somebody ought to kick my butt.

what is my problem? i lost .8 lb, but gained 3 lbs. last week. i weigh 2 pounds more than a month ago when we started this round. maybe i need a break or maybe i have had too many breaks. whatever. i hope you guys did better than i did.
i love you both!

SORRY SARIE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I appologize for not getting on here before noon. I got on the phone and then got busy doing salsa and completely forgot. Sometimes I swear I'm losing my mind. Anyway, since it's my fault, Sara still gets the bonus for posting on time but I will subtract mine.

What a Disaster!

I admit it -- I am a disaster. The weeks seem to be getting worse, but I'm going to try to do better this week so watch out girls! Happy Birthday Sarie girl! We all love you so much and hope you have a wonderful day!

Not Perfect

So, I lost a whopping 1 ounce this week!!!! Hooray....at least I didn't gain! I guess I have to do everything "perfectly" like before in order to lose the weight. What pressure! All I can say is I'll try harder this next week, although I'm not off to a great start with breakfast at the Grill this morning! Happy Anniversary sugar booger!

Yet Another Try???

I know I can do it!!! It's been proven before. The question is....where has my motivation gone? Here's to "another" try! Good luck my girls!

starting again...

here's to starting a new game. cheers! hopefully this time i won't lose and gain the same 3 pounds. how about i lose 8 and don't regain it!?!

hi guys!

the 4 weeks are up! we will have to talk about continuing. i didn't make my weight goal and i had 3 days that i didn't get my food points. it was a little bit of a hard week as far as that goes. anyway, my score is not lovely, but it is what it is :)

Lazy Woman

Hi Girls,
Thanks to Sarie's reminder, I will post before noon and at least get those points. Of course I had eaten breakfast before I remembered to weigh in, but I only gained .2 so I might have made the weight loss if I was more on the ball. Thanks for helping me everyone! Love you all!
Mom

one more week down. lost a pound by the skin of my teeth. this is hard, but good. thanks for your help!

what's up girls?

i am a day late because of my trip and i expected to see your scores. i had a great time as evidenced by my score. this week i am going for perfect.

yippee!

i lost 2.4 pounds. so happy! thanks for motivating me people! i got a perfect score.

doin okay

Didn't do too bad this week but still not as strict as I was the very first game. Missed one day of exercise, one day of washing my face, cheated on one meal (besides my meals off), and actually gained 1/2 pound after losing 3 from having the flu the week before! Could be worse, I guess! I'm definitely feelin' the motivation and am being more concious about what goes into my body than I've done the last few months, so I'm excited to start seeing results! This next week will be interesting on vacation in Sun Valley!

Dang!

Woe is me -- I wish I was a loser. Didn't make my weight loss and didn't have a very good week (I think the two go together). I'm going to do better though. Love you all!
Mom

rarin' to go post

i think that was mom (wasn't me). i must be signed on on her computer. sorry mama. i am so glad that you are playing. your plan sounds great!

Rarin' to Go

I'm sure glad we're doing this again as I have gained back 5 pounds since our last game and can feel myself falling back into old habits. We can do it Rasses!

here we go...

thanks for playing the game with me guys! i am excited to have a little structure again.

So long, farewell..

I have had a fabulous day of not waterboarding myself, not blogging, not searching for recipes, and eating some leftover easter candy..

I know that I should do better, but I just couldn't resist eating a peep one more minute.

This game has helped me in so many ways, even though it seems on this post that maybe I am just going to give up all of the HEALTHY stuff. I love exercising, love how I feel when I eat healthy, nutritious food, love sleeping, love trying to be a better person. I really have not learned to love the 100 ounces of water, but I could be committed to 60 ounces, which is a far cry from where I started in this game (some days, none at all!!)

Thanks for the memories! I am so glad to know that we can always come back to this game if we start sagging again..

Here's to NO MORE SAG (I am holding aloft a peep!!)

What a week! I'm starting to question my strength....but I guess having candy in the house plus having PMS don't mix very well! What I've learned most about myself from this round is that it helps me the very most to have my hubby doing it with me. Maybe I can talk him into another round just between us so I can keep trying to reach my goals. I need not give up just yet! Good job to the rest of you who were actively engaged this game! Have a fun, sunny weekend!!!

easter weekend

i stayed the same almost (gained .2 lb), but i will take that considering the easter/general conference weekend. thanks everyone for a fun, non-stressful game. it worked for me :) i think i lost a total of 4 pounds this game.

Better Result This Morning

Well, this morning was a little better weigh-in. I'm only up .8 pounds, so life is good. Thanks for a fun game -- we'll have to see if we can keep up our good healthy habits. Have a wonderful day -- love you all!

healthy cookbook

hey girls. i have compiled 91 recipes. i tried to include all the recipes from our games. the recipes are either healthy or could be made healthy with easy substitutions (i.e. fat free sour cream, less oil, etc.). i haven't tried all the recipes, so those that aren't yummy, you will have to throw out. i will send you all an email with the cookbook attached. they are not categorized, so you will have to print them out and put them in a three ring binder in the order or categories that you want. it has been a fun project, i am looking forward to trying all the recipes eventually. thanks for the fun game!

