Kellybones's Xanga Site

February 4, 2009

For the record:
you CAN eat the skin on a sweet potato.
I just did it tonight.
This requires less peeling work
but more chewing work and ultimately means
that I eat MORE food - gram-wise, that is
but if I'm still only eating ONE sweet potato
and I eat the skin, isn't that just a more
economical use of my food?
And, isn't the skin supposed to be all
good for you and crap?

Also, for the record, I WANT a mandolin
so that I can make sweet potato chips of an
even, reproduceable size like my friend Colleen.
Sadly, I think if I had a mandolin, I would eat MORE
sweet potatoes and regular potatoes and anything
else that I could think of to try on my mandolin.
And I don't want to spend money right now.
*sigh*
But my birthday is coming up. Surely I deserve a present.
From myself if nothing else. Or I could make it my
next 10lbs weight loss goal (for getting under 150lbs.)
Not that I'm going to talk myself into buying a
mandolin or anything. I also want an immersible blender
for when I make soup. I think I need to visit Bed, Bath and Beyond....

February 3, 2009

So.
No Taco Bell for me.
I resisted by simply taking the highway home and thus skipping driving past all Taco Bells. Of course, traffic sucked but you can't have everything.

Instead I ate some burrito pie
and then made sweet potato fries (in the oven)

Luckily, a whole sweet potato is only about 150 calories because I eat the whole thing. Usually before it cools and I swear because it burns my tongue. This fuckers are like CRACK.

I guess I should try butternut squash fries too - they're supposed to be tasty and I'm all for new ways to eat veggies that don't make me want to yack.

Also, does anyone know if you can eat the skin on a sweet potato? Because making these fries would be even easier if I didn't have to peel the sweet potato first.

The only thing stopping me from making another one right now is the fact that I would have to go turn the oven on to 450F (which takes about 5 minutes to preheat) and then bake for about 15-20 minutes on one side and another 5 to 10 on the other side. That totals about 35 minutes and I actually want to put my still slightly ill self to bed!
I want Taco Bell.

I don't know if it is because I'm completely spaced out by the vast quantity of snot that seems to have taken up permanent residence in my skull or if it's just because I almost always want Taco Bell...

but I just had it last Tuesday.

I know that motivation and will-power won't help me to diet in the long-term. I know that no one really ever wants to stop eating delicious food (like Taco Bell) but right now, I think I need a swift kick in the behind of NO TACO BELL FOR KELLY.

Blergh. I'm going to go eat some more cherry honey Ricola coughdrops...

February 2, 2009

A really good checklist
or perhaps I want to say
reality check?
Ah, my favorite week of dieting - the post menstruating weigh-in!
Add in a cold where I'm not eating much and BAM! you have a very nice tidy total loss!

Today's weight - 155.4
Last Monday's weight - 159.6 (total loss 4.2lbs)
Re-starting weight (as of 30Dec2008) - 167.4 (total loss 12lbs)
Really starting weight from the first time (30Jan2008) - 192.8 (total loss 37.4lbs)

February 1, 2009

Monthly Weigh-in and measurement

As of January 1st, 2009

Bust line - 41"
Waist (natural) - 39"
Hips - 44"
Thigh - 27"
Arm - 13"

Weight -166.4lbs

As of February 1st, 2009

Bust line - 40"
Waist (natural) - 37"
Hips - 42"
Thigh - 25.5"
Arm - 13"

Weight - 156.2lbs

Total loss - 5.5 inches and 10.2lbs

January 31, 2009

2009 New Recipe #6 (a and b)

Ha! And it's early this time!

This week I made Burrito Pie and Maple Dijon Chicken in the crockpot.

LOTS OF PICTURES BELOW!

Burrito Pie
Yeah, I'm lazy. You'll have to click that link to get the recipe. I'm only going to give you pictures and what I changed in the recipe. I used lighter ingredients as possible (93% lean ground beef and 2% cheese for example) so my nutrition information is different than the one given on the link (see below)

Also, I don't know why there are black olives in the recipe at all. But *shrug* I put them in anyway.

Yeah, those are my boobies. They're significantly smaller due to dieting (thank you Weight Watchers!) but are still far too large for my taste. Also note that I look tan from last weeks' sunburn.

All of the ingredients except the beef, onion and garlic already in the pan (I used a wok because it was a LOT of food!)

Do not buy a 2oz can of sliced black olives. Buy the big can, slice up 2oz yourself and split the rest of the can with your husband (or eat them all yourself). I love black olives!

1.) I used a 14.5oz can of tomatoes with green chile peppers, not a 10oz
2.) I used 2-2 quart casseroles as opposed to one 4 quart (since I don't have a 4 quart casserole dish)
3.) I only used 7 flour tortillas (Joshua would have preferred more I think but I liked that level of tortilla to beef'n'bean mixture)

Adding the green chile peppers

Adding the tomatoes

Attempting to stir this really large amount of food....

