Finger Licking Good

I love bar food. Greasy, fried, spicy buffalo wings with a huge side of blue cheese dressing is pretty much my little heaven. But not only do they destroy my stomach every time, but they also somehow make my pants smaller....odd, I know.

Here's a Crispy Buffalo "Chicken" Salad that will pretty much quench any craving you have for wings.

Ingredients:
5 MorningStar Buffalo "Chicken" Wings
2 tbsp Frank's Red Hot Wing Sauce
1 ounce low fat mozzarella cheese
1/2 ounce low fat pepperjack cheese
2 tbsp Real Crumbled Bacon Bits
5 sliced black olives
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 tbsp low fat blue cheese dressing

Directions:
Toss wings into Frank's sauce. Then bake in 350 degrees for 15 mins.
Cut everything.
Top everything.
Eat? Yes. Eat.

Serving size:1
Chili's "Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad": 1070 calories
My version: approx 380 Cals

Vegas Recovery

We all have one of "those" weekends once in a while. One in which, come Monday, you feel 20lbs heavier, your liver is aching, and you can't remember where all your money went.

Well, that was my weekend. Celebrating the upcoming wedding of our best friends, we headed off to our beloved Vegas; the home of everything you want, but nothing you should actually do.

Here are my top tips for recovering from a fun, yet diet killing weekend:

1. Hydrate! Your body is just dying for some good 'ol H20. Drink at least 8 8ounce glasses a water a day to help banish your bloating and give your body the water it needs.
2. Clean your body! Meaning, cut out processed foods and eat as "clean" as possible. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein. The more natural occurring the food is, the better. Your body needs those nutrients that you probably haven't consumed in days.
3. Get moving! Start burning off all those margaritas by exercising. Whether you hit the gym or just take a long walk outside, work up a sweat!
4. Drink Green Tea! This will help flush out those toxins you just spent 2 days consuming and will rev up your metabolism. The more milligrams of catechin, the better. Be sure to brew your tea bags for at least 5 minutes.
5. Don't feel guilty, and don't use the "all or nothing excuse"! We all need a break sometimes, so don't punish yourself for a little fun. At the same time, don't drag your binge into the week just because you had a bad couple of days. Just hop back on track!
6. And lastly, no more of these!:

Weekend Warrior

Weekends are obviously the best part of the week. Sleeping in, going out for a drink(sssss), eating out...
There are a million and a half ways to stay on your diet and eat out. Luckily, more and more restaurants are posting their nutritional information online, in calorie counting books, and inside their restaurants. Really, you have no excuse.
So wear your skinny jeans, and eat your burritos too.

RUBIO's HealthMex Chicken Burrito: 500 calories, 10g of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat
RUBIOS's Side Rice: 120 calories, 1g of fat, 0 saturated fat

You Deserve A Crown

Even vegans crave a good burger. I doubt they would admit to it, but I'm pretty sure its human nature to salivate over the sight of a juicy, cheesy, meat filled burger. Why deny yourself what you are destined to love?

Red Robin has some pretty amazing burgers. But eating one can really destroy your diet and your arteries. I have recreated their famous Royal Burger...burger, cheese, egg, bacon? Can't get much better than that.

Ingredients:
1 light hamburger bun (one that is around 110 calories)
4 oz raw extra lean ground turkey (Jennie-O is a great brand)
1 egg
1 slice fat free cheddar cheese (kraft singles used)
1 slice bacon
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
1 tbsp fat free mayo
1 tsp ketchup
salt
pepper

Directions:
Combine ground turkey, ketchup, salt and pepper.
Shape into patty and cook on non-stick pan over low-medium heat.
Cover to contain moisture.
While cooking meat, fry egg in a separate non-stick pan. Heat bacon in microwave.
Once patty is cooked through, top with cheese and keep on pan until melted.
If desired, toast hamburger bun in toaster (keep on light to avoid burning).
Spread mayo on bun.
Layer on patty (with cheese), fried egg, bacon.
Don't forget your veggies! (top with lettuce)

Train your mouth to open wide enough for burger. Enjoy meat.

Original Royal Burger from Red Robin: 1178 calories
My recreation: approx 357 calories

I Love You Starbucks, But.....

My morning routine:

Obnoxious alarm goes off.

"Ugh. I need coffee."

1 minute later. "Push snooze. Now!"

9 minutes later. "If you don't do your hair today, you can sleep longer."

Pushing snooze again.

10 minutes later. "If you don't make coffee, you can sleep in 5 more minutes."

1 second later. "Now thats just silly. I need coffee."

Stumble downstairs with my matted hair to make coffee.

