Anyone on Weight Watchers?  

Posted by Lori

Here is a great healthy side dish recipe for the upcoming holidays, you can find this one along with many more at the Weight Watchers web site posted in the previous post. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 1/2 pound(s) green snap beans, fresh, trimmed
2 tsp olive oil
6 medium shallot(s), peeled and thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
2 tbsp parsley, fresh, chopped
2 1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
Heat a large pot of water to a simmer. Place green beans in a steamer and steam over simmering water until tender, about 5 minutes. Run steamed green beans under cold running water for 30 seconds to stop cooking; set aside.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add shallots and cook, stirring often (and adding a little water to prevent sticking if necessary), until golden and tender, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, to make gremolata, combine parsley, lemon zest and garlic in a small bowl.
Add green beans to skillet; toss over medium heat until heated through. Season with salt and pepper; toss to mix and coat.
Place green beans in a serving bowl or platter and sprinkle with gremolata. Yields about 3/4 cup of green beans and 1 teaspoon of gremolata per serving.
Notes
You can steam the green beans 1 day ahead and store them in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator.



And for dessert:


Chocolate Marble Cheesecake
INGREDIENTS

Crust
2 tablespoons slivered blanched almonds
Vegetable oil cooking spray
6 chocolate wafers
Filling
15 oz (1 3/4 cup) part-skim ricotta
8 oz lowfat cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup lowfat sour cream
1 large whole egg
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or to taste)
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons amaretto (if desired)
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon instant-espresso powder
3 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips


Preparation
For crust
Heat oven to 350˚. Toast almonds on a small baking sheet for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven; reduce heat to 325˚. Coat an 8" springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap outside of pan in foil to prevent seepage. Process chocolate wafers and almonds in a food processor until fine crumbs. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tbsp crumbs onto bottom of pan (just enough to coat bottom lightly). Shake pan to distribute evenly. Reserve remaining crumbs.
For filling
Puree ricotta in a food processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Add cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, egg whites, almond extract, flour and salt; puree until smooth. Whisk amaretto, if desired (or same amount of hot water), 2 tbsp hot water, cocoa powder and espresso powder in a bowl until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Stir 1 cup plain filling into chocolate mixture. Set aside.
Assembly
Pour remaining plain filling into prepared pan. Drizzle chocolate filling in a circular pattern over plain filling. Using a knife, make circular strokes to create swirls in the plain filling. Add 1 inch hot water to a shallow baking pan; place springform pan in baking pan. Bake until cheesecake is firm around the edge and slightly soft in the center, 45 to 55 minutes. Run a knife around inside of pan. Remove foil; let cool on a rack. Chill 6 hours or overnight before removing sides of pan. Press reserved crumbs onto side of cheesecake.
The skinny
223 calories per serving, 9.7 g fat* (5.4 g saturated), 26.2 g carbs, 0.9 g fiber, 8.4 g protein




Marvelous Monday  

Posted by Lori

You won't fail if you're not perfect, you'll fail if you're not committed to improving yourself slightly each day.

FINALLY FRIDAY  

Posted by Lori

It's finally here, the day we've been waiting for...today we are going to start making a change that will last us (hopefully) the rest of our lives. I've listed some websites below that have all sorts of weight loss tool; tips, recipes, ect. Most of them are free, a few of them you can join and have them create daily menu's, an excercise regimen and track your progress. EDiets offers a discount for jbhunt employees so if you join that you need to call them and they will give you the details. Fitday.com lets you track all of you daily food intake and will track your excercise and pretty much anything else you want all for free! Check them out, many of them have forums you can join, or you can be a "stalker" and just read what everyone else has to say. Have fun with them and good luck!
http://www.fitday.com/
http://www.3fatchicks.com/
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/
http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx
http://www.jillianmichaels.com/
http://www.calorieking.com/
http://health.discovery.com/
http://www.healthychoice.com/

Quote of the Day
We can reverse years of damage to our bodies by deciding to raise our standards for ourselves, then living differently. Old wounds heal, injuries repair, and the whole system improves with just a few changes in what we put into our bodies and how we move them.

Quote of the Day  

Posted by Lori

"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be." -David Viscott

Skinny Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes  

Posted by Lori

If you're like me you can't make it thru the Holidays without having your mashed potatoes here is a healthy alternative to your granny's spuds!

