Fabulous Valentine's Challenge: Day 2

Today is day 2 of Neely, Amber and Casey’s FABULOUS VALENTINE'S CHALLENGE!

Today’s Topic is: Worst Date Ever!!

I actually don’t recall having any “bad dates”. Any date I went on was OK and a few were pretty freaking fantastic! However, there is one that sticks out.

This guy (who shall remain nameless- none of my friends would even know who he was since I HAVE NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT) took me out for a “lunch” date.   I thought it would be a good first date since I knew this guy was pretty shy and I was worried that our date would be filled with awkward silences…I WAS SOOO RIGHT!   We went to a Chinese place and I basically talked to myself the entire time!!!He kind of just ate his food and looked down the entire time. After that I went to my parents and was telling my mom about it. She told me: Christie, you really need to find someone outgoing since you like to talk and hang out with people….who knew that just a few short weeks later I would be going on a first date with what would be my future husband! For those of you that know my husband knows he can TALK and I am sometimes the quiet oneJ   I am happy I have not had any HORRIBLE DATES but they would make for pretty good storiesJ  

Fabulous Valentines's Challenge: Day 1

YESTERDAY was the first day of the Fabulous Valentine's Day Challenge.  I have been having such a great time doing IT's OK THURSDAY! I figured this would be lots of font to do! Neely, Amber and Casey are doing this challenge so I thought...what the heck!!

Day 1's topic is BEST DATE EVER!!! 

Of course the best date I have ever been on was with my husband Daryl...the date that could have not happened!!Daryl and I met at work as he would come fix my computer....it was weird though..after that first meeting my computer kept needing a fix (I don't know who's fault that was: Mine, Daryl's or FATE'S:).  But when he would come into my office we would talk about going and having coffee some time but that never happened!  Finally, we scheduled a REAL DATE at this restaurant in Corpus Called D'Lounge for sushi and drinks!  I had to push the date back one day because I had sprained my ACL playing kickball and had not slept at all the night before of our originally scheduled date. Daryl later said that he almost broke it off for good but we are both so glad we didn't. During our date we just clicked...we talked and talked and talked. We realized that we had so much in common, went to the same high school, our parents lived about 2 miles from each other and had such a great time! I remember leaving that date and calling on my friends and told her I just met this great guy! After that first date we hung out almost every single day and the rest they say is history!  We did move pretty fast: 

September 18, 2008- Our First Date

October 20, 2008- Became Boyfriend and Girlfriend (OFFICIALLY:) 

Feburary 10, 2009- He asked me to marry him

May 22, 2010- Married!

October 2008

December 2008

March 2009

January 2010

May 2010

June 2011

August 2011

September 2011

HG's Chili-rific Cheeseburger

I have never in my life had a chili burger but according to my husband they are pretty freaking fantastic!!! I decided to give them a try after finding this pretty fabulous recipe in my hungry Girl cookbook. It was delicious!! Here are the details:


Ingredients:
1 small hamburger bun
3 oz of lean beef, patty form1 slice fat-free American cheese
 
2 tbsp. low-fat veggie chili 
4 pickle slices/chips 
2 tomato slices 
1 onion slice 
1 tbsp. mustard


Instructions:

• Split bun in half and toast lightly. 
• Layer pickles, tomato, and onion on the bottom half of the bun. 
• Cook  patty  in a pan with nonstick spray, brown and cook until desired  
• Place burger over the veggies on the bun's bottom half. 
• Prepare chili according to package directions. Top the burger with the chili and then the cheese slice. 
• Put the mustard onto the top half of the bun. Plop the bun top over the cheese and chili patty. 

We had the Alexia Harvest Medly Potatoes for the side which really made the dinner even better! 

Burger= 7PP

Potatoes  3oz= 2PP

HAPPY EATING!!

Wrap it up: Turkey Bacon Club

I have the pleasure of going home for lunch every day. I enjoy the time away from work and love that I am able to have delicious meals every day! Actually, I tend to make things that are quick and easy! Maybe a Smart ones frozen meal and a bowl of soup or a NEATO FRITO BURRITO (those are my fav!) .


TodayI was craving a turkey wrap which is weird because I don't really like deli meat that much. But after looking on Pinterest and found this awesome recipe! Here are the details: 


Ingredients
1 La Tortilla Wrap- medium-large
2 Tbl Bolthouse Yogurt Ranch
1 Tbl Diced Red Bell Pepper 
2 slices of center cut bacon
A couple of shakes of Italian seasoning3 Slices of Tomato (Thin)
Iceberg or Romaine lettuce leaves
2 Thin Slices of FF Kraft Sliced Cheese
6 Slices Thinly Sliced Turkey Breast to Cover Filling


Instructions

• Spread cheese, add peppers, seasoning and sliced tomato's
• Add lettuce
• Add more cheese and bacon and turkey
• Roll it up in wax paper or saran wrap and put in fridge for 30 min:) 

I ended eating this at work so I could let it cool It did not disappoint and it was SOOO GOOD! I had several people come into my office and ask me where i bought the wrap! I will make this again very soon!!

