First Word

I am an asparagus-lover. You can make this recipe as a side dish or just eat it as a main dish, which is what I did. It's super easy to prepare.  The real challenge is to find a wonderful produce stand that sells it right from farm to fork -- that is, if you want the succulent kind that you see in this picture. Most markets sell mass produced and often thin sticks of asparagus. Near where I live I found these beautiful spears from the local Pedrick's produce stand.  I was walking through the aisle and spotted these succulent-looking spears, and even though I wasn't in the market to buy asparagus, I purchased them anyway. They looked too good to pass up. If you're not lucky enough to have a produce stand, then the regular market variety will do.  INGREDIENTS ASPARAGUS (AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO EAT) 1/4 CUP OLIVE OIL 1/2 FRESH LEMON 2 TBSP GARLIC AND HERB SPICES BLACK PEPPER SALT 1. Take a large frying pan and coat it with olive oil.  2. Cut off sinewy bottoms of asparag...

We all like to snack here and there -- and there's nothing wrong with a few fun bites. Problem is, you might like to eat in front of the TV. Maybe your preferred snack food is popcorn or potato chips, which we all know aren't the best choices. Well, popcorn without all that "butter" and salt could be a good choice, but let's be honest, no one eats it that way.  So, what is a great, healthy and (of course) crunchy replacement? Red bell peppers!  They are naturally sweet, loaded in high antioxidants, and they most importantly CRUNCH! It gives you the "chip" noise without the unhealthy chip involved. So, cut them up into small, square pieces, place them in a bowl, and crunch away! I personally love bell peppers, and it's such an easy snack food.  

  Sometimes a complicated recipe just won't do. It's the end of the day, and it's good to just eat. This winning combination is all-American simple and done in 15 minutes.  One comment on this recipe. I like to use Montereal Steak Seasoning like a rub on my steak. While we're not doing the Challenge strictly for weight loss and maintenance, spices over sauces keep calories down. I love spice rubs, which is not to suggest I don't enjoy BBQ sauce, but since a spice rub satisfies my taste buds, why not? If you like both kinds of tastes equally then pick the less fattening.  INGREDIENTS FLAT IRON STEAK MONTEREAL STEAK SEASONING OLIVE OIL YELLOW POTATOES CARROTS BLACK PEPPER SALT 1. Take potatoes and add to a pot of boiling water about 45 minutes before you prepare the steak. When you can easily stab through the potatoes with a fork, add the carrots and cook another 10-15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to the boiling water. 2. Coat the bottom of your grill or frying pan wi...

  As you cook every night for the Challenge, you may find your busy life makes it so you would rather just grab takeout food than worry about food preparation. I know the feeling, trust me. So, I wanted to create some dishes that still meet our criteria, but don't require as much effort to cook -- and Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken does the trick.  A note to those folks who are already thin. It's especially important to make sure you add some kind of carbohydrate to meals where you don't have one on the plate. We do need carbs to maintain blood sugar. In the case of this dish, I added some bread to the meal. I tend to go low blood sugar, so I try to have some carbs no matter what.  INGREDIENTS (2) 4 - 5 SMALL CHICKEN BREASTS BLACK PEPPER SALT  1 GARLIC CLOVE 1 LEMON 1/2 CUP OLIVE OIL ASPARAGUS MUSHROOMS 1. Chop garlic cloves up into fine pieces and set aside.  2. Take 1/2 cup of olive oil, pour into skillet, and put on medium heat. Add chicken breasts.  3. Use b...

  Creating and sticking to the 352 Day Challenge has continued to prove my theory that taking preservatives and additives out of your diet not only helps your health, but also you get to enjoy the bonus side effect, weight loss.  When I got serious about creating the Challenge, I still struggled with the last 5 pounds I wanted to lose. That "pesky 5," as we'll call it, just wouldn't drop. I could starve myself yet not melt off the last few pounds.  After a month of really sticking to the Challenge and paying even more attention to the elimination of preservatives, chemicals, and other additives that most of the time I wonder why such things are in my food, I lost those 5 pounds. And the real kicker, I've never eaten such flavorful, yummy foods every single night.  So, I am also learning great tips from my fellow Challenge mate, Syndee Hendricks. She taught me how to cook to layer flavors, which is a great idea. You can really taste each ingredient when you layer ...

  I like this dish because a. it's easy to make and b. a girl just likes to have eggs once in a while. I also really love buttermilk pancakes; but for today we're sticking to the eggs ... oh, and my new favorite sausage, mango and jalapeño Aiells sausage. Once you taste this sausage you will want to put it in many dishes. Again, please look at the ingredients on any sausage brand you select to ensure it has no preservatives. I am completely sold on avoiding ALL preservatives.  So, I created this dish based on what I had in the fridge and my newly acquired "culinary senses," which you probably are wondering, what is that? I have this wonderful tip about using spices and combining tastes. Use your sense of smell. For example, in this dish I added Lawry's seasoning salt to herbs de Provençe. Since I wasn't sure it that was a good choice, I smelled each one and then nodded, yes. If you are trying new recipes and switching them up, use your "culinary senses...

  So, today's recipe has my "forbidden" favorite in it -- bacon. Yes, it's true I still eat bacon, and yes, I still lost weight. When you're eating for nutrition and not focused on particulars, it also helps keep you on track. Remember, we're promoting a lifestyle change that makes it easy to live with. As I continue working on this project, you're going to see how everything tastes so yummy and yet it's healthy.  I have a great grocery shopping tip. Every week make sure you purchase a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, and poultry. Also, stock your cupboards with all kinds of spices. If you're anything like me, you will want the flexibility to find a recipe and cook it on the fly. I like to be creative this way.  So today's dish is Brocolini Bacon Scramble . I love breakfast burritos, and this is a nice dinner food once you add the brocolini. The best part -- it's super easy to prepare.  Here's what you'll need for...

  The 352-Day Nutritional Challenge     Introduction            First, I want to say I’m not an expert when it comes to nutrition or dieting. I also want to emphasize this is NOT a diet book – although you will probably lose weight based on eating healthy every day. This book is strictly about eating good foods, period. And finally, what better way to get others to participate than by creating an interactive game and a community of support and shared interests. Accountability is a big deal when it comes to any goal or endeavor, so a game would not only make it fun, but hold players accountable.            I wanted to write this book and share how I changed my eating habits after I turned 50 only to discover my youthful metabolism started to fail me. I have been thin and a size 4 at 5’9” my entire life. Except during pregnancy, I never weighed more than 125 pounds. I alwa...

I've decided that I'm going to start a segment of this blog dedicated to all things we are not allowed to openly say or express for fear of being flogged by the politically correct crowd for thinking outside of the proverbial box of public opinion. So, I'm going to start my first rant about over-weight people who when you listen to them talk privately scorn those who have not gained weight. I once heard a woman who was upset with her husband for flirting with another gal say with complete and utter disdain, "And can you believe it! The bitch was thin!" as if being thin was the far worse crime. Since when did being thin turn into something to look at with such utter scorn? I mean think about it. If we were to stand around and openly say, "And can you believe it! The bitch was fat!" and how well that would go over in the world of political correctness where we're not even allowed to say the word "obese" much less the word fat. Now I'm not...