Losing Fat Loving Food Friday ~ Pizza Dough Recipe #weightwatchers

That's right this week's post has a new Pizza Dough Recipe.  I also have a revelation to share so let's just dive on into it~

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday August 23

It would take 120 smurfs, or a bushel of wheat, or 3 spare tires or a punching bag to equal how much healthier I have gotten.  In other words....

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday July 26

The end of July already! Is summer really almost over?   Am I avoiding the topic? Maybe...

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday July 19th

As you know I start writing my LFLF posts on Thursdays before weigh-ins. I'm not really sure how tonight's going to go as most days this week were filled with me being tired and sore ~thanks Chronic Fatigue.  Despite knowing better I munched my way through the middle of the night achy moments.  But there is good to share and a NEW RECIPE that is gonna knock your socks off...

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday June 28

     Well we all know that last week was not the best of times for me and Weight Watchers.  Before I type another word I want to say THANK YOU so very much for the incredible support it helped so very much.  Onto this week.  I'd like to say that I recovered from that set back and plowed ahead.  Reality was I pretty much threw program to the wind for 48 hours.  So what happened this week?

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday June 21st

So the big question of the week is ~ Did I reach my goal of losing 52 pounds in my first year of WW?    Plus this week I did something a bit scary, which I am hoping will not backfire on me.  On top of that I have the yummiest recipe that I've been dying to share with you.  Lots to share this week.....

Losing Fat, Loving Food Friday May 24

   It has been a rough two weeks, sorry for the spotty posts this month (see explanation here). Only one more weigh in for the month of May.  My goal date is looming. 

Losing Fat Loving Food: Friday April 19th

 

  Last night I got to see the results of my newly added activity of daily walking.  I saw the effect that had on my goal of 52 pounds before June 21st.  After two weeks of watching the scale stay still I finally saw it move, and in the right direction!!

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday 4/5

     Someone needs to explain to me how your weight can stay exactly the same?  I somehow consumed the exact amount of calories that I burned?  Well pin a rose on my nose as I must be a calorie-math-magician.  I was hoping for at least one pound with my glorious dinner at Victoria and Albert's this Saturday>>>>>>>>TOMORROW!!!  But let's talk about this week.

We've Gone Meatless

     You read it right we have gone Meatless, on Mondays that is.  We're joining the Meatless Monday movement.  I'm shaking up our weekly menus.

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday 3/15

     Well we are officially done with 2 1/2 months of 2013 and so far I have lost 8 pounds. I am a bit disappointed that I will not be able to attain my goal of losing 20 pounds by April 6 however that is life and I am not on a race to reach a goal but rather trying to create a lifestyle that will last longer than the newest iPhone.

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday 3/1

     Do you have a ritual that you follow on the days you weigh-in?   I do and I am very certain many, many others do as well.  Whether it is the best idea or not I tend to eat little more than breakfast before I hit the scales Thursday @ 5:30.  We changed our near 20 year ritual of having pasta on Wednesday nights, at the suggestion of our Weight Watchers leader, due to its effect on weigh-ins.  I have a selection of dresses, all very similar, that I wear.  No headband, no Pandora bracelet and definitely no shoes.  And I always visit the restroom once we arrive at the meeting.  My thought is by keeping things as similar as possible any movement on the scale is all me and I can't put it off to "my jeans or sweater"  which also means no excuses.  So with all of that the scale this week went down 1.4 pounds ~ yeah!!

Breakfast for Dinner 1/29 & the collateral damage

     Tuesday nights are Breakfast for Dinner in my house.  It gets difficult sometimes finding new and exciting things to cook without simply relying on Eggs and Bacon or Pancakes.  Every now and then just by happenstance I stumble onto something yummy and did that ever happen today.

Losing Fat Loving Food Friday 1/25

     Of course the week that I really really want to be extra good there was a three day weekend.  Despite that holiday I remained on track.  I actually worked my tail off in the garden those days as you know.  So this week the scale was my friend and I lost 2 pounds WOO HOO

Losing Fat Loving Food Fridays 1/18

     So how do you think I did?  Let's see I tracked all of my food and stayed within my weekly allotted points.  I gained .4 pounds~ ugghh.  The only thing I can see that I did wrong last week is my water consumption.  Usually that is no problem for me whatsoever but a couple of times this week I was actually very thirsty.  After reviewing my week with the staff they all agree that it is probably the water or the possibility that I may be coming down with something,  I'm not sure if they jinxed me but I have had the worse sore throat the last hour or so.

Trying to Regain some Skills

     So  prior to the great event (aka my stroke) this February I loved cooking.  Truly it didn't bother me when someone asked what was for dinner as I usually woke up thinking what can I make tonight.  OK not every day but most days.  For some reason I don't understand I just can't get back into the swing of it.  Cooking is close to a chore and well my family is paying the price.
     You see I was spoiled.  When I first came home, and during my incarceration ~ yes that is what I consider living at Rehab, check this blog out if you don't believe me, our church family was providing meals 4 times a week. Many of those meals were large enough to have again as left overs or at least be a part of my regular "Cleaning out the Fridge/Freezer It's Buffet for Dinner Tonight".  Then another friend made 10 frozen meals that continued the blessing.  So somewhere around the end of May dinner was back on me full time.  Much to my dismay they've pretty much been boring and served no purpose other than fulfilling the state requirement of feeding my kids.  I then lucked out for 2 weeks in a row of not feeding the crew.  WHY?  Because they were gone on Mission Trips, Camp and Church Dinners for VBS. 
   This past week the younger 2 are at camp so its just DH and Em.  So I have decided to try and get my groove back.  Yeah that doesn't sound right.  How about "I'm trying to get into the Apron"? Who cares you know what I mean.  So my approach is no longer cook the tried and true but to reach out and explore where my kitchen hasn't gone before. (OK enough with the puns, maybe)  With that in mind I am going to once a week feature a new recipe and let you know how we fared.  And in keeping with my Lady Bren theme the posts shall be titled  Cue Royal Fanfare Please

 From the Royal Table......come on you know you love it!!