Save your calories and $ with this Starbucks "Tall Vanilla Latte" recreation:

Ingredients:

8oz coffee

8oz Unsweetened Almond Breeze

2 tbsp sugar free vanilla syrup

2 Splenda packets

Original Starbucks' Latte Drinks:

Tall Vanilla Latte w/ 2% milk: 190 calories

Tall Vanilla Latte w/ Soy Milk: 180 calories

Tall Skinny Vanilla Latte: 90 calories

My version: 42 calories

Not familiar with Almond Breeze? I suggest looking at your local Trader Joes or Whole Foods for it. A dairy-free, low calorie alternative to cow and soy milk. Deliciousness.

http://www.bluediamond.com/shop/natural/almondBreeze32.cfm

101 Ways...

I'm going to tell you a secret, I can definitely be a lazy "cook". I may even have my "cook" title revoked when everyone finds out how often I buy a rotisserie chicken from the store, and pawn the moist chicken off as my own to the boyfriend (aka..Mr. M).

Fine...start the judging. But through these little white lies, I have become a pro at using store bought rostisserie chicken in 101-ish recipes. Not only is it tastey and quick, but it's heathly (particularly with the skin taken off). In the end, everyone wins.

Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells

Ingredients:

15 jumbo pasta shells (preferably whole wheat)

8 ounces rotisserie chicken breast (w/o skin). Shredded.

1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese

1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese

1/2 cup low fat mozzerella cheese

1 cup marinara sauce

garlic powder

salt

pepper

Directions:

Boil pasta shells in water as directed by box

Combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, salt, pepper and garlic.

Spray baking pan with non-stick cooking spray

Line pan with pasta shells. Stuff shells with chicken, then cheese mixture.

Pour marinara sauce over pasta. Then sprinkle with mozzerella cheese.

Put in oven at 450 degrees for 15 minutes (or until cheese melts).

Makes 3 servings (5 pasta shells each). Approx: 420 calories per serving.

Mango Chili

I'll admit that I stole this recipe from my mom. But I will also admit that my sriracha and green chilies twist has made it way better.

Thanks for leaving room for improvement, mom.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lean turkey

1 1/2 cup cubed mango

2 oz low fat goat cheese

1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies

1 can (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup chickpeas

cumin

chili powder

red pepper

sriracha

Directions:

Brown turkey with green chilies.

In large pot, add turkey mix to broth, stewed tomatoes and chickpeas

Add all seasonings (to taste). The more sriracha, the more sting.

Put over medium/low heat for 30 to thicken.

Add mango and 1.5 ounces of the goat cheese

Let cook for another 15 minutes

When serving, top with remaining goat cheese.

Great when served with tortillas.

Makes 4 servings.

352 calories per serving

Anti- Antipasto

Who doesn't love meat and cheese? Even if you dont eat it, you know you love it. And if you throw it on a bed of lettuce, you can pretend its healthy. Most antipasto salads are the antithesis of healthy, rich, green salads. But the Anti-Antipasto Salad can help you reach a happy medium.

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded lettuce

5 black olives

3 slices of low fat ham

8 slices turkey pepperoni

2 tbsp chickpeas

1 oz low fat mozzarella cheese

3 large mushrooms

Directions:

Cut.

Pile on.

Eat.

Antipasto salad: upwards towards 400 cals

Anti-Antipasto Salad: 165 calories

Italian Stallion

Pizza reminds me of college. Which reminds me of drunken late night pizza binges. Which reminds me why I try and cook my own pizza rather than wasting a day's worth of calories on a few slices (though sometimes, it's totally worth it).

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Tortilla

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter - Spray

2 tbsp marinara sauce

1 oz low fat mozzerella

17 Slices of Turkey Pepperoni

Directions:

Tortillas are the easiest and healthiest way to recreate thin crust pizza. The best way to maintain the crispness is to broil the tortilla first with a few sprays of 0 calorie butter spray. Be sure to watch the crust, as it will begin browning within a few minutes.

Once tortilla is crisp, add all toppings.

Put pizza back in oven, and broil until cheese melts (about4 minutes)

2 slices of Dominos Pepperoni Pizza: 486 calories

Thin crust recreation: 225 calories (for full pizza)

(I just wanted to add...I was about to post this, I got a email from Dominos sending me coupons. Yes, my past still haunts me)

Make It Wet

I love wet burritos. How can you deny your beloved burrito red sauce? You just can't.

Thursday night I threw together a quick soy and ricotta cheese burrito.

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Tortilla (used La Tortilla Factory's Low Carb tortilla)

2/3 cup soy crumbles

1 tbsp taco seasoning

1/4 cup low fat ricotta cheese

1/4 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese

6 jalapenos

1/4 cup enchilada red sauce

Directions:

Combine ricotta, cheddar cheese and jalepenos. Spread onto tortilla

After combining soy crumbles and taco seasoning, layer it into the cheese spread

Wrap tightly.

Put in oven (at 500 degrees) for about 10 minutes. You'll see the tortilla start to crisp.

While still in oven, top burrito with enchilada sauce.

Cook another 3 minutes (until sauce is warm).

Caloric damage: approx 275 cals

Enjoy the gooeyness.

