Day #32 - Porkin' It

Work is insane right now. We are in the middle of sweeps. Sweeps = hell for people that work in TV. The time in which every television show pulls out their cocks to compare sizes. Not quite that literal, but pretty much.

On top of that, my co-worker decided to put in his 3 week (3? yes 3) notice almost 3 weeks ago.

1 week ago he asked for his job back because he didn't realize it would be so hard trying to find another job during this shitty economic times. (smart one, buddy). This is the perfect example of the stupidity I have had to share an office with for over a year now.

Skip over the long, dramatic story of this asshole trying to get his job back after years of slacking off and only 2 weeks after putting in his notice, he now only has 2 days left. And I am ecstatic.

In 2 days I will have complete control over the TV remote (yes, a tv is in our office). I will be able to set the temperature of the office to 90 degrees if I want. And I'm going to be eating buckets of boiled eggs. Buckets.


Hard Rock Cafe: Coleslaw
(adapted by "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:
8 cups of cole slaw mix (chopped cabbage and carrots)
1 cup fat free mayonnaise
4 tbsp splenda
pinch of salt

Directions:
1. Mix and chill in refrigerator over night.

Servings: 8
Nutritional Info: 41 cals, 1g fat, 8g carbs, 1g protein
Original Nutritional Info Approx :180 cals, 10g fat, 22g carbs, 1g protein

Hard Rock Cafe: BBQ Baked Beans
(adapted by "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:
2 cups pinto beans
2 tbsp water
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 cup low sugar ketchup
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup
1 tsp mustard
2 tbsp white onion, diced
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup shredded pork (from the recipe below)

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients, but beans, in small bowl. Add beans and mix well.
2. Place in casserole dish (with lid on) and bake for 90 minutes in 350 degrees.

Servings: 8
Nutritional Info: 97 cals, 2g fat, 14g carbs, 7g protein
Original Nutritional Info Approx: 200 cals, 1.5g fat, 29g carbs, 8g protein

Hard Rock Cafe: Pig Sandwich
(adapted from "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/2 cup BBQ Sauce (Cattlemens and Famous Dave's are my favorite)
2 cup diced tomatoes (with its sauce)
2 cups water
1 boneless pork loin roast (about 2 pounds)
8 Sandwich thins
4 servings of coleslaw (found above)

Directions:
1. Rub pork with spices. Then place all ingredients into crock pot. Make sure to put enough liquid to cover all the meat.
2. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or until meat falls apart. (or cook on low for 8-9 hours)

3. To make each sandwich, place a serving of meat on bread, top with extra sauce from crock pot, then top with 1/2 serving of coleslaw.

Servings: 8
Nutritional Info: 383 cals, 9g fat, 35g carbs, 42g protein
Original Nutritional Info Approx: 570 cals, 25g fat, 61g carbs, 30g protein

Day # .....aw fuck it, I don't care today

Yes I disappeared for a few days. And not just from you, from just about everything.

I didn't go to work. I didn't text back. I didn't email. Didn't even Facebook. I know, crazy.

So what did I do? Slept. Laid on the couch. Then laid on the love seat. Sometimes even the floor.

Watched movies. Watched TV. Some VOD. And even some youtube videos.

Not sure if I'm sick, getting depressed, or feeling sorry for myself. Maybe a little cocktail of them all.

Trying to work on myself, my career and body all at once can be a bit overwhelming. And when it seems as though everyone is moving forward but you, it can be a little discouraging.

So bear with me, as I continue to try and figure out my life through this blog.

Houston's: Chicago Style Spinach Dip
(adapted from "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
10 oz frozen spinach
8 oz canned artichokes
2 tbsp white onion, diced
1/2 cup fat free mozzarella
4 tbsp light Parmesan cheese, shredded
2 laughing cow cheese wedges (garlic and herb flavor)
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1. In small bowl, combine spinach, onion, and artichoke. Cook in microwave for 2 minutes.

