The sky was a blanket of clouds yesterday – so pretty!

When I got to work I had another portion of my broccoli bacon bake – this time served with a side of 6 ounce baked potato that I cut up and sauteed in 1 tsp. olive oil and sauteed apples.  I have no idea what apple this is because it came in a package of 7 apples that were on my dollar rack, but it was super sweet without any brown sugar added.  Breakfast comes in at 10 WW points.

Yup, even though weather.com said that the weather was 28, but with the windchill it felt like 20, I got my ass outside for a 50 minute walk.  Go me!

I only have to walk on a semi-busy street for about 5 minutes, then the rest of the walk is through a cul-de-sac, so hardly any traffic.  Unless you count geese!  Some lawns are just littered with them!

And you can’t tell from this picture, but that house above?  Five car garage – crazy!

I only ended up spending $49 at the grocery store last week – I knew since it was a short work week, I could come up with stuff for my lunches.  Here’s what I had on hand:

  • 1/2 pound of ground beef in my freezer (from God knows when)
  • 1 fresh green pepper
  • a container of baja fresh salsa I made about a week ago
  • 1/2 a can of Italian sauce leftover from last nights deep dish pizza
  • chicken broth
  • cooked brown rice
  • canned black beans

Beef and Black Bean Salsa Soup (makes 4, two cup servings: 8 WW points)

  • 1/2 pound ground beef, raw
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 24 ounces water
  • 3 chicken boullion cubes (my $1 store sells a jar for 24 cubes for a dollar – or just 4 cents a cup – double check my math skillz though!)
  • 1 cup baja fresh salsa (or any jarred salsa will work)
  • 1 cup Italian tomato sauce (or regular tomato sauce)
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 can drained black beans
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a large pot, combine the beef and peppers, and cook until the beef is cooked through.  I used 80% ground beef so I drained the fat, if you used ground sirloin, I wouldn’t bother.  Reduce heat to medium low, add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.  Could not be simpler and has just enough kick not to overpower the rest of the soup.

This was really delicious – and I love the flecks from the baja salsa – it adds a nice smokey flavor to the soup.

Another dinner Tony suggested for this week?  Fried Rice!  He seriously makes the best fried rice – I don’t really have a recipe for this one – its cold leftover rice, mixed veggies, soy sauce (which I almost always think he puts too much in but it turns out just right) and this time with thinly sliced pork.

 I put everything in place for Tony to do his magic:

 

 

Gotta love a cast iron wok! 😀

 

I ate 3/4 of this bowl, it was so good – thanks Tony! 😀 (even though he thought there were too many veggies!)

I am counting my portion as 10 points.

Stats for the Day:

  • 28 points (plus 6 damn points for Chex Crack Mix!)
  • 50 minute walk
  • average blood sugar 129

Check out this blog I added to my blog roll – Dining Alone – she and I have very similar tastes and I love the fact that just because he husband is a picky eater, she still makes stuff that only she will enjoy.  Check out her Reuben Casserole!

Last official day of work for 2011 – woot!

Question of the Day:  Do you go out for New Years Eve or Stay In?  Hannah is babysitting for 3 families (5 kids ages 6-10) overnight on New Years Eve – she starts at 5:00, sleeps over, then gets up with the kids while the parents sleep in and fixes them breakfast – they are paying her $250!  Wowza!