100 Days of Stepping

To aid in increasing my daily step count I signed up to participate in my company's health challenge, 100 days of stepping. During the 100 days of summer, teams of three and four employees will monitor their daily steps and compete against other teams. My team, "Walking in the City" is off to a good start. I've increased the days I actually top 10,000 steps. As an added bonus, I've dropped two pounds. I'll keep you posted on my results at the conclusion of the challenge.

It’s been two months?

It looks like the procrastination bug has caught up with me again. Despite not updating the blog, I have actually made some progress over the past two months.

During Lent, I decided to give up refined sugar products. It was a little hard for me since I had convinced myself I needed something sweet each day. My baking didn't help that either. Nevertheless, it was not as hard as I thought it would be. I learned that I can drink diet coke and eat sugar free products or go without it all together. Since completing the goal, I am trying to continue keep my refined sugar intake extremely low. Hopefully, my glucose level on my next physical will reflect a decrease. There is a history of diabetes in my family and I don't want to go down that road as well.

As a result of my sugar intake reduction, I've seen some additional pounds drop off. So far I am at 11 out of 30. I hope to lose one pound a week. To aid in my weight loss, I began going to the gym again. This is my second week of working out. It really helps that two of my co-workers have committed to going with me.

Plans are in the work to attend Essence Festival this July with four of my girlfriends from college. This should be a great time since we all haven't been together in ages.

Lastly, though not on my official list my husband took me out for some weapons training. Yep I learned how to fire a gun. Can't say that I look forward to doing this again but I'll know what to do in case I ever need to.

Only a couple of the shots actually belong to me. Husband is a better marksman than me. :-)

Holiday Gifts

This holiday season, I decided to give my co-workers baked goods. Each box contained chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter blossoms and pretzel peanut bark. I must say these turned out very well and were appreciated by the recipients. I stocked up on holiday tins during the after Christmas sale and will do this again next year. Below are the recipes I used for the blossoms and bark. I must warn you the pretzel bark is insanely delicious and addictive.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Recipe from Hershey's Kitchen

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
  
• 1/2 cup shortening
  
• 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
  
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• 2 tablespoons milk
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• Granulated sugar
  
• Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
  
• Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
  
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4 dozen cookies.
  

Pretzel Peanut Bark

Recipe from Paula Deen

• 18 (1-ounce) squares white chocolate
  
• 3 cups skinny pretzel sticks, broken into small pieces but not crushed, then measured
  
• 2 cups dry salted peanuts
  
  
• Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper.
  
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water until smooth, or melt in the microwave in a 2 quart glass dish. Microwave on high (100 percent) for 1 minute, stir, and microwave on high for 1 minute more. If necessary, microwave on high for 10 seconds more, and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the pretzel pieces and peanuts. Stir well with a flexible spatula.
  
• Spoon onto the prepared cookie sheet, spreading the mixture out so that ingredients are relatively evenly distributed.
  
• Allow for the chocolate to cool for several hours or refrigerate for about 45 minutes, until firm. Break the bark into irregular pieces, like peanut brittle. Store in cookie tins, or package in Chinese food take-out cartoons lined with waxed paper.
  

Another Check... 15th New Restaurant!

While living in Chicago, one of my girlfriends and I would watch a local PBS show, Check Please. Three local residents selected their favorite restaurant to chronicle and the remaining panelists had to go out and try it as well and provide a review of it. My friend and I would then go out and try some of the new spots we learned of. It was a great experience as we got to try out new places besides the national chains we constantly frequented.

At the beginning of my day zero journey, I decided I wanted to try 15 new restaurants in Atlanta . As before, they had to be new to me and could not be mass chain restaurants. Today, my trusty co-workers and I dined at our 15th new to us restaurant, The Nook.

The Nook is located directly across the street from Piedmont Park in the midtown area of Atlanta. I really loved the neighborhood feel of the place as well as the friendliness of the staff. Plus the food did not disappoint. Below are a few pictures of our meals. Check them out if you get the chance.

I am not a mac and cheese fan but had to try their version with bacon. OMG....so delish! We all split a side order.

My choice- mesquite smoked wings with spicy Coca-Cola bbq sauce

Yes those are tater tots. Both my co-workers ordered Totchos. The first picture is of the Philly Totchos and the second picture of the Nacho Totchos. Its such a cute concept and obviously delicious since both of them became members of the clean plate club.

Food Diary - Day Thirty

Woo hooo.... I finally made it to day 30!!!! Yes, I have eaten ok some days and crappy some days but I was honest. Also, today I start my 30 day fried food fast as well as going to the gym. There will be no daily post for this one but I'll update you at the end of the 30 days. Wish me well.

Breakfast
Special K cereal
fat free milk
Lunch
Healthy choice steamer meal
salad
yogurt
Dinner
broiled steak
mashed potatoes
steamed asparagus
Snack
almonds
biscoff cookies

Food Diary - Day Twenty-eight and twenty-nine

I've decided to start my no fried food month this week so I guess this was my version of a fried food Mardi Gras. I had to get it all in before my fast food fast.
Saturday
Lunch
cheeseburger
fries
Dinner
Zaxby's boneless wings
fries
Snack
chocolate chip cookie

Sunday
Lunch
country fried steak
mashed potatoes
green beans
Dinner
Applebee's riblet basket
Snack
pecan roll

South City Kitchen

Today my co-workers and I went to South City Kitchen, a contemporary southern restaurant located in the midtown area of Atlanta. We were joined by another co-worker who will soon be leaving the company as she is relocating out of state. It was great spending time with her before she starts the new chapter in her life.

After reviewing the menu and finding at least something I absolutely hate in a few dishes I settled on the shrimp and grits sans the scallops. It was good but not the best I've ever had. I am not sure if this will be a repeat visit but did see another restaurant next door I'd like to try in the near future.

