Jan

Egg Muggin’

Weight watchers is going well, really well, so far. Down 8 pounds in my first week. I know it’s water weight, but it feels good none-the-less!

I wrote before about what my typical breakfast was like day-to-day. That has obviously changed. Carbs are so bad on WW. Protein and fiber are very good though, so I had to rethink my morning. This is where my egg muggie comes in. I love this idea!

Take a regular coffee mug and give it a squirt of non-stick spray. Stuff it with spinach you have chopped up. Microwave on high for 20 seconds. Give the spinach a stir and add 1/4 cup of egg whites and a wedge of light laughing cow cheese, and microwave for 40 seconds on high. Give another stir and microwave for another 40 seconds. Make sure the egg whites are solid, and then top the mug off with a bit of Newman’s Own Medium Pineapple Salsa. I also serve this with a side of fat free cottage cheese and pineapple.

This whole breakfast has a Points Plus value of only 3.5! It is delish and guaranteed to keep you full for hours!

I’m loving the way things have been going to far on WW. I feel so much better about myself already. I don’t feel bloated and sluggish. I feel leaner and am learning what starving, satisfied and full feel like. So far I am experiencing a world of good!

106 days ago Short URL Comments

Breakfast/Food/Healthy/weight watchers

cheese/Egg whites/fruit/spinach

Jan

Lovin’ Some Peanut Butter Pie

I made a new friend last weekend, we will call him A. He has challenged me for my crown as the head foodie of my little circle of friends. It’s a running joke amongst us all of who is the supreme foodie. In all honesty, we all kinda rock in the food department. We love to cook. We love to go out and experience new foods. We usually plan our weekends around experiencing one or the other. It’s amazing we are as healthy as we are!

So A has invited me over tomorrow and he is cooking me dinner. He has asked me (ordered me) to bring dessert. He has definitely gotten the better end of this challenge because dessert is not my strong suit. This pie, though, may just knock his socks off!

Peanut Butter Pie

1 Store Bought Graham Cracker Crust
1 5 oz Box of Jello Cook and Serve Chocolate Pudding
3 Cups of Whole Milk
5 Tbsp of Peanut Butter ( creamy or chunky, your preference)
1 King Size Pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Chopped

Add the 3 cups of milk and the pudding mix to a sauce pan, and bring to a boil over medium heat stirring continuously. It will be nice and thick when it reaches the full boil. Remove the pudding from the heat, and stir in the peanut butter immediately. Pour the pudding and peanut butter mix into your prepared crust, and top with the chopped peanut butter cups.

And there you have it, kiddos! It will need to sit in the refrigerator over night to set completely.

So like I said, I don’t know much about dessert, but I’m pretty sure this one will be a winner! Bring it on A! I’m ready for my dinner!

109 days ago Short URL Comments

Dessert/Food

Chocolate/Graham Cracker Crust/Peanut Butter

Jan

A Fresh Start

Today is day one.
I have joined Weight Watchers.
I am dead set on not losing the quality of food and life I have been enjoying, but there has to be a healthier way to live.
I lost 60 pounds several years ago on Weight Watchers, but never reached my goal.
I am hopeful.
I am excited.
Wish me luck!!

114 days ago Short URL Comments

Healthy/Life

Weight loss

Jan

Crafty Cat Toys

This past Christmas I decided that I wanted to make all my gifts. It was a grand undertaking, I know, but it felt like the right thing to do.
I had grown to hate Christmas because of all the shopping. There is so much tension, anger and stress involved with the crowds. It’s so messy!
So say hello to my little cat toy friend!!!

These little guys are so simple to make, and almost too cute to give to the cat! Here is what you need:

Sheets of felt in multiple colors
Polyester batting
Yarn
Catnip
Thread
Scissors
Sharpie marker in black

The process is simple. On sturdy paper draw a heart and cut it out. This is the body of the mouse. I made mine about 3-4 inches tall and about 2 inches wide. Choose your color felt and cut out your heart. Cut 3 pieces of yarn into equal lengths and braid. This will be the tail.
Now put the pieces together! Fold the heart in half, sew together adding in the tail. Before you sew it shut, stuff with batting and a pinch of cat nip. Cut out tiny circles in a different color than the body, and sew to the body. Don’t forget to use a sharpie to add the eyes!

And there you have it! A lovely little toy for one of the most important parts of your life!
Meeee-ow!

123 days ago Short URL Comments

Crafts

Cat Toys/Crafts

Jan

Is it Saturday Yet?

On Saturday I am meeting my favorite girl for some sushi.

Not just any sushi.

All.You.Can.Eat.Sushi.

They are so in for it.

I can eat A LOT of sushi!

So we’re left with one simple question…

Is it Saturday yet???

124 days ago Short URL Comments

Uncategorized

Jan

Typical Breakfast of This Champion

During the work week I have my morning routine stream-lined.

Alarm goes off…snooze.

Alarm goes off again…snooze.

