Happy Saturday all! Thanks for sharing your Healthy Memorial Day Recipe ideas. I LOVE having one post that I can check out each holiday to get new ideas from everyone for things to cook up. I will try to continue the series going forward in July (and hopefully with my new Recipe Page ~ it will be so much easier!)
Time to catch up…..Let’s see if I can keep it short
FRIDAY
My day started off with a NICE surprise! As I went to step on the scale, I was mentally thinking….”just let me maintain, just let me maintain”. I tried to eat intuitively at BlogHERFood11 ~ only eating what I really wanted and skipping the things I could eat anytime. I also made sure I shared everything and got in a lot of walking with ALLIE!
Seriously ~ I think I owe my success at BlogHERFood to her.
DRUM ROLL……I LOST 2 LBS this week !
Of course, I made sure I didn’t eat anything until AFTER I stepped on the scale. I took my banana and coffee with me to snack on after weigh in.
I wasn’t super hungry so I decided to go with some more Quaker Oat Squares. I measured out 4 points+ (42 grams according to their mini packs).
We get out of work early the Friday before a holiday so TJ of TJ’s Test Kitchen and I decided to get together for an impromptu “Leftovers Lunch”.
1 cup of Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken (5 points+)
1/2 serving Kale with BACON & Cannellini Beans (2 points+)
and the MOST DELICIOUS Crunchy Kale Apple Salad that TJ made up. She is going to post the recipe soon I think (if not, I am re-creating it and posting ) (2 points+)
Pretty good lunch for not cooking at all and just putting our fridges together huh?!
Since I had the afternoon off and a big bag of Scharfeen Berger Baking Chunks that I received at BlogHERFood11, we decided some baking was in order.
I LOVE BIG chunks of good chocolate!
We modified THIS Weight Watchers Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe using all dark chocolate chunks, a banana and an additional 1/2 cup of flour.
1 cookie is 3 points+, 2 are 5 points+ ~ but when served with a bunch of delicious zero points+ fruit and coffee….1 is enough!
When I got home The Husband wanted to catch a movie and go to Chipotle. I got the usual mix.
* Lettuce (0)
* Chicken (5)
* Pico de Gallo (0)
* Corn Salsa (2)
* A little cheese (less than a serving) (2)
* GUACAMOLE! (4)
We originally planned on watching The Hangover 2, but, there were 3 lines waiting just to get INTO the movie. So, we saw Bridesmaids and it was AWESOME! It’s sort of like the girl version of The Hangover
MOVIE SNACKS! We brought our own “popcorn”! I packed up mini Pirates of the Caribbean Pirates Booty bags for us to snack on.
I LOVE BOOTY so I ALWAYS pre-portion it out into 7 baggies so I keep my portions in check.
4 points+ for 1/7th of the bag (it’s a lot!). I only managed half my bag.
SATURDAY
I was up bright and early this morning to run to Starbuck’s with The Husband.
Venti Iced Coconut Dirty Latte (FF Latte with 1 pump mocha & 1 pump coconut) (4 points+)
We we got back home, I cooked us up eggwiches (6 points+)
Then, I shopped and shopped and shopped! I think I know WHY I plan out my meals BEFORE I go shopping. I a pretty sure I bought every fruit/vegetable at the Farmer’s Market, Trader Joe’s, Sam’s Club and our Local Grocery Store
When I got home, I was starving and didn’t want to take the time to cook. I decided to whip up one of the meals I used to make all the time when I was in college…..
It’s like cooking without really cooking because you simply throw things together in a pan and lunch is ready.
Secret Ingredient #1 ~ YakiSoba Noodles. You buy these packages in the produce section next to the Tofu and dressings.
I don’t use the seasoning pack inside ~ just the noodles ~ 1/2 a package is 5 points+
Secret Ingredient #2 ~ Trader Joe’s Marinated Chicken Breasts (any store sells these too). I used to use them to make up “teriyaki” bowls with rice and broccoli in college.
4 points+ per chicken breast.
Heat 2 tsp Canola Oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add veggies. Stir fry until softened and slightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Add your noodles (I heat them for 1 minute in the microwave first to make them easier to work with). Add 1/4 cup Teriyaki Sauce and 1/4 cup water. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add sprouts and cook an additional minute.
Add 1 cut up chicken breast and cook 1 additional minute.
You get HALF of the pan for 8 points+ ~ that’s a lot of “Chicken/Veggie Chow Mein”
2 cups worth!
Dessert was another Dark Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Cookie (3 points+)
I actually had a fancy dinner planned but I just wasn’t that hungry. The funny thing about stocking up your fridge/freezer is that you want to eat everything all at once or at least I do LOL.
So, I went with it!
