Chinese Cod & Mushroom Parcel - 5 Pro Points per serving

This recipe is just for one!

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 175g skinless cod fillet
• 1 rounded teaspoon of clear honey
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 small garlic clove (sliced)
• 1/4 of a red chilli (deseeded and sliced)
• 3 slices of root ginger (peeled and cut into matchsticks)
• 1 head of pak choi (halved)
• 60g of chestnut mushrooms (sliced thickly)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200c or if using a fan oven 180c
• Tear off a large rectangle of tin foil and lightly spray the dull side with the cooking spray
• Place the cod in the centre
• Mix the honey, soy sauce, garlic, chilli and ginger together and spoon half over the cod
• Sit the pak choi and mushrooms on top of the fish and drizzle with the remaining soy mixture
• Fold the foil up around the fish and vegetables, crimping and folding the edges together tightly to seal.
• Place on a baking tray and cook in the oven for 15 minutes

Tip: This works well with chicken too... just cook for an extra 5 minutes!

This recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Fabulous and Filling Cookbook 2010 - Converted to Pro Points System



Pan Fried Turkey & Ham Escalopes - 6pps per serving

This recipe serves 2 people and trust me! it's DELISH!!!!

Ingredients:

• 2 x 125g turkey breast steaks
• 40g low fat soft cheese with garlic and herbs
• 4 slices of waver thin smoked ham
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of plain flour (seasoned with salt and pepper)
• 150ml hot chicken stock
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Method:

• Place the turkey breast steaks between two layers of clingfilm and flatten using a rolling pin to approx 5cm thick.
• Cut each steak in half and spread each part with the soft cheese and use a cocktail stick to secure a slice of ham to each piece of turkey
• Add the oil to a non stick frying pan and heat the oil til hot
• Dip the escalopes in the seasoned flour and fry for 3 minutes on each side, cooking the ham side first
• Tip any remaining flour mixture into the pan and stir into the pan juices
• Blend in the stock and the lemon juice and bubble rapidly for 2 minutes
• Serve immediately
• DONT FORGET TO TAKE THE COCKTAIL STICKS OUT!!!

This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Fabulous and Filling cookbook - 2010 (converted to Pro Points System)





Quick Herby Chicken Curry - 5 Pro Points per serving

This recipe serves 2 people

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 1 small onion (sliced)
• 2 x 125g skinless chicken fillets (diced)
• 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 1 teaspoon of grated root ginger
• 1 teaspoon of garam masala or medium curry powder
• 2 teaspoons of cornflour
• 150g low fat natural yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh mint
• 3 heaped tablespoons of fresh coriander

Method:

• Heat a non stick frying pan until hot and spray with the cooking spray.
• Fry the onion for about 4 minutes
• Push onions to one side and add the chicken to the pan
• Cook for 3 or 4 minutes
• Stir onions and chicken together
• Add the garlic, ginger and garam masala or curry powder and cook for one minute
• Reduce the heat to medium, then remove from the hob
• Blend the cornflour with 1 teaspoon of cold water and stir this into the yogurt
• Gradually stir the yogurt mixture into the pan, one spoonful at a time
• Return to the bob and gently bring to a simmer
• Stir the herbs in right at the end and serve!!!

ENJOY!!!  15 minutes well spent!!!!!

Lucky Number 7

So this week was a good week. I got my first silver seven. First of many I hope.

It hasn't been easy. I have had more than my fair share of wobbles. The lure of freshly cooked chips with salt and vinegar, or beautifully fattening chicken balls looked set to break me.

I hung on. Thanks again to my buddies on the boards.ie forum for keeping me on track.

I'm quite lucky, bar one person at home who seems intent on bringing chippers home every second evening, the rest of my brood are so good with motivation for me. Whether its eating my low cal equivalents to their favourite dinners or even just coming walking or swimming with me, not to mention the compliments about how proud they are of me.

Living in a bit of a mad house, with mammy, my hubby, my sister and a boisterous ten year old along with mammy's partner and sisters boyfriend who come for dinner or breakfasts most days, we could all do with some form of healthy eating regimes, bar the ten year old who seems to have a metabolism of supersonic proportions!! Her likes and dislikes when it comes to food are quite easy to deal with on the WW wagon. She loves fruit, loves making smoothies, but like her father has a major addiction to pizza!! And playing basketball and swimming with her is great for the aul activity points!!!

