For the young 'uns

This recipe is so easy kids new to cooking can make this. (in fact, this recipe was requested by my own kids)

Makes: 1 serving
Time: less than 5 min

What you will need:
1 microwave
1 sheet of paper towel
1 fork
1 microwavable bowl
1 hot pad
2 egg
1 wheat bagel
1 slice of cheese

Directions:

1) in the microwable bowl crack open the two eggs, no shells in bowl, please. Throw egg shells in trash can.
2) with fork beat the eggs, now rinse the fork for use again
3) cover bowl of eggs with paper towel
4) microwave the bowl of eggs for two min.
5) using the hot pad remove the bowl. CONTENTS WILL BE HOT!
6) remove paper towel and lay out on counter sitting the bagel on it.
7) with the fork loosen eggs from the side of the bowl. Move eggs onto bagel using fork or sliding the egg out of bowl.
8) unwrap cheese slice and lay ontop the egg, top with other half of bagel. Throw cheese wrapper in garbage can.
9) carefully pick up sandwich on the paper towel and sit in microwave. Microwave sandwich for 30 seconds, or until cheese is melted.
10) wash bowl and fork and dry and put away where you got them.

When its this hot...

...the best place to be...is in the water.

Pizza Bagels

Makes 10 halves, or 5 servings
Ready in under half hour, including prep time

1 pkg of 5 Wheat bagels
1 cup Spagetti sauce
2 cup Shredded cheese
1/2 pkg Pepperoni slices
1 cup Bacon bits
4 slices Mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/2 can Canned Mushrooms, sliced
3 slices Sliced ham

Directions
1- preheat oven to medium-high heat
2- seperate bagel halves and place on baking stone
3- put bagels in oven and toast until slightly brown
4- remove bagels and spoon spaghetti sauce over bagels.
5- sprinkle shredded cheese over the sauced bagels
6- place bacon bits, ham pieces, and pepperoni slices on bagel halves.
7- top with sliced mozzarella and bake until hot and cheese is melted. This should only take a couple minutes.

Chicken and Broccoli Penne

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Serves: 4-6

1pkg (13.25oz) Mueller's 100% Whole Grain Penne
2 Tbsp salt
1 lb broccoli florets, coarsely chopped
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
1/4 cup olive oil
5 cloves of chopped garlic or 5 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
salt & crushed red pepper flakes to taste

Directions:
1) In large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 Tbsp salt to water.
2) Add pasta and broccoli and cook for 9 to 11 minutes. Before draining retain 2 cups of the pasta cooking water.
3) Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add chicken, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Saute until chicken is browned. Remove from heat.
4) In a large bowl, mix together drained pasta and broccoli, pasta cooking water, the browned chicken, and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Tuna Buns Recipe

This is a plan ahead menu option
Makes 8

2 small (6 oz) cans tuna fish in water
1/4 lb processed cheese, diced
3 hard boiled eggs, diced
1 Tbsp chopped green pepper
2 Tbsp chopped onion
2 Tbsp pickle relish
2 Tbsp chopped stuffed olive, optional
1/2 cup thousand island salad dressing
1 pkg (8 count) potato hamburger buns
Aluminum foil

DIRECTIONS
1- hard boil eggs, cool, then dice
2- sautee onions and green peppers
3- mix all ingredients in a bowl
4- put mix on hamburger buns
5- wrap in aluminum foil
6- bake in moderate over for 15 minutes
Best served after chilled in refrigerator.

Eat whatever? Not happening!!

Progress has been slow. Sometimes frustratingly slow. I'm still losing weight, eating right most of the time, and exercising all the time. Over the course of the last three months I have only spent $50 in gas. How you ask? I bicycle just about EVERYWHERE!

I have lost 38 pounds as of now. Ideally I only have another 20 pounds left to lose!

There's no secret, but believe me its tough saying no to foods I really like. So instead I'll just take a much smaller portion with a bottle if water.

SOMETIMES HUNGER IS REALLY YOUR BODY SAYING YOU ARE DEHYDRATED!!

I'm at the 30lb lost mark.

I can't believe it! Its so exciting! I lost all of what I put on this past year and now I'm losing even more!

For the last eight weeks of school a group of us got together every Wednesday and weighed in and talked about what stuff was good and what stuff was bad, what's working, what isn't, etc. Our Wellness Center at work had been striving to get everyone on the road to good health for a while now. In that group I had lost the most, but I had started my diet before they started their meetings.

Even though I have lost 30lbs I still have another 30 to go to get to my first goal and 15-20 after that to get to where I really want to be.

My other goal is to get my daughter on the losing team.