Jan 29, 2013

Good Eats

I thought i would take a little break from talking about sad things.  I have finally started to get back into the swing of things since dad passed.  I took an almost 6 week break from cooking and working out.  I did both occasionally- but nothing consistent   So i am really happy to be back in the gym and back to cooking.  Here are some of my favorite go to 'lighter' recipes.

Fish Tacos (minus the taco)
3/4 lb of Cod (or any other fish you prefer)
1/2 Cup of House Autry seafood breader
1 Tbsp of Oil
1 Mango, diced
1/2 Can of Black beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 Cup of shredded cheese
1/2 Cup diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 Can of Shoe-peg corn, drained
Shredded Cabbage
Green Onions (diced)

Spicy Pink Sauce:  1/4 cup of light sour cream, 1/4 cup fat free mayo, 1 tspn of Sriracha
*  Add as much sriracha as you would like- the more you add the hotter it is

1.  Cut cod up into bite sized pieces.  Place cut up fish in plastic bag with seafood breader.
2.  Pan fry fish in 1 Tbsp of oil until golden brown on both sides
3.  Place half of fish on plate and top with :  shredded cheese, shredded cabbage, mango, black beans, tomatoes  corn, green onions, spicy pink sauce.

Lemon Salmon
2 Pieces of Salmon
1 Lemon
Salt and Pepper

1.  I lay out 2 pieces of foil in a cross- both pieces fairly long.
2.  Cut up lemon in rounds
3.  Place lemon in the middle of the foil.
4.  Place salmon on top of lemon.  Drizzle with a little evoo and sprinkle with salt and pepper
5.  Fold up sides of foil to make a little packet.
6.  Bake at 350-375 for 15 minutes (may take longer if piece of fish is bigger).

Yall, this is SO good.  I probably have this 2 times a week.  It is super easy and fast- with very little clean up (because of the foil packet).  I usually serve this with steamed broccoli and sweet potatoes or pierogies.

Cauliflower Rice
1 Head of cauliflower
1/4 cup of cheese
Salt and Pepper

1.  Boil head of cauliflower until tender.  You should be able to get a fork through the thickest part really easily.  
2.  Put the cauliflower through a ricer or mash with potato masher.
3.  Once the cauliflower is at the consistency that you like - add the cheese, salt and pepper
4.  Stir and serve


I love this as a side.  We actually had it last night.  It is a good way to change up your typical boring veggies.


Zucchini Boats
1 or 2 med size zucchini
1/2 of bell pepper - your favorite color (mine is yellow or orange)
1/2 of an onion
handful of mushrooms
1/4 cup of cheese- whatever your favorite is
1/4 cup of bread crumbs- i use panko for crunch
salt and pepper

1.  Cut zucchini in half (lengthwise) add a couple TBS of water to dish.
2.  Microwave to cook zucchini- about 5 minutes
3.  You want the zucchini to be cooked enough to scoop out the middle easily- but not cooked too much that it is mushy.  
4.  Scoop out the center of the zucchini - set aside.  This will be added back into the filling.
5.  Saute the mushrooms, onion, peppers, and zucchini that was scooped out.  Once cooked add the cheese, salt and pepper
6.  Place zucchini ' shells' into a casserole dish.
7.  Fill each shell with mixture
8.  Top each with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs
9.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until top is golden brown

I usually make these as a side dish- but you can also make these the main dish.  I've also added meat- ground turkey or ground beef.  These are yummy!

Jan 9, 2013

Christmas 2012

Christmas was hard this year- for obvious reasons, however, at the same time it as also really nice.  Christmas gave us something to celebrate and something to focus on.  We kept all of our usual traditions this year, just as if my dad were here.  I know he would have wanted us to do that.  With the holidays over, i am anxious to begin the new year.  I know this year will bring so many happy things, i just wish dad were here to be a part of it too.  I know he is looking down and is so proud.

Here are some highlights from our holidays...

Mom's tree- Chris and I helped her decorate.  I have to say, and she agrees, that this is the most beautiful tree she has ever had.  I loved the way it turned out.


Mom got Lora and I this ornament ...it is so special to me.  I love the quote that it has on it and the Christmas poem that came with it.  I keep it in a memory box (more on that later).


We had lots of presents to open both at our house and at my in laws.  Chris and I truly had a wonderful Christmas. We spent time with the people that we love the most and really appreciated their company.



We rang in the new year by ourselves at home.  We are very much looking for healing, contentment, and growth this year.  We are also excited for what 2013 will bring, one things for sure, my sweet neice/nephew will be here before i know it.  






