Our Lady of Second Helpings

We are Moving!

2012-01-16T12:31:00.000-08:00

I have some very exciting news to share with Our Lady of Second Helpings readers. As of today we have a new home!

I have been working on getting the new site tided up and ready for everyone and I think it is ready for visitors. There is a new look with some extra goodies but the blog will continue on the front page just as it does here.

Please update any bookmarks you may have created so you continue to find the blog quickly and easily. I can't wait to hear what people think about the new space.

See you over there!

Click this Link to be Taken to the New Site

www.ourladyofsecondhelpings.com

Nuts and Bolts: Have a Drink!

2012-01-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

The number one all time absolute best tip for anyone trying to improve their health is...drink water.

Seriously.

About a month ago I happened to overhear a conversation at the YMCA where a woman half heartedly lamented to a trainer that she had been working out for a year but only shed a pound and a half. This statement caught my attention big time and all sorts of things rolled through my mind. The trainer took the comment in stride and began quizzing the member on a few basic habits. I don't remember the exact exchange so I'll paraphrase:

Trainer: "Are you drinking enough water?
Member: "Oh, no. I don't drink very much water."
Trainer: "You might consider increasing the amount of water you are drinking. It helps your body to flush out all the bad stuff."
Member: "Well I'm not too worried because I don't abuse my liver..."

I think my mouth fell open a bit when I heard that last bit. "I don't abuse my liver." I started thinking about all the things that go into my body that my organs have to sift out and expel because they are of no use or potentially harmfull to my health. Air pollution, pesticides on food, chemical additives, alcohol and caffeine, and many more things go through our bodies on a near daily basis whether we knowingly ingest them or not.

I try to stay well hydrated and have gotten pretty sensitive to the need to drink water throughout the day. Our family stash of water bottles is pretty impressive and we make sure to keep at least one per person full and handy both around the house and when we are out and about. Drinking water helps me feel better physically and I know it helps me to function better. Staying hydrated helps my body eliminate waste more efficiently, keeps my skin in better condition, gives me more energy, helps me better identify the difference between hunger and thirst, and reduces some cravings. It just makes sense to me to drink plenty of water.

I have heard many people say they just can't bring themselves to choose water. It is too plain or boring or they are addicted to diet soda and just don't drink anything else. I would like to be sensitive and not make a wise crack about asking people who have to hike for clean water if it is plain and boring (whoops!). I'll offer instead an article to start. Water: How much should you drink everyday? by Mayo Clinic Staff on the Mayo Clinic website. I thought this was a pretty good basic look at why staying hydrated is good for our bodies and makes some recommendations about what we really ought to be drinking on a daily basis.

One of my favorite notes from the article; "Although it's a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don't need to rely only on what you drink to meet your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent or more water by weight." Notice when the authors say "food" they are talking specifically about fruits and vegetables.

Pretty much all fluids are going to contribute to increasing hydration but I would encourage people to consider making it a goal to reach for water most often.

And it doesn't have to be plain and boring...

Make a pitcher of water that has slices of favorite fruits or vegetables (washed) floating in it. Things like cucumber, citrus, mint leaves, or summer berries all make great subtle flavorings. Punch it up even more by using carbonated water, like seltzer, instead of plain water.
Look for zero calorie powdered mixes to add to a pitcher of water. Crystal Lite or other similar products taste more like juice. Different brands use different artificial or natural sweeteners so check the labels if you are concerned.
In addition to plain carbonated water there are various brands of flavored seltzers on the market. Again make sure the label shows zero calories. In citrus or berry flavors these can be a great alternative to diet soda.

Don't get me wrong. On any given day I might drink a cup of more of coffee, a latte, a diet soda, or a number of other non water beverages but water is always my primary source of hydration.

Time for a Snack! - Chocolate Popcorn Trail Mix

2012-01-11T10:39:00.000-08:00

I love popcorn! The fluffy and crunchy kernels make an easy snack to curb the mid afternoon munchies. A big bowl of warm popcorn is the perfect thing to curl up with while watching a movie (sorry Honey). Popcorn a fantastic blank canvas to turn savory or sweet and can calm many a craving.

Before we started losing weight I would frequently suggest a movie date in order to make a large bag of theater popcorn my dinner entre. I still love theater popcorn just in much smaller portions. I also love fresh kettle corn when we find it at fares or farmers markets. The crunchy sweet and salty little morsels that are slightly smokey from the open flame cooking method make me super happy. Most often we make popcorn at home with our air popper.

I love to experiment with ways to season popcorn and frequently pull items from my spice cupboard adding a dash of this and that to see what works. Popcorn's mild flavor allows many flavors to shine but not all, sorry bacon salt.

Some of my go to flavors include:
A couple of teaspoons of roasted garlic or regular olive oil and salt
A couple teaspoons of melted Smart Balance or Butter
Pam Spray - Butter or Olive Oil
Pretty much any seasoning blend tossed together
Kernel Seasons Popcorn Seasonings (so far I like white cheddar)
Nutritional Yeast
Vogue Instant VegeBase

Inspiration struck a couple weeks ago when I was eating lunch and had the t.v. on. I caught the end of The Chew and a segment on food myths. Co-host Daphne Oz suggested swapping traditional trail mix for one made with popcorn. Then she suggested sprinkling in a few chocolate chips to keep that salty sweet mix that is so tempting in trail mix. Oh it was like a gift from the heavens!

I immediately thought of the granola I made the week before and thought that if I toasted the nuts and popped the corn at the same time I could quickly toss in some mini chocolate chips while everything was still warm and get a nice even coating of chocolate on all the ingredients. So I did and Chocolate Popcorn Trail Mix was born!

Chocolate Popcorn Trail Mix
Whip up a crunchy, salty, sweet, gourmet snack in just a few minutes. Simple enough for any day but just the right amount of pizzaz to take to a party or package up as a gift.

Ingredients

1/2 c unpopped air popped popcorn
(use whatever combo of nuts and dried fruit sounds good to you but it will change the nutrition information provided below)

15 whole almonds
10 pecan halves
1 TB raw sunflower seeds
3/4 c. dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, blueberries, raisins, chopped apricots, etc.)
1/4 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
salt - to taste

Directions

Pre-measure all the ingredients before starting.

Air pop 1/2 cup of popcorn into a large bowl. While corn is popping toast the pecans and almonds so they will be warm when the corn is all popped.

Once the corn is popped toss the chocolate chips and toasted nuts into the popcorn. It helps to use two wooden spoons or spatulas. Sprinkle a bit of salt on top and toss in the dried fruit. Continue tossing until most of the corn has some chocolate on it.

If needed - pour the ingredients into a baking pan and warm briefly in a medium oven to melt the chocolate.

Allow the trail mix to cool completely before serving, otherwise it is very messy!

Serving Size: makes about 6 2c. servings

Approximate Nutrition: Calories 204; Fat 6g; Carbs 32g; Fiber 3.5g; Protein 2.2g

*You know who else likes popcorn? The Popcorn Board and they have a fun website with recipes, activities for kidlets, nutrition information, and more. Check it out! www.popcorn.org

Nuts and Bolts - Building a Health Community

2012-01-08T16:34:00.000-08:00

I am always grateful for my health community and the support it has provided me along my way. It is many-faceted and that is one of the most important parts of how it functions in my life. Building a community to support a life change is not as straight forward as picking a program to structure the change. We all build our communities differently because we need them for different forms of support. This is what mine looks like:

My Partner:
Mike and I feel extremely blessed to have each other as weight loss partners. We have helped each other stay motivated and frequently remind each other why the end result will be much better than giving in to a moment of weakness. I often hear his voice in the back of my mind when I am considering making a choice that I probably wouldn't if we were together.

