Kiss the Cook Friday

I don't know about you... but every now and then I get a craving for chocolate. And since I've decided that moderation is the key... and not deprivation... I do allow myself the occasional treat. Even so, I do my best to make sure that the treat is as healthy as can be... and I count the calories.

So... the other day I was in the mood for a chocolate treat. And I decided to experiment and make some "Black Bean Brownies." I think the recipe has been around for awhile, but I compared several and tweaked it to come up with a recipe that would work for me. And... I was pleasantly surprised! If I hadn't tasted them myself... I would have NEVER believed that you could make brownies with black beans and NOT taste the beans. But... believe it. You CANNOT taste the beans in these brownies! Hurrah!

These brownies are chocolatey, yummy, and a lot healthier than regular homemade brownies or bakery brownies. They're great served with a strawberry smoothie. In fact, that has become one of my favorite snacks!

So... if you're looking for a chocolately, healthy, homemade snack... definitely give these brownies a try. You won't be disappointed!



Black Bean Brownies ala C.C.

15.5 oz. can black beans (rinsed and drained)
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1 T. vanilla extract
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 T. brewed coffee
1/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Place all of the ingredients EXCEPT the chocolate chips and walnuts into a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a greased 8" x 8" square baking pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts evenly over batter. Place in 350 degree F. oven, and bake for 30 minutes.

This recipe makes 16 servings.
One serving = One brownie
These also freeze well.

Nutritional Information via Calorie Count:
180 calories per serving/brownie
Total Fat: 5.4 g
Sat. Fat: 1.0 g
Cholesterol: 40 mg
Sodium: 26 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 26 g
Fiber: 4.8 g
Sugars: 8.5 g
Protein: 7.9 g
Vit. A: 1%
Vit. C: 0%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 11%

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 15

Oh my goodness! I am SO happy right now! I have another loss to report... and I feel like I'm on top of the world!

After months... and years... of struggling with my weight... I feel like I have finally got my groove on and I'm learning how to LIVE instead of just trying to lose weight!

My "plan" is something I'm doing to lose weight... but it's more than that. It's a "plan" that I WANT to follow for the rest of my life. I just WANT to eat healthier and make better choices on a day-to-day basis. It's like all along I was searching for some rocket-science method or means to lose weight... and I was overlooking the simple, everyday things that I could do to improve my life and health just by making better choices each day.

And these better choices which I am making are adding up. They're adding up to weight loss, more energy, and an improved attitude and outlook on life. For the first time EVER... I'm actually ENJOYING the journey to "lose 200 pounds and gain a healthier and happier me!"

And I'm not going to stop. This is IT. THIS is how I'm going to live the rest of my life. I feel like all of my goals and dreams are now within my reach... and I'm not turning back. I'm going to get closer and closer every day... and this weight problem is going to be a thing of the past. I feel like a weight is being lifted... both literally and figuratively. I feel like I'm finally setting myself free from all of the physical and emotional turmoil that has been part of my life for far too many years as a result of my obesity. I don't even know how to explain it. I simply feel... FREE.

And... I'm happy to share that I'm free of 3.2 more pounds this week! Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 362.4 lbs.
This Week: 359.2 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 3.2
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 41.6 lbs.

I am officially in the 350's now! And I can't believe it! Just a few short weeks ago I was over 400 lbs... and here I am... 41.6 lbs. lighter... and on the verge of being closer to 300 lbs. than I am to 400 lbs.! I can't even imagine what I'm going to feel like when the scale says 299 or less. I haven't been under 300 pounds in 10 years! I just know it's going to be one of the happiest days of my life!

All kinds of happy thoughts are floating around in my head right now. Oh... the things I'll be able to do... the places I'll be able to go... the clothes I'll be able to wear! I am SO freaking excited and happy right now!

And I hope the excitement is contagious! Because if I can do this... anyone can do this! I honestly thought I was a hopeless case 15 weeks ago. But I knew that I had to do something. I knew that I had to try one more time. I knew that I couldn't give up. And I didn't. And you don't need to give up, either! You are NOT a hopeless case. You DO have the power to take control of your life and become the healthy and fit person that you want to be!

So... hang in there! And... as always... just take it one day at a time and do the best that you can each day. I'll be right here with you every step of the way. :)

But... for right now... I'm just going to do the happy dance!

To Bean-O or Not to Bean-O, That is the Question

Ever hear the phrase "curse like a sailor?" Well... if sailors burp like they allegedly curse... I'd be giving them a run for their money! lol

Honestly... ever since I started to eat healthier... I've been having this embarrassing little problem of having to "burp like a sailor" almost every night before I go to bed! It doesn't happen after breakfast. It doesn't happen after lunch. It only happens at the end of the day. And sometimes I end up going to bed 30 minutes later than I'd like just because I can't stop burping!

