Spinach Salad

before your eyes: last night's dinner. Spinach salad with canadian bacon, turkey, chopped red peppers and light BYU ranch dressing with a whole wheat roll (er, bread) on the side. HUGE salad and delish with those sweet peppers. Ry had also added mushrooms and cheese to his. As we were preparing the big salads, Ry said, "what are the kids gonna eat". . . which brings us to the kid-friendly version: a turkey roll up -- with the same ingredients -- only hand-held for dipping in the ranch. They really ate it up well!

Wild Rice

I have turned over a new leaf! (again.) I've gone a whole day and a half on this cleanse period for the new Noni Fit line and I'm feeling great. I have no desire for sugary things that will only give me headaches and extra pounds. (of course, I can say that now that I've had more than my fill over 2 week vacation/Valentine's day.) But for this week, I am doing something I've never done before -- eating a menu that's been lined out for me, exactly. I never thought I would like to do that because of the no freedom thing -- but it's kind of nice not to have to think about what's for dinner. or breakfast, , , or lunch. Anyway last night I discovered something divine. Wild Rice. This is the only kind of rice that is less points (according to WW) and the rice they recommend for the menu since it is a complex carb. It was sooooo tasty even just plain. loved it. a less pretty picture of Ryan: mid-devour, but I think I will report on the main meals we eat this week, just for kicks.

Spudnuts

So I'm obviously not posting regularly, and I'm constantly trying not to post things I make that are in the sweet category, but here is yet another relapse. I've actually never deep-fat fried anything before -- I wouldn't be able to waste the oil and I can't (in good conscience) fry things. Put a box of Krispe Kremes or some french fries in front of me and I seem not to mind so much about all the greasiness.

Anyway, I actually have rarely had a homemade donut, and that's because the few that I've tried have just not measured up. These however, were very, very good. A nice chew to them but still light and fluffy.

1 lb russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 1/2 T instant yeast
1 1/2 c. warm milk
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 t salt
7 1/2 c flour
Oil for deep-fat frying (I just used like 3/4 inch oil in my electric skillet and flipped them -- you can see the line)

Glaze:
4 c confectioners' sugar
1/3 c water
1 t vanilla extract

Boil potatoes until tender. Drain, but reserve 1/2 c cooking liquid. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in cooking liquid, add mashed potatoes, milk, oil, sugar, eggs and salt. Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise 'til doubled (about 1 hr.). Punch down and let rise again (about 20 min). Roll out on floured surface to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into donuts (3"?). Heat electric skillet to 375 or deep fryer -- fry a few at a time til golden brown. dip warm donuts in glaze. Makes 4 dozen.

flatbread pizza

This is a yummy lunch alternative. I'm so addicted to a good sandwich, I hate to pass up the opportunity to have one, but then I want chips with it and it all goes downhill from there. But this is actually less points than a sandwich and if I want more to eat I'm more tempted with a side salad than something salty.the healthy or nonhealthy part of it is what you make it with. I used light Italian Flat Out wraps, tomato sauce, freshly-ground pizza seasonings I happened upon at the dollar store (Yum) canadian bacon, tons of fresh mushrooms and sliced tomatoes. Oh and fat-free cottage cheese instead of mozerella. I felt like I was getting a lot and it was way tasty. (3-4 WW pts)

PLUStify

Crazy week - what with Weight Watchers coming out with a brand new program! And though I feel like a brand-new unknowledgable member now, I like it. . . mostly because I was apathetic about everything. Especially since the broken foot, and with the holidays approaching, but mostly because of the foot. It should be the opposite -- eat even more concienciously when I can't exercise like I'd like, but the whole thing has kind of been a downer. But now, I feel the sudden urge to TRACK! I don't really appreciate the fact that a lot of my favorite menu items cost me more points, but I EXTRA appreciate all fruit being ZERO! Yay! This breakfast looks really simple, but it's really, really yummy. I call it "Egg cordon bleu". (actually I don't call it anything, I made that up just now.)

I just soft cooked an egg in EVOO and put a slice of real swiss and canadian bacon to melt on top. I think some sliced tomato for the top wouldn't hurt anything either.

Chocolate: It's not just for Breakfast...

. . . and neither is ice cream. Ma -- this post is for you.

so here's the story: I've always hated cooked oatmeal, (makes me gag) but I like the idea of it. and I'm NOT picky eater at ALL, so I think I should like it, being the healthy breakfast option and all. Every so often I will try to like it by taking a bite of the kids' oatmeal 'cause it smells so good, but i end up spitting it out. Then I found this the other day:
I added raisins for a choc-covered raisin effect and I'll be honest, I only ate half the bowl before I really just didn't want to eat it anymore. but as long as i got a hard bite of ice cream in with the oatmeal bite, it tasted like some sort of moulten fudge dessert (which i don't really care that much about) So to sum-up: Mom -- you may want to try this -- just to see.

Warning: what NOT to eat

These, , , were delish. That is why I made them and took them to a quaint girly dinner party. And just because they don't fall under the "healthy" category -- doesn't mean they can't get some recognition. Super, SUPER easy. I made pie crust. Squished it with my fingertips into the ramekins. Filled them with my home-bottled apple pie filling, topped them with a circle of pie dough. (I really need to get a cute little shaped fondant cutter for these kind of things) Baked them at 375 for an hour and they were perfect (if I do say so myself) with vanilla bean ice cream for the top. I was very impressed with myself.

And now, I will resolve to track track track my eating through this week of Halloween. No matter how many fun-size candy bars I devour. No matter how many sugar cookies or donuts disappear (I can't see how I could top last weeks feeding-frenzy and I even lost .2 lbs! If only I TRIED -- I can't imagine the weight loss if I actually had a good week for a change!!!) PLEASE -- make me be accountable!