Burgers and more!

So I’ve been around the same weight now for what seems like forever. No worries, I’m not gaining. But I’m not where I want to be either. I think its time to step up my game and challenge myself to move as much as my body will allow. I have decisions to make! My pain has been pretty mild over the past few weeks so I think this is an opportunity to move.

I have been cooking/eating well, and taking photographs – just a bit busy recently working on my new project. Will have some news  shortly.

Turkey Burger on Grill

 

I’ve been playing around with some recipes but I get so frustrated with some of them. I made some turkey burgers the other day and there are so many different recipes for burgers online. I ended up just grasping the general ingredients and winging it. I should have written down what I did… but I didn’t. So  will have to do this the next time. They tasted great though. My kids did notice, however, that they were NOT from McDonald’s. I was told that these were not “burgers”. Its my own fault, I guess. LOL.

Lots of love went into making these burgers!

 

 

 

Lyn's Turkey Burgers

I’m also trying to have eggs a few times per week. I got tired of having toast with peanut butter. So here goes my eggs-periment. Get it? So I like to think of this as an open omelette. I just whisked an egg, added a little salt and pepper and poured it into my fancy little egg skillet thingy. Then put some spinach in top. Then when it looked like it was almost cooked through, I added some shredded cheddar cheese. Easy. Tasty.

Open omelette with spinach and cheese

There are some days when I don’t feel like cooking. Believe it or not. I jazzed up some leftover turkey mince with some Ramen noodles (gasp!) and green peas. Can’t say I didn’t get my veggies in there. Tasted pretty good too. (Side note – is it me, or is the seasoning in Ramen noodles hella salty? Sheesh! I used half the packet because I love my life)

Lazy Dinner - Ramen, Turkey Mince, Peas

That’s all for now! I hope everyone is doing well and working towards their health goals.

Take care! Back in a few!

Ciao

Breakfast

I’ve never been good at waking up and making a grand breakfast. In fact, it’s a challenge. I like knowing that food is available and ready within minutes of me stepping into the kitchen. I decided to make the effort and prepare a cooked breakfast. I needed a change.

I baked an egg! It was fab.

Baked Egg, Toast, Strawberries

Then, I had some oats porridge (Quakers has a weight control line of instant oats) with a few blueberries and a banana. I suppose I should make it from scratch at some point…

Oatmeal with Blueberries

I found a recipe for breakfast cake – Blueberry Coffee  Cake. Clearly its the breakfast of Champions and Domestic Divas everywhere. Judge me not! It was wonderful! I baked this the evening before. I couldn’t imagine waking up and baking a cake for breakfast.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I am a bit under the weather but I did not want to miss another week of posting.

Take care of you.

Soup, Gnocchi and Banana Muffins

I enjoyed some great figure friendly meals last week. I’m not a fan of soup, but I am a fan of “new”. So I thought it would be interesting to try the recipe on the back of the Low Sodium Chicken Broth carton. It tasted better than I thought~

I came across a neat little recipe that met my dinner requirements so I decided to give it a go. Gnocchi is the main ingredient. It reminds me of  Jamaican flour dumplings! (Gnocchi is made with potato and flour). The ingredients for this dish were so simple: Gnocchi, White Kidney Beans, Tomatoes, Spinach, mozzarella Cheese and a little Parmesan Cheese for good luck. It is no secret that I do not like Tomatoes. Perhaps I’m developing a tolerance for it. Because this meal didn’t taste bad at all. I enjoyed it actually. It held up pretty well for leftovers too.

I’ve been wanting a Banana Muffin recipe for some time that uses simple ingredients. I tried one and it was just okay. I will keep trying. But these went pretty fast considering they were not very sweet. And they looked awesome too!

That’s it for this week. See you next week!

Ciao

Fried Rice, Braised Chicken and Irish Soda Bread

I love planning meals for the week. It doesn’t always run smoothly being the busy mom that I am, but I like having an idea of what the weeks meals are going to be. My father always told me “if you fail to prepare… prepare to fail!”. I’ve applied that to so many things in life, both big and small. Last weeks meals were great as usual. Here are the new things I’ve made that fit well into my healthy lifestyle.

