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...

lunchbox: pasta

Currently Digging: **CHICHARON!**

Maybe from now on I should start taking pics of my lunch bag... u think? Just to keep my calories in line!

****SIGHSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS****

I don't think I've lost any weight last week! huhuhu....
REASON: eating too much JUNKS at work! candies/chips/crackers are what's INSTANTLY AVAILABLE! huwaaaaaaaaaaaaa... i hate it!


But this week.... I WILL FIGHT IT! as much as I can! haha....

Anyway........ a sample lunch menu for me:

^grapes = approx 90cal
^apple = 75 cal
^pasta with tuna and veggies = 300 cal
^bokchoy = 30 cal
^laughing cow cheese = 35 cal

^plus i usually bring nonfat yogurt: 80 callow cal low fat.

but i should fight the temptation at work! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

ANNIVERSARY loaded PASTA!

Currently Digging: 2 fried eggs, 1 toast, orange

She loves pizza. checked! (delivered at her place during our online "DATE CHAT")
She loves my pasta. ... ... ... ... ...

Another year apart. Another year of not celebrating anniv together.

Here's what I cooked for myself to celebrate for our 5 years anniv...

IN d MIX:

• spaghetti (cooked al dente per package instructions)
• 2-3 slices bacon
• chicken breast
• onions
• garlic *tons*
• broccoli
• green onions chopped
• cream of mushroom condensed
• chicken stock or water or skim milk or pasta water
• salt and pepper and garlic powder
• favorite cheese -cut into small cubes

TOMAKE:

~heat skillet, wok, pan whatever... i used the wok coz its big..

~fry bacon in its own fat. remove. drain.

~remove most of bacon fat, until about 1tbsp is left, brown chicken breast. Season.

~add onions, wait until almost browned, then push to side allowing each ingredient to touch bottom of wok

~add garlic- toast until golden brown
~add broccoli, then immediately add about 1/4-1/2 cup condensed cream of mushroom soup.

~add chicken stock (or water and skim milk) or pasta water *tanchahan lang kung gaano karami!*

~let simmer and reduce until sauce is creamy

~mix in the pasta

~garnish with green onions, chopped crispy bacon and of course cheeeeeeeeeeeeeese!

SERVE WITH HOT SAUCE or chili garlic sauce!
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMY!!!!

I LOVE YOU HOU!
>miss u<

turkey beef pasta with roasted veggies

Currently Digging: romaine salad, hashbrowns, egg with sausage scramble~

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY DAD!

I prepared this dinner for myself on my dad's 60th birthday. He was asking me where I want to eat, but i told him since he can't, why bother. I would just cook for myself, at least i won't mess up my diet. Instead of the all-time-birthday-tradition: PANCIT, i cooked pasta instead-- EASY and delicious!

PASTA: any kind of pasta... (not the round or with hole kinds, coz this doesn't have cream or sauce...) cooked Al-dente of course!

SAUCE: i have a huge batch of ground turkey and ground beef that I have browned and seasoned (with herbs, onions, garlic, few salt, pepper). I used that.

Added button mushrooms.

Can't believe its not butter spray.

Toasted garlic.

Some pasta cooking water (to de-glaze the pan)

shaved parmesan cheese

~~~add butter to pan, brown the garlic. add mushrooms, let it cook until most liquid is gone. add pre-browned meat. let it cook until all is well done. (if too dry, add some pasta cooking water.)

SIDE POCKET: Love your veggies! I am not a huge fan of veggies, but when it is roasted or grilled, i will eat them (depending of the kind of veggies ofcourse! duh!).

broccoli bunch

asparagus

cherry tomatoes

~~~wash the veggies and dry. on a convection oven (this is what we have) or a conventional oven, single layer the veggies in a pan. drizzle with little olive oil, season with herbs or mrs. dash. Pop it in the oven, or use the broiler low function to cook the veggies until some areas are crunchy and dry, some with preserved veggie juice. THAT's IT!

PLATE: Mix the pasta with the dry meat sauce, until well coated. Add the roasted chery tomatoes. plate the veggies. plate pasta. top with thinly shaved parmesan cheese. SERVE HOT and fresh!

CONDIMENTS: Lee kum kee chili garlic sauce or tabasco.

DELICIOUS! just do not overdo the olive oil!

I HATE GREASY PASTA!!!

total Cal: 517.6

total protein: 38.1 g

total carbs: 59.2 g

total fat: 16.8 g