Lost My Mind

Okay, I'm for sure over the hill. I thought this morning was the final weigh-in and I logged on tonight to see how everybody did, and I'm thinking to myself, "Has everyone dropped out of the game or what?" Duhhh -- one more day to go and I have a lot of water to catch up on today. (I'll have to adjust my score in the morning.) Sorry you have a dimwitted mom! I must say, though, that I've been very distracted by work this week and my brain cells have been sorely diminished. I hope we ALL have a good report tomorrow! Love ya!

This is Sad

Our game is over -- and I feel sad about that. It's sure been fun to all be involved together in improving our health and well-being. You're all great and I seriously mean that. I do have to report that I am up 2 pounds this morning, but I'm hoping I'll be down again in the morning (Relief Society birthday dinner last night and Chinese food yesterday for lunch). I'm going to pretend that we're still playing the game, so hopefully I don't resort to my bad habits again. All of you have a great day --love you much! I'll talk to Dad about lunch at Daniels Summit this weekend -- sounds like good fun.

Cuban Black Beans and Rice

You know Matt and I and our weird love of black beans. This recipe is one of our favorites (along with Black bean burgers of course, which we ate tonight). Seriously, try it.

Cuban Black Beans and Rice (adapted from Taste of Home)
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups water
1 cup diced, fully cooked lean ham
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ¼ tsp pepper
1 ¼ tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
½ tsp liquid smoke
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 T red wine vinegar
2 tsp olive oil (I omit this)
Place first 8 ingredients into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring broth and rice to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Just before serving, add vinegar and oil. Serve over rice.

I'm a survivor!

Survived my first Insanity workout... I don't know how I am going to do today's workout-my calves (AKA my cankles) are so sore I can barely walk!

Hey, I was thinking we should get together at Daniels for lunch! Our game is ending this week.  Could anyone meet this weekend for a quick lunch??

Spaghetti Squash

Bake squash for an hour or so or until you can cut it and de-seed it. Scrape out all of the "spaghetti" and put in a casserole dish. I sprinkled some parmesan cheese and some turkey bacon bits on it and continued baking until cheese was melted and my "spaghetti" was not "al dente". I thought it would be really good with some fat-free mozzarella cheese too. Simple, but yummy side dish!

pizza

yummiest yum yum ever! (well we won't count the real pizza or easter candy or peanut butter and chocolate combinations). my latest love is this delicious 3 WW points pizza. it is so fast, easy and heaven.

Pepperoni Pizza

1 flatout wrap (i got mine at costco, but i have bought them at walmart in the past)
1/3 cup spaghetti sauce sprinkled with extra garlic powder and italian seasonings
1/4 cup fat free mozarella cheese
9-10 pieces of turkey pepperoni

I cook mine in the toaster oven or you can stick it in the oven until cheese is melted. Matt even likes these. He ate two for lunch the other day.

Holy Mother!!

Todd, Tanner & I did our Insanity Fit Test today, and let's just say, we were UNFIT!

Holy crap! It was seriously hard.

I am not joking when I say I felt like I was going to throw up after about 5 minutes.

I made a mistake and looked at tomorrow's workout.

I have serious doubts about my ability to live through this workout.

I feel a little sick just watching the people do the workout.

I am sure my butt is about to be royally kicked.

In the immortal words of Spongebob Squarepants as he finds out he is the target of the school bully...

"I have diarrhea!"

That Does It . . .

I've been trying to avoid Easter candy all day and now I want popcorn. Thanks to Stacy's momentous fall off the wagon, I'm going for the popcorn and I'm not even going to feel guilty (hmmm . . . butter or canola oil, butter or canola oil, can't decide). I hope you're all having a wonder Easter/Conference weekend -- I love it! Here's a recipe Sara asked me to post:
Oriental Stir Fry
1/2 pound chicken breast, cut in 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup water
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup snow peas
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup water chestnuts
1/2 cup bamboo shoots
2 T. lemon juice
4 T. white wine
2 tsp thyme
1 tsp. nutmeg
black pepper, freshly ground
1. Heat large, non-stick skillet over high heat. Mix together lemon juice, wine and spices in bowl. Set aside.
2. Add chicken, stirring frequently until chicken is browned on all sides.
3. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to boil.
4. Stir in broccoli, cooking 1 minute.
5. Stir in snow peas, mushrooms and water chestnuts, cooking 2 minutes.
6. Stir in wine mixture and continue cooking 2 minutes, or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Serve over rice.
For variety, try Thai Stir Fry. Use shredded cabbage, onion, celery, and carrots for vegetable mixture, adding all at once. In place of wine and spice mixture use 1/8 cup lemon juice, 1/8 cup lime juice, 1/2 tsp. grated ginger, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 2 T. chopped parsley.
Can also try Szechwan Stir Fry. In place of wine and spice mixture, use 4 T. white wine, 2 T. rice vinegar, 1 T. grated fresh ginger, 3 cloves minced ginger and 1/2-1 tsp. cayenne pepper. This is great with lean beef.
Happy Easter and Love to You All!

