Stuff

I haven't posted in a few days so I thought maybe I should.  Last night I threw together some ingredients for dinner and it tasted so good!  I had some hamburger that needed to be used so I browned it up, added some spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese, some cottage cheese that needed to be used up, garlic, salt and pepper.  Then I cooked up some bow tie pasta and added it in, put it in a 9x13, topped it with some mozzarella cheese and baked it at 350 until it looked good.  Then I broiled it to get the cheese crispy and it was so yummy! 

Jacob got the garden tilled up and we went to Home Depot to get some manure to mix in.  So now the plot is all fixed up and ready for some seeds.  We are planting this weekend! 

Linnea has an ear infection and has been super cranky.  I'm hoping that it goes away soon. We took her to the doctor and they weighed her and she's only 20 pounds!  She turns two the end of May.  Linnea may be tiny but she is such a handful! 

Here are the girls playing Just Dance 2.  They love playing it together!

Emma went in for her 4 yr check and is 37 pounds and 37 inches.  She's doing awesome with everything and I can't wait for her to be in kindergarten.  Too bad her birthday makes it so she can't go until the following school year.

I've lost 13.2 pounds so far! I'm getting pretty excited.  My smaller clothes are starting to fit and I'm feeling better about myself.  Hopefully I can start really training for this triathlon in July.  It feels good to be working towards such a hard goal.

Weekly Weigh In

I lost .6 pounds this week.  10.6 total.  It was a super crazy week food wise.  I worked out like crazy, stayed within my points range for everything and was still starving.  I was actually surprised that I lost any weight at all.  I was craving peanut butter bars and lemon bars all week and when I went to my Weight Watchers meeting I found these peanut butter bars and these lemon pie bars.  They are AMAZING!  Totally filled the void of my craving.  My tummy is very happy right now.  Hopefully this week will be better than the last two.  I've lost 1 pound total the last week and that's kind of frustrating. 

Here come some recipes!

Since it's been forever since I've posted a new recipe I'm going to over compensate with a few.  Here you go!
 Raspberry Truffle Brownies (Taste of Home):
I haven't made this before but doesn't it sound amazing!?

Ingredients

• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 
  FROSTING:
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 12 fresh raspberries

Directions

• In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture just until combined. Gently fold in raspberries.
• Spread into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do not over bake). Cool on a wire rack.
• For frosting, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate, cream and jam. Microwave at 50% power for 2-3 minutes or until smooth, stirring twice. Transfer to a small bowl; stir in vanilla. Place in a bowl of ice water; stir for 3-5 minutes. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Cut a small hole in a corner of a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; insert #825 star tip. Fill with 1/2 cup frosting. Spread remaining frosting over brownies. Cut into 12 bars. Pipe a chocolate rosette in the center of each brownie; top with a raspberry. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until frosting is set. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 1 dozen.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 273 calories, 16 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 76 mg cholesterol, 169 mg sodium, 31 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Crock Pot Lasagna (Taste of Home)
I'm making this for dinner tonight so I'll let you know how it tastes later.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (29 ounces) Hunt’s® Tomato Sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 package (8 ounces) no-cook lasagna noodles
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1-1/2 cups (12 ounces) 4% cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• In a skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, salt and oregano; mix well.
• Spread a fourth of the meat sauce in an ungreased 5-qt. slow cooker. Arrange a third of the noodles over sauce (break the noodles if necessary). Combine the cheeses; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce.
• Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 slice) equals 482 calories, 20 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 84 mg cholesterol, 1,317 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 38 g protein.

Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples (Cooking Light Weeknight)

I made this for dinner about a week ago and used pork tenderloin because it was what I had in the fridge.  Everyone loved it.  I served it with some rice on the side as well and some green beans.

1 tsp dried rubbed sage
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 (4oz) boneless center cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 in. thick)
1/2 tsp canola oil
Cooking Spray
1 tsp butter
4 cups sliced granny smith apples
1 Tbs brown sugar
1 tp lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
dash of salt

Combine the first 3 ingredients and sprinkle over pork.  Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat.  Add pork, cook 3 minutes on each side or until done.  Romove pork from pan.  Cover and keep warm.  Melt butter in pan over med. heat.  Add apple and next 4 ingredients and cook 5 minutes or until apple is tender, stirring frequently. Serve with pork.  Yield: 4 servings (serving size is 1 pork chop and 3/4 cup apple mixture)

Smoked Paprika Pork Chops with Bell Pepper and Corn Relish (Cooking Light Weeknight)

 I made this for dinner last night and it was a HUGE hit.  The flavors are amazing and it smells so good cooking.  And is SUPER quick and easy to make.  No picture for this one.  Sorry!  It got eaten too fast!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 teaspoons bottled minced fresh ginger
1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 (15.5 oz) can no salt added whole kernel corn, drained
1 tsp cider vinegar
3/4 tsp salt, divided
1/4 tsp black pepper, divided
1 1/2 tsp smoked sweet paprika
4 (4oz) center cut boneless pork loin chops, trimmed
Cooking Spray

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Add onion and ginger and saute 2 minutes or until tender.  Add bell pepper and the next 3 ingredients and cook 3 minutes or until bell pepper is tender, stirring occasionally.  Stir in vinegar, 1/4 tsp sale, and 1/8 tsp pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Spoon relish into a bowl.

