Frittata

Happy Football Week Y’all! In case you didn’t know, college football starts this week and I’m pretty excited! Football season is my favorite time of the year so be prepared for me to start talking a lot more about Alabama football.  This week’s weigh in showed basically no change.  I’m fine with that.  I was also flawless this weekend which made me proud.  I will weigh this week before I head to Dallas for the football game and then I probably won’t weigh at all the next week because I’ve got a lot of places I am going to stumble between this Friday and September 7^th.  Having said that though, I plan to have a much better football season than I did last year in terms of calorie intake.  I’m sure I’ll be filling you in as the season goes but I would love to actually lose a few pounds before the holidays.  Here’s hoping! I’m trying some more intense workouts and I’m going extra hard so I’m hopeful that it will pay off.

The recipe this week is a frittata.  You may have been able to figure that out from the title of the blog.  I decided the word frittata was cool enough to stand on its own as a title.  I think I’ve made a frittata in the past but I like them and they are fairly easy to make so I thought I’d share another.  I’m a big proponent of breakfast for dinner…especially eggs.  Who says you can only have breakfast food in the morning?  I made some changes to this recipe to fit the items I already had a bit better.  Instead of Canadian bacon, I used deli turkey and instead of chopped tomatoes that I’m not a huge fan of, I used salsa to give it more flavor.  My tip for frittata making is that you use a great non-stick pan or a lot of non-stick spray because they will stick easily.  Make sure they are ready to flip before trying or you have no chance.  Also, don’t let them burn.  I know it sounds like a lot of rules but it’s really not that hard if you’re careful.

I have a Pinterest corner below so this isn’t technically a Pinterest corner but since I spend a lot of time finding things from there, I wanted to share this idea that I of course snagged from Pinterest.  There seems to be a Greek Yogurt craze going on and I needed some for another recipe.  Since I don’t like to waste food, if I have to buy a whole package of an ingredient and I only use a small bit from that package, I look for other recipes to use that ingredient up.  This healthy snack is super easy.  All you do is dip blueberries in the yogurt and pop them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. I spread them out on a plate so they didn’t get all clumped together.  Once you take them out, you have a tart treat that you can pretty much eat until the cows come home.  Next time I try this, I may use vanilla flavored yogurt instead…and maybe grapes or strawberries. 

My parents went out of town this weekend so I cooked dinner for them so my mom wouldn’t have to worry about it when she got home last night.  I got a lot of help making these Pinterest inspired recipes and they turned out great.  One recipe was called Cowboy Casserole.  Basically, you layer tater tots on the bottom of a greased pan, and over them you pour a mixture of browned ground beef, onions, corn, cream of mushroom soup, cheese, garlic and sour cream.  Then, you add another layer of the tater tots, more cheese and bake it.  It was creamy, filling and delicious.  I made some black beans (not pictured) that were also a big hit.  I just simmered 

black beans with onions, garlic and a couple pinches 

of cayenne.  The other picture is bread from Pinterest called Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls.  This thing was delicious! The picture isn’t clear but it tasted amazing.  You just take a round sourdough loaf of bread, cut it horizontally and vertically in a cross hatch pattern that makes it easy to pull the bread off, stuff cheddar cheese and real bacon bits in the gaps of the bread and then pour melted butter mixed with ranch mix over the top and bake.  It was super yummy.  This was by far one of my more successful meals but nothing about it was healthy so make at your own risk.  I’m sure there are steps you could take to lighten the recipes but I went full steam ahead.  If you’re interested, you can find the recipes on Pinterest or if you comment on here, I’d be happy to pass the links along to you.  I also made two desserts last night that I’ll share in a couple of weeks that didn’t come from Pinterest.

Next Monday is Labor Day and I wanted to tell you Happy Labor Day in advance because there will be no blog next Monday.  You will have to hear about my time in Dallas, my stagnant weight and other recipes on the 10^th of September.  I hope you can handle that though I’m sure it will be difficult.

If you have the day off Monday, congrats and enjoy it!

Please keep me, my dad and the rest of the football travelers of the world in your thoughts this weekend.  Dallas is a long trip.

Also, try and stay out of the way of any hurricanes over the next few days.

Goodbye and ROLL TIDE!