It's annoying at best... and exhausting at worst!

Am I the only one that has this problem? Or are any of you man/woman/sailor enough to admit that you do, too? hehe And if you DO have this problem... do products like Bean-O or Gas-X help at all? I am seriously considering trying them out... because nothing else seems to be helping.

Perhaps this is TMI... but, alas... I'm just "keepin' it real." hehe



If any of you have any advice or recommendations... I would greatly appreciate it! So would my husband. hehe

Thanks in advance! :)

Kiss the Cook Friday

Today I'm going to share with you a recipe for one of my all-time-favorite soups... Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup! It is hearty, healthy, and easy to make. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah... it's also absolutely DELICIOUS!

This soup is mighty tasty if you want to eat it the same day that you make it. But... I HIGHLY recommend making this soup the day BEFORE you want to eat it. The flavors blend together and are enhanced SO much more by doing this. Trust me... it is well worth the wait! Just allow the soup to cool, place in the fridge overnight, and reheat the next day. (I made this soup yesterday, and we're having it for dinner tonight. I can't wait!)

Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup

1 T. olive oil
24 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
3 medium zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces (cucumber-sized zucchinis... leave the skin on)
1 T. canned minced garlic (optional)
1/2 t. ground black pepper
2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
2 (14.5 oz.) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes with garlic, basil, and oregano (I use "Great Value" tomatoes from Walmart. These tomatoes are so yummy you can eat them straight from the can! If you don't use Italian-style tomatoes, you'll have to add your own basil, garlic, and oregano.)

Spray your favorite soup pot with cooking spray. Place on medium heat, and add olive oil to pot. After pot has pre-heated, add chicken, sprinkle with pepper, and stir fry for 10 minutes. Add veggies and garlic and stir-fry 5 more minutes. Add chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Serve with whole wheat dinner rolls... and you've got yourself one fantastic meal! :)


Nutritional Information via Calorie Count
5 Servings
Calories per Serving: 394
Sat. Fat: 3.5 g
Cholesterol: 121 mg
Sodium: 703 mg
Carbohydrates: 19.6 g
Fiber: 5.4 g
Sugars: 10.7 g
Protein: 46.5 g
Vitamin A: 237%
Calcium: 9%
Vitamin C: 78%
Iron: 18%

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 14

Yay! I'm happy to report another loss this week!

Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 364.8 lbs.
This Week: 362.4 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 2.4
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 38.4 lbs.

Wow! I'll soon have 40 pounds off! I am SO happy about that! But what I am REALLY looking forward to is getting below 350. It's been SO long since I've been closer to 300 lbs. than 400 lbs. So when I finally hit 349... I am going to be ecstatic! And... I only have 13.4 more pounds to go! Yippee!

And now... I'm off to leave an update at the Fourth of July Challenge. If you're a member... be sure to stop by and update this week. And if you're not a member... stop by to join. There's no cut-off date! :)

Have a great week everyone! As always... just take it one day at a time and do the best that you can each day. The results will be sure to please! :)

Strawberry Love

Hubby brought home a few quarts of homegrown strawberries yesterday. I left them on the counter overnight... and this morning I awoke to a house bursting with the wonderful aroma of strawberries!

Mmmm... it smells absolutely divine! Plus... strawberries (or strawBABIES, as we like to call them) are my most favorite fruit EVER! They are just so colorful, and pretty, and fragrant, and mmmm-mmmm-yummy (not to mention nutritious and low in calories) ... that I feel like I am in strawbaby heaven today!

That's the good news. The bad news is... there are WAY too many strawberries to consume before they spoil!

I love popping them in my mouth as is, or adding them to cereal, yogurt, etc.

But... what else can I do with them besides freeze them? Do any of you have any good strawberry recipes that you'd like to share?

Thanks in advance! :)

Kiss the Cook Friday

Happy "Kiss the Cook Friday," everyone!

Today I'm going to share a recipe for something that I have had tremendous cravings for recently. I've eaten them several times in the past two weeks... and I just can't get enough of them! I'm currently out of some of the necessary ingredients... or I would be making them as a side dish for supper tonight!

What am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about Spicey Baked Zucchini Fries, of course! Yum!