Combine remaining 1/2 tsp sale, remaining pepper and paprika, sprinkle evenly over pork.  Coat pan with cooking spray.  Ad pork to pan and cook 4 minutes each side or until done.  Serve with relish.  Yield 4 servings (Serving size is 1 pork chop and about 1/3 cup relish)

This is 7 weight watchers points for those of you who are on weight watchers.

Ramen Stir-Fry (Betty Crocker's Healthy New Choices)
Jacob made this for dinner the other night and it was amazing!

1 pounds beef tenderloin boneless (we used a sirloin steak)
2 cups water
1 package (3oz) Oriental flavor ramen soup mix
1 bag (16oz) refrigerated stir fry vegetables (Jacob used fresh broccoli, red pepper and carrots)
1/4 c stir-fry sauce (did anyone know this existed??  Well it does)

Remove fat from beef.  Cut into thin strips.  Spray 12in nonstick skillet with cooking spray; over medium high heat.  Cook beef in skillet 3-5 minutes until brown.  Remove from pan.  Heat water to boiling in skillet.  Break up noodles from soup mix into water, stir until slightly softened.  Stir in vegetables.  Heat to boiling.  Boil 5-7 minutes stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender.  Stir in contents of seasoning packet from soup mix, stir fry sauce and beef stirring frequently until hot.  Yield: 4 servings

Weekly Weigh in

I lost .4 pounds this week!  So that makes it an even 10 pounds of weight gone.  I was sick this week and didn't get to exercise nearly as much as I normally do so I was really nervous that I didn't lose any weight.  So I was glad to see a negative number.  5 more pounds until I start running again!  Can't wait!

Feeling inspired

This last week I have had a few women come up to me and tell me that I've inspired them to exercise and/or to try and keep up with me.  I was shocked when I heard this because all of the women who have come up to me are women that I'm trying to "keep up with".  After my spin class this morning one of my gym buddies came up and said "Wow!  You are doing AWESOME!  I kept watching you today and telling myself that I had to keep up with you."  It's humbling to know that there are women out there who are feeling inspired to get up and go.  My life is so much better now that I've decided to take control and get my body and mind back to where they once were.  I am so tired of being the fat chick.  I'm tired of being the has been or the wanna be.  I'm tired of looking back on my teenage years with fondness and not being able to just enjoy what is right in front of me. 

My teenage years are no longer my best years.  My best years are still to come.  I am at a much higher fitness level than I was at 16 and I am 70 pounds heavier than I was at 16.  This July when I kill my triathlon I am doing it for a lot of reasons. I am doing it for those who don't think they can get back into shape, for those who have told me that I can't do it either by their words or their body language, and I am doing it for my Grandma who I lost 3 years ago.  She had a heart condition and it ended up killing her.  She always made it to all my sporting events and band activities.  Even most of my swim lessons.  She taught me to play baseball and to hold my head high.  She taught me to never let anyone make me feel stupid or incapable.  She taught me what family was and is all about and to cling to them for dear life.  When I'm in the gym doing my spin classes or my weights classes sometimes I can hear her on the side lines yelling at the top of her lungs "Let's go Jennifer!  Pick up the pace!" 

I am working on improving myself so that I can feel better and maybe a part of me wants to be able to rub it in the faces of those who have made me feel like less of a person.  I am stronger than all my adversaries and instead of letting them in my head they are now my fuel that keeps me going.  I take them one at a time and beat the crud out of them for an hour a day 6 days a week.  Another great thing that has come from this is I have grown to appreciate the Sabbath day.  I truly enjoy my day of rest and being able to relax with my family.  They are my everything.  We have such a loving Father in Heaven how in His all knowing has given us people in our lives to help us through our times of sorrow and happiness.  I am beginning to understand His love for me and why He gives us the commandments that he does.  As I improve my body, my mind and spirit are improving and my eyes are being opened to what is around me.  I am so grateful for this journey that I am on and for those around me who help lift me up and keep me going. 

New favorite recipe website.blog thingy

I just discovered a new blog with from what I have seen has the most amazing recipes EVER.  And they look pretty dang easy to make.  So head here for that website!  I'm so hungry now looking at all these recipes. 

Weekly weigh in

I lost 3.8 pounds this week!  I was afraid I wasn't going to lose any because I wasn't totally sure if I had tracked my points right.  So that's 9.6 pounds total.  Needless to say I am stoked!

This last week...

This week has been a messy/sleepy week.  We've gotten a lot done around the house and as you can see the girls have been worn out.  (And we have a thing with elephants in our house. Linnea loves them and Emma has decided that they are pretty cool too).