When I was younger, being the oldest child and the GIRL, I sometimes had to make a quick meal for my 2 brothers when my parents were running late from work. I used to make fried rice using leftover rice, hot dogs and scrambled eggs (It was good too!). Boy have I come a long way! I have witnesses! I decided to make a new version of fried rice. I gratered zucchini and carrots into the fried rice before adding scrambled eggs and chicken. Not too shabby!

I absolutely loved this – Braised Chicken in Butternut Squash Sauce. The original recipe called for Red Bell Peppers for the sauce, which I tried a few weeks ago but I wasn’t doing cartwheels over it. But I liked the consistency and the process. So I tried it again but with Butternut Squash instead. The texture was wonderful and I enjoyed it with spaghetti.

I came across a lot of recipes for this past St. Patrick’s Day, and although I wasn’t up for baking with beer for the occasion – I was curious to know what Soda Bread was. So I decided to give it a try. You know… to pay homage to my Irish lineage 🙂 I will in the near future, try baking with Guinness just to say I did. My curiosity often gets the better of me. The Soda Bread was great – tasted just like raisin bread made with love.

That’s all for this week. I’m still watching my weight while watching my figure. Stay focused and happy eating!

Ciao

Butternut Squash, Blueberries and Barley

Another week, and the dream is still alive! Hope everyone had a great week and is eating well and moving more. I had severe pain this past week so I didn’t get to do as much as I wanted to but better days are ahead, I’m sure. I did make some really cool healthy meals though. I absolutely love that each week I can try something new and healthy!

I had a delightful dish that was easy to throw together – Bowtie Pasta, Turkey Sausage tossed in a Butternut Squash puree. The original recipe called for canned pumpkin but – you know I don’t have any of that stuff (plus I’m not sure I like pumpkin). So I made my very own substitute – pureed Butternut Squash!  I use what I have and I make it work!

 

Turkey Sausage & Butternut Squash Pasta

 

 

Every week, I try to bake something for the family. I will avoid using a dozen eggs, shortening, 10 cups of sugar etc. I will always aim for simple and healthy ingredients. My son loves blueberries. My daughter… not so much. But she’ll eat almost any muffin you give her. So I decided to make Blueberry Muffins. And as I hoped… she loved it. Oh – and I am now the proud owner of traditional round muffin tins 🙂

 

 

Blueberry Muffins

 

 

I’ve been having rice a lot lately (out of boredom and the fact that it’s always there) and I wanted to try something else aside from Pasta. I came across a Barley recipe and decided to give it a go. I remember Barley being used more in soups, so this seemed a little different. The original recipe called for Lean Ground Beef but I don’t do beef. So I used Lean Ground Turkey instead. The vegetables included were carrots, tomatoes and zucchini. The zucchini kinda dissolved so it’s not visible …but it’s there! The texture was a bit chewy (different) but I’d definitely have it again. One cup of Barley went a long way. Fiber rules!

 

 

Barley Turkey Skillet

 

 

Have a splendid week! Let’s see what the first week of spring has to offer 🙂

L

 

I didn’t burn the Risotto

It has been an interesting few weeks. Sometimes I get really bored with chicken. I find that I’m always looking for something else to please my figure watching palate.  So I tried boring fish… again! This time, a little different.

You know how when you hear how difficult and challenging a dish is, you might shy away from it? Well this happened to me with Risotto. I’ve been wanting to try it for a very long time. It’s a rice dish cooked in broth, cheese and whatever else that you might think compliment it. I read how easy it is to ruin this dish if you’re not super careful. I cooked mine with chicken broth, white wine, green peas and a little cheese for good measure. I hate ruining food. It really makes me upset whenever I burn something to a cinder. Not that it happens often, but anything is possible with two little ones tugging at your feet 🙂 I didn’t burn the Risotto and I’m very happy about it. I served it with Salmon. I have no idea if I did it properly, or if it tasted “right”. All I know is, I didn’t burn it. The Arborio rice was cooked, and it tasted great!