Spicey Baked Zucchini Fries

3 medium zucchini squash (the cucumber-sized ones)
2 eggs
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (Italian seasoned work well. Or if you want to be extra healthy, make your own dried bread crumbs with whole wheat bread.)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. black pepper
1/4 t. salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil, and lightly spray it with cooking spray.

Wash the zucchini, and slice the ends off. Do not peel off the skin. Slice the zucchini in long strips to resemble fries. Whip the eggs, and pour into a gallon-size Ziploc bag or a large bowl. Toss the zucchini fries in the egg mixture to coat.

In separate gallon-size Ziploc bag, or large bowl, mix together the remaining dry ingredients. Toss the zucchini fries into this crumb mixture, and toss to coat.

Place the zucchini fries on the baking sheet and lightly spray the tops with the cooking spray. Bake for 15 minutes, and then turn the oven to broil and allow the tops to brown. This doesn't take long, so be careful and watch those fries! And then... they're ready to eat. Yum!

Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or low-fat Ranch dressing.

Servings: 2
Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe (These are large servings.)

Nutritional Information via Calorie Count (sauce or dressing NOT included)

Calories Per Serving: 287
Sat. Fat: 5.2 g
Total Carbohydrates: 31.3 g
Fiber: 4.6 g
Sodium: 916 g
Protein: 18.3 g
Vitamin A: 15%
Calcium: 38%
Vitamin C: 84%
Iron: 16%

Strange Things Are Happening

A strange thought occurred to me yesterday. I've been noticing lately that instead of just WANTING to eat at various times throughout the day... I've been NEEDING to eat. That is a major breakthrough... and is clear evidence that I am changing my lifestyle and my way of thinking and eating.

I used to WANT to eat pretty much all the time. I would snack for the sake of snacking... for the sake of how it made me feel emotionally... not because my body needed food for energy. Eating had become a habit... a drug... something I did to fill up my time or numb my emotions. I thought about food ALL THE TIME. It was the first thing on my mind when I got up in the morning... and the last thing on my mind when I went to bed at night. Food had become EVERYTHING to me. (The only thing that I thought about as much as I thought about food was losing weight. Go figure.)

But things are changing. I am changing. I don't think about food all the time now. I feel like it is becoming less important to me emotionally... like my life does not revolve around food anymore. I feel like the hold that food once had on me is lessening every day.

And every day... there are times when I physically feel that I NEED to eat. My energy wanes... I feel hungry... and I recognize that these are signals from my body telling me that I NEED to eat. My body is talking to me. My body is telling me that it requires more fuel to function. It's a good feeling... one I've rarely had in recent years... simply because I was always eating something!

And you know what? I like this feeling. It's more than a feeling of hunger and knowing that my body needs food. It's a feeling of control that I haven't experienced in a long time. It's a feeling that I can live with. It's a feeling that I WANT to live with!

And when I do eat... I eat smaller portions than I used to. I count my calories daily. I don't stuff myself. I listen to my body telling me that it can function on much smaller quantities of food than what I used to consume.

Yep... strange things are definitely happening around here! My body is talking. And... for the first time... I am listening!

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 13

Woo hoo! I'm happy and excited... thrilled and delighted... to announce a 3 lb. loss this week!

I'm sure some of that was water weight... but who cares? Yippee!!!

Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 367.8 lbs.
This Week: 364.8 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 3
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 36.0 lbs.

Wow! I just realized I've lost almost 40 pounds since the beginning of February! And that makes me feel fantastic! Lugging around all that excess weight was not easy... and I felt horrible in my clothes. Simple tasks were becoming difficult... and I was starting to feel like crap both physically and emotionally.

Now... a mere 13 weeks later... I'm starting to feel like a new woman. Everyday tasks are becoming easier... such as stepping out of the bath tub and walking up stairs. I feel lighter and it's easier to move and do housework. My clothes... though not yet loose... are definitely starting to fit better... and I feel better in them, if you know what I mean. I'm definitely feeling more energetic and healthy.

And emotionally... I've noticed that I have a much more positive attitude and I've only rarely felt anxious or down-in-the-dumps these past few weeks. I've even wondered if it's possible for certain foods or chemicals in foods to cause anxiety or depression. Have any of you ever wondered that? All I know is that when I eat healthier foods... I feel better emotionally as well as physically. I've never studied the relationship between food and emotional health... but I think it's definitely something I need to Google! Any thoughts on the subject?

All I know is... whatever I'm doing seems to be working. And I've resolved that "slow and steady wins the race." So I'm going to continue to take it one day at a time and do the best that I can every day. And the weight will come off. I might not see a 3 lb. loss each week, and most likely... I won't. But that's OK. Every single pound adds up.

