Zucchini Lasagna

Meatless meal from farmers market ; using items from the freezer as well as some crisper box items all veggies…Started with pulling out 6 container of leftover veggie spaghetti sauce and placed then in pot to thaw on the stove and simmer to defrost ; warm up…

So I got started by getting the oven on 350*F as well making quick work with my mandolin slicer to thinly slice my farmers market find of zucchini. Then I laid it out on plastic wrapped cookie sheets and sprinkled salt all over the strips and let it rest while I prepped all the other items. Pulling from the frig I grabbed some leftover shredded carrots and gave them a rough chop as well as some mini bell peppers and green onions…

When the zucchini had lots of moisture floating on the top approximately 15 mins. I rinse it in a colander then patted it dry and got ready to layer them in a 9 x 5 loaf pan.

Tip #1 best way to cut up green onion is using your kitchen scissors.. So I

layered sauce/zucchini/diced veggies and cheese and they repeated until sauce was on top… 

 

Then into the oven for 1 hour…Looked great all nice a bubbly however they zucchini was still bite tender vs soft and squishy however it was really good…I ate a huge piece and see lots more of this in my future for dinner.. But the best part was my very picky eater ate all the zucchini noodles :O)

 

Farmers Market Deals

Last week while checking out the internet farmers market link I found 3 that are on week days  & during the daylight hours not the 5-7 pm ranch score!!! As I work weekends when usually around the Phoenix area is when those great little markets are....The first one we went to was last Thursday and it was a nice little one in what they call the Sun City Area (senior area of town) and they had a few tables w/ fruits & veggies...I was a little still under the weather so we didn't get anything..They also had jarred foods as well that people had canned (salsa/jams/fruits/pickles) oh and don't forget those eggs & cheese....

Well yesterday I was feeling alot better after being sick for 2 weeks w/ a nice spring sinus infection/cold...We decided to try out another 2 Uptown Farmers Market and Town and Country Farmer Market
Wow was I impressed the first market called UpTown we stopped here first and wow they had a huge market area I will try to snap some pictures next week so everyone can see...They had lots of fresh fruits and veggies everything you could think of in one like (area they created a market style shopping area off to the side...)loved it pick up a few thing (we didn't get to much due to lots of leftover from last week grocery shopping) but I do see going here from now on to get fresh produce)

$3.50 per half pound

$3.50 per half pound

$1 per pound

From Claudine's Kitchen  Authentic Lebanese Cuisine 
Sampled: $7.50 per container to buy
Baba Ghanough-super yummy
Tabbouleh-pretty good and different
Plain Hummus- I prefer flavored but was good
Baklava--$3.50 per container

At the Town and Country Farmer market was smaller tucked in between a strip mall shopping side walk area. 

We spent alot more than we wanted but it was a super splurge day... $7 per loaf-----Challah Bread and Garlic/Herb Cheese Loaf from Jerusalem Bakery  

March All Ready?

Where did the time go? It's almost spring here in the Phoenix area...and we are trying to get are crap together...It's also tax time were some people get refund checks...This year I decided due to the great deal of $150 w/ $50 rebate to get a cheap smart phone nothing fancy just the cheapest for what I needed....:O) this was via the Phone store I was could have bought the same phone at Walmart for the same price minus the refund...Well I bought 2 one for me and one for DD = 2 for $100 (using the refund to pay for her phone so awesome plan) it's Samsung Galaxy Avant.....
 

We also came across some great little wipe style boards @ Target for $3 each yes I know to spend $9 on 3 was crazy however the reason & the use behind them works for us...
The Blue/Green one is for DD college assignment as in I need to do all of this
The First M-S wipe board is for weekly things to do as in school or Dr appts.
The 2nd M-S wipe board is going to be our weekly menu board plan

What I like about these so far we have had 2 of them 3 weeks and DD uses her boards like crazy and it helps her stay on task and not forget things...:O) so I knew it would be nice to have one to write the menu on (since I needed to start sticking to a menu plan again)

Scratch Cooking or even Home Cooking

Yesterday I was a little busy whipping things up to eat from homemade aka scratch....or from home as I like to say... I am trying very hard as of the last of December to cook more from home... Plus this helps w/ a few things budget/income or only one income household and health....
It started off at 6-730 AM shopping-putting food away and washing dishes

0730 AM Starting the outside Little Blue Electric Grill..You're going electric grill vs gas or charcoal Yeah that is all I have and it was free from my mom so even better :O)...it works magic trust me...the day before this I bought $20 worth of chicken breast from Sprouts I love there chicken breast vs getting chicken from other stores plus they will even cut meat (to your liking) aka do all the work for ya shhhh secret....I had the 9 chicken breast cut lengthwise/butterflied into 2 pieces so 18 chicken breast vs just 9...score plus we don't usually eat a whole breast per person any way...(with all the sides of veggies)...

