5 Pounds in 5 Weeks, Week 2

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I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! I lost a pound this week, and I thought for sure I would’ve gained a pound. I made Oatmeal Double Chocolate Chip Cookies to send to an event….and the event was cancelled!

Right after I baked them, I ate my three cookies that I allow myself when I make cookies. That was fine. But with the cancellation, we ended up having three dozen cookies at our house, so I had four cookies the next day and three more the following day making a total of ten cookies.

This is why I think I still lost my pound anyway:

  • I did eat protein after each round of cookies, either nuts or Whey Protein Isolate Powder mixed in water.
  • I only drank water or tea sweetened with Kal brand of Stevia (a natural, not artificial, 0-calorie sweetener) all week. I drank three or four glasses of tea a day.
  • I walked several times during the week and stretched every day.
  • I didn’t “diet,” but ate smaller, healthy meals. (low unhealthy fat, low processed carbs)
  • I wasn’t on a fat free diet, but had healthy fat every day (nuts every day, avocados, olive oil)

So, I think all of those things together helped. Plus, my doctor increased my natural, pharmacy-compounded progesterone a couple of weeks ago. My hormone ratio was off again, and that tends to make women gain weight when they have estrogen dominance. Now that my hormones are getting more in balance, it’s easier to lose weight.

Different Shapes of Pasta

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I wanted to know the difference between rotini pasta and corkscrew pasta, so I did a search and found a great site that explains about all the different pasta shapes. If you’re interested, the site is Cook’s Thesaurus. They have a lot of other great information as well on all sorts of things such as grain products, fruits, vegetables, legumes & nuts, flavorings, etc.

The Cook’s Thesaurus is a “cooking encyclopedia that covers thousands of ingredients and kitchen tools.” It has pictures, descriptions, synonyms, pronunciations, and suggested substitutions. It’s a very helpful site!


Four Foods on Friday #24

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From Fun, Crafts and Recipes

#1. What’s your favorite food smell?

That’s a hard question. A good meal cooking on the stove and lasagna or pizza baking in the oven. Cookies, dessert, or bread baking in the oven. I guess I don’t really have a favorite…there are too many that I like.

#2. What’s your favorite kind of apple?

Fuji, Pink Lady, & Honeycrisp

#3. What veggies do you like in your salad?

Mostly Romaine lettuce, with some spinach, cucumbers, carrots, sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and yellow squash sometimes.

#4. Share a recipe that uses beef.

Tamale Spoonbread Pie

Tamale Spoonbread Pie

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Here’s a recipe for those who enjoy Mexican food:

  • 2 pounds ground meat
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder (more if you like it spicier)
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 can sliced ripe olives
  • 3 cups yellow cornmeal (divided in half)
  • 1 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Brown meat with onion and bell pepper. Drain the meat. Add corn with liquid, tomatoes, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Let it cook for 5 minutes. Then add olives and half of the cornmeal (1 1/2 cups). Stir well. Cook until thickened a little. Pour into a 9 x 13-inch dish.

Put milk and cheese in saucepan. Cook on low until cheese is melted. Add rest of cornmeal (1 1/2 cups). Stir well to prevent lumps. Cook on low heat until thick. Pour this mixture on top of meat mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is brown.

Tip on Farmer’s Markets

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I like to shop at farmer’s markets for fresh, locally grown produce. I was surprised to find out last year, though, that at one place where I shop, over half of their produce (maybe two-thirds) was not locally grown. It was from California. I live in Texas, so that’s definitely not local. I can get produce from California in the grocery stores. When I go to a farmer’s market, I want produce that hasn’t had to be shipped very far so it will be at its freshest. I’ve learned since then to always ask where the produce comes from and which is grown locally.

Orlando Vista Hotel Located Near Disney

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If you are planning on making a trip to Orlando and checking out Orlando Hotels, then check out the Orlando Vista Hotel which is located in Lake Buena Vista at the entrance to the Downtown Disney Resort Area World. It is perfect for vacationing families or business travelers because of its convenient location. In fact, the 2008 American Urological Association Annual Meeting (the AUA) is an upcoming event, and the Vista Hotel is the prime location for convenience while attending the meeting. It is close to the convention center and within walking distance to restaurants. It is also near Orlando attractions such as Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island, City Walk, and the House of Blues, which are just a cab ride away. SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and the Florida Mall are just minutes away. It’s the gateway to all major area attractions. Speaking of the attractions, we visited Orlando two summers in a row with our family and easily filled up a week each time with all the fun attractions.