Coffee Shop Employee: "And would you like a pastry with your latte?"
Our Lady of Second Helpings, Internal Dialogue: Hmm... those Rice Crispy Bars are the lowest PointTM treat in the case. Oh wait I forgot that the new mini treats are under 300 calories. I wonder how many PointsTM they are? I could look it up... I did take a walk earlier... I could play some Wii Fit when I get home... Mike's Voice: "Why don't you get a banana? The latte will be sweet and if you are still hungry a banana is filling."
Our Lady of Second Helpings: (with a small sigh of renewed resolve) "No thanks just the latte." - I don't really like bananas. If I'm not hungry enough to eat a banana I'm certainly not hungry enough for a pastry.

I haven't asked Mike if his brain works this way. I would guess not. Men seem to have far less chaos in their brains, luckies. (Mike's editorial note: We do actually have this level of chaos in common.)

Within our household community I feel a great responsibility to feed my family the healthiest way possible. Even on days that I am worn out and would love to just serve ice cream for dinner, I want to respect Mike's desire to put healthy food in his body. It is not fair to make a meal that does not honor our goal of proper nutrition.

My Support Group:
My health community is much wider than our family unit. Our Weight Watcher's meeting provides us with a fantastic community as long as we keep showing up. We don't always see the same people and in the three and a half years we have been members our Monday night has seen many faces come, go, and come back again. I enjoy the bonds we are able to build with the other regulars and I also enjoy meeting new people. We all have stories and ideas to share. The meeting room is a safe place to get feedback when things haven't gone well or we are stuck in a rut. The meeting room is also a great place to remember that food issues affect anyone and our common desire to heal can transcend age, income, relationship status, and all the other things that keep us from sharing our stories in the "real world." Our weekly meeting community has been the source of many great food tips, words of inspiration, and pats on the back for all the small successes we have had along the way.

In the past year we have had a few fun outings and activities with our Weight Watchers meeting friends. I posted previously about our recipe exchange and how fun it was to trade cooking ideas. We have also had a few walking events. Most recently we joined some friends for a New Years Day stroll. It was a relaxing and energizing way to start the year off on the right foot!

Media:
In a broader sense I tend to consider any person or resource that provides me with positive inspirations and tips a part of my health community. On-line I look for articles by other people who are striving for the same goals I am. There are many health and wellness magazines on newsstands that I thumb through from time to time. In my down time I enjoy television shows like NBC's Biggest Loser or cooking shows that teach healthy recipes. Not all of the things I read or watch relate directly to my own life but I have found them to be great motivational and inspirational resources.

Extended Social Network:
My friends and family play a role in my health community but in a more nuanced way. I want everyone to feel as good in their skin as I do but I have had to learn that people need to find their own way, like I did. Not all of the people in my life are part of my health community just like not all of them were school mates or members of my faith community. We all love each other where we are at in the moment.

I have found it very important to have a broad community. Not everyone can be supportive all the time, people and resources come and go. With so many sources to go to for motivation I always have somewhere to turn when I need a boost or an idea.

Nuts and Bolts - Pick a Program

2012-01-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

Author's Note: I've been having trouble getting this simple series off the ground. My entire motivation for writing a blog is to share how I managed to lose weight. I keep falling into a trap of framing my thoughts in much grander terms than I am qualified. I am here to be a cheerleader for anyone looking to make a change for the better in their own life. In this Nuts and Bolts series I will give some of the specific changes and tools that I believe have helped me get to where I am now and that I continue to use in my daily life. I am not the originator of most of the ideas I will share but I hope that my repeating good ideas will help to crowd out the less helpful ones. Take what may work for you and leave the rest, we are all on our own path and have our own needs.

To Begin - Pick a Program

Once I knew that it was time for a change I picked a program, Weight Watchers. I have been trying to speak in broad terms as often as possible when I talk about my approach to eating but the bottom line is I learned how to a healthy way to feed myself when I joined Weight Watchers and I stayed because, just like their marketing slogan says, "it works." The program allowed me to make my own choices about what I put into my mouth on a daily basis while providing healthy guidelines and parameters to help me make those choices.

I focused only on the calories I was consuming. I don't think I could have built the kind of sustainability I have achieved if I had tried to change more than one lifestyle component at a time. Changing my approach to food was a huge change all by itself because I had to completely relearn how to eat. Weight Watchers provided me with my daily PointsTM target. Everyday when I woke up I had a new budget of PointsTM to spend before bed. I really enjoyed the game of planing how to use my daily PointsTM. At first there was a lot of trial and error but taking each day as its own puzzle helped me have fun and quickly move past the frustrations that come with learning a new skill. Best of all because the program stair stepped my PointsTM total down as my weight loss continued I didn't go through a huge change in food volume all at once and I wasn't hungry all the time in the early days (or ever).

I think anyone looking to begin a transition to different way of eating should work with some established program. The choices are vast and it can be a stumbling block just to begin. I obviously recommend Weight Watchers because it has worked so well for our family. There are some on-line that help you track your eating and encourage a balanced approach and increasing activity. I think a really great place to begin is a reference from a health care professional that knows a bit about your specific situation.

Personally I would hesitate to start any program that focuses on creating a diet where entire food groups are eliminated or severely restricted, unless it is medically supervised. In my program no food is specifically off limits, I just weigh the PointsTM total against my daily budget and decide if it is worth the deduction before I put it in my mouth. I think this exercise of determining a food's value has helped me become a more creative and adventurous cook. I find myself seeking out ingredients with bold flavors and unique textures but low or no PointsTM value and combining them in ways I haven't tried before. Weight Watchers also has daily Healthy Checks and participants are encouraged to mark off items like dairy, water, and vitamins as they are consumed.

My final recommendation when beginning a new program would be, give it a trial period of no less than 4-6 weeks. Breaking and learning new habits takes time and many changes have a rocky and uncomfortable start. Ask a lot of questions in the early days and make sure you understand not only what to do but why. Having a solid understanding of the basics helps ensure a sustainable future and sets you up to add more components as you are ready. If the first program you try doesn't fit your life try another one. Everyone is different not all programs are going to work for all people it is not a reflection on the program or its participants and it certainly isn't personal.

Encouragement From My Past Self

2012-01-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

This week I am working on putting together my Nuts and Bolts series. Part of my process has been to think back to the early days of weight loss and the tools I found most useful. I rediscovered a few posts I wrote for a blog that didn't get off the ground a few years ago. Those posts, from January 2009, are a great reminder of what I was feeling a few months into the journey. Below is one of those posts. I hope you enjoy this little trip in the, not so, Way Back Machine.

Unexpected Motivation

So my husband and I have been losing weight together on Weight Watchers since the end of August and as I was telling someone last night our names would be in literature with a * after them. *Results Not Typical. Losing weight has been a wonderful gift to give myself everyday since we started. I feel like I have reached a point where I can finally see results in myself. People have been telling me that I look different for awhile but I can finally see it for myself when I look in the mirror. We have been mastering eating within our points and exploring how to make the foods we love healthy and delicious. I cook he cleans and we get better every day!

For Christmas we "exchanged" pedometers and I think it was just the thing I needed to catapult me to the next level. I find myself keeping close tabs on the numbers of steps I have taken throughout the day. Last weekend we were out and about on Sunday and I got up to over 9300 steps. I was so excited because it had been a busy day but I hadn't built in any specific exercise. At home I have figured out that due to the rectangular layout of our house I can go from one end to the other five or six times and get 300 steps in just a few minutes - during a commercial break no less. The more I find ways to build steps into my day the more I am motivated to look for even more.

