Tag Archives: salads

WIAW~Parties and Real Life

Posted on June 27, 2012 | 18 Comments

I’d like to say…Ok…it’s What I Ate Wednesday!  Whether it’s a full week or a slow week, filled with parties or just real life, Wednesday means one thing, the fantastic party hostessed by Jenn at Peas & Crayons!  After feasting your eyes here…hop over there to drool and leave a few comments.  It is the best fun.

What I Ate Wednesday Sensible Snacking

Again, we’re supposed to be talking about sensible snacking.  I think I’m failing again although, I have been making overall good choices.  I think if I think too much about snacks, then I want them so here’s this week for me.

Favorite new snack…sunbutter on caramel corn rice cakes…Yum!  Filling, too.

My Sunday ice cream, much smaller this week for which I am proud of myself.  A small cup of coffee and butter almond…my two favorites!

This could be a lunch or snack…it was in that mid part of the day…pineapple Greek yogurt, Fiber One and a good book.  Great combo in my opinion!

It’s great when you make a Mega Salad for a party, then get to bring home the leftovers…

Add a Morningstar Farms tomato basil pizza burger to it and it couldn’t be better.  I now have bottled dressing to finish up before I start back to making my own again.  This is pretty good and only 1 gram of fat per serving.

The very last of the salad with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and crock pot black-eyed peas added.

The Big Purple Bowl is getting a work out!  Shredded cheese added-Aldi has their 2% cheese available again, Hooray!  A combo mixture of light balsamic and lite catalina…Tangy and Tangy!

So that’s What I Ate Wednesday for this week.  Nothing really unique or out of the ordinary.  Still it feels like a pretty good week so far.  I’m still trying hard to stay on track for Weight Watchers.  I think after my good loss on Saturday, my momentum is up and running.  Too bad I’m not up and running!  ;-)

Be sure to head over to Peas & Crayons, look around, leave some comments, have some fun.  That’s what this is all about!!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!! :-)   :-)

 

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Staying Strong~The Week So Far

Posted on June 21, 2012 | 19 Comments

I am feeling in control!  I can’t always say that  but at the moment I’m feeling pretty good about this whole staying on track thing.

The weekend was not good as I mentioned earlier in the week.  I started Monday with a good attitude but not much resolve.  Monday was definitely Rocky… :-(

But I feel that since then, I’ve been doing well.  Tuesday, I was having stomach issues again.  I do wish I could figure out what’s causing that.  Because of that, I didn’t eat much at all.  That’s one way to keep the snacking under control!  Not the right way…but a Way!!

Wednesday was my first day where I felt I was in charge.  I had an appointment for my semi-annual teeth cleaning in the morning.  Love my dentist, Love my hygenist…HATE the fluoride they put on my teeth at the end.  I always feel like I’ve been snacking on Dust Bunnies!!  And you can’t brush your teeth for 4 hours after.  Yuck.  Not a good idea to eat a salad after that, but that’s what I did.

This looked really good and So much more appetizing when it was served to me…I just forgot to take a picture.  This was a mixed cheese salad with balsamic vinaigrette.  The vinaigrette is delicious and they always give me way too much which I always bring home with me…can’t waste it! ;-)

It felt like every piece of food I ate left some debris on my teeth.  I was so excited to brush my teeth at 3pm!!

For dinner I used the last of the leftover Father’s Day salad supplemented with a little more Romaine, a plum tomato, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and shredded cheese.  Topped with the vinaigrette left over from lunch with some honey and wasabi mustard added.

Pretty much my standard salad but very tasty.  Since I was in the right mindset, very filling accompanied by some saltines.

A while after dinner, Ralph said he was going to the corner store…he wanted Cracker Jacks!  Holy cow!  He asked if I wanted anything and I said, “No.”  That was the right answer, wasn’t it?! ;-)   There was nothing I could think of at that store that would NOT get me into trouble except a bottle of water and I could get that from my fridge!

The only thing I had after dinner was 3 Werther’s hard candy.  I really like them and they help to keep my Sweet Tooth under control.  I really need to calculate the Weight Watchers Points value for them.  I keep forgetting to do that.  Since I can get a bit carried away with them as well, I need to know what I’m consuming.  Knowledge is Power and I need all the power I can get at the moment.

