Close to my Heart

Sunday night already

Well here it is Sunday night, and very little knitting has been accomplished this weekend. Instead I was seduced by my wheel (and the lovely fiber I showed you last night) as well as a good book (love reading ebooks on my iPad, but that's another post...).  As well, I went for a long walk this afternoon, then came home and spent some time in the kitchen.  In addition to prepping the crockpot for tomorrow, I also made a yummy meal for tonight, spaghetti and meatballs:

In the neverending quest to make meal time easier on work nights, there are now enough meatballs for two more meals in the freezer. 

Now off I go to make the most of the hour or two I have left before bedtime and the work week starts all over again.  At least there is bellydance class to look forward to tomorrow night!

Sushi

  This is, admittedly a lazy post, because by Friday, that's what I am.  I did however manage to drag my tired lazy self to a Zumba class right after work tonight.  This class was at a different venue and with a different instructor than my regular classes, and quite honestly, I prefer my regular instructor better, she has a dance background, which comes across quite obviously in her classes, while tonight's class was led by someone with years of experience as a fitness instructor.  Nonetheless, I was able to start the weekend with a good workout, and I'll definitely try this class again.

Come Friday, I love to take a break from cooking and pick up  a yummy take out treat for dinner.  After leaving the Zumba class, I stopped off at my favourite Japanese restaurant.  And keeping with the lazy theme, I photographed the sushi with my iPhone, because, to be quite honest, using the regular digicam and uploading to the computer would have required far too much effort.

Wishing you all a relaxing, lazy weekend.  Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

The foods of autumn

Continuing the autumn theme I started yesterday, this is also a time of year where meal preparation changes.  One can once again turn the oven on without roasting out the house, and cravings turn to food of the heartier variety.  Since I'm busy every week night with either bellydance or zumba class, weekends are when I need to get somewhat organized as far as meal prep goes, and ideally, precook some things for the week ahead.  To that end, this past weekend saw me actually cooking two decent meals (don't laugh!).  On Saturday I cooked a big pot of chili, enough for another meal this coming week as well as two individual portions for the freezer.  And Sunday, I roasted a chicken, along with acorn squash and Yukon gold potatoes.  The chicken, if I do say so myself, turned out perfectly.   I followed my Mother's instructions somewhat.  She said to put the chicken on a rack inside the roasting pan, cover the bottom with water, and to start roasting on a higher heat for the first 20 minutes or so before reducing.  Well I didn't have a rack that would fit in my roasting pan, but I followed the rest of her instructions.  I cook the 2.004 kg bird for a total of 90 minutes (I'm puttting all this for my own future reference if nothing else) and it turned out perfectly.  Cooked through yet still moist, so yummy!  It's been a long time since I've roasted a chicken, I really need to do so more often.

Spring!

It's finally feeling like spring around here this last week or so.  The temps could be a bit higher still, but my measure of the arrival of spring:  haven't had to wear socks (except for when I slip my running shoes on to go for a walk/run) for two weeks now.  Yeah!  I love all my hand knit socks, but am much happier to go sockless. As well, with the arrival of longer brighter days, I have way more energy.  I've been productive around the house this weekend, and have even resumed the Couch to 5K that I abandoned last fall.  It felt good!  And another sign of spring, upon returning from my walk/run yesterday, I surveyed our lilac bush.  Yep, spring indeed!

 

Spring also means that food preferences change. Warm comfort foods are no longer quite as essential as they are in the gloomier winter months.  Cravings start for such things as cool smoothies and healthy fruits and veggies.  To that end, I decided I'd try making my own yogurt.  While doing  my usual morning surfing while drinking my coffee yesterday, I happened across these instructions for homemade yogurt.  It sounded so easy that I thought I'd give it a try.  I did half the recipe and cut out some fat.  I used a two litre carton of 1% milk, and a little 175 gram container of plain 2% yogurt.  I wrapped the stirred mixture in a towel, as directed, then plunked the whole thing in my cooler.  At that point I wasn't totally sure that I'd wake up to yogurt and not a bunch of warm milk that I'd have to dump down the sink.  I literally squealed this morning when I removed the towel and opened the lid to my bowl to find this:

 

The whole thing went into the fridge to cool down, and I eagerly anticipated tasting my first homemade yogurt.  It did not not disappoint.  This was a lovely treat this afternoon:

And dinner tonight is going to include tzatziki:

 

I'm looking forward to a spring and summer that will include many yogurty items such as smoothies and veggie dips.  Do you have a favourite?  I'd love it if you would share, especially your favourite smoothy recipes. 

