Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Beef and Broccoli Stiry-Fry

Serves 4

5 Points+

2 ½ Tbsp cornstarch, divided

¼ tsp table salt

¾ pound uncooked lean trimmed sirloin beef, thinly sliced against the grain

2 tsp canola oil

1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth, divided

5 cups uncooked broccoli florets (about a 12 oz bag)

1 Tbsp ginger root, fresh, minced

2 tsp minced garlic

¼ tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste

¼ cup low sodium soy sauce

½ cup water

On a plate, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and salt; add beef and toss to coat.

Heat oil in a large nonstick wok or large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and stir-fry until lightly browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes; transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.

Add ½ cup broth to same pan; stir to loosen any bits of food on bottom of pan. Add broccoli; cover and cook, tossing occasionally and sprinkling with a tablespoon of water if needed, until broccoli is almost crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Uncover pan and add ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes; stiry-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute.

In a cup, stir together soy sauce, remaining ½ cup broth, remaining ½ tablespoon cornstarch and water until blended; stir into pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer, simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

Return beef and accumulated juices to pan; toss to coat. Serve. Yields 1 ¼ cups per serving.

Ravioli Casserole

Ravioli Casserole

Serves 6

Points+ Per Serving: 9

16 ounces lean ground beef

¾ cup chopped onion

15 oz can tomato sauce

14 ½ oz can stewed tomatoes undrained

Large can of diced tomatoes

1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning

3 cups rotini pasta

¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese

½ cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet sprayed with cooking spray, brown meat and onion. Spray a slow cooker container with cooking spray and combine tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning and brown hamburger. Stir in uncooked pasta. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Add cheeses, mix well, cover and continue cooking for 20 to 30 minutes or until cheese melts. Mix well before serving

Serving size is 1 1/3 cup

Chicken Broccoli Corn Bake

Chicken Broccoli Corn Bake

Servings: 6 = 7 Points+

Servings: 4 = 10 Points+

3 cups frozen broccoli, thawed

1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

2 full cups diced, cooked chicken breast

1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup

1 cup cream style corn

½ cup minced onion

1 tsp dried parsley flakes

1/8 tsp pepper

Salt to taste

10 Ritz reduced fat crackers, made into crumbs

¼ cup light cheddar cheese

½ cup sautéed mushrooms (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8x8 inch pan with cooking spray.

Combine broccoli, whole kernel corn and chicken.

Add chicken soup, cream style corn, onion, parsley flakes, pepper and salt.

Mix well and spread into pan.

Toy with cheese and cracker crumbs

Spray top with butter flavored spray ( I will omit this step next time. Don’t care for crunchy cheese).

Bake 35-40 minutes

Recipe: Easy Chicken Bake

Easy Chicken Bake

Servings: 6

Points+ per serving:6

1 6 oz pkg of Stove Top Chicken Flavor Stuffing.

1 ½ lbs uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces

1 (10 ¾ oz) can cream of mushroom soup

1/3 cup light sour cream

16 oz package of frozen mixed vegetables

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package and set aside.

Mix chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in a 13x9 inch dish, top with stuffing. Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Shrink Yo' Self in 2012 -Weeks 4 and 5

I started out this challenge, and the new year gung ho about a new diet I had found called the 17 day diet. I was skeptical and wasn't sure if I wanted to try it since you weren't allowed any carbs or sugar the first 17 days other than the two fruit servings. Everyone I talked to told me "Try it, you can do anything for 17 days" but they failed to tell me that 17 days turned into 21 days then 28 and so on until you lose all of your weight. I, the carboholic that I am, successfully,( but miserably) completed the first 17 days 11.5 pounds lighter. What happened next was kind of a whirlwind, in the downward direction.

What was supposed to start to get a little easier ended up being my demise. I was tired of feeling the way I was since starting this diet, exhausted and no energy to hardly move, at all. But I decided to give the second phase a chance. Halfway through the second set of the 17 days, I was very frustrated because I hadn't lost ANYTHING since the middle of the first phase.. so about two weeks. So I started the negative talking...then my husband, who has been monitoring every food item that goes into my mouth, or so it seems, made dinner plans for Olive Garden. Not a place to go when you can't have bread or pasta or anything but fat free salad dressing. I did the worse thing I could've, went to Olive Garden and ate... ate what I wanted and just had the screw it attitude. I felt like there was no point, because he wasn't going to support me, except when it was convienent to tell me I couldn't eat something. This mentallity continued for the next several days.  Weigh in day came and I refused to get on the scale, and reported for the weigh in that I remained the same for week 4, but I am sure I had to of gained.

