Hopelessly Healthy

This title may seem a bit 'off' and it is, but it is how I am feeling lately.  I have been trying to lose weight for more than a year with no results.  I've tried everything to nothing and see no change up or down, hence the title of this post.  Losing weight isn't the only reason to make life changes.  I am healthy, but hopelessly fat (apparently).

Recently I started doing 21 day fix.  Today marks day 21 and here is what I have learned:

EVERYTHING is a Carb (thanks Mean Girls)

My left side is significantly stronger than my right

I wasn't eating as many vegetables as I thought I was

Protein makes you poop (A LOT)

You don't really need condiments on most foods

Working out can make you feel good

The things you think are good for you are not always

I love the way Autumn (the creator of 21 day fix) says booty

Balance is hard

I hate that little blue container!  It houses all my favorite foods (cheese, avocado and hummus) and you only get ONE allotted per day

I am way more conscious of eating CHEESE because of THAT DAMN blue container


I am going in for round 2 beginning June 1, why this day?  Because I need a break from bowls and colors and I just want to enjoy my food the way I used to.  Did I mention EVERYTHING is a Carb?!!!  I will measure myself tonight, so that might change my mind and I'll start a new cycle tomorrow.  Stay tuned...

The Day after Resurrection

Happy (day after) Easter!

I'm posting this a couple days late, but I started writing it at the right time lol.  I spent the day doing my usual Sunday things...cleaning, cooking and prepping meals for the week. This process usually takes at least half the day, but for some reason I was in the kitchen significantly longer this time.  For this marathon session, I had two packs of chicken breast, 1 whole chicken, 1 pack of ground turkey, 1 pack of ground beef, beans, 2 red peppers, 2 green peppers, mushrooms, some broccoli slaw, a bunch of onions, a cucumber and some tomatoes.  I used every slow cooker at my disposal, including the small red one I had but away in the cabinet.  I made Salisbury steak (for yesterday's dinner), Slow Cooker Baked Beans, which I will use to top some baked potatoes later in the week.

Chicken strips of the Greek and cilantro lime variety grilled, sliced and individually frozen for future sandwiches and salads, Crepes, Greek Pasta Salad and Veggie Quiche with a hash brown crust.

BEWARE of the "cheap" bags of bulk onions that seem like a good deal at a time.  $1.29 for 3 lbs. of yellow onions, but only half of those were unusable.  I forgot to get a red pepper from this store, which was on sale for $1.  I was upset as I really needed it and had to pay $1.99 per pound for one at another store, but it turned out that one pepper weighed half a lb. so it came out to be the same price and the per lb. pepper was actually a larger, greater quality.  I will be buying all my produce by the pound from now on.

I broke down the whole chicken, slow cooked then shredded the breasts for chicken salad and Bbq pulled chicken, which also topped those baked potatoes mentioned earlier. Cooked the legs and thighs, along with a sweet potato for Charlie and make stock with the back.

The two packs of chicken breasts were used to make these three bagged meals:

Chicken Cheese steak Melts

Lemon Chicken and Chicken Hash

Chicken Hash (cooked)

My lunches this week consist of Asian Salad, Chicken Salad with grapes, cranberries and apples, Greek Chicken Pita and the Veggie Quiche.

My full weeks menu including what I planned for snacks is available here:  Menu Plan - Week of 04/06/15.  And with this post I am reinstating:  Today I am thankful for... Having food to plan and prep these meals for this week and weeks to come.

What day is it?

Hummmmmp Day!  Hump, work, hustle, whatever you may call it, here are my "hustles" of the day:

This scarf I am selling on ebay!

The cases that I can't seem to get rid of, also on ebay!

All this AVON inventory...

Plus more

The thought in the back of my mind that is finally coming to fruition... MY catering business!

A recipe for Wednesday...

Chicken Hash

2 to 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

1 red or white onion

1 pound (give or take) red skinned potatoes

1 lemon, juiced

1 tbsp garlic

1 cup chicken broth

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Prep

Cut the peppers and onions into strips, I like to cut them the long way, then again in half

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, it also helps to cut them in half as well

Cut the potatoes in half moon shapes and boil just until tender (this cuts down on the cooking time later).

Cooking

While the potatoes are boiling, coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil, add the peppers and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, then add the onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper. Cook until the veggies are tender. Push them to one side of the skillet, add a touch more olive oil, then add the chicken, brown on one side, then flip. Squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken AND the pepper/onion mixture. Remove the peppers from the pan and set aside. Add the chicken broth to the skillet. Cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes more. By this time the potatoes should be done. Drain them, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside. Add the potatoes to the pan, with a touch more olive oil and arrange in a single layer (if possible). Cook until brown and crispy, turning occasionally to your tastes. Cut the chicken breasts in strips or cubes, and return everything to the skillet, stir and heat through.

Top with cheese and/or sour cream and enjoy! I sometimes add mushrooms to mine as well.

The Perfect Turkey Sandwich

It starts with soft rye bread slathered with a butter spread (I like land o lakes butter with canola oil). Then layer in this order...

Dijon Mustard

A few pieces of your favorite sliced turkey

A slice of American cheese

One roasted red pepper

More turkey

A slice of provolone (or swiss) cheese

A few slices of avocado sprinkled with lemon pepper

Top with the other slice of bread and grill, preferrably on the George Foreman grill until the cheese melts and nice grill marks form. Enjoy!

Foods of my Childhood

A healthy lifestyle is what I'm striving for now. My tastebuds have changed so much. I dont like popcorn or eggs or even fried chicken and I absolutely despise ramen noodles. Somewhere along the road I lost the kool-aid and jolly ranchers and I know I'm better for it, but I sure would love some real sour patch kids, not these sugary substitutes they're making now that cost a dollar a bag for not even as much as I could get for a quarter back then. They have these nostalgia boxes now for sale online, I think I might get one.

Cheap Nostalgia Box