Happy Sunday all! This weekend has been such a whirlwind of busy-ness and fun. I cannot believe I forgot to tell you all that I LOST 2.2 LBS this week!!! I really FEEL like I earned it and I am glad the scale showed my efforts.
Things that worked this week
~ focusing on meeting my Healthy Guidelines in ALL my food choices FIRST before I picked something that wasn’t as good for me.
~ Tracking every single bite!
~ Working out 5 days! (this was the EARNED part literally LOL)
I am definitely focused on repeating it this week 
I really wasn’t feeling my workout this morning so I decided to delay it a bit.
The Husband treated me to Starbuck’s. I got a Venti Iced Nonfat Decaf Latte with Caramel Drizzled on top (3 points+) plus a banana.
I spent my morning checking things off my list and came home to fit in one AWESOME workout.
I had planned on spending 30 minutes on the treadmill doing a jog/walk. However, once I got going, I ended up going for 46 minutes! I changed my speed every .05 of a mile ranging from 5.0-6.0 mph.
I think watching the Iron Man Competition on the TV made me want to keep going and going.
After my run, I did 20 minutes of Gentle Hatha Yoga.
Lunch was…..SIMPLE, DELICIOUS BLTA’S!
Layered with GOOD tomatoes and greens from the Farmer’s Market.
And 2 thick slices of crispy, uncured applewood smoked bacon!
Nom, nom, nom……(9 points+)
I picked up these Skinny Fries at Trader Joe’s today because I was intrigued.
65 pieces for only 3 points+
You get a whole lotta “fries” for an ounce. I sampled a few, but, decided I didn’t want any now. They are pretty salty, but, crunchy good.
I really wanted this fruit more than the fries….who am I?! lol….
After lunch, I picked these GNORMOUS zucchini’s from our garden!
Then, prepped our “No Cook” Pasta Sauce for dinner before we headed out to see Transformers (it’s awesome, BTW!)
I have wanted to make this Barefoot Contessa Recipe for Summer Garden Pasta ever since I saw her make it.
I pretty much followed her recipe with two big exceptions.
Change #1 I used only 1/4 cup of olive oil and added 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar.
You combine the cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil/vinegar, sea salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes, then, cover and let it sit for 4 hours to macerate.
Cook your pasta according to the packaged instructions.
Change #2 I only used 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
Toss cheese, pasta and your no cook sauce.
Top with additional fresh basil and serve.
Her recipe says it makes 6 servings, but, I think it makes more like 12 servings, 1 1/2 cups each for 5 points+ each.
We both LOVED it ~ it’s like having bruschetta on pasta. I think it would be delicious served hot or cold. I actually had 1 1/2 servings because my “mouth” wanted more 
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
* New Tip of the Week & Guest recipe from Shannon’s Kitchen for 2 Points+ Zucchini Cakes ~ check them out at the bottom of the page!
* This week’s Challenge ~ What inspires you? & My Labor Day Challenge Update!
HERE IS MY MINI MENU FOR THE WEEK
~ Recipes to be posted as I make everything.
* Leftover Summer Garden Pasta
* Ratatouille with Kale, Kielbasa and Chickpeas
* Stuffed Zucchini with salad!
* Burgers, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Salad
* BBQ Fig Pork Chops with snap peas
* Breakfast!
Q’s
What is on your menu this week? Anything new, fun, or exciting?
Get ready for an addicting Snack Mix Giveaway coming up this week!
Night all!
Congrats again on your loss! That is so exciting! I definitely want to try the no cook sauce, looks so fresh and delish. Quick question… do you ever feel like you can slack a little after a great week? Sometimes I do that and I always regret it but I suddenly think I’m this girl that can eat anything, what the heck!? Anyway, here’s to another great week!
That pasta looks glorious!!!!
Can’t wait to try it……Congrats on the weigh in this week!!!!
I had “no cook pasta sauce” this week, too! My mom always made it in the summer (we call it salsa cruda) and I was craving it like crazy the other day! Great minds!
I also bought those Skinny Fries over the weekend!
Awesome job on your loss this week, Danica!
woohoo – congrats!!
Congrats on your weight loss, that was fabulous!!
I also had those TJ “fried” in my hand but decided they would be too addicting for me so I put them down.
Will make the no-cook pasta later this week. Looks great.
Congrats on the loss this week!! Thanks for sharing.
The non-cook pasta sauce looks fabulous! I like your healthier version!
Thanks!!
Congrats on your weight loss *cheers*!!!
I love the idea of the no cook pasta sauce especially with it being so hot this summer ,wonderful to not heat up the stove (I have a past boat that cooks the noodles in the microwave. I make bruschetta alot so this will be great ,I like the idea of adding the white balsamic vinegar!
2.2 – LOOk at you!
u
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Hi Danica, BIG woo hoo on the 2.2 down!!!! You are a weight watchers inspiration!!!
Congrats on your loss Danica !! 😀
Your menu this week sounds GREAT!! Mine isn’t as fancy 😉
Mon: leftovers from the weekend
Tues: taco salad for me and taco’s for B
Wed: Pizza & salad
Thur: marinated asian chicken w. brown rice & roasted b-sprouts
Fri: grilled fish with a fruit salsa (not sure yet) & grilled veggies
Congratulations on your loss this week. That sandwich looks amazing.
Congrats on the weight loss! Good for you!
Congrats on the 2.2 pounds. That’s wonderful. You really did earn it!
Danica,
Thank you for the no-cook pasta sauce recipe.
Question: was your ratio of olive oil to balsamic vinegar really 1 to 2? I made it the way you posted it (1/4 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup balsamic) and it was REALLY vinegar-y. I’m wondering if that was a typo and should maybe have been only 1/4 cup balsamic — making it a 1 to 1 ratio of oil to vinegar?
Or maybe you just like the dominant vinegar flavor…
Many thanks,
Kay O.
Hi Kay,
I originally started with 1/4 cup then added a little more. I actually think it is probably more like 1/3 cup so I updated the post.
Thanks for letting me know!
Danica
I made the pasta for the hubby and I tonight. It was DELICIOUS!! Using oil and vinegar was such a great idea – I used 1/4 olive oil and 1/4 white vinegar (didn’t have white balsalmic although I have every other vinegar) and it turned out great. I think I used about 16.5 oz of angel hair pasta, and the WW calculator came up with 9 points+ for 8 servings. I also couldn’t stop at just one serving! Thanks Danica! 🙂
i would stick with the SF with that weight loss too! Congrats! You are doing so great and giving me such great recipe ideas. I am definitely going to make the summer pasta salad. Your link didn’t work for me – went to BC site but no search – but I found the recipe on foodnetwork.com.
Funny thing about the wine barrels – they sell those in Texas, but they aren’t stained with wine, although I wish they were!
Thanks Phyllis, I fixed the link.
Danica
I made this today! It is my new favorite! Thanks so much for all your great recipes and food ideas!
Yes I wanted 2 make this and needed 2 know how much garlic, red pepper,basil, and cherry tomatoes I need 2 make this dish thank you
Just had the BC Summer Garden Pasta made with your edits and additions. Delish!!!