No more steamed Veggies....

I used to think that steaming veggies was the way to go. My mom boiled them and steaming is so much better. BUT it seems like you can roast everything and it's even a step above steaming!
Try this recipe for Roasted Broccoli http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html
Someone else told me they roast cauliflower. I am going to have to try it!

Hunger?

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger!

Classified Ad

This classified from the newspaper makes me smile:
NORDIC TRACK $300 Hardly used, call Chubby

Don't tell Kendra.....

I got up early and walked all by self the last two days. I take the canyon trail up to the reservoir and back. It's up hill, into the wind and pretty cold before the sun is over the mountain first thing in the morning. The last half is down hill and much more enjoyable!
Kendra must know however that if they find me in the bushes somewhere she gets to speak at my funeral. It was pretty quite and lonely on the trail alone!

Oven Baked French Fries

Found this recipe that looks like a good one.
You could use salt free seasonings to cut back on the sodium.


Oven Baked French Fries6-8 large russet potatoes
olive oil
***any of the following***
Salt and Pepper
Montreal Steak Seasoning
Johnny's Season Salt
1. Slice the potatoes into sticks. No need to peel them, just leave the skins on.
2. Rinse them off in some water.
3. Lay the cut potatoes on a kitchen towel and dry them off.
4. Put them in a large bowl and drizzle olive oil on top.
5. With a pair of tongs mix the potato slices all around so they all have a chance to get a bit of the olive oil on them.
6. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and place the potatoes on it. I usually use 2 trays so that the potatoes can all lay flat on the sheet.
7. Sprinkle desired seasoning on top. My favorite is this Montreal Steak seasoning. My kids just like salt and pepper, so we usually make some of both.
8. Bake at 415 degrees for about 20 minutes. Stir once, after they have cooked for 10 minutes. Serve immediately!
You can check out the blog I found them on and see a photo here: http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2010/02/slim-down-saturday-6-and-oven-baked.html

These WERE a few of my favorite things...

Just thinking back on what has changed since the 100-Day challlenge started.
These are a few of the things that used to be part of every day for me:
-Dr. Pepper (44 Days without even a sip)
- Grandma Sycamore's white bread (now using 9-grain, 50 calories per slice)
-American Idol on Tueday nights (now I am at the gym during this time)
-Steamed veggies smothered in butter (no more butter)
-Milky Way Dark Chocolate Bars (a personal favorite that goes great with Dr. Pepper)
-Late night bowls of icecream

Roasted Asparagus

So I look back and see that each post so far has a food for the title...so I suppose you can see what is always on my mind!
Thought I would share a recipe I found that even my husband and kids will eat!

Roasted Asparagus
1 1/2 lbs. fresh asparagus, trimmed
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spread asparagus on a baking sheet in a single layer and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and roast the asparagus in the upper third of the oven until the spears are tender when pricked with a tip of the knife; about 10 to 12 minutes depending on their thickness. Remove baking sheet from oven.
Immediately place the butter on a corner of the hot baking sheet to melt with tongs, transfer the asparagus to a serving platter. Pour melted butter over the asparagus and serve. Serves 6.

I have never used the butter and last time I only had the oven to 400 degrees.
It's really yummy!!! Left overs (if there are any) are good cold on a salad or even as a finger food.

Cabbage Soup ...

Made a big pot of Mary's (Kirkham) cabbage soup and it's pretty tasty. Mr. Husband won't get near cooked cabbage so I use it to warm up for lunches. My 93 year old grandma just moved in with us and the two of us think it is great. Thanks Mary for sharing.
Kendra and I had another work out today. Shan'tel likes to keep us on our toes. As soon as you can make it though 10 she announces that we will be doing 20. Thanks Shan'tel for putting up with us! When my kids ask me where I am going I tell them it's my turn for the torture chamber. They say exercise is addicting, sorry I am not to that leval yet.
It's been five days with no Dr. Pepper. I went to lunch with a couple of friends today. All you can drink soda comes free with the meal... It wasn't easy to say "Water Please!"

Dr. Pepper

Well it's day two with zero Dr. Pepper. It has been rationed over the last few weeks as the supply in the garage slowly disappeared. I have been told I am weird but I crave it most first thing in the morning. I have never been a milk drinker so the OJ is trying to statisfy the craving. (kind of works!)I did find a new bread that I just love. It makes great toast to go with that OJ. It is from Bountiful Baskets (you can add extra items to your fruit/vegtable basket) and is called 9-grain bread. It is really yummy! Actually tastes too good to be healthy! LOL
Here is the indgredients off the label:
Ingredients:Wheat Flour, Organic Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Water, Honey, Rye Flakes, Barley, Oats, Vital wheat gluten, Cracked Wheat, Corn, Rye, Millet, Flaxseed, Sea Salt, Yeast.
Serving size 1 slice (25g)Servings per container 18
Amount per serving:
Calories 50
Calories from fat 0
Total Fat: 5g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 75mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 2g
Protien 5g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1%
Iron 1%
Contains: Wheat. Manufactured where there are tree nuts.

We received swiss chard in our basket this week. I have never before cooked it so it will be a new experience for our family. Had fresh tiny asparagus on Sunday. It was yummy.

Fruits & Veggies

Well we haven't received a lot of guidance on what we should be eating or not eating so my personal goal has been to eat more fruits & veggies. I really love them both however they are usually not the most convenient so I tend to grab something that takes less effort to snack on. About 4 weeks ago I joined Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op. You can visit their website at www.bountifulbaskest.org Every Saturday morning a get a huge basket of fresh fruits & veggies for $15. We are lucky enough to have a pick up location in Springville which makes it really nice. People have been traveling from Lehi, Payson and many other places to pick up baskets because it such a great deal. It's all run by volunteers. I now keep a tupperware full of chopped up fresh veggies to snack on, I just need to find a low cal ranch dressing dip recipe. Everything taste better with ranch. So if you have a fun dip veggie dip recipe you use please share. Maybe others will find it useful too. We have had lots of fresh yummy veggies for dinners and plenty of fruit to snack on. The variety has been awesome. It's the first time I have ever eaten a pummelo.
Goal number two (and much more difficult) is to cut out the Dr. Pepper. I have made improvement but and that is all I am going to say on that one at this time!

Valentines Day

So Valentines is not the best day to start a diet, especially when you find your favorite box of chocolates on your pillow. So let's just say I am finishing up "phase one' of the diet which is eating everything in the house that might tempt you later. Tomorrow we will start "phase two" trying to make better choices!