0800 AM I grilled them while I turned on the oven to warm up so I could whip up a batch of Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip/Pecan cookie say can we say YUMMY? I had to sub some of the basic ingredients due to allergy restrictions but they turned out I think perfect DD thinks they are good but not great..( due to lack of butter being used or oil LOL since she can't have butter they will work just fine) Substitutions where as follows--Whole Wheat Flour 2 cups and 1 cup of ground raw oatmeal ground into oatmeal flour----> 1 cup of mini chocolate chips and 1 cup of pecans...Here is the the original recipe

0915 AM I also started a batch of Black-eyed peas in the crockpot for my DD who likes them.Just water and beans dropped in to crockpot and turned on high until done around Noon...

So here I was running in and out the house door up & down 4 steps to grill the chicken  & watch cookies bake in the oven...(major stair work out lol trying to carry hot/cold chicken in and out of the house with out dropping it...)

I decided around 930 AM to whip up a batch of Homemade Waffles for DD thinking in the future if this batch works I could make a 2 batches and freeze them...Using her new waffle marker but first I had to find a recipe since I was not sure where my last recipe was (mind you the last time I made waffles was like 3-4 years ago...) so I Google recipe and found this one... I did make a few changes due to ingredients we have on hand as well as allergy restrictions DD has...
Very Simple ingredients was also a must for Waffles Plan....So I got lots of waffles I am assuming around 10-12 since mine are square but the recipe worked perfect and DD says tastes good :O) even better...

2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour--Subbed Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 cups milk---Subbed Lactose Milk
1/2 cup melted butter---Subbed (yogurt butter only 1/4 cup and 1/4 cup of applesauce)
1 tablespoon white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

So by 11 am I had 
Shopping/Cleaning/Laundry too
18 pieces of grilled chicken to freeze 
2 dozen Chocolate chip cookies
10-12 waffles done 
Black eyed Peas in the crock pot almost done 

Ran a few errands then started on my Pickled Jalapenos love this recipe I am across and it's quickness that I am very addicted to now!!!!!

Started these at NOON & was done before 1PM the longest part was slicing up 3 pound of peppers that I got for are you sitting $1.00 and all the other ingredients I had on hand so the cost to me today was $1.00 and some time to yield me almost 3 quarts of YUMMY spicy peppers...

 

 

Pickled Jalapenos!!!!!

A few weeks back I was at the local store and was looking at the price for a small jar 6oz of pickled jalapenos and the price $1.99. I thought for 6oz Holy Crap that is expensive even for a 4 oz jar of them was $1.29 Really!!! I should be able to make them myself how hard can it really be?? 
So off to the net I went when I got home....Lots of different recipes some w/ garlic /some with oregano and even some that used OIL... I found the type I wanted simple and with out oil....

I made my first batch of Pickled Jalapenos using some leftover Jalapenos I had after I made homemade salsa verde to freeze for later use..With the Recipe in hand off I went to make a batch..Got it done and placed them in the frig and a few days later I gave them a try SUPER HOT as in spicy....So I decided to remove the seeds and see if that cut the spicy down some & sure enough it was perfect then. 
I ate the first batch very quickly on chicken salads and knew I would have to make another batch asap....So this week I saw that the local store had jalapenos on sale for 3 pounds for $1.00 SCORE!!! so today I made a large batch 3 pounds will yield almost 3 large mason jars....this should last a few days just kidding...

 

2014 Xmas

Starting the day off w/ a full blown cold..I have been busy this year blogging on my crochet blog location & have forgotten to post here :O) bad girl...This year I have been eating healthier & exercising I have not lose too much weight but my goal was both feel better and get moving so I have done that...In the new year I will be trying a few new idea the Doc suggest and see if that is the reason for the lack of weight...it could be a sugar issue so I will be trying to switch slowly to a GI Diet to get rid of sugar/processed foods in my diet...

I have been busy crocheting like crazy I met my goal of around 50 shawl to donate to Hospice this year so I did really well...

I also made lots of baby blanket for people as well this year so I have been a little busy there too. I/We also crocheted alot of holiday Xmas gifts this year as well....

