Recipe: lemon raspberry cream bars

These are so not 'healthy' but they are totally worth the 167 calories (assuming you cut 35 bars)!

You will need:
1 lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1 stick butter or margarine
3/4 c. raspberry preserves
1 8 oz. block cream cheese (sadly you can't use reduced fat)
12 oz. white chocolate
2 tbs. milk
2 tbs. powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix, butter and egg. Press into a greased 10X15 bar pan. Bake 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Spread with raspberry preserves. Let cool completely. Once cool, mix the cream cheese and milk. In the microwave or a double boiler melt chocolate and combine with cream cheese. The mixture will appear curdled (it's not). Gently spread over the preserves. Dust with powdered sugar. Cool in fridge for at least 1 hour before you cut these bars so the top layer sets properly.

Fascinated by Fascinators...

Happy Friday, and what a glorious Friday it is! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I have lemon raspberry cream bars to eat...I shall only eat one, promise!

When I woke up this morning I did what I always do, turned on the TV to get my latest fix of the news. However, all of the news channels were broadcasting the royal wedding instead of their normal morning shows. Personally, I was OK with this fact. Lately the new has been really depressing. Between all of the political unrest in the Middle East, the storms which devastated our South and the fact that financially we're going to hell in a hand basket there isn't much to uplift the spirits most days of the week. However, today was a nice reminder that no matter how crappy things are some times, there is still love, joy and hope in the world, and quite frankly, I like that!

Personally I thought Kate looked lovely, her dress was simple and elegant but very beautiful. It actually reminded me of the dress 2 of my aunts and 1 of my cousin's wore when they got married. It was also very apparent that she and William love each other dearly, and I don't care who you are...royal common or somewhere in between, there isn't anything more important that you can ask for on your wedding day. The whole thing, well what I saw of it between showering, brushing my teeth, drying my hair etc. was so exquisitely colorful, and the hats...don't even get me started. I was fascinated. Not only did every single woman there have something on her head, some of them were like artwork! I realize that outside of the Kentucky Derby and Lady Gaga most American women don't appreciate the fine art of millinery but I loved them all...even the horrible ones! Granted, I will never attend an event so formal that I will ever get to wear on but I bet I could rock it!

Besides being excited by hats, I am also stoked about the truly delightful lemon raspberry cream bars I made last night. One of my many responsibilities for Karla's shower is being in charge of the food. I've asked a few ladies in the family to pitch in small items here and there but I'm doing a large portion of the food. Included in this is 2 pans of bars that I need to make. Of course I have tons of recipes to choose from, things that have been taste tested in the past, but I'm apparently a masochist and want to try new, more 'springy' bars. The first of which are these sweet and tangy lemon raspberry bars. They are incredibly easy to make and I think they are very tasty. However, I need to get input from a larger audience, therefore I brought them to work today (this also gets them out of my apartment)! Only one person snuck a bar this morning but she said they were delightful...yay! I'll post the recipe just in case you need a spring recipe for something. Just a heads up, they are not healthy but they are so worth the calories!

Anyway that's all I have. My spicy black bean burger is beckoning me...I have to make up for the lemon raspberry bar that I had for breakfast :) Have a great weekend ladies!

BBQ and Bloodwork

Hey all:

--Once again (like a broken record), I'm unhappy that it took this long to blog again.

--The ISU Weightloss study is over for the most part. They will meet with me briefly in 4 months to check to see if I'm still making progress on my own. My last meeting sucked. They drew blood last week to see if my lipid profile had improved. My results were shocking. My overall cholesterol went from 183 to 202! My glucose went from 88 to 105. First I was accused of not fasting the night before (which was insulting). They are quite confused considering I lost circumference around my waist and lost weight throughout the study. Hell, I've been eating a lot of oatmeal too! I'm making an appointment to have the bloodwork redone with my doctor. The end of the study let the air out of my sails, so to speak.

--I attended our department's spring BBQ deal tonight with Gavin and Jon. It's the first time I've ever brought a significant other to a work thing. The martial arts study (Master Pak) made his famous Korean BBQ for everyone. Apparently I chose the wrong meat out of the wrong pan because holy cow it was spicy. Delicious but spicy. I'm grateful I didn't get heartburn. I always feel a little odd at work functions. It sucks that people are somewhat cliquey. I won't need to think about again until the fall when we have our hog roast.