I have been working in the same building for two and a half years and for the first time it occurred to me that while we only occupy the ground floor there are 5 flights of stairs that I have easy access to when ever I want. So Monday I was having a rough time focusing and decided to go get a little exercise in to help my brain. Up those stairs I trot! I was breathing heavily by the time I got to the top but it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. On the way down I stopped on the parking garage level and did a lap around the small garage. Back at my desk I felt pretty pleased. The next day I popped my lean cuisine into the microwave and rather than standing there for 4 and a half minutes watching it spin around slowly I popped out to the stairs again. This time I went up and did a couple of laps in the parking lot and was back before the microwave finished. How cool is that? Well I think it is cool.

Today I saw that it wasn't raining so I grabbed my iPod and scooted out the door. I was so excited to be getting out to walk around the neighborhood (we have recently been snow bound so I think I am still recovering from cabin fever). It was cold and damp but I kept a comfortable brisk pace and due to a misjudgment in my route I covered just over a mile! I was sad to have to go back even though it had begun raining again. I have this energy bursting out of me and it feels incredible.

For the past couple of years I have had to deal with minor to moderate SAD in the winter so it is such a relief to be motivated to do anything let alone go charging up and down 5 flights of stairs on a whim. I do think my pedometer is helping because it is a concrete gauge that I am getting up and moving more. The more I move the more I move it is a wondrous feeling that I never thought I would have. I just pray that this is the beginning of something I will get to experience for a long time to come.

If you would like the read the other posts there are a few more at http://roseslittleblog.blogspot.com/

He Made it to Goal! A Guest Post by "Mr. Second Helpings"

2011-12-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers, I have often mentioned my husband and our mutual weight loss success. On Monday he weighed in at his Weight Watchers goal weight. Here is his story, in his own words...

Reflections on my Journey

On Monday (December 26th) I gave myself a great late Christmas present. At our weekly Weight Watcher’s meeting, the scale read 199.6 pounds; I had reached my WW goal! Rose had asked me some time ago if I would write a guest post when I got here. I’m not a blogger, so I’m definitely feeling out of my element writing this. Here goes...

Regular readers of Our Lady will already know much of our story. Three and a half years ago, Rose and I were both extremely overweight. We didn’t have a healthy lifestyle. Much of our food came from restaurants where we would clean our plates. Snacks would usually be sugary sweets. We didn’t - couldn’t - do much of anything that required physical exertion.

June 2008

Rose had brought up dieting several times, but I was reticent to do anything about it. It’s kind of difficult at this point to understand why. I think the biggest part was low self-esteem; I just wasn’t worth working hard for myself. I had in the past dieted, and even lost significant weight, but I hadn’t kept it off. It seemed like my body just wanted to be fat.

At the same time, we were talking seriously about starting our family. I wanted to have children, but the thought of chasing after a toddler or just playing on the floor was frightening to me.

“Change will only happen when the pain to stay the same is greater than the pain to change.”

I might modify the saying to include “the perceived pain to change.” Occasionally we commit to doing something, discover that it is harder than we thought, and persevere to reach a sense of accomplishment. Frequently we avoid something because we fear it to be more difficult than the reality, and ultimately regret not doing it earlier.

Rose finally said that she was going to join Weight Watchers. She pleaded for me to join her, but would do it without me. I could see that Rose really wanted to do something about her weight and mine. She was in pain, and she needed my support.

I knew that if we did have children, they would need me to be active in their lives.

Finally, I needed to do something, and I didn’t have any better ideas.

It was difficult for me to say yes, but at that point, it would have been even more difficult to say no.

Losing weight was not as difficult as I thought it would be.

Not to say that losing weight was easy. But once I had committed, I discovered that many of the tools I needed were readily available. Also, I didn’t have to change everything all at once.

At about the same time, I had a reassignment to a work location with terrible parking. After I rode the company-provided shuttle bus on the first day, I chose instead to walk the 15-to-20 minutes from my car to my desk in the morning, and again in the afternoon. I didn’t enjoy the walking, but I knew I needed to do it and now that I am back in an office with great parking, I miss it!

July 2009, enjoying an afternoon of hiking and playing outside.

Rose has been an amazing partner along the way. I’m not much of a cook, so I have depended very much on her to plan and prepare healthy meals. I love that she has been adventurous, and have discovered many foods that I would have avoided previously. (Tofu, anyone?) I hope she inspires you to try new things!

As we have progressed, we have needed to up the game to keep going. We have done a handful of 30-day challenges. For example, we both enjoy lattes. We would drink them on a near daily basis, which cost us additional calories and cash. We challenged ourselves to no lattes for 30 days. I made up for it by making a fresh pot of drip before leaving the house. After the month was up, we both broke the habit, and a latte is now an occasional treat - which is even more enjoyable.

A lifetime of healthy living!

Our big secret is that the changes we have made over the past few years are sustainable. They have become new habits, and have redefined “normal” for us. We make a conscious selection of healthy, balanced meals. When we make our own food, we don’t put more on our plate than we need; if we are dining out, we don’t have a compulsion to clean the plate. Physical activities are part of most every day.

Keeping up with our toddler!

Reaching my Weight Watchers goal, this last week in particular, put an underline on the importance of these good habits. In the four days prior to weigh-in, I had been to four different parties. I ate delicious foods, drank beer and wine, and enjoyed a variety of treats! Meanwhile, I was keeping an awareness of eating balanced meals, and stopping when I was full. (Well, maybe one more cookie...) Simply not gaining weight would have been an achievement! Losing weight in such a week is incredible, especially to myself.

Birthday Celebration!

Rose was very puzzled by my subdued reaction to the weigh-in. While this milestone has been met, I do not feel like I am “done”. I still want to lose 20 more pounds for my personal target, and be more muscular as well. I want to keep learning and keep healthy every day for the rest of my life. I want to do this with Rose by my side!

December 2011, down 167 pounds and feeling more confident than ever!

Time to Celebrate

2011-12-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

Saturday at midnight we will be ringing in a brand new year but our family is already celebrating.

I am a bit late with this announcement - On Monday my husband weighed in at our Weight Watchers meeting at his goal weight! Yes, for those playing along at home that was the very next day after Christmas! It was also three days after his 40th birthday and a long weekend of birthday and holiday parties. On Monday we also rocked the scale (in a good way) by reaching a collective 302 pounds shed since August of 2008. These successes on their own are fantastic and together make a monumental way to round out the current year and move into the next with more possibilities than ever!

A few months ago I asked my husband to write a reflection on his weight loss journey once he reached his goal weight. He is working on collecting his thoughts and I hope to be able to share his post by the end of the week.

It's not too late to check off a few health goals in 2011. Eat mindfully, find a fun way to work in some activity, and give yourself a pat on the back. The new year looks bright and we can all hit the ground running!

An Exception to My Rule

2011-12-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

When I write a post for this blog I am speaking from the best resource I have, my own experience. In my last post, Feeding My Mind Changed My Body, I said that our bodies become our own to care for as we mature into adulthood. I want to go back and qualify that concept, the statement does not encompass my current reality.

Six months into our weight loss journey I became pregnant with our son. The pregnancy began just as I achieved my first fifty pound loss. A few weeks ago we celebrated our son's second birthday. I now have the joy of mothering a busy, nursing toddler. My body has not been mine alone since February 2009 almost 3 years but I have lost 134 pounds, as of Monday (84 pounds since becoming pregnant).

