Cooking my way through...Recipe #2

I've committed to cooking my way through a few of the gazillion cookbooks I own.  I started with the
Cooking Light fresh food fast weeknight meals 2010.

I decided to make the same meal on thats on the cover Asiago-Crusted Pork Chops and Broccoli with Sour Cream Sauce.  Lookwise it looks JUST like the pic, if I do say so myself!!!

Asiago-Crusted Pork Chops

Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 9 minutes

• YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop)
• COOK TIME:9 Minutes
• PREP TIME:5 Minutes
• COURSE: Main Dishes

Ingredients

• 4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Asiago cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 lemon wedges
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

Preparation

1. Place pork between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; pound to an even thickness (about 1/4 inch) using a meat mallet or a small heavy skillet.

2. Place egg white in a shallow dish. Combine panko, cheese, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Dip pork in egg white; dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently with fingers to coat.

3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add pork; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge over each pork chop; sprinkle each evenly with thyme.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 253
• Calories from fat: 44%
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated fat: 4.1g
• Monounsaturated fat: 5.4g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 1g
• Protein: 27.4g
• Carbohydrate: 6.2g
• Fiber: 0.6g
• Cholesterol: 71mg
• Iron: 0.7mg
• Sodium: 297mg

Broccoli with Sour Cream Sauce

• • YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 cup broccoli and about 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce)
  • COOK TIME:6 Minutes
  • PREP TIME:2 Minutes
  • COURSE: Side Dishes/Vegetables

  Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) package refrigerated broccoli florets
  • 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons 1% low-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  Preparation

  1. Microwave broccoli according to package directions.

  2. While broccoli cooks, combine sour cream and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently (do not boil).

  3. Arrange broccoli on a serving plate; drizzle with sauce.

  Nutritional Information

  Amount per serving

  • Calories: 60
  • Calories from fat: 43%
  • Fat: 3g
  • Saturated fat: 1.7g
  • Monounsaturated fat: 0.0g
  • Polyunsaturated fat: 0.2g
  • Protein: 3.7g
  • Carbohydrate: 6.4g
  • Fiber: 2.5g
  • Cholesterol: 11mg
  • Iron: 0.8mg

  
  

  
  

  REVIEW:   The broccoli side dish was just okay.  Better than nothing at all but I would have been happier with just some cracked pepper and some ICBINB spray.   As for the pork chops I have to say it was pretty good!  It was super fast and easy to make.  I can see this working its way into one of my go to meals.  I didn't really taste the asiago cheese in this dish so Im not sure you even need to add it.  I did choose to keep the oil instead of using the cooking spray, but I only used half of it.  I really wanted that fried crispy crunch tonight and it did not disappoint....YUM.   I also used Whole Wheat Panko crumbs, it didn't cut any calories but Im trying to choose whole wheat options if its there.  With all the lemon you squeeze on top it ended up tasting like my grandma's schnitzel so that alone will have me making this again :)   So, thumbs up on the chops; thumbs down on the broccoli.

Weekly Weight In Results and a few victories!

Great News...Im down 1.6 for a total of 15 lbs!   I was just sitting here thinking that I think I really can do this!  If Im honest with myself,  it really hasn't been that difficult.  I sometimes feel like its taken forever to hit my mini goal, but it really hasn't, just about 9 or 10 weeks.   More important than the number on the scale is that my outlook is different.  I've started working out again, I COOK!!!! shocking I know.  What it comes down to is that this is something I feel I can do the rest of my life.

The one thing I struggle with is that pesky little voice in me that has been a constant companion over the last 36 years.  You know the voice, the one that beats you up if you eat something you know you shouldn't, the one that when you are out to dinner with friends is trying to calculate the calories in the meal and judging if your friends are still eating I guess its okay for me too, the one that beats me up for the next week on how I should have ordered something better and healthier for me.   Basically, I feel like Im always trying to fend off "the voice".

 Last night I had dinner at a friends.   This friend just happens to make the best lasagna I have EVER had.  I decided that this was a treat that I was going to allow myself and not feel bad about it.  This is something I don't have very often and Im going to enjoy, but not binge on, then move on.   Well it worked.    I put my salad and breadstick on my plate and then faced down the lasagna.  The serving size was huge...seriously I'm talking 6 x 6 " squares.  So I cut it in half and then enjoyed.  I didn't sit there and focus on how everyone else was eating the whole 6x6 square and how that remaining 3x3 piece I left behind was calling out to me for seconds.  I simply enjoyed and then let it go.   

