Onemonth closer to spring

Some pics I was finally able to down load. :-)

the first is from a magic of books night at bryce's school...it was on his bday and we took his bday presents (the book and the pirate hat w/and we made a tent w/a blanket and a couple chairs and read by flashlight and then we sat around the campfire w/a bunch of other students and their parents and the teachers read interactive stories.

the second is the cabin we stayed in down in so. IL ...Pope County over new years.

wahoo chili chicken

So I took a chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper and 3 chopped stalks of celery and sauteed that in a big pot. then I poured in 2 cans of diced tomatoes and a can of beans and added 3 boneless chicken breasts and 2 tbsps wahoo chili and mixed that together and then I added in 1/2 a jar of the TS Corn and Black Bean Salsa and simmered all that until everything was cooked and tender..took out the chickent shreded it, added it back in and Wah-Lah...a low fat good source of fiber and protein dinner.

I have no idea what I will be making tomorrow I have a party w/a big group coming so that is going to be lots of fun...so tomorrow will not be an experimenting w/a new recipe day.

I have a pork roast to defrost, but the man likes that cooked as is...it comes w/flavors added...it's a hormel tender roast--so I'll get that defrosting 2morrow and roast it on thurs w/ahhh a nice green salad and roasted red and sweet potatoes...that sounds delish!

I like Swiss Chard

Every other week a box of fresh organic fruits and veggies along w/organic eggs and milk shows up at my front door. It's my little luxury and I tell you organic red potatoes taste a ton sweeter than conventional..and there is a big difference w/oranges as well. The box of food we get is called a goodie box because it is a random assortment of seasonal fruits and vegetables. I am really looking forward to the cherry season for example.

This week our box contained a few stalks of swiss chard, which I've not had before. It looks like a cross btwn rhurbarb and kale--but fortunately it tastes like a mild spinach. With each delivery comes the bill--and more importantly a sheet of recipes. This sheet had a recipe for Chard and Cheddar Omlettes. So I revised it to make it healthy and had it as an under 200 calorie lunch.

Chard and Cheaddar Omlette:

6 egg whites
1 cup chopped swiss chard
1 oz 75% reduced fat Cabot Cheddar Cheese grated
1 tbsp Onion Onion (dry)

In a small bowl whisk the Onion Onion into the egg whites. Spray skillet w/Pam, w/pan on med. heat add swiss chard and saute until the chard is wilted. Then add the egg/onion onion mixture into the pan and do the omlette thing, and if the eggs sticke to the pan cause you used an iron skillet like me, then adjust and make scrambled chard and cheddar. When cooked, finish by sprinkling the cheese on top, yum! http://tcforganics.net

The window is open and it's January

I am sure this time next week it will be -6 vrs. the 60 degree F reading we are seeing today--so I opened a couple windows to get a bit of fresh air in the house.

I spent a bit of time today cooking and chopping and I"ll share what we are having for dinner:

1. Pork Roast w/this to accompany it...
I substituted the zuchinni and used fennel root and I used Yukon Gold Potatoes.

Ciambotta (Southern Italian Vegetable Stew)

Description
This vegetable-laden stew makes a delicious dinner with crusty bread. When reduced just a bit, it could also make a hearty pasta sauce.

Ingredients
1/2 lb. eggplant, unpeeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoons good, fruity extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2.5 tsp Garlic Garlic
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
a large handful of fresh basil, stems removed, chopped
1 lb. ripe plum tomatoes, passed through a manual food mill, or peeled and chopped finely in the food processor (or use a 14-oz. can Italian plum tomatoes, drained and processed)
3/4 lb. new potatoes, or any waxy potato, scrubbed and cut into 1x2-inch pieces
1/2 lb. zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 large or 2 small sweet red or yellow peppers, seeded and cut into 1x2-inch strips
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper

Instructions
1. Toss the eggplant cubes in a colander with 2 teaspoons salt. Let it sit in the sink until it starts to sweat out the bitter juices.Rinse them, drain, them and pat dry, squeezing a little.

2. In a large pot, heat the oil. Add the onion, garlic, and celery. Stir-cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, adding a little water as necessary to prevent sticking and burning. Add the basil and stir-cook for a minutes, then add the tomatoes. When it comes to a simmer, add the eggplant, potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir, bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Add the zucchini and peppers and simmer 15 minutes more, or until all of the vegetables are tender.