Dining al fresco - Nursing my toddler in Beverly Hills

I don't want to stray very far into the realm of parenting blogs; many others are doing an excellent job in that genre. I know that many mothers of young children are struggling to find a way to improve their health while fullfling the needs of their family. It is not an easy task but everyday I make sure to put a reasonable amount of nutritious food in my mouth and get activity in where and when I can. This commitment allows me to be a more present and active wife and mother than when I was tired and uncomfortable all the time.

In our house, healthy choices are a constant part of our dialogue. I relish the times my son requests healthy snacks and he happily eats a variety of foods at meal times. We dance together and in his world video games are most often played by jumping around the room. I recently adopted an exercise I call, "Shaun Squats." I hold him around the waist then squat down and stand up while lifting him up in front of me. We repeat these while counting to ten together. He loves it and at a very solid 35 pounds he is helping me tone and build muscle.

Getting excited about the kale and mandarin tree outside Whole Foods.

As a mother my body is not wholly my own, but that is how I choose to be. By choosing this way of living, in a way it still is. So in that case I guess I'm back to my previous point. Be good to your body, for yourself and everyone who counts on you to be your best.

Feeding My Mind Changed My Body

2011-12-26T15:59:00.000-08:00

I have one body and it is mine to care for. My parents were responsible for my first years, but it was their role to teach me how to care for my body myself. When I entered my teen years, my parents began to fully release their control over my body and I was able to begin calling all the shots. I chose everything about my body. Fashion successes or missteps were mine alone to make and any piercings, tattoos, nail polish, or other forms of self expression were up to me. I certainly had my fair share of bold hair and wardrobe statements.

I also get to choose what I put into my body. My food choices are a large part of feeding my body. If I want my body to work to the best of its ability I need to put quality fuel in it. I drive a car that requires premium-grade gasoline and because I want it to run great for a long time I fill up accordingly. I could fill my gas tank with regular-grade fuel but I could not ask my car to run as well for as long if I did. My body, like my car, requires premium-grade fuel.

My mind also requires premium-grade fuel. It is as important for my mind to be fed well as my body. The television I watch, the things I read, and the people I surround myself with are all important parts of my mental nutrition. I also need to make sure that I am telling myself nutritious things.

I feel very lucky to have spent several years as a Mary Kay consultant. During my time in the company I was surrounded by positive messages. Mary Kay Ash, the company founder, was a beautiful speaker and wrapped big ideas in inspirational little packages, like this one, Those who are blessed with the most talent don't necessarily outperform everyone else. It's the people with follow-through who excel. Surrounding myself with this constant stream of positive messages and women cheering each other on were vitamins for my soul. The other side of the Mary Kay coin is a strong work ethic. There is no beating around the bush that people who are successful put in the hours. Hard work will be rewarded but you have to do it. I do not think it is a coincidence that I joined Weight Watchers two years after becoming a Mary Kay consultant.

In July of 2008 I was able to visit the Mary Kay Corporate Headquarters in Dallas, TX and attend the annual Seminar. Many people told me the experience would be life changing and it was, just not the way I expected.

Posing outside of Mary Kay Ash's personal office.
We joined Weight Watchers less than a month after this photo was taken.

For a long time, I made excuses about why I didn't need to treat my body with the respect it deserves. Being uncomfortable and tired makes it seem easier to remain stagnent than to make any changes. Without realizing what was happening, I changed my mental diet long before changing my physical diet. I found role models that inspired me to want more. I was able to hear how they pick themselves up when they failed and keep looking forward to the bigger prizes to keep motivated.

Click Here to see more motivational Mary Kay Ash quotes. What are some of your favorite quotes to lift your spirit and feed your mind?

Coming Soon!

During the month of January I am going to launch a series of posts I am calling "Nuts and Bolts." These posts will center around the tools and tricks I learned in my early days of losing weight. I promise to share both what worked and what didn't so you can learn from (and laugh at) my experiences. I hope to show how my journey has been about adopting small changes one at a time. I also hope to help provide a little bit of a road map to turn those earnest New Years resolutions everyone is about to make, into sustainable actions.

Granola for Giving

2011-12-22T23:09:00.000-08:00

There are just two days left until Christmas. I'm confident my readers have finished shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, traveling, etc. and are now relaxing with a cup of tea and a low fat cookie. However I happened to hear in a local news report that twenty five percent of people haven't begun shopping. That's a pretty big group of people and you may know of someone who is still looking for ideas so just pass this one along from your comfy chair.

I am giving my family homemade granola and because I made it, they have to like it. It is really good so I am pretty sure they would like it anyway. The recipe comes from a friend, who has a friend, who has a B&B in Seattle's Greenlake neighborhood. They serve this granola to guests of the B&B. The finished granola is sweet and cinnamony with a touch of saltiness. I had a hard keeping my taste tests to a minimum. This is not a lightened recipe and it is a bit calorie dense so I would think of it more as a great topping for yogurt. I would also measure a small amount and just nibble it for a small snack.

The recipe is pretty simple to whip up and many of the ingredients could be swapped around to suit a taste preference. I also recommend making a batch, or four, just for the smell, amazing! After it's all packaged nicely, I'm sure anyone would appreciate a tasty gift from your kitchen (ahem -I mean your friend's kitchen, the one who hasn't started shopping yet).

Super secret packaging resource: The Dollar Store!

Greenlake Granola

Prep time minimal, cooking time aprox: 25 minutes

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 scant teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup whole almonds

¼ cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds

1/3 cup pecan halves

1/3 cup dried blueberries

1/3 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.

Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and combine. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the almonds over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the pecans and sunflower seeds over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let cool completely. Sprinkle the dried blueberries and dried cranberries or cherries over the granola.

Transfer it to an airtight container.

The granola will keep for about 1 week.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving: about 1/2 cup

Calories 232.4, Total Fat 12.4 g, Cholesterol 0.0 mg, Sodium 168.1 mg, Total Carbohydrate 37.9 g, Dietary Fiber 5.0 g, Sugars 14.3 g, Protein 3.9 g

UPDATE: The B&B that serves this granola is called Greenlake Guesthouse and It looks beautiful. Check them out if you are in need of a place to stay in a great part of Seattle.

Happiest Holidays to All

2011-12-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

On This Eve

One candle for Advent. One candle for Chanukah.

A candle to brighten the longest night.

Light a flame to remember, a flame for the future, and a flame to illuminate now.

Let a flame glow for peace, unity, and hope.

A spark for love. A flare for wonder. A blaze for warmth and joy in the New Year.

May your home and heart be filled with peace and your celebrations filled with joy.

May we all be blessed, every one.

Happy Holidays from Our Lady of Second Helpings

Emotional Eating During the Holidays is Not ALL Bad - Grandma's Nanaimo Bars

2011-12-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

Last week our Weight Watchers leader gave us a great tip for holiday treats. Keep a mental list of all the foods you have an emotional connection with, and as you go through the holiday season enjoy the foods you love - once - then check them off your mental list. For instance, if Grandma's Pumpkin Pie is your absolute favorite and she always makes it for St. Nicholas Day, you can look forward to having it then and easily say "no, thank you very much" to an offer of a lesser version at a different time. It may also mean saying "no, thank you very much" to foods not already on the list.

When I allow myself one (or two) indulgences at a time, I enjoy the experience of the food and better remember it later. Since I mindfully try to eat only what my body needs for nourishment, I want to really mark those times I choose to eat a treat because I really do enjoy eating. On Christmas Eve I will have an opportunity to eat several of the treats on my list and believe me I will savor them.