Stolen or Borrowed Recipe from Belly Bustin

Penne Pasta with Veggies

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour
Servings: 10

"Penne is baked with asparagus, broccoli, red bell pepper, zucchini, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan for a colorful, flavorful hot dish."

Ingredients:
1 pound penne pasta 2 tablespoons olive oil **I use Smart Taste brand (high in fiber)
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut
into 1 inch pieces
1 cup fresh broccoli florets
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped zucchini
3/4 cup butter **I use chicken broth
2 tablespoons minced garlic
5 ounces prosciutto, diced **I use 1/2 lb of shrimp or chicken
2 cups sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil **I only use about 1 cup, or use fresh or canned diced tomatoes
8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Toss with olive oil.
3.In a large skillet over medium-high heat, roast asparagus, broccoli, bell pepper and zucchini until flecked with dark brown. Set aside.
4.In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Saute garlic with prosciutto and sun-dried tomatoes until heated through. Toss with penne, roasted vegetables and Parmesan. Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
5.Bake in preheated oven 30 to 40 minutes, until hot.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

What NOT to eat

Easter + General Conference Weekend + FREE DAY = Holy Freak! What have I done???

I'll tell you what I have done..
robin eggs of various colors
butterfinger bites
baby ruth bites
jelly beans
peeps
MUDDY BUDDIES (it's a tradition now, both on Conference weekend and free day)
pizza
chips and salsa (also a tradition)
sugary cereal
cheese-its


AND THAT IS JUST BREAKFAST AND LUNCH!

For dinner, I will be eating pon pon chicken and honey walnut shrimp.

I WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS, I KNOW, HOWEVER I AM ENJOYING MY FABULOUS HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH ALL MY FAVORITE TREATS!

It's been a busy week

I love having my family come....not only because I love and miss them dearly, but because it always kicks my booty in gear to clean and organize my house. Thanks to that I reached my goals this week. As far as loosing weight...I'm kind of just maintaining right now and can't break the mark that I've been at since the end of the last game. I guess it's better than gaining. Funny how I feel so guilty if I miss my water or exercise one day. Hope these habits last a lifetime. HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Strawberry Mango Salsa

Would be so good with some low-carb tortilla strips, baked with cinnamon and truvia

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 diced fresh mango
• 2 pints strawberries, diced

Directions

1. Stir together the balsamic vinegar, orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice in a large bowl. Gently fold in the mango and strawberries until blended. Allow the mixture to rest at least 20 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 50 | Total Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 0mg

Oh Happy Day

In spite of being very nervous to do so, I hopped out of bed and got on the scales and lo and behold I lost 2 pounds (in spite of eating 2 pieces of Brett's pizza last night). I also had a better week overall (guess that's why I lost a little) -- a perfect score of 700. I'm also very excited this morning about my laundry room. When I got home from work last night Brett had been here and torn out my old cabinets and put in beautiful new hickory ones, with a bench to match. I am one happy woman! You all have a good day -- sure love you all.

Glorious Morning Muffins

Another muffin recipe. I saw this and thought that it looked good. I wonder about substituting some fiber one for some of the flour???

Glorious Morning Muffins

Ingredients:
2 eggs (or try egg whites)
¾ c. canola oil
¼ c. skim milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
1 c. wheat flour
1 c. packed brown sugar (or try splenda brown sugar)
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ c. shredded carrots
1 c. shredded, peeled apple
½ c. coconut
½ c. raisins (or craisins)
¾ c. sliced almonds

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 18 muffin tins. In large bowl, beat eggs, oil, milk and vanilla with wire whisk until well blended. Add flours, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. With spoon, stir in carrots, apple, coconut, raisins and ½ cup of the almonds.
2. Fill each muffin cup ¾ full. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup almonds over batter.
3. Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. These muffins freeze well.

nervous...

is anyone else a little nervous about the impending weekend of chocolate combinations...chocolate with peanut butter, chocolate with candy shell (cadbury mini eggs of course), chocolate with chocolate...etc.?? even the jelly beans sound good. stacy, why don't you come out for an easter egg hunt?

New Workout..

This is Todd's early birthday present and the punishment I get for all of the sins of my life. You must pray for me.

Check out this link and feel my pain.

Tuna Cucumber Salad

I am obsessed with cucumbers now. Mushrooms and cucumbers are my new loves.


Grilled Tuna and Marinated Cucumber Salad

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
2/3 cup plus 1 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 fresh tuna steaks (8 ounces each)
2 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced (optional)

In glass pie plate or bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, lemon juice, parsley, 2/3 cup oil, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add tuna steaks, making sure fish is completely covered by marinade. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

In bowl, combine cucumbers, vinegar, cilantro, 1 teaspoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and onion if you are using it. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Remove tuna from marinade; discard marinade. Preheat ridged grill pan or prepare outdoor grill for covered direct grilling on medium-high. Cook tuna 4 to 6 minutes or until browned on both sides but still pink in center, turning once.

