More, please...

I need to make a more conscious effort to eat more of these:

I was wondering some ways that ya'll prepare veggies. I usually do them stovetop or roast them. I'm thinking of getting one of these:

It's a food steamer/rice cooker

Some other ways people have suggested are in tinfoil on the grill... I'm afraid of the grill because I almost blew myself up lighting it a few years ago. Yes, that's right... BLAMMO! I let it sit with the gas too long before I put the match in... the top was shut, but when I hear the "BAM!" explosion noise, it was also accompanied by the sound of the grill lid slamming back down. Yup... blew the top open and then shut again. Ever since then I've been afraid... however, if someone else lights it for me, I have NO ISSUE grilling... ;-) Now I'm hungry for veggies...! REALLY hungry! Nom, nom, nom!

Pirates, Pirates, EVERYWHERE!!!

Well, I haven't updated, but I've been keeping busy... Starting with Dustin's 3rd birthday party (A pirate party!) this past Sunday! It was a nice day for a party in the park and Dustin had a LOT of fun!


Dustin sitting by his cakes, not smiling ;)


Sneaking icing from the cake!


Dustin's Crew!


Cap't. Dustin holding us all hostage!


The outcome of a 3 year old's birthday bash :)

I spent Monday recovering, Tuesday mending a migraine, and Wednesday picking up Dustin from daycare and going to the playground in his neighborhood. Thursday and Friday I subbed all day at the intermediate school... That was fun... subbing right before Spring Break! ;) I'm ready to enjoy the week off, and hope to head over to Canyon Lake for lunch one day... :-D It's been ages since I've been out there, and I am looking forward to enjoying the scenery for a while... Next up for me? Getting through April and making it to May when I am going to Port Aransas for a week! (A more serious post not related to everyday happenings will occur sometime this weekend...)

The diet's going well... I've lost 18 pounds so far... not bad for a little over 2 months... :)

Some really good recipes

If you're watching your fat and calorie intake... here's a couple recipes that are REALLY yummy!

BURRITO PIE-- This one is 7 Weight Watchers points a serving (Serves 8). It's REALLY yummy... note that if you're not watching your fat/calorie intake, then you could most certainly use different meat and could use regular refried beans and tortillas; also if you're eating vegetarian then others have substituted Boca meatless ground burger for the meat. Also note that this makes quite a bit... so you may want to half the recipe and use a smaller baking pan if you're only feeding 2-3 people. I was only serving my parents and myself and we are STILL eating leftovers!

1. 1 pounds lean ground turkey (season with salt/pepper and season-all if you like)
   
2. 1 onion, chopped
3. 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves chopped very finely)
   
4. 1 (2 ounce) can black olives, sliced
5. 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers (I only used about 1/3 of the can)
   
6. 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
7. 1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce (this is near the salsas... I used Old El Paso Taco Sauce... it's in a squeeze bottle)
   
8. 2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans (I used non-fat refried beans)
   
9. 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas (I used 6 Heart Healthy Mission Flour Tortillas... they're big enough that you only need 2 tortillas per layer)
   
10. 9 ounces Reduced Fat (or Fat-Free) Shredded Cheese
    

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the meat until cooked through. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 5 more minutes. Drain any excess fat, if desired. Mix in the olives, green chile peppers, tomatoes with green chile peppers, taco sauce and refried beans. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan/cake pan (I lined mine with foil so there's less clean up). Cover with a layer of tortillas followed by more meat mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, cheese pattern until all the tortillas are used, topping off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese.
4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.
5. I cut it into eight servings (this is important if you're counting points so that you are getting a correct serving)... this recipe makes a lot but the leftovers are REALLY good (in fact, they taste better when the flavors come together a bit more).

Chocolate Muffins

If you're a chocoholic you'll LOVE this one! If you're counting Weight Watchers points, one muffin is 3 points.


Ingredients:
1 Box Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 Can Solid Packed Pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie filling... there's a difference...)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix together... it will be VERY thick and seem like you should thin it out with something.... DON'T! Mix half the cake mix with the pumpkin and blend well... then add the rest of the cake mix to make sure it's thoroughly blended. Fill lined cupcake tins ALL THE WAY full of the mix.... this should make 12 cupcake sized muffins (you may have just a little 'batter' leftover). I placed a cookie sheet on the rack under my tins b/c I was afraid they may bake over and spill out... but mine didn't... Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. They're REALLY good... even without icing... and you can't taste any pumpkin... all you taste is chocolate... they're also quite filling (would be great for a quick breakfast).