One of those treats are the Nanaimo Bars my Grandma is finishing up today. These are a staple on our family dessert table at Christmas and for a very long time I thought they were unique unto my Grandmother. The bars are not unique to our family but they do come from a small town on Vancouver Island, Canada and that is pretty close to where we live and local, after all, is almost as good a family. There is a fun little article on Wikipedia if you'd like to read the history of Nanaimo Bars.

These bars are chocolatey-creamy-ooey-gooey-sticky-yummy goodness and I absolutely have an emotional association with eating them. The great thing is I can have a warm fuzzy feeling with just a few bites then I am good for another year. It is completely normal and okay to have nostalgic happy feelings tied to food, especially foods that only come out at certain times during the year. I simply make these foods part of my plan and practice moderation.

If we shutter ourselves away from tempting foods we may miss out on wonderful opportunities to enjoy our family and friends. As you go through this week of celebrations be present in each moment. Choose what you will enjoy and enjoy what you choose!

Naniamo Bars on the lower half of the tray,
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and Frosting Dipped Pretzels on top.

NANAIMO BARS

from Our Lady of Second Helpings' Grandma's Recipe Card

Base Layer:

½ C. Butter - Softened

¼ C. White Sugar

5 TBSP Cocoa

1 TSP. Vanilla

1 Egg

2 C. Graham Cracker Crumbs

1 C. Coconut

½ Chopped Walnuts

Place softened butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and egg into a bowl over a sauce pan of boiling water.

Stir well until butter is melted and mixture looks like a custard.

In a large bowl -Combine crumbs, nuts, and coconut.

Add cooked ingredients to crumb mixture folding together until blended.

Press combined ingredients into a 9” pan

Chill 15 minutes to overnight.

Middle Layer

¼ C. Butter

3 TBSP Milk

2 TSP Vanilla Instant Pudding

2 C. Powdered Sugar

Mix together first three ingredients and fold in powdered sugar until completely blended.

Spread over chilled base and chill an additional 15 to 30 minutes.

Top Layer:

When first two layers are chilled: Melt 4 squares of Semi-Sweet (or Unsweetened) Baking Chocolate with 1 TB Butter.

Spread melted chocolate over the chilled layers.

Fully chill completed bars before cutting into squares.

Keep the bars cool until ready to serve.

Ho, Ho, Oh Dear...

2011-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

Bah Humbug! Okay that is a little strong, but, I have suffered yet another disappointment in the kitchen. I was really looking forward to producing an array of slimmed down holiday baked goods to share with all of you and my friends and family. Unfortunately I am striking out left and right.

Yesterday I went in search of a sugar cookie recipe that I could tweak a little to reduce the fat and calories. I found one geared toward diabetics that had a huge list of ingredients including brown sugar and corn syrup, far too fussy for my mood. Then, I came across Alton Brown's Sugar Cookies on foodnetwork.com and felt sure that his straight forward and moderately scientific approach would yield just the cookie I was in the mood for. It seemed a little heavy on the flour and oddly did not include vanilla, or any other flavoring, but I went ahead and followed the recipe.

I, as always, changed a few things. The cup of sugar became a half cup of sugar and a half cup of sugar blend (xylitol, maltodextrin, and sucralose), I substituted Smart Balance for the unsalted butter, and I added vanilla bean seeds.

The cookie dough came together easily, despite my less than efficient hand mixer. I thought it tasted very plain and not particularly sugary but I wrapped to chill for a couple of hours. Alton instructs bakers to roll the dough out using powdered sugar to prevent sticking. I generally use flour but since the dough was not particularly sweet I tried it, sparingly.

The dough cracked and crumbled while I was trying to work it and then stuck to my rolling pin as I attempted to get it to a consistent 1/4 thickness. It cut and transfered to the cookie sheets decently and baked quickly without losing to much of the shape.

The resulting cookies were cute but tasted more like a dry shortbread than the slightly sweetened cookies I imagined. I did have fun squirting on the icing from little store bought tubes. The icing sweetened them up enough to be okay but not great.

I think it is time for me to hang up my baker's hat for awhile and get back to cooking. Reinventing baked goods seems more scientific than I can manage at the moment. The realization brings me back to high school chemistry. I had a terrible time with the math and without my lab partner I am pretty sure I wouldn't have passed the class. Not surprising, Venessa, my former lab partner is now a stellar pastry chef and here I am, still trying to figure it all out!

Redirecting with Sugar Cookies

2011-12-15T15:35:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to go to a cooking class tonight taught by a chef and nutritionist. The topic was festive holiday treats and desserts that were lightened up and fresh. I was super excited to see what tricks she uses and get some new techniques. Not enough people signed up so there will be no class. Boo. Since I was all geared up to learn some new recipes and I still haven't made a treat I could decorate I am going to dive into making a revamped rolled sugar cookie. Using a basic recipe for my launch point I will reduce the sugar and fat to make it a little lighter but hopefully keep the texture and taste. Check back soon to see the results and the recipe (if it works).

In the mean time I hope everyone is remembering to share a smile with a stranger while you are out and about. Those little acts of kindness really do go a long way!

Birthday Smoothies

2011-12-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

This morning I was sitting on the floor at a friend's house watching my son run around the room and two things struck me. First, I am so grateful that I am now physically able to sit on the floor. For so many years it only took a minute or so before I lost feeling in my legs or had to lean back to take a full breath. The second thing that struck me, I can't believe I am the mother of a two year old!

Frequently my husband and I are told how great it is that we will be able to share our healthy changes with our son. I really appreciate the comments but at times it feels like an overwhelming commission. When it came time to introduce solid foods into my son's diet I wound up doing a lot of soul searching. I didn't want to do anything that would set him off on the wrong foot with food. After a few months I relaxed and have been delighted to watch him grow into a toddler who loves to eat a wide variety of foods. His favorite is fruit.

Saturday morning my son woke up just in time to be wished happy birthday at his time of birth, 7:05 a.m. Shortly after we all piled out of bed to begin a day of birthday activities. I wanted to make a breakfast that was light and healthy to balance the cupcakes we were planning to eat in the afternoon. I also wanted to have a breakfast that was quick but still special in honor of the day.

Smoothies are so easy and so many fruits and vegetables can get tossed in to make a vitamin filled treat. We keep it simple and generally stick to fruits and yogurt but I know many people who add protein powder, leafy greens, and many more ingredients to their smoothies. I really like to have a smoothie on a day I will have less control over the food available, for instance a day with a party in the middle of the afternoon/evening. By starting with a breakfast full of fruit I know I have consumed most of my daily servings before the temptations begin.

Early in our relationship I taught my husband a basic method to make smoothies and since then he has been the chief smoothie maker in our house. I stole a little of his thunder by making them this week but I still let him make the coffee (because I am giving like that!). Here is how we make them:

Basic Smoothie
1 cup of non-fat plain yogurt
1 banana
1 - 2 cups assorted frozen fruit
add water to thin to desired consistency

This is just a platform to try new flavor combinations. The frozen fruit helps to make it more thick and creamy but a smoothie can absolutely be made entirely from fresh fruit with some ice tossed in.

With a slice of toast on the side we were all fueled up and ready to go celebrate our newly minted two year old on his day... after a shower.

Healthy Food - Eat it, Wear it, Love it!

Meringue Cookies or The Snowmen Debacle

2011-12-10T20:10:00.001-08:00

The other day I got a great idea for a Christmas confection, sort of a cookie, but a light and guiltless one. I thought it would be super fun to make meringue snowmen. My hope was to have cute little snowmen with the same crisp and airy texture as the pre-made puffs I have bought in the past. Most importantly I wanted something I could decorate. I poked around on-line to find a recipe and found a few variations so I went with the simplest one to start.