If any of you are feeling discouraged... and like the weight won't come off or is coming off more slowly than you would like... take heart! Don't give up! You CAN succeed and reach your goal as long as you persevere! And I'll be right here with you every step of the way. :)

And now... I'm off to check in at the Fourth of July Challenge. And... this week I've earned the "35 lbs. Gone" button! Yippee!

Have a great week, everyone! Hang in there! You CAN do this! :)

Late Night "Biggest Loser Finale" Ramblings

I don't know about you... but for me... the 3... errr... I mean 4... biggest knockers... I mean shockers... of the night were...

1. The plumpalicious perfection of Alli's pectorals. Man... was anybody else distracted all night long by her perky pair... or was it just me? lol Did you notice at the end how a lucky little piece of confetti even succumbed to the tempting charms of her comely cleavage? lol But seriously... she looked smokin' hot... I loved the dress... and I'm totally jealous. But in a good way.

2. Kristin! Girl... what did you do to your hair??? You shouldn't mess with perfection... and you did. Instead of noticing your glowing smile... all I could notice tonight was your glowing hair! Dye it back. Please... for the love of all that is pure and holy in this world... dye it back!

3. Helen... it seems that it really WAS all about you! Congrats on becoming this season's Biggest Whiner... I mean Loser... I mean... BOTH.

Your daughter looked great... but I'm still upset with you for sacrificing her health and welfare for yours early on in the season. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. Aren't parents the ones who are supposed to do the sacrificing and put their children first? (Case in point... Ron and Mikey.)

All I can say is... it's good that you and your daughter are human beings and not animals. Because if the two of you were animals... you surely would have eaten her by now... AND spit her back up. Which leads me to my next observation/opinion/question...

At what point did you decide to sacrifice (there's that word again) your health and integrity in order to win a quarter of a million dollars? Was it when you decided to take the plunge and cross over from fit and fabulous to scary and stickly? (Stickly... that's a cross between "stick thin" and "sickly.") Honestly... I think you took this competition just a little bit too far... and I'm disappointed with you on many levels.

(Disclaimer: These late night ramblings are my very own itty, bitty opinions... and were written with a very tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. I'm not trying to be mean or judgmental... I'm just venting. But... if you've read this blog for any amount of time... you already know that. So... have a good night... have a good chuckle... and I'll see you all in a few short hours for my "Wednesday Weigh-In!")

G'night, Mrs. Calabash... wherever you are,
C.C.
xoxoxo

Happy Mother's Day!

To all of you who are blessed to be mothers... I wish you a Happy Mother's Day! I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with lots of love and laughter! And if you are blessed to still have your mother... make sure you let her know how much she means to you!

Also... it's time for the Fourth of July Challenge Week 13 Check-In!



As of today... there is 1 month, 3 weeks, and 3 days until the Fourth of July. There's still time to get closer to your Challenge goal (or to join the Challenge) so keep up the good work, everyone! And please make sure to stop by this week's Check-In post and leave a comment to let us all know how you are doing!

Good luck in the coming weeks! I KNOW you have what it takes to finish strong! :)

Kiss the Cook Friday

Hey... what are you all having for supper tonight?

I'm having homemade Chicken Enchiladas. And I like them so much... I decided to share the recipe with you!

Trust me... if you make these... you are going to LOVE them! And they're great for when you have company. To round out the meal... just serve with your favorite boxed Spanish Rice and a nice side salad.



Chicken Enchiladas
24 oz. boneless, skinless, cooked chicken breasts (Cook by boiling or broiling.)
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
2 1/2 c. hot water
1 T. chicken bouillon granules
8 oz. lite sour cream
2 c. shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
4 oz. can chopped green chilis, drained
1 t. ground cumin
6-8 whole wheat tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In saucepan, cook onion in butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in flour, water, and bouillon. Cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat and add sour cream.

Cut the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. And in separate bowl, combine 2 cups of the sauce, chicken, 1 cup cheese, green chilis, and cumin. Mix well, and place equal amounts of this mixture on your tortillas and roll up. Arrange tortillas in greased 13" x 9" pan.

Add remaining cheese to remaining sauce and pour over the top of your tortillas. Sprinkle with just a little bit more cheddar cheese.

Bake 25 minutes... and enjoy!

PS: To make these even tastier, but... alas, slightly higher in calories... use the Mexican/taco seasoned cheddar cheese.


Calorie Information:

If you make 6 enchiladas, each one is 535 calories.

If you make 8 enchiladas, each one is 401 calories.


And... one more thing...

