Print a 3x5 card version of this recipe by clicking here.
I just had to share the tastiest baked potato chips I have ever had. Yes, I said baked. And they are pretty easy to make also. You do need a way to cut the potatoes thin, either by using a vegetable cutter of some kind, food processor or salad shooter for example. Cutting them by hand just doesn't work.
Cooking Spray
1/2 lb. Red or White potatoes
2 teaspoon of dill, thyme or rosemary (I use thyme)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon paprika
Spray baking pan with cooking spray (I use a canola spray). Cut potatoes into thin slices and dry them on paper towels. Arrange slices in a single layer on the tray. Spray potatoes with cooking spray and back in a preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes. Turn potatoes over, spray with cooking spray again and sprinkle the potatoes with the mixture of herbs and spices. Bake another 5-10 minutes longer until chips are golden brown and crispy.
I had to take my chips out in stages as they were done because some were thicker than others, so just keep an eye on them after you turn them over and check them every minute or two until they are all cooked.
They are surprisingly crispy and don't taste baked at all. Yummy!!!
You can also serve them with some fat free sour cream as a dip. Experiment with different spices and enjoy!
Recipe - Rosemary Turkey Breast
Print a 3x5 card version of this recipe by clicking here.
I made this for Sunday dinner this week and it was amazing. I cooked it in a NuWave oven, but a regular oven should be good also. It was very moist and tasty.
8-10 cloves of garlic
3 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 Bone-In Breast 4 lbs.
In a food processor, combine garlic, rosemary, olive oil, salt, paprika, and pepper until it forms a paste. Spread half the mixture under the skin of the breast. To hold the skin closed, use toothpicks. Spread remaining mixture on top of skin.
Bake 1-1/2 - 2 hours at 325 degrees or until center of breast reaches 170 degrees. Let stand 10-15 minutes before cutting so that the bird will retain it's juices.
I made this for Sunday dinner this week and it was amazing. I cooked it in a NuWave oven, but a regular oven should be good also. It was very moist and tasty.
8-10 cloves of garlic
3 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 Bone-In Breast 4 lbs.
In a food processor, combine garlic, rosemary, olive oil, salt, paprika, and pepper until it forms a paste. Spread half the mixture under the skin of the breast. To hold the skin closed, use toothpicks. Spread remaining mixture on top of skin.
Bake 1-1/2 - 2 hours at 325 degrees or until center of breast reaches 170 degrees. Let stand 10-15 minutes before cutting so that the bird will retain it's juices.
Recipe - Pork Carnitas
Print a 3x5 card version of this recipe by clicking here.
I just have to share a yummy dinner that we had last night. It's super easy to make and it's healthy for you! Imagine that...LOL.
We made a small batch of this, so you can adjust your ingredients accordingly. You don't need to be exact either.
1-1/2 lbs. Pork Roast, Tenderloin or Boneless Pork Ribs
1 cup salsa
1 cup chicken broth
1 teas. tomato paste
1 teas. garlic powder
1 teas. black pepper
1 can of black beans
Put pork in a crockpot and add chicken broth, tomato paste and salsa right on top of the pork. Season to taste with garlic powder, pepper and any other spices you might like.
Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours (adding black beans after 4 hours). Shred pork with a fork and serve with rice or tortillas using the sauce as a garnish.
I used boneless pork ribs because that is what I had on hand. I didn't even defrost the pork, I just threw it in the crockpot with the other ingredients on top. This made enough for 6 meals. The reason I added the black beans in halfway through is because I remembered that I had some that I needed to use, and I didn't want them to get overcooked or turn to mush. If you are using dried beans, you should soak them overnight and then add them to the dish at the beginning, increasing your chicken broth to at least 1-1/2 cups.
Again, you don't need to be exact with the ingredients. If you have 2 cups of chicken broth and you want to use it up, go ahead and add it. My liquid ingrendients filled the crockpot so that it just reached the top of the meat.
I just have to share a yummy dinner that we had last night. It's super easy to make and it's healthy for you! Imagine that...LOL.
We made a small batch of this, so you can adjust your ingredients accordingly. You don't need to be exact either.
1-1/2 lbs. Pork Roast, Tenderloin or Boneless Pork Ribs
1 cup salsa
1 cup chicken broth
1 teas. tomato paste
1 teas. garlic powder
1 teas. black pepper
1 can of black beans
Put pork in a crockpot and add chicken broth, tomato paste and salsa right on top of the pork. Season to taste with garlic powder, pepper and any other spices you might like.
Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours (adding black beans after 4 hours). Shred pork with a fork and serve with rice or tortillas using the sauce as a garnish.