1 wrap= 9PP

Happy Eating!

There is always that ONE person....

Everyone deals with some sort of BS at work. I don't care if you are a woman or man, work with 3 or 500 people. There is BS. I usually don't have to deal with much BS but it still comes my way. I just don't get it. Why can't people just do their jobs, get along with others and JUST DO THEIR JOB! I really wish it was ok for me to tell some people this:

Dear person who annoys the crap out of me, 

I work hard every day. I don't bother you unless you consider making sure works gets done and my boss has the answers he needs, "bothering you". I don't want to talk for 45 minutes with you in the kitchen or bathroom about useless information. We are not friends. I tried to but we are far to different in our thinking to have you over during the weekend.  We are coworkers and that is it. While my other coworkers and I may get along and talk about our weekends and such, there is no need for your BS. Do your job and bring something other than trouble to my desk and then we will talk. Until then I will awkwardly and quickly leave the kitchen and bathroom when you come in. Let's be cordial though and remember: we work in an office FULL of women who love to talk. If you say something, we will all find out. So until then just keep the little comments to your self. Have a great weekend!!

My little prayer: Lord, please give me strength and a good attitude when dealing with this person or any person of this nature. Amen.

Thank goodness it is not bad and makes my issues very SMALL:) 

HG Big Mac...EAT THIS INSTEAD!

As I mentioned here, here, here and here, I LOVE FAST FOOD. I know it is bad for you and all that jazz but it is sooo tasty. So I love finding healthy alternatives! However, this burger was 12 PP and I looked up a Big Mac is 14 PP! But ours was bigger and tastier!!! Here are the details: 


Ingredients:
Sauce
1 1/2 tbsp. fat-free Thousand Island dressing
1/8 tsp. granulated sugar
1/8 tsp. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. finely minced onion or 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion 

Sandwich
2 portabella mushroom caps  2 Boca All American Flame Grilled Burger
1 1/2 small light hamburger buns (1 top and 2 bottoms), or HG Alternative!
1/4 cup shredded lettuce, divided
1 slice fat-free American cheese
1 tbsp. diced onion, divided
3 hamburger dill pickle chips



Directions:
To make the sauce, combine dressing, sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl. Mix well. Stir in minced onion and set aside.

Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Place mushroom caps side by side in the skillet, rounded sides down. Cover and cook until soft, about 4 minutes per side.

Place one bun bottom on a plate, and spread with half of the sauce. Top with half of the lettuce (2 tbsp.), followed by the cheese slice. Place one cooked mushroom cap on top, and sprinkle with half of the diced onion (1/2 tbsp.).

Spread remaining half of the sauce on the other bun bottom, and place it on the sandwich, sauce side up. Top with pickle chips and the remaining 2 tbsp. lettuce. Top with the remaining mushroom cap and remaining 1/2 tbsp. onion. Add the bun top.


I also added sesame seeds on top of the bun to make it look like the Big Mac!


This was delicious and very filling! My husband and I thought the sauce really did taste like the really thing!! We ate this with Alexia Fries- 3 oz for 3 PP!!

Happy Eating!

It's OK Thursday!

It's Thursday and you know what that means! I am linking up with Neely and Amber for:

So here we go: 

IT'S OK....

That I asked my husband for socks for Valentine's day! I just love how new socks feel. I got some this weekend and they are so comfortable AND MUCH CHEAPER THAN VERA BRADLEY! I also asked for a kindle cover and book light:) 

To get get excited about watching Revenge! I love that show and I am not much a drama show kinda girl (unless you count the housewives!)

That I have only spent about 3 hours at my desk in 2 days...activity points anyone...but I have not gotten anything accomplished..it seems:)

That I kinda freaked out about the dirty dishes being in the sink for 1 day while our sink was clogged....I hate dirty dishes in the sink! This was one of the biggest things that took some adjustment on BOTH me and my husband's part when we first moved in  together! We both have come along way!

To be very very excited about my new iPhone cover that came today! LOVE IT!

That I finished my first book on my kindle that I got for Christmas! I bought about 6 books and I had not been reading that much! I can't wait until it gets warm so I can read outside while lounging by the pool! Speaking of which....