“Sad can’t catch me

Call me baby now

When it’s all I used to believe

If the sun don’t light

And the moon won’t turn

We’ll get a room at the end of the world

And we’ll rewrite all the wrongs we’ve learned

Safe in our room at the end of the world.” Room at the End of the World-Matt Nathanson

Keep Egg Rollin', Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

Monday greetings, y’all. Mondays never seem to be easy, especially because I am always trying to normalize so I spend most of the day thinking I’m starving.  I am particularly hungry today and my 70 calorie soup at hand doesn’t seem to be cutting it right now.  I was up a little bit this weekend but I’m only roughly 3 pounds from my lowest weight so it’s not too bad.  I wasn’t completely heinous this weekend.  I was certainly better than the weekend  before.  I had a lot of rice over the past few days which I think has me a bit swollen.  So, I think I will cut the grains back and try to incorporate some veggies and lean protein this week so I can get rid of the puffiness.  I need to have a banner upcoming weekend because the weekend after that, I’m going out of town for the first football game and I know that will be rough so here’s to no calorie drinks and keeping myself busy this Saturday and Sunday!

Sometimes, the most simple recipes can be the best.  This one is not only easy, but it will certainly satisfy any chili dog cravings you might be experiencing.  Since football season is coming up, the hot dogs will be flowing.  I encourage to give turkey hot dogs and turkey chili a try.  Some of you may turn your nose up at the turkey hot dogs and that’s fine but if you haven’t combined it with the chili yet, I would give it another shot.  The more flavors that you combine with meat substitutions, low fat or fat free foods or turkey, the more it disguises the tastes that you may not like.  I love hot dogs…I always have and I enjoy the low fat versions.

This Pinterest corner is actually one that isn’t high in calories.  I will more than likely be making some pretty fattening Pinterest recipes this weekend and I’ll share those too but this one is actually a nice, baked alternative to mozzarella sticks.  Basically, all you do is take an egg roll wrapper, dab a bit of water around the edges, put a whole string cheese on one corner, roll it up, stick it in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes, flip them over, cook them another 10 minutes and BOOM, you’ve got a baked mozzarella treat.  These guys are no match in taste to the fattening, fried versions you can get out but they are pretty good.  They also inspired me to try a couple other different ways to use the egg roll wrappers.  I posted pictures below of ones that I stuffed with pulled pork and cheese in it and ones that I stuffed with turkey, cheese and spinach.  I clearly haven't mastered the art of making it look like an actual egg roll.  It’s just something different to try if you are bored with the same old, same old.

That’s all I’ve got today.  I start school this Wednesday (teaching two English Comp classes at UA) so wish me luck!

Have a fantastic week!

Bye!

“There’s just one life to live

And there’s no time to wait, to waste 

So let me give your heart a break, give your heart a break…” Give Your Heart A Break-Demi Lovato

Pita Party

When I stepped on the scale this weekend, I looked down in confusion, stepped off, cleared the number and my eyes and got on again.  When I got on the second time and saw the same number, I jumped off of it like it was on fire and ran into my room to record the number immediately before the scale changed its mind.  I did this because the number I saw was as low as it’s been in awhile.  I was down to an even 2 pounds from my lowest weight.  I was surprised because this little drop in weight was not deserved after the prior weekend I’d had but I took it anyway.  I have a feeling it may catch up with me next Saturday after a weekend of celebration of Cassandra’s birthday.  However, enough is enough when it comes to blowout weekends.  I have two weekends in a row before I’m off to Dallas for Bama’s first football game this season, and there’s no reason I can’t be flawless during that time.  It would be ideal if I could get down to my lowest weight or very close before I head Texas where everything is bigger, including the food and caloric intake.  I want to work hard for this so I’m going to do my best.

I enjoyed the pack of pitas that are pictured immensely.  My pita obsession was initially inspired by the Greek pita recipe you see here from the Hungry Girl.  The Greek yogurt made a tasty dressing for the sandwich and the fresh onions, spinach and cucumbers (I don’t eat peppers) added with the turkey made for a delicious sandwich.  I got these pitas and realized that you could have two of those bad boys for one point on the old system because they are small,  only 50 calories and high in fiber.  It was because of this reason that I went a little pita crazy and made all different kinds.  I highly recommend these pita sandwiches.  I put pictures of all the kinds I made…some of them aren’t pretty but I go more for taste.  Anyway, maybe it will inspire you to try a pita or 12!

