Saturday, November 22, 2008

Meatball burger

Currently Digging: nothing ***resting before I go to gym***
I should say this is the most successful "HEALTHIER" burger I have ever done... this time it was juicy, moist, tender, and meaty beefy...
HEAVY lunch today.... my pre-work out meal...
My plate: half hamburger sandwhich--with tomato and onions, no cheese.
My sides: boiled zucchini, wilted baby bella mushrooms, asian coleslaw without the crispy noodles.
My soup: same as everyone's! cream of mushroom (healthy version-canned) with asparagus and shiitake mushroom.
MEATBALL BURGER
  • lean ground beef
  • minced onions
  • minced garlic
  • mrs. dash
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • pepper
  • salt
  • grounded cereals (i used hi-lo cereals) like bread crumbs consistency (with cumin, poultry seasoning, mrs. dash)
>mix all ingredients in a bowl except grounded cereals
>before baking or grilling: coat LIGHTLY with grounded cereals "breadcrumbs"
>I cooked it in nu-wave oven: 5-7 minutes per side: flipping once.
>Lightly toast bread with cheese (if desired)
>Add condiments if desired
>Arrange
Here's my mom's and my dad's plate. They didn't like the boiled zucchini... Yah know... parents--- as they grow old, they become picky eaters...
My dad ate his entire plate-- so proud of him!!!!
I used garlic parmesan roll for their hamburger, topped with tomato and onions with cheese
Sides: wilted mushrooms and onions, asian slaw with crispy noodles
Soup: Cream of mushroom soup + asparagus + shiitake mushrooms

QUICKIE ASIAN SLAW
>shredded cabbage: blanched with hot boiling water
>shopped tomato
>Newman's spritzers (asian flavored)
>>Mix everything up!!! Serve.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Chicken taco on a pita?!?!

Currently Digging: oven baked chicken wings and italian salad

PITA CHICKEN TACO... whew... that's confusing! Well that was my morning breakfast today! haha.. yeah.. for breakfast!
CHICKEN TACO ON A PITA:
  • left over grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken breast-sliced
  • lettuce, onions
  • taco bell' sauce (FIRE, MILD or HOT: I used fire.. coz I love spicy foods! ***and don't look at me like that!!! everybody have some extra sauces in their fridge!)
  • pinto bean hummus ^recipe below^ (hahha.. just another confusing name! whatever)
::: TOAST Pita bread half (80 Cal) on oven toaster
::: Heat through chicken slices in microwave
::: Spread inside of pita with Pinto bean hummus (50 Cal)
::: Place lettuce slices/shreds/or leaf, with thinly sliced onions (15 Cal)
::: Place sliced chicken breast (130 Cal)
::: Squeeze in packet of taco bell's FIRE sauce (5 Cal)
TOTAL CALORIES: 280


I have been craving for refried beans since yesterday... I slow cooked a pound of DRY pinto beans... ($0.92 cents / lb of dry pinto beans at walmart: That has 13 servings after cooked!)

Instead of soaking them overnight, I just placed it in a crock pot covered with lots of water turned to low... and let it cook for hours... SET it and FORGET it! heheh

PINTO HUMMUS: (serves 1-2)

  • 1/4 cup cooked pinto beans
  • 1.5 tsp plain non fat yogurt
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • pinch of cumin
  • pinch of crushed red pepper
  • pepper & salt

>>Blend pinto beans with garlic, cumin, crushed red pepper
>>Add yogurt, blend, adjust to desired consistency
>>Add pepper and salt if needed

SAVE MONEY: pinto beans: use dry ($0.08/serving) instead of canned ($0.20/serving)

SAVE SODIUM: pinto beans dry (5mg) instead of canned (250mg)

grilled chicken on tofu slices sandwhich

Currently Digging: chicken taco on a pita...

"Within 90minutes post-workout: Eat a meal with quality carbs and protein.."

I say: just eat a complete meal... start with the fruit (replace the sugars lost during workout) then the protein.