2. In small sauce pan, melt all cheeses and sour cream over low heat. Add garlic. Once melted, add all other ingredients. Cook for 3 - 4 more minutes. Serve with baked tortilla chips.



Servings: 6
Nutritional Info: 86 cals, 3g fat, 8g carbs, 7g protein
Houston's Original Nutritional Info Approx: 290 cals

Day #30 - Day of Rest and Ice Cream Sandwiches

Gonna make this real quick because today is my day off and the last thing I want to do is stare at a computer. No offense, love you guys. Hate the computer.

Goals of the day:

1. Make pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, and baked beans. Gonna be a pretty solid food day.

2. Movie hop. Why pay for two when you can get away with only paying for 1? Yes, I know I'm not 13 anymore. But I'm broke and get off on cheap thrills.

3. Eat the bf's ice cream sandwich cake I made him for his birthday. Yup, you heard right....a tower of ice cream sandwiches.

Gotta go, I obviously have an intense day in front of me.

Hard Rock Cafe: Chicken Noodle Soup

(adapted from "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:

16oz chicken

5 cups chicken broth

5 cups water

3 large carrots, diced

5 celery stalks, diced

1/2 white onion, diced

2 1/4 cup egg noodles

1 tbsp Can't Believe It's Not Butter - Light

3 garlic gloves - minced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tbsp fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Cut chicken into small bite size pieces. Cook in skillet (with dash of salt and pepper) for 5 - 6 minutes, or until cooked. Set aside.

2. Heat up butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot and celery. Let cook, while stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes or until vegetables start to get soft.

3. In large soup pot, add all ingredients. Bring to boil then let simmer for 30 - 40 minutes. Serve with a pinch of parsley on top.

Servings: 8

Nutritional Info: 148 cals, 2g fat, 15g carbs, 16g protein

Day #29 - Da Club

The club sandwich is a classic. I really don't know anyone that doesn't like this sandwich.

If you don't like the club, I probably don't like you.

So I suggest making, eating, enjoying and salivating over this club.

Denny's: Club Sandwich
(adapted from "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:
3 slices light orowheat bread (40 cals per slice)
1 tbsp fat free mayonnaise
5 slice fat free sliced turkey meat
2 leaves of romaine lettuce
2 sliced of tomato
3 slices of bacon (oscar myer pre-cooked bacon is the lowest calorie bacon I've found to date at 4 slices for 70 cals)

EASIEST DIRECTIONS EVER

Toast bread. Layer bread, mayo, turkey, lettuce, bread mayo, bacon, tomato, lettuce, mayo, bread. EAT.

Servings: 1
Nutritional Info: 255 cals, 8g fat, 34g carbs, 19g protein
Denny's Nutritional Info: 660 cals, 34g fat, 55g carbs, 29g protein

Birthday Wishes

Today is not just an ordinary day.

Today is a special day.

Today is this man's 28th birthday.


And this is just just an average man. This is an extraordinary man. A classy man.

The hardest working man I know.


A bit of a teddy bear.

A bit of a goof.

And the best puppy daddy ever.

Today is your day my love, my best friend, my comedian, my roommate, my webmaster and my "all of the above".



Love you sweetheart. Happy birthday.

Additions to On The Rocks

Finally got the "About Me" and "Recipes" tabs working!

You can now find all the recipes I have posted according to type of dish under the Recipes tabs. Hope you enjoy!

Day #28

When I can only check Perez Hilton once in a day, it's busy day.

But when I was able to check it today, I stumbled upon this:


Oh, hello Robert.

This pictured made my day go from "ok" to "okaaaaaay".

Sore from a tough yet accomplished 4 mile run yesterday, finished a Jillian Michaels video and 30 minutes on the eliptical today, and celebrating a very special someone's birthday tomorrow.

I like today.