On a quiet afternoon with frost still glittering on the grass I got busy turning my brilliant idea into an edible delight. As I staged the ingredients and mixed the meringue I photographed my progress, already envisioning the amazing final product.

Room temperature egg whites, 1/3 of a cup of Splenda Sugar Blend, 1/8 of a teaspoon of cream of tarter, and the seeds from a vanilla bean. Scrapping the insides out of the vanilla bean made me feel like I really knew what I was doing. Whipping the egg whites into stiff peaks was so rewarding. The tiny vanilla bean seeds clearly defined by the stark fluffy whites already tasted delicious.

I don't own a pipping bag so I cut the zipper off of a gallon sized storage bag and snipped away a small piece of one corner. As I began to pipe the snowmen on to my parchment lined cookies sheets I felt like I might be able to submit my genius idea to a culinary magazine.

The recipe called for the meringues to bake at 175 degrees for 2 hours. I placed the two pans of snowmen into the oven, set the timer, and sat down to finish stamping my Christmas cards while Miracle on 34th Street (with Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood) played in the background. I felt like the crowned Queen of Christmas.

After an hour I peeked in the oven and found the snowmen just sitting there as though nothing had happened with perhaps a few extra little bubbles on their surface. Another half an hour later I was concerned that the snowmen did not have any sort of a crust forming on them. One of the recipes I glanced at used a slightly higher temperature so I turned the heat up to 200 degrees.

Twenty seven minutes later I pulled two pans of sticky, soft, peed on snowmen out of the oven.

They firmed up a little after cooling for a few minutes but were no where near my vision. This caused me to frown, then sigh, and then I handed one to my son who smiled, gobbled it up, and demanded another.

Things do not always go the way I envision them. I am not The Queen of Christmas and sometimes life sends me "peed on snowmen" but, at the end of the day, I am queen of my own kitchen and that's about all I can handle right now.

*Got any tips for making a crisp meringue cookie? Let me know in the comments!

Pomegranates - Super Delicious Super Food

2011-12-07T17:48:00.001-08:00

Maybe it is just me but, I find it hard to get excited about the fresh fruit that is available this time of year. I feel limited to a rotation of cold storage apples, oranges, or bananas. This is precisely why I was so motivated to pick and freeze fruit during the summer. I enjoy having a variety of frozen fruits on hand but prefer to eat fresh fruit as often as possible. That is why I was so excited a few weeks ago to walk into the grocery store and see a display of fresh pomegranates 2 for $5. This time of year the price for the fruit comes down and I like to pick up one or two a week to eat alone or use to jazz up other food.

Pomegranate's light red leathery exteriors unassumingly enclose hundreds of ruby colored juice filled seeds (arils). They take a little effort to eat but it is absolutely worth it. The juice is sweet and rich, vitamin packed, and when you eat the arils whole they are full of fiber. I like to sort of peel the leathery skin away from the clusters of arils and then gently pop them out onto a cutting board or a bowl. The juice can stain so it is best to wear an apron or dark clothing when seeding a pomegranate. (It is possible to purchase arils that have already been removed from the skin but I have found them to be pricey and past their peak every time I have tried them.) Once you have liberated them, eat the arils alone or get creative.

Here are some ideas:

For breakfast: The other morning I was feeling the need to try something new with my oatmeal. I have mentioned before how much I like oatmeal in the morning both plain with cinnamon or as a platform for other flavors. This week I poked around in my freezer and found a bag of nectarines that I froze a few months ago. I mixed them into my pot with pomegranate balsamic vinegar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and just a pinch of cardamom. It smelled amazing but needed some color and texture. I seeded just one section of a pomegranate and sprinkled the seeds on top of the finished oatmeal. The result was a bowl of warm spicy goodness that definitely chased away the winter blues.

A Snack: Fat Free Greek Yogurt with pomegranate arils and a drizzle of amazing raspberry syrup from Four Seasons Gourmet Foods (seriously good if you are able to get your hands on some). I made this for my son but almost kept it for myself!

Lunch or Dinner: Top a plain salad with pomegranate arils.

I had some mixed greens that needed to be used up but not much else to go with them. I sliced some green onion and tossed the salad with a homemade vinaigrette inspired by Kernels and Seeds last post.

Pomegranate Vinaigrette

2 TB olive oil

2 tsp minced garlic

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

2 TB balsamic vinegar

1 TB pomegranate balsamic vinegar

1 TB dijon mustard

salt and pepper

I poured it all in a small mason jar and shook to combine. I only needed about 1 1/2 TB to dress the salad so there is a lot left for future salads or marinades. YUM!

However you eat a pomegranate I hope you will have fun. Not only is it beautiful and delicious, it is a SUPER FOOD! I for one can use as much "super" as I can get my hands on.

For more fun facts and recipes check out the POM Council website at pomegranates.org.

Do It Yourself "Thin" Bread and Turkey Apple Cranberry Sandwich

2011-12-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

When we started paying closer attention to how we "spent" our calories my husband and I found that we ate significantly less bread than we were used to. In many cases I skipped bread because it would have used up all the food budget for my meal before I even put anything on it. Additionally by skipping bread I also passed on most of the condiments I would have put on the bread. When we grilled brats or burgers at home I would skip the bun in favor of some multigrain chips or a whole grain side dish. Similarly our sandwiches turned into low fat / low carb wraps. I usually don't mind giving up bread in favor of using my calories for other food but sometimes, gosh darn, I just want a sandwich.

About two years ago major bread manufacturers released their "thin" sandwich breads and bagels. I was skeptical but after trying Thomas' 100 Everything Bagel Thins I fell back in love with bread. The thin products are a great way to have a sandwich or toast and use most of your calories on the filling. The small down side to the "thin" products is their limited flavor options.

Around the same time the "thin" bread became widely available, we started to see some bread on our local grocery store shelves with a really catchy package. Dave's Killer Bread, out of Milwaukie, Oregon, is a delicious product with a fantastic story. Their vision, according to their website is, "to make the world a better place, one loaf of bread at a time." My husband and I began choosing Killer Bread over sandwich thins for all the reasons I just mentioned. Problem is we would have to choose a half a sandwich to keep the calories reduced. They do make a light bread but we really like the full on seed covered version. So we resumed our life with sandwiches few and far between.

Then one day we got a tip from fellow Weight Watchers bread enthusiasts. Their tip made me laugh when I heard it because it was so obvious but hadn't ever occurred to me. Cut the bread in half. Not to make two small pieces but more like filleting a fish. The bread should be toasted at least a little and it is important to use a good knife but with a little bit of practice it is not difficult to make any bread "thin."

Last Saturday using homemade Killer Bread "thins" I made some really awesome turkey cranberry sandwiches.

I began by throwing together a batch of low sugar cranberry sauce. I went heavy on the orange zest and light on the sugar so it would be really tangy.

While the sauce cooked down, I tossed together a mix of white and dark turkey meat, half an apple, thinly sliced green onion, about 6 large basil leaves, a generous shake of dried dill, and some dry mustard. I mixed in about 1/3 of a cup of plain non-fat yogurt to make it creamy but not heavy.

I built the sandwiches with the toasted side out and heaped the turkey and apple mixture onto a bed of mixed greens with the cooled cranberry sauce on the opposite side. The filling was a little bulky for the thin slices of bread but they still did a decent job of holding together.

