noodles with tomato sauce. Photo by Doreen.

This dish (above) was served at a gathering of key friends in spring of 2013 and this was my first taste of these delicious noodles.

Making the noodles is pretty easy. You simply place zucchini or squash into place on the spirooli and turn the crank. In the photo below, I used yellow squash.

Spirooli maker. Photo by Theresa

I like to steam the noodles, as it only takes one or two minutes. Be careful not to overcook them. I didn't like cooking them in the microwave as they took too long.

Steam the "noodles" for 1-2 minutes. Photo by Theresa

I made my favorite meatball recipe and served it over squash noodles. Yummy!

Spaghetti noodles with meatballs. Photo by Theresa.

December 07, 2013

Pizza with Zucchini Crust

 Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded zucchini (about 5 small)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese (for the crust)
• 2 oz. mozzarella and/or cheddar cheese (for the crust)
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 2 oz. sliced pepperoni
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 2 cups spaghetti sauce 
• 1 medium sliced bell pepper
• 4 oz. cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese (for topping the pizza) 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Shred zucchini and drain well. 
3. Mix the zucchini with 2 eggs, 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, 2 oz. of mozzarella and/or cheddar cheese, and Italian seasoning. 
4. Press the zucchini mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 9 x 13 in. glass baking dish. 
5. Bake the crust uncovered for 20 minutes.
6. While the crust bakes, brown the ground beef in a large pan. 
7. Add in the onion, pepperoni, and spaghetti sauce, to the beef and cook until onion is soft, about 5 - 7 minutes. 
8. Remove the crust from the oven. 
9. Pour the meat mixture over the crust. 
10. Top with peppers.
11. Sprinkle with 4 oz. of cheese.
12. Bake for 20 minutes or until the pizza is heated through and the cheese is melted and slightly browned. 
13. Allow the dish to stand for 2 - 3 minutes before slicing and serving.

Recipe and photo source: My Humble Kitchen

December 07, 2013

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

 Ingredients

• 1 lb thinly sliced sirloin steak (or deli roast beef)
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 4 large bell peppers
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• 1 pound white mushrooms, sliced thin
• 3 Tbs. butter
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Slice a thin piece off each pepper lengthwise, remove ribs and seeds.
2. Saute butter, oil, onions, mushrooms, and a little salt and pepper over medium heat until onions and mushrooms are nice and caramelized; about 20-25 minutes.
3. Salt and pepper the steak and saute in a little olive oil and until it is no longer pink.
4. Preheat over to 400*
5. Line each pepper with 1/2 slice of provolone cheese.
6. Layer steak and onion/mushroom mixture as follows, so your ratio of meat to veggies is equal or more steak than veggies:
   - add steak on top of the cheese
   - add onion/mushroom mixture on top of steak
   - add steak on top of onion/mushroom mixture
7. Top each pepper with 1/2 slice of provolone cheese.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese on top is golden brown. 

Recipe and photo source: Baker Lady

December 07, 2013

Baked Margarita Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients:

• 1 large spaghetti squash
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 large Roma tomato, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp. each salt & pepper
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

 Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Using a large knife or a cleaver, slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise down the middle. Use a spoon to remove the seeds and center strings. 
3. Drizzle the two halves with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. 
4. Place the squash, open side down on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven, check to see if the squash is soft and easily comes up with a fork into a spaghetti like texture. 
6. If it’s too hard to remove, cook for another 10 minutes. 
7. Remove from the oven, scrape and fluff the stringy squash with a fork. Leave the squash in the skin. 
8. Turn the oven up to broil. 
9. Add the tomatoes and fresh basil into the squash, stir and top with the mozzarella cheese. 
10. Place in the broiler for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. 
11. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving the squash.

Recipe and photo source: Hoopfinity's Happenings

December 07, 2013

This recipe promises to taste like a hash brown casserole. There is controversy as to whether sour cream is "on program." If this recipe doesn't sit right with you, don't make this a weekly dish or don't make it at all.

.

Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin

Ingredients

• 1 medium spaghetti squash 
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 1 small yellow onion, cut in half and very thinly sliced 
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes - more if you like it spicy 
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme 
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Cut the spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds. 
2. Place in a covered dish with a ¼ inch of water and microwave for 10-12 minutes. 
3. In a medium sized skillet over medium heat, add the butter, onions, red pepper and thyme and cook until the onions are slightly brown in color. 
4. Salt and pepper to taste. 
5. Using a fork, scrape the insides of the squash and transfer to a small bowl. 
6. Combine the squash, onions, sour cream and half the cheese together and mix well. 
7. Transfer the mixture to a buttered baking dish and top with remaining cheese. 
8. Place into a 375º for 15 – 20 minutes until golden brown on top.

Photo and recipe source: Dandy Dishes

December 07, 2013

To make these beautiful cupcakes: Make your favorite meatloaf recipe, fill muffin tins with the meatloaf, and then bake. When the meatloaf is cooked, place each "muffin" on a plate and then "frost" the tops with your favorite mashed cauliflower recipe.

Meatloaf Cupcakes

December 07, 2013

Another yummy recipe from contributor Chris.

Cauliflower Carrot Herb Mash

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower, washed and cut into florets
• 3 to 4 small to medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 sweet onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Place cauliflower and carrots in a steamer basket in a large pot, season with salt and pepper, steam until soft (about 10 to 12 minutes, test with fork).
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in non-stick skillet on medium heat.
3. Saute onion, garlic, and herbs until onion is translucent. Salt and pepper, set aside.
4. Place steamed cauliflower and carrots into a food processor. Add the onion mixture and 1 tbsp oil. Process until smooth.
5. Garnish with additional fresh thyme or rosemary.
6. Enjoy!

December 07, 2013

Salt & Pepper Wings

Ingredients

• chicken wings
• olive oil
• minced garlic
• sea salt
• pepper
• chili powder

Instructions

1. Toss chicken wings in olive oil, minced garlic, sea salt, pepper, and chili powder.
2. Bake at 375 for an hour.
3. Enjoy!

December 07, 2013

Caper Baked Chicken

Ingredients

• 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (halves)
• 1 lemons juice
• black pepper (ground, taste)
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup steak sauce
• 4 oz capers (liquid reserved)

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Arrange chicken in an oven proof clay pot or medium baking dish. 
3. Coat with lemon juice, and season with pepper.
4. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, steak sauce, 2 tablespoons capers, and 2 tablespoons caper liquid. 
5. Reserve remaining capers and liquid for another use. Pour the butter mixture over the chicken to coat.
6. Cover and bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. 
7. Drizzle with remaining liquid from the baking dish to serve.

Recipe and photo source: All Recipes

December 07, 2013

Ready for some new recipes? Me too! But where are those new recipes when we need them, like when we're in the grocery store? Today's new recipe is butternut squash fries. A recipe I posted back in 2013 and over the years it's become one of favorite winter dishes.

Butternut Squash Fries

I've learned to create a shopping list for 2-3 days of meals on an app on my iPhone. This inspires staying on program, especial on those days I'm hungry and want to eat something quick. Plus, this allows me to get in and out of the store faster. That said, there are still many days you could spot me sitting in the grocery store looking through this blog for recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 Medium Butternut Squash (about 3 cups)
• 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 Tsp. Sea Salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°

Line a baking sheet with foil; top with a wire rack for baking and set aside.

Peel the squash with a potato peeler or cut skin off with a knife. Remove  the pulp and seeds and then discard. I find it easier to cut the ends off of the squash and then cut all the squash into smaller pieces. I slice away the pulp and seeds when the squash is small, but you can scoop them out after you cut the squash in half.

When cutting the squash, keep in mind that you'll want to have long thin slices about the size of regular fries; don't make these pieces too short or thick.

Place your sliced fries into a baking sheet, lightly drizzle oil over, toss the fries to coat fully.

If you want to spice this recipe up, this is the time to add the ingredients in the ranch seasons recipe below.

Give everything a good toss until each piece of squash is well coated with the mixture.

Place the squash in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 40-50 minutes or until starting to brown on the ends.

Once they are nicely caramelized, or cooked to your preference, remove from the oven, add salt (optional), and allow to cool slightly.

