Tag Archives: veggies

Strange But Good~Quick and Easy

Posted on March 29, 2013 | 14 Comments

If there were no other reasons to love Friday, I would still be excited to be participating in Strange But Good!  This is the fun link up created by Laura at Sprint 2 The Table.  I obviously make strange choices that I consider good and it’s great to be surrounded by Other Strangers!

Sprint 2 the Table

Not really sure if this qualifies for Strange But Good, but some people think it sounds odd.  I started eating something like this when I was in Florida with my best friend, Gail.  It’s her idea really, so I need to give her credit.    :-)

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Sorry for the messy counter…I’m still working on things since being sick.

Anyway…start with a glass measuring cup.  Spray with non stick cooking spray.  Add 1/2 cup of liquid egg substitute and 1/2 cup of liquid egg whites.  I get these at Aldi, but they don’t always have them.  I stock up and put them in the freezer when they do have them.  So much less expensive than name brands!  A handful of cut frozen asparagus which I had cut and put in the fridge the night before.

Cook for 1 minute 20 seconds.  Give it a few seconds and then give it another 1 minute 20 seconds.  If you do it all at once, it can overflow.  Can’t chance losing anything.    ;-)

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It comes out in sort of a lump.  That’s actually good, makes it easy to get out of the measuring cup. The cooking spray helps with that.

When I cut into it, I realized it was still a bit liquid in the center.  The times I gave were for the egg mixture with nothing else in it.  For future reference, I’ll know that when I add veggies, it requires a bit more time.  I put it back in for another 30 seconds.

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Cut up and with some ground black pepper (always!) added, this was delicious and filling.  Adding the veggies made it even more satisfying.  The regular egg substitute counts for 2 Points, the egg whites and asparagus count for 0 Points.  This does not look as big in the photo as it did in person.   Great breakfast for my Weight Watchers purposes!  Also 22 grams of protein!  Ok, by me!

I ate this early, because I needed to eat before taking my LAST dose of antibiotics.  So happy about that.  They certainly have done the trick for me.  I’m feeling so much better and even added some exercise back in yesterday…a Very Slow 30 minutes on my exercise bike.  Gotta get moving again, I’ve been feeling like such a Slug!

That’s Strange But Good for me, today.  Be sure to check out Sprint 2 The Table to see what other strangeness you can find there.  I love getting ideas and suggestions from the other linkers.

Happy Friday!  It’s Strange But Good!

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WIAW~All in All

Posted on February 13, 2013 | 30 Comments

Hello, All!  It’s that lovely middle of the week time when we all get together to drool and snoop and look at each other’s food.  Sound like fun?  Then you’ve come to the right place.  Well, actually the Real Right Place is Peas & Crayons where Jenn has cooked up What I Ate Wednesday!  Be sure to check it out when you’re finished here at BCDC…there’s lots of good food to wish you had eaten.  That’s how I always feel!    ;-)

Peas and Crayons

Ok, I know we’re supposed to be doing Veggie Love again, but I haven’t gone to the produce market in Too long.  I did manage a few veggies though.  You’ll see…

First a few familiar faces.

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Greek yogurt with apple and of course, Cinnamon!

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Caramel rice cakes with peanut butter and…oh, yes, Cinnamon! This is one of my favorite snacks or breakfasts or lunches.  Heck, I’d even eat it for dinner if given the opportunity!

Saturday was the day with two breakfasts. First, right after Weight Watchers, Debbie, Kristen and I went to breakfast.  My choice…oatmeal with…all together now…Cinnamon!

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So good!

Second breakfast…I looked but I could not find a single Hobbit!!  Only Ralph, who suggested we go even though he knew I had just had breakfast.

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Greek omelette (tomato, spinach, onions and Feta) with my happy side of cottage cheese to replace the potatoes.  There…Some veggies for you!

Sunday lunch…

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Pepper and egg sandwich, my favorite.  They forgot to put on the American cheese I requested so I put my own on. Frustrating sometimes.

Monday took us unexpectedly to one of our favorite spots and I got my favorite menu item…the Athenia Burger.

