This was a beautiful salad Tiste made for me until I dumped my chicken, tomato, olive and couscous leftovers on top of it (Tiste made this for dinner last night and it was delicious).
Points: 7.5
Friday, September 25, 2009
Supposedly Bento 09.25.09
This was a beautiful salad Tiste made for me until I dumped my chicken, tomato, olive and couscous leftovers on top of it (Tiste made this for dinner last night and it was delicious).
Points: 7.5
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Bento 09.23.09
Tiste made my bento again today!
6 garlic stuffed olives, zucchini wedges, 2 ounces turkey, 1 slice whole grain bread with mustard, 7 reduced fat wheat thins, 2 tablespoons hummus and sugar free applesauce.
Cherry Tomato Cups with Corn Relish
This would be excellent in a bento or an appetizer. Super easy! I might have to make it.
= = =
Cherry Tomato Cups with Corn Relish
Makes 8 servings
POINTS® value | 1 per serving
Ingredients
* 2 ears corn, husks and silk removed
* 3 medium scallions, thinly sliced
* 1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and minced
* 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
* 1/2 Tbsp celery seeds
* 2 tsp honey
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 20 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
* Prepare a grill for high-heat cooking or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Set the corn on the grate directly over the heat or on the grill pan. Grill, turning often, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
* Cool the corn 5 minutes, then cut the kernels off the ears. To do so, snap an ear of corn in half. Stand one half on the cutting board, flat side down to steady it, and run your knife along the cob, removing the kernels; repeat with the other half, then repeat with the other ears. Discard the cobs.
* In a medium bowl, mix the corn kernels, scallions, jalapeño, rice vinegar, celery seeds, honey and salt.
* Halve the tomatoes and use a little spoon or a small melon baller to scoop out and discard the seedy, pulpy centers.
* Place 1 tablespoon corn filling in each tomato half. Serve at once or cover on a platter and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
* Serving size: 5 stuffed tomato halves
= = =
Cherry Tomato Cups with Corn Relish
Makes 8 servings
POINTS® value | 1 per serving
Ingredients
* 2 ears corn, husks and silk removed
* 3 medium scallions, thinly sliced
* 1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and minced
* 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
* 1/2 Tbsp celery seeds
* 2 tsp honey
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 20 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
* Prepare a grill for high-heat cooking or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Set the corn on the grate directly over the heat or on the grill pan. Grill, turning often, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
* Cool the corn 5 minutes, then cut the kernels off the ears. To do so, snap an ear of corn in half. Stand one half on the cutting board, flat side down to steady it, and run your knife along the cob, removing the kernels; repeat with the other half, then repeat with the other ears. Discard the cobs.
* In a medium bowl, mix the corn kernels, scallions, jalapeño, rice vinegar, celery seeds, honey and salt.
* Halve the tomatoes and use a little spoon or a small melon baller to scoop out and discard the seedy, pulpy centers.
* Place 1 tablespoon corn filling in each tomato half. Serve at once or cover on a platter and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
* Serving size: 5 stuffed tomato halves
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
What's In A Name?
This is a video that was produced about a program we (YAV) did at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond, VA. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved!
Bento 09.22.09
Tiste made my bento today!
8 Vanilla wafers, 7 garlic stuffed olives, 2 ounces turkey, 1 slice whole grain bread with mustard, sugar free applesauce.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Gone Camping!
Tiste has some friends that have a large wooded lot in Holland, VA which is out near Suffolk. We're heading out this weekend with around 30 or so of our friends for a weekend party! It's going to be a good time. In consideration of the diet I am BEING PREPARED.
Saturday Dinner
Red Wine & Garlic Marinaded Steak
Asparagus tossed in olive oil and lemon
Roasted Cauliflower & Zucchini
Sunday Breakfast
All Natural Chicken Sausage
Coffee
Snacks & Extras
Almonds
Light Pringles
Drained Tuna
Salad Fixings
We should be styling. We have some gear to help get us through roughing it but I'm happy to report that the group came together and at least rented a Porta-John. Whew!
