Cookbook Heaven :)

As many of you know I got cookbooks for Christmas… I think I ended up with 8 new ones WOOHOO!!!! So yes, I’m in CB Heaven!

I have already tried several.. here are a few…

Chris bought me a Splenda Cookbook and we have tried the Tasty Teriyaki Chicken and it was wonderful.

The next recipe came from a recipe magazine that I get.. Simple and Delicious. Again… this is a keeper of a recipe.

Creamy Onion Lasagna
(Simple/Delicious Jan/Feb 2010)
1 lb ground beef, extra lean
1 jar (26oz) Roasted Garlic Parmesan spaghetti sauce (I used Ragu)
1 egg
1 cup cottage cheese (I used light)
1 carton (8oz) French Onion Dip (I used light)
1 jar (26oz) Italian sausage and garlic spaghetti sauce (I used Ragu)
12 no-cook lasagna noodles (I used reg. noodles and didn’t cook them)
3 cups (12 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Cook beef until no longer pink, drain. Stir in Roasted Garlic Parmesan sauce.
In bowl, combine egg, cottage cheese and French onion dip, mix well.
Spread 1 cup Italian Sausage sauce into a greased 13x9 baking dish.
Layer: 4 noodles, half cheese mixture, half meat mixture, 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers.
Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese.
Cover and bake at 375* for 50 minutes.
Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes longer to melt cheese.
Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Serves 12
(NOTE: If you use all light and extra lean.. its around 450 calories per serving.. not bad for Lasagna .. I ran it thru Master Cook to get the calories)

Tonight we’re trying 2 more new recipes.. One from the Rice Cooker CB and another from another Recipe Magazine from Taste of Home: Appetizers

Oh… I Should list my new books…

Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories

Hungry Girl Chew the Right Thing: Supreme Makeovers for 50 Foods You Crave (not really a CB… they are recipe cards in a box)

More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: A Drop-Top Culinary Cruise Through America's Finest and Funkiest Joints

The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook: 250 No-Fail Recipes

Sushi Making Kit (With book and cd)

A Roman Cookbook

Kitchen Aid

Splenda

Yummy .. (and Holidays)

Well folks I have to say I’ve had the very best Christmas a person can ask for.

The weather spoiled part of our holiday plans but it also made up for it twice fold. We were to go up to my Mom’s on Saturday but the snow came and we didn’t go. Instead we went up to Chris’ mom’s a day earlier than expected (on Monday) had Birthdays and Christmas with them and then Tuesday we headed on up to Hendersonville to hang out for Chris’ birthday. His Granddad puts everyone up in the Quality Inn on the night of the 23rd each year. It has a nice indoor pool, putt putt and game area. And really neat seating areas all around. Makes for a wonderful family reunion type event.

We got to have lunch with Julianna my best friend from High School and shopped around a little too.

On Thursday we headed back home and because of the weather at my Mom’s (again) I got to see her her Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!! They were going to FL for a week after Christmas and decided to beat the snow and came down and visited with us!!! YEAH!!!!

Christmas day I had to work a few hours but I don’t mind, we share the major holidays so we each only have to work 1. Afterwards I got home to an already cooked Christmas dinner with Ham, dressing, green bean casserole and much more. THANK YOU HONEY!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! (Mama came over to help him but he had it all started by the time she got here..I sure do have a keeper!!)

Afterwards we opened presents… I must have been a really good girl because I got way more than I deserve. Mom bought me the coolest outfit and the jeans are a size 18!!!! I haven’t been in a size 18 in.. well I really have no idea.. high school maybe? I got the Monopoly City game (for those that don’t know, Chris and I have a collection of them.. 15 at least). His mom gave me a really neat cake plate (I didn’t have one) and gift card to Wal-Mart for a few things on my ‘wish list’ (which I ordered that night :)) And Chris was soo good to me.. he bought me the matching Open Hearts earrings from Kay Jewelers and a cookbook (and more). Yes, Chris, who is always talking about my cookbook collection and how I don’t really need more bought me a cookbook. Its the Splenda Collection. I’m loving it. Tonight I made Tasty Teriyaki Chicken. I’ll conclude tonight's book with the recipe :) Go check out the book. It’s great!!!

Tasty Teriyaki Chicken

1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp cold water
1/2 cup Splenda granulated
1/2 cup soy sauce (we used lite)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Skinless, boneless chicken breasts (recipe calls for 12, we used 4 big ones)

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine everything except chicken. Simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and bubbles.

Preheat oven to 425*

Place chicken in lightly greased 9x13 pan (we used smaller 9x9 pan). Brush chicken with the sauce. Turn and brush other side.

Brush with sauce every 10 minutes. (A pain but worth it.) Bake for 30 minutes, turn and back another 30 minutes until no longer pink and juices run clear.

And for dessert.. try the Classic Carrot Cake YUMMY!!!
http://splenda.tastebook.com/recipes/1396992-Classic-Carrot-Cake

Happy New Year Everyone.. may this be the best yet!!!!

Week Five

Not too much new today.
I went back to work yesterday. It was great being back.

As of this morning I've lost 28.5 lbs. It seems unreal to me.
I'm still having to make myself eat. I don't really get hungry so I forget to eat.
Last night was a little rough. I was moody and just simply wanted "normal" food.
I know its coming.. another week and I can have any food my body will tolerate (within reason).
It's not that I want a huge plate of whatever, I just want a bite, a taste. But its ok. I'll make it through to next week. :)

Today I have to go buy fabric for the hot tub cover. I need to do some calculations before I go. Right now I need 18 yrds and that seems like alot. So I'm going to see if I do it another way, sideways, if it'll take less.

I'm also going grocery shopping for some new recipes from my new cookbook Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery. I think I'll make scallops. They are tender and soft. There are alot of recipes in the book that looks great. But the best part of the book, the author has put a portion size with each recipe for lap band, RNY, and 'normal' portions also. It even breaks down into the weeks after surgery. It's really neat. With this book you have to remember that each Dr is different and the foods you can eat at each stage is different. So just because the book says you can have so much of a certain recipe at week 2, doesn't mean your Dr want's you to have it. I know there are many recipes I can't have until next week even though the book says for weeks 1 - 4 you can puree it. So you have to use the information that your Dr gives you along with the book.