Goals for weight loss

This winter has been tough. 20 pounds worth of tough to be exact! But it's really got to come off. After all, summer is a comin'...And having lost 100 pounds (slowly!) back around 2006-2007 I'm terrified of being on this slippery slope. It's so easy to slide all the way down to the bottom when you're not paying attention.

I've been doing weight watchers for the last little while. And although it's worked for me in the past for whatever reason it's not really working this time. When I was at the bookstore last week I came across a book called "The Cheater's Diet" and after reading it, I think I'll give it a try.

Modified from the book this week's goals are:

1. Eat 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings every day. No matter what. This is non-negotiable.
2. Cut my portion sizes by 25%. Again, non-negotiable.
3. Walk twice a week and do yoga once a week.
4. Weigh in. Done today...yup, 20 pounds :(
5. Keep a food journal.
6. Eat three meals a day. If dinner is going to be late, then have one small snack in the late afternoon.
7. Look over the week and incorporate 2 "cheater meals" and 2 "cheater snacks" into the week. But WATCH PORTIONS!

That's it. I'll check in next Wednesday and let you know how it's going. I'll also post new goals.
Happy Wednesday!

Maple Syrup time

Actually it's kind of late for a maple syrup post but anyway...I just pulled out a can from our case of maple syrup today and tried a new dessert. We buy a case of maple syrup every spring but really we should buy two since one only lasts for half the year (If we're lucky!)

Maple Syrup Squares

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch square pan.

Mix together:

1 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

and pat into bottom of pan. Bake for 5-7 minutes, until light, golden brown. Let cool and spread over base:

1 cup walnut pieces

Turn oven up to 450.

Next mix in a small saucepan and simmer for a couple of minutes, until sugar is dissolved:

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 cup maple syrup

Let cool a little. Then mix into the cooled syrup:

2 beaten eggs

Stir in:

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 Tbl flour

Pour this mixture over the walnuts. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 and bake for 20 minutes more. Cool and cut into squares.

Today

I don't want to clean my house today. I don't want to cook anything, clean anything or take care of anyone today.

Today, I am just tired. My soul feels weary and my spirit depleted. My body is aching and my eyes are gritty. The stress in my personal life has finally gotten to the point where it is manifesting itself in a myriad of ways.

So, I think I know what I am going to do. I'm going to lie down in the backyard and feel the breeze. I'm going to listen to the birds and gaze upon the flowers. I might just stay there all day.

I might just let everything else fall apart while I put myself back together.

Spring!!

The tulips are up...hope springs eternal!

Whole wheat and honey bread

I used to make this bread once a week. Every week...In keeping with my plan to get back on track I had a kitchen day today. I scrubbed everything down and made this bread, pineapple and bran muffins and chocolate cake. The cake is wrapped and put away, waiting to be iced tomorrow for dinner. The muffins are in the freezer waiting to be eaten for breakfast next week.


Here's my whole wheat and honey bread recipe.


3 cups whole wheat flour
4 cups white flour
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 1/2 Tablespoon yeast
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 tsp. salt

I just dump everything in my kitchen aid and knead it with the dough hook. If you don't have a mixer with dough hooks you get to get your hands dirty! I put it into a big, oiled bowl (turn the dough in the oil once) and let it rise about an hour and a half (or until doubled). Then I shape it into 2 loaves and let them rise again in greased loaf pans. I use 8 inch pans for this. Today, I let the loaves rise a bit too much on the second rising, (I had to run out for a minute) so the loaves are a wee bit misshapen :) But that's okay they're still just as tasty! After the second rising bake the loaves in a 375 degree oven for about half an hour. Easy!!

Spring Menu

In an effort to simplify things around here I've put together a two week dinner rotation for spring. I'm hoping to go through this for 3 cycles for a total of six weeks. I think by that point we'll all be thoroughly sick and tired of the menus and looking forward for something new!

I'm doing this because I'm fed up of coming up with menus once a week! The breakfast portion of the meal plan will be the same every week but that's okay :)

I didn't bother with the lunch menus because the kids make their own lunches with what's on hand and they all take something different.

I did the groceries for two full weeks today. I shouldn't have to go back to the store except for a few produce items...we'll see how it goes!

Spring Menu


Breakfast
monday------cereal or toast, oj
tuesday----- smoothie, boiled egg
wednesday--- pumpkin or banana loaf or bagels and cream cheese, oj
thursday----- oatmeal with fruit and nuts
friday-------- cherry or currant coffeecake or fruit muffins

Dinner
monday------ hamburgers or hot dogs, chips and salsa
tuesday------ chicken pot pie, salad
wednesday--- carrot & sw potato soup, brie, bread, crudites and cake for dessert
thursday----- tuna casserole, green and yellow beans, carrots
friday-------- baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread
saturday----- pasta w/tomatoes, artichokes and bacon, salad
sunday------- stewed chicken, new potatoes, bok choy, beets, biscuits
monday------ grilled sausages, potato salad, green salad, bread
tuesday------ cajun pork loin, sauteed greens, cheese cornbread
wednesday--- pea & spinach soup, cheddar, bread, cake for dessert
thursday----- lemon sole, sweet potatoes, broccoli
friday-------- falafels on pita bread, pudding
saturday----- baked potatoes w/broccoli, cheese and bacon, salad
sunday------- lasagna or pizza, salad, bread

*****alternate meals (just in case I have one of those days!)
veggie fried rice, grilled cheese and tomato soup

Chocolate chip cookies

This is the best chocolate chip recipe ever! Seriously. I'm not sure where the recipe originally came from but I've made it so often in the last 5 years that I know it by heart.

*Chocolate chip cookies*

Mix the following:

1 cup of butter or margarine

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

Add and beat well:

1 egg

Mix in:

2 cups of flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips or chopped semi-sweet chocolate (I used a mixture of both in the cookies in the picture)

Drop by tablespoonfuls on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 10 minutes. Take out when they are just beginning to get golden brown. This important! This way they come out soft and chewy.