The good news is…I’m feeling strong and I plan to stay that way.  I have a party coming up this weekend and I’m not sure what will be served (The hostess IS a WW Lifetime member so I should be ok… ;-)   ) I need to get my head in the Game.  I’m feeling better about the whole thing and I welcome my weigh-in on Saturday.

That’s my week so far…I thought I’d update you all because I was doing so much whining earlier in the week.   I have to stay focused and do what I know I need to do.  How’s that for resolve!  Thanks for all of your support and encouragement.  It’s a Big help!!  I’m off to get my hair cut today.

Happy Thursday!  Try to stay cool and Stay Hydrated!

 

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Bracing for Another Birthday

Posted on June 16, 2012 | 14 Comments

I get teased a lot on BCDC regarding the fact that there seem to be so many birthdays in our family.  Well, brace yourself, Cookies…we’ve got another party today!  You’ll get all of the details tomorrow but for now just a few little tidbits.

I have long loved peanut butter on plain rice cakes.  Recently…

I’ve been getting the caramel corn rice cakes at Aldi and combining them with Aldi peanut butter.

The combo is SO good and I’ve had it the last 3 days in a row for lunch.  Something about the flavor combo I just love!

When I made my veggie combo on Thursday night, I remembered how much I enjoyed having grains, especially in salads.  I remembered that I had some bulgur wheat in the cabinet that I had never opened.  So….

“Cooked” it up.  Really all you need is 1 cup of bulgur and 2 cups of boiling water poured over the bulgur.  Just let it sit for about 15 minutes and it’s ready!  Made a salad of romaine, bulgur, celery, black beans, green and red bell pepper, scallions, celery and shredded cheese. 

Standard dressing with Dijon mustard.  Such a good dinner!  Very filling and healthy as can be.  Just found wasabi mustard in the fridge…forgot it…duh!  Can’t wait to taste dressing made with That!! ;-)

Hopefully things go well at Weight Watchers.  Then I get to celebrate at the birthday party!

Happy Saturday!!

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Deep In The Salad Bowl

Posted on June 7, 2012 | 26 Comments

Good Morning from someone who did NOT wake up at 2 am today!  I slept really well last night.  I think that’s because I didn’t take a nap yesterday.  Just plugged through and fell asleep about 10pm.  Woke up at 5:30 today and I feel good!  (Insert James Brown singing…here…)

I got several questions yesterday regarding my home-made salad dressing that I’ve been doing lately.  It’s really just something I made up and it is almost always in flux, changing with my mood.  I never liked the very thick feel that comes from most bottled dressing.  I like my salad to be dressed down to the bottom of the bowl!  Thought I’d share with you how I do it.

Since most of you have seen my salad bowl…the Big Purple Bowl, you know that I like a Lot of salad.  When I make these dressings I’m making one serving, but keep in mind it has to cover a LOT of salad.  Smaller salad eaters…or eaters of smaller salads as the case may be, could probably use this for two servings.

I start with this…

It’s a six-ounce Ball jar…probably had home-made jam or jelly in it at some point.  I like it because it would work if I decided to double the recipe.  Also its wide mouth makes for easy pouring in and out.  If I decide to add spices, it’s easy to shake into also.  And I didn’t go out and buy something to use, I had it!

I generally start with extra virgin olive oil and honey.  I’m not an olive oil snob, I buy what’s on sale.  In fact when this bottle is finished, which will probably be today, my next bottle is Wal-Mart’s store brand.  Much less expensive than others and I figured I’d give it a try.  I’ve been using honey again because I have it.  I might try agave next.  Have to check on the Weight Watchers points value.  So 1 Tbsp of olive oil for 3 WWPoints and 1 Tbsp of honey for 2 WWPoints.  Measure the OO first, it makes it easier to get the honey out of the Tbsp! ;-)

Then depending on my mood (or which one my hand lands on first!) I use either apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or balsamic.  I love this balsamic bottle and may keep it when it’s empty just cause it’s so cool!  I usually use 1 or 2 Tbsps of one of these, again depending on how I feel.

After that it’s up to you or Me!  Many times I’ll add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard (store brand of course or what’s on sale.)  That doesn’t cost me anything on WW. 

I have also tried adding a tablespoon of plain Greek yogurt to make a creamy dressing.  When doing that, I was trying to re-create the Southwest sauce at Subway.  I added some Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime once and one time Penzeys Arizona seasoning.  I’ve also tried sriracha sauce (yummy!)  I haven’t got that quite right yet it’s a work in progress.

