Recipes for this week

All recipes will feed roughly 6-8 people. we usually keep the leftovers for lunch for the week :)

 

 

Dilled Chicken and Potatoes Recipe
1-14 1/2 oz can of chicken broth, 1/4 cup set aside
1/4 cup cornstarch or flour
1 tbs. prepared mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 onion, sliced
1 lb red potatoes quartered
1-10oz pkg frozed green beans, thawed and drained
... 2 tbs oil 6-8 boneless skinless chx breasts
1tbs fresh or dried dill

In large bowl, combine 1/4 cup broth, conrstarch, mustard, salt and pepper and set aside. Place onion, potatoes, green beans in slow cooker. In skillet, brown the chicken in the oil, then remove and drail. Place the chicken in the crockpot and pour remaining broth from can into the pan. Bring to boil, then slowly add in broth and cornstarch mixture. Cook stiring constantly for 1 minute. Pour liquid into crockpot, top with dill, and stir. Cover, cook on low 8 hrs or high 4 hrs.

 

Coq a Vin

5 slices bacon

2/3 cup green onions, sliced

6 chicken breast halves

1 onion, chopped

1/4 pound whole mushrooms

8 small new potatoes

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup Burgundy Wine--We are using Pinot Noir

 

In large skillet, saute the diced bacon and green onions until the bacon is crisp. remove and drain well, then add chicken breasts to the skillet and brown on both sides. remove the chicken and set it aside. Put the onion, mushrooms, potatoes and garlic in the crock pot. Add the browned chicken pieces, bacon and green onions, salt, pepper, thyme, and chicken broth. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or love 4 hours. **add the burgundy wine the last hour of cooking**

 

Turkey Tacos

1 lb ground turkey

taco seasoning mix

chopped lettuce and tomatoes for toppings

light or fat free sour cream (optional)

salsa

low fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 pkg shells or romaine lettuce that can be used as a shell

 

Brown turkey in a medium size pan. Add in the seasoning mix along with any water that is stated on pkg. Stir together on medium low until water is absorbed. Serve with tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream if desired.

 

Slow Cooker Roast Beef

3-4 lbs. Roast (any beef roast will do)

1 pkg onion soup mix

1 onion, chopped

1 tbs garlic

1 can cream of mushroom soup (milk or water to mix with it)

1/2 bag of baby carrots

5 or 6 red potatoes

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Motreal Steak Seasoning (optional)

 

Wash and cut up potatoes then place in slow cooker. Add in onion, carrots,  and garlic. Place roast on top of these in slow cooker. Then add in the onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup mixed together with one can water OR milk, salt and pepper and seasoning. Stir and cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours or low 8-9 hours.

 

Homemade Pizza

1 whole wheat crust

1 can pizza sauce

1 bag shredded mozzerella cheese

1/4 bag turkey pepperoni

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 tomato, chopped and seeds taken out

garlic salt if desired to flavor the crust

 

Crust will be cooked using box or bag directions. Place the crust on a sprayed cookie sheet. Layer it with a small amount of sauce--about 1/2 a cup. Then add on your toppings--green pepper, onion, tomatoes, pepperoni. Cover with half to 3/4 of the bag of cheese. Place in oven using pkg directions and cook till cheese is melted. Serve.

 

Chicken Stir Fry

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 package shiitake mushrooms
• 2 to 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Serving suggestion: Hot, cooked rice noodles

In a large skillet, heat the oils over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, pepper, and onion and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the water chestnuts. In a small bowl, combine broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and cornstarch. Add to chicken mixture and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium to medium-low, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Serve over hot, cooked rice noodles.

Self Challenge Part 2

In addition to drinking more water and trying to work out each day for 30 minutes, I am also making simple switches in my diet. A great way to do this is to add in fruits/veggies with each meal. For example, berries in oatmeal or whole wheat pancakes. Sandwich on thin bread with lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc...Veggies with low fat dip, cottage cheese, hummus, or salsa instead of chips is another good way. Fruit for snacks throughout the day--dehydrated, fresh, cut up with sugar free or fat free cool whip, in yogurt, raisins, etc....

