Well, I am in the home-stretch now folks! For those of you who don’t know, or know me personally, or don’t have to endure hours of endless chatter about the merits of the wonderful program called Weight Watchers, I would like to tell you that I am almost at goal! I have (since the birth of my daughter) lost almost 50 pounds, and I feel great! For the first time in years, I am within a healthy weight range for my height, I feel terrific, and my clothes fit nicely again 
I must admit, I am quite proud of me!
To celebrate my achievement, I first thought of doing something radical, like getting a tattoo, but since that really isn’t me anymore (I used to be into piercings and gave that up a loooooong time ago!) I have decided for the slightly less impressive, but way more sensible promise of a pedicure, and posting of regular weight-loss recipes right here on the ol’ blog-a-roo! Maybe I’ll get a couple new pairs of jeans or something as well! But mostly, I would like to devote more of my time writing about food, to writing about healthy food! There are so many wonderful and healthy recipes being shared all over the place, and my promise to is track em’ down, and post em’ right here!
10 pounds to go before I am at my final goal weight! Yeah! I have made a promise to myself, and to my family that I will not gain back the weight I have lost. I intend to keep it off for life. What a wonderful empowering feeling!
Well, I finally took the plunge and re-joined Weight Watchers! I am a firm believer in this successful program, and have lost a lot of weight following it in the past. I decided a few weeks ago to kick my own ass back into gear, to lose the remainder of my baby weight (well, actually I am already back to my pre-pregnancy size, but want to do a bit better and get closer to my highschool weight!) Anyhow, part of the program is just eating sensibly, so I will devote a lot of my attention in future recipe posts to healthy eating…like this easy and delicious recipe for simple chicken and veggie shish-kabobs! They are extremely low in points/calories/fat, the whole deal! Not to mention so simple! Healthy summer eating at it’s best! Serve with fresh salad greens! Yum!
Chicken Shish-Kabobs
2 - 3 Chicken Breasts cut into bite size pieces
Your favorite vegetables (zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, onions)
2 TBSP Light Italian Salad Dressing
*You can also throw on some fresh pineapple or other grillable fruit*
Alternate chicken pieces and veggies on skewers, brush with dressing and grill on low heat barbeque (top rack works well) for about 10-12 minutes. Easy, healthy, good!
Cooking is *not* like baking, in that it is *not* an exact science…if you omit this, or that, or add a new ingredient, your recipe may turn out just as good, if not better than the original! This is something I have learned in the many years I have been cooking it up, and one of the things that makes cooking so great! When friends ask for the recipes I make, I am often not sure that I am giving the recipe exactly as I make it, as I tend to change, and add to my recipes on a regular basis.
This being said, the following recipe is one of my “not exactly exact” recipes, but the garlic and marinating time are the key elements that make it great!
Chicken Souvlaki
3 or 4 Chicken Breasts (cut into cubes)
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
4-5 Cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
1 tsp. Oregano
Marinate the cubed meat in the mixture made from the oil, lemon juice, garlic and oregano. I like to marinate it overnight when possible to allow flavours to permeate the meat. Once marinated, thread meat onto wooden skewers. Microwave the skewers for about 5 minutes, just to ensure they are lightly cooked before transferring them to a hot barbecue. Finish the cooking on the grill for about 5 - 10 minutes, until cooked through, and nicely grilled on all sides! Best served with Greek Potatoes, Salad and Rice. Enjoy!
P.S. You may not want to make this recipe if you are entertaining or going out on a special “date” afterwards. Due to the high garlic content, you may not have any friends left after eating it! 
Well…at least there is still cooking (as a hobby that is)
I’ve been feeling the pressure lately to do nothing but pack for our move which takes place in 3 weeks! Ack! Well, frankly my dear, this is no fun at all! Actually, in a wierd sort of way it is fun, but I’d rather be doing other things. Cooking is one thing you can do for yourself (if you’re like me and actually enjoy it) but at the same time, not feel guilty about it because you are doing something for your family too! Brilliant!
I made a nice dinner tonight. Broiled Scallops with Button Mushrooms, Curried Rice with Raisins and Steamed Peas. Lovely.
My husband and I have however, turned into senior citizens, often eating dinner at an extremely early time (um, like 4 in the afternoon!) Then again, when you’re up for the day at 4:45, it sort of throws the whole day off now doesn’t it?!?
At any rate, here is my recipe for the BEST Broiled Sea Scallops..enjoy!
Broiled Sea Scallops
1 Pound Sea Scallops
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
Pinch of Table Salt and Dash of Pepper
4 Tbsp. Margarine or Butter, melted
2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
Arrange Scallops in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt & pepper. Mix together margarine and lemon juice, and pour over scallops. Broil in oven for about 8-10 minutes or until they appear whitish in colour instead of opaque. Do not over-cook them though or they will be rubbery!
