Does all of this Superbowl talk have you craving Chinese food?

Who am I kidding? Everything makes me crave Chinese food! 

I used to work at a place where 75% of our group was comprised of people from China. When we would order out and say we were getting Chinese food, they would all laugh at us and say “that’s not Chinese food”, because they came to work every day with a beautiful layered concoction of rice, meat and vegetables. (Note: they were also all thin…coincidence? I think not).

So no, the fried everything and heavily-sauced meat mixtures aren’t really “Chinese food”, but they are delicious (and fatty and ridiculously high in sodium, etc)

Enter WW recipe for beef and broccoli. Let me tell you something:

MAKE THIS. It tastes just like takeout!!!

Make it for your husband/wife/kids/mom/friends/enemies or anyone else in the universe. It’s flawless.

Get these things:

2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch, divided   

1/4 tsp table salt     

3/4 pound(s) uncooked lean trimmed sirloin beef, thinly sliced against the grain   

2 tsp canola oil     

1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided     

5 cup(s) uncooked broccoli, florets (about a 12 oz bag)   

1 Tbsp ginger root, fresh, minced (I couldn’t find any, so I used powdered)  

2 tsp minced garlic

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste   

1/4 cup(s) low-sodium soy sauce   

1/2 cup(s) water   

Mushrooms (optional, about half that package)

Sesame seeds

Beer (to drink while you cook…treat yo self!)

Once you have all that, do this:

• On a plate, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and salt; add beef and toss to coat.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick wok or large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and stir-fry until lightly browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes; transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Add 1/2 cup broth to same pan; stir to loosen any bits on food on bottom of pan. Add broccoli and mushrooms; cover and cook, tossing occasionally and sprinkling with a tablespoon water if needed, until broccoli is almost crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Uncover pan and add ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes; stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• In a cup, stir together soy sauce, remaining 1/2 cup broth, remaining 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch and water until blended; stir into pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer; simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
• Return beef and accumulated juices to pan; toss to coat. Serve. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.

Aw, yeah

Fooooood

I feel like I haven’t posted food pictures lately…very unlike me. It’s certainly not because I’m not eating any.

Breakfast today was a cherry smoothie: cherry yogurt, frozen cherries and pomegranate juice. It was simply delightful, and I didn’t take a picture because my phone is getting overrun with pictures of smoothie ingredients.

Lunch today is a Weight Watchers recipe for a cold tomato/mozzarella/basil/pasta salad that I found to be a zillion times better heated up, combined with a couple of ounces of lemon garlic pork tenderloin I had left over.

I have such conflicting feelings about hot cherry tomatoes (heated up hot, not spicy hot). My mouth is telling me I should eject it simply for the texture (so smushy and that hot, squirty juice…barf), but my taste buds overrule that decision because they are always delicious. Always!

Today's smoothie brought to you by the color purple

Blueberry yogurt, sweet cherries and blueberry pomegranate juice. Additionally, purple straw and purple underwear (not pictured).

 Antioxidants like whoa.

Nesting

Last night I went out to dinner (Japanese teppanyaki where they cook in front of you on the grill—YUM) and ordered calamari and chicken which was GOOD, but I went at 5pm (way too early) and I also had 2 glasses of wine along with the ice cream they give you for dessert.

THEN, I had a 2 1/2 hour phone conversation which ended at around 9:30pm and obviously required drinks and a celebration for us both making it through it. After a dirty martini, 2 beers and some whipped cream flavored vodka on ice (plus 2 small slices of margarita pizza and some seared tuna), I was at a whopping 60 points for the day, way too many of which were booze points. Luckily my weekly point allowance allowed for it, but still. No bueno. 

This morning, I woke up with the sunrise and built a nest out of pillows and blankets on the sofa to watch as the beautiful colors decorated the sky above the reservoir across the street. I had this delicious (2 pt) lunch of stewed tomatoes, artichoke bottoms (have you ever heard of those? they’re amazing!) and a small can of tuna all mixed together and simmered on the stove. Delicious.

Then I went grocery shopping, ran some errands and returned to my nest. Is this not the coziest thing you’ve ever seen?! I can't believe I've never done this before on my couch.

Now I’m into a new day of WW points and waiting for my chicken breast to finish roasting, which I’m going to pair with garlic cauliflower, brussels sprouts and brown rice.

Here is my current view from the nest; watching the full white moon dancing with the clouds from a bed of warmth and comfort. Hope you’ve all had a lovely relaxing moment to yourself this weekend.