--Asparagus! I made asparagus on the grill for the first time. I didn't grill them directly on the grill but used a sheet of aluminum foil. I marinated them in olive oil and seasoned salt for a few hours and poured it all on the aluminum foil to cook while the meat was grilled. It was pretty tasty. Thanks to my cousin Scott, I may get more asparagus for free.

--I read "Girl, Interrupted" and wasn't horribly impressed. It was really disconnected from chapter to chapter. But you were right LeAnn, it was a quick read. I'm now into the sixth book in my Dark Tower series.

--I had quite the episode last night. I woke up at 4am and found myself standing in the middle of my room. I remember yelling and I think that's what jarred me awake. During my sleep, I really made a mess in my room. I knocked things off my dresser, knocked my bike over, and knocked everything off my bed side table. Not to mention I ripped everything off my bed. When I woke up, I was in the process of throwing my comforter at my bookshelf. Yea....I'm really weirded out.

--I've been swamped with summer camp prep and grading. Both tasks will take a lot of my time this weekend too. Good news is that I already signed my contract for next year....no worrying about it through the summer :)

Hope everyone is well!

Recipe: chicken with mushrooms and artichoke hearts

First let me start by saying that I've never really had artichoke hearts outside of spinach and artichoke dip and I somehow doubt that that counts. Making this recipe, I wasn't sure if I'd like artichokes or not and after trying this recipe I have to say that I'm on the fence. I don't think I dislike, but I can't be certain that I actually like artichoke hearts. Anyway, my indifference to artichoke hearts aside, this recipe turned out well. I think if I made it again I might throw in a different veggie though, I think zucchini or even stewed tomatoes would be really good.

You will need:

2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can of quartered artichoke hearts (drained and rinsed well)
1/2 pound of sliced, fresh mushrooms (I used button but you can use your favorite)
1 bunch green onions sliced
1 tbs. minced garlic
1/2 c. chicken broth
3 tbs. dry cooking sherry or white wine
2 tbs. margarine or butter
2 tbs. flour
onion powder
paprika
salt and pepper

take the chicken breasts and season generously with onion powder, paprika and pepper. Salt to taste. Place in a greased casserole dish.

In a non-stick skillet cook mushrooms, garlic, green onions and artichoke hearts until tender, pour over chicken. In the same pan add margarine and melt. Add flour and whisk together. Add chicken broth and sherry, cook until sauce thickens and pour over chicken and veggies. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, remove foil and cook another 15 minutes.

It's a fairly easy dish to prepare and it's quite good. I'm always looking for new ways to prepare chicken and this has mushrooms so I'm double happy!!

I made it!

Yay!! Lent is over and I made it! No snooze button for 40 mornings and I lived to tell the tale! I won't lie, I was sorely tempted to fall into the old habit this morning when I had nothing forcing me to get up but alas, I didn't! My step-mom was just telling me yesterday that it takes 21 days to form a habit (which is a much debated number). I don't know if she's right or not but apparently 40 days will get me out of the habit of snoozing in the morning.

I had a nice weekend. I got all of my bridal shower invites addressed, stamped and mailed out and Karla and I had a nice, long conversation about her shower and bachelorette party and I think things are coming along quite well. I also made belated phone calls to my dad, step-dad and grandpa and was able to catch up with them. It sounds like my grandpa has been doing well since my grandma's passing last month but he's having a hard time sleeping. I can't wait to see him next month, it sounds like he could use the company.

I'm still stuck in plateau world and hating it. It's just very frustrating that I'm doing what I need to do and I still can't lose any more. It's even more frustrating right now because I'm approaching the time of month where I am going to be retaining water and my weight is going to go up...boo! At least I know what's going on so it shouldn't be too disheartening. I've been trying to figure out what I've been doing differently these last few weeks that has brought my weight loss to a standstill. The only thing I can think of is that I stopped taking my vitamins when they ran out. I don't know that it makes that much of a difference but I've decided to start taking them again. I guess I'll have to see how it goes.

