Cheat Day

The problem with most diets is that you end up missing out on things you love because they are no longer part of your diet. It can drive you insane and is often the reason people give up on diets. All hail the cheat day! The one day out go the week where your diet doesn’t apply. You can eat what ever you want, and however much you want. Though it would be better if you keep the portion sixes reasonable especially if you are eating something not so healthy. Though this is coming from a woman who sometimes eats a pint of beef lo-mien and a large order of fried wontons for dinner on her cheat day. So do as I say not as I do. You can also put a sensible spin on cheat day. Like when we order pizza I get thin crust to cut down on the carbs, but I still get to enjoy the pizza.

This isn’t a new concept. Celebrities have cheat days on their diets too. Just remember it’s just one day of the week. You get to choose the day it doesn’t always has to be the same day. So you can adjust it to which ever day suits you.

Also an update about myself. Went to the doctor yesterday and he says the diet is working. I refused to see my weight, I just took his word for it. So I must be doing something right.I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

Paula Deen’s Oven-Fried Potato Chip-Crusted Chicken

What a mouthful, in many ways. My husband chose this for me to make tonight and all I can say is I should have started sooner. This is not a quick fix, especially if you have to thaw the chicken first like I did. The recipe calls for you to pound the chicken to a 1/2in thick. Be warned, you can enjoy it too much and bust the chicken apart. Of that I’m guilty. Be aware the potato chips can be salty enough so don’t salt the chicken. The chicken is shown with seasoned broccoli and cauliflower, and yes that is a paper plate. My husband does the dishes and I wanted to spare him work tonight. He thanked me for it. The chicken turned out well, and I enjoyed the taste. My husband is not a fan of mustard in the least and was turned off of the dish, because he could taste the mustard. After talking to my grandmother about it and she suggests just replacing the mustard with an equal amount of butter and it should be fine.

Paula Deen’s Oven – Fried Potato Chip – Crusted Chicken

1/3 Cup Dijon Mustard
1/4 Cup Light Butter
1 (5 ounce) bag of Baked Potato Chips, finely crushed
1 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp minced fresh Rosemary
6 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts, pounded to 1/2in thickness

Preheat oven to 400. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a cooling rack over baking sheet: spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a shallow dish, combine mustard and melted butter. In a separate shallow dish, combine crushed potato chips, cheese, and rosemary.

Brush or dredge chicken breasts with mustard mixture. Dredge in potato chip mixture to coat. Place on prepared cooling rack, and let stand for 20min to set crust.

Bake for 35-50min or until chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Let stand for 10min before serving.

Paula Deen’s Salisbury Steak

When I saw this in the Paula Deen’s Best Dishes magazine, I knew I had to make a healthy version of it. I love my beef and I love my gravy so this was a must. It was pretty easy to make and would have been pretty quick if I could run the microwave the same time I run the Foreman Grill without flipping a breaker. I served it with microwave mashed potatoes, which I’m still trying to develop a good recipe for that. I’ll post it when I do, but suggestions would be appreciated. And I also served it with green beans. Also microwaved. I was running behind tonight and was short on time. Yes that is a picture of my finished work and yes my plating leaves something to be desired. But anyway, I really enjoyed this. It was flavorfull but filing. Good enough that you want seconds, but hardy enough, that you don’t have too. Everything in the picture is proper serving size so you know you have a decent meal on your hands, but if you still don’t think all that will fill you up, add a salad on the side. When in doubt fill yourself up with healthy greens. My husband liked the meal and said it can be on our normal food rotation. We’ll know if his sensitive stomach likes it in the morning.

This recipe makes 6 servings.

Paula Deen’s Salisbury Steak:
2lbs lean ground beef
1/2 cup whole wheat cracker crumbs
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 (8-ounce) package sliced baby bella mushrooms
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp low fat/sodium beef broth
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can beef Consommé

Bring ground beef to room temperature. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cracker crumbs, egg, Worcestershire, garlic, pepper, and salt. Form into 6 (4in) patties. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Add patties to skillet or cook in a grilling machine. If cooking in a skillet cook for about 7 to 8 min per side or until browned. Remove patties from pan and rinse with very hot water.

Add to skillet olive oil, beef broth, and mushrooms and sauté for 1 to 2 min or until just tender. Add flour and onion soup, stirring constantly for 2 min. Stir in Consommé.

Firmly blot patties with a paper towel and return patties to skillet. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, for 30 to 40 min or until patties are cooked through. and sauce is thickened. Serve immediately

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Tools of the Trade 1: Grilling Machines

Ah yes this lovely inventions where you can plug it into the wall and fill your house with the smell of cooking meat that doesn’t involve gas, charcoal, or a pan. But these are more than just a little tool of convenience that can put grill marks on your food. They are a way to cook healthy.

Like George Foreman says, they knock out the fat. Or at least lets it slide down the grooves to a collection tray so your meat isn’t sitting in it.

But there are more versions out there than the Foreman Grill. It’s up to you to decide which one is for you. I just happen to have a Forman Grill because my grandma got me one she found at Goodwill after I commented I would like one too, after I saw her using hers. Which is where she also found hers. So you might want to check there first before going out and buying a new one.

But these things are a major tool for cooking meat in a healthy way. I definitely recommend getting one if you don’t already have one.

Introduction

Hello! I started this blog because I need to be on a diet but I really don’t want to be on a diet. If that makes any sense. Ok, let me start at the beginning.

Ever sense I get married my weight has increased, due to inactivity and medication. I was dealing with it ok, other than the occasional times I threw a crying fit because some of my favorite clothes stopped fitting me. But the real upset was when I went to the doctor and found out I was bordering at 200 lbs. The doctor told me to cut my carbs and I was devastated. Most of my meals that I make are based around pasta. I sat down and went through what I could and couldn’t have anymore. I was not happy. Then I went farther, trying to healthy up my meals, which I already started. But I also remembered the meals I made for my mom when she was trying to lose weight. They worked, but they were long, complicated and left you hungry an hour later. They did nothing for keeping up your energy, and they weren’t very good. I wanted the stuff that I was use to and the stuff that you see on the cooking shows. So I set out to do that. I learned enough from those low fat cook books on what can substitute what and adding in low carb to it I know this can work.

That’s why I created this blog. I figure that I’m not the only one that wants this. I won’t be putting just normal everyday recipes up here. I’m going to be putting up revised healthier versions of recipes from famous TV cooks like Paula Deen and Rachel Ray. Just remember a few things. Just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean you can ignore serving sizes. I’m a amateur so don’t take my word as gospel. This is free and I’m doing because I want to so don’t complain. Have fun!

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