Dec 19, 2012

One Month in Heaven

It is hard to believe that it has been one month.  One month since my dad went to heaven.  As i sit at work today, i think of how fast this month went, how it feels like i just hugged him goodbye before he left for his fishing trip at Portsmouth.  The trip that took his life.

I want to write about the accident and my feelings and emotions towards it, but today, on the one month anniversary, i would rather talk about something a little more happy, his life.

My dad was one of a kind, i know a lot of people always say that about their loved ones or friends, but he really was.  There wasn't anyone that i had ever met that was like my dad, he could make me mad and laugh all at the same time.  He was/is the smartest person i have ever met.  From before i was born, my dad strived to be the best person and businessman he could be.  I can remember when i was little thinking my dad was so cool because he owned his own business, something many kids couldn't say.  My dad was a business owner, he built something from the ground up.  It meant so much to him.  He had great success in that business, but he always looked for more.  He had passion, the kind of passion that kept his mind busy and his heart full.  I've never seen my dad so excited as i did with the invention and start up of Safe-T-Shade.  He   poured every ounce of himself into this work.  He was so dedicated to this and had so much passion for it-  i loved this about him.  He was the truest example of passion.  I light of all that has happened, i have really looked at my life.  I have realized that i have changes to make in myself.  

I promise him that i will start living with as much passion as i can.  I promise to stop worrying about the small things, in the end they don't matter.  I promise to live each day to the fullest, you really don't know when it will be your last.  I promise to always show my family and friends how much i appreciate and love them.

I hope my dad is enjoying his time in heaven, i cant wait until i see him again.    

Dec 4, 2012

November 19, 2012

This is the day that forever changed my life, it is the day that my sweet dad went to Heaven.  I still cannot believe that i have to live the rest of my life without my dad, I absolutely cannot wait until i see him again.

He is the smartest person i have ever met- and i know there was so much more life he could have lived, there was more that he wanted to do.  Although his life was cut much too short- the 56 years he was on earth were not wasted.  He lived life to the absolute fullest and was passionate about so many things.

The things i will miss the most are:  his ice blue eyes, his goofy smile, his love for having fun, his culinary concoctions he would come up with, his smell of old spice and cigars, his encouragement in everything i did, and his passion for life.

The next couple of posts will be dedicated to the life of my father.

Oct 31, 2012

WLW- Week 12


Weight Loss Wednesday- Week 12

Weight loss Goal:  70 lbs
Week 12 loss:  1.5 lbs
Total loss:  15.5 lbs

Weekly workout details

Wednesday:    Gym
- 45 minutes on treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.4 miles
- 25 Min with weights

Thursday:  Gym
- 40 minutes on treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.5 miles
- 25 Min with weights

Friday:  None

Saturday:  None

Sunday:  None

Monday: None

Tuesday:   Gym

- 45 Min on Treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.6 miles
- 15 Min with weights


Reflections:
* Good thing my weigh in day was today and not tomorrow!  It is HARD to be around all of these sweets!
* Happy Halloween!

Oct 24, 2012

WLW- Week 11



Weight Loss Wednesday- Week 11

Weight loss Goal:  70 lbs
Week 11 loss:  1.5 lbs
Total loss:  14 lbs

Weekly workout details

Wednesday:    Gym
- 35 minutes on treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.5 miles
- 25 Min with weights

Thursday:  Gym
- 35 minutes on treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.5 miles
- 25 Min with weights

Friday:  Gym
- 40 minutes on treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.5 miles
- 15 Min with weights

Saturday:  None- Out of Town

Sunday:  None- Out of Town

Monday: Gym
- 45 Min on Treadmill
*Run/Walk- 2.6 miles
- 15 Min with weights

Tuesday:   None


Reflections:
*  I broke even again with my weight loss- last week i had a gain of 1.5 and this week i lost the 1.5.  I'm still not sure what the gain from last week was from, all food and exercise was the usual.  Oh well, i am not going to think too much into it.

* I ran this morning and put in 3 miles on the treadmill.  Most of it was walking on a steep incline, but i did get some running in and it felt really good.  I am so ready to just be able to run run run run!  Baby steps.... :)

*  I think i will do another recipe review this week.  I've tried some yummy and healthy stuff lately and want to share!

Oct 18, 2012

WLW- Week 10

I didn't post yesterday because i forgot to get on the scale first thing in the morning....maybe it was a forewarning to this week...because as of this morning i am up 1.5 lbs from last week.

So, I am not doing a regular post this week....instead i am going to get my butt in gear!