Here's the recipe:
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-butternut-squash-bacon-pasta-10000000592277/
Review: Chris didn't tell me he loved it until he was finished eating it because he didn't want to stop eating. It was really great. I highly recommend it. I served the casserole with mixed veggies.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
A Week of Healthy Meals
I've been pretty horrible at writing on my blog, mainly because I'm not sure why anyone would want to read it. But today I'm wanting to share some recipes so I'm back on for a while at least. Today I'm doing a lot of cooking and freezing. I found several casserole recipes on the Cooking Light website as well as one slow cooker meal and one meal that I will have to make the day I serve it. I am inspired to cook ahead of time and freeze my meals because it seems like lately I've gotten home at night and had the energy to either cook and get a small workout, or not cook and get a real workout. Unfortunately, my husband and I have to eat and I'm not willing to pick up fast food or do any fast, processed food. I'd like to share the menu for this week with you all.
I've just finished making Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-butternut-squash-bacon-pasta-10000000592277/
This one took quite a lot of prep work before assembling but I was committed to it because it has bacon. Everything is better with bacon.
The other casseroles I have on board are:
Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cheese
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baked-pasta-with-sausage-tomatoes-cheese-10000000549971/
Chicken Tamale Casserole
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-tamale-casserole-10000001854020/
Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/black-bean-chicken-chilaquiles-10000001545709/
I've never frozen casseroles before so I googled some tips, which I would suggest because I had to do a couple of things differently. For instance, if you're going to freeze a dish, you need to under cook pasta and save any toppings for right before you put the dish in the oven.
I also found a blog via Pinterest that had some wonderful recipes with calorie counts. One of her slow cooker recipes is on deck this week.
Crock Pot Asian Pork with Mushrooms
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/10/crock-pot-asian-pork-with-mushrooms.html
I could eat versions of pasta every day, but my husband gets bored easily. I found this recipe on that same blog for Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/healthy-baked-chicken-nuggets.html
I bought salad ingredients as well as some different squashes for side dishes and bought several of those frozen steamer bags of veggies that you just throw in the microwave.
I will check back each day and report on the food. For those of you who are curious, my calorie limit each day is 1800 and my husband's limit is 2200. Eventually those limits will lower, but that's what we've found we need right now. We are also limiting alcohol intake and exercising. I'm mostly running with my dog - each time increasing the amount of time that I'm running vs. walking.
Thanks for reading.
I've just finished making Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-butternut-squash-bacon-pasta-10000000592277/
This one took quite a lot of prep work before assembling but I was committed to it because it has bacon. Everything is better with bacon.
The other casseroles I have on board are:
Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cheese
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baked-pasta-with-sausage-tomatoes-cheese-10000000549971/
Chicken Tamale Casserole
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-tamale-casserole-10000001854020/
Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/black-bean-chicken-chilaquiles-10000001545709/
I've never frozen casseroles before so I googled some tips, which I would suggest because I had to do a couple of things differently. For instance, if you're going to freeze a dish, you need to under cook pasta and save any toppings for right before you put the dish in the oven.
I also found a blog via Pinterest that had some wonderful recipes with calorie counts. One of her slow cooker recipes is on deck this week.
Crock Pot Asian Pork with Mushrooms
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/10/crock-pot-asian-pork-with-mushrooms.html
I could eat versions of pasta every day, but my husband gets bored easily. I found this recipe on that same blog for Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/healthy-baked-chicken-nuggets.html
I bought salad ingredients as well as some different squashes for side dishes and bought several of those frozen steamer bags of veggies that you just throw in the microwave.
I will check back each day and report on the food. For those of you who are curious, my calorie limit each day is 1800 and my husband's limit is 2200. Eventually those limits will lower, but that's what we've found we need right now. We are also limiting alcohol intake and exercising. I'm mostly running with my dog - each time increasing the amount of time that I'm running vs. walking.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Mmmm...