I am still loving my NOOK too I have read 140 books so far due to having the Nook last year I was not 100 % sure that a Nook was really needed in my world however my Nook is a tablet as well and I use it all the time.. I like being able to download crochet pattern & picture of projects I have completed and they are right at hand vs (taking photos to carry around)which can be a pain and plus cost as well...So I would say my NOOK for $150 last year was a great B-day for me...:O)

Last night we took lots of Holiday pictures when we went light looking as well..

Welcome to June

Mixing it up at the Gym I have been doing a few combos of different things... I want to list what I was doing and what I am starting to do this week...

Previously GYM M-F

• 20 mins on Treadmill  & 10 mins in Stationary Bike
• Weight Machines  & Free Weight Machines
• 30  mins Stretch Routine on Mat &Basic Stretch Routine
• Precor Stretch Trainer Chair-Allow me to stretch easier/better

 Change This Week GYM M-F

• 30 mins in Stationary Bike
• Weight Machines  & Free Weight Machines
• 15-30 Launch Pad Stage 1-Video Series/Stretch Routine as well
• Precor Stretch Trainer Chair-Allow me to stretch easier/better

 Saturday & Sunday-

• 15-30 Launch Pad Stage 1-Video Series/Stretch Routine as well

Exercise for Real People not barbie and her friends

I know if you search the net you can find just about anything ya want.. Well after searching high and low I found it...YIPPIE...and I am calling it Exercise for Real People not barbie and her friends but really people like me who are overweight--aka FAT and want to find a place but don't know where to start losing weight but sometimes you don't want others to know plus gym membership for some people including me is costly mine is $20 per month and it's not affordable to everyone so this will work to get you started & then get you up and out of the house!!! The local park is FREE!! and so is your local neighbor hood.

Back to what I found you-tube video series that is awesome!!! 2nd it's free and yes you can do it!!!  I have been doing 7 days a week exercise for months now... (when I started I could only lift say around 5-10 pounds and maybe do like 10 reps) depending on the machine work out now I am up to 40 pound and 20 plus reps and I am not seeing what I want in results or aka feeling it in my muscles anymore so I wanted to switch up my routine and try something else/new...
I few weeks ago I was checking this video out and thought wow great well yesterday I tried a few of the ideas (routine) I could remember on the fly at the gym well let me tell you it looked easy on the video but I found out it was hard for me so I only did 12 reps to start each exercise set but I made it through and guess what I am sore today yippie this means it works those muscle for sure!!! So I am adding the whole routine to my work out every other day to allow rest days...keep ya posted...

 

2 month and 6 days

Update what has been going on since I was sick for 2 weeks I still keep walking and walking but was unable to go to the gym I didn't want others sick...I have lost a total of 11 pounds since starting March 9 I have changed most of the bad foods/allowed a day to eat anything (junk/fried foods) keeps me from eating junk every day..I have been menu planning more which helps stop grabbing foods and also allow to get the right stuff. Whole Grains/Fruits

Day 9-24 March

• Barely walk .20 in 30 mins-7 days a week
• Used inhaler cause my asthma to kick in 
• Daily stretch routine-7 days a week

Day 22-31 March

• NO inhaler needed!!!!!
• Walk .50 in 30 mins on treadmill 5 days a week
• Exercise machines 5 days a week
• Daily stretch routine 
• Walk 2 days a week at WORK

Day 1-15 April

• Walk .75 in 30 mins on treadmill 5 days a week
• Exercise machines 5 days a week
• Daily stretch routine 
• Walk 2 days a week at WORK

Day 15-30 April

• Walk 1.0 MILE/30 mins on treadmill 5 days a week
• Exercise machines 5 days a week
• Daily stretch routine 
• Walk 2 days a week at WORK

Day 1-15 May

• Walk .80 MILE/20 mins on treadmill 5 days
• Added stationary biking 10 mins/2 miles
• Exercise machines-free weight 5 days a week
• Daily stretch routine 
• Walk 2 days a week at WORK

Sick & Excercise Routine

Just great I am now sick w/ a head cold and it's working its way into a chest cold. So I am like drink alot of fluids including Gatorade the best part is having to drag a box of tissues every where since my nose will not stop running...
I have decided I don't want others sick so I have to skip the gym until better but I still need to walk every day and exercise my arms and legs..A month ago I bought a 3 pound weight (assuming I would use it however I have yet to try it out) well I went to the library and checked out some books on using weights to tone muscles so this is what I plan to do one side at time since I only got one weight should have bought 2 lesson learned..