3. Taste for salt and pepper, transfer to a warm serving bowl, and allow to stand 15 minutes before serving. Variations: Use Yukon Gold potatoes instead of the waxy potatoes. Instead of zucchini, you can use any summer squash, or try using cauliflower or fennel root. Instead of eggplant, you can use mushrooms.

Healthy Reflection Emails I just started getting

Here is today's email and then my thoughts on the question asked....

It is very easy to complain about the state of the world and point fingers, especially when you're having a bad day. What is not so easy--and yet desperately needed at times--is for people to step up and make a difference. Don't be intimidated by others, wallow in your own negative feelings, or sit back and assume someone will do it when you are capable yourself! Relating to others around you isn't always easy, but lending a helping hand, extending a hand in friendship, or expressing a word of encouragement can make a big difference to someone. The fate of many has been changed by the actions of just one person who has grown tired of "how it's always been done" and instead turns and does something more positive. The world does not demand of you to give your entire life, but we can all be instruments of positive change. What can you do to make this world better?

****************

so far I am loving these Healthy Reflections! What a great reminder of the difference each one of us can make if we make the effort. I believe in my ability to be instruments of positive chance through raising good kids (a complete work in progress) by being a role model of integrity (which is something I've been focusing on since being involving in a teleconference coaching group on the book The Energy of Money. And lastly through my business--in my business I have so much potential to give kind words to strangers, help groups raise money, donate $, and applaude others work be it as memebers of my team --or clients who have fun or important things happening in their lives. Wow I feel like I have just wound up writing in my gratitute book as I am grateful for all these ways I can make a positive change!

Another Recipe

This is another recipe that was emailed to me from the Hungry Girl Newsletter. It looks yummy and I like eggs, so I am in the midst of making it. I also joined a fun site yesterday called spark people --seems like it's my space meets blogger meets weight watchers!

I have a TS party tonight, first one of the year and what an early start to the year! This is a great portent for great things to come in 2008! A solid business and plenty of work days is just what the budget ordered!

HG's Ginormous Oven-Baked Omelette
PER SERVING (1 huge piece, 1/4th of dish): 140 calories, 3g fat, 387mg sodium, 9g carbs, 1g fiber, 5g sugars, 18g protein -- POINTS® value 3*

Make it at night, and then have a great protein-packed breakfast ready in seconds in the morning (just heat 'n eat!)...
Ingredients: 2 cups fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded cheese (any flavor)
1 cup sliced bell peppers (any color)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced onions
1 tbsp. reduced-fat parmesan-style grated topping
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. black pepper

Optional topping s: ketchup, salsa, hot sauce Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Into a deep, round casserole dish (about 9 inches wide) sprayed with nonstick spray, pour egg substitute and milk. Add shredded cheese, tomatoes, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix well, and then set aside.

Bring a large pan sprayed with nonstick spray (butter-flavored spray if you have it) to high heat. Stirring occasionally, cook peppers, onions, and mushrooms for 2 minutes (just long enough to brown the outsides). Add veggies to the casserole dish, and mix well. Place dish in the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Next, carefully remove the dish from the oven and evenly cover with parm-style topping. Return it to the oven, and cook for 20 - 25 minutes longer (until the top has puffed and is firm). Allow to cool slightly before cutting. Then, if you like, finish off with the optional ingredients (or any of your fave omelette toppers!). MAK ES 4 SERVINGS

I love Soup

So here are some very low cal and I am betting super delish recipes from the daily email Hungry Girl--I'll be expirementing w/these recipes soon. Today is an extra holiday day for me since Tom is home sick from work and I need to reorganize the house now that we are back from our camping trip to Pope County IL--pictures to come!:


Inspired by the now-famous 0-Point Garden Vegetable Soup, here are THREE insanely delicious, all-new soup recipes that are Point-free...Weeeeee!
Plum Tomato Cabbage Soup
(1/5th recipe: 36 calories/ 0g fat/ 480mg sodium/ 7.5g carbs/ 1.5g fiber/ 5g sugars/ 1.5g protein = 0 Points!)