If it looks a little thick to me and I don’t think it will be enough for my Huge salad, I just add a little water until it looks right.  You can do a lot of things with it to make it the way you like it.  I have several ideas that I’ll be working on.

I used it on this wonderful salad that included this…

A home-made black bean burger that my sister Ele made and shared with me.  I’m going to make these over the weekend and I’ll share the recipe with you next week.  It is So good and I’m certain it will be less expensive than the Morningstar Farms ones that I love so much.

Well that’s WAY more than I thought I had to say today!  Guess getting a good night’s sleep can make a difference.  Looks like it will be a beautiful day.  It is supposed to get Hot over the weekend so I guess I really do need to call the air conditioner man today. :-(    At least yesterday we got our dates for our vacations straightened out, made our car reservations and I made contact with my cousin in California who we’ll be meeting up with when we get out there…but that’s all more for another post.

Happy Thursday!! Time to put out the Trash!!

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WIAW~Snack Attacks-Snack or Meal?

Posted on June 6, 2012 | 42 Comments

You know that every Wednesday whether I’m home or away I NEED to be part of a unique party… What I Ate Wednesday the fabulous brain child of the lovely Jenn from Peas and Crayons. It’s the most fun you can have sitting in front of your computer.  Be sure to make the trip over to P&C when you’re finished here.

As she’s been doing for a while, Jenn is giving us themes…Which I like!

Peas and Crayons

Now seriously…I’m always moaning about trying to stay away from snacking so I’m miserably unprepared for this.  However, since I have all of June to deal with it, I’ll work with what I have and start here. Regular food mixed with snacks and regular food that is Great as a snack!

Overnight oats with blueberries and cream Spiru-tein mixed in topped with fresh frozen blueberries.  So delicious and filling.  This could work as a snack.

Greek yogurt with honey…sometimes breakfast, sometimes lunch, sometimes a snack!  I love this brand and it was on sale yesterday…Ok by me!

One of my favorite meal/snacks…rice cakes with peanut butter.  Tasty, filling, protein and good fats!

It was breakfast, but it could be a snack…Dunkin’ Donuts veggie omelette flatbread with the always beloved iced coffee.  We had coupons and a gift card.  Worked out well! ;-)

Big salads can be a snack, when they’re this size though…they’re usually a meal! ;-)

Another salad about to be spruced up by some home-made dressing!  I just love doing this now.  Only takes a minute and it tastes so good, so much better than bottled dressing!!

This coming week I’ll be looking at my food with a little more eye to what my snacks are.  Now that I know I have to report back, you can bet I’ll be on my best behavior. ;-)

Have a great day and when you’ve had your fill here, be sure to visit Peas & Crayons leave some comments and Enjoy!!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!  Have a Snack!!

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Short and Sweet on a Beautiful Day!

Posted on June 2, 2012 | 12 Comments

It’s one of those days…Saturday.  I have been planning things out so that I do my Saturday post on Friday afternoon then it’s all scheduled and I don’t have to worry about it Saturday Morning.  Not so this week, so this is truly going to be short and sweet.  And, No, Ele there’s nothing wrong…in fact I’ll be with you in a few  minutes so you’ll know I’m ok! ;-)

Bright and early I was off to Weight Watchers.  I have felt really good about my tracking and my foods all week.  I was really trying hard.  I had So many salads I thought my hair would turn green!

It was all worth it.  I got on the scale and lost 3 pounds!! Could I be any happier?!  I don’t think so.  My plan now…keep at it.  In fact, when I finish here, I’ll be off with Ele to the produce market.  I’ve got to stay on track!

It’s amazing how good I feel when I know I’ve worked hard and I get the expected results.  I actually do feel physically better when I do what I should on WW.  I know that, but there are times it’s not always possible to do what’s necessary.  Life just gets in the way.  So I say…Just side step life and do what I know I have to!!

It is a truly gorgeous day out today.  Thank goodness since our air conditioning needs to be serviced and isn’t working.

I’m going to try to do something enjoyable today.  I hope all of you will be doing that as well! 

Happy Saturday!!  I’m giving the credit to all of the Spinach I ate this week!

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Early Riser

Posted on June 1, 2012 | 18 Comments

That’s actually the name of a tea that I loved but can no longer find.  But today, it’s Me.  Woke up at 3:15 and that was all she wrote.  I tried, I really did, to go back to sleep but by 3:45 I was incredibly frustrated and…well…I got UP!