Now this victory is a big one for me but I have an even bigger one.   We had these amazing specialty cupcakes for dessert.  I picked the Flourless Chocolate cupcake and Im always amazed at how fudgy and chocolaty they get these.  In the past I've eaten the whole thing, even though it  is so rich and decadent I was always satisfied with just eating half, but since is was there and so good I would just polish it off.  Well, last night I encouraged others to taste it which left me with about half the cupcake left.  I savored and enjoyed the 2 or 3 bites and actually threw away the rest.   I didn't hear the cupcake screaming for me to come back and eat it. I didn't dwell on it the rest of the night and better than that....the voice isn't beating me up this morning!

Cooking my way through.....

I hate to cook, yet I love to buy cookbooks.  I flip through each cook book and imagine how great of a cook I am and how everything will taste amazing.   Then reality hits and I realize I just suck at cooking. I try to make it "healthier" and end up using substitutes or low fat/low calorie ingredients and it ends up tasting like crap.  Im a much better baker where directions are straight forward and exact.

 Im also danger to myself and others in the kitchen.   I once sliced my thumb down to the bone using a cheese grater, resulting in passing out and hitting my head on the stove on my way down.  I've also had my finger caught between the beaters when I was trying to mash potatoes.   So as you can see...I have an aversion to cooking!   Im making a commitment to myself to start cooking my way through some of these cookbooks.   Now Im not doing the whole Julie,  Julia thing where Im cooking every recipe.   I hate fish and I cant be trusted with dessert so those are out.  Well, maybe the occasional dessert.  Im also not going to cook everything, just things that I havent tried before or something thats different than one of my tried and true recipes.    Since Im single I will be halving the recipes.  I've learned that when it comes to cooking, converting things to half or double a recipe doesnt always work out because sometimes you have to change the proportions of certain ingredients.....see COMPLICATED.   I'll let you know if the recipe is any good and how it is once I convert it for 2 servings.

The first cookbook up is the Cooking Light fresh food fast weeknight meals 2010

Orange Beef and Broccoli

Prep: 7 minutes; Cook: 7 minutes

YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

COOK TIME:7 Minutes

PREP TIME:7 Minutes

COURSE: Main Dishes

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) package refrigerated broccoli florets

1/3 cup fat-free, less-sodium beef broth

1/3 cup low-sugar orange marmalade

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and cut into thin slices

Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Microwave broccoli according to package directions.

2. While broccoli cooks, combine broth and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk; set aside.

3. Place cornstarch in a shallow dish. Dredge steak in cornstarch.

4. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add steak; sauté 5 minutes or until browned on all sides. Add broth mixture; cook 1 minute or until thick. Stir in broccoli. Serve immediately.

          Nutritional Information

Amount per serving (1 cup)

Calories: 238

Calories from fat: 25%

Fat: 7g

Saturated fat: 2.4g

Monounsaturated fat: 2.2g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.4g

Protein: 27.7g

Carbohydrate: 16.6g

Fiber: 2.5g

Cholesterol: 37mg

Iron: 2.6mg

Sodium: 570mg

Review:  This really satisfied my craving for some chinese takeout.  It was very easy to half the recipes and still tasted great!  Some of the modifications I made:

1)  Sauteed half an onion and about 4 oz of white mushrooms to add to this

2)  Added some crushed red pepper

3)  Added some Penzeys Orange Peel to give it more orange taste without having to add more marmalade.

4)  Instead of the normal white rice I served it with the Near East Quinoa Blend.   

I froze a serving of the quinoa topped with the Orange Beef and Broccoli.  It made for a great lunch later that week and had even more of a kick from the crushed red pepper.  YUM.  I will definitely make this again could easily make this for company.  Also, the recipe mentioned "for convenience, ask the butcher to cut the steak into thin slices"...SUCH a great tip.   Not only was this a time saver,  more importantly anything that makes it less likely for me to slice and dice myself is a keeper!

Fabulous Find Friday (brought to you on a Sunday and sent directly from the Heavens!)

This post should be read while imagining beams of light from heaven shinning down on this product against a background of heavenly angels singing.   In case you cant figure it out...I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!!

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Yes....that is the CLARISONIC MIA 2.    Im 36 and have suffered from cystic acne since I was 12.  I've tried probably every facial system, medication, peel and treatment available for acne prone skin.  Last year I heard about the Clarasonic Mia 2 but thought $200 was expensive for something that probably wouldn't work but may help so I went with a similar product that was half the price.  Bad move.  That product was more of a microderm abrasion type product and didn't do much for me.   A few weeks ago I broke out and just couldn't seem to get it under control.  I read a lot of amazing reviews about the Clarasonic product and decided to just try it.   I was not disappointed.  In one week I've gone from a ton of breakouts to none.  NONE PEOPLE!!!!!  This, for someone like me, is unheard of!  The Mia 2 is preprogrammed with a 1 minute cycle.   As someone that is meticulous when it comes to cleaning my face I couldnt believe that this was cleaning my skin in 1 minute!   It has cleared out my blackheads and cleared up my skin faster than anything I've ever tried.   Another great thing about the Mia 2 is that it can be used in the shower. So every morning and night I feel like that Gollum character from Lord of the Rings.... MY PRECIOUS!!!