Seems how the numbers on my scale aren't moving, I've tried to focus on other changes that are taking place that are tangible proof that my effort is not all for naught. I've noticed that my clavicles are becoming more and more noticeable. It might seem like a silly thing but I haven't seen them in a long time and just the hint that is starting to show is super exciting. I've also noticed that I sit differently in my car. I had to move my seat higher and further forward because there isn't as much cushion in my thighs and derriere and I was too far away and much too low in the car. It's odd but kind of cool. Most importantly, I'm starting to really fit into some of my smaller pants so I can stop wearing the really baggy ones! Yay for being a pack rat!

Well, I think that's it for now. I am going to be trying a new chicken dish this week that has artichoke hearts in it...never cooked with them before. I can't wait to whip it up and report the results (it looks amazing in the cookbook)! I hope you all had a nice Easter weekend and are ready for the week ahead.

Recipe: chicken Florentine

I made this recipe the other night and it wasn't too bad. After eating it, I think I would change up the recipe and make it into a casserole of sorts but I'll give you the actual recipe and then I'll tell you how I changed it up.

You will need:

2 large chicken breasts, each cut in half
1/4-1/3 c. flour
salt and pepper to taste

2 tbs. olive or canola oil
1/2 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. white wine
1/4 c. lemon juice (which I actually didn't add)
5 oz. frozen chopped spinach thawed, cooked according to package and drained
4 reduced fat mozzarella cheese slices (you can omit this or substitute for another)

Flatten chicken breast pieces with a mallet or rolling pin. Take your flour, salt and pepper and combine in a 1 gallon Ziploc bag. Add chicken pieces and coat with flour, shaking off excess. Heat oil to medium high in a skillet. Add chicken and cook on both sides until browned and near done. Remove from heat and place flat in a baking dish. Add broth, wine and lemon juice to chicken pan and mix to combine. Cook until sauce thickens and remove from heat. Top each chicken piece with 1/4 of the spinach, and pour sauce over the chicken. Top each piece of chicken with 1 slice of cheese and bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned.


Now, I served this with a basic pasta and tomatoes recipe that I make a lot. All I do it take about 5 oz. of whole wheat pasta (any short pasta will work) and cook as directed. While that's cooking I take 1 can of stewed tomatoes and dice them up. I toss them into a pan, with the juice and cook over medium until the sauce thickens and the tomatoes break down a bit. I usually add about 1 tbs. of pesto for a bit of extra flavor. When the pasta is done I add it to the pan with the tomatoes and season with oregano, a little Italian seasoning, 1 tbs. brown sugar and a few red pepper flakes for just a bit of a kick.

Anyway, when I ate the dish originally I thought the spinach was a bit over powering...chicken isn't a big flavor. However, when I had my leftovers for lunch yesterday everything was all mixed together and it was so much better. If I make it again I would probably just combine the chicken, spinach, pasta, tomatoes and seasoning, throw some mozzarella on top and bake it off. Either way, it's a tasty meal.

Recipe: Cheesy shrimp and rice casserole

Hello. Before I get to the recipe I just have to say, in response to LeAnn's comment, I think taking a cooking class is a wonderful idea. Anybody can cook with a bit of guidance. It's such a fun way to wind down from the day, you have to eat so you might as well have a little fun preparing things that you'll enjoy. Not to mention, it's way healthier than eating out and/or eating prepared foods all of the time. Plus, double bonus...chopping things with a big knife and pounding stuff with a mallet/rolling pin can be good stress relief!

Anywho, I got this recipe out of my Trim and Terrific cookbook. I am trying to make a conscious effort to eat more seafood (boo) and I'm OK with shrimp for the most part. This recipe was easy and tasty and would still be good with another meat substituted for the shrimp or served vegetarian style.

You will need:
3 c. cooked rice
1.5 lb shrimp*
1 onion
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 bunch of green onions
0.5 c. fat free evaporated milk
1 c. fresh mushrooms, chopped, or 1 8 oz. can of mushrooms
1 tbs. canola oil
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. salsa
1.5 c. reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet heat oil. Add onion, garlic, mushrooms and shrimp. Cook over medium heat about 8 minutes or until shrimp is pink and veggies are tender. Add evaporated milk, salsa, Worcestershire sauce, green onions and rice. Stir to combine and heat until warmed through. Stir in cheese. Heat until melted.

