Thanks for all the ideas on how to get tar off yesterday – so glad I have alternatives next time that happens and I’ll walk away from the cleaning products to clean myself!

I decided to make an English muffin sammie with one of my homemade sausages

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On the side was some of the best watermelon I’ve had all year – breakfast comes in at 488 calories, 20 fat, 29 carbs, 2 fiber and 45 protein.

I had this dry nagging cough yesterday so I didn’t work out.  I haven’t coughed yet today, so hopefully that’s a good sign. 

This is how I grocery shop: I read my grocery store sale flyer, see what meat is on sale and base my weekly menu on that.  They had pork stew for $1.99 and I was like “I wonder what I can make with that?”

A quick Google search, and wouldn’t you know it, the third link to show up is one of my own – a recipe for a Thai pork stew that I had completely forgotten I’d made!  The only thing I did differently was after the stew finished cooking, I cut up two zucchini’s and added them to the hot stew while it cooled down.  When I reheated this for lunch, the zucchini were still crisp tender.

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This couldn’t be easier – just throw all the ingredients in a dutch oven (or any pot that is oven safe with a lid) and stir every 30 minutes.

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While it may not look like much, this is a winning dish – the flavors are super complex, its slightly spicy with the sriracha, and the pork stew met is super tender.  I shared this with a couple people at work who both declared it delicious! Open-mouthed smile

With 3/4 cup cooked rice on the bottom, lunch comes in at 444 calories, 10 fat, 56 carbs, 4.3 fiber and 27 protein.

I am loving these cool temps we’ve been having!  Right now its sunny and 57 degrees – love!  Cooler weather always makes me think of chili.  I’ve made lots of chili in my time, but I always look for new ones.  I am actually looking forward to Nicole’s Chili Cook-off she has every year for football season.  I think a white chicken chili is about the only one I haven’t tried.

One chili I know Tony loves?  Cincinnati chili because it has no beans.  I found another recipe for Cincinnati chili, but I altered it enough that it’s now my own.  And I don’t put shitty onions in mine, thank you very much. Open-mouthed smile

Cincinnati Chili

– 1 cup serving: 300 calories, 23 fat, 2 carbs, 2 fiber and 20 protein

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef (I used 85/15)
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water

In a large pot, saute the beef, garlic, and chili powder together until the beef starts to brown.  If you beef is really fatty, you can drain some of the fat.  I didn’t need to.

Throw everything else in the pool and simmer for 45-60 minutes.  This is a loose chili, meant to be served chili mac style over cooked spaghetti.

And for Tony, it isn’t chili mac unless you have oyster crackers!

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I had chili mac three ways:  I added kidney beans to mine, cheddar cheese and a few oyster crackers. 

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I ate every single bite – the only thing I did to mine was add some Tabasco to it. Open-mouthed smile  Dinner comes in at 574 calories, 29 fat, 43 carbs, 6.7 fiber and 32 protein.

Okay – two things are already bothering me.  Yesterday I went to Walgreen’s to get some cough drops, they already have the Halloween candy displayed!  And at work yesterday, I got not one, but two catalogs for Christmas cards!  Why can’t we still enjoy summer – it seems like the world is rushing us to Halloween and Christmas already!

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I love getting mail!  Yesterday I got this cookbook that the publishers want me to review – can’t wait to check out some of the recipes.

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Stats for Monday:

  • 1506 caloires, 60 fat, 129 carbs, 13 fiber and 106 protein
  • 34% calories from carbs, 36% fat and 30% protein
  • no exercise

Since I didn’t win the lottery, guess I have to get my ass in gear and get to work.  Make it a great day!