My Kitty Says Hi

Also, here is my dinner: Semi-Homemade Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Pillsbury thin crust dough
Alfredo sauce from the jar (Bertolli I think)
Cooked Schwan's Chicken Breast (love those)
Chopped Red Peppers, Green Peppers, and Mushrooms
Mozzarella and a bit o' Parmesan

I just baked that bitch up for however long the dough took, right on the rack...yippee!

Fitness Post Test

The results are in. Seven weeks later here are my stats:

Weight loss: 10.7 lbs. Total weight not disclosed. (Well, I know. But you don't.)

Flexibility: +2 inches. V-sit score of 18

Strength: +8 pushups. Increase from ZERO!

VO2 Max: +1. Raw number 29 (from 28)...I thought this would be higher.

Body fat: arm = same; belly = same; thigh = -5

I should know next week how many years my 'real age' dropped. Stay tuned!

Seriously

I heard this term today: "Can't win for losing". I think it applies today.

I am extremely grouchy. And irritable. And bitchy. And short-tempered.

For multiple reasons...one of which being I flooded the kitchen with the stupid RO/DI water for the fish tank because I forgot to turn it off...another because I forgot my stupid lunch on the stupid counter this morning...another because sometimes personal relationships get in the way of business decisions...another because my stupid damn knee hurts...another because losing weight is hard...another because I can't control other people around me...another because life isn't fair and good people get sick...

Even my cats are pissing me off.

Best to go to bed and start over tomorrow, methinks.

PS - Even the fact I did not have a proper label for this post made me grumpy just now. AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH

What's so great in Chattanooga?

I guess I oughtta check it out...it's not too far from here anyway!

Saturday Food Adventures

It's extraordinarily dangerous when I watch The Food Network all day. Somehow, WATCHING someone else cook give me the courage to try lots of new things.

So, for brunch (full disclosure, it was really noon but I hadn't had breakfast yet), I decided to try my hand at a stovetop veggie frittata.

First I sauteed a quarter of a white onion in about a tsp of olive oil (I love my non-stick pans because you can get away with a lot of cooking without much oil or butter).

After it had browned up, I added 3 diced campari tomatoes, 4 chopped white button mushrooms, and a Green Giant Just-for-One Broccoli and Cheese thing.

I let that cook down for probably 5 minutes (while stirring occasionally), and then poured over 1/2 cup Egg Beaters.

I let it cook - no stirring - until the eggs had mostly set up. Then I tried to flip the whole thing...but that didn't work, so I resorted to just flipping 'pieces' of the frittata.

Not bad, huh? It was definitely yummy...but I did need to add some salt! (Because I forgot it the whole way through.)

Tonight I made a garlicky homemade chicken noodle soup.

I chopped & sauteed half a fresh garlic head and another quarter white onion until they were nice and browned. Then I added chopped celery and carrots and cooked those for a few minutes.

I salted and peppered, then used a whole chicken breast - including skin and bone - and added it to the veggie mixture, turning once to get it browned.

I stirred in 2 cups of water initially (and some dried parsley) and brought to a low simmer, and added 2 more cups of water after 20 minutes.

After another 20 minutes, I took out the chicken, removed the skin / fat / bone, shredded it and returned it to the soup. Meanwhile, I added 3/4 cup brown rice and cooked according to the directions.

Looky here! A yummy cool weather treat that's also super healthy! (Loaded with veggies, no milk or wheat products, hardly any salt, and zero chicken boullion required.)

Frugal Food

Peanuts are my life (recently). And so I am completely not surprised the price of peanut butter is going up 30-40%. So what's a busy lady with a tight budget to do? This article listed some great options for protein that is NOT a killer for your wallet.

1. Beans. Hel-lo. Who has time to soak and cook? Not me. But guess what - the store brand black beans and chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) are just as good...and typically around $1. Who can argue with that?

My favorite dishes lately with beans: meatless chili (using chili, white, and kidney beans), taboule salad with chickpeas, romaine, and tomatoes added, and black bean & cheese enchiladas

2. Eggs. Hmmm...egg salad sandwiches, deviled eggs, omelets, french toast, asian stir fry...seriously...yum.

3. Dairy. The article lists this one - but I am not a milk drinker (although I love me some cheese). But I will chow down on the cottage cheese, greek yogurt, and cheese sticks already!

4. Quinoa. PASS. Too hard to cook.

5. Soy. Boca Burgers are ok...but the real crowning glory is the tube of soy sausage which is actually REALLY good. Or, use soy in milk form for SMOOTHIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. Meat. Portion control, yo. 3oz or 4oz is where it's at.

Try these, and watch the $$ in your weekly budget increase. I know I have the past 2 weeks. GOOD LUCK!