Smooth(ie) Criminal

Listen, if makin' sweet smoothie love is wrong, I don't wanna be right...or something like that.

Today I opened my new Ninja blender system. Somehow I pleased the Gods of the Yankee Swap and won it at my work Christmas party. This thing is like, the blender of all blenders...cookie dough paddle, ice demolisher, party pitcher attached, you name it. Legit sorcery. Look at it!!!

 

The thing I was MOST pumped about were the three travel smoothie cups, because I love me a smoothie in the morning. In fact, don't tell anyone else that makes smoothies, but I've kind of perfected it. You want in on my super simple, super delicious, super low point (2-3 WW points) but also very filling smoothie???? I will do this for you.

Here's what you need (no ice!!! no measuring cups!!! no rules!!! so many options and combinations!). Today's smoothie was peach-strawberry-banana-raspberry-lemon, or as I like to call it, The Pink Kind.

• 1 6oz yogurt (any flavor, any kind)
• Frozen fruit (Dole makes some very delicious ones)
• Juice, or flavored water (today I had light Raspberry Lemonade, but I also like to use Fruit2O)

Pick a yogurt flavor (any 6 oz yogurt will do, this one is 2 pts). Today's smoothie started with peach yogurt. Add your yogurt to the blender. Then fill the yogurt cup with frozen fruit (I heaped it over a bit).

Add the fruit to the blender. Then fill your yogurt cup again with juice/flavored water. All the way to the top if you like it more liquid, less if you like it thick (gutter, meet mind).

 Blend that magic up like a boss.

If you have a Ninja like me, switch out the chopper top for the to-go top and have a photo session of you getting your DRANK ON.

You can even put a straw in it!!!

Weekend Weigh-In

BOOM

DEF lunch (delicious, easy and fast!)

•  1 small can of albacore tuna
• 1 cup of grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 WW string cheese, sliced into pieces
• 1 teaspoon of Italian dressing

Total WW points: 5

Dessert? Gum. Definitely gum.

OMFDINNER

Food post alert!!!

A few days ago I posted the most delicious-looking pizza shaped like a pretzel. It’s been in my head worse than a Pink song ever since. After having plans on Monday and Tuesday night, last night was THE NIGHT. I went to the store for the THREE ingredients needed (I mean…) to make this 8 point slice of heaven:

• whole wheat pizza dough (3 pts per serving but one pretzel was 2 servings so 6 pts)
• turkey pepperoni (10 pieces for 1 pt)
• fat-free shredded cheese (1/4 cup for 1 pt)

Along with the TWO ingredients needed to make my own homemade marinara sauce for dipping (WW recipe, 1pt) because I already had the others (onion, garlic, spices, chili flakes)

• canned whole plum tomatoes
• fresh basil

We rolled out the dough and each made 2 ‘pretzels’ (I ate one and miracle of miracles, saved one for lunch today) For once, mine looked like they were supposed to and Ryan’s looked like…cinnamon buns or something. Whatevs.

Then we ‘decorated’ them with the cheese and pepperoni and baked at 450F for about 10 minutes.

Pulled it apart and dunked it in this DELICIOUS marinara sauce:

Lastly, we made fresh banana soft serve with chocolate chips and shredded coconut (you WILL believe you’re eating some sort of version of Chunky Monkey and you WILL moan out loud while eating it). Bonus: got to use my immersion blender.

Let me know if you want any of these SO EASY recipes. (You do, trust me.)

Before I forget...weigh-in from the weekend

Almost forgot! (No I didn’t) I lost 0.2 pounds last week. True to my “as long as I lose at least something every week in February I’ll be happy” goal, I’m happy. Even if that 0.2 pounds was a result of me shaving every acceptable ‘shaveable’ hair on my body the night before.

February Week 3! (aka weekend weigh-in)

Goals to actual results breakdown:

1. Lose weight every week: CHECK

• I lost 2 pounds!!!

2. Finish C25K: IN PROGRESS (SO CLOSE TO FINISHED!!!)

• Finished W8D3 today, 2.75 miles running (3.1 with warmup/cooldown)

3. Do a non-running workout at least once: CHECK and CHECK

• Did 8 miles on the bike and 10 minutes on the rowing machine

4. Only drink 2 times during the week: CHECK

• Defeated Saturday like a champ, drank Monday and Tuesday

If only I had more arms and a bigger back…I have so much patting to do!