Roasted Broccoli and Shrimp With Ginger Rice

• 2 cups rice
• 4 cups chicken or shrimp stock
• 1" piece of garlic
• 2 Pounds Broccoli or 1 pound Broccoli Florette's
• 1 1/2 pounds peeled and cleaned Shrimp
• 2 tsp cumin (divided 1 +1)
• 2 tsp coriander (divided 1 +1)
• 1 tsp chili powder (divided 1/2 +1/2)
• 3 T canola oil (divide 1 1/2 + 1 1/2)
• S/P how you like
• 1 large lemon (zest too)

The entire meal should take you 25 minutes! Serves 4

Preheat oven to 425 have top rack on second highest level

Line Cookie Sheet with Foil

Place rice, stock, ginger and salt in pot.  Bring to boil, stir.  Cover and reduce heat to low and leave alone until ready to serve. Remove and discard Ginger

Divide Broccoli Florets into small pieces.  If you like peel the Broccoli stem and slice into thin coins.  In large bowl combine 1/2 of the spices and canola oil.  Mix well, add S/P to preference.  If you like very spicy food you may want to increase the chili.  Add the Broccoli and toss to coat using the best tool in the kitchen.. your hands.

Place the Broccoli on a cookie sheet and spread it out. Cook 10 minutes.

While the Broccoli is cooking have slaves  family members peel and clean shrimp,  Save the shells and you can make stock for next time ~ Recipe below.   Using same bowl from Broccoli once again combine oil and the remaining spices and the lemon zest.  Toss shrimp to coat.

Remove Broccoli from oven and add Shrimp.  Continue to cook both for another 10 minutes.

By now your house should smell wonderful!!

Serve over Ginger Rice with Lemon wedges

Enjoy!!

We loved this.... Easy clean-up and healthy to boot!!

I cannot take complete credit for this recipe I tweaked (not much, mostly the rice) it from The Wednesday Chef who got it from Melissa Clark.  (think I've mentioned everyone)

Shrimp Stock

It is pretty much up to you if you want to make this basic or with veggies.  I prefer to make my stocks as simple as possible so I am in complete control of the flavors when using in a recipe.

I simply place all the shells in a pot and add 2 qt water and cover.  As I like a really concentrated stock I let it boil away til I have 1 qt.  While cooking be sure to skim the top of the foam.

I use shrimp stock in rice ~~YUMMY

Also in seafood recipes that call for chicken stock. 

My favorite way to freeze stock is in the soup containers from take out Chinese

The Letter

     Today's world is so digital.  We email everything from Birthday cards to Birth announcements.  Many people now even choose to send their Christmas cards digitally.  Being a fairly green family I get it I do.  However tending to be an old fashioned person I truly miss the days of receiving written notes in the mail.    
     Listening to the radio last week I came in on the end of a segment about American recipes.  It really wasn't holding my attention until they had a caller tell this story:
 For generations his family had a secret Egg Nog recipe. When you were deemed old enough Grandpa would swear you to secrecy and then share the recipe.  Then last year Grandpa passed away.  While organizing his papers one of the sons found the Egg Nog recipe written down by Grandpa.  That Christmas everyone received a copy of the hand written recipe.  I almost cried when I heard that it touched me so.  Yes I used to cry at Hallmark commercials too.
  You see there's something about seeing someone else's handwriting.  Knowing that they took the time to think of you.  Holding something that they were holding while thinking of you.  And not just in a fleeting moment but taking out the time to let you know you were in their thoughts.  During my stroke recovery I received a number of cards and kept them displayed around my room while at the hospital.  When I finally got home there were days when I could barely make it across the street to the mailbox. Finding a hand addressed envelope made the effort all the more worthwhile.
    While I was at school I kept asking my Dad to send me a letter.  He kept telling me that just wasn't his thing.  Finally one day it happened.  There is my mailbox was a letter from my dad. I still have that letter today.  I take it out every now and then.  The fold marks are starting fade the writing but that doesn't matter. I lost my Dad 9 years ago and that letter is the only thing I have in his handwriting that's more than a signature at the bottom of a card.
     Maybe this is why I am such a Christmas Card snob.  I start shopping for Christmas cards as soon as they hit the shelves looking for just the right one.  Inside I acknowledge each family members by name.  In addition to a quick note I also sign each of my family members' names not Lady Bren and family.  I love receiving Christmas pictures and newsletters from friends and family.  BUT it drives me nuts when everything is computerized.  It almost makes the whole thing feel very sterile.  I'm all for computer addressing the envelopes....heaven bless those postal workers and some of the handwriting they have to deal with.  I just want to know that you sent our family a card because you were really thinking of us and we're not simply a label Microsoft Works created.

    I recently started collecting together the recipes I use for our holiday dinners.  I thought I would make a book for each of my three kids. (Of course now there's kits at Sam's to help you create a family recipe book)  Unfortunately I don't have any family recipes never mind hand written ones to pass along.  Shat I am going to do is include a hand written copy of their favorite recipes.  If I start now while they're teenagers it should be pretty full by the time they all get married.