As for the rest of us, well we are hardly an advertisement for fat families but my being on WW has had a really good effect on every one else. My mam, who bless her, hasn't been too well over the last few years and at 50 feels that your health is your wealth has really taken to a new outlook on her health. She still has the odd few chips every now and again, but she is more and more inclined to have the healthy option with me and as I said earlier, she has started walking with me and this evening... jogged!!!!! :D

The hubby is brilliant! He eats what I eat, although, he does have an amazingly sweet tooth so he tends to eat lots of chocolate etc...but his help with the walking... "Come on Ali, we are going for a walk" "Are ya ready to go swimming" etc... He stops me letting the day at work get to me and sit and veg on the couch... And the fecker is losing tonnes of weight himself... I would say at least half a stone if not more... He looks so much more toned already...

I have to say, the idea of Weight Watchers being a diet has totally left me. I see it as a lifestyle now. It makes complete and utter sense to me. If you eat crap day in day out the only way your weight is going to go is up. But if you have your treat and say to yourself, well I was naughty last night, maybe I should take it easy today. COMPLETE LOGIC!!!

 I really think my WW leader has got a lot to do with that. She helps sooooo much. She doesn't ram the programme down your throat. She gives tips that can actually be put into practise. Like me, she is more of a carbs girl and she lets the people in her class choose their own goals within the healthy weight range, and doesn't demand you set your goal on day one. Take one mini goal at a time.

Next goal for me is 2.5lbs down to my 5% goal!!

I will be posting some more recipes over the next few days.

(sorry for the rambling...this is my little vent for the day!! )



Tomato, Celery & Apple Soup - 1PPS

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 1 Onion chopped roughly
• 850ml of hot vegetable stock
• 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• 4 Celery Sticks
• 1 Cooking apple
• 1 tablespoon of finely grated root ginger or 1 tablespoon of dried ground ginger
• 25g of soft light brown sugar
• Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

• Heat a large saucepan and spray with the cooking spray
• Fry the onion for 3 mins
• While stirring add 4 tablespoons of the stock
• Cover the pot and cook for another 3 mins until onions starting to soften
• Add the tomatoes, celery, apple, ginger and sugar plus the remaining stock
• Season with black pepper and bring to the boil
• Simmer with a lid on for 25 mins
• Transfer this to a liquidiser or food processor until smoth
• Return to the pan and reheat
• Serve in warm bowl

*This recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Fabulous & Filling Cookbook 2010 and has been converted to Pro Points

Apple & Raspberry Muffins - 4PPS

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 225g Self raising flour
• 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
• A pinch of salt
• 25g of porridge oats
• 100g caster sugar
• 150g apple sauce
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 175g low fat natural yoghurt
• 6 tablespoons skimmed milk
• 1 egg beaten
• 100g raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200c/ 180c for a fan assisted
• Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin with the cooking spray
• Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Reserve 1 tablespoon of porridge oats for the muffin tops, then stir the remaining oats and sugar into the flour
• In a separate bowl mix the apple sauce, oil, yoghurt, milk and egg together
• Stir this wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until still slightly lumpy
• Stir in the raspberries
• Spoon into the muffin case holes
• Scatter the tops with the remaining porridge oats
• Bake in oven for 20 minutes until risen, firm and golden brown
• Cool on a wire rack

*This recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Fabulous & Filling Cookbook 2010

Peach & Mango Smoothie - 0pps (WW Fabulous & Filling)

Ingredients:

• 1 can peach slices in natural peach juice
• 1 ripe mango (peeled and stoned)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 4 Ice cubes

Method:

• Tip the tin of peaches into a liquidiser or food processor
• Roughly chop the mango flesh and add it to the peaches
• Add the lime juice and ice cubes
• Blend until smooth and serve immediately

*This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Fabulous & Filling Cookbook 2010 converted to Pro Points

Wobbly Week Three

So well into Week 3 now... Have had a few wobbles but had a loss last week which was very much unexpected! -1lb! That is 5lb down over my first few weeks. So this week's aim is 2lb... I want that silver 7!

Have been having a few wobbles and I have got very disheartened a few times, but thanks to the other half I am still on track. I made him promise that this time he is not to let me give up! No matter how much I moan! Its working! He is doing really well with helping me motivate my wobbles to walk, jog, exercise generally.

I have been tracking everything, measuring out my portions, drinking water. My tracker and my little purple book have been my bibles for the last few weeks.

This week I have rooted out my old Fabulous and Filling Weight Watchers cookbook and converting them to pro points, and have dug out a few receipes to try out.

Found a few really good for economising points too!

Will be adding them in the next hour or so....

Roll on WI on Wednesday evening.

Cheesey Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Bake

Tasty dinner for all the family.