I will be the first to tell you I think Soy Hot Dogs are just plain nasty….but, Soy Corn Dogs are AWESOME!
ALWAYS cook them in the oven though, don’t do the microwave thing….
4 points+ each.
I totally fed my inner kid today …. because sometimes you just have to do that!
1 crunchy corn dog
Plus fun dipping sauces
Equals 1 delicious dinner (even if I STILL can’t convince The Husband to try it ~ more for me!)
With Crunchy Baked Sour Cream & Cheddar Ruffles on the side (points+)
and cherries for dessert!
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
* Shannon shares a deliciously easy 8 points+ Crockpot Chicken Bake ~ Click HERE!
Q’s
What is one meal you LOVE to eat today that you used to eat all the time as a kid?
Mac & Cheese will ALWAYS be #1 on my list, next to buttered noodles….After that, you can insert corn dogs, chips, and banana peanut butter sandwiches!
I am so far behind on your emails and comments, but, I plan on catching up before the long weekend is over. Thanks for being patient (sometimes you just don’t want to be on the computer!)
Night all!
tj says
I loved our leftover feast! 🙂 I will post that recipe soon! My back is so bad I can’t stand to sit at the computer to type! :-/ Maybe a weekend re-cap post soon. lol
tj says
oh & I know I said it to you in person, but CONGRATS on a GREAT weigh in! 🙂 Proud of you!!
Gail H. says
Danica, congrats on your great weigh-in after the bash! We just had the lemon pie treat (fage/lemon curd/graham cracker) and my husband is still licking his chops! I think of you everytime I make it 🙂 What a delicious treat! Hope you are having a great holiday w/e!
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Can’t stop giggling at “I LOVE BOOTY” 😉 I love it too!!
Becky Martinez says
Congrats on the 2 pounds!!! You did so well and it sounds like you enjoyed all of your yummy food choices throughout the event. I just read your Valentine’s post and saw the turkey and spinich manicotti (not sure if that is what it was called?) You noted that stuffing the pasta was the most time consuming part. I am a huge fan of the ziploc bag and use them for everything! When I stuff pasta, I put my filling in a quart size ziploc bag, cut a fair size hole in one of the bottom corners, and squeeze the filling right into pasta shell. I also use this same method, usually with a large star cake decorating tip, to fill deviled eggs. This week starts week 14 on weight loss journey, I was close to hitting 40 pounds yesterday…39.6…I know I will get there by the end of this week for sure! Best hopes for a great week!
Alissa says
I’m so impressed that you lose 2 lbs. with all that you had going on. Bravo!! I love corn dogs and haven’t had them in forever! I must find the ones that you have pictured here- YUM!
Paige says
I think you lucked out that The Hangover 2 was really busy…we saw it this weekend and a giant MEH. We watched the original last night and even though we’d both seen it 3 times previously, we were still laughing. Hardly laughed at all at the new one though. Bridesmaids, on the other hand, I LOVED.
Robyn @ Blueberries and Oats says
Congrats on the loss!! That is always so exciting to find you lost weight just eating intuitively. =) You’re an inspiration.
You’ve also convinced me to give Pirate’s Booty a try. I always thought that 4 pts per serving wasn’t very great, but I didn’t consider how much 1 oz is of those things since they’re so light! Sounds like the perfect movie snack. What did you think of the movie?
I’ve been looking for some meatless corn dogs to try!! Unfortunately they are apparently extinct in Montana right now. >.<
You know, I can't say there is anything I loved to eat as a kid that I still love today. My tastes have changed so much it's silly. Perhaps I still love frozen pizza? My dad would call it "cardboard box pizza" because to him it tasted like cardboard but I happened to love that taste! Nothing fancy!
BroccoliHut says
My sister and I were just talking about Chipotle’s guac–it’s the whole reason we go to eat there!
Kim says
Congrats on the loss Danica! I’m up to 25 lbs now – can’t believe it! Remember when I first emailed you b/c I was gaining??!!!
One of my favorite kids meals was hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls – “weinie wraps”. Now I can make them pretty low points because they have reduced fat crescent rolls and low fat hot dogs! Of course you have to have them with tater tots!
Allie says
Oh my gosh congrats!!! I am so proud of you 🙂 and feel so happy for you!
DanicasDaily says
Thanks for the tip Becky! I am definitely going to use that the next time I make manicotti. WTG on the weight loss – your are doing awesome and I have no doubt that you will pass up 40 lbs lost next week!
Danica
DanicasDaily says
I LOVE it Kim ~ you are doing awesome! 25 lbs down is amazing and you definitely have the hang of the program!
MMMMM, wienie wraps ~ I used to LOVE those and tater tots too LOL.
Danica