I calculated the calories in this recipe HERE. It's FANTASTIC because you can type in the ingredients in your favorite homemade recipes... and it will analyze the recipe for you and tell you how many calories are in each serving, as well as other nutritional information. Try it... you'll like it!

(PS: If any of you ever decide to make these... please let me know if you liked them! :)


("Kiss the Cook Friday" posts, which will consist of some of my favorite homemade recipes along with their calorie information, will hopefully be a regular feature from now on. But don't quote me. hehe)

Super Blogger Award

I am so honored to have been chosen by Jen, Joania, and Summer to receive the "Super Blogger Award!" Thanks so much, ladies! You are very kind and I SO appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Now... here's what I'm supposed to do:

1. Post the award on your blog.

2. Pass it along to 5 fellow super bloggers, and comment on their blog to let them know how great they are.

3. When you present your Super Blogger awards, link back to the super blogger who gave it to you.

As always, it is SO difficult to choose only 5 recipients for an award when so many of you have such great blogs! But since I'm limited to 5... here are the 5 great bloggers that I selected:

1. H.K. - a pretty lady with a pretty blog and a great attitude

2. Alan - for his great sense of humor and faithful support

3. Diana - for her honesty and insight

4. Sara - for her great sense of humor

5. bbubblyb - because she's lost almost 170 pounds!

Congrats, guys! You totally deserve it! :)

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 12

I lost zero pounds this week, so I'm at 367.8 for the second week in a row.

I believe this is due to the fact that we ate takeout several nights this past week. One night we had Red Lobster, one night we had Cracker Barrel, and one night we had Wendy's. We had more takeout this past week than we've had in the past 3 months combined! (I made the healthiest choices possible... except for the fries from Wendy's... and I did count the calories for everything.)

What's really disturbing about this is... we had TAKEOUT instead of actually eating AT the restaurants. I don't like to go to restaurants at my current size... and I'm ALWAYS afraid that I won't fit in the chairs or booths! Let me tell you... that is NO way to live! And the day that I can fearlessly go to ANY restaurant and sit down in ANY booth or chair is going to be one of the happiest days of my life!

At any rate... sodium is not my friend, and I'm pretty sure water retention is the reason I didn't show a loss this week. I feel puffy and my rings are tight. I hate that feeling! But... I AM happy I didn't have a gain!

Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 367.8 lbs.
This Week: 367.8 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 0
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 33.0 lbs.

My eating will be much better this coming week, and I plan to drink lots of water... as usual. Hopefully all this sodium will be flushed out of my system in the next few days and the scale will show a loss next week!

Lordy, Lordy! I'll Soon Be 40!

In spite of a silent and futile protest on my part... I'll be crossing over to the dark side this month. Yep... you guessed it. I'll be turning the big 4-0. Somebody pass me the Geritol, please. hehe

To be perfectly honest... I don't feel like I should be turning 40. I feel like I should be turning 25. What is turning 40 supposed to feel like anyway? I mean, really... it's just a number. I'm not going to view it as some kind of mystical age barometer that can somehow magically indicate how I should feel, how I should look, or how I should live my life from now on.

I'm going to make my 40's be what I want them to be. And I am NOT going to spend the next decade weighing over 300 pounds... that's for sure! I spent way too much time in my teens, 20's, and 30's fighting and losing the battle of the bulge. And I have no intention of spending my 40's and beyond losing that same battle!

Instead... I'm going to win that battle in my 40's. And the rest of the time I'm going to spend actually enjoying life for a change! No more "I can't do that because I'm too fat." I'm determined that my 40's will be full of "I will do that... and I'm going to love every minute of it!"

Some of the things I want to do include:

1. Go horseback riding

2. Have romantic dinners with my husband while sitting in a cozy little booth

3. Be carried over the threshold by hubby

4. Spend all day at an amusement park riding any ride that tickles my fancy

5. Have a closet full of pretty, colorful, feminine clothing instead of my current wardrobe which consists mostly of black t-shirts and sweats

6. Vacation in Savannah, GA and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride with hubby

7. Cross my legs

8. Run a mile

9. Enjoy a fun-filled day at the beach with hubby... and be confident enough to wear a modest bathing suit

10. Feel good about myself


Those are just a few of the things that I want to do in the not-too-distant future. And I am not going to let age... or anything else... stop me! (For the entire list of things that I want to do when I'm fit and 40+... check out THIS LIST.")

So... bring it on, Fabulous 40's! I have a feeling that you and I are going to have one heck of a wonderful time!


(What are some things that you would like to do within the next few years that you haven't been able to do at your current weight?)