To be debating on whether or not to lay out and get a tan! I need my summer tan back!!

What is OK with you today?!?!

Paprika Oven Fried Chicken Cutlets

Fried chicken is one of those words that makes you fat just thinking about! I kinda like "fried" chicken but i do not like all the grease and fat that comes with it. In fact last time I had KFC which was about 2 years ago because I had a craving for it, I thought to myself: WHAT THE HELL! This is gross:) So I love finding Weight Watchers, Hungry Girl OR any other healthy ways to make "fried" chicken! Here are the details: 


Ingredients:

2 sprays cooking spray

1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt

1 tablespoon paprika , sweet-variety, divided

15 items saltine crackers , crushed into crumbs

1 teaspoon table salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper , freshly ground

16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts , four 4 oz thin pieces

1 tablespoon parsley , fresh, chopped

1/2 medium lemon , cut into 4 wedges

Instructions: 

• Preheat broiler and coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place yogurt and 1 teaspoon of paprika in a small shallow bowl; mix to combine. Combine cracker crumbs, salt, pepper and remaining 2 teaspoons of paprika on a large shallow pie plate; stir to combine. Place each chicken cutlet in yogurt mixture and turn to coat. Next, place chicken in crumb mixture, turning to coat both sides and pressing lightly to make crumbs stick.
• Place coated chicken on prepared baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat source until golden brown and cooked through, flipping once, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. To serve, sprinkle with parsley and garnish with lemon wedges. Yields 1 piece of chicken per serving.

I don't have a picture because it was kinda late and were hungry! BUT I do have this picture from WW 

and mine looked just like it:) TRUST ME:) 

HAPPY EATING!

Skinny Saturday

As I have mentioned before, I weigh in at Weight Watchers on Saturday at 9:30.  I had my typical "skinny clothes"  (as if that makes a big difference:) on and was ready to rock and roll. Anyway, we went to the 7:30 meeting which was WAY EARLY for a Saturday:) But I weighed in and the lady smiled and said: "YOU LOST 5 pounds!" I was very delighted and it felt good! As I mentioned before...nothing tastes as good as SKINNY FEELS!     It wasn't until I looked at my actual weight record thingy that I realized that lost 5.2 pounds! I need to make sure the WW lady knows that every pound counts....even .2! LOL! I know the weight loss won't be as big this week but hey...I will be happy if it is .2 ! HAPPY EATING!

Rigatoni with Creamy Sausage Sauce

I love eating pasta...I mean who doesn't. But what I don't enjoy is the high PP values. I found this delicious recipe on the Weight Watchers site. I thought that I would give it a try and I AM SO GLAD I DID!! Here are the details: 

Ingredients:

• 8 oz uncooked rigatoni
• 1/8 tsp table salt
• 8 oz raw turkey sausage, Italian-style, removed from casings
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, or Baby Bella mushrooms, trimmed, quartered
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
• 1 cup(s) frozen green peas, petite-variety
• 1/2 tsp table salt, or more to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 1/2 cup(s) roasted red peppers, water-packed, sliced
• 1/2 cup(s) scallion(s), sliced
• 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook sausage stirring and breaking into chunks with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 3 minutes; remove to a bowl. Add mushrooms to skillet and sauté until browned and tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

In a measuring cup, whisk together flour and milk until smooth; stir into skillet along with peas, salt and black pepper. Bring sauce to a boil; simmer until thickened and peas are tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in sausage, roasted peppers and scallions; remove from heat.

Drain pasta; return to pot. Add sausage sauce and cheese; toss to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl. 

Yields about 2 cups per serving= 11 PP

Happy Eating!

Chicken Salad Sandwich!

On Thursday night, I didn't feel like cooking....at all!!! As mentioned in THIS post, I made chicken salad! My HUSBAND LOVES CHICKEN SALAD!! I have made some Hungry Girl recipes in the past and they were DECLIOUS!!! It has pecans and grapes...but pretty high in the PP:) So I was delightfully surprised when I found this receipe on Weight Watchers and saw the PP...HERE ARE THE DEATILS: 


Ingredients: 
3/4 pound(s) cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast(s), cut into bite-sized pieces   
1/2 cup(s) uncooked celery, finely diced   
1/3 cup(s) unsweetened dill pickle(s), or sweet gherkins, finely diced
1/4 cup(s) reduced-calorie mayonnaise
2 Tbsp reduced-fat sour cream 
2 Tbsp parsley, fresh, chopped   
1 tsp Dijon mustard 
1 tsp fresh lemon juice   
1/2 tsp table salt   
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground   


Instructions: 
Place all ingredients in a large bowl; mix until blended. Yields about 2/3 cup per serving.