Served with a few pretzels and the remaining apple I don't think this sandwich will be featured in Gourmet Magazine but for a Saturday afternoon it was just the ticket!

*Major Update! - I was just checking out Dave's Killer Bread's website and saw new light versions of both Good Seed (75 calories a slice) and 21 Grain (65 calories a slice)!!! The original versions are 130 and 110 calories, respectively. It is still a little lighter to make them thin but I am very excited about these new versions of their original flavors. I now *heart* Dave's even more!

The Advent Smile Project

2011-12-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

During the dark winter months when we spend so much more time inside it can be easy to fall into a pattern of grumpiness. Longer lines in stores, crowded parking lots, and heightened expectations can leave us irritated and exhausted. Our to-do lists grow longer and our time gets taken up by many festive obligations. Sometimes the swirl of coming, and going, and doing, overwhelms our ability to just be, in the moment.

The season of Advent is one of watching and waiting. As Catholics our family and many others light the candles in our Advent wreaths as a reminder to be in the moment and prepare our hearts for what is to come. The candles are a warm light in the dark of winter and a sign of hope. Beginning today, I propose we all go out and become living Advent candles.

The Advent Smile Project is simple: Find at least one person every day, make eye contact, and offer them a genuine warm smile. If you are uncomfortable making eye contact with a stranger start by simply reminding yourself to smile throughout the day. If the situation calls for it, follow your smile with a cheerful greeting and see where it takes you.

"Bonus points" for smiling at other drivers in a crowded parking lot. Additional "bonus points" for making eye contact with a retail employee and offering them a sincere "thank you." (Triple "bonus points" for doing all of this with no electronic gadget in your hand.)

Everyday that you participate pop over to the Facebook page and post the word smile on the wall. If you have any fun stories to share about your experience please also post them on the wall.

Smiles can be magical, contagious, and instantly therapeutic. A smile can change the course of a stressful interaction or just lift a persons spirits when they are low. It is a simple pure gift we can give each other and we get to experience all the benefits at the same time.

I hope by being more watchful and aware of who might need a smile I will be more present in each moment. The month of December isn't something for us to get through in order to celebrate Christmas or the New Year. The holiday season is about the journey, just like all other parts of our life. Let's light up December with smiles!

When the going gets tough, the tough make soup

2011-11-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

Times are tight all over. Our family, like so many others, is having to take a hard look at our finances and make some uncomfortable choices. I share this not because I want to get into a discussion of money management but because I want to share that I am struggling with stress and anxiety. My entire being is urging me to plop down on the couch with a fuzzy blanket and a container of ice cream to medicate and stuff my feelings of discomfort. I would love to dive into a grande peppermint mocha and swim around in its warm, sweet, cozy, goodness. I am choosing to do neither of those things. Both, because we have stopped buying ice cream and lattes (for calorie and financial reasons) but also because I know I won't be helping my situation by stuffing and wallowing.

Changing our financial situation is a long term process not at all different from changing our weight. I know that my immediate feelings of anxiousness will be much better dealt with by taking some other action. Everyday I have to make choices that will keep me pointed toward my goals of improved health and lower weight. It costs me no money to exercise and it makes as big of an impact on my mental health as my physical wellbeing. I can also play with my son, engage with friends, listen to music, or tackle a creative project around the house. All of these activities keep my mind and body working in a positive way while crowding out negative feelings.

Today I am going to channel my anxiousness into food, not eating but cooking. My kitchen is full of beautiful ingredients that I am going to use to transform our remaining turkey into delicious soups. The activity will allow me to feel productive and provide for our family. One of the things I love about making soup is using spices. Even the most basic of ingredients become a fancy meal when they are all spiced up. The smells and colors will delight my senses while I cook and be delicious when we eat them.

By making soup I can take the food we have in the house and stretch it by freezing what we won't eat right away. Working in my cozy kitchen is a great way to pass the afternoon and will help us stay on track both physically and fiscally.

Leftover Thanksgiving Dinner Pizza!

2011-11-28T17:27:00.000-08:00

Last night I embarked upon what may have been my greatest culinary experiment to date. I don't want to over sell this, but, I believe what I did with leftover turkey would have made even the most proper puritan dance with glee!

Last weekend my husband and I popped into an ATM vestibule and while we waited in line we chatted about the menu for our Thanksgiving weekend board game party. As we bounced around a few ideas I started playing with the thought of making a Thanksgiving pizza. It didn't take long for the other people in the small room to jump in and share some of their own ideas for what might be part of such a creation.

I was already thinking of things like turkey (obviously), fruit, nuts, celery, a strong cheese, and herbs. The first suggestion was to use a white sauce or something suggestive of gravy. I liked it but wasn't sold. The next suggestion was to include grapes. I liked the idea of roasted grapes providing a little sweet and tart flavor. The last idea thrown out was cranberry pesto. BINGO! Pesto sounded like the perfect way to bring together the flavors I already had in mind.

Last night, I made a double batch of a basic pizza crust recipe using half wheat, and a quarter each of bread and all purpose flour. The crusts may qualify these pizzas to be dubbed trendy flatbreads rather than average pizzas. I used sheet pans resulting in an oblong free form shape rather than the recognizable circle. Maybe that made them rustic... Anywho. I par-baked the crusts for 10 minutes one at a time before laying on all the toppings.

The toppings were a bit more involved than my usual pizza but trust me totally worth the effort. I started with a tiny brush of olive oil over the entire crust and then layered on the following:

Cranberry Pesto - After running all the raw cranberries through the food processor, the color was very much like that famous pink stomach remedy but it tasted great! I made it in the morning to give the flavors plenty of time to mingle and get all pesto-y by dinner time.

Leftover Turkey - I used all white meat for turkey that I cubed small and tossed with some slices of garlic that roasted with the bird and a couple shakes of dry poultry seasoning.

Caramelized Aromatic Veggies - While the crusts were par-baking I cooked some thin sliced yellow onion and celery heart until they were all soft and caramelized.

Gorgonzola Cheese - I cheated and picked up a small tub of crumbled cheese and then split the entire container between the two pizzas. I felt like a rebel to my own cause carelessly tossing cheese around (Is that sad? Wait don't tell me). I also sprinkled a little shredded cheddar over the top out of habit but it was completely unnecessary.

Fried Onions - Oh yes, I went there and it was soooo worth it! I had most of a tub leftover after slimming down my green bean casserole. A little crunchy topping sounded like just the ticket to take all the flavors right back to the Thanksgiving table. I crunched them up in my hand and dusted them over the pies right before finishing them in the oven for an additional 15 minutes each.

When the pizzas came out of the oven the crust had a nice crunch on the edges with a chewy center, the cranberries turned a beautiful merlot color, the gorgonzola was soft and pungent, the fried onions were toasted, and the entire pizza smelled like a meal fit for the Jamestown Colonists. I almost teared up with joy. I didn't, of course, because that might have made my in-laws uncomfortable. In addition to the pizza I made a nice vegetarian chili both for the vegetarians and in case the whole pizza project was a disaster. Together with a colorful salad, (brought by my in-laws) our meal was ready to go.

Plates were filled and eating began, would they try it, like it, take one bite and leave the rest on their plates?!? I held my breath. They liked it! My mother in-law confirmed, the pizza did actually taste like a Thanksgiving dinner and it was good! Oh happy day!

The whole wheat flour in the crust and the caramelized veggies tasted just like stuffing and the other flavors and textures worked fantastically. The best part about this experiment is, we now have leftover leftovers, something I am completely okay with!

