Struggling

I've been struggling for the past several weeks with my weight loss routine.  I finally pinpointed the demise around the time Sissy started school.  Before she started we had a little routine for breakfast, clean up, workout, shower and begin our day.  But now, my whole routine has been tossed out the window.  On top of that, my treadmill hasn't been operating properly.  I finally purchased some special treadmill lubricant from Amazon.com using my swagbucks.  I hope that will fix the problem.  In the meantime, I need some help figuring out what to do!  Getting up an hour earlier is making me hungry earlier which has me eating earlier and then when it comes to 6 or 7:00 at night, I'm ready to eat again.  It's ridiculous!

Since I've started typing this out, I've jumped up and grabbed a piece a gum.  Maybe that will help me.  I don't know, but I really want to lose the next 15 pounds by the end of December.  At this rate, I'll have gained another 5 pounds by that time it comes around. 

How do you carve out time to work out when you have a busy schedule?

Figure Friendly Friday: Lentil Ground Turkey Taco Mix

Lentils in taco meat???

I couldn't really wrap my brain around it in the beginning either.  After much thought, I figured lentils are beans and we love beans in our taco meat, so why not!

Turns out, lentils are pretty healthy and a great source of fiber and protein.  

This week's submission for Figure Friendly Friday is Lentil Ground Turkey Taco Mix.  Use this in soft tortillas for burritos or soft tacos.  Pour it over tortilla chips for nachos.  Spread it over corn tortillas for tostadas.  The possibilities are endless.  It is so good!  We all really love this a lot!

Lentil Ground Turkey Taco Mix (adapted from Eat at Home)

1 cup dried lentils

2-3/4 cups water

2 tsp chicken tomato bouillon (like Knorr)

2 tsp ground cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp vegetable oil

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup salsa (your favorite)

16 oz (1 lbs) ground turkey 93% lean

Rinse lentils and sort out the rocks and debris.  Bring water and bouillon to a boil.  Add lentils and spices, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.  In a skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat and saute onion, garlic and salsa.  Add salsa mixture to the lentils when the onions are translucent, so you won't wait until the 30 minute timer is up to add them.  Brown the ground turkey, drain and set aside.  When the timer goes off, add turkey to the lentils and cook for another 15 minutes.  

I prefer softer lentils (not mushy), so I cook this for another 15 minutes.  This is my preference.  You do what you love.  That's what a recipe is all about :)

This makes about 16 servings.  Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to measure out each serving.  You can freeze this too.  I made a double batch and froze them in 2 cup measurements in freezer storage baggies for future meals.  (big surprise, right!)

Per serving:  Calories 70 calories, Fat 2.3 gr, Carbs 6.7 gr, Protein 7.8 gr

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to:

• Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum 
• Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites
• Food Fight Fridays at Choochmagooz
• Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker
• Food Trip Friday
• Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
• Friday Firsts at Dinner at Christina's
• Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge
• Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom
• I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom
• What's Cookin' in the Kitchen at Katie's Cucina
• Foodie Friday at Little Brick Ranch
• Fun with Food at Paisley Passions

RECIPE: Banana Oat Muffins

Since joining sparkpeople.com, I've come across many new low-calorie recipes.  Some of the recipes they suggest though, are just not for me.  However, after I tweak them a bit, I end up with something we love.  

We normally eat this muffin with our breakfast or for an evening snack.  I hope you enjoy it!  I really love to spread a little peanut butter on it...it's just so good.  A match made in heaven...peanut butter and bananas!  

Next time I'm going to try making this with dark chocolate to see how the calories work out, if it's good, I'll share it too.

Banana Oat Muffins

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup oat flour (grind your own oatmeal)

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup mashed bananas (overripe, about 3)

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

In large bowl whisk flour, oat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In separate bowl, mix bananas, sugar, yogurt, egg and vanilla extract together.  Pour into the dry ingredients and add cinnamon.  Scoop into a muffin tin sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  Bake at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes or until toothpick tests done.

Makes 12 muffins.

YUM!

each muffin = 84 calories, 0.7 grams fat, 17.5 grams carbs, 2.3 gram protein

Don't forget to check out my new eCookbook Sweet Creations Volume 1 "Basic Southern Cakes"!  It's only $2.99!

This post has also been linked to:

• Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale 
• Mmmonday at Acting Balanced
• Meatless Monday at Midnight Maniac 
• Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist 
• Muffin Monday at Talking Dollars and Cents
• Hearth and Soul at A Moderate Life
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
• Delicious Dish at It's a Blog Party
• Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop at Home Sweet Farm
• Tasty Tuesday at 33 Shades of Green 
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
• $5 Dollar Dinner Challenge 
• No Whine Wednesday at Food on the Table
• Lets Do Brunch at My Sweet & Savory
• Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
• Real Food Wednesdays at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
• What's On Your Plate? at Good Cheap Eats

Figure Friendly Friday: Lemony Hummus

Are you ready for another Figure Friendly Friday?