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You’ve seen it before because I have it almost each time I go there.  It is Greek salad with a burger…meant to be a regular burger, but they have a delicious veggie burger which I substitute.  I’m never sorry…tasty and filling.

I guess that All in All, I did pretty well with the veggies this week.  Just wait until I get to the produce market and I’ll show you what veggies are all about.    ;-)

Be sure to make your way over to Peas & Crayons, check out all the yummy treats and leave some comments!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!

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Turn Up The Volume

Posted on January 10, 2013 | 14 Comments

Can you hear me now?!?  No, not That kind of volume.

When I first started Broken Cookies Don’t Count, over 2 years ago now (Yikes!) I talked a lot about food.  It was pretty much all food all the time because that’s where I thought I wanted the focus to be.

As time has gone on, I’ve lessened up on food related posts.  I had planned that  I would only really concentrate on food on Wednesday as part of What I Ate Wednesday started by Jenn at Peas & Crayons which I love.  That was going well for a while, Then Laura at Sprint 2 The Table started Strange But Good.  How could I not participate in a link up with that name?!

Ok, but other than that, I wasn’t going to talk so much about food.  Then I got an interesting comment.  Unfortunately, I can’t put my fingers on the comment, but I had posted a photo of one of my usual veggie combos.  Regular readers know what I’m talking about.  I take one of every veggie type thing in my fridge, chop it up, sautee it with onions and garlic, some bizarre spice combo, add some beans, sometimes put it over brown rice or quinoa or couscous and call it dinner!

I have a big glass plate that’s intended to be a pie plate which I use to serve it.  I like it because it has sides and there’s less chance it will end up in my lap.  Now when I say big, I mean big and when I save serve, I mean it’s my dinner…All Of It.

Someone commented that it looked like a good dinner for several people.   Several people? No, just for me.

Here’s last night’s dinner from several views.

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Piled high and all mine.  I purposely made it as big as possible to prove my point.  An entire zucchini, onions, garlic, red bell pepper, cabbage, black beans and cottage cheese.  There’s even couscous under there if you can’t see it.  I actually volumed myself out because I couldn’t finish it.  I’m sure it was the addition of the couscous that did it.

My point is this:  I learned a very long time ago that I’m a volume eater.  I need to see a lot of food in front of me to be satisfied.  I need to Feel full to be satisfied and to keep me from getting into other things that could be trouble for me.

My solution is Veggies!  Whether it’s this time of year when I’m cooking them up or if it’s summer when I’m making my huge salads in my Big Purple Bowl…the point is the same.  It’s big, it takes me a while to eat (especially if I put lots of crunchy things in my salad) and because of this I’m satisfied.

With Weight Watchers, the veggies pose no problem.  Most of the “regular ” veggies count for 0 Points.  You really only have to worry about starchy veggies like corn, peas, potatoes.  This works for me.  It may not be a tool that would work for everyone, but I think in the case of some people I know, it would be a help if they started thinking in these terms.  They watch their portions and prepare their food accordingly.  But in truth they may not be eating enough to be satisfied.  I think that being satisfied with your food is one of the keys.

I realize that the entire world is not on Weight Watchers.  But the veggies are still the veggies regardless of what plan you follow or if you follow no plan at all.  If you’re trying to lose weight or control your weight, this could help.

There are endless variations so although many times it may look very similar, it doesn’t have to taste the same.   With the salads, I started making my own dressings and finding wonderful combinations of veggies and flavors to make it a new salad every day.

I have also gotten a number of comments that tell me I’m not the only one out there doing this.  It makes me feel less alone.  Let me know if you are a volume eater as well and share some suggestions for all of us volume eaters…like we need more food… ;-)

Happy Thursday!  Eat your veggies!

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WIAW~Feeling Human

Posted on November 21, 2012 | 14 Comments

I’m so glad that it’s Wednesday…because that means it’s also What I Ate Wednesday!  This is of course the day of fun concocted by Jenn at Peas & Crayons.  The day when all the fun kids show off what they’ve been eating all week.  Be sure to stop over at Jenn’s place when you’re finished here to see many more wonderful, yummy things!

