Lunch- Starving..instead of the drive-thru...try this!

Last night I was grilling, so I put on an extra chicken breast. Always plan ahead, as it makes it easier to eat right that way.

For lunch, I was starving. So I made home-made potato chips. I thinly slice a regular potato,spray a plate with becal, place the potato slices, spray more becal, then sea salt. Microwave for 8 minutes or so...flip half-way, and cook until crispy. VOILA! fat free chips!

I made an onion dip out of fat free sour cream and a tsp of dry onion soup mix.

Toast a bunless whole wheat bun from President's Choice, smothered on fat free garlic and herb cream cheese ( instead of the mayo) a slice of tomato and lettuce.

Add some fruit, and check it out! YUM!

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin- another lean winner!

This was an experiment and it turned out great! I must share.


2 pork tenderloins
Fat free herb and garlic cream cheese
sun dried tomatoes
white wine
prosciutto


Slit the pork tenderloins down the middle, and stuff with cream cheese, and sun dried tomatoes. Wrap prosciutto around each stuffed tenderloin. Season with salt and pepper. Splash some white wine in the dish and take a glass for yourself.

Leave covered in your fridge until you are ready to bake.
Bake 400F for 30 minutes until juices run clear.

For a side dish..this is a super easy potato.

Slice baking potatoes in half, lengthwise. Season with olive oil, cracked pepper and sea salt. Bake cut side down on a baking sheet until crispy.

Mix fat free sour cream and a Tbsp of Blue cheese in a dish. Place a dollop on each potato with a few sprinkles of bacon bits. YUM!

Served with rolls and lots of Salad.

Wine Pairing: Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2007 from Cornellana Estates- Chile

I am SO happy I went on that Nature walk...

because my dog- Sam, LOVES walking outside with us. He loves exploring with his family close by, and last Sunday happened to be his last. We lost Sammy Monday night. I miss him terribly and my heart aches. He was a 14 1/2 yr old Chocolate Lab! The love of our life.

We lost a piece of our family....here are the pictures from our last day hiking with him around our property. Not great pictures as I didn't know this was going to be so important to me at the time.





My crazy dog went into the water. He was such a water dog. FREEZING cold this time of the year...nothing would stop him.




through the woods..




Looking up at our house




How high that hill REALLY is! All of our stairs that our 14 yr old Lab would run up and down all the time...

90 second Healthy Dessert!

Peel, core and slice up an apple. Any apple
Place in a bowl
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar ( I used splenda) on top.

Place in Microwave for 90 seconds, and top with frozen yogurt. In this case I used frozen caramel crunch yogurt!

YUM!

Rich, Creamy Sausage Rigatoni- BUT healthy!? YES!

yup! It is a healthy version. Trust me! This is an amazing dish! My taste buds felt guilty eating it, but not sure why? Check out the healthy ingredients.

1 pkg of Turkey Sausage ( read the label...so low in fat!)
1 bell pepper chopped- any colour
1 small onion-diced
1/2 shredded zucchini
1 jar of Healthy Choice tomato sauce
1 can of Fat Free Condensed milk.
minced garlic to taste
salt, pepper, hot pepper flakes, basil, all to taste.
Freshly grated Parmesan

Rigatoni noodles- preferably whole wheat

1. Remove the casings and saute the turkey sausage in the frying pan with minced onion until lightly browned. ( you might need a tsp of olive oil, as it is pretty lean)

2. Bring your Whole Wheat Rigatoni noodles to a boil and cook according to package directions.

3. Add remaining vegetables and garlic and tomato sauce to frying pan mixture. Simmer for a couple of minutes, and then add condensed milk. Stir and season. Let bubble up a bit as sauce thickens into a rich creamy consistency.

4. Drain al dente noodles and add to frying pan to coat with mixture. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan and ENJOY!

My new favourite machine at the YMCA

My daily ritual...pack my cute cheery Lululemon bag and water...and off I go!


Then I drive my kids to school, drop them off and off I go to the Gym. Usually listening to Playboy radio during the 5 minutes it takes after the kids are out of the car! HA!

I walk into the YMCA and see the early risers leaving for work, while I head to my locker to MY new office. THE GYM.

I change into my work-out clothes, which reminds me, I am over-due for some new ones! and I head to this machine.




I have never been able to run. I have issues with impact and I have a hernia problem, and in all honesty..I DON'T LIKE RUNNING! lol

But this machine is made for me. Not only do I get the same simulation as running...you actually run, but never have any impact, but you can adjust the level, so if you want to work harder and work on forming more muscle, you can. Which I have. I tend to do 5k in about 30 minutes on this machine. My butt and thighs are rockin' now! WOOHOO! Plus I burn off about 350 calories.

Then I work on my inner and outer thighs, use the exercise ball and then do my abs. This is now my Mon-Friday routine. IF I get lazy and stay at home, I am a mess. I feel like crap, so I have to go each day. I shower and get ready there, and then I continue on with my day. I feel great when I go. The Y work-out is my version of therapy.

Lean -Indian Butter Chicken Curry

We made several different curries. One was a spicy Venison, and one was all vegetable. This is the recipe for the Butter Chicken.