It is THAT EASY!!! 

2/3 cup= 3 PP! Yes you read that right....3PP!

 My husband LOVED THIS RECEPE! It was a score. 

I paired it my favorite bread, ITALIAN and the total PP= 7!!!

HAPPY EATING!

BLT Soup

Tonight I did not feel like cooking. I was even tempted by my hubby to order pizza but I decided I would be better off making a simple dinner:): So decided to make chicken salad and soup. I found this awesome soup recipe on...where else HUNGRY GIRL!! She rocks. This recipe was very easy and quick to make AND SOOOO DELICIOUS!! Here are the details: 


Ingredients: 
2 slices center-cut bacon or turkey bacon
1 slice light bread
1 clove garlic, halved widthwise
1 cup chopped tomato (about 1 large tomato)
1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium tomato soup with 4g fat or less per serving
2 cups roughly chopped spinach leaves
Optional: fat-free sour cream


Instructions: 
Prepare bacon in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray or on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave. (Refer to package for cook time and temperature.) Chop or crumble and set aside.

Toast bread slice and gently rub both sides with cut sides of garlic clove halves; discard clove halves. Cut bread into 1-inch squares and set aside.

In a nonstick pot over medium heat on the stove, cook and stir chopped tomato until softened, about 3 minutes.

Add tomato soup and stir. Bring to a low boil. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.

Serve topped with bacon and garlic-toast squares. If you like, top with sour cream.


Makes 2 servings

1 1/4 cup of soup= 5 PP

YUMMY! The fresh tomatoes really made the soup! 

Happy Eating!

It's OK Thursday!

I am liking up with Neely and Amber this week for It's OK Thursday!  I had so much fun last week and gained a couple of new followers and had a great time reading the comments! SO.....

Its OK.....

That I don't want to work out today after work! I worked out 4 days this week knowing that by Thursday I wouldn't have the energy to work out any more!!

It is the beginning of the Spring 2012 semester and it seems like all the crazies are in full force! I did read somewhere that this week we have had 1 full moon and tomorrow is Friday the 13th!!

To be sooo over work for this week. I have been working on this report for work and have grown bitter about office polices and the need for people to work the system!

To be looking forward to sleeping in on MONDAY since we don't have to work! Thank you MLK!

To be secretly thinking about my "splurge" for the weekend will be movie popcorn (NO BUTTER!), We are going to a "semi-private" showing of Joyful Noise. A lady from our church rented out the theatre since he son is the lead actor in the movie...opporiste Dolly Parton and Queen Latifia! HOW COOL!

To be anxious and excited about my 3 pair of crocs that are coming in the mail tomorrow! I have been waiting 2 weeks! I LOVE LOVE LOVE CROCS! I think this will make at least 20 pairs...I am slightly addicted but I have them in all styles and I am finally ordered the original style!

That my mom "cleaned" my house while she worked from there today. She is a clean freak (not that my house is THAT dirty) and so I LOVE it when she asks if she can work there while HER CLEANING LADY is at her house! I LOVE MY MOM!

That I seem to have a love affair with the exclamation point!!!!!!!

That I have been excited and thinking about what I would be writing about all week since I had so much fun last week participating in IT"S OK THURSDAY!!

WHAT's OK WITH YOU TODAY!

Pilates

Tonight I tried pilates. I had a very tense day at work and I wasn't feeling like doing my normal routine. I debated whether to work out at all today but lucky of me my husband encouraged me [Dary= 1, Christie= 0]Well.....

It was more of a work out for my body than my normal aerobic work out! It was different that I expected. This big girl needs to trim down because I cannot left my legs behind my head.  Daryl had to help push my legs then stopped and said I should work to get their on my own! [Daryl= -3, Christie=1].

I have only done a few select Yoga moves on the Wii Fit a couple of times BUT this was a different story.  I did like it and the 25 minutes FLEW by.

At the end of the day, I am soooooo glad I did..............................because eating these cookies that I had a craving for:) They sure are good and worth the 7 PP:) You can't deprive yourself RIGHT!!

1-2-3 Alarm Chili

A cold front blew in last night and so I thought it would be a perfect night for crockpot chili! Lucky for me, there was this chili recipe in my new Hungry Girl cookbook I received for Christmas:) We didn't get to come home form lucy because as mentioned yesterday we work at a university and first day of classes is tomorrow! So we prepared everything before we left for work! It turned out AWESOME AND IT WAS FILLING!! This is the best chili I have made in a while as I was starting to doubt my chili making abilities! Here are the details: 

Ingredients: 

• One 29-oz. can tomato sauce
• One 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
• One 15-oz. can chili beans (pinto beans in chili sauce), not drained
• One 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen sliced or chopped carrots
• 1 cup frozen sweet corn kernels
• 2 bell peppers (different colors), chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 - 3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, sauce reserved
• 2 tsp. chopped garlic
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 lb. raw lean ground turkey
• Optional: salt

I didn't put those ingredients because we simply didn't have them:) But it came out great!