 

Baked Salmon & Green Pea Risotto

I also found Panko Bread Crumbs (Japanese cuisine) which is usually found in health food stores, to adorn some haddock that I roasted. I liked the crispness without having to actually fry it. I think I’ll experiment with it some more. I roasted it beside some Carrots, Butternut Squash, Egg Plant and… Zucchini!

 

Roasted Haddock with Roasted Roots

 

Roasted Root Veggies and Roasted Haddock

With a little additional exercise, I’ve noticed a little progress and the numbers on the scale are behaving themselves once again. Such an unruly little gadget at times, that scale! More on some goodies I purchased, in the next post.

Ciao!

A Dieters Plate

Great week. Lots of  progress – which I’m thankful for. I really hate feeling like I’m at a standstill. And that’s a general statement! So imagine me watching my weight loss chart going in the wrong direction. No bueno! I got MAD and went on the treadmill 3 days in a row plus a 15 minute walking routine by Leslie Sansone. I actually have her DVD that came with Nutrisystem back in 2008. It was pretty awesome. If I could just place my hands on it… Anyway, so far I don’t feel terribly sore. I didn’t pass out or become bedridden so I think I’m okay to proceed!

On a trip to a favourite store recently, I found a plate that perhaps could have best benefited me at the start of my journey, however occasionally a  subtle reminder is good.

 

Roasted Zucchini, Minced Turkey, Butternut Squash

 

 

Tasty Bite!

I’ve been wanting to have fish other than Salmon. I’ve had so much Tilapia in my life that I’ve lost the taste for it. I tried Haddock and seasoned it very lightly, then pan seared for the first go. It was quite nice. Although a very soft fish once cooked, I still enjoyed it. I can start looking for Haddock recipes now 🙂 As for the baby potatoes, this was my first time having it. I needed a break from Sweet Potato. To see these little darlings prepared this way actually put a smile on my face.  I boiled them, allowed them to cool slightly. Then I smashed them with a saucepan! Ha! So much fun! Then I brushed them with Olive Oil and a sprinkle of salt and popped them in the oven for 20 minutes or so until the skin was crispy. I saw it on The Food Network ~ my favourite television station ❤

 

Haddock, Baby Potatoes, Green Beans

Have a great week! Stay motivated!

Ciao

A Romantic Meal And Little Treats

I use the word “romantic” very lightly because on Valentines Day, all my loved ones were under the weather.  I made a lovely meal that I thought would have been nice for everybody but… no one was well enough to enjoy it. (Except me – it was flipping fabulous!) Thankfully my pain does not affect my taste buds. So here was my first attempt at Tarragon Chicken, Pan Seared Zucchini, Pan Seared Fennel, and Carrots in Butter and Brown Sugar [with a side of Basmati Rice for the husband]. Dessert was supposed to be on the same night but happened a few days later ~ Lemon Madeleines, a french dessert (petite cakes). This was my first try at everything and it was great, but I’m going to do it all over again with some minor adjustments. Stay tuned 🙂

I never had Tarragon anything before. It’s an herb and the leaves have a licorice scent. The flavour of the chicken was awesome – like nothing I had prepared in the past. This will definitely be on the menu for a dinner gathering at my home in the future. Zucchini wasn’t really a favourite of mine. But when I made it myself? Perfection! I liked Fennel but this was the first time I had it cooked. I like the crisp licorice taste. Its milder once cooked but still tasty. Another veggie victory! Now that I think about it… the rice looked like it didn’t belong on this menu.

 

Tarragon Chicken, Pan Seared Zucchini and Fennel, Carrots, Basmati Rice

 

The white wine was actually used in the chicken recipe to make the sauce. I felt quite sophisticated cooking with a glass of wine in hand! A nice French wine to go with the French themed meal. Terrific!

 

French Cross Dry White Wine

 

I need to check to see if these are still called Madeleines if I used a square-shaped muffin tin. Ah well! I used what I had and they were very nice. They are supposed to be served with a fruit so I will do that next time.

Lemon Madeleines

 

And these little mini cupcakes were for my little bundles of joy whom I love so much. I wanted to cheer them up since they were under the weather and decided to spend time with them instead of being in the kitchen. I won’t think about the ingredients. I know I make everything much healthier. But it’s just this one time.