2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 Tbsp Pataks Butter Chicken Curry Paste ( from the grocery story)
2/3 cup water
6 Tbsp fat free plain yogurt
as many chopped veggies of your choice- green or red peppers, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini,
serve with warm, fresh Na an
steamed rice of your choice


Cut up and brown the chicken in the oil. Add curry paste, yogurt, water, bring to a boil, simmer at least 15 minutes, but longer is better...

( if you would like this dish to be Vegetarian, substitute chicken for a can of chick-peas, rinsed and drained)

Guilt Free Snacks to put out if you have a friend over..

and want to enjoy that fine glass of WINE!

Roasted Red pepper and white bean dip with veggies ( the dip is pre-made from Zehrs- Presidents Choice) and some shrimp. Keep frozen shrimp on hand for a quick snack without the fat!

I had a friend over the other night. I also made some grilled marinated chicken on a stick, scallops, bruschetta, and a few other nibblers...Because we were more focused on the wine and good conversation...good times was had on the deck!

Grilled Veggie and Goats cheese Panini

I LOVE Panini's. ( Ok, I seem to be saying that about every type of food? I just LOVE food in general)

I came up with this healthier version.

Grilled Vegetable and Goats Cheese Panini for 1

1/4 eggplant, peeled and sliced.
4 mushrooms, sliced
1/4 sliced green or red pepper
sun dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp of Goats cheese
2 Tbsp Fat free Cream cheese
1 whole wheat pita

1.Put the eggplant on a paper towel and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for a few minutes, and then rinse off ( this takes the bitterness out of the eggplant)

2. Saute the vegetables in a frying pan with a splash of EVOO or becal spray until tender.

3. Mix goats cheese and cream cheese together. Spread inside pita. Fill pita with vegetables and put on the Panini Press. Heat and ENJOY!

Take a Hike!

I am always looking for stuff to do with the kids, that doesn't involve the TV, computer, or video games. How about HIKING! Nature, exercise AND family time. That has to be good for you!

That is the plan for tomorrow!

Apple, Fennel and Celery Salad

I tried this salad the other night. I am always looking for fun new side-dishes that are healthy.

This one fit the bill. I served it with grilled pork loin. Amazing. Great crunch and a nice new flavour that I am not use to. I will definitely make this one again.

Apple, Fennel and Celery Salad

1/2 c thinly sliced fennel
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1 red delicious apple, cored., peeled and chopped
1/4 c roasted walnuts, chopped

Dressing:

1/4 c plan yogurt
1 tbsp liquid honey
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp poppy seeds
pinch of salt and paprika

mix the dressing together and mix over salad ingredients.

4 servings. 122 cal, 2 g protein, 6 g of fat, 2 g fibre

Never leave the house without....

Your body fuel!


Seriously, if there is something that I have learned, it is that I must NEVER allow myself to get to the point where I am STARVING...because if I do, my car tends to drive to the nearest fast food joint and I go nuts! What a waste....crappy food due to a craving! Save those grams of fat for good ones like a juicy steak later that night!

SO this is what I tend to pack in my car to keep beside me during my morning/early afternoon errands. IF I do this, I know I will be fine.

Extra lean breakfast sandwich

I like to keep my grams of fat to the minimum during the day and week-days as I love to indulge in the foods that give me great pleasure---CHEESE especially during the week-ends, or dinner.

So I start my day with this. Prior to going to the gym. It keeps me satisfied and tastes great.

Weight Watcher bagel- toasted
cooked egg whites with veggies- I used mushrooms in this one
Tomato slice
Salsa
Reduced fat shredded cheese- just a Tbsp or so
fat free sour cream.

I add a half of a grapefruit with that and another slice of tomato and I am lucky if I can eat all of it. Very good and keeps me satisfied.

Breakfast Sandwiches for the Family

A great way to start your day! FUEL your body.

My kids and husband LOVE these. They are so easy to make. Plus it keeps them satisfied until lunch, without any trans fats.

Toast an English muffin ( whole wheat would be best)
Fry an egg in a non-stick pan OR microwave an egg in a microwaveable dish.
Cook some Canadian bacon, ham, turkey sausage, whatever you have. Pick something lean.

Put the egg and meat on the english muffin. No butter needed. Add some cheese, a slice of tomato, and voila! ( this takes me 5 minutes to make for everyone each morning) VERY little clean-up.

I add some fruit to the plate and they have a meal that is lean, satisfying and meets the Nutitional Food Plan.

Protein
Fruit
Veggie
Grain
Dairy.

I LOVE food!

I LOVE food...all foods, I love wine, I love cooking and entertaining...and I certainly don't like feeling hungry!

However, I noticed that my FOODIE lifestyle was causing me to gain weight! Imagine that!?

I didn't want to give up my food, or having fun in the kitchen, but I didn't want to continue to gain weight.

So I joined Weight Watchers and lost the 10-12 lbs I needed and then kept it off by changing the way I cooked, and started moving more. It is possible to eat well, have fun and NOT gain! Yipee!

So stayed tuned to view my recipes that will fill you up, taste wondeful, meet the basic food groups and still have fun entertaining! * cheers!*