Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Healthy Challenge Week 3 Results


The results of Week 3 of the Healthy Weight Loss Challenge are IN! We had a fabulous week!!

Here are my personal stats:

WEEK #3
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
SUN
1 pt: Contact with Teammat
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
6 pts: 64 oz Water
6
6
6
0
6
6
6
3 pts: Stop eating before 9 pm
3
0
3
3
0
0
3
3 pts: 2 Fruit Servings (1/2 cup each)
3
3
3
3
3
3
0
5 pts: 3 Vegetable Servings
5
5
5
5
5
0
5
5 pts: No Sweets/Sugary Treats
5
5
5
5
5
0
0
5 pts: Keep a Food Journal  
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 pts: 30 min. exercise OR
7 pts: 45 min. exercise
0
7
7
0
0
0
0
TOTAL POINTS:
(205 possible for the week)
28
32
35
22
25
14
20




There was double points on water this week!  

My weekly total:  176
Total Weight Loss for Week 1:  2 lb!!!
Total Points for Week 1:  201

So exciting!!!
Total Weight loss so far:  7 lbs!!  wahoo!!!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork

I have been wanting pulled pork for a while now....So while at the supermarket, and raiding through the McCormic Seasoning packets, I came across the Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Seasoning, I bought it straight away!


The Method:
  • Mix together in a small bowl:  Seasoning packet, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup ketchup, and 1/3 cup cider vinegar.  
  • Put a 2-3 lb pork loin in the Crock Pot (I had a 2.5 center-cut pork line which was still have frozen) and pour the mix over it.
  • Set for 8 hours on Low, or 6 hours in High
  • When cooking is done, use a fork to pull the pork apart, and mix well with the seasoning mixture
Seriously.  That's it.  We loved it!!!  I served it on potato-bread rolls with coleslaw (I bought a bag of coleslaw, added 1/4 cup of mayonnaise and a splash of vinegar, salt and pepper).  I enjoyed the coleslaw on the sandwich, or it can be eaten on the side!




NOTE:  It was good enough that Scott ate it 3 nights in a row!!!  It makes a lot, so it's better if you have a crowd!!

ENJOY!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Practically Perfect

For those of you who really know me, you know that my very best favorite movie of ALL time is Mary Poppins.  I started watching this when I was young and haven't stopped.  There's something about the magic of the movie that captures me all the time.  As children, my sister and I used to go to my grandmother's house a few times a week (Nonni Day) and we used to watch either Mary Poppins and/or The Sound of Music.  As soon as Mary Poppins went on, we would dance around the coffee table to the overture and I'm pretty sure we could recite the movie word for word.  I even convinced my husband one year to dress up with me for Halloween...




To this day, I still feel like a kid when I watch the movie (I own it, and yes, I'll watch it on TV even if there are commercials).  


For Christmas, my husband bought me tickets to see Mary Poppins on Broadway.  I had been wanting to see it for a while, and was so excited.  We went on Saturday to see it (which was perfect timing, as my sister's 30th birthday was the next day and we were able to celebrate with her).  


So what did I think of the play?  I liked it but was extremely disappointed at the same time.  Confused?  Yes, so was I.  I think that if I had not been so obsessed with the movie, I would have enjoyed the show more.  There were a lot of difference between the show and the movie that I hadn't been expecting and I couldn't help but sit in my seat and make the comparisons.


Some differences:


In the movie, you have Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.  OK, OK, I realize they can't be in the Broadway show.  But I couldn't help compare those two main characters.  The woman who played Mary Poppins undoubtedly had a great voice, but I was surprised at how cold she played the character.  Bert was great, but while he is originally from England, his cockney accent was just a little TOO good (hahaha).


In the movie, you have Mrs. Brill and Ellen, the cook and housemaid, respectively.  In the show you have Mrs. Brill and Robertson Aye, the cook and very awkward, weird, face making butler who seems to just take up space on the stage.  I still don't understand his role.


In the movie, you have Jane and Michael, who are not bad children, but seem to give their nannies a run for their money.  In the show, the children are portrayed as really bad and naughty children, who scream and yell and throw a lot of tantrums.  I found it very surprising (although the kids did do a great job).


In the movie, you have a story line.  You truly understand why they have the adventures they have and it all makes sense.  In the show, I found myself confused as to why they were doing certain outings, why naked statues were coming to life and why Mrs. Corey was giving out "conversations."


There was no animated sequence, there was no laughing on the ceiling and there was blatant magic being performed on the stage (whereas in the movie, you know she's magic, but it seems a little more subtle - she doesn't actually raise her arms, wiggle her fingers and fly things around the room, does she??  I feel like the movie gives you that feeling - did that actually happen?  Or was it their imagination?).  Some of the songs are different and there are a number of songs that aren't in the movie at all.


However, with all of these differences, I enjoyed the show.  It was entertaining and the singing and dancing was definitely great.  The Step-In-Time sequence was definitely great.


