You know what I’ve been slacking on lately? No, not blogging. Very funny.
Cooking. And food shopping for food for cooking.
I’m not sure if I’m just lazy or busy lately (perhaps a combination of both) but I have been hitting the drive-throughs way too much.
Rest assured I’ve been making good choices. With as cold as it’s been, I’ve been obsessed with Wendy’s chili. And of course, my weekly trips to Taco Bell for a fresco taco fix are continuing.
Still, I always feel so much better when I cook for myself. Even though I’m making healthier choices when I go out to eat, I know that they aren’t the healthiest options. Vegetables are severely lacking, as are fresh fruit and lean meats. I’m ashamed to say that even most of my beloved produce basket went to waste last time.
My goal is to really plan my meals. Because I’m single, a couple of meals can get me through an entire week of lunches and dinners. You don’t realize how much a $5 or $10 lunch can add up. And I’ve got a cruise to fund.
Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I’ve given you guys a weight update. This week I lost 2.2 pounds (even after a Ronald weekend!) for a total of 85.6 pounds. I think I’ll tell you when I get to 90, but after that I’ll let it be a surprise when I hit my 100.
For now, though, I could really use some recipe inspiration. Does anyone have a good, easy dish to get me back into cooking? I've got to make going out to eat the occasional treat and not the everyday expectation.
About Me
- Erika
- I'm a food addict. Weight Watcher. Wife. Friend. Fundraiser. Lifelong writer. Lover of pop culture. Collector of kitchen gadgets. Loser of 130 pounds. Unfortunate regainer of (thankfully) a few dozen fewer than that. Hopeful goal-reacher. Constant oversharer.
15 comments:
Super yummy and super easy crock pot pork tenderloin recipe: 1 pack of dry onion soup mix, 1 cup of water, 3/4 cup of red wine (any type of red wine will do), ~2 lbs of lean pork tenderloin, 3 tblspns minced garlic. Rub the garlic on the pork tenderloin, put everything in the crock pot...cook on low for ~6-8 hours (depending on your crock pot and 'done'-ness preference). It is melt in your mouth yummy and super tender. Keeps well, too - good for sandwiches the next day. Great with some roasted sweet potatoes and a vegetable for your sides.
easy crock pot low fat yummy recipe.
4 lean chicken breasts
cover with salsa and yellow and white corn
drain black beans and add to the pot
cook for 4 hours or until chicken is done
serve over brown rice and add some low fat cheddar on top.
its so yuummy and easy and tastes good for days. actually better the long it marinates in all of the ingredients!!
love ya!
Katie- GOTP! :)
85.6 pounds?! you are an inspiration!
I love fish, and it's so good for you! Quick and easy baked tilapia: chop up some fresh garlic to go on top of the fish, squeeze a lemon over it, add a little olive oil, salt and pepper and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. It's yummy! I like to make lots of veggies to go along with it. Just season them however you'd like and throw them in the oven at the same time. When I was cooking for one, I always bought the individually wrapped tilapia from Publix (their brand). That way, you can freeze the filets and cook them one at a time. It's about 7 dollars for a package of 6 or so, so they are wallet and waistline friendly! :-)
Taco soup - easy, good for you and can last the week.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey (or lean ground beef, if you prefer)
1 cup onion, chopped
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 16-ounce can pinto beans, drained
1 16-ounce can corn, drained
1 16-ounce can tomato sauce
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes (Mexican)
2 cups water (I use chicken stock)
Directions:
1. Brown turkey with onion; drain
2. Combine all ingredients with turkey in large pot. Simmer at least 20 minutes.
Betty Crocker has a 300-calorie cookbook that is FANTASTIC. It provides all of the nutritional info for each recipe, and servings are pretty simple to pare down for one (or for two and have leftovers). Not to mention, they are yummy! The Chicken with Avocado and Sweet Pepper sauce is delish.
Bear Creek makes a variety of dried soup mixes that are easy and taste fantastic. You can dress them up with lots of extra veggies or meats to make them even healthier. This is such great soup weather.
Hi Erika!
