Shrimp and Squash Vindaloo and Quinoa

Hello mid summer and your sweltering heat!  I bet some of you thought I jumped off the weight loss bandwagon.  I bet some of you thought I had gained all I had lost and was too embarrassed to show my little face around these parts.  Well,  Since I last blogged I FINALLY made it to my first major goal.  I lost 10% of my starting weight!  


Now I am stuck.  Been stuck for a while.  I thought I was so good at this WW thing that I could just count points in my head.  HAH!  While I haven't packed on the pounds,  (Save gaining 2lbs which I choose to blame on my July birthday and also a mission trip in which we had a Professional Personal Chef making things like "Bread Pudding French Toast".  Just being honest!  I ate 2 GIANT slices.  FEW, glad to get that off my chest!  AND I LOVED EVERY BITE!  I digress.)  I haven't lost anything!  It's very frustrating considering how busy I have been.  I will be sharing what I have been up to in a future post so check by often!


In an effort to get back on the WW bandwagon and to continue succeeding in my ultimate goal I am making a new WW recipe for dinner.  In 5 days I have had 5 friends tell me they are expecting in the spring.  If that's not motivation I don't know what is! (Girls, save your hand me downs because hopefully I am not far behind!) Now, on to the recipe and the review!

Shrimp and Squash Vindaloo


2TBS White Wine Vinegar
2TBS Curry Powder
1/2 TSP  EACH Cinnamon, ginger, cumin
1/4 TSP EACH salt, cayenne (I used a little less because my hubby isn't so much into spicy)
1 Med. Acorn Squash
3 Med shallots
2 cloves of garlic
2CUP vegetable broth
1 LB Shrimp


In a small bowl mix spices and vinegar to form a paste and set aside


Cut squash in half along the equator.  Peel and seed.  Cut into cubes


In sauce pan spray a little cooking spray and add onions and garlic minced.  Once they are translucent add paste and mix for about 20 sec.  


Add squash and mix for 20 more seconds


Add broth and bring to simmer.  Cover and let it simmer for about 40 min or until squash is tender.


Add shrimp and cook until pink.  About 3 minutes.  ALL DONE!  11/4 cup per serving and only 5 pts!  


I made a side of Quinoa (KEEN WA)  to set it on.  1 cup of cooked Quinoa is 5 pts.  1/2 c is 3 pts.




Now for the REVIEW:


WW rates this as a recipe that is medium difficulty.  I don't agree.  I think it's pretty easy.  It's just not going to be done in under 30 minutes.  Right off the bat the old olfactory senses are telling me this is a fall recipe.  Between the acorn squash (which I got in my Appleby Community Farm share) and the cinnamon it gives a wonderfully fall aroma.  Now for the taste.  It's pretty good!  It is very fall.  I am going to tuck this recipe away when the weather cools.  If you are serving your whole family I would suggest to cut the cayenne completely.  The curry is enough spice.  I think the squash could have cooked a little less possibly making this a 30 min recipe! It needs something...OHH...I added craisins!  Now it's TOTALLY thanksgivingy.  Not a word but is now!   I bet some shreds of unsweetened coconut shavings will do the trick too.  The quinoa makes it more like an etouffe than a gumbo.   I think I will be replacing my rice for quinoa!  It's very high in protein!  It is very good but it didn't pass the husband test!  Too weird for him!  DARN! 


That means more for me!  

Appleby Community Farm

Remember when I said I would post a surprise on Friday? 

Hello Saturday 2 weeks later!  Oops. 

I hope I don't disappoint.  With all the waiting and anticipation I hope the post isn't anti climatic. 

Carl and I invested in a farm!  Well, kinda.  We bought a share.  We are now a part of the Appleby Community Farm!  Really my friend Jennifer and her family and I are sharing a full share.  What that means is every Friday we take turns picking up fresh produce and splitting the share.  The food is grown right there on the farm for us to see and is all organic.  We even have the option of buying organic eggs and goat milk and cheese at pick up.  I picked up our 3rd share yesterday and I am so happy!  Right now we are mostly receiving lettuces.  It's so much that I still have a produce drawer full by the time the next Friday rolls around! 

Here is what a share looks like. 

Butter lettuce, Collard Greens, Green Onions, Spinach and Lamb Quarters

See how much!  The veggies are in the floor of my car!

Jennifer and I went out last Thursday afternoon and worked on the farm.  To keep costs down on your share you have the option to work the fields.  It is mostly all about pulling weeds but we also got to pull some veggies that had bolted.  Bolting is when a plant seeds and becomes bitter.  I am learning so much!  Speaking of learning,  I learned that bull nettle sucks!  It stings like the dickens!  I got it on my hands and knees and it was still stinging by the time I was ready for bed.  I used an old East Texas remedy that was gross but also worked like a charm.  Even with the stinging nettle, working in the garden was a blast!  I was able to get a good workout and also a nice therapy session with Jennifer!  Therapy=pulling weeds.  If you are interested in buying your own share at a community farm check out Local Harvest!

I am off to make a green smoothie using the wild lambs quarters.  YUM!  Enjoy your Saturday!

Green Smoothie

For the last three weeks I have started my morning by drinking a "Green Smoothie".  In the last three weeks I have been able to see a difference in my energy, my weight and my bowels (too much?).  I have already proved that the "Green Smoothie" curbs my cravings for sweets and gives me a lasting fullness.  After all there was that day I didn't drink one and the mini binge that ensued.  So, ah la, The Pioneer Woman, I will be sharing my "recipe" for the "Green Smoothie" with pictures.

