Summer Saute

Tonight's meal is a fast, family favorite - compliments of eMeals.com.  I'm not necessarily endorsing the eMeals program (though Dave Ramsey does!), but it's been a great thing for our family.  Our menu changes weekly and the site even prepares the grocery list!  There's only one meal that we actually could not stomach - threw it in the trash even - but most importantly, we are cooking more at home and saving a LOT of money.  (Let's just say that a week's worth of dinners can be prepared for the same amount CME and I spent for one meal out for date night!)

Summer Saute:  kielbasa, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, garlic salt, oregano and pepper...sauteed and served over rice.  Yum!

Date Night

I just blogged about my date night with CME.  Here's the food that was consumed (though I didn't get pictures of the Frickles!)  It was delicious but... 

Blackened fish (with aioli on the side) and teriyaki broccoli

Classic piña colada

Signature piña colada

Tuesday, April 10

I skipped breakfast today...unless you count my coffee.  (I know!  BAD thing to do!)  Lunch was 6" grilled artichoke sandwich from Penn Station along with a few fresh cut fries split with CME and a Diet Pepsi.

Dinner tonight was a thin-cut balsamic pork chop, 1/2 cup instant mashed potatoes (made with skim milk and 2T margarine), brown sugar and dill steamed carrots and Appletini Crystal Light. 

Easter Fare

I didn't take a picture of all that I ate on Easter...but I must say that it was WAY less than even I had anticipated.  I had one chicken kabob (below) about 1/2 c of broccoli slaw, 2 deviled eggs (1 whole egg) and a tablespoon of cabbage au gratin just to taste something new.  I refrained from the potato salad and hash brown casserole and corn casserole.  And I completely avoided any kind of dessert.  Sweets are my downfall a lot of the time and I was afraid if I started, I'd never stop.  All in all, I eating Easter lunch/dinner a success!

What's Cookin'?

With the surgery rapidly approaching, I better get some pictures posted of things we've been eating recently.  I realize that the days of my Diet Cokes (even these small mini-ones) are about to be a thing of the past too...

Friday night (3/30) - Homemade Ranch Chicken Salad, mini croissant and fresh pineapple.  I determined that this one can be modified to make it healthier by replacing the mayo with Greek yogurt.  Otherwise, not bad at all health-wise.

And yes...those are the small plates and there's STILL room on it.  :)

No, I didn't cook this one, but yum!  Saturday (3/31) - Vegetarian Platter from Manna Mediterranean Restaurant.  Kudos to the owners, Amjad and Kristi, for an awesome place to get authentic Mediterranean food! 

Never in a million years did I think I'd ever stand over the sink peeling shrimp to cook!  But tonight (4/3), I did.  A yummy coconut shrimp bake over brown rice and sauteed asparagus.  I love that our boys eat a variety of food that includes shrimp and asparagus.  The picture might be a bit deceiving because I did have a couple pieces of asparagus as it was cooking - you know, to make sure it was seasoned well and done.  This one is a "do again" according the the family.  If I eat this post-surgery, I'll need to figure out a way to replace the vegetable oil that was used and look at the calories and sugar in the white cooking wine.  Regardless, I'm pretty darn proud that I even made something like this!  

Dinner time...

Something I've started to notice as I'm not eating as large (or multiple) of portions is that we tend to have more leftovers than before.  Tuesday we had "cheater calzones" and Caesar salad and grape crystal light.  We fixed the recipe the way it was written and had enough for 2 meals!  Before, I might would have eaten two of the calzones. 

Tonight we had crockpot chicken over egg noodles, peas and biscuits.  Again...LOTS of chicken leftovers that CME will take for lunch tomorrow.  I didn't go back for seconds.  Well, I did - on the peas - but even after I put them on my plate and started to eat them, I realized that I wasn't even hungry, so I didn't eat them.  Novel concept, huh???  As far as chicken goes...I cannot stand touching raw chicken - it really grosses me out.  I am super-thankful that CME doesn't mind cooking!  The crockpot chicken was a whole chicken that had to be cleaned (and that extra stuff inside removed).  Cooking with whole chickens is so economical!  It really is...but if it wasn't for CME, I'm not sure I'd EVER do it!

Weekend Fare

Looking at what I ate just for supper this weekend, I realize that very soon the amount of food I ate is probably enough food for an entire week immediately after surgery.  Wow.  Just...wow.

Saturday

Pork Roast 

Green Beans in Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup

Scalloped Potatoes

Crystal Light

Sunday

Homemade Sweet & Sour Meatballs (93% Lean Ground Beef)

Oriental Stir Fry Veggies

Egg Roll

Diet Coke