Caramelized Pears with Toasted Almonds and Yogurt

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe pears, scrubbed, quartered, cored and thinly sliced
  
  


• 1 tbsp firmly packed brown sugar
  
  


• 1 tbsp unblanched almonds, sliced
  
  


• ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
  
  

Preparation:

• Place a broiler rack about 3“ from source of heat. Heat the broiler.
  
  


• Arrange the pears in a shallow, flameproof dish in concentric circles, slightly overlapping each other. Sprinkle with the brown sugar.
  
  


• Broil until the brown sugar has carmelized and pears begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
  
  


• Sprinkle with the almonds and broil for about 1 minute or until almonds turn golden.
  
  


• Serve warm, topping each serving with a dollop of vanilla yogurt.
  
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving(¼ of recipe (160 g)): 121 Calories, 2 g Protein, 27 g carbohydrates, 3 g Dietary Fiber, 2 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 2 mg cholesterol, 22 mg sodium

Blueberry Coffee Cake

(makes 8 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  
  


• 1 cup lemon low-fat yogurt
  
  


• 2 medium egg whites
  
  


• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  
  


• ½ cup sugar
  
  


• 2 tsp baking powder
  
  


• ½ tsp baking soda
  
  


• 1½ cup flour
  
  


• 1 tbsp grated lemon peel
  
  


• ¼ tsp salt
  
  


• Non-fat cooking spray
  
  

Preparation:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9x9x2" square pan with non-fat cooking spray.
  
  


• In a large-sized bowl, beat egg whites, vegetable oil, yogurt and sugar. Stir in remaining ingredients except blueberries.
  
  


• Carefully stir in blueberries.
  
  


• Spread all ingredients in pan.
  
  


• Bake for 45 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Let cool.
  
  

Make 8 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving (⅛ of recipe (110 g)): 184 Calories, 8 g Protein, 33 g carbohydrates, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 2 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 57 mg cholesterol, 108 mg sodium

49/365: Dinner on a Budget: Easy Chili

I love to cook and I especially love swapping tried and true recipes.  You know, the kind of recipes that always turn out, instantly satisfy and most of all, are easy. My favorite recipes are those that take a little while to cook so you have time to clean the kitchen while it's doing it's thing.  Nothing is more refreshing to the busy mom's soul than to have a clean kitchen after everyone leaves the table.  I'm instantly happy when it takes all of five minutes for everyone to participate in dinner clean up. 

Right now we are tightening up our budget and I'm on the hunt for meals that aren't only quick, easy and healthy, but are also cheap. It's pretty easy to find fast recipes, but if it involves cheese whiz, Velveeta or any other highly processed foods, I don't consider that reasonable to feed my family. Actually, I don't even consider that stuff food. It's a challenge to satisfy all four of my requirements, but even with a budget, I have standards.

This recipe was given to me from my dear friend, Staci. She and I share similar palettes, so I always get wonderful recipes from her. Here is one our favorite meals when it's chilly outside. ;)

Did I mention it's also low calories if you don't add any toppings? (I always enjoy the toppings though, I use a light hand when applying.) Yep, super filling and great for the weight loss efforts.

EASY CHILI
(I forgot to take a picture the other night--but it basically looks like...chili.)


1 lb. ground beef, lean
1 lg onion, chopped
6-8 garlic cloves
2-3 Tbs. dried basil
2 cans kidney beans, drained
1-15oz can tomato sauce
1-14 1/2 can diced tomatoes (seasoned or zesty are best)
1-6oz can tomato paste
>1oz chili powder (about 1/3 of a 2.5oz sized bottle)
2 Tbs sugar
2-3 jalapeño, chopped *optional
salt, pepper, garlic salt, to taste

-Brown beef, onion and garlic together is olive oil.
-Add remaining ingredients and cook on stove top, covered, for 1-2 hours on low.
-Top with:
  grated cheese
  green onions <--favorite part
  sour cream
  Fritos chips

Baked Rice Pudding

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 3 medium egg whites, lightly beaten
  
  


• 1 medium egg, lightly beaten
  
  


• 1½ cups 1% low-fat milk
  
  


• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  
  


• ⅓ cup dates, chopped
  
  


• ⅔ cups cooked rice
  
  


• ¼ cup sugar
  
  


• Pinch of cinnamon or cinnamon
  
  

Preparation:

• Preheat oven at 325 degrees F.
  