Really Cool Accountability Website

Upon reading my January issue of Cosmo, I came across a really neat website. It is called http://www.dailyfeats.com/. When you log on, it asks you a few questions about things you want to change and what things you have accomplished. Each time you accomplish one of your goals, it gives you so many points. You collect points to redeem for gift cards or to donate towards charitable organizations. It is really neat! If you sign up, you are welcome to add me as a health buddy. :)

Keeping off the Holiday Pounds

To keep off the holiday pounds I have been trying to fit in a hour Zumba workout each morning. This may seem like a lot of time to devote, but it is well worth it. My daughter loves it and usually tries to mimic the exercises or will dance around me to the music and sing along :) It is a great way to stay motivated. I have also been finding that this is a great way to make sure I get my workout in without excuses. A few great results from my new workout.....

1-tons more energy throughout the day
2--better mood
3--I feel better about myself
4-As of last week, I have lost 3 lbs.

I will say that I haven't been as good about eating all the right things, but I have been limiting the sweet things that I eat. Cookies, pies, cakes, etc are all a great temptation this time of year as well as candy and chocolates. I find that if I have a small cookie or 2 or maybe 3 mini Hershey bars, that it helps to keep me from feeling deprived and crashing into a whole box/bag of goodies.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and remember that you can do anything that you set your mind to :)

Self Challenge

In order to stay motivated and to drop a few pounds, I have decided to add an entry about my own journey. I am currently at 151 lbs and would love to get back to the 130s. So starting today, I have decided to make small steps each week to ensure they are steps I can continue to implement as time goes on.

STEP 1-Replace at least 3 drinks a day with water. (all others are lowfat milk, tea/coffee)
STEP 2-Work out at least 30 mins each day

I have done step 1 successfully now for a week, so now I am keeping that and adding in the 2nd step. I am hoping to make a post each day about how I have been doing to keep you all updated and to keep myself motivated as well. If anyone is interested in doing this along with me feel free to come a long for the ride. I could always use a fitness buddy even if we just support each other and hold each other accountable :)

So today--11/28/11

I had Cheerios, lowfat milk and a grapefruit for breakfast. Lunch was homemade pizza with turkey pepperoni. Dinner is going to be turkey slider burgers, salad, and sweet potato wedges. I had water with lunch and am having it again with dinner. I also had a snack of about 3/4 cup of almonds.

Used treadmill for 30 mins and then did some squats, lunges, etc....

Low Calorie Alternatives

Here are a few low calorie alternatives that I have found enjoyable.

Drinks--

• Add a few drops of MIO liquid to your water for a tasty treat. They come in all sorts of flavors and don't have an aftertaste.
• Brew homemade tea. Instead of adding in sugar, try adding in sugar free liquers such as raspberry to get the sweet taste instead.
• black coffee
• low cal lemonade

Snacks--

• Apple with 1 tbsp peanut butter (151 calories) with 1 tbsp Nutella (180 calories) with low fat caramel dip (177 calories)
• 1 cup raw veggies with 2 tbsp fat free sour cream mixed with ranch powdered dip mix (65 calories) with 2 tbsp hummus (100 calories)
• 1 cup generic white air-popped popcorn (31 calories)
• 20 Snyder's mini pretzels (110 calories)
• Most fat free varities of Yoplait are around 100 calories
• Fiber One 90 calorie bars
• 1 cup seedless grapes (110 calories)
• I medium banana (105 calories)
• Stretch Island Fruit Co.’s fruit leather (45 calories)

Hoping to add more soon. Stay tuned!!

How to Use Fruits and Veggies to Help You Manage Your Weight

Great article that I found that offers advice on how to add fruits and veggies to your meals to up the flavor and decrease the calories all while getting in your daily fill.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/fruits_vegetables.html