After adding in two cans of beans and stirring FOREVER. Seriously, it was an arm workout!

After baking for about 15 minutes...

Melted cheese close up - you can see that 2% cheese doesn't QUITE melt as well as full fat cheese - but it isn't TOO bad

You're supposed to slice it and serve it like pie. It's a bit messy. Especially when it's warm and fresh.

The next day when it's cold you can actually see the layers.

See! Burrito-ey, mexican-y lasagna!

Verdict
I always forget how much I love mexican food. This tasted like inside out burritos. And if I weren't trying to be so strict, I'd have topped it with a little more cheese and some sour cream! YUM! As it was, I ate two servings. My picky husband also likes this. But I still don't know why it's got black olives in it. They don't really add anything. This recipe WILL make it into our normal rotation - especially as it makes 16 servings - even if we BOTH eat it, that's 8 portions for each of us! So, yeah - tasty and good.

Nutritional Information
Warning! I sparkpeopled this information rather than calculating it myself so it's not going to be AS accurate as it could be - but since you're going to make it with different ingredients anyway, the numbers could vary a lot.
Per serving (I made it into 16 servings):
Calories: 244
Fat: 6.8g
Fiber: 3.9g
WWpts: 4.7 pts (rounded to 5 for me)

Another note, this recipe could be further lightened - use ground turkey (the fully white meat one probably would be best), less cheese (or mix 2% and fat free cheese), reduce the beans and add a can of salsa, use reduced fat/calorie/carb tortilla shells...OODLES of ways to change this one up...I also think it might be worth trying it using shreded chicken instead of ground meat - kind of a chicken enchilada pie?

Maple Dijon Chicken
Yeah, lazy again. This one is exactly like the recipe except ONE thing - I used sugar free maple flavored syrup - because that's all I had!

There are fewer pictures and less words because it was simple to make and crockpot cooking is never as fun to take pictures of as something you make on the stove.

My current favorite crockpot - I have 4 of them right now. But this one rocks and is just like the one my mom used for years. The actual pot can also be used on the stove top and the base doubles as a griddle. It also cooks hotter and faster than other crockpots - this recipes was done and the chicken was falling apart in about 2 hours...

Well, if I were motivated, I could figure out how to rotate that bad boy. But I'm not that motivate right now. My head hurts so *shrug* turn your head to look at the pretty sweet potatoes. I'm currently have a sweet potato fetish and will be having sweet potato french fries tomorrow for lunch...

Post cooking - it made five servings and was a bit runny.

Verdict
The sweet potatoes and the onions and the sauce are great but I wouldn't mind a bit more dijon flavor. The chicken itself - meh. It's a little bland. Next time (and I think there will be one since I am lovin' the sweet potatoes), I will marinate the chicken in something first and then throw it in the crockpot. I don't think you should cook in the marinade though....hrmmm. Something to look up I guess.

Nutritional Information
This one I calculated the normal way - which is just easier in the long run.
Per serving (I made 5):
Calories: 183.5
Fat: 2.5g
Fiber: 3g
WWpts: 3.3pts (I will report it as 3 pts)

January 29, 2009

Sometimes, I get lonely.

Well, it's not even sometimes. It's Tuesday and Thursday evenings when Joshua has class and I'm a single doggie mommy. It's hard because Joshua will have class every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of time. This is not to say that it is more important than me or the doggers or anything like it. It is totally possible for him not to go to class. But in the general scheme of things, he usually goes to class because there is not a reason for him not to go to class.

So I take care of the dogs and do normal at home things. But it's not really fair to the dogs (who've been en-kenneled for 10 hours or so by the time I get home) for me to do anything terribly involved that's not about them. I understand that people with children deal with FAR more than this (I mean frankly, you can't just toss the kids in the kennel or throw them outside with a dehydrated bull pizzle - people frown on that stuff) but it is also part of the reason that I do not and will not have kids.

This is part of the reason that I'm taking belly dancing on Wednesdays - to hopefully maybe give me something to do (a.k.a. PRACTICE because I suck at moving anything like a belly dancer) at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But really - it is a bit lonely.

I have some friends but mostly, it's hard to get together during the week when you've all got employment and live in different parts of the Valley. I'd like to go visit a friend from work who just had her second daughter (Cora. Isn't that a kind of sweet little name?) but I can't go during the week because she seriously lives something like 40 miles from my house. Which, sure, that doesn't sound like much until you realize that you would have to drive that in PHOENIX traffic. So it would be a friggin' hour or more during the week each way. Stupid people. I blame the snow birds.