With our optional ingredients, you can customize this soup to satisfy your taste buds. Make it hot ‘n sweet (with SPLENDA & FRANK'S RedHot), garlicky (TABASCO Garlic and/or garlic salt), or sweet ‘n mild (SPLENDA). Any way you serve this soup, it’s zero Points per serving!

Ingredients:
6 plum tomatoes; chopped
4 cups fat-free vegetable broth
2 cups chopped green cabbage
*Optional ingredients: salt, pepper, SPLENDA, FRANK'S RedHot, TABASCO Pepper Sauce (Garlic or original), garlic salt

Directions:
In a large pot sprayed with nonstick spray, place chopped tomatoes along with any juice and seeds. Cook over medium heat for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth and cabbage, and raise heat to high. Once soup reaches a boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Allow soup to simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and any of the other optional ingredients. Enjoy! Makes 5 generous 1-cup servings.

Be creative… Adding an ounce of raisins or a package of (drained, rinsed, & cut) Tofu Shirataki noodles to the recipe only bumps it up to 1 Point! Mmmmmm…1/5th recipe with raisins: 53 calories/ 0g fat/ 480mg sodium/ 12g carbs/ 2g fiber/ 8g sugars/ 1.75g protein = 1 Point

1/5th recipe with noodles: 44 calories/ 0.4g fat/ 485mg sodium/ 9g carbs/ 3g fiber/ 5g sugars/ 2g protein = 1 Point
Chinese Shoestring Soup
(1/4th recipe: 32 calories/ 0g fat/ 515mg sodium/ 5.5g carbs/ 1.5g fiber/ 3g sugars/ 2.5g protein = 0 Points!)

This beauteous bowl of soup is almost as much fun to make and look at as it is to slurp!

Ingredients:
4 cups fat-free broth; vegetable, chicken, or beef
3 medium-sized scallions
1 small carrot
1 small zucchini
1/2 medium-sized red pepper
1 tsp. light/ low-sodium soy sauce
*Optional: 4 lemon wedges

Directions:
Begin by cutting all veggies (scallions included) into matchstick-sized strips (use a vegetable shredder if you have one!). In a large pot, combine all ingredients except for the scallions (and lemon wedges). Bring to a boil. Once soup has reached a boil, reduce to medium heat (a low boil) and add scallions. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, until veggies are limp. If desired, serve with lemon wedges for a citrus-y touch. Makes four 1-cup servings.
Be creative… At just 1 Point a serving, turn this into Shoestring Egg Flower Soup! To do so, pour 2 large egg whites into a container with a spout (like a measuring cup). Once soup has cooked for 5 minutes at medium heat, remove from heat and VERY slowly pour in egg whites while VERY quickly stirring in one direction. The result will be gorgeous bursts of egg bits in your yummy shoestring soup!

1/4th recipe with egg whites: 41 calories/ 0g fat/ 545mg sodium/ 6g carbs/ 1.5g fiber/ 3g sugars/ 4g protein = 1 Point
Pumpkinlicious Veggie Soup
(1/5th recipe: 35 calories/ 0g fat/ 400mg sodium/ 6.5g carbs/ 2g fiber/ 3.5g sugars/ 2g protein = 0 Points!)

With chunks of fresh veggies and a creamy pumpkin kick, this 0-Point soup ROCKS!

Ingredients:
4 cups fat-free broth; vegetable or chicken
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
1 small zucchini
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 medium-sized red pepper
*Optional: salt and pepper; to taste

Directions:
Cut pepper and zucchini into large chunks. In a large pot, stir to combine broth and pumpkin. Add celery and cook on high heat. After a few minutes (once soup is hot but not yet boiling), add zucchini and peppers. Once soup has reached a boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until veggies are tender. Add salt and pepper, if desired, and dig in! Makes five 1-cup servings.

Be creative… Toss in a half of a cup each of canned corn kernels and black beans for the last few minutes of cooking. With the addition of these Southwest-inspired ingredients, each serving is just 1 Point!
1/5th recipe with corn and black beans: 71 calories/ 0.5g fat/ 480mg sodium/ 14g carbs/ 3.5g fiber/ 4g sugars/ 4g protein = 1 Point