Butternut Squash Fries with Beef Pot Roast

Dry Ranch Seasoning

This seasoning spice recipe is more than you will use in this one batch of fries. The idea is to have this seasoning mix ready for any time you needed it. An alternative is to sprinkle a little of each ingredient on top of your fries after you add the oil and before you put them in the oven.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. Parsley
• 2 Tsp. Garlic Powder
• 2 Tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 1/2 Tsp. Dill
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 1/2 Tsp. Pepper

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or empty spice jar.

Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Related

• Beef Pot Roast

December 07, 2013

This yummy chili recipe comes to us from contributor Chris.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 lbs Italian sausage, casing removed
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. In a soup pot, brown ground beef, sausage, onions, and garlic over high heat 20 to 25 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Add remaining ingredients; mix well and bring to a boil. 
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Top with all your favorite chili toppings from shredded cheese to chopped onions and sliced jalapeno peppers.

This is a perfect recipe to keep on hand in the slow cooker on those afternoons or evenings when everybody is coming home and eating at different times.

December 07, 2013

This is a recipe for wraps and tortillas made from acorn squash. Anyone out there want to make this and let us know how it turned out?

Acorn Squash Tortillas

These paleo wraps work great for "mini tacos" and "sandwiches" but they would be amazing to serve as a bed for a meaty chili, or simply as a side for any of your fall soups.

What you need:

• 1 acorn white or yellow acorn squash, seeded, peeled, and diced.
• Pastured raised eggs.
• Seasonings: Chili powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg (to taste).

Tools you need:

• Cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel.
• Parchment paper.
• Baking sheet.

How you make it:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cut, clean, peel, and dice your acorn squash.
3. Place your squash cubes in a food processor and pulse into a consistency finer than rice is achieved. 
4.  Microwave your fine squash pieces for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened and steamy. You can steam them if you do not have (or want to use) a microwave.
5. Place your squash into your cheesecloth or kitchen towel, wrap tightly, and try to squeeze out as much water as possible. Caution: water will be hot.
6. Let your cheesecloth hang from your kitchen faucet for 10 minutes, then come back and try to squeeze out more water. The goal is to remove as much water as possible.
7. Mix 1 cup (packed) of your strained squash per 1 egg. 
8. Season lightly with chili powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Basically just a tiny shake or dusting of each. For a thinner product, use 3 cups of squash and 2 eggs.
9. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, and pour your squash/egg mixture into 3 to 4 inch circles. Use the back of a spoon to spread them out, making sure you cannot see through them at any point.
10. Bake for 10 minutes, then carefully use a spatula to remove them from the parchment paper and flip them. Continue baking for another 5 to 8 minutes.
11. Allow your "tortilla wraps" to cool for a few minutes on a cooling rack or another baking sheet.
12. Finish off your wraps by searing them in a hot pan to add color and some criminalization.

Notes:

• You can also make these on a greased griddle, as you would make pancakes.
• For every cup of cooked squashed mixture and single egg, the recipe yields 4 medium wraps.

Source: Palo Pot

December 03, 2013

Here's a yummy looking soup to have with a burger or slices of chicken on a cold winter day. I'm on  a roll with posting recipes that I've been meaning to try. Time to share and let you try them and let me know how they turn out. Perhaps you can inspire me to make this one...

Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

Ingredients

• 3 red bell peppers, halved and seeded
• 3 ears shucked corn
• 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, halved, seeded, and peeled (about 4)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cups chopped onion (about 2 medium)
• 3 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Preparation

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.
2. Arrange bell peppers, skin side down, and corn in a single layer on a grill rack; grill 5 minutes, turning corn occasionally. Add tomatoes; grill an additional 5 minutes or until vegetables are slightly charred. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. Coarsely chop tomatoes and bell peppers; place in a medium bowl. Cut kernels from ears of corn; add to tomato mixture.
3. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion; cook 7 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato mixture; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to high, and stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Cool 20 minutes.
4. Place one-third of tomato mixture in a blender; process until smooth. Place pureed mixture in a large bowl. Repeat procedure twice with remaining tomato mixture. Wipe pan clean with paper towels. Press tomato mixture through a sieve into pan; discard solids. Place pan over medium heat; cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in salt and black pepper.
5. Ladle soup into bowls; top each serving with cheese and chives.