*You can use raw or frozen/pre-cooked shrimp for this recipe. If you buy raw make sure that they are deveined so you don't have to worry about cleaning them yourself. If you use frozen, which I did all you have to do is thaw the shrimp by running them under cold water for a few minutes and then remove the tails. Also, if they are pre-cooked, throw them in at the same time as the rice because they don't need to cook, just be heated. If they get overcooked they will shrink and get rubbery.

This dish is very simple and quite tasty, and that's coming from someone who has a very low tolerance for seafood on the whole.

Also, stay tuned. I am tyring a chicken breast Florentine recipe tonight that I think has a lot of promise. I can't wait to taste the chicken, spinach and cheesy goodness!

Ames Update

Hey Ladies:

I am sick of rain and snow. Just wanted to lay that out there. Fortunately the snow doesn't accumulate here but other parts of Iowa may get 8 or so inches! I really don't have the ambition to walk my bike to the bike shop when it's raining and 35 degrees.

This is the last week for my weight loss study at ISU. I had my last session with my health coach on Friday. Still not horribly impressed with the process but I did lose weight. I have to go back in on Thursday morning and get blood drawn and my anthropometric measurements taken. I'm excited to do things on my own I guess. Jon doesn't want his exercise ball anymore so I took it back so I want to do some core work with that. He's been going to Anytime Fitness at least three days a week and he's starting to slim down. His ultimate goal was to strengthen his quads and knee but I knew he'd see other healthy results too. Like you Nicole, he impresses me by still working in a workout despite having busy days.

I'm going to say this....Nicole you've been quite the inspiration this year for me. You've proven that a person can still stay on a healthy track despite stress, work, and unfortunate circumstances. We are all aware that I like to emotionally eat whether it's positive emotions or negative ones. You've had significant loss in your life. You live in a different state. Yet you continue to provide great examples of self-control and moderation. It's uplifting and motivating to see your success. :)

I have been able to read for pleasure lately and am happy to report that I finally finished the 5th book in the Stephen King "Dark Tower" series last night. I started it during Spring Break (on my flight back to Iowa). It was lengthy so I had to renew it once at the library. I already checked out the sixth book and can't wait to dive in. Stephen has sucked me in...well done Mr. King, well done. I finally found another book I've wanted to read for more than a year. LeAnn mentioned it awhile ago, "Girl, Interrupted". I've tried to get it from the library several times. The online catalog would say it was not checked out but it was never on the shelf. It was a nice surprise to see it there today. I haven't read a non-fiction novel in awhile. I still have a book to read that Nicole lent to me. It's on my list of things to read too.

I have to make a mention about bras. I had intentions to buy some at Lane Bryant but never did. I didn't care for the styles they had in my size. They made me too busty. I found some at Kohl's though. It's amazing how great a good bra feels. They were a little more pricey than I like but that's because I'm used to buying bras at Walmart. The kind of bras that fall apart more quickly than they should. Hopefully my new ones last longer.

My back is better too (knock on wood). Once in awhile I'll get a twinge of pain but it's rare. I'm glad I was able to bounce back quickly. It did cost a lot since I had a massage therapist and chiropractor work on my back though.

I got the balls to talk to one of the most intimidating fitness people I know. You remember Deb Nicole? I approached her last week and asked if Ames Racquet and Fitness offered classes specialized for overweight populations. She seemed surprised and unfortunately let me know that they don't. We talked for a bit though and she seems more interested to provide a class or program for the overweight/obese population. Even better...she wants my input about it so the program is appropriate and designed correctly. I would love to participate in a class designed for people carrying extra weight. I don't want to do a class designed for normal weight and/or fit individuals because my chance of injury, burnout, etc. will skyrocket.

Gavin gets his braces next month on May 23. I'm still trying to figure out the financial side of that endeavor. Braces are way too expensive. We found out today that he doesn't need glasses (whew!). I was very happy to hear he has 20/20 vision.