WORKOUT 11/7/08:
Warm up: walk-walk-jog 10mins
Core: 3 exercise-3 sets each-20reps each
Train: back-biceps-legs (2 exercises each group-3-4sets each-12 reps each)
Cardio: 30min (20min stairmaster-5run-5stair)
Cooldown: walk-stretch

Then my MEAL: it's a grilled chicken with the works in grilled tofu as the "bread"
I was actually tempted to buy those little thickburgers from hardee's.. but then it was past 9pm when I got done with work-out +i was thinking of how much calories in it+... I just wanted to go home and hopefully talk with uieko--which i did!


GRILLED CHICKEN on TOFU sandwhich:
  • left over grilled chicken (seasoned with dry rub)
  • 2 thick slices of tofu (extra firm)
  • cheese (optional)
  • ketchup, mustard
  • lettuce, onions
> Using nu-wave oven: broiled/roasted tofu for 15minutes (turning 3/4 of the time)
>When tofu almost cooked, top with cheese, heat up chicken for another 3-5minutes
>BUILD it up: tofu-cheese-ketchup-lettuce-mustard-chicken-cheese-then tofu

>>Ate it with a cup of grapes. Thought the sandwhich was too small... but it did fill me up good!

A LOW FAT, LOW CARB, QUIKIE MEAL that tasted good
and was easy on the wallet! :)
(I didn't spend anything on this one... just used whatevers in the fridge!
SORRY HARDEE'S hehehe)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

garlic-cheese-tomato hor'dourve + nike buddy

Currently Digging: tilapia and fresh cucumber salad

After work-out, I craved for something cheesy and garlicky... so i thought y not use the old bread sitting in our ref... Guess it can be: POORLEI'S hor'dourve... hahaha!!! I made 4 slices...

POOR LEI's garlic-cheese-tomato hor'dourve
  • french bread sliced to desired thickness
  • spray with I can't believe it's not butter
  • Sprinkle garlic powder
  • top with 2% shredded cheese
  • TOAST: 4.5minutes
  • top with sliced tomato
gave 2 to my mom... and she asked me:

----------KAMATIS?!?

I said: eh ano?!?

{she took a bite...}

------------LEI! ANG SARAP! (It was good!!! yeah it was!)

oh.... well... its surprising enough she tried it... interesting: she liked it.
I was thinking of using SUN DRIED TOMATO... we don't have it.. and it's expensive...



*****GIFT TO MYSELF AT 205lbs.******

Bought myself a gift... [it was a rip off though... $10.83---but its one of the cheapest that I've seen and tried and actually liked.] ---let me introduce my newest WORK OUT BUDDY!

**i forgot to introduce my latest gym shoes.. but i remember showing it to my dear lovie.. right?

I used it already... it's a looooooooooooooooooooooooot better!!! OMG! I CANT BELEIVE THE RELIEF FROM MY SORE HANDS!!! [puro kalyo ung kamay ko.. masakit na... I cant take this anymore...]

$10.83! suck it up lei! It was worth it!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

NOODLES: chicken lo mein and asian noodle soup

Currently Digging: soup with veggies [no lo mein for me]

I VOTED TODAY!!! HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE of this day... let me name a few:
1. Historical election: first African Am president or first woman VP?
2. FIRST time VOTER: Yes... that's right! IT's my first time voting at 23 in a foreign land [ooops excuse me... I forgot, I'm a citizen of this country... haha... so I am not a foreigner here no more? Immigrant?]
3. WEIGHTLOSS: I am down to 205 lbs! OMG! I cannot believe this!!!! This has been the thinnest I've been (so far...) since my ADULTHOOD [or teenage years]!!!

*** Well back to my blogging here...

0800: woke up + bath + bfast [egg, toast, bacon]
0930: off to my designated precinct. I VOTED!

1000: bought some veggies at the grocery store: thought I'd cook for both my parents so they will not eat out todaY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too much crap in those food.. want them to eat healthier too... [called my mom: what do you want for lunch??? she said, CHINESE! soooo I said... I'll just cook then...]

1030: started cooking: Looking for something to cook I found this CHINA BOY oriental LO MEIN noodles. Looks like egg noodles to me... but to be safe i wanted to taste it first so I made chicken lomein with it...

CHICKEN LO MEIN:

Chicken breast strips, Lo mein (cooked, drained), Napa cabbage (blanched), Carrots (cut in thin strips), Onions (choppes), Garlic (minced), Green bell peppers (chopped), Soy sauce, Teriyaki sauce, freshly ground black pepper.