Week 3 @ Gym

Let's talk about the gym experience...Well you sign up then go to your first day. You walk in and are like ok now what? You see all the people working out on treadmills, men flexing in front of the wall of mirrors and think to yourself Where do I start? What should I do first? & how do I do that or How to I turn this machine on? 

So I make my way to the treadmills as I need to walk for 30 mins per my Dietitian as I had been doing at work...So I hit the Quick start button and off I go walking for 15 mins... 
Then I don't just want to have strong legs I want to use my other muscles those ones that have not been used in years. So off to those circuit machines again I am like how do I use this machine? I start checking out the pictures on the machine that tell you how to use them but then the questions is how much weight to start w/ and how many reps per machine.. I can now see why people get intimidated w/ the Gym and gym equipment...
I will update as I go along...and tell you more about the gym experience...

Diet Pudding LOL

I wanted a homemade pudding I could make that was simple as in crockpot style.. For DD who is lactose intolerant well look no more I found it!!! I came across this recipe and had to try it out.. So I grabbed my 1 % milk and some tapioca that I had previous bought for another recipe for this type of pudding that failed badly from the Asian market place which carries lots of things cheaper then supermarkets I can get a big bag of it for under $2.00. So into my 4 quart crockpot went half the recipe so I didn't waste too much milk making this and if it failed I would only toss out some...Cost for me was quart of milk which was on sale $.99 (half used) and maybe for the $.25 of the tapioca cheaper.. So I cooked it for 2 hours stirring it half way thru and at 2 hours it was still very soupy.. But the recipe person stated it would be.. ( I was thinking just great another bowl of wasted stuff)  I let it set for awhile to get to warm added so sugar half a cup..Didn't want overly sweet..put in frig still not thick & let it cool.. I skipped the Egg part I was very worried it would taste eggy that happened w/ the last gross batch I had made!!

This is what I got this AM... Nice Thick Pudding !!! it needs more sugar but I want to try with a few different options so I will test it in a bowls (honey/truvia/vanilla simple syrup/more sugar) and find the one I like best... Guess what I see lots of pudding in my future & I can used 1% or Lactose milk for DD :O) ie I can have this pudding on my Diet plan.....Yielded 4 cups 
Cheaper then store bought 4 little cute cups.Last month Costco had organic tapioca pudding containers same size u get 2 for $7.99 I can see the savings in my future I love pudding...

 

Getting Healthier Part 3

The big E word..Exercise! Who me no way...Well part of the plan to lose weight is to get moving..I agreed to walk 3 days a week for 30 mins however I walk 7 days to keep me on track and I avoid allowing myself to say I will tomorrow... The dietitian said I could break the 30 mins into 15 mins time frames when I first start..I have daily stretches as well.

The first week was very hard for me. I was not so aware of being that out of shape & just walking for 15 mins was hard to breath & had to use my inhaler to get my breath but I keep trekking and completed the whole 30 mins..The first few days were hard since I had not stretched never but I keep pushing myself that I need to lose this weight not only for me but so I can be here for my daughter & not have to have her take care of me due to my weight (I never want her to have to wash me or help me dress)...I never want to be that person in a electric wheel chair due to not trying to loose weight..this is my motivation to keep eating better and exercising every day... 

I have been walking since March 9th and I feel better more energy every day I use to be so sleepy all the time. I no longer need my inhaler before or during walking.Plus my knee that was hurting on and off has stopped :O)

I started going to the Gym last week w/ DD she is joining me on this eating healthier & get moving more... 30 mins in the tread mill and 15-30 mins doing the circuit of machines..

Getting Healthier Part 2

Let's talk about the first few weeks...I started this on March 1st well that was tons of fun, Not trying to figure everything out and get ready as I work weekend so I put off getting ready until the next weekend when I had time to plan everything out and get ready (measuring/menus/walking routine planned out and try to create a few menus). But while I was getting ready to start I search the net for new recipes/what is a serving information.. The tools from Choose my Plate.gov really helped me figure out thing for servings. 
I am that type of person who can't really see the size of the palm of your hand? Say what??? My brain just don't workie that way.. same as 1 cup is a serving of broccoli have you ever tried to stuff broccoli into a 1 cup measure cup?? not pretty just kidding my that don't work for my brain either when I am trying to prep food I am more of a 12 mini carrots is a serving...So I was able to print cheat sheets for everything I needed to know...Veggie/Fruits//Dairy (Grains/Meats not working w/ these right now but later this month I will be so I printed those as well) and they are all in a quick grab binder near my kitchen..