Peas and Crayons

We’re still trying to Fall into good food habits.  I’m just glad that I’m eating like a normal person again.  I am feeling So much better, the plague seems to be gone…just have to make sure I don’t let Ralph breath on me again! ;-)

Let the food begin!

A yummy veggie combo of tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, garlic, cabbage and spices.  All served on a bed of couscous and topped with Locatelli cheese.  I was just starting to feel better when I had this.  I think it helped me turn the corner.

Sunday’s breakfast egg sandwich on a sandwich thin.  Tried to turn the sriracha sauce into a sunburst but it looks like an escaping alien instead!  Sprinkled with Locatelli cheese…I don’t have good aim in the morning. ;-)   It tasted good, regardless!

My favorite easy lunch…

Peanut butter on caramel corn rice cakes. The one on the left mutated, but tasted good just the same.  I feel that I’m finally getting my problem with peanut butter under control.  Not so scary anymore.  Even though my sister sent me this…

Too funny!  I’m trying Not to!

Sunday night found me having the LAZIEST meal Ever!

Realized I still had some of the veggie soup left from last week.  Directly in the container it was stored in, I added some additional spices, a little water, a half cup of dried couscous and microwaved! The couscous plumped, I added some Locatelli cheese on top and called it dinner…It was Very Good!

After saying I was going to do it for at least 3 weeks, finally remembered Sunday night to put steel-cut oats in the crock pot.  This was the result.  I was so excited.

Topped it with the very, very last  :-(  of the blueberries that I froze in the summer of 2011…that was a Lot of blueberries.  I will miss them, but you can bet I’m sure to freeze them again in the summer of 2013!!  So good…

Monday night I had to go out for a short while, but I thought in advance and cooked up a batch of quinoa before I went out.

Next time I’m going to try either the crock pot or wonder of wonders…open up the rice cooker that I bought and haven’t used yet.  Then I don’t have to watch it so carefully!

When I got home, I chopped onion, garlic, zucchini, yellow squash and tomatoes.  I found that Aldi has their own version of the basic Mrs. Dash seasoning and I added it liberally.  So much less expensive and Very tasty, a little spicy, even.  Added a cup of cottage cheese for protein and…

Ladled it over the quinoa and called it supper…Yum!

I love having my oatmeal ready in the fridge only needing to be microwaved.  I forgot to mention earlier that I divided into 5 servings.  While I was rummaging in the fridge, I realized that the apples I had made in the crock pot about 2 (maybe 3?!?) weeks ago were still in there and more importantly still good!

Love the combo of the crock pot apples and the crock pot oatmeal!  I think this will have to be breakfast tomorrow too!

There you have WIAW for this week.  Much more food than I’ve shared in a Long time!  Be sure to check out all the fun waiting for you over at Peas & Crayons and be sure to leave a comment…we all love your comments!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!  This is what being Human feels like!

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Not The Way It Is At All

Posted on October 18, 2012 | 16 Comments

I know that I’m a slug sometimes.  I take full responsibility for that.  I’ve even developed a sort of pride in my slugdom.  If I’m going to be a slug, be a very good slug.  Read a book all day and nothing else except for food and bathroom breaks.  THAT”S a slug in action…you should excuse the mixed metaphor.

But, I haven’t really been a slug this week, yet I feel like one.

I did some, admittedly not much, but some reorganizing of my closet area in expectation of putting in a new clothes hanging rack.  Of course, that has to be assembled, but one step at a time!

I’ve started to work on cleaning out my car which is more like a mobile storage unit, but still does transportation duty. ;-) I believe I’ve removed all of the legitimate trash from the car. I found 4 rain coats and 4 umbrellas…guess I’m Really worried about the rain!  Oh, yes, also a rain poncho that Ralph put in …Just In Case!!

