Recipe - Corn, Okra, and Tomato Stew

An easy stew in just 3 steps!

INGREDIENTS
low fat cooking spray
1-1/2 cups frozen sliced okra
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 (14.5oz.) can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
1. Spray a large saucepan with low fat cooking spray.
2. Add okra, corn, tomatoes and basil then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until okra is tender.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 81
Fat: 0.6 g
Carbohydrates: 19 g
Protein: 3.5 g

Serves: 4

Recipe - Layered Taco Dip

[Goes] GREAT with tortilla chips. [Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MICHELSCL.]

Ingredients
3 oz. cream cheese, fat free
3 oz. cottage cheese, 2% milkfat
3 tbsp taco seasoning
3 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded or chopped (less if desired)
2 cups tomatoes, chopped or sliced
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups salsa (to taste)

1. Soften cream cheese (do not melt it).


2. Mix equal amounts of cream cheese and cottage cheese in a large bowl.


3. Stir in taco seasoning (until it tastes good for you, I like a lot of it).


4. Smooth this layer into the bottom of the dish you are serving the salad in.


5. Spread half of the shreaded cheese over cheese layer, follow with all of the tomatoes, lettuce and salsa. Top with remaining shredded cheese.


6. Refrigerate until serving. Goes great with tortilla chips or in a tortilla wrap. Extra lettuce makes it into a GREAT salad by itself!

Number of Servings: 8

Nutritional Info
Fat: 10.0 g
Carbohydrates: 10.4g
Calories: 172.6
Protein: 11.4g

Tarot of the Day #1 - Page of Wands

[Info from Learntarot.com]
PAGE OF WANDS
BE CREATIVE
BE ENTHUSIASTIC
BE CONFIDENT
BE COURAGEOUS

---

ACTIONS
Be Creative
take a novel approach
be original
invent
find a new area of self-expression
use your art
come up with a solution
go in a new direction

Be Enthusiastic
jump in wholeheartedly
get excited
show optimism
be the first to volunteer
be passionate
get your blood flowing

Be Confident
tackle a challenge
say "yes, I can"
believe in yourself
stretch your envelope
move beyond doubts
focus on success
know that where there's a will, there's a way

Be Courageous
take a risk
be daring
have an adventure
avoid the sure thing
take assertive action
be a leader
overcome a fear

---

DESCRIPTION

The Page of Wands is a messenger bringing you opportunities for passion. He delivers real chances to experience creativity, courage, charm and inspiration - the wonders of the Wands suit. In readings, this Page suggests that an opening may appear that excites you, feeds your talents, or dares you to be great. When you see such a chance, act on it!

The Page of Wands can also stand for a child or young-at-heart adult whose interactions with you involve independence, high energy, risky behavior, or shared enthusiasms. Sometimes the Page of Wands implies that your entire situation is suffused with the spirit of excitement and adventure. At such times, feel free to express your individuality and power with light-hearted abandon.

---

How It affected my Day
Be Courageous - Overcome a Fear/take a risk... I had to drive my dad's truck to my house today. I've never driven it before, and I really don't like driving big vehicles. It really wasn't that bad. That's also be confident.

---

More info from Aeclectic.net

PAGES
The first court card are the Pages/Princesses. It is always best to imagine them as young, and with a letter or scroll in hand or on their person. The element of the pages is "Earth" indicating something young, growing, a seed planted. So the Page of Wands would be "Earth of Fire" - the seed of fire, so to speak. The spark. Pages most often stand for children, though they can also be said to the "Fool's" alter ego. So, an adult who is child-like enough might also be a page. The Querent, if starting something very new and fresh might also be said to be "The Page" - in this case, a kind of apprentice. Deck-wise, if a Page, they can be male or female. If a Princess, likely a female young person; the prince will be the male young person.

When no children seem to be involved (the person you're reading for is childless, has no friends with kids, etc.), then the Pages can indicate that the Querent is about to receive a message. The purpose of a page, after all, is to deliver messages. In this case:

Page of Wands

A message, possibly from far away, about a trip, career move, leadership position or something spiritual/philosophical.

Recipe - Vegetarian Chili

Cut out the fat by leaving out the meat. This thick stew is perfect on top of a baked potato. For a thinner soup, add water. [another recipe from Spark People]

Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained
1 pinch cayenne pepper, chili powder, or chili seasoning mix
1 tablespoon parsley, freshly chopped

Directions

1. Saute the onions and garlic in oil in a large sauce pan.


2. Add carrots, tomatoes, herbs, spices, and beans.


3. Cover (to retain moisture) and cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.

Serves 6.

