Happy Clover Day all!!! I was up bright and early this morning to get my workout in because I knew with tonight’s “Irish Festivities” I wouldn’t be working out. I did my 30 minute Couch to 5K then got to work “prepping” dinner.
I actually pondered making up my own Corned Beef, but, last year we LOVED the Trader Joe’s Pre-Marinated Corned Beef Brisket so much I figured why not have it again.
4 ounce = 4 points+ and like no effort to cook it!
All I had to do this morning was take it out of the package, cover with beef broth and cook on low in the crockpot all day long. EASY!
I was STARVING on my way into work and couldn’t “wait” to get there. I snacked on this banana.
Then, whipped up what I think was completely NOT Worth it to me oatmeal from Starbuck’s. I picked up this oatmeal yesterday when I couldn’t decide what sounded good for breakfast and never made it.
* 1 packet Quick Cooking Oats (3 points+)
* 1 dried fruit packet (3 points+)
* 1 mixed nut packet (3 points+)
* 1 Tbsp brown sugar (1 point+
I LOVE oatmeal, but, not instant since it NEVER sticks with me. I was starving again about 2 hours later.
Mid morning I snacked on 1/2 a Trader Joe’s snack pack is (3 points+)
I was actually happy to have leftovers today for lunch. 2 oz Trader Joe’s Pesto Genovese with 1 cup of pasta (7 points+)
Spicy Asian Slaw (1 point+)
Then, I did something I haven’t done in years. I honestly have no CLUE why, but, I learned my lesson. I usually NEVER buy girl scout cookies because I know I have NO WILL POWER when it comes to Samoas….I could eat the whole box and still want more.
For some reason, I thought I could buy these for The Husband and have none…….
I was curious what the new points+ were and was pleasantly surprised that they are 2 points+ each ~ deal!
This is the funny part ~ I thought I could have just one….then, I thought, ok, I will complete my serving with two…..then, I thought, why not two more *sigh*
Luckily my brain kicked in and stopped me at 8 points+
I was really bummed when I saw that Girl Scout Cookies have TRANSFATS AFTER I ate them! I know they are not exactly healthy, but, this was enough for me to say I will not buy them again. Anything that includes “Partially Hydrogenated Oils” = Transfats (even when they don’t list it on the nutrition facts).
Luckily, I knew my planned dinner was naturally low in points+ and it wasn’t worth throwing in the towel because I had a “cookie moment”.
I was actually pretty excited to get home and work on our Irish Celebration. Because I am a dork and because I am NOT Irish at all that I know of (am I mom? LOL), I wanted to have a little shindig (is there an Irish Term for party?).
I took the Corned Beef out of the crockpot, shredded it and put it in the oven to keep warm.
I drained the broth through a strainer, then, returned the broth to the crock pot and added the chopped cabbage to let it steam for about 20 minutes.
I was thinking ~ WOW, there were A LOT of cloves and A LOT of Bay leaves in the mix and I wish now I took a picture. I think I got the ONE pack that had an entire container of cloves and 10 bay leaves in it.
All you tasted on the corned beef was cloves ~ The Husband kept saying I feel like I am chewing spearmint gum LOL.
It’s too bad because I was so excited to make this again this year. I managed eating a small 1 oz serving before I couldn’t eat anymore (1 point+)
The part I was THE MOST EXCITED about sucked….cabbage+cloves = nastiness. I had to toss all of it 
My fingerling potatoes were tasty even if I accidentally made them with “browned” butter.
My backup plan ~ Potato’s O’Brien (2 point+)
Looks good ~ tastes awful! Win some, lose some ~ today was just not my day to be Irish and to cook I guess….Thanks to The Husband and his mom for eating it all even though I thought we should just go out to eat instead 
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Q’s
Did you make anything IRISH or GREEN for St. Paddy’s Day?
I actually bought stuff to make a green monster smoothie and I totally forgot about it in my rush to get out the door. Other than that, my failed corn beef and cabbage.
Nite all!
Sorry your dinner was awful, even tho it really did look tasty 😉 Good for you at getting back on track after the Girl Scout goodness…that’s what this trip on WW has done for me also, it’s ONE meal at a time! Great week of posts Danika and some new recipes for me to try 😉
I hate when bad dinners happen! 🙁
I’m with you on the Samoas! They are my FAVORITE! Did you know that Edy’s makes an ice cream with Samoas in it?! Okay, pretend I never told you that 🙂
Great job on your workout, D! Proud of you!
Sorry your Irish dinner was so bad. I hate when that happens. I bought my corned beef at Sams, cooked it all night in the slow cooker, threw in some fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, and cabbage in the morning, and cooked it all day. It tasted fantastic and immediately after eating it, my stomache hurt ALOT. Must have been the cabbage. Everyone was else was fine and we all loved it. Guess I won’t be getting the TJs corned beef anytime soon. Hate to say no to the Girl Scouts, but I have learned I can’t just eat one either.