A friend of mine sent me a link to a recipe she was going to make tonight and I think it looks amazing, so I will be trying this sometime in the next week. Here's the link:
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/bacon-corn-chowder-shrimp-50400000114422/
You'll see the calories are really low and hopefully Sera will comment and let us know how it turned out.
Since I've been back from Fitness Ridge and been losing weight, my family has asked me to cook for them quite a bit. I've also had people over for dinner a few times and I feel a responsibility to show people that healthy food can also be delicious. One of my favorite recipes to use for family or guests is the Caribbean Shrimp Salad with Lime Vinaigrette from Cooking Light. Here's the link.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/caribbean-shrimp-salad-with-lime-vinaigrette-10000001696589/
I chop and prepare everything except the avocado earlier in the day and then slice the avocado and assemble the salad right before serving. It's so nice to have it done. So far, I haven't had a single complaint.
If anyone reading this blog has any recipes they'd like to share, just post them in the comments.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/bacon-corn-chowder-shrimp-50400000114422/
You'll see the calories are really low and hopefully Sera will comment and let us know how it turned out.
Since I've been back from Fitness Ridge and been losing weight, my family has asked me to cook for them quite a bit. I've also had people over for dinner a few times and I feel a responsibility to show people that healthy food can also be delicious. One of my favorite recipes to use for family or guests is the Caribbean Shrimp Salad with Lime Vinaigrette from Cooking Light. Here's the link.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/caribbean-shrimp-salad-with-lime-vinaigrette-10000001696589/
I chop and prepare everything except the avocado earlier in the day and then slice the avocado and assemble the salad right before serving. It's so nice to have it done. So far, I haven't had a single complaint.
If anyone reading this blog has any recipes they'd like to share, just post them in the comments.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Well, Okay.
I've been putting off writing on this blog for a long time. I just don't see why anyone would want to read anything I write. But I've decided to start trying to do one thing each day that I've been putting off and this was the obvious. So, here goes.
Today I ran to the park with my puppy, threw the ball, walked around and played with him. Then I started running back home. Maybe 5 yards into my return run, I tripped and fell flat on my face. I screamed out from the pain and, mainly, the shock. There was no one else out so I just lay there with my face on the hot concrete to catch my breath. It seemed like 2 seconds later that a car pulled up and asked if I was okay. I jumped to my feet while the guy got out of the driver seat to come help me. I said I was fine and thanked them. Then I limped on, embarrassed. I skinned my right knee and was bleeding and the outside of my left foot hurt to put pressure on it. I was disappointed to not be able to finish my run. I looked up to the sky and saw two clouds, one slightly in front of the other. Light shone out between the clouds reminding me of God looking down from heaven. Out loud I laughed and said "well, okay" and started running again. It hurt but it felt good to push through.
Today I ran to the park with my puppy, threw the ball, walked around and played with him. Then I started running back home. Maybe 5 yards into my return run, I tripped and fell flat on my face. I screamed out from the pain and, mainly, the shock. There was no one else out so I just lay there with my face on the hot concrete to catch my breath. It seemed like 2 seconds later that a car pulled up and asked if I was okay. I jumped to my feet while the guy got out of the driver seat to come help me. I said I was fine and thanked them. Then I limped on, embarrassed. I skinned my right knee and was bleeding and the outside of my left foot hurt to put pressure on it. I was disappointed to not be able to finish my run. I looked up to the sky and saw two clouds, one slightly in front of the other. Light shone out between the clouds reminding me of God looking down from heaven. Out loud I laughed and said "well, okay" and started running again. It hurt but it felt good to push through.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Beerfest 2011
Beerfest is this weekend. In my family it's like a holiday. We all go to my parents' house on Friday night and hang out and make pretzel necklaces. Here's my brother with several pretzel necklaces last year.
The pretzel necklaces serve 3 very important functions:
1. They help you count your beers. The idea is to know how many pretzels are on your necklace and eat one pretzel after each beer. That way you can count. I usually forget what I'm doing after about 10 beer samples and just eat the pretzels whenever I feel like it. My brother is much better at this.