Saturday Dinner
Red Wine & Garlic Marinaded Steak
Asparagus tossed in olive oil and lemon
Roasted Cauliflower & Zucchini
Sunday Breakfast
All Natural Chicken Sausage
Coffee
Snacks & Extras
Almonds
Light Pringles
Drained Tuna
Salad Fixings
We should be styling. We have some gear to help get us through roughing it but I'm happy to report that the group came together and at least rented a Porta-John. Whew!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Dinner 09.17.09
It's not often I blog about what I actually cook for dinner. It's too laborious and, honestly, who *really* cares but me! That being said, I just had to blog about this one.
Since I set myself firm to counting points on Monday morning and, honestly didn't really think it out, I was ill prepared this week to start counting. I've done it for 4 days and done, eh, pretty well. However, part of it is BEING PREPARED. I can honestly say that I really hate thinking about food all the time. At the same time, if I don't think about it then I'm not being vigilant am I?
Before I left work today I was livid with myself because I was hungry, nothing thawed for dinner and all out of fresh veggies save one yellow bell pepper. Fuming I pulled a detour and told Tiste I was too hungry to thaw anything and we needed to go to the store. We all know, going to the store when you're hungry is a terrible thing! I was so mad that I had to go! It was either that, or get/make something that wouldn't be as healthy as what I could make at home with some fresh ingredients.
I have to brag now because, I won! I didn't know walking into the store what my game plan was but I knew it started in the produce section. I picked up some romaine, zucchini, and 1 impulse purchase... MUSHROOMS! Then, I cruised right past the salad bar and braved the cheese altar to find a lemon humus (snack for when I got home). Then took off like a rocket directly to the meat counter completely leaving Tiste dazed and a little confused.
I looked over all the choices but I wanted something EASY and low in points. I ran across an all natural chicken and garlic sausage that was very low in calories, four to a pack and not too expensive. It matched my goals and I was crossing my fingers it was low on points. After grabbing a quick heat potato dish for Tiste, low fat Wheat Thins (to go with the hummus) and Newman's Light Balsamic I was in the check out line while Tiste was still trying to keep up.
I got home, pre-heated the oven to 400 and pulled up the WW website.
Al fresco All Natural Chicken Sausages = 3 points!!!! ROCK OUT!!!
My lemony hummus was 2 tablespoons for 1 point, 7 wheat thins for 1 point and I happily snacked on that while I tossed the mushrooms w/ a touch of olive oil, curry powder and smashed garlic. I put those along with the frozen potato thing for Tiste and the chicken sausages and it all in my lasagna pan. Add a salad with zucchini, yellow bell pepper and crasins. Voila, dinner 30 minutes later.
(Aside: Tiste was actually a little disappointed I bought him a frozen starch. While he liked it he told me he wanted to eat as close to what I was eating as possible without getting "too crazy".)
Tiste put on some music and we ate at the table instead of watching TV. It was really nice. After dinner we picked up a bit and then Tiste suggested we go for a walk. We went for a 25-minute walk and got home just in time for Jeopardy.
It's been a good evening. I'm so proud I overcame my ill preparedness! I even have enough points for a sugar free jell-o and a few vanilla wafers. :)
Since I set myself firm to counting points on Monday morning and, honestly didn't really think it out, I was ill prepared this week to start counting. I've done it for 4 days and done, eh, pretty well. However, part of it is BEING PREPARED. I can honestly say that I really hate thinking about food all the time. At the same time, if I don't think about it then I'm not being vigilant am I?
Before I left work today I was livid with myself because I was hungry, nothing thawed for dinner and all out of fresh veggies save one yellow bell pepper. Fuming I pulled a detour and told Tiste I was too hungry to thaw anything and we needed to go to the store. We all know, going to the store when you're hungry is a terrible thing! I was so mad that I had to go! It was either that, or get/make something that wouldn't be as healthy as what I could make at home with some fresh ingredients.