Swim & Gym ended last week which makes me sad but also is a relief. It will be nice to have more time to work in my office on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. It will help me catch up with work on the summer camp. I had another employee "quit" today. He didn't have a contact yet so it's not really quitting but the loss of him actually helps my budget. It doesn't really put me in dire straights either. I don't want other students/employees quitting though.

I think that's all I know right now. Have a good one!

Madame Plateau is an unkind mistress...

Bitch! I have been anxiously waiting to be able to blog that I finally reached my next weight loss milestone but it continues to elude me despite good exercise and eating habits. It's starting to really drive me nuts but there isn't much I can do about it besides keep plugging away. I knew that I wasn't going to maintain the rate of loss that I've had over the last few months. My first 40 pounds came off relatively fast. I was sort of hoping to be able to make it over the 50 pound mark before I hit a big wall but apparently that's not going to happen. I've been sitting at 47 ish pounds lost for the last 2 weeks. I'm not gaining, but I'm not losing either. It's disheartening when I take the time and energy to make good choices and get my butt moving and then not be compensated by seeing the needle on the scale edge down just a bit...well, it's a digital scale but you know what I mean!

This is the point in the past where I would generally give up and decide that it's just not going to happen for me. I'm just not meant to be thinner than I am. However, I can't fall into that mindset this time. Fortunately for me I have about 5 months of habit built up and it's helping me to stay focused, even as I think that I should just say in bed and sleep instead of working out. Eh, I could whine but I'll spare you that.

On a happier note I got new running shoes last week, although I have no intentions of wearing them for exercise :) I've never kept my workout athletic shoes separate from everyday athletic shoes. I know you're supposed to I just never worked out routinely enough for it to matter. Now that I do, it's a much bigger deal. I can't wear my workout shoes to work after exercising in the morning if for no other reason than I sweat when I'm exercising and I don't want to wear hot and sweaty shoes to work (a pleasant picture, I know). Anyway, I got my shoes and they're all black, silver and shiny...I love them. They were originally over $100 and I got them for $60..yay for deals! Anyway, once I started wearing them I realized how beat up my actual running shoes were so I decided to order another pair and guess what...they were marked down even further. I ordered another pair, for exercising for $25! SCORE! They should be here tomorrow.

I have also discovered the delight of Skinny Cow desserts. I don't know if you're familiar with Skinny Cow but it's a company that makes low fat ice cream and ice cream novelties. I've always been skeptical, assuming that they would taste like crap and be full of artificial sweeteners. I was wrong on both counts. The mint chocolate ice cream sandwiches I got taste like heaven and they have real sugar! All of the treats come in single serving portions (bars, sandwiches, ice cream cups) and are between 100-150 calories. They are a bit more expensive than your average Joe treat but I think they're worth it, especially coming up on the summer months. If you like ice cream, you should give Skinny Cow a chance...you won't even know you're eating healthy!

Lastly, I have herbs! I'm going to try and grow an herb container garden this summer on my patio. I stared with sees and everything but the parsley has sprouted. I can't wait until the plants get a little bigger and I can transplant them. I'm really hoping for an abundance fresh oregano, basil, dill, thyme and parsley this summer!

OK, I think that's it for now. I hope you ladies are having a wonderful week. Take care!

Recipe: spinach black bean enchiladas

This is another really easy and incredibly tasty recipe from the Trim and Terrific cookbook. I made both of these recipes this week because they both called for 1 can of black beans. I cut all of the recipes in half (so I'm not eating the same thing all week) so it worked out perfectly. This is another vegetarian recipe which is full of protein and fiber and I (who am most definitely a meat eater) didn't miss the meat at all!

You will need:
10, 6 inch flour tortillas
1 can black beans, 15 oz.
1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, 10 oz., thawed w/ excess water squeezed out
1 can prepared enchilada sauce
1.5 c. reduced fat cheddar cheese
1 pkg taco seasoning (use what you like)
1 c. sour cream
1 c. water
1/4 c. green onions, chopped

In a medium, non-stick skillet, heat beans, spinach taco seasoning, green onions and water until boiling. Reduce heat and cook 8-10 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 c. sour cream.