Skinny Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

This recipe serves: 6 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients1 garlic bulb, unpeeled; splash of olive oil; 4 large potatoes (Idaho or russet);about 1 cup Basic Chicken Stock (see recipe), or low-sodium canned salt to taste freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Place the garlic cloves in an ovenproof dish and drizzle with olive oil. Place the dish, uncovered, in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the garlic is golden brown and soft.
3. Remove from the oven and let cool.
4. Peel the potatoes and cut them in half. Place them in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender when pricked with a fork, about 30 minutes depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain.
5. Bring the stock to a boil, and turn down to a simmer.
6. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves to release each clove of garlic. Mash the garlic with a fork and throw the skins away.
7. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork, or use a food mill. Add the roasted garlic. Slowly add the stock until the desired consistency is reached.
8. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.

Serving Size about 1/2 cup

Calories 106 Protein 5 g Total Carbohydrate 26 g Dietary Fiber 3 g Total Fat 0 g

Quote of the Day  

Posted by Lori

Throughout this journey we will all have ups and downs, be joyous and discouraged, devious and supportive, so each day I will try to post something to help us make it to that next step. Let's be encouraging to one another and help each other along! I hope everyone makes it to February 6th

"I wake up every day with the realization that this is it, that there's only one shot at this life and I can either enjoy the ride and live it to its fullest and to my highest potential or I can stay the way I am. "

SUGAR-FREE JELL-O CRANBERRY SALAD  

Posted by Jules

If you're like me, you're completely grossed out by that congealed cranberry stuff you have to slide out of the can every year at Thanksgiving... bleh. I have nothing against cranberries... in fact, I like them a lot. I just think cranberries are best dried (like Craisins) or made into a salad with other fruits, nuts and so forth. So here's a tasty and relatively low-carb alternative for those who are watching their carb-intake this Holiday season. Bon Appétit!


Ingredients:

1 large pkg sugar-free cranberry, cherry, black cherry, or raspberry Jell-O
1 cup walnuts
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 medium apple, cored
Zest of one orange (optional, but has minimal carbs and adds a nice punch of flavor!)


If you have a food processor, you can whip this up in no time... and if not, it's still a cinch:

Prepare Jell-O as per package instructions (I prefer the quick-set method with ice cubes).
Chop the walnuts in the food processor; move to a separate bowl.
Chop the cranberries in the food processor, one cup at a time; adding to bowl with nuts.
Chop apple in the food processor, and add to bowl with berries and nuts.
Toss nuts and fruit together; mix into Jell-O and chill completely. Makes twelve 1/2-cup servings.


Calories: 69
Net carbs: 3.5 g
Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 2

AN ODE TO MY FAVORITE "SKINNY" JEANS  

Posted by Jules

Hello, old friend...


It's been a while since we've been in contact, but I haven't forgotten you. No, you cross my mind more often than you know. I've missed you every single day that we've been apart.

I know, the styles are a-changing... the slim-leg jean is at the peak of fashion right now, and I hear the high-rise waist will soon take its place. But you have nothing to worry about. Why? It doesn't matter to me. Styles come and styles go, but we have something special. Besides, what's a great jean for, really, if not to make you feel brand new? And wearing you again, my favorite 29-waist Citizens of Humanity Kelly bootcut jean, would feel better than...

Better than eating that piece of pumpkin pie... Better than sneaking an extra dollop of gravy... Yes, even better than Grandma's homemade rolls with real butter... Better than the best Thanksgiving meal any of us has ever clamped teeth on.

I have plans for us to reunite soon, my little denim muse. And I'll be moving you up to the front of the closet as a reminder to keep my resolve strong. For, in 12 short weeks, we'll be together again. And this time, I hope it's forever.

XOXO,
Julie

HOLIDAY FRUIT SALAD  

Posted by Jules

2- 14 oz cans fruit cocktail, no added sugar
1- 14 oz can pineapple, no added sugar
1 medium apple cut into small pieces
2- 4 oz cans mandarin oranges, no added sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup marshmallows
2 bananas, cut into bite sized pieces
2 small boxes sugar- free instant vanilla pudding

Mix all ingredients and chill. Makes twenty 1/2-cup servings.


Calories: 100
Protein: 1.4 g
Fiber: 1.7 g
Fat: 2.8 g

GET WITH THE PROGRAM  

Posted by Jules

Whether you need to lose a few "vanity pounds" or need a major slim-down like some of us, we welcome you to the Great CDP Down-Size!

The holidays are always one of the most challenging times of the year to try to lose or maintain your weight. Did you know the average person gains eight pounds from Thanksgiving to New Years? Ugh...


But don't despair! We're here for mutual support and encouragement, and to help each other lead fuller lives by shedding our fuller figures! And not only will we bypass the "extra eight" this holiday, we'll probably be more like eight down-- which, according to my math, is a net loss of 16! Doesn't that make you feel great??

Be sure to see Lori Bartlett to sign up and get the quick run-down of contest guidelines so you'll know what to expect for the weekly weigh-ins in the weeks to come. And welcome... be assured, you're among friends here!