Cranberry Pesto:

Adapted from a posting on www.food.com by Recipe Junkie who took it from, "So Easy So Delicious" by Ellie Deaner

1 1/2 cup cranberries
12 large basil leaves
5 sage leaves
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
3-4 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup walnuts

Combine most of the ingredients in a large food processor bowl -reserve a tablespoon of the oil and a little of all the others. Pulse machine until the pesto is coarsely ground. Add the remaining ingredients slowly, to taste, pulse to combine. The finished pesto will be a course paste. Place in a sealed container and refrigerate for at least four hours to allow the flavors to develop. Use the pesto as a dip for veggies or crackers or with pasta or pizza.

Click Here for the original recipe.

In Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:21:00.000-08:00

Like so many others today I am taking stock of all that I have to be thankful for. I hardly know where to begin. This Thanksgiving my heart is so full I feel like a shiny penny, renewed and excited for all that is to come.

I am thankful to have learned that I am the one who chooses how I act and react. No mater what comes I always have the power to be a victim of circumstance or victorious in the face of obstacles.

For my husband; who believes in me even more when I am clouded by self doubt. Who lets me dream bigger than myself and then tells me to, "go for it." Who, when I reached the point where changing my body was the only option, said, "I'll do it with you." Our love and partnership saved our lives. For this, and so much more, I swell with gratitude.

For my son, who has a new adventure every day. Staying home, to be the one to go on adventures with him, is a gift I hope to never take for granted. I see the world in a different way with every new discovery he makes.

My extended family, growing up surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, removed cousins, and now my husband's family, has taught me much more than a few words can convey. Family is one of the greatest gifts and for all of them I am thankful.

This year I am also very thankful for science. Many of my friends and family make their living in science and technology fields and I am grateful for their jobs. I am also grateful for medical science without this field many amazing people in my life and in this world would have been lost. For lifesaving technology, doctors, nurses, medicine, therapists, researchers, and all others. There are no words.

My friends near and far, old and new, and the ability to stay connected through the internet. I don't understand how it all works but I am very glad someone does.

This year I am also thankful for this blog and its readers. When I began writing six months ago I wasn't sure anyone would be interested in what I had to say. I appreciate everyone who stops by to read the latest post and I can only hope you find a little something to bring into your own life. I wish each and everyone of you a happy Thanksgiving how ever you are celebrating. I look forward to continuing with you on this journey to a better mind, body, and spirit.

Today if you can say a prayer, or cast a thought, for peace and understanding. Next year I know there will be even more to be thankful for.

Fall Squash Challenge - Baby Blue Hubbard and Golden Nugget

2011-11-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

With all of the fun activities going on lately I have gotten behind in my squash posts. Today I have two new varieties to inspire your autumn eating.

Baby Blue Hubbard: This squash really threw me for a loop. I prepared it right on the heels of declaring my preference for savory squash. I read that it tended toward the sweet side but figured, if I used savory ingredients, the result would be a savory squash dish. I had my mind set on making some soup so I put the peeled and cubed squash in a pot with a chopped onion, 4 cups of reduced sodium chicken broth, poultry spices, and salt and pepper. After the squash cubes softened I stirred them into a puree and gave it a taste. Wow, it was surprisingly sweet! I was perplexed. My intent was for something thinner and herbier than what was in the pot. After staring into my spice cupboard for a moment I grabbed nutmeg and cardamum. I dashed a bit of each spice into the puree and tasted it again. The result was something that reminded me of apple sauce. I served the puree along side some roasted chicken (store cooked) and salad. The plate looked nothing like the vision I started with but it was tasty, hot, and filling.

If I pick up a Blue Hubbard Squash in the future it will be to make some sort of dessert. It could be good roasted with apples, nuts, and some spices. I imagine it would also make a good alternative to pumpkin in a pie or other baked dessert. I liked this squash, it was easy to prepare and had a nice mild taste if a bit sweeter than I expected. I'm not sure it will be a frequent ingredient in my kitchen but I am very glad I tried it.

Golden Nugget: Three of these cute little guys came into our house by way of my husband who picked them up on a solo farmers' market trip. They look like miniature pumpkins and have a similar flavor. When I cooked them I was looking for something to go with Ginger-Steamed Cod (see below). I sliced the squash in half and baked all six halves together in my largest glass baking dish with about an inch of water in the bottom and a drizzle of soy sauce on each piece. They cooked nicely in about 45 minutes and the skin retained enough texture for each half to be its own little bowl to eat from.

I thought they were a nice little squash but I have to revisit my previously stated preference for savory squash. I might make them again, but as a dessert, prepared very much like a baked apple. I think they would be super delicious baked with a small bit of butter, a pinch of brown sugar or honey, raisins, toasted nuts, and spices, perhaps with a drizzle of cream. If you are still looking for a new Thanksgiving dessert this might be a good option. If you try it please take a moment to tell me how you prepared them and your thoughts on the result!

Below is the recipe, from Weight Watchers, for the Ginger-Steamed Cod we had with the Golden Nugget Squash. The fish is easy to make and delicious to eat, I hope you try it soon!

Pumpkin Pancakes on a Winter Morning

2011-11-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

This morning, before getting up, I read the latest blog post by Nourished Fitness. In the post she shares a couple of recipes featuring pumpkin and protein powder; a smoothie and pancakes. I don't have any protein powder in the house but I do have a nice supply of canned pumpkin. The idea of pumpkin pancakes motivated me from my cozy warm bed into the kitchen.

What a good day to try a pancake experiment! Last night was our first snow fall of the season. This morning the sun was shinning brightly on the snow. From my front windows I could see all the way to the tops of distant, sun drenched and snow capped, mountains. Thanks to my husband there was already coffee in the pot and with a steaming mug at hand I pulled together the few ingredients to make the pancakes.

I don't make pancakes from scratch and, I hope this doesn't get my food blogger card revoked, lately I have been using Fiber One pancake mix. This mix is great. It yields cakes that are light and fluffy but substantial enough to fill me up with one serving (or maybe a serving plus one more). At 180 calories per 1/2 cup of mix I have no guilt serving these for breakfast any day. I like to use the mix as a platform and stir in berries, applesauce, and/or spices. Mixing in pumpkin was new territory but I had a good feeling about the experiment.

The resulting pancakes were far above and beyond my imagination! They tasted like a much more calorie laden pastry and were even fluffier than usual. We ate them with homemade cranberry sauce and sugar-free maple syrup (sorry purists). They were the perfect cozy breakfast for a wintry morning. I hope you try them soon and let me know what you think!

Pumpkin Pancakes

1 cup pancake mix (I recommend Fiber One Complete)
1/2 canned pure pumpkin
1/2 - 3/4 cup water
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)
1/2 tsp lemon zest

Heat a non-stick pancake griddle to just above medium.
In a medium batter bowl or mixing cup combine the pancake mix and pumpkin pie spice.
Mix in the pumpkin enough to be very lumpy and still powdery
Add 1/2 cup of water and more as needed to reach a smooth thick liquid consistency.
Fold in zest

Pour enough batter on heated griddle to make 3-4 inch diameter cakes.
Cook until bottom is golden before flipping (a little longer than regular pancakes). Allow to cook on the other side until it is golden and spongey in the center.

Serve with a homemade cranberry sauce like the one in my previous post!

p.s. I'm sure you are all smarted than me and figured out that these pancakes would be really great served with a lean breakfast sausage such as Aidells Chicken & Apple Breakfast links or MorningStar Farms Veggie Breakfast Sausage Links. They would also be out of this world amazing with a small sprinkling of crispy bacon crumbles (but you didn't hear that from me! *wink*)