In each tortilla, layer 1 tbs. each enchilada sauce and cheese and 1/10 of the spinach bean mixture. Roll tortillas and place in a baking dish. Cover with remaining enchilada sauce and bake 15-18 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from over, sprinkle remaining cheese over the top and bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with remaining sour cream over the top.

I was a little leery of this dish but Jessica tried it first and she really liked it. When I made it last night, I couldn't believe how good it was. I served it with a lettuce salad and cottage cheese and it was delightful, filling and very nutritious.

Recipe: spicy southwest pasta

This is a very tasty recipe that I got out of my Trim and Terrific cookbook. The recipe is actually vegetarian but I had a chicken breast that I needed to use in the fridge so I threw it in there but it would be really good meatless as well.

You need:
1 onion chopped
1 can (28 oz.) whole or stewed tomatoes
1/2 box rotini cooked (I used whole wheat)
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed
1 10 package (10 oz.) frozen corn
1 c. reduced fat cheddar cheese
1 can (4 oz.) green chilies
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
1 large, boneless skinless chicken breast cooked an cubed(optional)

Pour juice off of tomatoes into a skillet over medium heat. Chop or puree tomatoes and add to pan. Cook with chopped onions until they are tender. Add black beans, corn, pasta, chilies and seasoning. Adjust cumin and red pepper flakes for personal spice preference. Cook over medium heat until warmed through completely. Add cheddar cheese and toss.

This pasta is very tasty and incredibly easy to make. Like I said, I added the chicken because I had it around and I'm trying to get more lean protein in my diet. Also, when I make this again I will remove the cinnamon. Cumin is already a sweet and spicy element and the cinnamon was way over the top. I LOVE cinnamon but I think I'm deciding that I don't care for it much in savory dishes.

Happy Wednesday!

I sometimes find it hard to blog. It's not that I don't want to sign on and share things with you but I sometimes feel that I just have nothing new to say. Right now life isn't too terribly exciting and I hate to just log on and ramble for a while and then expect you to take your time reading it. Your schedules are hectic and you have much better things to do with your time! So, instead of droning on today, I am just going to share a few random things that have been making me happy recently!

1. Netflix. I recently watch the BBC miniseries North & South on instant view and it made me very happy. I love British period romance (I'm so not a girly girl but I LOVE these kind of movies) and this has all of the elements that I love. A powerful female lead, a good hearted male lead with a tough exterior. They fall in love but something is keeping them apart until, at the last, minute they end up together! It's sooo good! It's also good that it's 4 hours long or I'd be watching it everyday :) *you can judge me if you like, I deserve it!

2. Hot British men with deep baritone voices...I don't think this needs any explaining!

3. Danskin capris. I bought a pair at Wal-Mart in Iowa and LOVED them. I bought 2 more pair in Michigan...they're even cheaper here! They are comfy and cozy and are great for working out and lounging. The best part, they come in amazing colors so I'm not stuck with just black and grey!

4. Trim and Terrific Cookbook by Holly Klegg. Jessica bought this for me and it's amazing. There are so many excellent recipes that are as nutritious as they are tasty! Not to mention, nutrition information is listed for all of the recipes in the book...bonus!

5. Tax refunds! Let me tell you, the only good thing about paying student loans is what it does to my tax return!

6. Having weight loss buddies. I have a few co-workers who are walking with me to the parking lot after work and Jessica has started using Loseit.com and it's been really great being accountable to people. I am so much better if I know people are depending on me to show up or if they are holding me accountable.

Anyway, that's what I've got for right now. I am going to post a few recipes that I've tried recently and really enjoyed. I hope you ladies are having a good week so far and that you're getting a chance to enjoy some of this great weather!

Emotional Eating Triggered!

Hey Ladies:

For once I can say it's not my job causing extremely stress but my personal life gave me a nice dose of emotional craziness this week. (Things have calmed down FYI)

I had my first big "issue" with Jon. I'm not calling it an argument because we didn't really fight but our discussion was pretty painful for me to take part in. I chose to leave before it did become a big fight and I had my first "emotional eating" trigger in awhile. All the way back to Ames I kept thinking "I want to eat this", "I want to eat that" but fortunately I stayed in control when I got home. It helped that we didn't have much of anything on hand since a grocery trip is needed.

