Happy Halloween!

Halloween... The beginning of the Bermuda triangle. There are many ways to survive successfully. Halloween and candy doesn't seem to have the same effect to me as many of the other holidays do.










However days like today always remind me how much my life has changed. I sat in a weight watchers meeting this week reflecting on how much Halloween has changed for me. I don't even really see the candy as an issue. I had a great time with great friends this weekend. I was reflecting on a picture from a few years ago at Halloween and then a picture of myself this year. It makes me realize everything I do every week to improve my life is well worth it. I can't let anything get in my way. No little candy bar is worth going back. Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2008

Dinner Cincinnati Style

One way that I can enjoy a little flavor of Cincinnati is we buy frozen chili at Meijer from our favorite chili place back home Skyline Chili. So to make it somewhat more points friendly I skipped the hot dog and I put half a cup of chili and reduced fat cheese on low calorie hot dog buns. Still get the same great chili taste only lower in points. Cincinnati style chili has a slight sweet taste to it and also has no beans. 

The chili on the hot dog buns with no hot dog as pictured here we call chili cheese sandwiches.







This chili is also really great over spaghetti with the cheese on top.We refer to the Chili over spaghetti with cheese as a 3 way.  If you have the hot dog then we call those a cheese coney. Go and try some and tell me how you like it or if you are a skyline lover already here is a great way to save some calories/points

2 Buns
1/2 cup Chili
1/3 cup Reduced Fat Cheese
11 Points Plus Values

Chili + Fall=Heaven

I love Fall.

I love Chili.

I love pumpkin....

This recipe came from one of my other favorite bloggers/wesbites http://www.skinnytaste.com/. 

Here is the recipe they created for Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili. It warms my soul. (I cut the recipe in half) 9 Servings (3 points plus)
Ingredients
Cooking Spray
2LBS 99% Fat Free Turkey
1/2 tsp Olive Oil
3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1tsp Chili Powder (to taste)
2 Bay leaves
1 Small Onion
2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Oregano
2 (15oz) Cans White Beans norther or navy rinsed or drained
15oz can Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
4.5oz Green Chilies
2 cups fat free chicken broth
Fat Free Sour Cream (optional)
Cilantro (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Heat Large pan high heat and lightly spray add meat and cook until white. Add to crock pot.

Add Oil to pan then onions and garlic saute about 3-4 minutes; add cumin and saute about another minute. Add this to crock pot.

Then add to crock pot beans, pumpkin, chilies, broth, chili powder, oregano, bay leaves, I also put in Cinnamon (a little Cincinnati flavor)

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Remove Bay leaves.

Here are a picture of what mine looked like. I am in love. New fall heaven. What is your favorite fall recipe? Share with me and I will make it and try it. I love to try new easy recipes.

Yummy Dinner

One of my favorite new blogs to follow is http://www.emilybites.com/

She has some really great recipes.
Yesterday I tried this one that was highly recommended by other bloggers and members from the weight watchers online community. I am glad they suggested it. I loved them!

Cheeseburger "Cupcakes" (I cut this recipe down so that it would only be enough for my boyfriend and I. As well as the fact that my muffin pan is only 6 not 12)

 Here is a link to the original recipe http://www.emilybites.com/2011/09/cheeseburger-cupcakes.html

Here are the ingredients and what I changed


1/2lb extra lean ground beef
1T McCormick Hamburger
4 laughing cow cheese wedges (I only used 3)
3T Ketchup
1T Mustard
1/4C Onion
4oz Mushrooms (I used slightly less)
4oz Reduced fat shredded cheese
8 Wonton Wrappers (I used 6)

Here they are ready to go in the oven

Here is one on my plate... OH YUM.

"Chicken Nuggets" YUM!

So often we talk about replacements in our weight loss journies. A few weeks ago I received a coupon at a grocery store for these meatless products made by "Gardein." I decided to try these chicken tenders. I really love them. They are very low in carbs and high in protein.

Last night for dinner I paired them with a little bit of sweet and spicy mustard and a sweet potato and it made for an excellent dinner last night. Often we are afraid to try certain things because we don't know if we would like them. If you love chicken nuggets or chicken tenders I really recommend these. 2 tenders are only 2 points plus and I had 6 so that was only 7 points plus. How yummy!

Have you tried anything new? Or any of the "Gardein" Products you would reccomend?

10 Things About me...

Inspired by another blog... Here are 10 things about me you might not know...

1. I went to the University of Cincinnati and I studied Spanish, so Si, Hablo Espanol. I even spent 6 weeks in Mexico one summer. Here I am learning how to make tortillas.

2. I really like to read. If you have suggestions on good books let me know. I am more inclined to read books that are non-fiction about people who are interesting. I also enjoy very light hearted easy reads.

3. I am a reality show "junkie" Some of them are so bad yet... here I am watching them as if I am watching some train wreck unfold in front of me.

4. I have been to Las Vegas more times than the average person. My "Granny Barb" used to live there. The first time I ever went I was only in 5th grade. I just went in March on vacation. I really like to visit there.

5. I hate winter. I can feel it coming and I am already sad. I often refer to it as the "white death."

6. Most people know my first job was at Kings Island. I also worked two winters at McDonalds. Yes I know things about this place I wish I didn't...

7. I love sports. Almost all of them. I actually even really know what I am talking about when it comes to sports. I even play fantasy football. This year I went with my sister, her fiancee and my boyfriends to The University of Cincinnati game vs Miami of Ohio. We had a blast!

 

8. I get told all of the time I look like Kirsten Dunst... What do you think?



9. I am not a picky eater but there are a few things I really do not like to eat very much one of them is Blue cheese. I don't know why I just detest it. I would rather eat any other kind of cheese.

10.

Things I do well: I have become a good runner. I am not fast but I am dedicated. I also make really cool scrapbooks and photo collages.

Things I am bad at: Driving... I always have bad luck. Also cooking. I need to learn.

What do you do well? What do you need improvement on?

Carb it up!

So this week is my full practice week for my first marathon in November. So I will be running 20 miles on Sunday. Today began my increase in carbohydrates. I wanted to be smart though. Many things I read said the biggest mistake runners make is eating their carbs in bad ways. So here is a great receipe even you can enjoy that my runner partner Nora gave me.

Cook about 1cup of Quinoa in Chicken Broth (Bring to boil let simmer about 20 minutes).

While this is cooking in a skillet cook in 1 teaspoon of Olive Oil 3 garlice cloves and a small onion.

You will also need

1cup corn

1 or 2 15 oz cans black beans

1/2cup Choppe Cliantro

1/4 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Chyenne pepper

Salt and black pepper (too taste)

1 Lime to Drizzle over when ready to eat

After you cook the Quinoa you will add the garlic and onion mixture, beans and corn. Let this cook until the corn seems done.

Makes an excellent side dish

10 servings are 3 points plus per serving