Drain cucumber salad. Break tuna into chunks and add to salad. Serves 2.

New Product I love

Saw this featured in a magazine and decided to try it.. I really love it and Sadie, who is a professional pancake-taster, said "Yummy, dewishus (delicious)!"

Crunchy Chicken with Thai Peanut Sauce

I want to try this, thought you might be interested too.

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 35 min
Makes: 8 servings

Chicken Chunks
1 1/2 cups Corn Flakes cereal, crushed (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix (or try the Heart Healthy version)
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
Cooking spray

Thai Peanut Sauce
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup fat-free (skim) milk
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne), if desired

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil. In 2-quart resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix cereal, Bisquick mix, paprika, salt and pepper until well blended. Shake about 6 chicken pieces at a time in bag until coated. Shake off any extra crumbs. Place chicken pieces in pan. Spray chicken with cooking spray.
2. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until coating is crisp and chicken is no longer pink in center.
3. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, mix all sauce ingredients. Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to thicken. Serve chicken chunks with sauce.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 65 ); Total Fat 7 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 35 mg; Sodium 440 mg; Total Carbohydrate 13 g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 17 g

So Ladies....

I can't guarantee this recipe to be entirely the most healthy, but it sure was easy and tasted so good...just thought I would share!

Cheesy Artichoke Cups

Ingredients:
24 small wonton wrappers (3" squares)
2 jars (6.25 ounces each) marinated artichoke hearts
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/3 cup sliced ripe pitted olives
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I substituted Greek yogurt)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press wonton wrappers into mini-muffin pan. Drain artichoke hearts, and pat dry with paper towel. Chop artichokes and red peppers, slice olives. Combine all ingredients . Fill prepared muffin cups with mixture. Bake 12-14 minutes. Let cool in pan 2 minutes, and serve warm!

Delicious AND Healthy Brownies

Healthy Brownies adapted from Maple N Cornbread (and sporkorfoon blog)

Serves 16

1/2 cup good quality unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp instant coffee granules (was fresh out so I didn't use)
1/2 cup white whole wheat pastry flour


Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray an individual brownie pan or 8 inch square baking pan, with non stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl mix together all of he dry ingredients. Mix the applesauce and egg whites and gently fold into the dry mixture. Stir only until moistened.

Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until desired texture is reached. Less time will result in a more dense, gooey brownie and longer time will produce a cake like brownie. When cool, cut into 12 pieces.

Nutritional Information: (yes that is correct!)

99 calories

0.5 grams of fat

23.4 grams of carbs

Bet You're Jealous

I bet my drawer is cleaner than yours! Not a string thing out of place. I must admit that before I cleaned it, it would have been a comfortable pack rat abode. Thanks everyone for playing the game -- it's helped me so much. Later . . .

score and such

i got 690 this week. it is really hard to not nag my husband sometimes, but i am doing much better and i think that the goal is helping me stop and think about what is important.

i lost 2.6 pounds this week and 2.2 pounds last week. i must say i am not stressing nearly as much and i wonder if that is helping. i am doing everything else the same as i have in other games, but just not stressing. i am now 5 pounds away from my pre-jake weight. yeah! thanks to this game and you guys for playing it with me!

update on the black bean brownies. i liked them, matt didn't, although he did eat a whole one. after he had finished eating it i asked him if he knew what the secret ingredient was. he guessed coconut (what?) and when i told him black beans, i think it freaked him out a little. he said, "don't ever do that again." hehe. they are pretty good, but might be better with a little slow churned ice cream on top. everything is better with ice cream.

Better than last week

Well, I definitely did better than last week. I did most everything 100% except, I too, chose to deep clean as my goal and did not get it done this week. Who has the energy when your 1 year old is up every single night because her molars are coming in! I know....NO EXCUSES! Although, my kiddos are home today and so we are going to catch up and organize the laundry room. No matter the score, I lost 3 pounds and am still feeling good when I do what I'm supposed to! Have a great weekend everyone!

Great Breakfast

I just had a really good and satisfying breakfast, so thought I'd share with you. I've never tried fat-free cottage cheese before but it is really good (thanks for the tip Sarie)! I had a boiled egg, a toasted whole wheat sandwich thin with fat-free cottage cheese spread on it, and an orange. It was great and very low in w.w. points (boiled egg (2), sandwich thin (1), and cottage cheese (less than 1/2 point for what I used, orange (1)). Good score Stacy!

Good Week

Sorry Mom that you didn't have a very good week.. Hang in there though! You are doing so good and I hope that dang mouse got caught!

I too am proud of Maddie and I can't believe she is doing as well as she is with school and friends and parties, etc..

I love you all and I am thankful that we have each other during this starvation and extreme hardship.. (just kidding, I love it!)