Since then, after I regained my composure and common sense/ I have been  with my options: do I go back to the 17 day diet, or do I maybe find something a little less restrictive to do. I have decided to go back to my "old faithful" plan, weight watchers. On weight watchers I can alternate from counting points, or eating only from the "power food" list, which is similar to the 17 day diet, EXCEPT you have weekly points for something you may want that is not on the list.

I write this the eve before weigh in, I am crossing my fingers the scale will be nice to me. Considering I went from no carb to oh my god I cant get enough carbs, I'm thinking its not going to be pretty in the a.m. No matter the result, I am back on track of my weight loss/get healthy journey. I might get knocked down, but I'm not staying down.

**fast foward to Wed. A.M.**

Although I was looking for any excuse to not get on the scale today, I did. It wasn't good, but I knew it wouldn't be. I also know it could have been alot worse. Although I gained.. I'm still ahead of the game. I will be working hard to make sure those extra pounds are gone next week!

Beginning Weight 214.5

Previous Weight 203

Current Weight  205.5

--------------------------------

Current gain/loss  +2.5

Total gain/loss -9

Shrink Yo' Self in 2012 - Week 3

It's Wednesday again and we all know what that means. Time to hop on the scale and see if our hard work the previous week paid off or if the pounds want to hang on for a little bit longer. At the start of this challenge, I also started the 17 Day Diet ( if you don't know what it is you should check it out) its a diet that teaches you and your body the proper way to eat through out 4 phases, each phase last 17 days.

Today marked the end of the first phase for me and the beginning of Phase 2, which means the list of food that I can eat has expanded somewhat, but still in moderation.

Up until today I wasn't allowed any sugar or carbs, except for the sugar/carbs in the two servings of fruit I was allowed per day.  I have to say this was the longest, most difficult 17 days I have ever had! lol  But I must confess, I did cheat over the weekend. I just couldn't resist the Auntie Anns  pretzels at the mall.. and a coke.  It was THE BEST thing ever!!  Although I know I shouldn't have splurged, I did , I enjoyed, I am owning it and I got back on track right after I ate it and moving on! Eating something I shouldn't have may have hindered my weight loss this week... but I am happy with what the scale has shown me today.

I am hoping it will be the same next week after being allowed to bring back some of the carbs into my diet, I'm a little nervous to change up what I'm eating. Its hard to believe I said that after wanting to stab people the last 17 days for something, anything that contained sugar or carbs! lol

Its working so I'm going to keep working it!

Beginning weight: 214.5

Previoius weight: 206.5

Current weight: 203

-------------------------------

+/- this week: -3.5

total weight loss: 11.5

Shrink Yo' Self in 2012 Week 2



Its that time again.. time to disrobe and jump on the scale while squeezing your eyes tight and then peeking at the number lurking back at you. Or that was the way I used to do it. Lately, I'm excited to see my progress. I love the fact that I have found something that seems to be working for me. Although I still have a long way to go... I am at least making progress.

I am still on the first phase of the 17 Day Diet. This diet has been super hard for me. These 17 days feel like an eternity! No carbs and no sugar. Which means no soda and no ice cream (and everything  in between). I have to say I have possessed great willpower so far. Just hope that it will continue.

I must confess that I am lacking in the exercise department. I really need to step that up and get my butt moving. Although it hasn't hindered my weight loss yet, I know it will and I could be down alot more than I am had I put in a little extra effort.

 Trying to figure out what I can and can't eat has taken up alot of time and because of this I haven't kept up with any of the challenges going on the last two weeks, and I still need to write my letter to myself. Promise I will do better. But I am doing something right, the scales are still moving in the correct direction!

Beginning weight: 214.5
Previous weight: 209.5
Current weight: 206.5
--------------------------
Loss/gain this week -3
Total loss -8