In regards to my relationship issues, I'm still thinking a lot because I'm very defensive about my parenting practices and Gavin. It was hard to hear all of Jon's concerns all at once and wish he would have said something months ago. I spoke with him last night in person and things weren't as tense but our dynamic has certainly changed a bit. I had a Women's Ministry meeting prior to seeing him and that gathering really helped me process my feelings and calm down a bit .

As you both know, I was on the news this week and despite all the compliments I was really unhappy with how I looked on TV. It's given me another kick in the butt to slim down some more. I would like to thin my jawline and face and hopefully that will naturally happen over time as I lose weight in a slow and sustained fashion.

Back to work...plenty of grading to complete!

Recipe: French's crunchy chicken

Before I left for Iowa this last time I had seen a commercial (several times, no less) about the French's crunchy chicken. I thought it sounded pretty tasty. Honestly, how could it not be good? It's chicken and fried onions...yum!! My one concern was that the onions would burn before the chicken cooked. When I use the onions as a topping they cook in about 5 minutes, could they possibly last 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees? Why yes, yes they can!

The only alteration I made from the original recipe was that I used just an egg white for the wash instead of a whole egg. I also added the black pepper and garlic powder to the coating because I wanted too.

You will need:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/3 c. French's friend onions (original or cheddar)
2 tbs. flour
1 egg beaten
Garlic powder and black pepper to taste (optional)

Smash onions into small pieces. Mix onions, flour and any additional seasonings together and place in a plastic bag. Dip chicken in egg wash and place pieces in plastic bag for coating. Remove from bag and press firmly to ensure they remain in place. Place in a baking dish and cook at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until juices run clear.

My only complaint is that the bottom of the chicken was a bit soggy from the juices that run off. However, if you make a coated chicken of any type that is generally an issue. I think when I make it again I will cook it on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet so the bottom is crispy too. Other than that it was very good!

Mr. Insomnia is not my friend...

This isn't going to be long but I just wanted to tell you guys that getting up at 4:50 is not a lot of fun when you don't get to sleep until after midnight. I don't know what's going on but I am having terrible issues sleeping lately. Granted, I never sleep well but I'm going through a particularly rough patch right now.

When my alarm went off this morning I was so tired and I couldn't even imagine getting out of bed and working out so I decided to reset my alarm for 6:00 and get up then. Of course, I started to feel guilty after resetting my alarm so I decided to just get out of bed and go exercise.

When I got to the gym I was pleasantly surprised, our management staff had finally fixed the broken treadmills!! I know that they didn't fix the treadmills for my personal use, but I certainly felt like I was being rewarded for my good decision. It will certainly be easier for me to motivate myself knowing that my treadmill is back!!

So yeah, 5 days down...360 to go!!

Recipe: chicken breasts Diane

I don't know what makes them 'Diane' but this recipe is pretty tasty. I might omit the lemon juice when I make it again, it was a bit over powering for my taste but all in all, a nice new way to make chicken!

You will need:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tbs. olive oil

2 tbs. chopped parsley
1 bunch green onions chopped
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
1/2 c. chicken broth
the juice of 1 lemon


Place chicken breasts between 2 sheets of wax paper and pound flat with a mallet (I used my rolling pin and it worked well). Heat a pan on the stove and add oil. Cook chicken until browned, about 10-14 minutes, salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set aside. Add onions, parsley, mustard and lemon juice. Cook for 1 minute, whisking continuously. Add broth and cook for another minute. Add chicken back to pan, toss in sauce and serve.

Welcome Spring

Hey Ladies:

--The weather was wonderful in Central Iowa this weekend...it got really blustery though. We didn't get any outdoor yard work done but did visit the Dog Park three times.

--I'm still angry about the closing of Lane Bryant in Ames. Just wanted to repeat that. I am planning to visit Jordan Creek Mall tonight after work and use some coupons and get some spring clothes. Hopefully I have the energy to shop with a good eye.

--I'm having some personal struggles thanks to some frustration this weekend. I wish dating was more cut & dry and simple. Who knew that interacting with another human being could be so difficult?