Poking around at Facebook and e-mail.  Reading some blogs…Playing some Mahjong (you didn’t hear that from Me!!)

Now I’m trying to focus here. 

Ralph and I went out yesterday because he had Birthday gift cards burning holes in his pocket.  We headed to Barnes & Noble first.  I have avoided B & N lately for various reasons.  First reason is that I have two huge piles of books to read, most of them gathered from Goodwill and I don’t feel like paying “real” money for any books right now. Second reason is I have gathered almost enough B&N gift cards to purchase a Nook. 

I keep going round and round with myself about purchasing one.  I think it’s a great idea, especially since I won’t be spending much of my own money.  But I can’t justify then having to pay for books, when I have so many sitting there unread.  I did have a long discussion with the young lady at the Nook counter, getting some info on it.  I’m fairly sure it will be an eventual purchase, just not now.  Lucky for me, the gift cards won’t get moldy sitting there waiting for me to use them!

I also did not buy any books there, although I did pick up several that I wanted, but put them down again.  Actually I’ve learned that sometimes, if I really want to buy one, it’s cheaper to do it on the B&N website.  Since I’m a member, I don’t pay shipping, so I think that’s the way to go.  I’m proud that although I was tempted, I didn’t buy any! ;-)

Ralph had also gotten a gift card to the Colonial Diner in Woodbury so we decided that lunch would be a good idea.  We used to go here all the time but haven’t been in quite a while.  Funny,  several of the waitresses recognized us and asked where we’d been.  We hadn’t been there for various reasons but a gift card was reason enough to go back.

I didn’t have to think hard about what I would have.  I went to an old favorite.

This is called a Balsamic Spinach salad but it’s supposed to have chicken and sausage on it.  Of course, I ask to have that left off.

What I keep is the spinach, tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese.  I get the balsamic vinegar on the side.  It’s delicious!  With all of the other spinach I’ve been eating, I will soon be able to best Popeye in an arm wrestling contest!  I love spinach and this was delicious!  Ralph had a turkey and bacon club with fries.  I confess I ate a few of his fries.  He also had a cherry Danish.  Our kind waitress brought 2 forks with the Danish.  I am proud to say that my fork remained clean…no danish passed my lips!

We came home to find that our air-conditioner isn’t working properly.  Time for a visit from the PSE&G man, I guess.  Hope the weather stays like Thursday.  Not too hot.  With our luck it will hit 100 degrees this weekend and we won’t be able to get the man here to work on the A/C!!  Oh well, Life goes on with or without A/C.

Happy Friday!!

Colonial Diner on Urbanspoon

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WIAW~This Post Could Use Some Pizazz

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 24 Comments

How many What I Ate Wednesday posts have I written now?  I could find out but that would take me using my head which those of you who have been reading BCDC know…that’s not my strong suite at the moment.  But never let it be said that I’ll let a WIAW go by without at least making an attempt!  Of course WIAW is the amazing Food Fantasmagore (is that a word? It is now!) which is the brain child of the ever lovely Jenn at Peas & Crayons. When you’re finished here, be sure to make your way to P&C to read and comment and drool.  So Here Goes!

Peas and Crayons

I did some of this week…

Birthday cake of course!

And some of this…

More Happy Birthday cake, Ice Cream this time.  This was particularly yummy!

When I started feeling better I got back to the wonders of the Big Purple Bowl…Salad of course.

All the fixings including home-made dressing.

Realized I forgot to put the dressing on before taking the photo…well, it tasted good once I did!!

After taking care of some business on Tuesday afternoon, Ralph and I headed to a place we had tried before. Danny’s Pizza Pizazz! We loved it then and we loved it again.  Hey, that’s poetic!

This is one of their low-carb wrap selections.  Portobello mushrooms, tomato, provolone cheese, balsamic vinaigrette and romaine lettuce on a tomato wrap.  It was SO good, just as the veggie wrap was the last time there.  Ralph had a Stromboli special.  His was so big he had to bring half home.  Of course, he got custody of the bag of chips! ;-)   It’s a shame that Danny’s isn’t closer because we would definitely go there more often.  There are lots of veggie options for me on the menu and Ralph can always find something he likes.  They offer lots of daily specials, but unfortunately, I don’t know what they are.  Check their website for their regular menu, though.  You won’t be disappointed!

