The First 43: My Life Now

Caesar Chicken Fingers. So good. Highly recommend it! This is another Epicure recipe but can be easily adapted! Ingredients: 2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese 2 Cups Italian breadcrumbs 500g package of fresh chicken strips or chicken breasts cut into strips 1/4 Cup prepared Epicure Caesar Dressing or 1/4 Cup store bought light Caesar Dressing.  Directions: Preheat the oven to 375*F. While the oven is heating, mix 1/2 the Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese in a bowl.  Coat the chicken in this mixture. Once coated, dip in the breadcrumbs.  Place the strips on a baking sheet or in a Pyrex dish. Cook for 20 minutes.  Set aside the extra dressing for dipping. **I served it with a side of cherry tomato and feta salad! I used the Epicure Bruchetta mix, balsamic vinegrette, cherry tomatoes (about 20, halved) and light feta. Calories: 116 calories per finger (this includes the dipping additional dipping sauce) Original recipe can be found ...

BBQ Chicken Chili A friend of mine recommended this recipe so, I decided to give it a shot. I adjusted it ever so slightly from the original skinnytaste recipe only because I can only handle so much spice and well, I was warned it was spicy. I was really impressed with this. I always make chili with extra lean ground beef so, using lean ground chicken was new to me but, worked just as well and was just as tasty. I did change it substantially enough that I am going to write out what I used. For example, I didn't buy chicken breasts and shred them, I used ground chicken. I used more beans, I roasted my own peppers, etc. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 cup white onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, pressed 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon salt 500g lean ground chicken, cooked 2 red peppers, roasted and chopped (not from the jar, it avoids the extra oil.) 1 can of c...

The summer months didn't prove to be great for exercise for me. I got a couple runs in and maybe a handful of trips to the gym. Most of my exercise came from walking and making sure that I walked more than normal. I was starting to feel a little "soft" and I didn't want to go back to where I was. I had those pesky two pounds to lose. They just keep coming on and off. I've decided it's just got to be a day to day variance and I can't stress over it. The one thing I have learned about maintaining my weight is how deep my fear is of gaining it all back or slipping back into old habits. I'm 18 months past my 56lb loss and I've stuck to it but that fear always lives within you. It's not like I think about it everyday, not at all. Every once in awhile though, it creeps on it.  For example,  when I ordered pants online this week and hoped that I still fit into the same size I did last time I bought skinny jeans. This is what got me thinking about al...

After what we can call a... relaxed summer... I am back at trying new recipes, focusing on my calories, cutting back on my favourite beverage (wine!) and getting myself back into regular scheduled life programming. So, with that, trying some new recipes to mix things up in our day to day. Since the weather has been unseasonably cool the last couple weeks, this was my first try at Irish Potato Soup!  Ingredients: - 4 large white potatoes, quartered - One medium sized white onion - Enough water to just cover the potatoes and onion - 1 cup of (Epicure) Chicken Bouillon (you can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth) - 3 TBPS (Epicure) 3 Onion Mix (you can sub in Lipton Dry Onion Soup, not prepared) - Black pepper and salt to taste. Directions: Quarter potatoes, chop onion.  Place in pot with just enough water to cover the ingredients.  Let boil until potatoes are soft.  Once cooked through, place the contents of the pot (including water) into a food pro...

Summer Fruit Salad! This is seriously one of my favourite foods of summer and probably the one thing I always forget to make. So, I made one while we were at the cottage a few weeks back. So good. Reminded me of my childhood. My nana and my mom used to make fruit salad all the time when we were at the cottage when I was growing up. Healthy, refreshing and delicious. In my fruit salad I put: 1 Peach, chopped 2 Bananas, chopped 1 Apple, chopped 15 cherries, pitted and halved. 1.5 cups of Orange Juice (with pulp) Calorie Count : 89 calories per cup (Makes about 6- 8 cups of fruit salad depending on the size of your fruit. Mine made just about 8 cups) 

I thought it was time for  a mid summer update! I've noticed that over the last year, I've had a pesky two pounds that come on and come off. I never let it get to me but more recently, they seem to just be sticking.  I take responsibility. About a year ago, I stopped using My Fitness Pal religiously. I would check in on the calorie count of food when we were out for dinner at restaurants or things like that. So, I'm back on MFP. Faithfully. Two weeks going strong. It doesn't seem like a lot but, after being off of it for so long, it's really a challenge mentally to get back at it. I forgot just how hard it was being so committed to it. I can't believe that I did MFP for over 365 days straight.  It seems like an impossible task now that I'm back on it but, logically, I know it can be done and I can stick to it. Food aside, the main reason I am back on MFP is to force myself to get more exercise. My eating habits changed dramatically during the year I dropp...

Delicious Strawberry Banana Fudgsicles! I tried my hand at popsicles and fudgsicles last summer and it did not go well. I decided to give it another shot this year and I'm glad I did, much more successful! I did adjust the recipe a fair amount for the vegan one this is based on (original recipe linked below) You will need a blender or a food processor and a popsicle mold. (I got mine at IKEA, really inexpensive, I think they even sell them at the dollar store now. You can also get more expensive ones at Walmart, Target and Home Outfitters.) Ingredients:  1 regular sized banana 1 cup 1% milk 3 TBSP Cocoa Powder 1/2 cup sliced strawberries Directions: Get your blender or food processor. Put in a banana, milk and cocoa powder and blend until smooth/liquid.  Fill 6 popsicle molds half way.  Add equal amounts of strawberries to each one. Fill the molds to the top with remaining liquid. Put in the freezer to freeze overnight. That's it, you've got a...