Alarm goes off again…curse and get up.

Shower, and make myself look pretty (although most days I simply aim to not scare the neighbors children).

Walk Emma.

Coffee.

Pack lunch.

More coffee.

Breakfast!

My breakfast has been the same since I began working at the hospital. I needed to find a meal that would hold me over for the longest stretch of time. I eat breakfast around 8:30 am, and don’t take my lunch until around 3:30 pm. I needed a breakfast that would keep me energized and full so that I wouldn’t be sitting in the break room at noon stuffing saltines down my throat. That’s when this simple meal came to be:

Kim’s Champion Breakfast

1/4 cup Old Fashion Oats

1/4 cup Light Soy Milk

1/4 cup water

Raisins

Mix all ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on high for 1 minute 30 seconds. Stir and cook for another 30 seconds.

When the oatmeal is finished cooking I add a spoonful (or so) of plain soy yogurt, pumpkin puree and a few chocolate chips. Along with the oatmeal I always like to have fruit of some sort. Usually it’s a citrus fruit. This week oranges happened to be on sale (8 pounds for $5…I have oranges coming out my ears), so oranges it is! And the final piece, which I tend to think is most important, raw almonds. I only have about 10 with my meal, but they are so filling! Dr. Oz isn’t kidding when he says almonds are the key to staying fuller, longer!

So that is it! Nothing fancy. Nothing extravagant.

Simple. Delicious. Filling.

Now it’s time to go scare the neighborhood children…um…I mean, walk Emma!

127 days ago Short URL Comments

Breakfast/Food/Healthy

Jan

Chocolate Pumpkin Surprise

I love substitutions in recipes.

I love to be able to have the things I like, but in a healthier fashion.

I love that my mother e-mails me every recipe she thinks I’ll like.

I love that this was one of those recipes.

I love chocolate.

I love that the substitutions made were my idea…

Chocolate Pumpkin Surprise

1 1/2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

19 oz. Canned Chickpeas, drained and rinsed

3/4 cup Organic Granulated White Sugar

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 cup Canned 100% Pumpkin

Powdered Sugar for dusting

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch round cake pan, and set aside. Using a food processor, puree the chickpeas. Add the pumpkin, granulated sugar and baking powder and pulse until blended. The mixture will be a bit dry and flakey, don’t worry!

In a microwave safe dish, microwave the chocolate chips in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted. Add the chocolate to the chickpea pumpkin mixture and blend until it becomes a smooth batter. Pour the batter into the greased cake pan you set aside earlier, and place it in the oven. Bake the cake for 40 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted into the center of the cake and come out clean.

Allow the cake to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve!

This cake is fudgie, chocolatey and just delicious. I also won’t ruin the moment by mentioning that the chickpeas add a ton of fiber, and the pumpkin a ton of nutrients. The cake is also a gluten-free alternative.

So please, step outside of your comfort-zone and try this cake. Ignore the beans, but enjoy their benefits! Trust me, and maybe I’ll share my brownie recipe with you!

Eat.More.Cake.

128 days ago Short URL Comments

Uncategorized

Jan

Good Morning Ceviche

I’ve never been one to eat normal meals at normal times. Perfect example was ceviche for breakfast this morning!

Back in March I went home to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends for a week. My friend, Jodi, made her ceviche for me. I had worked once at an oyster bar in Texas so it wasn’t my first experience with having ceviche, but hers made a lasting impression. It was delicious!

Naturally, when I went home for Christmas last month, I wanted more. Sadly we ran short on time, so she sent me home with the knowledge on how to make it myself. I cut a few corners, but it was delicious all the same!

Almost Jodi’s Ceviche

24 oz. White fish of choice (or raw shrimp)

1 Cucumber, seeded and chopped

1 pint Grape Tomatoes, chopped

A bunch of limes (or lime juice if you cheat like I do)

Salt, Pepper, Cilantro and Tabasco to taste

Chips for serving (I used Baked Tostitos with Lime)

First you want to clean the fish (or shrimp), making sure it’s free of bones, skin, shells and tails. Dice it up and put it into a large storage container that has a fitted lid. Jodi told me you could use a food processor to chop it if you’d like. Once all the fish is diced up add the lime juice, enough to completely cover the fish. Put the lid on the container and set it in the refrigerator to “cook”. This step will take several hours. I let my fish sit in the lime juice for about 8 hours total. You want the color of the fish to be completely opaque.

Once the fish is finished “cooking”, drain all the lime juice. I pressed the fish out in a spider strainer. The fish should be soft enough to break apart with your fingers. Add the cucumber, tomatoes and some carrot if you’d like. Now you can add your seasonings. I added salt, pepper and a HEALTHY portion of cilantro. Mmmm…cilantro.

And there you have it! A refreshing, healthy and delicious snack, dinner or breakfast!

Buen Apetito!

129 days ago Short URL Comments

Food

Healthy Meals/Mexican

Thyme of My Life