The other week, my fellow weight loss buddies were asking about a good homemade hummus recipe.  I'd made one a few years ago, but don't even remember if I liked it.  So I found a yummy recipe and tweaked it with what I've got in the pantry.  It was pretty tasty!

Here's the "rules":

This linky party will be for recipes that come in under 500 calories.  Recipes or methods from desserts to soups and everything in between.  However, if your recipe does not fit the 500 calorie goal, I'll have to delete it.  There are a couple of free calorie counters, but I really like sparkrecipes.com.  Please list the calories per serving somewhere in the recipe for everyone to see.  Also, please link back to Family Stamping and FOOD! and be sure to visit the other participants.

I'm hoping for a successful linky party so let your friends know!

<br /> <a> href="<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/?action=view&current=FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>" /></a>

Here's this week's Figure Friendly Friday submission:

Lemony Hummus
2 cans butter beans, drained
pinch of red pepper flakes
juice of half a lemon
1 tsp ground cumin
1 garlic clove, grated
1 Tbsp peanut butter (if you're fancy, use tahini)
about 2 Tbsp water (enough to help it blend)
1 tsp parsley (wish I had the fresh stuff!)
1 tsp paprika, plus more to sprinkle on top

Drain the butter beans and rinse

Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the blender or food processor

Add cumin

red pepper flakes

fresh garlic clove, grated

make sure you get all of it off the back of the microplaner

 

add secret ingredient, 1 Tbsp peanut butter

add a little water to help it process creamy

blend and blend

sprinkle with some extra paprika and parsley

32 TBSP = 2 Cups

16 servings (2 Tbsp per serving) 39 calories, 1.1 gr fat, 5.3 gr carbs, 2.1 gr protein

From everything I've read, you can add just about whatever you like, flavor-wise.  I didn't add any oil, because I wanted to cut the calories.  You could easily add some olive oil and just add the calories into the mix.  I didn't miss it though. 

Figure Friendly Friday: Spinach, Pepper & Alfredo Pizza

Are you ready for another Figure Friendly Friday?

You must know how much I love my Friday Night Pizza Nights.  And if you don't, well I do!  I'm not about to give up my pizza nights.  After all, I don't believe in deprivation, only healthier eating.

Here's the "rules":

This linky party will be for recipes that come in under 500 calories.  Recipes or methods from desserts to soups and everything in between.  However, if your recipe does not fit the 500 calorie goal, I'll have to delete it.  There are a couple of free calorie counters, but I really like sparkrecipes.com.  Please list the calories per serving somewhere in the recipe for everyone to see.  Also, please link back to Family Stamping and FOOD! and be sure to visit the other participants.

I'm hoping for a successful linky party so let your friends know!

<br /> <a> href="<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/?action=view&current=FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>" /></a>

Here's this week's Figure Friendly Friday submission:

Spinach, Pepper and Alfredo Pizza

1 high fiber whole wheat tortilla (such as Ole Mexican Foods Xtreme Wellness)

2 Tbsp reduced calorie Alfredo sauce 

1/2 cup fresh spinach, chopped

1/4 cup sliced mixed bell pepper strips, charred (about 1/2 a pepper sliced)

1/4 cup fat free shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Toast tortillas on oven racks until tortilla blisters, about 2 minutes.  Remove tortilla to baking sheet and top with Alfredo sauce.  Top with bell pepper strips, fresh spinach and cheese.  Bake at 425 degrees F for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and edges of tortilla are golden.

Serving size is one tortilla.

222 calories, 23 carbs, 6 gr fat, 18 gr protein

You can easily double this recipe to eat 2 tortillas and STILL be under 500 calories!

Yes, I do this and it's super filling and yummy!

This post has also been linked to:

• Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale 
• Mmmonday at Acting Balanced
• Meatless Monday at Midnight Maniac 
• Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist
• Hearth and Soul at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
• Delicious Dish at It's a Blog Party
• Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop at Home Sweet Farm
• Tasty Tuesday at 33 Shades of Green 
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
• $5 Dollar Dinner Challenge 
• No Whine Wednesday at Food on the Table
• Lets Do Brunch at My Sweet & Savory
• Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
• Real Food Wednesdays at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
• What's On Your Plate? at Good Cheap Eats
• Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum 
• Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites
• Food Fight Fridays at Choochmagooz
• Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker
• Food Trip Friday
• Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
• Friday Firsts at Dinner at Christina's
• Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge
• Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom
• I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom
• What's Cookin' in the Kitchen at Katie's Cucina
• Foodie Friday at Little Brick Ranch
• Fun with Food at Paisley Passions

<br /> <a> href="<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/?action=view&current=FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>" /></a>

Figure Friendly Friday: Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup

Figure Friendly Friday is back!  Hope you have had a great week.  I'm sharing a simple soup recipe this week.

Here's the "rules":

This linky party will be for recipes that come in under 500 calories.  Recipes or methods from desserts to soups and everything in between.  However, if your recipe does not fit the 500 calorie goal, I'll have to delete it.  There are a couple of free calorie counters, but I really like sparkrecipes.com.  Please list the calories per serving somewhere in the recipe for everyone to see.  Also, please link back to Family Stamping and FOOD! and be sure to visit the other participants.

I'm hoping for a successful linky party so let your friends know!

<br /> <a> href="<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/?action=view&current=FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>" /></a>

This week I'm sharing a Tex-Mex take on a classic American soup...Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup.

Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup

10 cups chicken stock
1-8 oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp chicken/tomato bouillon
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried cilantro or 1 tbsp fresh
2 cups pre-cooked brown rice
1 cup black beans (or half a can)
1-1/2 cups pre-cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
1 can diced green chiles (like Ortega brand)
avocado (optional, not in calorie count)
reduced calorie sour cream (optional, not in calorie count)

Add everything (except avocado and sour cream) to a slow cooker and place on the high setting. Cook for 4 hours until heated through.

Serve with 2 Tbsp diced avocado (+38 calories) and 1 Tbsp reduced calorie sour cream (+20 calories).  Round out the meal with a small sliver of cornbread.

Serving Size: 8 1-1/2 cup servings

224 calories, 5 gr fat, 28 gr carbs, 15 gr protein per serving

This post has also been linked to:

• Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale 
• Mmmonday at Acting Balanced
• Meatless Monday at Midnight Maniac 
• Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist
• Hearth and Soul at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
• Delicious Dish at It's a Blog Party
• Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop at Home Sweet Farm
• Tasty Tuesday at 33 Shades of Green 
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
• $5 Dollar Dinner Challenge 
• No Whine Wednesday at Food on the Table
• Lets Do Brunch at My Sweet & Savory
• Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
• Real Food Wednesdays at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
• What's On Your Plate? at Good Cheap Eats
• Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum 
• Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites
• Food Fight Fridays at Choochmagooz
• Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker
• Food Trip Friday
• Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
• Friday Firsts at Dinner at Christina's
• Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge
• Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom
• I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom
• What's Cookin' in the Kitchen at Katie's Cucina
• Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
• Fun with Food at Paisley Passions

Figure Friendly Friday: Easy Chef Salad

What would y'all think about another blogger linky party?

There's wonderful ones out there and I link to most of them.

But...

I really would like to have a place where I can see a compilation of delicious, figure friendly recipes.

Here's the "rules":

This linky party will be for recipes that come in under 500 calories.  Recipes or methods from desserts to soups and everything in between.  However, if your recipe does not fit the 500 calorie goal, I'll have to delete it.  There are a couple of free calorie counters, but I really like sparkrecipes.com.  Please list the caloriees per serving somewhere in the recipe for everyone to see.  Also, please link back to Family Stamping and FOOD! and be sure to visit the other participants.

I'm hoping for a successful linky party so let your friends know!

<br /> <a> href="<a href="http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/?action=view&current=FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss294/sweetdarlin25/FigureFriendlyFriday-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>" /></a>

Here's my first Figure Friendly Friday submission...

Easy Chef Salad

2 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped

2 oz deli turkey thinly sliced (enough to equal 80 calories)

1/2 Roma tomato, sliced

1 hard boiled egg, sliced

1/4 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup sliced cucumber

Arrange everything over the top of the lettuce and drizzle with the balsamic vinaigrette.

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

1 tsp spicy brown mustard

1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar (make sure you check the calories on these...)

1/2 Tbsp honey

salt

pepper

Whisk everything together and drizzle over the top of the salad.  This makes one serving for lunch or dinner. 

266 Calories, 7 fat gr, 23 protein, 21 carbs

Round out the meal with a small apple and crackers.

This post has also been linked to:

• Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale 
• Mmmonday at Acting Balanced
• Meatless Monday at Midnight Maniac 
• Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist
• Hearth and Soul at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
• Delicious Dish at It's a Blog Party
• Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop at Home Sweet Farm
• Tasty Tuesday at 33 Shades of Green 
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
• $5 Dollar Dinner Challenge 
• No Whine Wednesday at Food on the Table
• Lets Do Brunch at My Sweet & Savory
• Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
• Real Food Wednesdays at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
• What's On Your Plate? at Good Cheap Eats
• Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum 
• Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites
• Food Fight Fridays at Choochmagooz
• Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker
• Food Trip Friday
• Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
• Friday Firsts at Dinner at Christina's
• Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge
• Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom
• I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom
• What's Cookin' in the Kitchen at Katie's Cucina
• Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
• Fun with Food at Paisley Passions