Taco Bell, You Are My Friend

From now on you will probably see Taco Bell recreations quite often. Taco Bell was my "fat" friend. Now it's just my dear, old friend. I knew if I was going to lose weight, I'd to give up my weekly 8 item Taco bell splurges. But I also knew that to be happy, I'd have to find a way to still get my fix. Thus, I began recreating Taco Bell items at home.

My " Baja Beef Chalupa"

Ingredients:

1 Pita (perferrable Western Bagel's Alternative Pita for 110 cals)

2/3 cup soy crumbles

1 tablespoon taco seasoning

1/4 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 roma tomato

"Baja" Sauce:

1/4 cup fat free sour cream

1 teaspoon Sriracha (or to taste)

chili powder

red pepper

salt

Directions:

Warm pita in microwave for 15 seconds. Cut in half and seperate.

Mix soy crumbles with taco seasoning. Microwave for 1 minute (until cooked).

Combine all ingredients in sauce. Lather the inside of your pita with sauce.

Throw in soy crumbles and shredded cheese. Microwave for 20 more seconds (until cheese melts).

Top with shredded lettuce an tomato. And if need be, go steal so Taco Bell hot sauce to top.

Original Calories: 410 for 1. My recipe: 310 for 2 "chalupas"

Recipes

Appetizers

Breakfast

Desserts

Drinks

Main Dishes

Salads

Sides

Soups and Chilis

Desserts

Applebee's White Chocolate & Walnut Blondie

Benihana Mandarin Orange Cheesecake

Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

Cheesecake Factory White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake

Chili's Molten Chocolate Cake

Orange Sherbet

Breakfast

Denny's Fabulous French Toast

Drinks

Applebee's Perfect Sunrise

Applebee's Perfect Apple Margarita

Applebee's Mud Slide

CPK California Cosmo

Vanilla Latte

Sides

Applebee's Almond Rice Pilaf

Claim Jumper Garlic Cheese Bread

Chevy's Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Chevy's Sweet Corn Tomatillo

Pineapple Green Beans

Roasted Potatoes

Tzatziki Sauce

Salads

Anti-Antipasto Salad

Applebee's Santa Fe Chicken Salad

Benihana's Ginger Salad Dressing

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Carraba's House Salad Dressing

CPK's Thai Crunch Salad

Claim Jumper Spicy Thai Slaw

Roasted Potato Spinach Salad

Soups and Chilis

Applebee's Baked French Onion Soup

Benihana Japanese Onion Soup

Chili's Southwestern Vegetable Soup

Chili's Enchilada Soup

Mango Chili

Appetizers

Applebee's Onion Peels

Carraba's Bread Dipping Blend

Cheesecake Factory's Mini Crabcakes

Cheesecake Factory's Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes

Chevy's Chili Con Queso

Chevy's Fresh Salsa

Chevy's Mango Salsa

Chili's Lettuce Wraps

Chili's Salsa

Chili's Chili Queso

Chili's Southwest Eggrolls

Claim Jumper Cheese Potatocakes

Claim Jumper Fire Roasted Artichoke

Main Dishes

Applebee's Bourbon Street Steak

Applebee's Chicken Fajita Rollup

Applebee's Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl

Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon

Applebee's Tequila Lime Chicken

Avocado Chicken Sandwich

Beef Kabobs with Yogurt Sauce

Beef Flautas

Bennigan's Monte Cristo

Buffalo Wild Wings Original Wings

Carrabba's Chicken Marsala

Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp

Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madiera

Chili's Baby Back Ribs

Chili's Boneless Buffalo Wings

Chili's Boneless Shanghai Wings

Chili's Chicken Crispers

Claim Jumper Meatloaf

CPK California Club Pizza

CPK Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza

Jalapeno and Orange Burrito

Mango Fish Tostadas

Not Your Mothers' Grilled Cheese

Pepperoni Tortilla Pizza

Roasted Chicken With Orange Glaze

Royale Burger

Steak Burrito Bowl

Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells

Taco Bell Beef Chalupa

Wet Soy & Ricotta Cheese Burrito

About ON THE ROCKS

Weight has always been an issue. I remember going school clothes shopping with my mother at the age of 8 and crying because I couldn't fit into little girl clothes anymore. I just wanted to be normal. This is the day I started dieting. And after being diagnosed with Insulin Resistance a few years ago, losing weight wasn't just about vanity anymore. It was about my health. My future. Now 16 years after starting my "diet", I finally figured out how to eat what I want, recreate those "forbidden" foods, and enjoy feeling healthy.

I'm always looking for ways to express, share, connect, and learn. Being that I find a great joy in creating new recipes, experimenting with different food substitutions, and constantly learning about new ways to eat and live nutritiously, I figured writing it all down and sharing it with others would be perfect. Though I still struggle with my weight and tend to still be on a weight loss/gain roller coaster, I have much more control of that rollercoaster than I used to. With this blog I hope to show that you can cook the foods you crave, that the numbers on the scale shouldn't determine your worth, and that vodka on the rocks can be a good thing.

Before Pics:

Now Pics: