Showing posts with label cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cookies. Show all posts

Friday, April 5, 2013

Good Eats!!

I've been lying to you all.  I've been saying I'm getting my life/diet together but I was not!  In the past 2 weeks I've had both the Cool Ranch and regular taco bell Doritos locos taco. Peanut butter chocolate chip bars, and muffins from the cafeteria at work, Chocolate chip and sugar cookies, Pizza, Ham, Mac and Cheese, french fries, ice cream sandwiches, and lots of alcohol.  Its been bad, and it took a friend asking why I hadn't been posting recently to really make me take a look at what I was doing and correct my behavior.

Thankfully that conversation led to me officially getting firmly back on the wagon! I know, I know, I've said it before, but this time I'm really here, up front and holding the reigns, and I have PROOF!!!  I've been continuing my workouts and FINALLY actually eating healthier.  I've been utilizing a blog my sister in law recommended to me.

So far I've tried about 3 of her recipes and 2 of the 3 were total wins!  The first recipe was the Cajun Chicken recipe I mentioned here.  Then I ate like crap for the next week, but started fresh this past Sunday, when I made this.



She calls it Chicken Rollatini with Spinach alla Parmigiana, but for me, in my house we call it "The Chicken Spinach Thingee".   I chose this recipe because it reminds me of the veggie lasagna RR's mom makes that is THE BOMB!! Thankfully this recipe was a win. While I'd definitely add a little more spice to the spinach filling next go round, these were a big hit and earned me a high five from RR.  Unfortunately, the only pictures I took are very un-glamourous shots of the piece I brought in for lunch, after I microwaved it a juuuuust a little to long.



 I made more of the Cajun chicken pasta, Thursday night, which is still a personal favorite of mine!!  Last night I was having a cookie craving and decided to give these healthy 3 ingredient cookies a whirl and was underwhelmed. In fairness, I omitted the walnuts and subbed in peanut butter because, peanut butter and banana is NEVER wrong! 

Except when it is, as it was here. :(

healthy cookies.. no such thing
The flavors didn't blend well.  All i tasted was warm banana, and hints of burnt oatmeal and a top note of peanutbutter.  I tried ot salvage one by adding a few semi sweet chocolate chips in it while it was still warm.. it was better but the flavors still didn't blend.  These are officially a no-go for me!

On the upside, I had another crazy idea that I don't know the source of.  I thought I got the idea from skinny taste but it turns out I did not, so I'm starting to wonder if I dreamed it up.  Overnight oats (no i'm not taking credit for overnight oats), I'm taking credit thinking to add half a bottle of Bolthouse Vanilla Chai tea, (and Chia seeds) to my oats.  I love the Bolthouse Chai tea, but I do not love oatmeal.  The texture is such a turn off to me.  The combo is good enough that it allows me to overlook the texture... mostly.  I am wondering if it might work with Cream of Wheat.  I'll be getting back to you on that one.

chai tea overnight oats


Chicken Rollatini with Spinach alla Parmigiana (BKA Chicken Spinach thingees)

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/chicken-rollatini-with-spinach-alla.html


Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes 
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 stuffed breast • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 194.7 • Fat: 7 g • Protein: 24.2 g • Carb: 7.2 g • Fiber: 1.5 g

  • 8 thin chicken cutlets, 3 oz each
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
  • 6 tablespoons egg whites or egg beaters
  • 5 oz frozen spinach, squeezed dry of any liquid
  • 6 tbsp part skim ricotta cheese
  • 6 oz part skim mozzarella (I used Polly-O)
  • olive oil non-stick spray (I use my Misto)
  • 1 cup pomodoro sauce or your favorite marinara sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste

Wash and dry cutlets, season with salt and pepper.  Preheat oven to 450°. Lightlyspray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine breadcrumbs and 2 tbsp grated cheese in one bowl and 1/4 cup egg beaters or egg whites in another.
Shred or finely chop 1.5 oz of mozzarella cheese and combine with remaining grated cheese, spinach (make sure you squeeze it dry), 2 tbsp egg beaters, and ricotta cheese.

Lay chicken cutlets down on a working surface and spread 2 tbsp of spinach-cheese mixture on each cutlet. Loosely roll each one and keep seam side down.

Dip chicken in egg mixture, then in breadcrumbs and place seam side down in a baking dish (no toothpicks needed). Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, lightly spray with olive oil.
Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven, top with sauce then cheese.Bake until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 3 more minutes. Serve with additional sauce on the side and grated cheese.




Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Balancing Act


I recently did a “strange” thing, which isn’t really that strange if you know me, but if you’re a stranger reading this blog it is. I started a bakery. Almost a decade ago, someone asked me in an interview what my passion is? It took me several more years before I figured out that I was passionate about baking. Nothing brings me more peace or happiness than the art of creating something by hand that other people eat and enjoy. Even more so when, my baked goods are able to enhance someone’s special occasion, I would love to enhance my skillset to the point where I can do Wedding Cakes. Anyways, after years of people telling me I could and should sell my confections and me balking at it because I didn’t want the necessity of it to suck the fun out of it. However, I recently realized that as long as I don’t quit my day job, I really don’t have much to lose because if it starts sucking the fun out of baking for me, I can stop and go back to baking for leisure.

However, I would love, Love, LOVE for this business to be successful enough for me to open a storefront. Ideally, I’d open a bakery/coffee shop, maybe next to my RR and his brother’s auto boutique so that people waiting on their cars can eat, drink and hang out. But either way, it works out, it’s a dream I’d love to see come to fruition.


Why am I babbling about my bakery and love of baking on a fitness blog? Because eating test cakes and spoonful of batter to make sure the ingredients I occasionally add all willy nilly, actually make the batter taste the way I want it to, are KILLING my weight loss goals. I made some serious progress the week before I officially launched my bakery, now that it’s up & running, and I have a few orders and requests. I bake almost every day, and in the past week I’ve gained 3-4lbs. I also took 5 days off from the gym to hang out with a friend who was in town, but I’m wondering how I’m going to align my work out goals with the career goals associated with my 9-5, and the career goals associated with my new bakery. It might require me to start doing 2 a days, maybe some morning yoga while RR showers, and then my standard evening workout… and a few weekend work outs… I don’t know. But I’m going to have to find a way to make it work!
Today’s weigh in – 142.2

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Girl Scout cookies: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Its that time of year (well one of many) when sweets and sugary goodness are all around. More specifically Girl Scout cookies!

Trefoils are my FAVE!! Fortunately they seem to be one of the better choices according to SparkPeople's best and Worst Girl Scout Cookie List.

Trefoils are probably the safest since they're winning in several categories including Lowest Fat, Lowest Calorie, and Shortest Ingredient list.

Shortbread (Trefoils)


Shortbread (called Trefoils in some regions cookies) contain just 4.5 grams of fat for a four-cookie serving. As a bonus, the Shortbread variety is also the lowest-sugar Girl Scout cookie, containing just 1 gram of sugar each.

You probably want to eat the most cookies you can for the least amount of calories, right? So which Girl Scout cookie will give you the biggest bang for your calorie buck? Shortbread is the winner! You can indulge in five cookies for a reasonable 120 calories.

If you're looking to minimize your intake of unpronounceable ingredients or highly processed foods, then looking to the length of the ingredients list is one way to find something more wholesome. Both the Shout Outs! and Shortbread cookies contain just 10 ingredients.

Tagalongs (Peanut Butter Patties)

These are my 2nd fave girl scout cookie and while they won the title of Lowest Carb Cookie. They also hold the title of highest fat cookie.
Girl Scout cookies aren't exactly "low-carb," but if you're counting carbs for diabetes management, Tagalongs (called Peanut Butter Patties in some regions) weigh in with the lowest carbohydrate count: 13 grams of carbohydrate per two-cookie serving.
Highest-Fat Girl Scout Cookie: Tagalongs are the worst with 9 grams of fat in just two cookies. While eating dietary fat doesn't make you fat, processed treats like cookies generally use less-than-healthy fat sources that you should try to limit.

Samoas (Caramel deLites)

Samoas (called Caramel deLites in certain regions) are among the highest-calorie, highest-sugar, and highest-fat Girl Scout cookies available, but if they are your all-time favorite, take comfort in this: they contain the most fiber thanks to the coconut.

But wait! Before you start ordering these chewy, coconutty delights in bulk, take heed--they are not exactly "high" in fiber. Two Samoas contain just 1 gram of fiber, which accounts for a measly 5% of your Daily Value. Clearly, you'd be much better off getting your fiber from healthier sources, like bran cereals (10 grams per serving!) or veggies.
Girl Scout Cookie Highest in Saturated Fat: Steer clear of the Caramel deLites, two of which will set you back 6 grams of saturated fat--that's 29% of your Daily Value!

Savannah Smiles and Do-si-dos

If you're keeping an eye on your saturated fat intake, the Savannah Smiles and Do-si-dos are your best bets. Each contain just 1.5 grams of saturated fat per two- or five-cookie serving, respectively.

Highest-Carb Girl Scout Cookie: The Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies, contain twice the amount of carbs for a three-cookie serving: 26 grams!
Lowest-Fiber Girl Scout Cookies: All other Girl Scout cookies contain 0 grams of fiber.
Highest-Calorie Girl Scout Cookie: If you're looking to maximize your cookie volume, you might want to stay away from the Thanks-a-Lot cookies; you'll down 150 calories in just two crumbly, chocolaty discs.

Longest Ingredients List: Samoas, which list 20 ingredients on the box!

 
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