Photo and recipe source: myrecipes.com

December 03, 2013

Here are a handful of recipes for veggie chips, which you can make with kale, carrots, turnips, beets, butternut squash, zucchini, or radish. I haven't made any of these, but I love veggie chips and perhaps I will get around to making these later this month. Meanwhile, there's no reason to hold back this recipe that some of you might use sooner than later, especially if you are looking for something to bring to a holiday party that you can eat too.

Veggie Chips

I'm not sure my chips will ever look as beautiful as the photo above, but it is inspirational.

Note: These chips should not be eaten alone, because we don't snack. Also be sure you have an equal amount of meat to veggie; bite for bite or less veggies than meat.

The following guidelines apply to all recipes:

• Use a mandolin — a cooking utensil that can pump out uniform, thin slices — or a chef’s knife to cut slices 1/8 — 1/4 of an inch thick. It’s important to get the chips thin to get just the right crisp.
• When placing the chips on a baking sheet, line the sheet with parchment paper and lay the chips in a single layer. If the chips overlap, the edges won’t cook evenly.
• For even cooking, rotate the pan halfway through and flip the chips.
• For small batches, pop the chip subs in a toaster oven.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container, though most of these won’t stay at their peak crunchiness for long.

Carrot Chips

Carrot Chips

These veggie chips have lots of beta-carotene, which converts into vitamin A in the body.

Why munch on boring carrot sticks when you can turn raw carrots into crispy, delicate chips instead? A vegetable peeler (a Y-shaped peeler works best, but use what you have) is the only tool you’ll need to make these sweet, paper-thin crisps that are perfect for healthy snacking or as a garnish for your salad.

The carrot slices shrink considerably when baked, so buy the thickest carrots you can find to end up with wider, sturdier chips.

1. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the carrots into thin, even slices. 
2. Preheat oven to 250 and bake for 45 minutes, or until crispy.

Beet Chips

Beet Chips

Beets have a ton of antioxidant betalain, known for it’s anti-inflammatory and detoxification powers. Slicing the roots and baking them produces a deep purple chip that’s sweet from natural sugars (or a golden yellow if made with golden beets).

1. Preheat oven to 350, and bake 20 minutes. 
2. Rotate sheet and bake 10-20 more minutes. 
3. For a sweet and savory combination, top them with a touch of goat cheese.

Smoky Beet Chips

Smoky Beet Chips

• 2 medium sized beets, scrubbed clean
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• Olive oil
• Flake sea salt for finishing

This recipe adds a bit of spice: paprika and garlic...

1. Preheat your oven to 375. If you use convection, preheat to 350.
2. Thinly slice your beets and place them in a bowl of water. Rinse beets until water runs clear and pat dry with a dishcloth.
3. In a shallow dish, beat your egg whites, paprika and garlic together.
4. Take your beet slices that have been dried and one at a time, dip into the egg white mixture and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Keep the chips close together but do not overlap. Place into your oven on the lowest rack.
5. After 10 minutes, slightly coat the beets with oil. Increase your oven’s heat by 25 degrees (375 for convection; 400 for non-convection) and continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes. Keep your eye on them and remove from the oven when they turn a beautiful golden red-brown color. Cooking times will vary based on your oven.
6. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes (if you can wait).
7. Finish with flake sea salt.

Butternut Squash Chips

These are the biggest of all the chips in the land. They’re sweet, taste pumpkin-y, and you get two fun shapes out of one squash. The seedless part up top yields sizable rounds, while the bottom part (once deseeded and sliced) makes rings.

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Bake for 20 minutes, flip and cook until brown on the edges.

Zucchini Chips

This green veggie is a solid source of niacin and thiamine, two B vitamins that help us produce healthy hair and skin.

1. Preheat oven to 450. 
2. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flip slices, then roast for another 8-10 minutes. 