There is still an entire box of rummage sale/yard sale/Goodwill household finds that I want for our house in New Mexico.  If I had done this before the trip in August, I could have taken them all there and wouldn’t have to worry about them now!  There’s also a box filled with books.  Some came from Florida after my trip in January.  I didn’t actually get them until April when Gail drove back.  Others again are rummage sale/yard sale/Goodwill treasures.  Some though are destined for My yard sale in the Spring.  Thank goodness!

Also found a bag full of CD’s that I used to listen to in my office to sooth me when people were driving me crazy.  I had no idea where they were and I was glad to find them.

At least I no longer have the urn with my ex-father-in-law’s ashes back there.  I was given custody for various reasons too long and complicated to go into.  He rode with me for quite a while until we figured out what to do with him.  I thought of him as my guardian angel on my long commute.  I would talk to him sometimes.  He received his proper burial about 2 years ago.  I miss his comforting presence back there.

The car is probably going into the shop today, so I need to get more of my treasures out of there.

There has of course been food in my week.  A nearly empty jar of Sunbutter made yummy overnight oats…

The day that Ralph and I spoke to the mechanic about getting the car fixed we stopped at Taco Bell for lunch.

I had their veggie cantina bowl.  This was really good. Fairly high in points, but it was tasty enough to be worth it!

Last night, I was hungry but again playing the part of the slug.  I made cous cous spiced with Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime.  That’s not  much work…In the microwave, I heated some of my crock pot black beans (it’s so great when they are waiting in the fridge for me!), some frozen corn, some veggie broth and lots of Penzey’s Arizona Dreaming seasoning.

Topped it with some Locatelli cheese and in about 8 minutes…dinner was served! It doesn’t look all that appetizing (a lot of times I think that about my food!) but trust me it was delicious!

So I guess, if you total it all up, I haven’t been a slug.  Just can’t figure out why I feel that way.  Oh, well…Guess I just need to make every day productive whether it feels that way or not!!

Happy Thursday!

 

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WIAW~Feeling the Fall

Posted on October 17, 2012 | 24 Comments

It’s finally starting to feel like Fall and I’m finally starting to feel the Fall and I’m liking it!  Of course this all fits into What I Ate Wednesday.  That’s the fabulous food party started by Jenn at Peas & Crayons.  Be sure to check it out after you’re finished here!

Spooky Snacks and Healthy Halloween Treats

Let’s see what’s been on the food agenda this past week?

First…soup made from my leftover barbecue beans.  Just cook up garlic, onions, carrots and celery.  When they’ve softened add some water, but not too much and the leftover beans.  It is so flavorful…warm and satisfying!

I wanted something heartier over the weekend, so I cooked up some pasta and used the barbecue bean soup as the sauce.  Topped with some parmesan cheese…yummy!

Breakfast eaten on the hood of the car!  I brought breakfast to Ralph where he was camping out. This was my egg, cheese and sweet pepper sandwich.  One of my favorites…Coffee on the side of course!

One of my favorite quick breakfasts…pomegranate kefir and Fiber One.

Doing my best to stay on track by having carrots and celery ready to use as those healthy snacks that are on our minds at WIAW this month!

One of my favorite meals in quite some time.  Cous cous topped with a sautéed mix of garlic, onions, zucchini, red pepper, snow peas, crock pot black beans and cottage cheese, topped with Locatelli cheese.  This was so delicious and certainly filled me for the evening.  I love finding things that fill me up.  It’s so strange, but I almost need to eat more than I really want in order to be full and stay fill so that I don’t go looking for something to snack on.  It doesn’t seem right that I have to do that, but it seems to work best that way.  That’s why I make such huge salads…They Fill Me Up!!

That’s What I Ate Wednesday for me today.  I continue my quest to stay on track and stay full at the same time! Be sure to check out the fun over at Peas & Crayons, read some blogs, leave some comments.  You’ll love it!  Fall into the habit!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!  Stay Full, My Friends!!

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WIAW~Between Parties

Posted on October 10, 2012 | 27 Comments

When you’re having a Birthday Month, there are times when you’re between parties.  Not so exciting for What I Ate Wednesday, but I’m sure that there will be lots of people over at Peas & Crayons with Jenn who’ll be showing lots of exciting food.  For me this week, it’s kind of plain and simple.