I have to brag now because, I won! I didn't know walking into the store what my game plan was but I knew it started in the produce section. I picked up some romaine, zucchini, and 1 impulse purchase... MUSHROOMS! Then, I cruised right past the salad bar and braved the cheese altar to find a lemon humus (snack for when I got home). Then took off like a rocket directly to the meat counter completely leaving Tiste dazed and a little confused.
I looked over all the choices but I wanted something EASY and low in points. I ran across an all natural chicken and garlic sausage that was very low in calories, four to a pack and not too expensive. It matched my goals and I was crossing my fingers it was low on points. After grabbing a quick heat potato dish for Tiste, low fat Wheat Thins (to go with the hummus) and Newman's Light Balsamic I was in the check out line while Tiste was still trying to keep up.
I got home, pre-heated the oven to 400 and pulled up the WW website.
Al fresco All Natural Chicken Sausages = 3 points!!!! ROCK OUT!!!
My lemony hummus was 2 tablespoons for 1 point, 7 wheat thins for 1 point and I happily snacked on that while I tossed the mushrooms w/ a touch of olive oil, curry powder and smashed garlic. I put those along with the frozen potato thing for Tiste and the chicken sausages and it all in my lasagna pan. Add a salad with zucchini, yellow bell pepper and crasins. Voila, dinner 30 minutes later.
(Aside: Tiste was actually a little disappointed I bought him a frozen starch. While he liked it he told me he wanted to eat as close to what I was eating as possible without getting "too crazy".)
Tiste put on some music and we ate at the table instead of watching TV. It was really nice. After dinner we picked up a bit and then Tiste suggested we go for a walk. We went for a 25-minute walk and got home just in time for Jeopardy.
It's been a good evening. I'm so proud I overcame my ill preparedness! I even have enough points for a sugar free jell-o and a few vanilla wafers. :)
Lunch Bento 09.17.09
Cuban Tofu, 1/3 cup couscous, 3.5 ounces sugar snap peas, 4 vanilla wafers, 2 Tablespoons coarse ground mustard, 1 jell-o sugar free pudding.
Served with A&W Diet Root Beer
Points: 11
Breakfast Bento 09.17.09
Cuban Tofu, 1 oz 99% fat free Strawberry Yogurt, Quaker Oatmeal Bar
Served with a 12 ounces glass of 1% milk
Points: 8
Soy Joy? Not so much.
The title really should read, "What not to do with tofu". I have, sadly, found out the hard way.
I love tofu. When prepared correctly it's a fabulous treat. Drain some extra firm, throw a dressing on it like sesame ginger and throw it in a bowl and I'm there. I made tofu last week with a soy sauce, sesame oil, and sriracha. It was heavenly. This week, I tried something new and, alas, it didn't go well.
Cuba marinades aren't meant for tofu. PERIOD. I made the marinade from scratch with the finest of ingredients and let it all hang out overnight. After I seared it this morning I threw some in a breakfast bento and my lunch bento. I suppose the doubling up didn't help. Honestly, the flavor from the orange juice, lemon juice, cumin, garlic marinade only made the tofu SWEET. It was a bit like tamago, which I don't hate but don't particularly love.
It brought me no joy and much sadness. So, I beg you - don't do it. AND, if you have a good marinade for tofu then pass it along!
I love tofu. When prepared correctly it's a fabulous treat. Drain some extra firm, throw a dressing on it like sesame ginger and throw it in a bowl and I'm there. I made tofu last week with a soy sauce, sesame oil, and sriracha. It was heavenly. This week, I tried something new and, alas, it didn't go well.
Cuba marinades aren't meant for tofu. PERIOD. I made the marinade from scratch with the finest of ingredients and let it all hang out overnight. After I seared it this morning I threw some in a breakfast bento and my lunch bento. I suppose the doubling up didn't help. Honestly, the flavor from the orange juice, lemon juice, cumin, garlic marinade only made the tofu SWEET. It was a bit like tamago, which I don't hate but don't particularly love.
