Tasty Tuesday - Quinoa Skillet with Chicken and Zucchini

This is my new go-to meal. Sometimes I substitute cous cous or instant brown rice for the quinoa, but the quinoa is my FAVORITE!!

You will need:
One large skillet with high sides and a lid to match
Wooden spoon

Ingredients

1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bitesize pieces
2 medium zucchini, cut into bitesize pieces
1 small onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1 1/4 cup quinoa
1 can chicken broth
2 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in the skillet. Add chicken and cook until just no longer pink. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add onion and zucchini. Cook until tender and slightly browned, about 10-15 minutes. Add garlic and quinoa. Saute about two minutes or until garlic is fragrant. Add parsley, salt and pepper, and return chicken to pan. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Put the lid on and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until all liquid is absorbed.

OUCH! Heel Spurs

For the last month or so, I haven't been doing all the exercise that I SHOULD be doing. That's because of a nasty little heel spur that I've managed to develop sometime in late June/early July.

I knew absolutely nothing about heel spurs - other than the fact that they HURT.
I thought they were cause from pieces of bone or cartaliage or something similar.
I also thought the only cure would be surgery to "dig in there" and have it removed.
Then I did a little research.
And I found out a LOT about heel spurs that I didn't know.

First of all, a heel spur isn't bone-related at all!
It's actually caused by strain and damage to tissue in our foots called "fascia".
This damage leads to the sensation of something "stuck" in the heel of our foot poking us - which can be quite painful if you've ever experienced it.

When I first started feeling the heel spur, I stopped wearing shoes, thinking that would help. But it only made it worse!
Wearing shoes, especially those with a slight heel or wedge to them, actually HELPS the spur by taking some of the weight off it, thus allowing it to heel.

I also found out that 9 times out of 10, a heel spur doesn't need surgery, but instead needs STRETCHING. The fascia is kind of like a muscle (only less flexible) and stretching the area will reduce the tension put on the fascia.

So, today I put on my shoes. I will also be doing a few stretches today to see if that actually helps! I'll keep you all posted - I really want to get my move on this week!

All information regarding heel spurs was found at the Heel Spur Website.


Here's to being losers in 2011!

Tasty Tuesday: Savory French Toast with Balsamic Berry Topping

This is what I just had for breakfast and it is PHENOMENAL.

I am a French Toast Purist. I don't like it all fancy-schmancy. No orange juice, vanilla, or powdered sugar here, please! Straight up eggs, bread, and butter! Back before I changed my eating habits, I would cook up a HUGE batch - four pieces of white bread, three whole eggs, and a half stick of butter. Imagine the calories and fat I was consuming!! I was so excited when I discovered I could retain my love of french toast and STILL be on plan! The Balsamic Berry Topping was on a whim this morning - and it was SO worth it! SO good, and zero points!!

French Toast with Balsamic Berry Topping
(2 Servings at 4 pp/serving)

4 slices reduced calorie whole wheat bread (I used Sarah Lee Delightful 45 Calorie Multigrain bread)
3 egg whites
1 T light margarine with zero trans fat, divided
1 C frozen strawberries
1 packet Splenda
1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Spray a small skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium low heat. Slightly beat the egg whites until just combined (this will not be a meringue!) Add salt and pepper to taste. Melt 1/4 T margarine in the pan. Dip one of the bread slices in egg, covering both sides. Place in the pan and cook for about 30 seconds on each side, or until slightly browned. Repeat with remaining three slices (spray, melt, dip, cook).

In a medium microwave safe bowl, place strawberries and Splenda. Add a splash of water and microwave for 90 seconds. Remove from microwave and allow to cool slightly on the counter for about 5 minutes. Once cooled a bit, squish with a fork and add 1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the French toast warm with the balsamic berry topping right on top - or on the side, whichever you chose.

Sorry no pics this week - this was literally a spur of the moment recipe!
Enjoy!

Here's to being losers in 2011!

Tasty Tuesday - Veggie Pasta with Sausage

Today's Tasty Tuesday recipe is one of my absolute favorites.
This will feed three people at about 7 pp/serving

2 Lean Turkey Italian Sausage link, removed from casing
1 zucchini squash, sliced into crescent shapes
1 sm onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 C sliced mushrooms
11/2 C cooked rigatoni pasta, cooked
2 C marinara sauce
1 Tbs. olive oil

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add sausage and cook, breaking up with back of spoon, until no longer pink. Remove from heat and set aside. Add peppers and onions and cook until just tender. Add mushrooms, squashes, and garlic. Cook until browned and slightly caramelized. Return sausage to pan, add sauce and rigatoni, and mix well to combine. *If desired, add some Parmesan cheese to the top, but remember to add the points to it!*

Inspiration in Unexpected Places . . .

Recently I and my mom started taking a water aerobics class. We were thinking we'd get a great workout without any impact. Well we were right about the low-impact - but this was no-impact and no-intensity!! NOT what someone in need of a workout for weight loss needs.

Enter Linda ...
Linda was our substitute instructor today. Linda, who's classes we overlooked because we thought they'd be too much for us. Amazing wonderful Linda that worked us out today until our bodies screamed and we began to SWEAT - yes! Sweat!! In a POOL!! My heart rate went up, my muscles ached, my body screamed in Yiddish (didn't even know my body KNEW Yiddish!!).
It. Was. FABULOUS.
THIS was what I wanted out of a water aerobics class!!
THIS was what I NEEDED!
Then my mom and I started talking to Linda.
She once weighed over 400 lbs.
She lost over 200 lbs. on Weight Watchers and doing water aerobics - which is EXACTLY what I'm doing.
I was hooked.
Needless to say . . . My mom and I have decided to switch to Linda's evening workout classes.
I have a feeling this is going to be a wonderful relationship and that I may have found my "mentor" in Linda.
I am so excited and hopeful.
God is blessing me!!

Things I'm Learning . . .

If you had told me any of the following last year, I would have told you that you were nuts.
But there are a few things I'm learning about myself over the course of this journey . . .

• Shirts that used to be tight and are now loose are not very flattering.
• Ditto for swimsuits.
• Two tablespoons of cream are more than enough for coffee.
• Egg whites are really good.
• Quinoa, chicken breast, and squash is an ultimate comfort food.
• I am a lot stronger than I give myself credit for.
• I love the water and I love to swim.
• One (actual) serving-sized serving of something is MORE than enough to satisfy.
• Carrots and laughing cow Garlic Herb is the world's greatest snack (and an answer to chips and dip!)

I am still struggling with tracking and measuring EVERYTHING, but I'm getting better. 

I guess, in a sense, I'm following Weight Watcher's "simply filling" without thinking about it.

I still have to count my chips.

I still have to eat ONE brownie instead of five.

But I've learned that I CAN do these things - and now, I do them without thinking about.

It's become automatic.

And that feels pretty good.

Healthy Recipe Time!! Cheesy Beef Fajita Skillet - 7pp

This is what was for dinner last night and it was amazingly good!
Tip - be sure to marinade the beef in some acid for at least 30 minutes before slicing to ensure tenderness.

Cheese Beef Fajita Skillet
4 1/2 C servings at 7 pp

16 oz flat iron steak, trimmed, marinated, and sliced against the grain into strips
1 bell bepper, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
2 T salt-free Mexican-style seasoning blend (I used Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime)
salt and pepper to taste
3 oz 2% Velveeta

Stir fry beef until no longer pink. Add onion and bell pepper and stir fry until crisp-tender. Add seasoning, salt, pepper, and velveeta. Mix well to combine.

Serve over 1/2 C brown rice for a full 10 PP meal.

ENJOY!