  


• Combine egg, egg whites, milk, vanilla and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Beat until combined but not foamy.
  
  


• Add cooked rice and dates and mix well.
  
  


• Pour rice mixture into a baking dish. Place baking dish in a large pan then place in oven. Pour boiled water into large pan around the baking dish to a depth of about 1-inch.
  
  


• Bake uncovered at 325° degrees for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted halfway between the edge and the center comes out clean.
  
  


• Serve warm or chilled with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.
  
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving ( ¼ of recipe (180 g)): 184 Calories, 8 g Protein, 33 g carbohydrates, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 2 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 57 mg cholesterol, 108 mg sodium

Fucking peeved

I notice that this months posts have all been rather down and the mouth, sorry. I am not particularly down at the mouth, nor down at the scales it would seem. I am 117.9kgs today. Yay.

NOT YAY!

I cannot work out what the heck-a doodle is going on in my body but it would seem, against all scientific studies on earth, that my metabolism works backwards. If I eat a full pile of shit and sugar all week - I lose weight or stay the same. If I exercise like a sweaty pig and eat less - I gain.

Well what does that suggest to one that is trying to eat less and exercise. Yeah, seems like its not worth it.

God! What the FUCK???????????

Man I know you guys are all awesome and stuff but I have absolutely no idea why you bother to follow this blog as its such a pile of utter drivel and self loathing.

Even I don't have any idea why I write it!! I mean seriously? What IS the point of it.

*Death Sigh*


I just took a minute there to cover my face with my hands and rub it. I just don't know what to do any more. I am sitting here trying to be positive. I CAN'T. What can I be positive about. I busted my ass for 3 and a half weeks and I am heavier now than I was at the start.

Oh jeez. I need help and I have pretty much exhausted all possibilities.

I know that unbanded is not the way to go. I put on a lot of weight real quick so I know it's not the answer. But banding isn't either. Something MUST BE WRONG WITH ME. Like INSIDE.

Its not physically fucking possible to expend more calories than you consume and NOT lose weight.

Maybe I am am the right person to send to the Amazon or Sahara or Himalayas or Antarctica. I would get fatter and fatter as I ate less and less and exercised more and more. I am a scientific DREAM! I should be studied. People can write their thesis' on me. COME ON! Contact me scientists!!! Old Captian Scott would have took me on the team. I dunno about them, but I woulda defo made it home right?!!!! 

I am not going to stop because I can't. I can't afford an unfill or a fill (and I am as tight as the proverbial D.A. anyway). I can't stop going to the gym as I have to do it for TB. I also


Enjoy it!!!!!


There I said it, but really small just in case anyone hears!

I am committed to shifting this bulk, but I just don't know how to do it any more chapettes.

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!

(and that's just a scream cos I am fucked of right? I'll be ok in a few days..weeks lol)

Applesauce Carrot Cake

(makes 16 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white flour
  
  


• ⅔ cup sugar
  
  


• 2 tsp baking soda
  
  


• ½ tsp nutmeg
  
  


• ½ tsp salt
  
  


• 1½ tsp cinnamon
  
  


• 3 eggs
  
  


• 3 cups carrots, coarsely chopped
  
  


• ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
  
  


• ¼ cup vegetable oil
  
  

Preparation:

• Mix flour, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside
  
  


• In a separate small-sized bowl, combine the applesauce, vegetable oil and eggs. Add to the flour mixture, stirring until the ingredients are well blended. Add carrots and mix well.
  
  


• Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch pan, or two bread loaf pans, or a cupcake pan.
  
  


• Bake about 1 hour at 350 degrees., or until a toothpick inserted in the thickest part of the cake comes out clean. Set the cake on a wire rack for five minutes. Then, run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake.
  
  


• Turn the cake out onto the rack to cool.
  
  

Make 16 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving (1/16 cake (73 g)): 147 Calories, 3 g Protein, 24 g carbohydrates, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 40 mg cholesterol, 254 mg sodium

450 cals

Not bad. That's like my whole lunch gone in one gym session.

I have been keeping up with the 3 times a week gym routine. I havent a clue if its doing me any good, but seem to be getting quicker, further round the track and burning more calories every time I go... We normally go for an hour. I have definitely upped the pace and graduation on the treadmill and makde it tougher on the bike so I guess it must.

Weigh in tomorrow am. Be there or umm not. :-)