2. They cleanse your palate. For those serious beer aficionados (like my family), the palate cleanse is important so you can really taste the differences.
3. More pretzels in your stomach mean you can drink more beer.
So, Friday night is the pretzel making party. Saturday morning we get up and make a gigantic breakfast. There are generally about 30 people with us so we make breakfast for a whole lot of people. Then Michael walks around giving everyone large glasses of water and making sure everyone is drinking enough water. Last year and this year we rented a bus and driver. The driver shows up at my parents' house and everyone gets on the bus around 11 am. We go to Sandy Downs for Beerfest and ideally get there early enough to not have to wait in a very long line. The Fest starts at 12.
After Beerfest we all get back in the bus and then it takes us to dinner, generally at Outback. Everyone eats and then the bus takes us back to my parents' house where everyone hangs out.
My best girlfriend and her husband are coming this year and I am so so excited. I can't wait for them to be part of the whole event.
So, in honor of Beerfest, here are five great beer quotes.
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
-Dave Barry
"People who drink light 'beer' don't like the taste of beer; they just like to pee alot."
-Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI
"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed - Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.'"
-Deep Thought, Jack Handy
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."
-Frank Sinatra
The pretzel necklaces serve 3 very important functions:
1. They help you count your beers. The idea is to know how many pretzels are on your necklace and eat one pretzel after each beer. That way you can count. I usually forget what I'm doing after about 10 beer samples and just eat the pretzels whenever I feel like it. My brother is much better at this.
2. They cleanse your palate. For those serious beer aficionados (like my family), the palate cleanse is important so you can really taste the differences.
3. More pretzels in your stomach mean you can drink more beer.
So, Friday night is the pretzel making party. Saturday morning we get up and make a gigantic breakfast. There are generally about 30 people with us so we make breakfast for a whole lot of people. Then Michael walks around giving everyone large glasses of water and making sure everyone is drinking enough water. Last year and this year we rented a bus and driver. The driver shows up at my parents' house and everyone gets on the bus around 11 am. We go to Sandy Downs for Beerfest and ideally get there early enough to not have to wait in a very long line. The Fest starts at 12.
After Beerfest we all get back in the bus and then it takes us to dinner, generally at Outback. Everyone eats and then the bus takes us back to my parents' house where everyone hangs out.
My best girlfriend and her husband are coming this year and I am so so excited. I can't wait for them to be part of the whole event.
So, in honor of Beerfest, here are five great beer quotes.
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
-Dave Barry
"People who drink light 'beer' don't like the taste of beer; they just like to pee alot."
-Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI
"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed - Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.'"
-Deep Thought, Jack Handy
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."
-Frank Sinatra
Insecurities
I wrote a blog today, about death, and friendship. But I read back over it and cringed. I just sound so depressed. And I don't feel depressed.
I'm feeling pretty insecure about friendships right now. I'm afraid that I'm letting my friends down, not being there for them enough. And the ironic thing is that I have to force myself to pull back so I don't seem so needy and too invested. The people I feel closest to are the people I'm most cautious about. If I care deeply, I pull back. I tend to not trust people in general and I try to protect my heart. If I'm too vulnerable to someone, they can hurt me, and probably will.
This is something that I desperately want to fix. I want to be a good friend and have good friends and be confident that they want that from me too.
I'm feeling pretty insecure about friendships right now. I'm afraid that I'm letting my friends down, not being there for them enough. And the ironic thing is that I have to force myself to pull back so I don't seem so needy and too invested. The people I feel closest to are the people I'm most cautious about. If I care deeply, I pull back. I tend to not trust people in general and I try to protect my heart. If I'm too vulnerable to someone, they can hurt me, and probably will.
This is something that I desperately want to fix. I want to be a good friend and have good friends and be confident that they want that from me too.
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