Mornin' All

Well, guess I better tell you my score before I get into my day. It wasn't my greatest week, but not my worst either. My score is 660 and I gained .2 pounds. I missed a couple of days with my new habit (why did I set myself up with such a hard goal--deep clean something each day???) and one day of exercise (I saw a mouse in the basement by my recumbent bike so I didn't dare go down there til we caught it). I plan to clean out my string-thing drawer today, so that should definitely count for deep cleaning! I hope you've all had a great week -- what fun it is to read your posts and enjoy your family blogs. Love to you all . . .

Finally . . .

Sorry I have been such a slacker with blogging this week. You guys are all really on the ball and your recipes sound heavenly. I'm proud of you all, especially you Maddie. I don't know how you fit everything into your busy schedule -- way to go! Here's a recipe that I thought sounded good.
Springtime Pasta Salad
12 ounces spaghetti, linguine, or thin spaghetti, uncooked
1 T. canola oil
8 ounces broccoli florets
8 ounces asparagus, cut in 1-inch pieces
4 scallions or spring onions, cut in 1-inch slices
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 10-oz. package frozen peas, thawed and drained
1 green or red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Dressing:
3 T. red wine vinegar
3 T. fresh lemon juice
1 T. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 T. canola oil
Add oil to boiling water. Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. In a large pot, cook broccoli and asparagus in boiling water until crisp yet tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and add to pasta. Add scallions, garlic, peas, bell pepper, mushrooms, and parsley. In a small bowl, whisk together first 8 dressing ingredients. Slowly whisk in the oil until dressing is well blended. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss gently until well mixed.

Greek Penne and Chicken

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta (use whole wheat)
1 1/2 tablespoons butter (substitute olive oil)
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts in water
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions
In a large pot with boiling salted water cook penne pasta until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat melt butter, add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add chopped chicken and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium- low. Drain and chop artichoke hearts and add them, chopped tomato, feta cheese, fresh parsley, lemon juice, dried oregano, and drained penne pasta to the large skillet. Cook until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Season with salt and ground black pepper. Serve warm.

(Nutritional Info will be different with your healthy substitutions!)
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 685 | Total Fat: 13.2g | Cholesterol: 94mg

Nutritional Information
Greek Penne and Chicken
Servings Per Recipe: 4

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 685

Total Fat: 13.2g
Cholesterol: 94mg
Sodium: 826mg
Total Carbs: 96.2g
Dietary Fiber: 7.1g
Protein: 47g
VIEW DETAILED NUTRITION

About: Nutrition Info

Powered by: ESHA Nutrient Database

Another Edamame Recipe (what can i say, it's my favorite!)

Spicy Roasted Edamame

Prep Time:
5 MinCook Time:
15 MinReady In:
20 Min

Original Recipe Yield 4 servings
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups frozen shelled edamame (green soybeans), thawed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place the thawed edamame into a mixing bowl, drizzle with the olive oil, then sprinkle with chili powder, basil, onion powder, cumin, paprika, and pepper. Toss until the edamame are evenly coated with the oil and spices. Spread into a 9x13 inch glass baking dish in a single layer.
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until the beans begin to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir once halfway through cooking.

I am a sucker for simple recipes that take a short time to prepare because I seem to be having a lot of "I-need-to-have-dinner-on-the-table-in- 30-minutes" days lately!!

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 2 pounds (17 to 21 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound angel hair pasta (substituted whole grain spaghetti)
  
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• Zest and juice of 2 lemons

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the shrimp on a sheet pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.Toss well, spread them in one layer and roast for 6 to 8 minutes, just until they're pink and cooked through.

Meanwhile, drizzle some olive oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add the angel hair and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid. Quickly toss the angel hair with the melted butter, 1/4 cup olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and about 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Add the shrimp and serve hot.

Homemade Bread

Thanks Sarie for all your wonderful recipes and dedicatedness (if that's even a word). I'm not so excited about this round without the excitement of my hubby to accompany me! Maybe a prize on the line would be a good motivator (just not cash). And I'm not getting the vibe that even THAT would get the guys going! All I know is I have loved this game and hope it stays as a lifestyle for me for a long time.
Anyhow, I made homemade "honey whole wheat" bread yesterday and found a great recipe to share but I'm going to take the lazy route and just give you a website to go to cuz' there are tons of whole wheat recipes to try. Hope you will all try some and enjoy them.
www.GoldMedalWholeWheat.com

Carrot Rice

Ingredients:
1 cup long grain rice
2 cups water
3/4 cup chopped carrots
onion salt to taste
1/4 cup chopped almonds
cayenne pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Cook rice in water according to package directions.
2. Put chopped carrots in large skillet with a little water to steam. Add onion salt. When carrots have steamed, remove from heat and add almonds and cayenne pepper. When rice is finished, stir all together.

Baked Sesame Chicken

We had this for dinner last night, along with Carrot Rice and Matt and I both loved it!

Inredients:
2 T. soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 T. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch of black pepper
4 chicken breasts
cooking spray

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place soy sauce in 9x13 baking dish. In a shallow bowl, mix together sesame seeds, flour, salt and pepper. Dip chicken in the soy sauce to coat, then dredge in the sesame seed mixture. Arrange in single layer, then spray with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 40 minutes. I had to add a couple of tablespoons of water to my baking dish as the soy sauce dried up.