Does this look weird?

I have a different version of Internet Explorer at work than at home...and both of them make the blog look weird. Does anyone else see that, or is it just me???

Mexican a la Healthy

As previously mentioned, I like to take the opportunity during harvest (when I am by myself) to test out some new recipes.

For one, if it isn't that good, I don't care - I'll eat it anyway. When Jeff is around, I feel like I am letting him down if it sucks!

For two, I experiment with ingredients - some of which maybe both of us do not like.

For three, see number one for the outcome of number two.

So here's todays Healthy Mexican Fiesta dish:

Cut into large chunks (about 1x1") and add to 9x9 square baking dish:
1/2 sweet white onion
1 medium green pepper
2 medium chicken breasts

Add 1 can reduced sodium Bush's Black Beans, 1 can mild green chilies, and 1 can mild La Preferida Enchilada Sauce.

Stir until mixed, and top with 1/2 cup reduced fat Sargento Mexican 4-cheese blend.

Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes (depending on how 'done' you like your veggies).

Serve open-faced on a flour tortilla.

Note: this will be 'runny' because of the veggies' water, but just use the tortilla to sop it up!!!

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Day

I am remembering lots of friends today.

It's weird, when I was 20 I didn't think I knew of anyone who needed remembrance today.

Now that I'm 30, I realize that I likely did know someone. Probably a lot of someones. Because I sure as hell know too many now.

Many people are not comfortable talking about death. And that's ok.

Know that even if you don't want to share, or talk, or acknowledge publicly...we are still thinking about you.

Almost Home

I tried to go home today.

It didn't work.

Harvest is progressing quickly - it's been really dry, with few delays, and a lot of midnight nights.

So if I want to visit this year, I need to do it soon. Too bad I can't get there this weekend :(. I am really bummed.

What will I do instead? Perhaps a Sisterhood Pilgrimmage tomorrow to Macon, Ga - the birthplace of Alpha Delta Pi. Can't wait to spend some girl time with new people!

What's your favorite candy?

We are constantly looking for new ways of doing things, new offerings that people will like, new pricing that will be acceptable. Typically, these come from industry experts, trade shows, customer sampling and surveys, and a bunch of other avenues.

Today, though, we have turned our decision-making over to the masses.

We are looking at offering another candy in addition to the always-popular Peanut M&M's (so you can still get a chocolate fix).

Your options are all in the 'gummy' category:
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Jolly Rancher Gummies
Lifesavers Gummies
Skittles Original
Starburst
Twizzlers

So...head on over to Facebook and vote please!!!

Sisterly Love

My sister rocks. I am so proud of her.

She started a new job. She has an awesome apartment. Her cat, Milton, is super cool. Her boyfriend is also quasi-cool. She meditates. And works out. And helps people in really profound ways.

She is awesome.

Thai good-for-you Recipe

I am taking the opportunity while Jeff is away to expand my cooking skills and food horizon.

I am fortunate enough to eat out at some really nice restaurants and meet some really great chefs in the business that I am in.

Unfortunately, I have not been successful recreating anything at home.

Till now.

Voila! I give you my healthy version of Thai Curry Chicken.

Start your Jasmine Rice in your rice cooker first. No rice cooker? GET ONE!!!!!!!!!!!! The best small appliance since my popcorn popper.

Season Chicken Breast pieces (not whole but not too small), green bell pepper, and white onion pieces with curry powder. (Dry off the chicken and veggies to help the seasoning 'stick').

Preheat 2 tbsp EVOO in a non-stick pan.

Saute the chicken and veggies for 5-7 minutes, turning once, to get a nice brown crust.

Add 1 cup of water and simmer for 30-45 minutes until chicken is cooked through. (Note, I think next time I will eliminate the water / simmer part and just keep sauteeing until cooked through since I like my veggies crisp and the water made them a bit soggy.)

Trekking Poles

I have a pain in my knee. Swelling too. And just on the left side. But all the time...it really sucks.

Yes, I know my workouts and resulting weight loss will help.

In the meantime, I don't want to stop hiking...but man, some of the descents are killer on the knee, to the point I think it might give out sometimes. And that is definitely not safe.

So I am considering trekking poles for hiking. Aunt Lois lent me hers this summer and I thought they were great. Does anyone else use them? Here's some I am considering (and using my REI discount)...Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Poles

Harvest time

And we're off! Well, Jeff is at least...on the long trip to South Dakota for the annual harvest / pheasant hunt / grunt work at the farm.

My predictions for this year:
1. It will be windy and dry.
2. Corn prices will top out around October 16th.
3. Soybeans will be done early.
4. No one will get shot.
5. There will be chili.

Happy Fall!