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:
![stir fry 024](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/stir-fry-024.jpg)
I ate 3/4 of this bowl, it was so good – thanks Tony! š (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
ChexCrack 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!
We are staying IN! It’s been too much travel and I have my business partner’s retirement party tomorrow night. Who knows, we may not even make it up til 12!
Your walk looks so pretty! That house – wowza!!!!
Great job on getting out and going for that walk
Thanks Ron – hope you get to see your grandson this weekend! š
I got chased by a goose when I was a kid once because I had a peanut butter cracker it was very interested in… rather than drop the cracker like my frantic grandmother was screaming, I just kept running. That was MY cracker. š
OMG, I can totally picture a goose coming after you for a cracker!
Thank you for the mention, I have added you to my links page as well. That soup looks perfect, now it just needs to get a little colder out here in AZ
Fried rice. Something I don’t make often enough, and it’s SO good!!!
We are having a NYE open house, it starts at 6, and people can stay as long as they want. We’ll have the Wii for the kids, lots of goodies and snack type foods. It’s our first time entertaining since we bought our house in June, so I’m excited š
The salsa soup looks soooo yummy. I just did a quick check of the kitchen and do not have everything I need to make it. Next week.
New Years is a joke in our house. My husband and I both turn into pumpkins way before midnight. We will watch a movie and be in bed by 10.
We usually stay in. With 3 kids and my niece and nephew here it is implausible to find a babysitter to go out. Plus if we did go out, what would we do? Drink and dance? not really my scene anymore. So we stay home, watch TV, eat, play board games and just hang out. Kids are happy and so are we. WAY more fun.
Woo Hoo….sweet gig for Hannah! We are going to friends on New Year’s Eve for a small celebration with them, and one other couple. Have a wonderful last workday of 2011 Vat!!!
That house is HUGE! Also, Hannah has a great system set up for NYE, $250 in a night is awesome!
We’ll probably stay in on NYE, we’re doing Christmas with the in-laws Sunday morning, so I need my beauty rest š I’m still trying to think of something special to make for dinner Saturday night.
Happy “Friday!”
Sarah – I’ll send you my perfect shrimp cocktail recipe – its so easy and best part is you can make it the night before!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/2009/10/18/best-shrimp-cocktail-ever/
Errighn thought there were too many vegetables too.
Just to clairfy, he isn’t talking about my blog friend ERRIGN – this is a different Errighn, though I am not sure how to explain it! Maybe I’ll have Tony do a guest post!
I gave each of the lovelies this awesome scrapbook I found at Michael’s but it’s for recipes and I’m going to put all our family recipes in there all modified for health for them. I am including several of your recipes too because THEY ARE FANTASTIC and so are you! Everyone’s favorite potato soup is your Irish potato soup now! And this soup is going in the book. And in my tummy as soon as I make it! Thanks Biz!
Thanks Pam – so sweet š
We’ve hosted a NYE party for the last three years. It’s more of a dinner party/chill event than a big crazy party.
You are so creative and thrifty in the kitchen. I love it!
We stay in on New Years Eve. I usually make a few appetizers and we watch movies. Home is the safest place to be that night.
Way to go Hannah – I am sure she will earn every penny of that $250!
Happy New Year!
Yep – especially since one of the kids is an insomniac and never wants to go to bed! She can barely get her to sit still to get her toes painted!
We usually either stay in or go to a friend’s house. Our friends mostly live on base though, so we don’t have to chance the drunk drivers on the streets. It makes me feel old saying that, but I’m kind of a homebody š
way to go getting out there! it’s freezing here too, brrrr! i love the picture of the house with the geese. you get to go on the prettiest walks!
we’re hanging out with friends for new years, we all have small kids though, so it’s going to be pretty tame. š i hope you had a wonderful christmas, enjoy your new year’s weekend!!
Anyone who says you can’t eat food that’s healthy and affordable needs to read this. I was actually motivated to get my backside into the kitchen and start chopping up some leftovers!
Thanks Karen š Just need a little imagination!
We stay in – years past, I used to do a bunch of appetizers but we pretty much just have a normal meal now. By this time of the “celebrating season” I’m ready for some sanity when it comes to food, lol!
Hannah’s got a great gig – how nice for her!
I have been on a Fuji apple kick lately. They just have the best proportion of sweet and crunch to my palate right now.
We generally stay in. Walk next door and have one cocktail with our neighbor before she goes out. Mr. Helen has requested all appetizers so I’ll do that. I don’t mind and think I’m actually at the point where I prefer to stay in!
Fuji apples are the best apples for apple pie too – they hold their shape and are always sweet. š
Awesome for Hannah. Nice pay!
Our tradition – forever – has been to stay home, with the kids, dress up fancy [gowns and tuxes] make & eat h’ordeurves and count down with Dick Clark. Then we pop the sparkling cider at midnight and make a lot of noise.
It isn’t worth it to us to spend the money to go out and dodge/chance the multitude of drunk drivers. Besides – it’s a blast. š
What are you guys doing?
We stay in too – sometimes we do a big meal like surf and turf with filet mignon and lobster tails, other times we do a bunch of appetizers – not sure what Tony will feel up to this year – we’ll see! š
I always say it, but those random dishes I throw together are always amazing. Makes me never want to follow a recipe š The fried rice does look too good. Doesn’t look like too many veggies to me. Good job Tony! $250? Great pay! We are going out for dinner and spending the rest of the night in