Sunday Dinner

Thanks for all the nice comments about my weight loss, it really helps me keep going!  After enjoying pie day yesterday, today I'm back to eating properly.  We just finished dinner, and it was oh so yummy.  It was based on this Weight Watcher's Recipe.  I make pasta quite regularly, and feta cheese is a frequent addition, as are fresh tomatoes.  The spinach and pine nuts were something a little different that really made it come together nicely.  I'll defintiely be making this one again. Doesn't it look good?

Of course a pasta dinner served now actually contains far less pasta, and way more veggies.  Still a very satisfying meal.  Portion control is obviously very important, and a big key to my weight loss success.  I journal everything that goes into my mouth, it holds me accountable. 

I have a number of posts planned already for the week ahead.  Pictures are already taken and edited on my computer.  So be sure to check back to see a finished object, some handspun, and a new work in progress.  Oh, and I've chosen a Ravelompyic project that I'll tell  you about too. Bye til tomorrow!

International Pie Day

Did you know that today was a big holiday?  I celebrated by going to my sister in law's most awesome coffee shop, where she was serving up her excellent home made pies, with the profits going to Haiti relief efforts. I enjoyed this very yummy piece of Lemon Meringue, one of my favourites.

I might also have bought a whole apple pie home for Joe and I to share. Pie and cheddar cheese for dinner anyone?

And no, I haven't abandoned the diet thing. One day a week I indulge myself just a little, which helps me keep going the rest of the week.   I'm happy to report that I have now lost just over 33 pounds and have gone down three pants sizes.  I feel so much better.  I posted some before and after pictures on my diet and fitness blog, which you can see here.

Dinner anyone?

It's been a while since I posted a food picture.  Just over a week ago I rejoined Weight Watchers, feeling a need to give my diet and exercise plan a boast.  After plateauing at the end of November and through December, I'm happy to say that my first week on Weight Watchers has been a great success.  I've been trying out several of the recipes they have available online.  Last night's dinner was our favourite recipe so far  "Greek Lemon  Chicken and Potatoes,"  So good and something I'd be happy to eat regardless of whether or not I was trying to loose weight.  Yummy and easy to prepare, what more could I ask for?

The last supper

After developing some bad eating habits and remaining rather sedentary during the holiday season, it's time to get back on the diet and fitness bandwagon.  I did have some success in the fall tracking calories with a free IPhone application (I lost 25 pounds), however I felt like this new year warranted changing things up a bit. Today I started with Weight Watchers online.  I lost a fairly substantial amount of weight on this program several years back and I find comfort in their point system.  Today I went for a long walk, and until dinner time, a last hurrah so to speak, I tracked my points and tried to be somewhat accountable.  Dinner sure was good tonight though, homemade (albeit not by me) perogies.  Mmmm. 

Tomorrow I will be in full swing following the Weight Watchers program.  I'm kind of excited!

Food and a Feline

I thought I'd get today's post out of the way early.  Morning is my favourite online time, gently waking up for the work day with my coffee at my side.  Going to try to get into the morning posting groove, we'll see how it goes.

Just to show you that I do cook better meals than the fish sticks I showed you the other day, here's last night's dinner:

Roast beef, baked potato, and baked carrots. Especially significant is that I was able to get the meat pink as we like it.  I tend to overcook roasts, so see this as an accomplishment.

We have a rather sensitive smoke detector that almost always goes off when the oven is in use (and no, I don't regularly burn what's inside it).  When the detector went off while the roast was cooking, it was a bit much for Frisbee.  He sought shelter under the bed, where, by the looks of the groggy kitty in this picture, he proceeded to fall asleep.

 

Happy Monday.  Sounds like it is raining quite heavily outside, and I really wish I could stay home and sleep and snuggle with a kitty, but off to work I must go.  Fortunately, looks like dryer weather is in our forecast once we get past the next day or two.

Quick dinner, no time to cook

Christmas preparations are officially in full swing now.  Today I attended a couple local craft fairs, and was able to make a bit of a dent in my Christmas shopping.  I've also figured out gifts for several people on my list, which is half the battle.  And the knitting is continuing as well.  With all of that, dinner tonight needed to be something quick to prepare, yet tasty too.  Yam fries, snow peas, and healthy breaded fish sticks.  I actually really enjoyed this meal!

Lame post and picture, I know.  Back to knitting now.