I used boneless pork ribs because that is what I had on hand. I didn't even defrost the pork, I just threw it in the crockpot with the other ingredients on top. This made enough for 6 meals. The reason I added the black beans in halfway through is because I remembered that I had some that I needed to use, and I didn't want them to get overcooked or turn to mush. If you are using dried beans, you should soak them overnight and then add them to the dish at the beginning, increasing your chicken broth to at least 1-1/2 cups.
Again, you don't need to be exact with the ingredients. If you have 2 cups of chicken broth and you want to use it up, go ahead and add it. My liquid ingrendients filled the crockpot so that it just reached the top of the meat.
Love Hate Relationship with Exercise
I have never been one to LIKE exercise. I don't know why. Maybe because I was so clumsy as a kid and terrible at sports. Maybe because I was not exposed to a wide variety of activities, so I had trouble finding one I was good at. Who knows why I dislike it so much, but I know now that I must change those views if I am going to be successful at keeping this weight off that I am losing.
The first step is to not view exercise as a chore and to realize that it is more than just jogging and sit-ups. Any physical activity is exercise in my book. So, that being said, I did a little reading on exercise and losing fat, and discovered that you don't have to work really hard to burn the fat.
The key is to stay within your Target Heart Rate. This will ensure that you are burning fat, not just calories. Exercising too intensely will burn the calories that are readily available in your body, for example, what you just ate for lunch. It will not burn much fat. So, why work that hard if you don't have to? Right? Unless you are training for a marathon, you don't need to work that hard to burn the fat. Find out more information on Target Heart Rates by visiting
the American Heart Association website.
Another way to burn the fat is to strengthen your muscles. Strong muscles, burn more fat. This also does not need to be a complicated workout and you only need to perform strength training twice a week. From what I've read, the muscles start strengthening after your workout is over and they require 5-7 days of rest between workouts so that you don't over aggravate the muscle. I'm sure you can find more info about this on the Internet.
I am currently using Resistance Bands to help strengthen my muscles. They are not expensive and are available everywhere. On Saturdays I will be working my upper body. On Wednesdays I will be working the lower body. This will allow all the muscles groups a chance to rest between workouts and keep my workouts to 15-20 minutes each. Everyone can fit in 15-20 minutes? Can't You?
You can see some exercises using resistance bands by going to this blog.
The rest of the week, I will work on my cardio whenever possible. Currently we are snowshoeing, which provides a great cardio workout.
I'll be listing more items on our Etsy store over the next couple of weeks. If you haven't visited our shop, check it out sometime. www.gardensandcrafts.etsy.com
The first step is to not view exercise as a chore and to realize that it is more than just jogging and sit-ups. Any physical activity is exercise in my book. So, that being said, I did a little reading on exercise and losing fat, and discovered that you don't have to work really hard to burn the fat.
The key is to stay within your Target Heart Rate. This will ensure that you are burning fat, not just calories. Exercising too intensely will burn the calories that are readily available in your body, for example, what you just ate for lunch. It will not burn much fat. So, why work that hard if you don't have to? Right? Unless you are training for a marathon, you don't need to work that hard to burn the fat. Find out more information on Target Heart Rates by visiting
the American Heart Association website.
Another way to burn the fat is to strengthen your muscles. Strong muscles, burn more fat. This also does not need to be a complicated workout and you only need to perform strength training twice a week. From what I've read, the muscles start strengthening after your workout is over and they require 5-7 days of rest between workouts so that you don't over aggravate the muscle. I'm sure you can find more info about this on the Internet.
I am currently using Resistance Bands to help strengthen my muscles. They are not expensive and are available everywhere. On Saturdays I will be working my upper body. On Wednesdays I will be working the lower body. This will allow all the muscles groups a chance to rest between workouts and keep my workouts to 15-20 minutes each. Everyone can fit in 15-20 minutes? Can't You?
You can see some exercises using resistance bands by going to this blog.
The rest of the week, I will work on my cardio whenever possible. Currently we are snowshoeing, which provides a great cardio workout.
I'll be listing more items on our Etsy store over the next couple of weeks. If you haven't visited our shop, check it out sometime. www.gardensandcrafts.etsy.com
Keep it Simple!
It's another cold and blustery day here and frankly, I'm getting a little tired of it...LOL. It didn't get quite as cold as it did last night, but the wind today is pretty strong making it unbearable to be outside. I can't even imagine what Gary has to go through at work on days like this.
I took a few pictures last weekend of what the gardens look like all snow covered, so thought I'd share a couple here. I really despise winter after about 2 months, and this winter has been a harsh one, just as the Farmer's Almanac predicted. I love the change in seasons, but the severe driving conditions and cold spells really wear on you after a while. We usually have a thaw in January, but I don't see one coming anytime soon.
