Tuesday, December 29, 2009

12.29.09: Workouts, Macaroni & Cheese Recipe, & Tip

Today's Workout:
-Jackies One on One (UB and 10 min abs)
-Firm Jiggle Free Arms
*total w/o time 60 min + stretch


Today's Recipe: Macaroni & Cheese
Jay requested Mac N Chz for Thanksgiving, and since I have never made anything but the box brands I had no idea where to begin. I found this YUMMMMY recipe on epicurious.com. The original recipe is a heart attack waiting to happen (butter, whole milk, cream, full fat cheese), so I altered it dramatically. It still tastes AWESOME though, you would never know. Below is my altered version, also this is cut in half and still PLENTY of food. See the link above for the original full fat version.

For bread crumbs:
1 tablespoons unsalted reduced fat butter
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
1 cups coarse fresh low fat whole wheat bread crumbs (dry bread slices and then process in food processor)

For Macaroni:
2-3 tablespoons chopped chipotle chiles in adobo (these are SPICEY-use caution!)
1/4 stick unsalted reduced fat butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1.5 cups non fat milk
1 cup non-fat sour cream
1/2 tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 pound macaroni
1 pounds Trader Joes 75% reduced fat Cheddar, grated
*corn starch if needed to thicken sauce

Make bread crumbs: Heat butter and oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook garlic and bread crumbs, stirring, until crumbs are golden. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt.

Make macaroni: Preheat oven to 350°F. Chop chipotles.
Melt butter in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan over moderate heat, then add flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, cream, and mustard and simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 minutes. Cook macaroni in a 6- to 7-quart pot of boiling salted water until just tender. Drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in white sauce, cheese, chipotles, and salt to taste.
Fill a 1 1/2-quart shallow casserole with half of macaroni mixture. Bake in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

Today's Tip: Broccoli
Broccoli is a veggie superstar. One cup contains more than 100 percent of your daily requirement for vitamins C (an immunity booster) and K (which prompts blood to clot when you get a cut), plus a hefty dose of vitamin A. It also provides folate, a vitamin that helps prevent birth defects, bone-building calcium and the vision-protecting antioxidant lutein.

Today's LOL:




Monday, December 28, 2009

12.28.09: Workouts and Banana Pudding Trifle Recipe

I did GREAT with my w/o's over the Christmas holiday. I did HORRIBLE w/ my food. We ate, and ate, and ate, and ate some more! Its been an eat-fest since Wednesday. So I gained FIVE lbs!!! I hope I can lose it as fast as I gained it. Despite my tough w/o's Im still up. So yes, unfortunately eating is the biggest part of the weight loss equation (~85%) and exercise a much much much smaller percentage (~15%).


Got in a lunchtime walk!

Today's Workout:
-Ultimate Fat Burning Workout
- Exercise TV: Quick & Incredible Abs (Cindy's segment)
*total w/o time-60 min + stretch


Sunday's Workout:

-Firm Rock Solid Cardio
-Firm Ab Scuplt (5 minutes)
*total w/o time- 35 min + strech


Sunday was supposed to be my rest day but since I ate enough in the past 5 days to last me a month, I figured I could use all the extra calorie burn I could get.

Saturday's Workout:
-Wave Promo DVD
-Firm Speed Slimming Sculpt (express version)
*total w/o time- 60 min + stretch

The Wave promo dvd is what they sent us before the infomercial with the wooden Wave we got. Its the best Wave w/o out there IMO! I was initially disapointed w/ the real dvds that came w/ the Wave set, but they have grown on me. I was expecting more since the promo dvd was tougher I expected this set to be too-I was wrong. BUT like I said, they have grown on me. The more I do them-the better they get. With practice I can also use my normal poundage on the Wave and get a great w/o. In fact today was supposed to be a strength day but my buns are still sore from Sat so I did cardio.

Friday's (Christmas) Workout:
-Firm Ultimate Calorie Blaster
*total w/o time 45 min + stretch


Today's Recipe: Banana Pudding Trifle
We had this on Christmas and it was DELICIOUS! YUMMMMM.

1 package (5.1 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix (sugar free, fat free)
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (fat free)
2 cups whipped topping (fat free coolwhip)
34 vanilla wafers (reduced fat)
3 large firm bananas sliced

In a large bowl, combine pudding mix, water and milk; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Chill for 5 minutes. Fold in the whipped topping. Spoon 1 cup pudding into trifle bowl. Top with 1/2 of the wafers and 1 banana. Repeat twice, ending with pudding. Chill. Garnish with cookies and banana slices.

Today's Tip: Spinach
Spinach may very well be the queen of greens: Have 1 cup and you'll get more than a day's worth of vitamin K, and a dose of potassium (regulates blood pressure) and manganese (strengthens bones). Skip nutritionally marginal iceberg lettuce and go for this nutrient-loaded green instead when tossing your salad.


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