  • Hot pan with olive oil, saute garlic and onions until soft tender almost brown
  • Add chicken breast cut in strips; season; cook until almost golden brown but still moist
  • Add green bell peppers; cook until slight change in color but still with a crunch
  • Add carrots and cooked nappa cabbage (this will give out its water content)
  • Add 1 or 2 Tbsp Soy sauce; adjust to taste
  • Add 0.5 to 1 Tbsp teriyaki sauce (to slightly thicken sauce and give sweetish taste)

1200: Ate lunch with mom and dad

***We ate this with Dark red kidney beans with bell pepper and jalapenos! THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD!!!***

1330: off to gym -------HAD A GOOD WORK OUT! I LOST 2lbs from my last weigh in!

1600: back from gym + ate post-workout meal (leftovers) + watched tv + internet

1800: dinner with mom and dad: For dinner I used the chicken/vegetable broth I made earlier this am to make some asian chicken noodle soup...

My mom loved this---anything asian... SHE WILL EAT (as long as it is not exotic)... BUT ANYTHING with NOODLES or RICE with fish sauce (patis) or soy sauce (toyo)... SHE WILL EAT!!!!

My dad enjoyed this too.. he kept saying... it was like THAI street food soup... hehehe.... HE ATE A WHOLE BUNCH FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!! I served him 1 entire bowl and he ate it all without complaintssssssssssss!!!!!



OUR Very simple and satisfying dinner...
[though I made MINE without the NOODLES; I just had the broth, chicken, and veggies]

ASIAN CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
  • Boil HOMEMADE Chix/veggie broth
  • Cook lo mein noodles for 4 minutes
  • Transfer noodles in serving bowls
  • Heat through shredded chicken breast (cooked with the broth earlier)
  • Blanch onions, carrots and cabbage in broth
  • Arrange in serving dish
  • Pour BOILING broth
  • Top with green onions and freshly ground black pepper

***I sure miss fried garlic on top of it!!! but i'm watching my fat intake... so... i'd just settle to the healthier version...***



EAT GOOD!!!
I miss you houie... sorry about today... i was PMSing...

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Lunchbox: pork and broccoli

Currently Digging: Nothing... just getting ready to sleep...


I'm working tomorrow... SUNDAY :( But I thought, the good thing about working, I get to eat left over foods... I should be able to be more in control of what I eat.. though.. lately... I SUCK AT MY FOOD CHOICES AND PORTIONS!!

No worries though, Coz I will be bettter!!! (motivating myself!)
I will start logging my food again... starting tomorrow!!!!
What's in my lunchbox:
:::Luncetime: BROILED BROCCOLI + Left over pinoy style porksteak.
:::Snacktime: 1 whole carrots + 1.5 tbsp home made hummus (see my previous post)
:::Munch: fresh grapes, apple and sugarfree jello
Nothing really spectacular! Just left over stuffs that needs to be eaten soon... hehe...
BROILED BROCCOLI:
  • wash heads of broccoli
  • slice to desired pieces
  • place under NU-WAVE convection oven set on HI for 5-7mins (or may drizzle olive oil then place under 450 oven..)
  • serve hot...
  • OPTIONAL: may squeeze some lemon, salt and pepper, mrs. dash. (But for me just plain broccoli works... the taste is good coz some of the florets turns brown and gives the flavor to the broccoli! ----this is how i enjoy my veggie... more than boiling it.)

Why I bring my own food? CHEAPER AND HEALTHIER! no secret here!

happy birthday ma!

Currently Digging: Chamomile tea


HAPPY 62nd BIRTHDAY MA!!!

Had lunch today at Frankie's house.... (then I went to GYM and worked out!)


Lunch Menu c/o Frankie: Mexican dish (?)-more like dorito casserole; Green Salad-by Martha; Hot Salsa; Adopted Pinoy cucumber salad with onions; Corn chips; Sugar free fruit dessert (american fruit salad); Fresh fruit plate; Iced tea and lemonade...

Something to ponder: Here are some popcorn balls Frankie made for the trick or treaters yesterday. It was just exposed-open to air.... Wondering bakit di kumunat kahit na naka expose sa hangin??? Just curious...Mom, Dad, Frankie and Martha all enjoyed this!!! hahaha.... So messy to eat!!! I tasted it too... yummy...

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