In addition to busily making pita sandwiches, I’ve also been busy working and preparing for the fall semester.  I’m teaching two English composition classes at UA this fall so between that, working my regular job and exercising, I’m hoping I won’t have time to eat too much.  I don’t want to be the kind of person that makes excuses.  A lady at work told me she was gaining weight because she was stressed.  First of all, I think it’s funny that people feel the need to tell me they are gaining weight, losing weight, trying to lose or any weight related thing going on in their life.  Second of all, we are all stressed.  In today’s world, everything moves so fast and it can be overwhelming.  Unfortunately, being busy, stressed or tired isn’t a great excuse to gain weight.  If anything, making time to exercise reduces stress and eating right will keep you healthy so you can face all the crap with more ease.  I wish that everyone had less stress but they don’t…so don’t put off getting in shape.  There is never a better time than right now.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Since it’s getting close to football season, ROLL TIDE!

Bye!

“Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine

If you need a friend

I’m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind…” Bridge Over Troubled Water-Simon & Garfunkel

Lessons Learned

I had a feeling that the weigh-in on the scale this Saturday would be good.  I had worked hard and I was due a loss.  I got one.  I was actually down almost four pounds.  That brought me less than 3 away from my lowest weight.  I didn’t have a good weekend but my take away is that I can still lose weight if I stick to my guns.  It’s also nice to know that if I put my mind to it, I can still actually stick to my guns.  I am going to try and have a couple more solid weekends like that.  It would be so nice to be a least a pound or two below my lowest weight before the holidays.  That is my new, tiny, short term goal.  I know I jumped right in there so I hope that you had a nice weekend.  Mine was jam packed with activity but it was nice.  I got to hang out with Jordan, go to Chattanooga to see my family and meet my new cousin and have way too much food.  I had a bread and dessert meltdown of epic proportions but it’s all good.  The 553^rd cup of 70 calorie Chicken & Stars Soup at Hand I just had was punishment enough.

There are some foods that are Sugar Free or Fat Free that I can live with.  Then there are some that just don’t work.  I happen to believe that all versions of Fat Free dressings, sour cream and mayo are disgusting.  It’s just a fact.  I cringe just thinking about the taste of Fat Free Mayonnaise.  Apparently, Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup is on the list of ‘never eat again’ foods.  Granted, I bought the off brand AND it was a month out of date but it will be quite some time before I can look at a bottle of Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup of ANY brand.  I loved the concept of this recipe.  You take the chocolate and freeze it to the inside of the cone so it tastes like a regular chocolate lined cone.  I also like the idea of mixing the pudding and whipped cream and freezing it so it resembles ice cream.  Without the syrup, I think I would have been fine.  I had no idea those tiny cones were so low in calories.  It’s good to know, though.  I can eat way more of those.  The syrup tasted like sour feet with a hint of chocolate.  Here’s what’s truly crazy.  I ate all of it but a couple bites even though it was nasty because I had counted those points.  I mean, seriously.  Not only am I cheap with money, but I’m cheap with points, too and there was no way that I was going to let this cone defeat me.  Towards the end, though, I couldn’t take it anymore.  I threw the bottle of syrup away immediately.  Maybe one day, I can try Hershey’s and make sure to eat it before it expires but that day may take awhile.

I wanted to take a moment and wish my roommate and BFF, Cassandra a WONDERFUL AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! She will be celebrating her birthday this week, on Thursday. Have a good one, Cass, can’t wait to celebrate!

As an aside, here’s a quick restaurant tip.  I know that when the nutrition facts for a restaurant aren’t online and you aren’t sure what kind of damage you are doing, it’s hard to cope.  I also know for me that when I have an occasion or a friend wants to eat at a certain place, I tend to just assume I can’t eat anything healthy and just throw in the towel and eat what I want.  This week, I am going to try not to do that.  I am having dinner with a friend at a Japanese place.  Remember, you can always get steamed rice instead of fried.  Also, substitutions can happen in many restaurants.  You can ask for your food to be cooked in no oil or butter.  You can get wheat pasta at several places (definitely at Olive Garden) and you can often order the lunch portion instead of the gigantic dinner portions some establishments serve you.  My point is that even though you may not have a perfect idea of what you are consuming, you can make better choices so the damage won’t be that bad.   

That's all for today.  Football season and more English classes are headed my way so the fall is looking extremely exciting and busy.  I'm sure I'll be sharing more as the chaos begins. 

In the meantime, Roll Tide!

Bye!

   

“There's mistakes that I have made,
Some chances I just threw away,
Some roads,
I never should have taken,
Been some signs I didn't see,
Hearts that I hurt needlessly,
Some wounds,
That I wish I could have one more chance to mend,
But it don't make no difference,
The past can't be rewritten,
You get the life you're given,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.” Lessons Learned-Carrie Underwood