Orlando Vista Hotel still has rooms available for any last minute bookings, and they offer great rates! Remember, it is convenient to all of the favorite attractions, there are free shuttles to all four of the Disney World theme parks, it is immediately accessible to Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike, and it is only 18 miles from the airport. Lake Buena Vista Hotels are a favorite among Orlando.

Communication Tips

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  • “He who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 (Keeps a person from putting their foot in their mouth.)
  • “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18 (Harsh words can pierce someone’s heart, but wise words will bring healing to a relationship.)
  • “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 (A soft answer makes it easier for the listener to hear what is actually being said rather than reacting to harsh words or a harsh voice.)
  • “A person finds joy in giving an appropriate reply, and how good is a timely word.” Proverbs 15:23 (The right words said at the right time are good, and we can be happy about it. Sometimes we need to wait for the right time to say certain things.)
  • “The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:21 (Want to instruct someone or help them understand what you mean? Use pleasant words to get your point across.)
  • “A word appropriately spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 (Words that are appropriate are going to be thought out, not a just a spur of the moment reaction that will stir up anger.)
  • “A gentle tongue can break a bone.” Proverbs 25:15 (A gentle tongue is not weak. A gentle answer can accomplish a lot.)

Quicken Turbo-Tax…Easier Way to do Taxes

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My husband does our taxes and uses a computer tax program called Quicken Turbo-Tax. It’s an awesome program! It’s so thorough, explains everything, and simplifies the process for you. They have prompt questions so you don’t miss out on any deductions or anything else. It walks you through every stage of all the forms. I highly recommend it!

(A friend was talking about her bad experience with the tax preparer, and my comment to her prompted me to write this post.)

5 Pounds in 5 Weeks, Week 1

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Yeah!!! I lost one pound this past week, so that’s a start to losing “5 Pounds in 5 Weeks.” This is what I did:

  • ate smaller portions and didn’t get second helpings
  • drank lots of tea (regular and green tea) sweetened with Stevia (natural herb with 0 calories) and lots of water
  • ate low-fat although we did eat at Chick Fil-A one day. Woops!
  • ate three smaller meals and two healthy snacks with protein every day which works best for me (I ate nuts every day – good protein snack)
  • chose healthy carbs and tried to limit processed foods, which are usually high in empty carbs, to a bare minimum. I must admit I did make cookies, but I limited myself to three cookies out of the whole batch instead of the usual half a cookie sheet’s worth. (I love cookies fresh out of the oven!)
  • limited my candy to one small piece of chocolate on two different days (sigh!)
  • stretched daily and went for a long walk on three days

Four Foods on Friday #23 Questions

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From Fun, Crafts and Recipes

#1. American cheese. Sliced fresh or prepackaged processed cheese product?

Sliced fresh, but most of the time prepackaged is more convenient

#2. What is your favorite cracker?

Triscuits with Rosemary and Olive Oil

#3. What hot breakfast cereal do you like? Think oatmeal, farina, grits, etc.

Oatmeal with added cinnamon and a little brown sugar (and sometimes raisins)
#4. Share a recipe that uses corn.

I wrote a post last week for Shoepeg Corn Casserole that I published yesterday. It’s something I wouldn’t make very often because of the fat content, but it’s great for a special dish. (Shoepeg corn is a type of white corn known for its sweetness.)

Pigeon Forge Cabins in the Smokey Mountains

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Pigeon Forge cabin rentals in the Smokey Mountains would be a wonderful place to retreat and get away from the hectic pace of life so many of us live.  Wouldn’t it be nice to get up in the morning, have a cup of coffee, and look out a wall full of windows and gaze at the beautiful mountains.  Or maybe unwind in the “Corner Jacuzzi Tub” in the master suite.  They have two, three, and four bedroom luxury cabins which would make a great place for a family vacation, family reunion, or retreat!