But regardless, It’s a Party!

Peas and Crayons

No real snacks included and I’m not into Halloween yet, so what you see is what you get!

As I’ve said before, being the person who brings the Big Salad to a dinner means I get to go home with the left overs!  Love it when there’s a big bowl of salad to be had at any time.  Fills me up and keeps me on track!

Pineapple Greek Yogurt with Fiber One.  Such a good breakfast and one of my favorites!

I’m continuing my quest to put EVERYTHING over sweet potatoes!  Microwave 2 sweet potatoes for 8 minutes and they are just perfect.   I sautéed onion, garlic and yellow squash in veggie broth, then added something I will never eat again. I found lost in my freezer a partial bag of Morningstar Farms “beef” strips.  They don’t make them anymore so this was a little sad.  I then added a half cup of cottage cheese.   Added some various spices (I’m always SO specific with my recipes!!) and that’s it.  It was very tasty and just what I needed since it’s been so cold out.

Another breakfast…

Simple as can be…pomegranate kefir and Fiber One.  Guess I really like my Fiber One…huh?!

None of this sounds very exciting I realize but for me it’s great.  I feel that I am on track and making good choices.  After feeling out of control for a while…this is a much better way to be!  Besides…there are still more celebrations to be had throughout the rest of the month!

Be sure to stop over at Peas & Crayons…look around and leave some comments.  It really makes us all smile! :-)

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!

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Which Way Is Up?

Posted on September 27, 2012 | 8 Comments

This is one of those posts where I have no clear direction and I don’t know where I’ll end up.  However, here I am willing to make no sense and do it publicly!

There is no reason, but I have no clue what I’ve been up to.  I did get up and do my walk this morning.  Initially I thought I might have to head home after only a block because it started to drizzle.  I kept going and it was my good fortune that it stopped!  I am Meant to exercise! ;-)

There’s not much in the house in the way of groceries.  I used the very last of the Romaine last night for a salad.

It was good in spite of not having any add ins other that shredded cheese.

When I got up Wednesday morning, knowing the lack of groceries, I thought about making one of the Weight Watchers soups I always like to make in the Fall and Winter.  I was pretty sure I had all of the ingredients.  However, what I didn’t have and couldn’t find was the recipe! :-(   I decided, Oh Well…I’ve made it enough times, I could figure it out.

Started with garlic and onions with olive oil.

I added in a lot of dried Italian seasoning and some ground black pepper.

I opened a can of diced tomatoes and a can of white cannellini beans.

I drained and rinsed the beans.  Added them to the pot with 3 tomato cans full of water.  I think it called for 3 cups, but I’m not sure!

Frozen mixed veggies (I used all that was left in the package-they were old and needed to be used) and whole wheat elbow pasta.  I’m not sure if the recipe called for 3/4 cup or 1 cup.  I did 1 cup.

The finished product.  Now I haven’t tasted it yet, but I’m sure it will be fine.  I figure considering the fact that I make things up all the time, why not just make this up as I go along!  I’m pretty sure that I’m close to the original.  The test will be when we eat it for dinner!  I’ll top it with grated cheese and that will help ANY thing!

Obviously, this all means that I Must go grocery shopping tomorrow.  I feel I’ve done really well this week so far on my food choices, so it really would be nice if I have something in the house to work with .

I’ll get through all of this.  A big pot of soup always makes it better!

Happy Thursday!!

 

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Second Breakfast Day!

Posted on September 22, 2012 | 8 Comments

Without even knowing it…I fell into a tradition.  Apparently Friday was Second Breakfast Day.  That of course is a Hobbit tradition.  I feel sorry for any of you who are not familiar with The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings.  I am not a mad, crazy fan like some people I know (who will remain nameless so that I’m not drummed out of the family) but because of my love of food, I certainly can be comfortable with the idea of Second Breakfast!

In my efforts to get myself back on track with my eating, I actually put together some overnight oats last night.  My usual combo- 1/2 cup oats, 1/3 cup Fat Free vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup almond milk, frozen blueberries and cinnamon.