I'm sure part of it is also the loomingness of my 29th birthday. Part of me is completely aware that more than likely I've a good 50 or more years coming to me - I don't drink or smoke, I exercise regularly and I eat well. I'm in the process of giving up stupid sugar so -- if the world were fair, I'd say I'm likely to live a while longer yet. Of course this disregards accidents and that equalizer of all people - cancer. But I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel old? Or maybe like I'm supposed to be done? And I don't think I'm even half-baked yet.

I am also not where I thought I would be. Not that I'm unhappy with where I am - in fact, most of the time, where I am is pretty friggin' awesome. I love my family (four legged and two legged) and I at times nearly enjoy my job. I'm healthy and I really am learning to enjoy cooking and, of all things, exercise. (We've another hike planned for this weekend).

So what's my problem? Some people seem to just accomplish their lives in straight lines - point A to point B and so on. And maybe they can't see point C from point A but they're at least proceeding in a logical fashion. Step by step, choice by choice - it makes sense. I don't seem to do that. There are a lot of kinks and twists and back-tracks in my life.

Maybe no one really goes in a straight line from their own point of view? Who knows. I just view the world through my very sciencey/procedure driven mind. To accomplish things, first you have to do steps 1, 2, 3 and 4. You can't just jump straight in at 5! And sometimes that's how life seems to be. You land in at step five, have no clue what's going on and you have to muddle. I hate MUDDLING!

I suppose life can't be like my procedures from work - squirt chemical A in tube, wait five minutes and then do steps such and such. But man, sure seems like it would be easier sometimes?

Maybe I just need more direction. Also, hence belly dancing. And hoping to make more friends that, in theory, live in Mesa. Cars and technology are wonderful for allowing people to make connections all over the world and maintain close relationships with people who are far, far away but until they invent teleportation, there really cannot be a substitute for the friend who lives close by and can just drop in and you can cook them dinner (or vice versa - I like people to cook for me too).

So, where am I going with this?
Who knows. I'm not really sure where I'm going in general. And I'm not terribly good at just hanging on and enjoying the ride. I guess I'll just hold on, bitch a bunch, try not to spoil the ride for others and still end up in the same place...

January 26, 2009

2009 New Recipe #5 (a and b)

Finally. Because I just ate them today. I know - I'm a slacker. You probably thought I was already giving up on my resolution, eh?

First recipe
Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
This one is from the food network and seemed pretty simple:

1lb of boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt
pepper
8 cloves of garlic smashed
1c of wild rice blend (I, sadly, used 2/3c of basmati and 1/3c of wild)
1/4c of fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 and 1/4c of water

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and then place on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the garlic and rice. Mix the lemon juice with the water and then pour over the rice covered chicken. Stir once to coat. Cook on low for 8 hours.

It looks very nasty.

Verdict
Over cooked rice is gross. The basmati stuff turned to glue-like consistency. The taste isn't bad - just kind of bland. And cleaning the slow cooker sucked.

This one I'm unlikely to make again unless I'm poor and out of ideas - I would replace the basmati with entirely wild rice and that would probably help. As would some other spice of SOME sort!

Nutrition Information
per serving (I got 5 servings out of it):
Calories: 137
Fat: 0.3g
Fiber: 0.6g
WWP: 2.7

Quinoa, beans and chicken
I don't remember where I got this recipe or what it's called. Which is too bad because I hate not giving credit for recipes.

1lb of boneless skinless chicken breast
15oz can of creamed corn
15oz can of pinto beans (I used the chili style ones, because I like them)
15oz can of diced tomatoes (I used the ones with green chilis in them)
1/2t of sage
1t dry chives
1t dehydrated onion
1/2t garlic powder
1t dry cilantro
1c of uncooked Quinoa, rinsed WELL!

Put everything except the quinoa in the crock pot and cook for 6 hours on low. Thirty minutes before dinner, add the quinoa and it will soak up some of the extra liquid.

Verdict
Better than the other, but still a little bland. I admit I was a bit lax on spice measurements (and I didn't have sage) but it was still a little bland. I think I may make this one again but use a package of taco seasonings. The beans, the creamed corn and the quinoa with the tomato go well together. The chicken didn't really seem to add or detract - good for protein though I guess. If I make it again - WAAAAY more spices. And possibly more quinoa. Though, I really like having a way to use quinoa. Oh, also - I didn't really have much extra liquid - mine hubby had to add a cup or so of water while I was at the baby shower to prevent burnage.

Nutrition Information
per serving (I got six servings)
Calories: 237
Fat: 3g
Fiber: 7g
WWP: 4.2
My new shoes are here!!!!!

I freakin' love them.

Also, in less happy news but not as awful as it could be - I'm up 0.2lbs for this week. Sad but not unexpected what with the baby shower on Saturday, the hiking on Sunday and me menstruating this week.

This weeked is measurement time though - so it will be good to see if any inches have been lost!