One of my goals this year is to take more group classes. On Friday I saw that there was a 30 minute spin class on Saturday morning, so I got my ass up at 6:30 a.m. to make the 7:00 WW meeting so it wouldn’t interfere with that spin class.
I am not at all upset with a -.6. I am a complete emotional eater, and with everything that is going on with Tony, I am happy to be down 5.6 in six weeks. š
I came home and Hannah went to the gym with me. The spin class we went to turned out to be an instructional class. Which I am glad we did go to it because now I know how to set up my bike for when I take a real class. The class that ended was a 75 minute class, and since there are a limited number of bikes (I think 25) you have to get there 30 minutes before the class starts to get a ticket for a bike. The tickets were gone in 1 minute! I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for a 75 minute spin class though!
Hannah and I then ran/walked on the track for 30 minutes. Since I didn’t think that was long enough of a work out, later in the afternoon I did one the of Tae Bo DVD’s that I won from Helen. It was 40 minutes of strength training with exercise bands – holy cow was it hard! I think most of the other DVD’s are about 50 minutes, which I can’t wait to try.
So even though our Bears didn’t make the Superbowl, it’s always a great excuse to make some party food! First up – Pioneer Woman’s Bacon Crackers. So simple – Parmesan cheese poured on top of a Keebler cracker, wrapped in bacon and baked for 2 hours. These were good, but I think if I used a better bacon they would have been better.
And while I hate artichokes by themselves, I love hot artichoke dip – but what’s not to love when you use mayo, sour cream, and lots of cheese? I got the recipe from Picky Cook.
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We used triscuits, whole wheat Ritz and Keebler crackers for dipping. I think I ate about 1/4 of this casserole myself – thanks flex points! š
Tony actually asked for a stew for dinner. Not your typical football fair, but I am so glad that he suggested it because I think its the best beef stew I’ve made. I got the basic idea for this recipe here at Savory Notes. However, I of course left out the onion, bay leaf, added white beans, and my cooking method was different.
Beef Stew with White Beans (printer friendly version here)
Serving Size: 1 Cup = 5 Points Plus
244 calories, 6.4 fat, 15.5 carbs, 3.5 fiber and 20.5 protein
Ingredients:
- 2 pound eye round roast, cut into bite size chunks
- Ā¼ cup flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1, 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 cups canned white beans
- 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Heat one tablespoon olive oil in large stock pot and heat over medium-high heat. Toss the chopped meat in the flour.
Brown in three batches, adding an additional tablespoon of olive oil for each batch. Remove meat. Add celery, garlic, and mushrooms, and using a wooden spoon, scrape off all the bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the wine. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until all the veggies are soft. Using a stick blender, puree the mixture.
Add in the beef broth, browned beef, carrots, potatoes and beans and simmer for two hours, until beef is tender.
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The white beans cooked down to almost nothing, but made the sauce so thick and delicious. While this may look like a simple beef stew, the flavor is very complex.
I actually didn’t pig out as much as I thought I would, and dinner was healthy! Did you have any typical football food yesterday?
I have to give Shelley a shout out – she sent Tony the funniest card! Thanks Shelley! š
Now maybe Tony will believe you guys are actually my friends! š
Check out the BSI Round Up of Hot Sauce over at Debbi Does Dinner Healthy. Pretty sure I am going to make the buffalo chicken pizza!
Check out this weeks host: Wendy at Around My Family Table chose Vanilla! Remember, it doesn’t have to be a new recipe, you can link to any archived recipe. And you don’t have to have a blog to participate, just send an email to the host with your recipe and they will post it in the recap.
Have a great Monday!
That card is so funny! I think you did remarkable at your weigh in and you are right with everything that you have been through the past two weeks it is awesome to have a loss!
Stew does sound good! You always inspire me to want to cook something!
the beef stew looks so good!
Good job on the weight loss!
You’re doing great, Biz! Every loss is a good loss, I say!
That beef stew sounds delicious!
Love that card Shelley found for Tony! LOL!