After a minute and 30 seconds in the microwave (I’m really not a fan of them cold, although I will eat them that way if I have to) I added fresh strawberries.  I really need to get myself organized to make this more often.  I just have to plan the night before.  I enjoy them so much.  Need to come up with some variations, too.

I had finished my oats and was doing some chores when Ralph said, “I want to go out to lunch, where would you like to go?”  It was 11am!  Now, I always have to consider the fact that I’m weighing in on Saturday.  I decided I could go to the diner, have breakfast and not do too much damage.

And without knowing it…I was celebrating Second Breakfast Day!  I had a spinach and American cheese omelette with sliced tomatoes and dry rye toast.  It really was very tasty.  I often will have an omelette at a diner for lunch or dinner.  It’s easier to calculate the Points for this than it is for some other menu choices.  Besides…I really like omelettes!  And it was actually a lunch special today so I got a side salad to bring home and Ralph got my dessert…vanilla cake.  All were happy!

I am so glad to be back in my salad routine again.  I know I’ve been whining about veggies and salad…but they make me happy.  Started by making something I haven’t made in a while.

A big pot of quinoa cooked up in veggie broth…Yum.  I love adding this to a salad, but I’ve fallen out of the habit of making it.  Like getting that extra protein punch~

Oh, was I happy with this!  Home made dressing-olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey and Dijon mustard.  The salad was Romaine, shaved carrots, green and red bell pepper, plum tomatoes, black beans, quinoa and shredded cheddar.  It was SO good!!  It was filling and helped me stay on track.  Another thing that I did to help stay on track-while I was getting the carrots ready for the salad, I peeled and cut some up for snacking later.  Also need to do that more often.

Funny how we fall in and out of the good habits we’ve developed.  I plan on staying On Track and hang on to those good habits.  Hoping for a good result at Weight Watchers today.  Happy Second Breakfast Day!

Happy Saturday!

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Feeling Full…Of Veggies

Posted on September 21, 2012 | 8 Comments

I was complaining yesterday about the lack of veggies (and fruit) I consumed on my two recent trips.  I worked on correcting that today.  I headed off to our local produce market to do some stocking up.

Red bell peppers, Gala apples, bananas and strawberries.  I also got onions (which for some reason I always forget to buy), plum tomatoes and more Romaine lettuce.  I still have some Romaine from before the Atlanta trip but it needs serious pruning to be useful.  Didn’t want to be without so I had to get more!

Made a stop at Shoprite and picked up these.

I keep hearing so much about the apple cider vinegar cocktail.  I never thought that Shoprite would have the Bragg’s but they did.  Since I can’t find Kombucha bottled, I decided I should give it a try in tea bag form.  My plan is to make the tea tonight and it will be cold for morning consumption.  Should be interesting to see what happens.  I’ll keep you posted on this.

After my shopping trip, I had a banana and Shoprite brand Greek yogurt with honey.  This brand is so good and was on sale for 88 cents, much cheaper than Chobani and very tasty.  It was as filling as I had hoped.

Lunchtime came and I was glad I had finally remembered to get cottage cheese.  It really is a protein bonus-15 grams for a half cup and only 2 Points on Weight Watchers.

I removed some of the sad and droopy leaves from one of the leftover heads of Romaine to get to the good part. Chopped that up with too older plum tomatoes.  Topped with the half cup of cottage cheese, chopped jarred jalapeno and sweet pickle relish.  Of course I also added (as always!) enormous amounts of ground black pepper!  This is one of my old favorites and very filling, too.

I’m feeling more back on track now and I’m hoping for a respectable result on Saturday at Weight Watchers.  I’ve felt so off track since we got back, but I’m doing my best to focus on the tasks at hand-both regarding food and projects.  There’s just so much to do…I need to Inspire Myself!

When I got home from my shopping chores, I find this on the bed…

Ralph confirms that it’s me…I know my hair is short but it’s not That Short!!  Guess I need to grow it in a bit to not see this again!

Happy Friday!!

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