So that WIAW from my perspective.  It finally stopped raining, but I know that’s not going to last.  I can just feel it.  Be sure to go over to Peas&Crayons, look around, leave a comment or two and Enjoy!  I always do!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!!

Danny's Pizza Pizzazz on Urbanspoon

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Early Easter Birthday

Posted on April 8, 2012 | 10 Comments

Those of you expecting to find me Blogging A to Z today will notice that there’s a break.  It’s planned.  In order to spread the letter through the entire month we have Sundays off! So BCDC has a chance to get back to normal today.

First of all Happy Easter!  Our friend Jim from Washington, D.C. is visiting for the Holiday and we’re all excited.  But due to Jim’s schedule, it worked out better for us to have our Holiday meal on Saturday.  We’re also celebrating Jim’s birthday a little late (he’s a February baby) and Ralph’s birthday early (his is next week.)

As always, my contribution was a Really Big Salad!  This was indeed a huge one and I was glad that my sister Ele was using the dishes with the big bowls!  I filled up on salad before anything else.

My plate consisted of sour cauliflower (one of Gram’s recipes), cole slaw (also one of Gram’s-a really good batch by the way) peas (thank goodness-this plate needed some color!) and that for which I wait…always…Ele’s Mac n’ Cheese.  It is so good…the best I’ve ever had in fact. I really need to make it myself sometime and post the recipe.  Maybe soon… ;-)

Two birthday cakes…

Two Birthday Boys…Ralph and Jim…I love this picture!

Open Wide!

Ralph looks funny because he was trying not to laugh.

My portion.  It was Ele’s homemade chocolate cake with homemade icing.  Could I resist it?!  I don’t think so.  Well worth the calories!  We also had another little treat after this, but I’m saving that for another letter coming soon to a blog near You!

I wanted to share a beautiful photo that Ralph took earlier in the week.

I thought it was amazing and wanted to share it.

Wishing you all a Happy and a Blessed Easter Sunday!

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Time To Focus

Posted on March 29, 2012 | 10 Comments

Perhaps I should change the name of Broken Cookies Don’t Count to Not Feeling the Focus or Focus? What Focus?  I talk about it a lot.  I do not seem to achieve it.  It seemed that every time I tried to start a project yesterday, I got interrupted.

Riding my exercise bike.  I was excited to finish one book and start another.  Gail called and we talked a while and made plans to Skype later in the afternoon.  I started to do the dishes (yes, dishes are sometimes left in the sink overnight.  I really need to fire “The Help!”)  My phone rings and it’s Gail, they’re ready to Skype…right then! It was great fun and she showed me all of the treasures she’s been getting for her cabin in Maine And some things she’s gotten for me!  I’ll have lots to show you when she gets back from Florida.

Finished the dishes and had breakfast. Ok, so that’s backwards but here it is.

Lemon Chobani and Fiber One.  So good.  Gail taught me that combo and it’s great for breakfast, lunch or a snack.

I got dressed and started on cleaning/organizing a particularly offending dresser in the bedroom.  Ralph needed to run some errands and wanted me to come along.  With the bed scattered with stuff, we left on our errands.

Since we were in the shopping center where Subway is, he suggested lunch.  I thought for a moment…Wednesday…Weigh in on Saturday???  I decided if I only got a 6 inch sub I’d be ok.  I thought I might cave when I put in my order but I didn’t!! :-)

A Veggie with provolone cheese and Southwest sauce.  Very tasty.  I felt satisfied and not guilty!

The Southwest sauce on my sub inspired me when it was time for dinner.  I’ve mentioned that I’m trying to make my own dressings for salads.  Here’s my latest.

1 Tbsp of olive oil

1.5 Tbsp of red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp of honey

1 Tbsp of plain yogurt, I used Greek

1 tsp of Penzeys Arizona Dreams seasoning

1 Tbsp of water (as extender for Big Salad!)

Romaine, plum tomatoes, carrot, shredded cheese and pumpkin seeds.  I’m out of almost everything!  I need to get to the produce market! :-(   I forgot to add my crock pot black beans to the photo, but 1 cup of beans joined the fun!

All joined together in the wonderfulness that is the Big Purple Bowl!  This was a really good salad.  My dressing didn’t taste exactly like the Southwest sauce at Subway but it was delicious and I’ll make it again.  I’m having such fun with this I think I’ll start a new feature.  I think I’ll call it Dressing Up!  That’ll confuse people! ;-)

Happy Thursday!

 

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