Because my Banana Muffin Recipe was so incredibly popular, I decided to post the recipe for my favorite Carrot Cake as well. This recipe comes from a Canadian Living Cookbook I was given as a gift many years ago. It is a moist, and delicious cake that is easy to make. I made it for Liam’s first birthday, and he loved it (and still does!)
Instead of icing it, I just spread some cream cheese on a slice. Less sugar, and just as yummy as it is sweet enough without extra icing in my opinion.
Carrot Cake
4 Eggs
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
3 Cups Grated Raw Carrots
1/2 Cup Raisins
1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Nuts (optional - and omit if serving to small kids)
Beat eggs well in a large bowl, and add sugars in gradually, beating until light. Beat in oil. In a seperate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir into egg mixture. Stir in carrots, raisins and nuts(if using). Pour into a greased and floured 13X9 pan, and bake in a 350 degrees oven for 35-40 minutes. Enjoy!
I recently tried my own version of this traditional British dish, after laying awake one night wondering what it is and how it is made (no I am not kidding, and I guess I must have been hungry at the time!)
I looked up several versions of it on-line, and finally settled on my own rendition. Again, this is a really simple recipe, and takes no time at all to make. It was also pretty good, although Liam wouldn’t touch it. Big Surprise there!
Bubble and Squeak
1 Package Ground Meat (I used cooked ground turkey)
1 Onion (chopped)
Leftover Boiled Potatoes (cubed)
Leftover Boiled Cabbage (sliced)
Combine meat and onion in a frying pan over medium heat to brown meat and cook onion. Once cooked through, add in potatoes and cabbage. Slightly brown the potatoes (like you would home fries) and cook until thoroughly heated.
That’s it! Easy as anything!
This is a great and super easy fudge recipe that I found on-line and made this Christmas. It doesn’t require any skill in the art of confection making whatsoever, and no candy thermomether is needed. My serious chocolate cravings lately inspired me to post this…Enjoy!
Easy Chocolate Fudge
3 Cups White Sugar
3/4 Cup Margarine or Butter
1 Small Can Evaporated Milk
12 Squares Baker’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 Jar Marshmallow Creme (available with Ice-Cream Toppings in Grocery Stores)
1 Cup Chopped Nuts (I use Pecans)
1 tsp. Vanilla
Method:
Grease a 9X9 pan and set aside. Put sugar, butter and evaporated milk into a heavy saucepan, and bring to a full rolling boil on medium heat stirring *constantly* Boil approximately 4 minutes, but be careful not to scorch!
Add chocolate pieces and marshmallow creme and nuts, and stir to melt and blend. Add pecans and vanilla, and stir well.
Pour into greased pan, and allow to cool for at least 4 hours before cutting into bite-size squares.
My Mom’s Aunt, and my Great Aunt Cynthia Risk, made a great coffee cake…Aunt Cyn passed away last year, so I thought it would be a nice idea to post her recipe for Coffee Cake on my blog. This is a great cake that goes nicely with coffee (of course) or tea, or a plain old glass of milk! It isn’t what I would consider a very “traditional” coffee cake, but such a nice dessert for any occasion. Don’t be fooled with what seems to be it’s “multi-step” process…it really is quite simple!
Aunt Cyn’s Coffee Cake
Mix in first Bowl:
6 TBSP. Brown Sugar
2 TBSP. Rolled Oats
2 TBSP. Chopped Nuts
Mix in second Bowl cream together:
1/2 Cup Shortening
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Beaten Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 2/3 Cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
Mix in third seperate Bowl (you will now have 3 bowls of ingredients):
1 Beaten Egg (until thick)
1/3 Cup Jam (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry…etc.)
Method:
Grease cake pan and put in about half of bowl #2
Cover with half of bowl #1
Spread all of bowl #3 over
Cover with the rest of bowl #2
Top with the rest of bowl #1
Bake in a 350 oven for approximately 40-45 minutes, until golden on top and centre of cake feels firm and springy. Enjoy!
No, I’m not superficial enough to go “under the knife” but my blog does have a new look! Thanks to my husband, Stuart who has recently re-designed his own site, my blog is now looking even more snazzy…new colours, fonts, and style!
I am going to try to post more cooking tips and recipes in the weeks to come, now that I am feeling like the “old me” again! For some time now, cooking has taken “the back burner” (tee-hee!) But the worst of the pregnancy sickness is through now (hooray!) and I’m cooking it up once more! It’s great to be back!
This is just too wierd!!! I was looking around the web tonight for recipes, and I came across this cooking blog, whatcatate.com
The funny thing is the name for starters, oddly similar to the name of my own blog, with similar content, only I think hers is ALL recipes. The other thing I found cool, is the author’s name is also Catherine!!!
Anyways, it has some really nice looking recipes, and great pictures of them so you know what the finished product is *supposed* to look like. Someday soon, I too will cook again!