Food Diary - Day Twenty-seven

Breakfast
Yoplait strawberry whip
Lunch
shrimp and grits
Dinner
chipotle chicken sandwich
Snack
brownie
almonds & dried cranberries

Food Diary - Day Twenty-six

Breakfast
pop tart
Lunch
baked chicken
steamed broccoli
Dinner
grilled chipotle chicken wrap no cheese
fries
Snack
almonds and dried cranberries

Food Diary - Day Twenty-five

Breakfast
Pop tarts
Lunch
1/2 slice pepperoni pizza
sliced cucumbers
Dinner
shrimp sauteed in garlic and rosemary
green beans
rice pilaf
Snack
brownie

Food Diary - Day Twenty-four

Ok, I am so tired of posting this daily. Luckily, I only have a few more days to go.

Brunch (well kinda)
scrambled egg
2 strips of bacon
Dinner
2 pieces of fish
corn
fries
hush puppies
Snack
Fiber one bar

Food Diary - Day Twenty-three

Breakfast
fruit
soy white chocolate mocha w/ light whip
Lunch
Chicken Picatta
rice pilaf
steamed green beans
wheat roll
Dinner
KFC chicken
mashed potatoes
asparagus
Snack
chocolate chip cookie

Food Diary - Day Twenty-two

Brunch
bacon
biscuit
scrambled eggs
mimosa (mmmm-yummy!)
Dinner
BBQ meatloaf
mashed potatoes
steamed asparagus

BBQ Turkey Meatloaf

Tonight's dinner recipe is courtesy of Down Home with the Neelys. I really like their show and how they work together preparing meals. For the past year, I have sticked to making Italian sausage meatloaf and was looking for something a bit different. Perfect since I had all the ingredients on hand. I liked the way it turned out but I am no so sure of L. He said he likes it but I'll see if he goes for leftovers later.

Anyhow, I am now able to cross goal #29 off of my list. I have really enjoyed trying new recipes. Although, I've reached my goal of 2o new recipes I will continue to try new ones. Maybe I will occasionally post some of them.

BBQ Turkey Meatloaf
recipe from Down Home with the Neelys

Ingredients
1 tablespoon Neelys' BBQ Seasoning, recipe follows
1 teaspoon crab boil seasoning, (recommended: Old Bay)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups Neelys BBQ Sauce, reserving 1/2 cup for the top, recipe follows
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped red onion
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 pounds lean ground turkey
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix BBQ seasoning, crab boil seasoning, soy sauce, beaten egg, 1 cup of the BBQ sauce and Worcestershire sauce.

In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add onion, bell pepper, salt and pepper and garlic. Saute until tender. Remove from heat and add to wet mix.
Pour mixture into bowl with the ground turkey. Add bread crumbs and mix all together with your hands.

Transfer the meat mixture to a cookie sheet or baking pan. Using your hands, shape the meat into an oblong or rectangular shape. *Cook's Note: Alternately, you can pat the meat into a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan and pour 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce on the top of the loaf.

Bake for 35 minutes. Remove and add the reserved 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce to the top and continue to bake for 20 more minutes.

Neelys BBQ Seasoning:
1 1/2 cups paprika
3/4 cup sugar
3 3/4 tablespoons onion powder

Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir until combined. Keep in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Neelys BBQ Sauce
2 cups ketchup
1 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons light brown sugar
5 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon ground mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 1 hour 15 minutes.
Yield: 3 1/2 cups

Food Diary - Days Twenty & Twenty-One

Friday -Breakfast
Special K cereal
fat free milk
Lunch
6 baked mardi gras wings (Publix)
1/2 sliced cucumber with fat free ranch dressing
Dinner
2 slices thin crust supreme pizza
Snack
chocolate crisps

Saturday- Breakfast
slice thin crust supreme pizza (don't judge me:-)
Lunch
1/2 kfc bbq sandwich
ear of corn
Dinner
hot dog
fries

Food Diary - Day Nineteen

Breakfast
Special K cereal
fat free Lactaid milk
Lunch
Zesty chicken tortilla soup
1/2 turkey sandwich
chips
Dinner
Fried rice
6 buffalo wings
Snack
chocolate crisps

Food Diary - Day Eighteen

Breakfast
Banana
soy white chocolate mocha/light whip
Lunch
Healthy Choice 5 spice beef steamer meal
Dinner
bacon cheeseburger
fries
Dr Pepper
Snack
powder donut

Food Diary - Day Seventeen

Lunch
Zaxby's buffalo wings and fries, sweet tea
Dinner
Salsa chicken
yellow rice
black beans
Snack
cupcake
tortilla chips
salsa
oatmeal snack cake

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

This is another recipe I found out about on BrownandBridal.com. Several ladies who frequent the board have tried the dish and I decided to jump on board. It was really easy and had my house smelling fabulous all day. I served with yellow rice and black beans.

Try it on your next crock pot day. Enjoy!

CROCKPOT SALSA CHICKEN
recipe courtesy of 'Kilen'

4 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 package reduced sodium taco seasoning
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup (condensed) or cream of chicken soup ( I used cream of chicken)
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream

Add chicken to slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken. Mix salsa and soup; pour over chicken. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Shred chicken with a fork and stir in sour cream until heated, then serve over rice or in tortillas.

Food Diary - Day Fifteen

Breakfast
Special K cereal
Lactaid fat free milk
Lunch
Healthy Choice basil chicken steamer
sliced cucumbers
Dinner
grilled turkey burger
baked garlic fries
Corn
Snack
almonds
Trader Joe's fat free caramel corn
Trader Joe's chocolate crisps