I have allowed 1 junk food in my snack options not daily but I can have it a few times a week trail mix (choc chips/caramel chips/cranberries/almond & cashews) I limit this as well to 1/4 a cup and I have it ready in container (Tupperware style) .Started limiting my going out to eat we (DD & I ) can only go out one day a week to eat something like (fried chicken & Loaded french fries & soda ) not on my diet plan I must allow this so I will not get off track wanting to eat out 2-3 time a week that includes snacks or crap at the Quicktrip-- that is a gas station in our area (that I end up at sometime 2-4 time a day w/ my job so the temptation is there) I stay in the vehicle while everyone else goes inside to get junk. 

Menu Planning is a MUST for ME even if it's only one day at a time plan. I have changed a few things after week one due not being able to get all my required food items in....I work 4 days a week but I work very weird hours (3 AM-3PM or 3AM to 11 AM) and I work outside of an office building in a vehicle most of the days 2 of my days are 12 hours shift Sat & Sun and 2 are 8  hours shifts Mon & Tue. I have some challenges in when I can eat vs when I am hungry so I have been tweaking this more and I think I got a better plan for this week.. Here is an example of a what I was eating before I started this diet.  

215 AM- Whole Wheat Bagel w/ Almond butter and large cup of milk (1.5 cups with lots of ice) 

or  20 oz smoothie w/ 1.5 cup of yogurt/ fruit/half and half lots of ice

6 AM- 1/2 cup of steel cut oatmeal, 1/2 cup half & half ,brown sugar & cinnamon,and 1/2 cup of dried apples 

or I would go get Mexican Food 1 cup of Mexican rice & 1 cup of refried beans and a lunch bag size of tortilla chips w/ salsa...

11 AM-12 PM if I had Mexican I would still be full but if not the lunch, would be leftover something from the night before example would be a salad (croutons,ranch dressing, peppers, lettuce,cheese) and whole wheat spaghetti w/cheese and lots of veggies

2 PM Snack- Cookies (6 or more)
4-5 PM Dinner- Honey Mustard Chicken breast, loaded baked potato-sour cream-butter-green onions, broccolli

7 PM Snack- Huge bowl of ice cream w/ caramel sauce & cashews..  
To drink every day Lots of Tea w/ ice

Now I eat like this....
2 AM-Half a whole wheat bagel & 32 grapes
7 AM- Chicken Breast/cheese stick/6 carrots/4 whole wheat crackers
12 PM- 3 oz pudding cup-8 strawberries
4-5 PM 1/2 cup of whole wheat pasta/spaghetti sauce w/ extra 1/2 cup veggie / 4oz chicken breast w/1/4 cup of cheese and then 1 cup of salad w/ veggie

To drink every day Lots of Tea w/ ice

I changed the breakfast to get my fruit serving in everyday right off the bat and to skip the extra breakfast so that I can have lunch as I was usually to full at lunch time...& then I was to full at dinner some days as well due to all the snacking or junk I ate...

Getting Healthier Part 1

I am posting this here for ME to remind me why I must do this and to keep me on track.. This is part of who I am and what I need to do to help me set small goals and reach them blogging will help me and maybe someone else as well..
I starting off the first of the year w/ getting health insurance and getting into seeing the Doctor. Having everything checked from head to toe it is taking longer due to see various Doctors to make sure I am healthier...

So the after checking out various things I was ready to see the 
Dietitian to help me get going and monitor things for me...So I have..:O) Guess what I am overweight LOL really I didn't know!! Just kidding I have been overweight for as long as I can remember even at before age 12...why do I know this do I worn boys jeans (called husky size)

First step in this get healthier diet plan for me was to set a small goal I didn't want to set goals I can't reach so I starting w/ 27 so I can get under a certain number I must reach... then I will start on the next 20 pounds or whatever but the first is important to me...

2nd step was increase my eating healthier foods as well as getting right amounts for what I should be eating as I was not eating correctly.. so 3 simple changes to start this month was 

Increase dairy to 2-3 servings a day
Increase fruit to 2 everyday
Increase veggies to 2 cups per day

3rd step was get moving- the big E word.....Exercise..   Every day I must follow a simple stretch routine that the Dietitian gave me..I needed per the Dietitian was to walk 30 mins... This will be new for me the goal that I said to the Dietitian that I would walk 3 days a week to start...Well I decided that would not work for me so I started walking every DAY for 30 mins...so I wouldn't say oh I will tomorrow no excuses!!!!