First, grab some produce.  Anything really.  Spinach.  Kale.  Chard.  Lemons.  Limes.  Oranges.  I use mostly frozen fruit for cost and because we don't have ice.  Can't have a smoothie without something frozen.

Gather up the "Super Foods" you would like to add to boost your beverage.  Here you see Mesquite Pod Flour, Coconut Water, Flax Seeds, Black Cherry Concentrate.

Cut, peel and clean the produce.

Frozen fruits in first.  I buy whatever fruit is on sale.  If you want to trick your husband or children into drinking this smoothie you better add some dark berries so they don't see the green stuff.  If you add only light fruits you will truly have a GREEN smoothie!



Add your pick of "Super Foods".  Here I am adding some black cherry concentrate.

Add the "Green".  I like spinach because it is mild and you can't taste it.  Kale.  Not so much.  I may be adding more greens later but for now this is the one.

Add more power packed foods.  Here I am adding Flax seeds. 

I forgot to add the picture of me adding coconut water.  You can also use regular water to make your smoothie smooth.  Otherwise it will come out in chunks.  Who likes drinking a chunky?  GROSS!

Blend.

Saving the environment by using reusable straws.

Enjoy.

There really is no one way to make this delish drink.  Adding yogurt makes it creamier but it also adds points.  I have been very happy with just using water or coconut water.  You might not believe me but the fruit is sweet enough!  You don't need to add anything to sweeten it up.  No, really, you don't.  I just added a lemon this morning and I swear it tastes just like kind of like Sonic's Lemon Berry Slush. 

Try it.  Trick your family members.  Enjoy a refreshing and healthy treat.

  PS I love my Ninja Blender.  The End.



Wordless Wednesday: Lunch

It was the Cookies!

Thanks for all those who played my the game.

Sarah was the first to guess correctly on my fb and Kristin was the first one to guess on here. 

GOLD STARS FOR BOTH! 

The hot dogs are Carl's.  I bought only fat-free cheese.  Let me tell you, no temptation there!



Couldn't help the Dave Matthew's song reference!



See we have this little space between our cheese drawer and veggie drawer, it only holds junky foods.  I was cleaning out our leftovers when I saw them.  I restrained and only baked 8 cookies but within 24 hours all 8 found their way to my belly!  I didn't go over too many of my points and luckily Weight Watchers (WW) has added Flex Points to their plan.  It allows for a Weight Watcher to get through events like Spring Break, a wedding or say PMS without having to dump the whole program and feel like a failure.  I used some of those points to have a mini binge on Toll House chocolate chip walnut cookies.  I have made a connection between me NOT having my daily green smoothie the other day and my weakness. (More on Green Smoothies soon as I take some pictures)  I will say I am proud of how full our veggie drawer has been lately.  I can't wait to share what I did yesterday to ensure my veggie drawer will stay over flowing!  But for now I must go make a green smoothie or bake more cookies....

What Did I Eat?

Let's play a  little game called, "What did I eat to make me go over my Points* today."

This is a partial picture of my fridge.  The culprit is in the picture.  If you can tell me which food item caused me to go over my WW Points* you get a gold star!

*Weight Watchers (WW) has a point system.  The scientist that work for WW came up with a formula using a person's sex, weight and age to determine how many Points a person of said criteria can use to eat in a day.  All foods have a certian Point value.  The same scientists sketched out another formula using fat, carbs, fiber and protien to assign a Point value to each morsal of food.  I don't ask too many questions on their theories.  I trust they are smarter than me.  So anyway, a Weight Watcher, such as myself, uses their assigned Points to determine what to eat in a day.  I have 36 Points I can use in my day. 

It's What's for Dinner

Turkey Burger:  lean ground turkey seasoned with salt and pepper only, potato bun (it's only 1 more point than those Deli Flats and I would rather have the bread), Spinach and mustard. 

Pickles:  My dad pickled these bad boys from his own garden.  I believe these are "Mrs. Wages Dill Pickles"

Butternut Squash Fries and Ketchup:  These were super easy to make! Peel and cut up the neck of the squash into "fries" add a little salt and olive oil spray and stick it in the oven at 450 for 20 min. 

It was very filling and not for very many points!  Only 8 points to be exact.  I can use up to 36 points a day for meals and snacks.  An 8 point dinner means I can have dessert!  The best part about this meal is my husband didn't even notice that he was eating butternut squash.  I asked him if I should buy more of those kind of fries and he said yes.  It wasn't emphatic but it was a yes!  I am counting it as a win for the WW team!

Making Better Food Choices...

...While Eating Out.

As a preschool teacher I am always asking my toddlers, "Did you do the right thing?".  For the last month or so I have asked my self the same question about food.

Today we ate at our favorite restaurant, Posados.  I love to eat Mexican or Tex Mex or Southwestern fare.  It's all tasty. (Who am I kidding, I love to eat, cuisine can change and I will still eat it)  In the past I would get a big platter with a chicken tamale, cheese enchilada, a cheese chili relleno, rice, beans, and 4 flour tortillas.  Now to be fair I would take half of it home.  I haven't even included the chips, queso, salsa, guacamole and the free sopapilla!  No wonder I am fat?!?!?!

This was my meal today:



Authentic Chicken Fajita Tacos with Black Beans and Rice



What is the difference?

My old meal was about 50 points.

The new meal is 15 points.  That is including the corn tortillas I ate before the meal!  That is a HUGE difference.  It tasted just as yummy and I was just as full.  (Really I was less full but all that meant was I could move after the meal, which is a good thing.)

Oh,  just so you know I get 36 points (as of now, the more weight I lose the less points I will have to eat with) a day.

All this talk about food has made me hungry.  I'm out.

Kalena