When we got home, I did a little more research about the movie and the show.  I learned that Pamela Travers (the author of the Mary Poppins series) really didn't like the movie, and when she was approached about the show, she put certain stipulations in place.  Apparently she felt that the Walt Disney movie did no justice to her books, was overall disappointed with how they portrayed certain characters, hated the animated sequence, etc etc etc).  If you have the 40th anniversary DVD, the second disc has a lot of footage and even some recordings of her meetings with the movie makers.  It helped to put the play into perspective for me.


So....At the end of the day, I did enjoy the show.  I really did (even though it may not sound that way).  But it will never replace the magic of the movie, or how much I love it.  :o)



Monday, January 23, 2012

Healthy Challenge Week 2 Results


The results of Week 2 of the Healthy Weight Loss Challenge are IN! We had a fabulous week!!

Here are my personal stats:

WEEK #2
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
SUN
1 pt: Contact with Teammat
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3 pts: 64 oz Water
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 pts: Stop eating before 9 pm
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 pts: 2 Fruit Servings (1/2 cup each)
3
3
0
0
3
3
3
5 pts: 3 Vegetable Servings
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 pts: No Sweets/Sugary Treats
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
5 pts: Keep a Food Journal  
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
10 pts: 30 min. exercise OR
14 pts: 45 min. exercise
14
14
0
0
0
14
0
TOTAL POINTS:
(205 possible for the week)
34
34
17
17
30
39
25



There was double points on exercise this week, and I was hoping to exercise more, but I wasn't feeling well during the week....But I still got 3 days!!

My weekly total:  196
Total Weight Loss for Week 1:  1 lb
Total Points for Week 1:  211

So exciting!!!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Inspiration!

Sometimes, you need a visual....


A cookie to write home about

We all know that I love cookies.  I have books and book - all different cookie recipes.  They're just fun and delicious.


So I was looking around on Pinterest and found a recipe for "The Best M&M Cookies Ever" and decided to try it.  I've tried making M&M cookies in the past - I essentially take my regular Chocolate Chip recipe and add in M&Ms.  While they're good, they're always a little off.  What I really need is a recipe for the Keebler Elf M&M cookies.  Now that would be the Best Cookie Ever.


In any case, here's the cookie that I made


2 Sticks Butter, browned and then cooled completely
4 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
1 egg
2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup Corn Starch
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 cup M&Ms
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips (I used Semi-Sweet)


To Brown the Butter, put it in a small sauce pan and melt it.  Once it melts, turn the heat down to Med-High, and continually stir with a whisk.  The butter will get very bubbly and foamy as it browns.  Don't let it burn!!!  Once it is browned (there will be little specs of brown mixed in with the melted butter), take the pan off the stove and let it sit on the cool counter until it is completely cool (it will re-coagulate - this takes some time).


Browned Butter, cooled back to room temperature
Beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sugars until smooth.  Add in the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.  Add the flours, starch, salt and soda into the butter mixture (you can sift the dry ingredients together first and then add to the butter mixture, but I find this extra step is unnecessary).  Combine well.  Fold in the M&Ms, Chocolate Chips (and 1/2 cup of chopped nuts, if that suits your fancy).  Refrigerate until the dough is completely chilled (I don't totally see why this step is necessary, I think you could scoop right away and bake if you like, but I think the chilling of the dough helps to keep the cookies a bit lumpy and not spread out as much).  


Place chunks on a lined baking sheet (I used a spoon to gather up the dough and then smushed it into a ball with my hands.  I tried using a small ice cream scoop, but the dough was too cold and the scoop wasn't effective).


Ready for the oven!
Bake at 375* for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.


ENJOY!!!
NOTE:  3 points plus each!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

What to do with leftover Taco Stuffing???

I don't know about you, but I feel like there's always leftover taco stuffing...


But who wants leftover tacos?


Here's what I sometimes do...


Take the shredded lettuce, and whatever vegetables you have left over and mix them together in a bowl.


Top with the leftover beef and some crumbled goat cheese!


No dressing is needed, as the meat has lots of seasoning already on it!


ENJOY!



Monday, January 16, 2012

Healthy Challenge Week 1 Results

The results of Week 1 of the Healthy Weight Loss Challenge are IN! We had a fabulous week!!

Here are my personal stats:

WEEK #1
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
SUN
1 pt: Contact with Teammat
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3 pts: 64 oz Water
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 pts: Stop eating before 9 pm
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 pts: 2 Fruit Servings (1/2 cup each)
0
3
3
3
0
3
0
5 pts: 3 Vegetable Servings
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 pts: No Sweets/Sugary Treats
0
0
5
5
0
0
0
5 pts: Keep a Food Journal  
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 pts: 30 min. exercise OR
7 pts: 45 min. exercise
7
7
7
0
7
0
0
TOTAL POINTS:
(205 possible for the week)
24
27
32
25
24
20
17

The original instructions said we needed to have no sweets/sugary treats for 6 out of 7 days and exercise 5 out of 7 days to get the points.  We decided as a group to award points on a daily basis instead.

My weekly total:  169
Total Weight Loss for Week 1:  4 lbs
Total Points for Week 1:  209

So exciting!!!