New Lifestyle

I don't know if it is a phase, but I feel like after 2 1/2 months of playing this game, it has finally become easy. I don't have the cravings I used to have and the water drinking comes natural now. There are still things that are hard for me to resist (like movie popcorn, muddy buddies) but it is getting easier and I am recognizing how much better I feel when not partaking in all of the crap of the world. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy my day off and meal off, but I really don't mind at all going back on the healthy diet. I am so proud of Maggoo because she has been so great participating with me. She makes sure she has a healthy lunch packed if she is not going to be home for lunch and she has her 1 liter bottle of water she carries around with her. She has even done P90X with me and I was so proud of her because I know how hard it is, especially when you are not used to it. I really have enjoyed the communication with all of you loved ones too. I am so happy that this game has come into my life and appreciate the health I have right now. I hope you all are doing good! Even the boys!

Sad state of affairs..

I too am very displeased with our men-folk. I am sure they feel that "real men don't blog", but I just have to say "real men don't eat raw spinach" either. I would like to see at least 1 post from each of the male species playing this game. Before the game ends. In 3 weeks. Is that doable? Here are some thoughts on getting started...
1. Eat a healthy snack before you cozy up to the computer. An apple & string cheese. Maybe a bowl of cottage cheese. It will keep your blood sugar stable as you work those little digits.
2. Don't forget to breathe! I learned this from Tony Horton doing P90X. You must remember not to hold your breath as you stroke the keypad, furiously expressing yourself through word.
3. Waterboarding yourself while you are posting is a very bad idea. It is much better to wait to waterboard yourself until after you have completed your thought. Thus you eliminate water dripping from your chin onto the keyboard and also having to run to the "lou" throughout your post.
4. Remember that posting is a form of journaling which we have been advised (I dare say commanded) to do for many millenium and I know some of you are not honoring your callings as priesthood leaders. Yes, I stand by that. You are not honoring your leadership roles because you are not blogging.
5. And lastly, remember that your lives are always much more pleasant when you follow the dictates of your woman.

I think that about does it.

I am waiting with baited breath to read your thoughts..
Tony Horton would not be pleased.

Black Bean Brownies

a couple of weeks okay, pappa rabbit mentioned that he saw someone on t.v. make some black bean brownies and i was intrigued. i like black beans and i love brownies, so last night i went searching and found this recipe. i haven't tried it yet, but plan to.
Ingredients
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 eggs (try egg beaters)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (try applesauce)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder (try 1/3 cup)
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (try extra)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish.
2. Combine the black beans, eggs, oil, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, and sugar in a blender; blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.

the black beans basically replace the flour. the reviews for this recipe were really good. the ideas in the parenthesis' were ideas that some of the reviewers tried. could be interesting.

boys....

what's up boys??? will you only really play if there is money involved? come on you sissys. maybe we need to play a game with the girls only and have a purse on the line (a really cute one). don't get me wrong, i am suuuper proud of you boys for your healthy lifestyles, i just miss you and your wonderful participation. come on....

Healthier Apple Crisp from P90X Website

Gonna have to try this one day...

To even make it better, I would use the splenda brown sugar, brummel & brown butter, and my new maple syrup (fat-free,calorie-free)- that would make it closer to 100 calories...

Tuesday: Apple Crisp

What's as American as apple pie? Well, obesity for starters. Apples are certainly healthy, and apple pie flavorings like cinnamon are also healthy. In fact, some studies have shown that cinnamon may help stabilize blood sugar levels and may even lower blood cholesterol levels. However, once you mix it all up in a shortening-laden crust with a cup or two of sugar, most health benefits go right out the window. Try this easy-to-make recipe for apple pie flavor without the fat. For extra fiber, don't peel the apples. You can also experiment with other favorite fruits like peaches or blueberries; use them as substitutes for or in addition to the apples.

1. 4 cups apples, peeled and sliced
2. 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
3. 1 tsp. cinnamon
4. 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
5. 2 Tbsp. flour, whole wheat (or soy flour)
6. 2 Tbsp. butter, organic grass-fed, if available
7. 1/2 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium baking dish, combine apples, maple syrup, and 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon. In a separate mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Top mixture in baking dish with mixture from bowl. Bake for about 30 minutes or until apples are soft. Serves 4.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories	Fat Total	Carbs	Fiber	Protein
200	6 g	31 g	3 g	3 g

Fries, anyone?

Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries 2.0 PER SERVING (1/2 of recipe): 125 calories, <0.5g>POINTS® value 2* Getting baked butternut-squash spears crispy in the oven can be a bit of a challenge. This newly improved recipe will show you the way... Ingredients: 1 butternut squash (about 2 pounds -- large enough to yield 20 oz. once peeled & sliced) 1/8 tsp. coarse salt Optional: additional coarse salt  Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice the ends off the squash, and then cut it in half widthwise. Peel squash with a vegetable peeler or carefully with a knife. Cut the round bottom piece in half lengthwise and remove seeds.  Using a crinkle cutter or a knife, carefully cut squash into spears/French-fry shapes. (For exact nutritionals, measure out and use 20 oz.) Pat spears firmly with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Sprinkle evenly with salt.  Lay spears out on a layer of paper towels, and let stand for at least 5 minutes, to allow the salt to draw out any excess moisture. Then pat with paper towels again. If you like, sprinkle with additional salt. Spray a broiler pan, a baking rack placed over a baking sheet, or a baking sheet with nonstick spray, and then lay spears flat on it. (Use two pieces of bakeware, if needed.)  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, and then carefully flip spears. Bake for about 20 minutes longer, until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Enjoy! MAKES 2 SERVINGS

(From Hungry girl website, so sorry boys, guess you can't have any...)

Yippee!

Doing better this morning. I got on the scale and have lost 3.6 pounds. I lost some points, however, because of my lack of deep cleaning something every day (should not sit down to relax a few minutes when I get home from work -- too hard to get moving again). I am still doing good though on maintaining my previous good habit, so I need to remember that I am making headway. Sure do love you all -- you make me proud and happy as a momma rabbit can be! Mom & Grandma

Does climbing my staircase 25 x count as exercise?

I am determined to win a battle that has been raging in our home right around 9 pm every, single night...Blake does NOT want to sleep in his own bed (or with Cole, Emma or Mia), just mom and dad!! Anyway, tonight I decided I would persevere, even if it killed me. After 25 (maybe a bit exaggerated, but pretty close) trips up the stairs (carrying Blake, I might add), would you like to guess where my sweet, stubborn little boy sleeps? You may think I "caved", which I did to some degree, but the final straw came when I accidentally closed one of Blake's little fingers in his door. Needless to say, "squished" finger trumps "never give in" attitude!

Anyway, I tried this recipe the other night, and it was a hit with the family, so I thought I would share. The original recipe called for fryer chicken with the skin (gasp), so of course, my substitute was chicken breasts. I also couldn't find orzo in our well-stocked grocery stores, so I had to substitute that as well.

Baked Greek Chicken

I used approx. 10 chicken breasts
3/4 tsp salt
2 lemons
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 fennel bulb, trimmed, cored and sliced
1 cup dry orzo
1/3 c pitted kalamata olives, halved
1/3 c crumbled feta cheese

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. (I butterflied the chicken breasts and spread the mixture in between). Grate zest of one lemon, then cut lemon in half and juice. In small bowl, stir together 2 tsp of the zest, 2 Tbsp of the lemon juice, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, the garlic, oregano and pepper. Use 1/2 this mixture between chicken breasts. Cut peel of second lemon and chop into pieces.
2. Add olive oil to remaining herb mixture in bowl. Toss with sliced fennel and chopped lemon. Transfer to a large baking dish. Top with chicken and bake @ 425 for 40 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook orzo following package directions, about 9 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Transfer chicken to a platter and spoon fennel and 1 Tbsp of pan dripping in with orzo. Add olives & feta to bowl; combine. Serve warm.

clarification

tomorrow is the big day for scores. mom had a question tonight. do we get communication points (60 for the week or 15 for each day)if we have communicated with a team member and opposing team member, but haven't blogged. i say yes. is that okay with you all?
also, i have added a gadget at the top for total family weight loss. if you are losing weight and want to, add you weight loss to the family total,when you are adding your team scores.
i hope everyone had a good week. it is sure nice to be playing the game again!

Old and Tired . . .

Hi guys. I'm sure glad I have your commitment and support to motivate me. I;ve felt like I could hardly keep up with life each day, let alone think about all that I should be doing to be healthier. However, it's been a relatively good week and I'm determined to hang in there. I'm just really glad I've been able to make the changes that I've made -- thanks to you all. Here's a couple of recipes that I thought looked good. . .

GUILTLESS FRENCH FRIES
3 large russet potatoes
1 egg white
freshly ground black pepper
Cut potatoes into thin french fry-size strips. In bowl, whip egg white until foamy. Add black pepper and mix. Add potatoes and toss to coat well. Spread potatoes on non-stick cookie sheet in single layer. Cook for 30-35 minutes at 450 degrees or until potatoes are crisp and brown. For spicy fries add 1 T. chili powder and 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper to egg white bath. For gourmet fries use 1 russet potato, 1 yukon potato and 1 sweet potato. For garlic fries add 1 tsp. garlic powder and 1 tsp. paprika to egg white bath. It recommends dipping your fries in vinegar as you eat them for some zip.

FRUIT SMOOTHIE ICE CREAM
2 over-ripe bananas
1 T. applesauce (unsweetened) or artificial sweetner
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
Peel bananas and mash thoroughly in bowl. Add applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend well. Cover and place in freezer for several hours. Try any kind of fruit (peaches and pineapple are juicy good). Try a splash of lemon or lime juice for a sweet/tart taste.