It brought me no joy and much sadness. So, I beg you - don't do it. AND, if you have a good marinade for tofu then pass it along!
Monday, September 14, 2009
House and Home
This summer it was too hot to clean well. It was too hot to have people over. It was just too damn hot.
Fast forward to this BEAUTIFUL weather we've been having...
TISTE AND I HAVE RECLAIMED THE HOUSE!!
It wasn't that it was out of control gross but it was cluttered and driving us batty. Last weekend we tackled the dining room, kitchen, and office. This weekend we tackled the living room. The house is looking good! Next on the list is the laundry room, our bedroom and the back bedroom.
I need things though and money is tight. I'm making my list anyway and we'll see what happens.
Fast forward to this BEAUTIFUL weather we've been having...
TISTE AND I HAVE RECLAIMED THE HOUSE!!
It wasn't that it was out of control gross but it was cluttered and driving us batty. Last weekend we tackled the dining room, kitchen, and office. This weekend we tackled the living room. The house is looking good! Next on the list is the laundry room, our bedroom and the back bedroom.
I need things though and money is tight. I'm making my list anyway and we'll see what happens.
Get. It. Done.
With stress and chaos comes the opportunity to find control.
I need to count, I need to obsess about something...
So, I thought I'd make it productive and start counting WW Points again. This time I will do better.
I need to count, I need to obsess about something...
So, I thought I'd make it productive and start counting WW Points again. This time I will do better.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Egg Bake
I repeatedly seen people pop eggs in a ramekin with other stuff and then bake them. I've never thought about doing it until recently. I made a soy sauce and garlic marinade for my tofu the other day. I liked it so much I threw some in w/ a drained can of beans. I thought, I'll figure out something to do with that...
I figured I would just puree the beans for a dip.
Fast forward to this morning.
I tasted the beans and thought they were delicious. I was also hungry. I watched a Food Network show yesterday where they did baked eggs... Well, what the hell. I used some olive oil on a shallow ramekin, spooned in some beans, broken in two eggs, dusted them with salt, pepper and a little bit of cheese. In the oven they went for 15 minutes. Too wiggly for me after 15 minutes I popped them back in for 7 more minutes.
HEAVEN.
The creaminess of the yolk with the beans is sooo good.
Go me.
I figured I would just puree the beans for a dip.
Fast forward to this morning.
I tasted the beans and thought they were delicious. I was also hungry. I watched a Food Network show yesterday where they did baked eggs... Well, what the hell. I used some olive oil on a shallow ramekin, spooned in some beans, broken in two eggs, dusted them with salt, pepper and a little bit of cheese. In the oven they went for 15 minutes. Too wiggly for me after 15 minutes I popped them back in for 7 more minutes.
HEAVEN.
The creaminess of the yolk with the beans is sooo good.
Go me.
Reflects, no rants.
I know you didn't really miss me. You probably didn't notice that I wasn't blogging. It's okay, you probably still know where I live or how to find me if you want to check up on me. My departure from blogging was abrupt, I apologize to those of you who care.
Life. Is. Stressful.
I'm trying to find, muddle and dance through life while dodging bullets and piles of shit while trying to take pictures of rainbows and hug lots of puppies. It's hard. I'm kinda wishing I'd taken dance as a child.
I won't lie; most of my stress is all job related. I feel like I'm drowning there. Where's my captain? I don't know.
Tiste is also still looking for work. We've recently discovered that I'm on overdose spending time with him. He's there when I wake-up, he's there on my way to work, he's there on my way home, he's there all night... He never goes away. Apparently after 4 months of this I final hit my wall. Friday night I sent him away for 2 hours and had dinner BY MYSELF. I know what you're thinking, you think because I'm up at 6am on the weekends and he sleeps until 9am that I should enjoy my quiet moments? I do, but it seems wrong to not want someone to wake-up while you rock out to music and do dishes or run the vacuum or talk on the phone. But, they do. The get cranky when they wake-up to such things... at 7am...