Instructions: 

1. Combine all ingredients except turkey and salt in a large bowl. Add 2 tsp. adobo sauce from the canned chipotle peppers. Mix to combine and coat all of the beans and veggies with sauce. 
2. Put turkey in the bottom of a crock pot and break it up into small chunks. Top with the mixture from the large bowl, and mix well. 
3. Cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours or on low for 7 - 8 hours. 
4. Stir to distribute turkey. If you like, add salt to taste. 

It was great! It was 4PP for one cup which is ALOT of chili! I added 2 tbsp of cheese and 1 tbsp of sour cream. I also cooked corn muffins and they were yummy and only 3 PP!! 

I thought I would eat another bowl but it was very filling!!

HAPPY EATING!!

Skinny Pop Popcorn

The other day my mom and I went to Sun Harvest Sprouts ( I am still adjusting to the new name), and we were at the check out counter and my mom picked up this bag of popcorn and put it in her basket. She asked if I wanted some. I said ok but when I checked the back of the package I noticed it has 8 grams of fat! I though, oh well, my husband will like this:)

When I got home I figured out the PP and I realized that the 8 grams of fate was for 3.5 cups! That is a lot of popcorn!!It turns out that 1 cup is 1PP and the popcorn TASTES AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! What makes this even better is it was on sale for 2 for $1.00! WHAT A DEAL! In case in you didn't know I love a good deal. After church, we stopped by Sprouts and I bough 4 more bags! I hope this stuff lasts :) It makes for a VERY GOOD AND HEALTHY TREAT!

Skinny POP Popcorn

1 cup= 1PP

This is like my crack!!!!! Pick up some up today!

WW Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I got home from my walk with my mother I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies (Suzy homemake, doesn't have anything on me:) But i saw these on the WW site for a couple days and every day and it kept catching my eye. I am not a big fan of chocolate but these did not disappointment! 


Ingredients: 

2 Tbsp salted butter, softened   2 tsp canola oil 1/2 cups packed brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/8 tsp table salt 1 large egg white 3/4 cups of flour 1/4 tsp of baking soda 3 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, oil and sugar. Add vanilla, salt and egg white; mix thoroughly to combine.
3. In a small bowl, mix together flour and baking soda; stir into batter. Add chocolate chips to batter; stir to distribute evenly throughout.
4. Drop 24 teaspoons of dough onto one or two large nonstick baking sheets, leaving a small amount of space between each cookie. Bake cookies until golden around edges, about 4 to 6 minutes; cool on a wire rack. Yields 1 cookie per serving.

They came out pretty good. I like hard cookies and these came out like soft chew cookies! THey are a perfect little treat to give yourself something that lithe sweet pick me up after dinner. But be careful as these little babies are addicting:) I have ad about 4 in 2 days and my husband has had.....well we have only 3 left so you can do the math! 

I thought I had snapped a picture but I think i forgot because I started cooking dinner:) I will make these again for sure! YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND MAKE THESE NOW!

Happy Eating!

Hungry Girl Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

This is a very busy time for my husband and I. We both work at a college and the beginning of semester so I knew we would both be very tired when we came home today SO I dececded it would be a crock pot night!! Boy that was a great idea...if I must say so myself!  And what makes it even better is that my husband put everything together while I was working through lunch! What a sweetie:) Here are the details: 


Ingredients: 
1 1/2 lb. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breasts, halved
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. brown sugar (not packed)
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
Optional: red pepper flakes, to taste


Instructions: 

1. Place all ingredients except the chicken in the crock pot. Stir until mixed. Add chicken and coat well with the sauce.
2. Cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours OR on low for 7 - 8 hours, until chicken is fully cooked.
3. Remove all the chicken and place it in a bowl. Shred each piece using two forks -- one to hold the chicken in place and the other to scrape across the meat and shred it. Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot, and mix well with the sauce.
4. If you're serving a group, keep the crock pot on its lowest setting, so the chicken stays warm. If you like, season to taste with red pepper flakes. Eat up!

1/2 cup of chicken = 4 PP ( I only had 1/4 cup and it was enough!)

This is the picture from the HG site:) 

I put mine between Italian Bread and 1 piece of FF cheese and it was GREAT!! I LOVED IT!

Happy Eating!