 

Chocolate Valentine Mini Cupcake

Take good care of you.

Ciao

Great Cake, Super Mini-Muffins and Orange Glazed Chicken

As usual, I’ve been keeping myself quite busy. Still in pain but I think I’m just going to suck it up and go on the treadmill. If I can’t walk after that, then at least I tried 🙂 Other than that, I’m still trying new recipes and having fun in the kitchen – all the while ensuring that the ingredients and methods are figure friendly and can be consumed guilt-free with moderation.

This cake was amazing. Carrot and Pineapple Cake with Cream Cheese Topping. I’m going to try it again though because the center was a bit too soft for me (pudding-like). I won’t include the pineapple juice from the can next time and see if it makes a difference.

 

Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Topping

Then came the Apple-Raisin Mini Muffins – made half and half with unbleached and whole wheat pastry flour. No eggs. Just apple and raisins to give it body. It’s a recipe from Paula Deen. So addictive!

 

Apple Raisin Mini Muffins

And finally, Orange Chicken – my way. I reduced the juice of an orange, added brown sugar and vinegar to make a glaze. Pretty tasty. Never had wild rice before. It wasn’t anything special.

 

Orange Chicken with Wild Rice

That’s it for this week. Let’s hope all goes well this week for me on the treadmill.

Ciao!

A great healthy find!

As I continue on my journey, I sometimes get annoyed with minor setbacks. The main one is my inability to exercise at this time. If I can’t move, I can’t see any results and that in itself is frustrating. I keep watching infomercials (especially the Beachbody products) and I wonder if I will ever be able to take on such rigorous exercise. Aside from the fact that its HARD, it seems like a pretty tough challenge for someone who suffers from chronic pain. Is there any program out there for someone like me? I can only keep looking and hopefully I’ll find something suitable. Ah well. I still gotta eat 🙂

Last weeks meals were pretty darn awesome! I made a fruit bowl,  and an oldie but goodie, got a mood lifter for lunch from my husband, and then a brand new recipe that I simple adore ~ its another keeper! I like when I take traditional recipes and put my own spin on it – sometimes on purpose, sometimes because I use what I have and hope that it turns out well. I like when I come across other people online who make adjustments too. Recipes are guidelines, not rules.

I mentioned in my previous post that I’ve been struggling with snacking. Now that I’ve more or less removed myself from the kitchen table, I’ve been trying to make additional corrections as needed. I realized I’ve never made a fruit salad… until now! Navel Orange, Gapes, Cherries, Asian Pear, Blueberries, Kiwi and Strawberries. Awesome!

 

Mixed Fruit Bowl

I remember when I used to make this dish all the time. It was a real crowd pleaser. Its my version of Shepherds Pie – using lean ground turkey with mixed vegetables, and of course… my favourite… sweet potato instead of regular potato for the topping. A little cheese on top is great. Just a little 😉

 

Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie with Spinach

 

One afternoon, I was feeling pretty down from my pain, and my husband surprised me with lunch. Callalloo with Dumpling and Yellow Yam! It was a nice little reminder of home 🙂 Tasted good too. I checked – one dumpling, one piece of yam. Totally acceptable.

 

Callalloo, Yam, Dumpling

 

I typically get bored with eating the same dinner over and over again. Which is quite strange since I can have the same breakfast all week and be fine. Hmmm. So anyway, I was thinking about a comfort dish for the family that the kids especially would enjoy. I then came across a recipe for a low-calorie, low everything (per serving) version of macaroni and cheese and I decided to give it a try. This Sweet Potato & Spinach Macaroni and Cheese dish was really REALLY good. I was supposed to use squash but thats not really something I have readily available. The sweet potato was basically boiled and pureed [my immersion blender is earning its keep!] and that is what gave the dish body, as would cheese and milk in a traditional mac and cheese recipe. My great healthy find! ❤

 

Sweet Potato Spinach Mac and Cheese

 

I realize the need for recipes on my blog. The meals that I’ve been eating are great family meals and are figure friendly. I think my next project should be a healthy living/food blog [with recipes] as opposed to a weight loss focused blog. What do you think?

Have a super week! (whats left of it :-). Take good care of you.

Ciao