Someone asked me what I learned from my gardening last year and I replied that it's better when I "Keep it Simple". This applies to my daily life as well as to my gardening life, so this year I will focus on that theme for this blog and for all aspects of my life. I think we tend to over analyze things in this world of computer gadgets and the next best thing. We tend to make things much harder than they need to be because, my gosh, it couldn't be that simple, right? How could I make money off it, if it's that simple? I need to make it seem more complicated so that people will buy what I'm saying. It's a mentality like this, that I think has contributed to a lot of the problems in this world today and a lot of my problems in the past, frankly. I don't want to be rich, I just want enough to pay my bills, buy a little something for myself when I want to, help others when needed and try to save the earth in the process.
That being said, I'd like to use this theme today to focus on weight loss and being healthier.
I just read an interesting article that stated their is no quick fix when it comes to weight loss and muscle building. Really? You don't say? We always want a quick fix to everything and don't want to hear the truth, so it's refreshing to read an article from someone who is not being paid off by the industry or promoting some "miracle" product that could kill you.
Basically, if you eat smaller portions of real wholesome foods, not store bought, frozen, canned, over processed or restaurant food, you will lose weight and be healthier. Simple, right? In addition to eating smaller portions, you want to eat more often, so that your body doesn't think that it's starving and just store all those calories. Even before I had an expert tell me this, I always lost weight when I felt like I was eating constantly. I don't mean shoveling down pounds of unhealthy foods all day long, but nibbling foods that are good for you. For example, some days I would get up in the morning and have a small bowl of oatmeal. I'd be satisfied with that and then an hour later, I might nibble on some carrots. Then an hour or so after that, I might have a fat free yogurt. By then, it's time for lunch, so I'd have a salad. Then an hour later, I might eat the sandwich I brought to go with the salad and then an hour after that I'd eat the crackers and cheese that I brought to go with it. Once dinner rolled around, I'd usually sit down to a real meal, but because I had nibbled all day, I wouldn't over-eat at dinnertime.
This is probably an extreme example. I don't normally eat something every hour, but I just wanted to show how you don't have to sit and eat an entire meal all at once. As long as you eat the recommended number of meats, veggies, carbs, etc. in a day, you'll be OK. Everyone has a different lifestyle, so it may not be convenient to nibble all day, but if you can incorporate a healthy snack mid morning and mid afternoon, along with normal sized portions at meal time, you'll be doing your body good.
Make sure you have a lean protein such as chicken, fish or a lean red meat such as sirloin. Add a side such as brown rice, or whole wheat pasta and then, of course, a vegetable like broccoli or a mixed green salad. Make sure you have 2 tablespoons of a good healthy fat each day such as olive oil, flax seed or almonds and you'll have a pretty balanced eating plan started.
Eating this way, also dramatically lowers your sodium intake. Processed foods are full of it. People think it takes so much longer to cook a meal from scratch then to throw a frozen meal in the oven. Not true. You don't have to be a master chief. If you have a small selection of fresh or dried herbs, that's all you need to make a flavorful dish. A little organizing and planning ahead and it becomes second nature and it will not consume all your time. Honestly.
In addition to eating better, we need to exercise to burn more calories and strengthen our bodies. When you burn more calories you can either eat more, if you are maintaining your weight, or eat less to lose weight. It's that simple. Obviously, athletes or people with special dietary needs, may need to pay closer attention to details, but for the majority of us, simple is better.
The type of exercise, really doesn't matter much, but you do need to incorporate a cardio workout along with strength training, 3-4 times a week for about 45 minutes each of those days. An example of a cardio workout would be running, walking fast, or cycling. Strength training could be as simple as using hand weights or lifting your own body weight, such as with stomach crunches or push-ups. Resistance bands are great for using at home. They don't take up much space and anyone can get started using them. I suppose you could get specific about working problem areas, but you really don't need to go crazy doing it.
Since starting Weight Watchers, I have been pretty sporadic about my exercise. Mainly because I just can't seem to find the time to do it. Lame excuse, I know. We've walked around the neighborhood when the weather has been cooperative and even bought snowshoes to help us enjoy the winter months more, but with the weather being so cold, that is just not a feasible option for use most of the time. So I am going to make an honest effort to incorporate more exercise into my life, somehow. My plan is to do some sort of high energy cardio for at least 20 minutes, then to work on my strength training for the remainder of the time, concentrating on my abs and arms for the most part. You may have your own problem areas :)
I know this is supposed to be a gardening and craft blog, but I am a multi dimensional person and there is more to my life then that. Since it's the slow time of year for gardening, I have to talk about something between craft projects, so I will share tips I've learned and little tidbits that just might make your struggle with weight loss a little easier. I'll share little snacks we find tasty and share just why being on Weight Watchers doesn't feel like a diet at all.
Just remember, to Keep it Simple!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