Anyway, we've discussed recently that maybe he should start volunteering somewhere. It would get him up and out of the house... things to do, things to talk about and PEOPLE. Dear god, PEOPLE. Not that he doesn't talk to people. He talks on the phone with one of his friends almost once a day but, he doesn't leave the house much at all. It's got to be depressing for him. In fact, I know it is. I'm actually looking for an online support group for myself. We talked about it yesterday. It's good to talk. I think it's even more important to know that we're not alone.
In the meantime, life is still good. We are happy, we love each other, we support each other, we TALK about issues, we do things about them and we try to see the world from the other persons point of view. These are all good things.
I was recently interviewed for a relationship podcast. My interviewer was keenly aware of the current struggles Tiste and I have been facing without him working. I listened to what I said after the taping... it was a lot about what I feel Tiste should be doing. It's allowed me some pause and reflection of the affect his unemployment has had on me.
I've withdrawn a little, I'm home more, I read a lot, I don't sleep well, I question if I'm supportive enough, I worry and I push a bit more than usual. Also, I miss my family more than ever right now. My Mom (my rock), My Dad (my inspiration) and even My Brother (my confidant). I've been contemplating life, in general.
All that being said, I'm happy. Every day we wake-up and we decide if it's a good day or a bad day before we're even out of bed. I've been talking to myself again... It's a good day, it's a worthwhile day... It helps! We all need times to remind us life is hard, but it doesn't work if you don't work at it.
Right? Right.
Life. Is. Stressful.
I'm trying to find, muddle and dance through life while dodging bullets and piles of shit while trying to take pictures of rainbows and hug lots of puppies. It's hard. I'm kinda wishing I'd taken dance as a child.
I won't lie; most of my stress is all job related. I feel like I'm drowning there. Where's my captain? I don't know.
Tiste is also still looking for work. We've recently discovered that I'm on overdose spending time with him. He's there when I wake-up, he's there on my way to work, he's there on my way home, he's there all night... He never goes away. Apparently after 4 months of this I final hit my wall. Friday night I sent him away for 2 hours and had dinner BY MYSELF. I know what you're thinking, you think because I'm up at 6am on the weekends and he sleeps until 9am that I should enjoy my quiet moments? I do, but it seems wrong to not want someone to wake-up while you rock out to music and do dishes or run the vacuum or talk on the phone. But, they do. The get cranky when they wake-up to such things... at 7am...
Anyway, we've discussed recently that maybe he should start volunteering somewhere. It would get him up and out of the house... things to do, things to talk about and PEOPLE. Dear god, PEOPLE. Not that he doesn't talk to people. He talks on the phone with one of his friends almost once a day but, he doesn't leave the house much at all. It's got to be depressing for him. In fact, I know it is. I'm actually looking for an online support group for myself. We talked about it yesterday. It's good to talk. I think it's even more important to know that we're not alone.
In the meantime, life is still good. We are happy, we love each other, we support each other, we TALK about issues, we do things about them and we try to see the world from the other persons point of view. These are all good things.
I was recently interviewed for a relationship podcast. My interviewer was keenly aware of the current struggles Tiste and I have been facing without him working. I listened to what I said after the taping... it was a lot about what I feel Tiste should be doing. It's allowed me some pause and reflection of the affect his unemployment has had on me.
I've withdrawn a little, I'm home more, I read a lot, I don't sleep well, I question if I'm supportive enough, I worry and I push a bit more than usual. Also, I miss my family more than ever right now. My Mom (my rock), My Dad (my inspiration) and even My Brother (my confidant). I've been contemplating life, in general.
All that being said, I'm happy. Every day we wake-up and we decide if it's a good day or a bad day before we're even out of bed. I've been talking to myself again... It's a good day, it's a worthwhile day... It helps! We all need times to remind us life is hard, but it doesn't work if you don't work at it.
Right? Right.
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