Danica,
Sorry about your dinner but back to the Girl Scout Cookies…… I love Samoas too but I found the perfect alternative. Kellogs Fiber Plus Bars (Carmel Coconut Fudge) UMMMMMMMMMMM Good! 1 bar is 3 points =Protein 2g, Fat 4g, Carbs 19g, Fiber 9g. They have a few more flavors and they are all good. These are my new candy/cookie fix.
Professional baseball players make millions of dollars to make an out about 7 of 10 times they go to the plate. If a recipe doesn’t work 1 out of 10 times, you’re still doing better than them!! – At least that’s how I think of it… I hope that helps a little =)
I made Chocolate-Mint Grasshopper pie the “healthy” way but unfortunately it never “set” when DH and I went to eat it. After a few hours in the freezer it was much better. This was really good, but not something I would regularly make as I would eat it all!
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/chocolate-mint-grasshopper-pie-109578.aspx
I was just popping in to tell you about the Kellogs Fiber Plus! Carmel Coconut Fudge. I have been addicted to them since I found them a few weeks ago. My husband found a box I had hidden. I haven’t bought a box of Samoa’s yet since I found them. Love this blog. Can you post some of your opinions on the new Points + and how it is working for you so far? I love the program, but I feel like the weight is coming off much slower than when I did the Flex program 6 years ago. Not sure if is age or program related.
ooohh nooo! Well it wasn’t your fault they put too many spices in that packet! 🙁
See you soon!!! 🙂
Better to know what your weaknesses are. (I love those too!) If it makes you feel any better, I’m losing my weight while still eating cookies, sometimes daily. Those Anna’s thin cookies from IKEA seem to burn calories! (Plus you get more in a serving than Biscoff) Anyway, you know I’m not advocating it, just saying that you can get away with a splurge every once in a while. I can’t wait to try the Fiber One bars that taste like the Samoas.
And way to get right back on track! It’s all an experiment in mind and body.
We had the Trader Joe’s corned beef too but ours seemed to be a little “under” spiced. Now I know why! 😉
You know what? My St. Patty’s Day dinner sucked too! I had the same thing, and it just did not turn out delicious. Luck of the Irish, my foot! Lol 🙂 Your corned beef LOOKS a lot better than mine did though. I ended up giving most of it too my dog! Well, I guess SHE’S lucky!
I always debate with myself whether to post my failures and never really know what to do. Thanks for posting that…makes me feel more normal!
I’ve been looking the other way for weeks now at the cute little girls selling gs cookies on the corner in my little town!
I will get a box I know before it is all over with.
Bad dinners happen but it sure looked tasty!
I made B & I green monsters for breakfast yesterday, but that was about as festive as we got 😉 I saw the carned beef at TJ’s and after hearing about how yours was over seasoned, I’m glad I didn’t get one!
I’m actually making mine tonight, got the same corned beef, 🙁 hope mine is better. The husband was out of town so we postponed! The kid did get green milk and cereal, that darn leprechaun!
I was laughing so hard when I read the phrase cookie moment. I think we have all been there. The important thing is we move on, make good choices and keep going.
I also was pleasantly surprised that the Girl Scout cookies were pretty low in points and ticked off at the ingredients. Oh well, all things in moderation. I think I might weight 500lbs if we had Girl Scout Cookie season all year.
Bummer about the corned beef! I’ve never been a big fan of it, but don’t want to miss out on celebrating a food holiday. . . . so I made Guinness Beef Stew. It was delish and I calculated it to be 9pp!! Not bad. Here’s the link to the recipe in case you want to do a “do over” this weekend!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/16/fn.cookinglight.stew.recipe/index.html
The luck of the Irish wasn’t with you when you had your Irish dinner. Darn!!!! Have a great day anyway, better eats today are coming your way!
I took your advice from last year and made the Trader Joe’s Corned Beef with a bottle of lite beer and 1/2 cup water mixed with red potatoes and the cabbage all thrown into the crockpot and it turned out great.
Maybe next year D:)
i took one look at the girl scout cookies my boss offered me and saw the ingredients and it really did make it easier to say no. although he only had thin mints, not samoas.. we need to make a healthier samoa up 😉
Hi Laura,
YUM!! Thanks for the suggestion about those bars ~ they are on my must try list. I do have a post planned discussing my thoughts on the new points+ program and what I think works/doesn’t work coming up soon. I really do think it’s about finding what works best for you. I know my best weeks come when I write down every single thing I eat and I stick within my points while checking off my healthy guidelines. I also know as I get older, the weight does come off slower and I have to work at it a bit more. I figure as long as I am going down that is in the right direction and eventually it will get me to my goal.
Hang in there and keep up the good work!
Danica