Nutrition Facts
Fat: 2.9 g
Carbohydrates: 22.9g
Calories: 140.9
Protein: 7.2g

Weight Loss Blog

So apparently this has become my weight loss blog or something. The recipes are all recipes I've gotten off of Spark People. Speaking of Spark People I am about to move on to stage 2, apparently I've already been on the page for 2 weeks now. Wow. Time Flies.

I went to the doctor on Wednesday it went well. It was weird having a testicular exam for the first time ever... cough cough... weird.. and they had an escort in there, both women. I got put on depression meds - lexapro. I'll find out how they work in about 4 weeks cause that's supposed to be the amount of time before you can really see the results. I have another appointment in 4 weeks.

Had a date on Wednesday night too. Her name is Natalia. It went well I think. & my food was awesome, but supposedly her chicken was a little stale.

Went to Kat's wednesday night after the date, got a little buzzed (on alcohol). I'm wondering if I should even bother to drink unless I'm going to get super drunk and I am positive I will. I'm sure it hinders my weight loss.

Speaking of which, also wednesday morning (wow wednesday was a big day) I weighed myself on my parent's scale. I have lost 4 lbs since last week AND 1 lb overall from this time last year (I asked at the doctor's office).

I move into my new apartment on monday & tuesday, and school starts wednesday. I'm going to be switching to phase 2 on the Spark People on Monday I think. New beginnings.

I've also decided to start picking a tarot card a day and having a journal for that. It'll probably be this one.

Recipe of the Day - Spinach with Golden Raisins & Pine Nuts

Serves: 4

Cooked spinach gets some crunch to it.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup plump golden raisins (may use regular raisins too)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1-1/4 lbs. baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons fresh grated lemon peel
1/2 cup chicken stock, skim fat from top
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Place raisins in a bowl and pour boiling water over them until just covered and let sit for 5 minutes. Drain thoroughly, then set aside


2. Heat oil in a large skillet, over medium-high heat then add pine nuts and sauté until they turn golden. Add garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Stir in raisins and then add spinach leaves. Stir ingredients until spinach has wilted, about 1 minute.


3. Remove from heat and add lemon peel. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 242
Fat: 16 g
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Protein: 7.2 g

Last Recipe today - Broccoli Soup

Serves: 5

A lower-fat version of your favorite creamy broccoli soup.

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons margarine
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 (10 oz.) packages frozen broccoli, thawed enough to separate
2 cups fat-free chicken broth
1 cup nonfat milk
1/2 lb. processed reduced-fat cheese (Velveeta), cubed
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. In medium saucepan, heat the margarine. Add onion, celery and cook until wilted.
2. Add broccoli and broth. Quickly bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until broccoli is tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Puree in blender (will need to do in two batches).
4. In the saucepan, stir together the broccoli puree, milk and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste, and then heat. If the soup is thicker than you like, add more broth or milk and re-season.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 230.5
Fat: 10.9 g
Carbohydrates: 16.6 g
Protein: 18.7 g

Another Recipe- Spinach & Pear Salad with Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette

Serves: 4

The tasty combination of spinach and pears will keep you away from boring salads forever. Reprinted with permission by Public Health – Seattle & King County. [Received from Spark People]

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons water
1-1/2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pears, cored and sliced lengthwise
8 cups torn fresh spinach
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the water, orange juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, and black pepper.


2. In large bowl, add the pear slices and 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette and toss to coat.


3. Add remaining dressing, spinach and onion and toss to coat.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 116
Fat: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 20.5 g
Protein: 2.3 g

Recipe of the Day - Vegetable Tofu Scrambler

Serves: 3
Serving Size: 4 oz.

Tofu is high in protein and calcium, low in fat and sodium, and cholesterol-free. Reprinted with permission from HOW IT ALL VEGAN! by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer (www.GoVegan.net), Arsenal Pulp Press.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 medium onion
4 - 5 mushrooms, sliced
splash of olive oil
1 (12-ounce) pkg firm tofu, crumbled
1-2 tsp curry powder
pepper (to taste)
salsa (to taste)
2 stalks green onions, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, add the onions and mushrooms to a splash of oil and saute on medium-high heat until the onions are translucent.