This is one of my favorite recipes. "Moroccan Tagine."This is a great hearty way to use butternut squash in cold weather. It is a moroccan stew. Very tasty. I made it one day & brought it to work for lunch 3 days straight. It tastes good served with couscous. I do not know if you have ever made couscous before but it is very tasty & quick. Enjoy.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Moroccan-Tagine/Detail.aspx
Erika,
This is a delicious low fat - low cal recipe. I make and it w/ a lil more chicken and it lasts a few days...All the best you are almost at 100!!! see you next year in Zumba - JK
Chicken Stir Fry
-Add 2 tsp olive oil (or flax seed oil)
-Sauté the following ingredients:
*3 ounces of cubed chicken breast or
firm tofu
*1 cup broccoli florets
*½ red bell pepper sliced
*½ red onion sliced
-When soft add 1tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp teriyaki
sauce and any spices.
½ cup brown rice
I love fish that is crunchy. I take any mild flavored fish such as Cod or Tilapia filet and coat with egg white. I then take pecans or almonds just depends on the mood I am in and coarsly chop in the food processor. I might add some tarragon or basil as well. I just roll the egg white dipped filet in the crushed nuts and place on a baking sheet and back until crispy. I serve with brown rice and some type of salsa such as mango or homemade black bean.
Hi Erika-
I can't find the recipe but you take chicken breast and coat them with grated parmesan cheese (that's it!). Just put some grated parm on a plate and roll the chicken around in it. You can measure the cheese out if needed. Then cook them in a pan with a little olive oil. The cheese gets brown and yummy. You can make a quick tomato and basil salsa to go on top.
Tomatoes
Basil
crushed garlic (take a clove and smash it up real good with some salt)
onion
salt and pepper
It's a Rachael Ray recipe from like her very first or second show. I'm still making it.
Also, roasting veggies is good. My fav is zucchini, onion, mushroom and garlic cloves together. Olive oil, salt and a hot oven. Yum!
Have fun trying new recipes. That is my find of fun. :)
Mindy B.
Hi Erica,
This is something I made often when I was single and working full time. Its quick and healthy, and not too heavy if you end up eating late.
1/2 cup uncooked orzo or angel hair pasta
olive oil for pan
1/2 clamshell cherry or grape tomatoes halved or quartered (depending on size)
2 gloves of garlic, crushed peeled and chopped.
1 tbls tomato paste
Fresh basil or parsley
Parmasean cheese
Start water boiling while you chop tomatoes and garlic. Cook pasta according to pkg directions. Heat olive oil in medium skillet. Add garlic, tomatoes and tomato paste lower heat and simmer, add small amount of pasta liquid if mixture starts to look dry.
Add drained pasta to skillet. Add herbs and cheese. Serve.
Makes 1 serving
My husband taught me this excellent chicken soup receipe:
Saute a chopped onion, a few cup of chopped celery and some carrots in olive oil until onions are clear. Add 5 chicken thighs and enough water to cover. Boil for 1.5 hrs. Take the chicken out and cool. After deboneing, chop the meat and return to the soup. Salt and pepper to taste. After the soup cools I skim off any fat off the top (but only after a fully leaded bowl!). Congrats Erika!
Hey Erika,
First time reader, first time poster :) (I'm over in the CHoA Foundation)
When I had to learn what to do with Swiss chard when it arriveds in my last organic produce basket from work I found a soup recipe which is AMAZING!
Delicious Yummy although Not-Quite-Mindblowing Soup
Use as much or as little of each ingredient as you like and feel free to add any other veggies!
Throw in a pot on the stove under everything is soft and edible:
1 Swiss chard, sliced
Lots of Kale
Lots of mushrooms
Vegetable or chicken broth
Kindey or pinto beans
My fiance adds noodles- if you are so inclined they are good for a carb fix :)
It's simple, quick and can provide a week's worth of meals :)
Best of luck!
Kate
Erika, I like a cookbook called "Moosewood Cooks at Home". It's 30 minute vegetarian meals from a fabu restaurant in NY called... drum roll.....Moosewood. I'm not a vegetarian either, but I'm trying to lean more in that direction. Good luck! Monica
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