Ingredients:

• 2 Chicken fillets
• 8-10 mushrooms (quartered)
• Peppers
• Tub of Low Fat Philly Garlic & Herb
• 1 large red onion
• Penne/ fusilli pasta
• 2 Cloves of garlic
• Basil (dried or fresh)
• Salt & Pepper

Method:

• Cut chicken into thumb size chunks & fry in some low calorie spray oil
• When chicken has turned white, toss in chopped peppers, mushrooms, onions and garlic.
• When softened add half a tub of Philly Garlic & Herbs
• Cook pasta until al dente
• Toss the drained, cooked pasta into the chicken and veg mixture
• Mix in some basil and place into an oven dish
• Bake in oven for 15/20 minutes @ 160

Enjoy!!!!

What a weekend! Motivation come find me!?

I had my first real test of my motivation this weekend.

Mammy taken into hospital on Friday morning, that meant no breakfast, and A&E being A&E, no lunch either... Mammy is fine... taken up residence in Tallaght Hospital for the weekend and as far as I can see is totally enjoying the break from a mad house! :)

Friday was a disaster. No food AT ALL until 7:30/8pm in the evening, so of course I was starving and despite having a Light Choices Lasagne with homemade coleslaw, I went well over my dailies by adding curly fries and garlic bread to the fray.I felt physically ill. Stuffed. Fit to be rolled into the bed!

Saturday was a new day, and if not for my new found friends on boards.ie Weight Watchers thread and the support of my OH and little one I really think I would have thrown in the towel. Instead, I started with a 7 pro point breakfast, poached egg, potato farl, 1 piece of bacon, lots of mushrooms and tomatoes. Really filling and really enjoyable.

From there I hit the park, dragging the family with me. Brisk walk with the two of them approx a KM, then of course DD wanted playground so Daddy brought her there while I carried on for a further 3k jogging and walking. A few minutes on Wii Sport with DD when we got back then a 0point soup for me, Spiced Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup.

Up to the hospital for a vist, while avoiding the sweets and crisps on offer, I opted for the grapes.. :)

Back home for a really low point dinner of Pan Fried Haddock fillet with Lemon Cous Cous with lots of veggies. 5 pro points!!!! I used up the rest of my points on a snack of crackawheat and spreadable cheese (with cracked black pepper) and a yummy WW dessert for 2 pro points and a glass of WW wine for another 2 pro points.

Today, another 7 pro point breakfast, a lovely Prawn Salad with Pepper Carpaccio and a tea of a bacon, cheese & tomato tostada. Wii Fit for a good hour too.

So motivated I even made a lovely Cheesey Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Bake for tomorrows dinner...

Sorry for the long post!!!!

Recipe: Spiced Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup - 0 Pro Points

Ingredients:

1 Butternut Squash
2 Carrots
1 onion (finely chopped)
2 cloves garlic
Chilli flakes
Cumin
Salt & pepper


Method:

• Peel and chop the butternut squash into thumb size pieces
• Peel and chop the carrots into chunks
• Place on baking tray and spray with 2 sprays of low calorie spray
• Sprinkle with a teaspoon chilli flakes, half a teaspoon of cumin and toss
• Roast in the oven for approx 40 mins on 150c
• Chop the garlic and place the onion in a pot and fry in 2 sprays of low cal oil.
• When the squash and carrots are roasted and soft let them cool a bit then place them in a blender or food processor and blitz to a pulp.
• Top them out into the pot with the garlic and onions and fry off for 5 mins
• Gradually top up with water until the consistancy of choice

Total pro points - 0

First Weigh In

After countless attempts and all best intentions which lasted about as long as it took the Chinese or Chippy to arrive, I have really decided that enough is enough and I had to take the bull by the horns and finally do something about this collection of tyres I am collecting.

I think like most people I had a moment of pure "OMFG!!!" when I saw photos of myself from a recent holiday. After being ill and unable to walk properly for the guts of a year I tended to use that as an excuse not to get up off my ever growing backside. A bit like the "oh I just had a baby" while whispering the fact that the baby is walking and talking and is already halfway through primary school.

2012 is going to be the year of BIG changes.

There is 46lbs to lose. Two weddings, a hens and a holiday to aim for. It shall be done!!!!

So after the initial shock of how much weight I had gained over the past 2 years (almost 2 stone!) I cracked on with my 27 pro points a day.

The new plan seems really good. I very rarely feel hungry which is great. The bonus points are coming in handy too. This week I used just 11 of the 49 weekly points. And earned 16 activity points and considering how lazy I am, I am pretty happy with that.

The Chef inside me is in her element, with Fajitas, Quesadillas, Tikkas and Fritattas being created over the last week.

First weigh in down and I have lost 4lbs!

42lbs left!!!!

Aim for next week is 3lbs. I want that silver 7!!!!!