Good luck and love to you all! Mom

Black Bean Salsa

1 can black beans, drained, rinsed

1 can corn, drained

Fresh tomato or 1 can diced tomatoes (we used italian tomatoes)

cilantro

onion (or onion salt)

garlic powder

salt and pepper

lime juice

avacados (optional)

dry italian dressing packet (to taste)

Serve with Wasa crackers.

I WON'T BE WINNING THIS ROUND!!!

Well, I think I fell off the "band wagon", as my husband puts it! With the traveling and the time change this week I only exercised twice, ate out for every meal (which I did Okay with), and don't really know how much water I drank. So, I will not be getting on the scale anytime soon....if you know what I mean. Now that I'm home, I'm back to the grind and it feels so good. No more traveling for a little while! Sorry Ty...thought I was better than this!

I stole this idea

I copied this from our previous blog "bellybustin" because I thought it was fabulous information!

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

The Best Steak Marinade EVER

 

NOT KIDDING! 

TRY IT - YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!

I WON'T EVER DO STEAK ANOTHER WAY AGAIN!

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup  olive oil

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder

3 Tablespoons dried basil (didn't have just basil, I used Italian seasoning)

1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes (didn't have it, used margoram)

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

1 teaspoon dried minced garlic (optional)

Blend in a blender for 30 seconds.  Marinade in the fridge for up to 8 hours.  

We had sirloin steaks, edamame and steamed new potatoes.  SO AWESOME! Sometimes when I have a meal like this, I wonder why I would ever want to eat a crappy, fattening dinner again.  

After enjoying my wonderful dinner, the teens and I went to mutual.  They had snacks of course.  Sara, my lovely sister, one of the treats was MUDDY BUDDIES.  Did I falter in my quest for a non-jiggly body? NOO! I did not even have so much as a sniff! Holy cow, how could that be possible.  I resisted muddy buddies....totally cool.

FINALLY!

Sorry I'm so slow guys! I'm sure proud of all of you with your good goals and determination to become healthier -- you're my inspiration! Maybe Papa Rabbit will get on here soon and share his great wisdom. Things are going well -- some days better than others, but it is good to have accountability in our lives. It's wonderful to have healthy food sounding better than unhealthy food! I'll try to post a recipe next time I'm on. Love you all! MOM

Breakfast for dinner...

We just had Maddie's yummy blueberry pancakes for dinner tonight...thanks Maddie!! Brett said they were the best pancakes he had ever had (which is saying a lot because he doesn't usually give food titles like "the best" or "the worst")! I truly believe that a delicious "breakfast" should be enjoyed anytime of the day!!

i just ate kimmie's salsa chicken wrap with leftover garlic lime chicken from last night. it was so tasty! thanks kimmie for the recipe.

Garlic Lime Chicken

i made this tonight for dinner and we really liked it. the smell reminds me of the fourth of july because of the cider vinegar. yummmm.

1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup cider vinegar
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon salt
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

combine ingredients and allow chicken to marinate overnight (i didn't have time for this, i just made it and cooked it). discard marinade. in a skillet, brown chicken on all sides. transfer to a greased baking pan. bake, uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until juices run clear.

Oh so yummy!

This is a wonderful substitute for high-calorie maple syrup.  No fat and no calories!

Here is the whole-wheat blueberry pancakes that your tummy is craving! I tell you what, they are awesome!  I doubled the recipe, and it is a good thing I did!  Everyone loved them.  We had a chocolate banana soy milk shake, also.  So satisfying.  I am loving being back on the "diet".  I feel so much better about the food I eat, even if it does take a bit more planning and thought.

Chocolate Banana Soy milkshake

2 frozen ripe bananas (I always freeze a few bananas of each bunch as they ripen)

12-16 ounces of light chocolate soy milk

12-16 ounces of non-fat skim milk

a few ice cubes

Blend in blender, enjoy!

*This recipe makes enough for 5-6 people.

Pumpkin Soup

this may be a girl kind of thing to eat. we had it for dinner the other night. matt thought that it needed some meat in it. i was happy with it as is. i served it with ciabatta bread toasted.

ingredients:
3 C. chicken stock
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C. pumpkin puree
onion salt to taste
minced garlic to taste
black pepper to taste
1/4 C. fat free sour cream

heat all the ingredients, except for the sour cream. bring to a boil. reduce heat to low and simmer for 50 minutes. stir in sour cream. can garnish with fresh parsley.

i have lots and lots of frozen sweet meat puree that can be used instead of pumpkin (that is what i used). let me know if anyone wants any. i would love to share it!

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

This is from Maddie-

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk, plus more if necessary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon artificial sweetener
• 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

1. Sift together flour and baking powder, set aside. Beat together the egg, milk, salt and artificial sweetener in a bowl. Stir in flour until just moistened, add blueberries, and stir to incorporate.
2. Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn, and continue cooking until golden brown.

Footnotes

FOOTNOTE

• You may need to use more milk than 1 cup. The batter should be thin enough so that it pours, but not so thin that it's runny. We find that 1/4 cup additional milk is about the maximum needed.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 160 | Total Fat: 2.6g | Cholesterol: 46mg