Radish Chips

Bear with these little guys. We know it’ll take a little more patience to slice ’em up, but they’re a good source of riboflavin (which helps convert food to fuel) and copper (important for our immunity).

1. Dust these little rounds with curry, turmeric, garlic, paprika, and pepper for a super-flavorful treat.
2. Preheat oven to 350, roast for 15 minutes, flip and cook for another 15.

Turnip Chips

Turnips are a great source of vitamin B6, which helps to produce serotonin, the hormone that helps us sleep and control appetite.

1. If you’d rather not peel them, make sure to give them a good scrub before the chips hit the baking sheet.
2. Preheat oven to 375. 
3. Roast for 20-25 minutes. 

Kale Chips

Kale Chips

Kale is a distant cousin of broccoli and is known to have a very large amount of antioxidants compared to other fruits and veggies. Since kale can sometimes be a little bitter, gently massaging the leaves with a little olive oil before baking. Or dust with Parmesan for the real McCoy.

For a flat chip, use dinosaur kale. The alternative, curly kale, is much more textured.

1. Preheat oven to 375. 
2. Rinse and dry 1 large bunch of kale, then remove the stems and tough center ribs. 
3. Rip the kale into large pieces, toss with a little olive oil, then sprinkle with some salt and pepper. 
4. Bake until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes, checking frequently, as they can burn easily.

December 03, 2013

I have been so fortunate to be the recipient of a great deal of hand-me-downs during my weight loss journey. This week, I decided it is time to find a pair of jeans that fit me just right. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find a pair of jeans that fit in all the right place. But all that is about to change.

New blue jeans and sweater 11-30-13

Shopping used to be SO frustrating for me. I often ended up buying something that didn't fit right, because nothing fit right. My clothes were usually too big. My store choices were limited: The Avenue, Lane Bryant, and Catherine's.

In recent months, I expanded my shopping experience to include Penney's, Macy's, and Dress Barn. I even ventured into Victoria Secret's this year and purchased a few items.

This time I was hot on the trail for some new blue jeans at Coldwater Creek. I was determined to buy a few items from a "normal size clothing" store.

It was Black Friday and the saleswomen were wonderful, so full of patience. I told them that I have a few pair of Coldwater Creek corduroys that are size 18P and that they are too short. I asked for their help finding the right fitting blue jeans.  It was as if they were as determined as I was to find me just the right fitting pair of jeans. I have no idea how many pants I tried on, but trust me--I tried on a lot of blue jeans.

I started with size 16. I really wanted the size 16's to fit, but none of them would zip up. I wanted jeans I could put on without having to lay on my bed, so these would not do for me. Sigh. Keep moving. Nothing for you here.

I moved up to size 18 and they were not fitting right either. They were poochy in the thighs and too big around the waist.

I even tried on a size 20, just to see if I was missing something. Nope - too big. A big sigh of relief followed.  Keep moving. Nothing for you here.

Back to the 18's, this time with a lower waist. The tag indicated "Natural Fit Straight Leg, sits at the waist, shaped through hips and thighs." No poochy thighs. No baggy waist. The hemline was exactly where it should be. OMG - these are perfect! Woohoo! These are the blue jeans I'm wearing in the photo above.

I tried on a ton of blouses at the same time I was trying on the jeans. Every blouse I tried on was a size 14 and not a one of them fit. The size 16 blouses turned out to be a bad fit too. While I couldn't button the 14's, the 16's were baggy. At my current size, this is not the store for me to buy blouses.

I did find the beautiful turquoise sweater that I'm wearing in the photo at Coldwater Creek. I tried an 18, but just for good measure, I had to try a 16 too. No, no, no. The 18 looked fabulous. The 16, not so much.

Yesterday I wore my new blue jeans and the turquoise sweater and I felt incredible all day. I haven't felt this good in my clothes in a very long time. It feels wonderful to feel this way!

I went into Chico's next. I have a couple Chico size 2 tops, so I didn't hesitate to try on 2 beautiful size 2 tops. I bought them both and I'm excited to wear them this week.

There's nothing more rewarding than finding a pair of blue jeans that fit like they were made for you.  Having a beautiful sweater to go with those jeans - priceless!

December 01, 2013