2. Crumble tofu and add to saucepan.


3. Add the curry and pepper.


4. Sauté 10-12 minutes until moisture has evaporated.


5. Add salsa and green onions and scramble on high heat for 2 to 4 minutes.
   Note: you could also add any other veggies you have kicking around.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 133
Fat: 7.8 g
Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
Protein: 9.4 g

Recipe - Artichoke Riscotto

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted margarine (use vegan for v)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups uncooked carnaroli rice
1/4 cup soy milk (you can also use skim milk)
1/4 cup apple juice
6 cups vegetable stock
1 (8 ounce) container firm tofu, cubed
1 (6.5 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts,
drained, liquid reserved
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (8.75 ounce) can low salt yellow corn
cayenne pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil and margarine. Stir in 1/2 the onion, and saute until tender. Stir in the rice, and cook until lightly browned.


2. Pour soy milk and apple juice into the rice. When the rice has absorbed the liquids, gradually pour in vegetable stock, about 1/2 cup at a time, until absorbed. Reserve about 1/4 cup stock. Cover, and cook about 20 minutes, until rice is tender.


3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, lightly brown the tofu and remaining onion in the reserved marinated artichoke heart liquid. Stir in the garlic.


4. Remove the rice from heat, and thoroughly mix remaining vegetable stock, tofu mixture, artichoke hearts, corn, and cayenne pepper into the rice.

Makes 8 servings.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS
Fat: 7.9g
Carbohydrates: 39.0g
Calories:256.8
Protein: 8.6g

Mississippi

I made it to Mississippi last night at about 6. I was supposed to have left on Wednesday but my car battery died, thankfully before I had left. Ironically enough, at a oil change place in Loganville. Also ironically, they didn't have the type of car battery I needed. I had to spend thursday morning at pep boys getting my battery replaced, and then I replaced the fuse for my radio because it wasn't working.

Only been in Ocean Springs since 6 pm yesterday and already saw Brandy, Justin R., Justin P., Aaron F., Nathan & Jen F., My sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and both of my grandparents. Quite a few people so far. I hadn't been here in 7 months, I had forgotten how much OS still feels like home.

I am staying at my grandma's tonight, and tommorrow at my sister's housesitting while she is on vacation.

I weighed myself on my grandma's scale, and according to it I've gained 1.5 lbs. In order for me to lose 54 lbs by May I have to lose 1.5 lbs per week instead of gaining. Always tommorrow today to keep/start losing. I'm gonna weigh myself when I get back to my parents house again, just to make sure that it's not my grandma's scale that's off.

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I leave you with a recipe:

Banana Raisin Muffins
Serves: 6
Serving Size: 1 muffin

Bake these over the weekend, and enjoy throughout the week for breakfast or a snack. Reprinted with permission by Public Health – Seattle & King County. [taken from sparkpeople]

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup 1% milk
2 medium bananas, mashed (around 1 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375º F.

2. Measure sugar, baking soda, salt and flour into a bowl. Stir well to combine ingredients.

3. Add oil, milk, mashed bananas and vanilla; mix just until flour is moistened.

4. Fold in raisins.

5. Use a non-stick muffin pan, or muffin papers. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.

6. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan right away.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 277
Fat: 9.5 g
Carbohydrates: 46.2 g
Protein: 5.1 g

Spark People

I joined a website called SparkPeople.com the other day. It seems like a very good weight loss website, with communities, and meal trackers, and fitness trackers, and goal trackers, and a bunch of articles, and best of all it's free. I've posted some posts up in the forums today and have already gotten several replies.

I am trying to lose 54 lbs before I go to Cortona, Italy next year. I'm 244 now, and trying to get to 190. My larger goal is 165-175.

They start you off on fast break, and you have to choose 3 goals to do. Mine were, write in a journal 1x a day (this journal, or my lj); drink 8 cups of water a day (I already have) and pack my lunch, which I forgot to do :P.

I'm leaving at work 1 to go to my parents house, get my oil changed and head out to Mississippi. Hopefully I can still post 1x a day.

But if somebody is reading this and is also trying to lose weight, I reccomend trying http://www.sparkpeople.com it's a great site so far.

Alright, so albeit that I made this blog, and albiet that I haven't been posting, but I've been meaning to. It seems that every time I come to start writing, I get distracted, run out of time, or can't think of anything important/good to say. For that matter, I still can't think of anything good to say.

Has everybody seen the picture of the pink/white Darth Vader?


Yes, now everybody can go poke their eyes out with a fork, just like I want to.

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I have a few other blogs you might be interested in checking out, or not. Atleast one of them doesn't really have any entries.

Livejournal One of 3 actually, but I just use this one now. I actually update it too.
Get a Cue! My Pool blog (that has nothing in it right now)
Design Rebel My [interior] design blog
101 Things to do in 1,001 Days My list of goals to accomplish in 1,001 days.