Weekly Weigh In Results

I've been on Jenny Craig several times.  I have always done well and don't have a problem loosing the weight just maintaining it.  With my all or nothing personality I decided that being totally 100% on Jenny wasn't for me this go around.  I've adopted a "moderation & balance" lifestyle that Im hoping will be my answer to a lifetime of health and weight management.  Jenny is great for those meals where Im too tired to cook or Im on the go!  So after 8 weeks Im officially down

-12.6 lbs

Woo Hoo!!!  On one hand I want faster and bigger weekly losses.  On the other hand I know Im going to get there eventually and as cheesy as it sounds...it really is about the journey!  I know that my approach may take a little longer to accomplish my 50lb loss but its more about changing my lifestyle so that I can keep it off.  If anyone ever reads this and has any tips, recommendations or amazing low cal recipes please share!!!!

Fabulous Find Friday

I love finding new things!  This weeks Faboulous Find is Near East's Quinoa Blend.  Im really trying hard to make a lifestyle change where Im cutting out white rice/bread for whole grains and healthier options.  Quinoa has been something I've wanted to try for awhile.  I came across this blend that contains brown rice and a mix of quinoa.  This was great!  I have long been a fan of the Near East Couscous and this new product did not disappoint.  Since I made a stirfry I omitted the Rosemary & Olive Oil flavor packet that this came with.  Instead I substituted water with low sodium chicken broth and it was WONDERFUL!  Had a great nutty flavor and wasn't so hard and chewy like I hear quinoa can be.

I found that I did not need as much as I would normally eat with rice.  It serves 2 but I stretched it out to 4 servings and it was more than enough.  I portioned it all out and topped it with  some stir fry.  The quinoa tasted just as great after being frozen!

I'll take you to the Candy Shop....

Yes, the title is a shout out to 50 cent but the post is not.  The post is about a little secret I have concerning the office candy jar.

I enjoy doing things for others so I've always been the one that has supplied the office with free candy!  Ton's of it.  Bags of it!  So why would I torment myself and continue this insane practice while Im trying so hard to lose weight???   After really thinking about it I've determined there are three reasons.

Reason #1 - Its in my altruistic nature and I really do enjoy doing this for people I work with.  I enjoy the social interaction and little chats while people stop by for an afternoon sugar rush.

Reason #2 - sooooo I guess the secret about the candy jar is that I don't allow anyone to put any chocolate because I would eat it all.  I only fill it with hard candy that I don't like.  So why would I do this?  Because I get a sick satisfaction while other people are eating the candy that unlike them...I CAN RESIST!!!

Reason #3 -  to make everyone else fat lol.  Not really but it did cross my mind.  Sometimes I feel like this guy

WHenever someone stops by for some candy my inner monologue is something like "yes....take the candy....eat the candy....love the candy, so one day I will look thinner next to you muah ha ha ha"

Mock Philly Cheese Steak

Thanks to my lunch bunch at work I have been craving a Philly Cheesesteak for a few days.  I hit the internet to find a low cal substitution and decided to try the Portobello "Philly Cheese Steak" Sandwich from Eating Well.  I have to say that while it didn't taste of the oooey gooey greasy goodness of a cheesesteak it was a damn tasty sandwich.  It was also pretty filling!!!

iNGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 4 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed (see Tip), sliced
• 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano, or 2 teaspoons dried
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 3 ounces thinly sliced reduced-fat provolone cheese
• 4 whole-wheat buns, split and toasted (I used a gluten free baguette)

PREPARATION

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, oregano and pepper and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are wilted and soft, about 7 minutes.

2.  Reduce heat to low; sprinkle the vegetables with flour and stir to coat. Stir in broth and soy sauce; bring to a        simmer. Remove from the heat, lay cheese slices on top of the vegetables, cover and let stand until melted, 1 to 2 minutes.

3.  Divide the mixture into 4 portions with a spatula, leaving the melted cheese layer on top. Scoop a portion onto each toasted bun and serve immediately.

Serves 4 @ 268 calories

Hello World, Its Me...Pam

So what is this blog about?....Im not really sure just yet.  Like a lot of people out there I've struggled with my weight my entire life.  Right now Im on a journey to lose about 50 lbs, but more importantly, keep it off.  I suffer from this  "all or nothing" mentality so I've never been able to maintain my weight.  Im either gaining or losing.  I think I've had one of those lightbulb moments where my life would be so much easier if I could just learn moderation and balance.

So I guess this blog is a way for me to track my journey, store recipes,  have more accountability and maybe help others.