FOOD:

Denny's: BBQ Chicken Sandwich
(adapted by "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:
2 Oroweat Sandwich Thins (or any other 100 cal bread pairs)
4 leaves of green leaf lettuce
4 tomato sliced
2 slices of fat free Kraft Singles american cheese
0 cal butter spray
2 onion slices
2 onion rings (i went to my local grocer and went to the premade "hot foods" section and just bought 2 onion rings from them. This is to avoid having to buy a whole bag of frozen onion rings)

Sweet Hickory Spread -
1/2 tbsp Can't Believe It's Not Butter - Light
1 tbsp molasses
1/2 tsp whole wheat flour
3 tbsp white onion, diced
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp white vinegar
1/8 tsp liquid hickory smoke

Directions:
1. In small sauce pan, melt butter, add onions and cook for 2 minutes. Then add rest of the ingredients for the spread, cook for 3 -4 minutes over medium heat. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Cook chicken in large skillet for 3-4 minutes on each side or until completely cooked. Add slice of cheese to each chicken breast, cover and cook for 2 minutes or until cheese melts.
3. Toast sandwich thins in toaster then spray 1 side of each slice of bread with 0 cal butter spray.
4. Layer each sandwich with hickory spread, lettuce, tomato, chicken (with cheese), onion, and then onion ring.

Servings: 2 sandwiches
Nutritional Info: 669 cals, 6g fat, 43g carbs, 38g protein
Denny's Nutritional Info: 970 cals

Day #27 - I'm Not Going To Freak Out

I did something bad yesterday. Something that I knew would change my life yesterday. Something that I've been avoiding for 5 months.

I stepped on the scale.

I knew my clothes were tight...like extremely tight. And I knew that I had to buy a pair of jeans that were one size bigger. But seeing the number always feels worse. I feel like I'm mourning the loss of my former confident and in shape self, and realizing that I have undone a lot of work. It's embarrassing having to admit my weaknesses on my blog that promotes healthy living, but I feel like it's important for people to be able to talk about their fears, failures, and struggles. If you have weight issues your whole life like I have, you know that this is a lifetime struggle. It will never be cured. It's either under control or out of control.

I know it could be worse. I know I could have gained more and not stopped myself as soon as I did. But, in reality I undid 10 months of work in 5 months and I am not happy about this. Am I back at the very beginning? No. I'm still quite a few pounds away from that. Let's just say I'm somewhere in the middle of my "before" and my "after" pictures.

What happened? I'm not totally sure. June and July was filled with special events and celebrations and many easy excuses to celebrate with food and drink. Then August and September was total chaos trying to pack our apartment while my boyfriend was in Mexico for a month and then having to move the day after he got back. Since then, stress in regards to money, the uncertainty of my career, and the hours I put into creating a second career has caused me to cope with more food and drink. These are not excuses. But they are truths.

So what's next? Setting new goals. First goal = NOT FREAKING OUT. Obviously I am going to really step up my exercise plan, 3 hours a week just ain't cutting it. And my weekend "partying" must cease. But, the details still need to be worked out (which I will post, just to help keep me on track).

So instead of beating myself up, crying for days (only happened for minutes, I swear), and hating myself for gaining more weight than I should have. I'm getting back on the horse and just doing it again. It's really that simple.

Denny's: Fabulous French Toast
(adapted from "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2")

Ingredients:
1/4 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup nonfat milk
3 tbsp splenda
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of cinnamon
1 tsp Can't Believe It's Not Butter - Light
3 slices light Oroweat whole wheat bread

Garnish-
1 tsp powdered sugar
1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup

Directions:
1. Whisk egg, milk, flour, splenda, vanilla and cinnamon in large bowl.

2. Preheat skillet on medium heat with butter.
3. Place each slice of bread in batter. Let sit for 15 seconds on each side. Then place in hot skillet.


4. Cook each side for 1-2 minutes, or until it starts to brown.
5. Serve with a side of syrup and top with powdered sugar.


Servings: 1
Nutritional Info: 310 cals, 3g fat, 76g carbs, 17g protein
Denny's Nutritional Info: 816 cals, 29g fat, 89g carbs, 30g protein

Happy Halloween!

Batman wishes you a great Halloween. Drink up!