Hot artichoke dip is the best!! Sounds like some good eats today!
I am glad my spin class doesn’t get that packed. I would have to get to a class 30 minutes early and perhaps not get a bike.
AWESOME job, Biz!!! You are doing so well!
Bacon crackers? Sounds right up my alley. š I love PW’s recipes! All of them that I’ve tried I LOVE. I want to go cook on her ranch with her.
haha, love the card! the stew looks great too! i hope this week is better!
Ooh, your beef stew looks so much better than mine. The meat I used was too fatty. I figured if it was from Whole Foods it was bound to be delicious. Not.
Ohhh I must have missed PW’s bacon crackers! And that artichoke dip looks soooo good! That’s one of my weaknesses. I always have to “pretend” like I didn’t see it on menus when we go out b/c if I order it I KNOW I’ll eat the whole thing myself!!
Great job with staying in control during a very emotional time. Having a loss is just icing on the cake …. mmmmm…. cake.
You’re doing great, Biz!!! Woooo! I have been slacking on journaling lately, I need to step it up!!
That artichoke dip looks…amazing!!
I hope that card made him laugh! š We DO exist!
Amazing that you lost weight during that week of uncertainty. Emotional eating? I know it well. Tell me, why can’t we be the ones who lose our appetites during times of stress?!?
I made beef stew for the first time in probably two years a week ago and it was just meh – I’ll have to give that recipe a try (with onions, of course…and what’s with the bay leaf? you don’t like the bay?).
I did a little bit of spinning when I was at Brads and think that I would actually really like it – bet you will love those classes. Hope you get a bike one of these days!
Not a huge fan of bay leaves – its like the reaction some people get with cilantro – if a dish has had a bay leaf in it, that’s all I taste. š
We made stew on Saturday – yum and to stretch it out we serve it over the “No Yolks” noodles. We had enough for another meal and to give some to my beloved in laws for their dinner tonight [Mom is going to the dentist today…soft food, so good.]
I got Rhee’s [Pioneer Woman] cookbook for Christmas last year and although her food is spectacular – it is incredibly unhealthy if you don’t live their lifestyle – ranching, constant exercise, etc. In fact – I don’t think it is all that healthy for your heart regardless of the exercise they get.
Definitely comfort food – but not anything I could make on a weekly basis for the family. She is the Paula Deen of the Midwest. Not good.
[Don’t get me wrong – I adore Rhee – she has more talent and kindness in one finger then I ever will – but her food is …just not good for the rest of us.]
Great idea about using the stew over noodles – š
I’m proud of you on so many levels! I’m glad you had a good weigh-in, and I’m happy that you cut yourself some slack during this trying time, and that you’re trying out new forms of exercise. You’re an inspiration.
What a great card! Nice weigh in, Biz!
Congrats on losing! I know it must be an even bigger challenge while you’re riding this emotional roller coaster. I don’t like to eat plain artichokes either, but I can eat a whole jar of marinated artichoke hearts. Love them. And the dip is the ne plus ultra of artichoke preparations, of course. I too would have eaten at least 1/4 of the plate but I usually go for 1/2 and call it my dinner. I love dip! Really love that card. š
Happy Monday! Artichoke dip looks amazinggggggggggg.
0.6 is a great number… REAL weight lose does not happen fast. Lose fat, not muscle.
My best to Tony. Said a rosary for him yesterday.
Thanks Dave š
I’m going to get that bacon/cracker recipe right this minute! Of couse I’m of the “bacon makes everything better” camp so it doesn’t take much to convince me those are delish.
You know, if you like spin you might suprise yourself one day and do a 75 minute class, never say never!
These people looked like they had just gone through a garden hose they were so sweaty! We’ll see. š
That card is AWESOME – wow – right on! Nice job on all of your workouts and on your weight loss! The crackers and dip look great – as does the stew. Everything you make always looks great!
The stew looks wonderful! Love a good hearty stew. I’m the same with artichokes, stick it in a dip and I’m all over it! Keep up the weight loss!