--I joined Loseit.com and added you as a friend on there Nicole! We are both going to use that excellent resource and you are going to politely nag me if I'm not staying on top of my tracking on it! hehe Take a look at it LeAnn. I know your plate is full now but maybe you can give it a shot in the summer when things are more relaxed for you.

--My 10-year high school reunion has been planned and scheduled for this upcoming August. I have another goal for wanting to feel and look better. I'm very proud of my parental and career accomplishments but would like to walk into the restaurant with extreme confidence. It shocks me that I've been out of school for 10 years. I feel old.

--I have a goal to get my bike over to the Skunk River bike shop and get it serviced for a summer of riding. It keeps tipping over in the middle of the night (and scaring the hell out of me) so I take that as a sign to get it ready to ride so it doesn't just sit in my bedroom.

--I tried a Luna bar for the first time. I wasn't horribly impressed but it wasn't awful. I got the cookies & cream flavor. None of the other flavors at Hyvee really intrigued me.

--My preparation for the Summer Youth Fitness program is going well. I need to update and edit the paperwork that all the families need to complete (liability forms, medical form, picture release, etc.). I have 94 kids signed up and 90% of my employees hired. I haven't had the employees sign a contract yet though so I better not count my chickens before they hatch. This summer program is notorious for student employees to suddenly quit or not show up on the first day. I've never worked with a budget so large before and I'm really scared about spending too much money and screwing up the balance I need.

--Swim & Gym ends on April 14th. I've never had so many student employees before (I actually have 2-3 extra employees that I didn't need to hire) but it's nice having the physical education program tied strongly into the program. The students that are wise enough to participate and teach in the program are getting a sneak-peak of student teaching since we have plenty of discipline issues.

--We have Greek yogurt waiting in the fridge. I bought the A & E brand since Jessica made it known on her Facebook page that it existed. Gavin picked out a more expensive brand. I can't recall the name right now. I was shocked he wanted to try it.

--I think I only have three weeks left of my weight loss study. They are going to draw my blood again at the end...blah. I'm anxious to let Loseit.com take over for my health coach since I'm not horribly impressed with her.

That's all for now. I need to mosey to the lab for my 2pm class soon. Students are teaching dance today. It will be fun to see them motivate adolescents to move in class.

Do you remember when exercise was fun?

Happy day 4 ladies (or Monday if you prefer)! I am happy to report that I have, so far, been successful in my attempt to get 365 days of exercise. Granted, I'm only 4 days in but it's a good start I think. This weekend I was talking to Jessica on the phone telling her about my goal and she has decided that she really needs to up the ante when it comes to physical activity too. She really hates to go and workout so she recently bought a Kayak and new bike so she can not only get active, but she can have fun while she's shedding weight.

Fun is an interesting concept. I don't hate my workouts. In fact, I've really enjoy my early morning sweat sessions over these last few months. While I feel comfortable saying that I've enjoyed them, I can honestly say that I haven't had fun while doing them. I like the way I feel while I'm working out and I like the feeling of accomplishment after my workout is completed. I most especially love the results that consistent exercise and good eating have produced. However, try as I might I just don't have fun working out.

Do you remember how much fun physical activity was when we were younger? I loved riding my bike, running around, playing kickball, flying kites, swimming...honestly, as long as I was moving I was content. How is it possible to go from loving everything to not being able to motivate myself to get moving? I truly think that part of my problem is that I don't have someone to do this kind of stuff with out here in Michigan. So many of the things I want to do require at least one other person. Also, company makes most activities more fun. I remember when we were at Luther Jessica and I used to take long walks all of the time. It was a pretty safe bet that if the weather was decent we would be out almost every night for a few mile stroll. Yes, it was at a leisurely pace but we were still out there moving.

Anyway, instead of lamenting the past I need to find ways to move forward. I think that in order to be truly successful at my goal of 365 days of physical activity I need to find fun ways to get my bones moving. I've been looking online for ideas but now I'll put this question out to you. What are some of the fun ways that you get physical activity? Any creative ideas for a little extra activity throughout the day? Any ideas would be welcome.

OK, I think that's it for now. I have some promising looking chicken recipes for this week so hopefully they'll pass muster and I'll be able to share them with you. Have a great week ladies!