Witch Baby's Journey: February 2009

How many sections do I need?

Dividers organize information and make it easy to find what you need ... fast!

I have listed some divider sections for you and will (hopefully, cross your fingers) get my versions of documents up some where for you to use.

Schedule - To start your Household Notebook, begin with the basics: planning and time management. Claim your time with a Schedule! What belongs here? Calendars, schedules and to-do lists direct the course of family life. In-depth planning tools, like mission statements or goal planning worksheets, do the hard work of translating goals to reality. Use a three-hole punch to add work schedules, school calendars and events lists for church and civic activities.
Phone - Calling all phone numbers! The Phone Directory is the most useful, most-consulted section of any Household Notebook. The Phone Directory is a single place to put class rosters, take-out phone numbers, club directories, emergency phone numbers and phone messages. No more scraps of paper, missing numbers or scribbled phone books! Organize it in a way that make sense to you. I personally have EVERY person / place / thing filed under the name that I call it and the actual name. In the event you just can't remember who Uncle Jellyfish is.
Family - Family is where the heart is--and deserves its own divider. This section tracks information needs of family members and family life:
- personal information page for each family member
- clothing sizes tracker
- master occasions list (birthdays, anniversaries)
- gift suggestion list
- birthday party ideas
- recommended Web sites
- list of DVD/videos to rent
- list of books to read
- library information
School - Families with school-aged children will want to add a school divider to hold
- school schedules and holiday list
- lunch menus (BENTO IDEAS)
- carpool schedule
- school information page
- school reading lists
- homeschool records
- summer programs information.
Home Management Divider - Bring it all back home! The Home Management divider holds information central to house and home. Cleaning, entertaining, decorating and household storage information find a home here. Consider these ideas for the Home Management divider:
- household cleaning schedule
- seasonal chore checklists
- children's chore checklists
- home inventory
- home decorating ideas (I actually have a style book that has this in it)
- party planners (I've got another book)
- car maintenance schedule
- stain removal guide
- recycling locations
- home storage inventory
- yard sale checklist
Meals and Menus - In the kitchen, the Household Notebook helps plan meals, create menus, and track inventory in pantry and freezer. Use this section to hold grocery shopping lists and price book forms for maximum savings at the super market.
Money and Finance - Tracking dollars and cents makes sense, so add a Money and Finance divider to your Household Notebook. Keep track of household finances with budget pages, inventory sheets and household informaiton.
- budget/spending record
- bills to pay
- credit card list
- online service/online account information
- home inventory
- insurance information
- safety deposit box inventory
- utilities/services directory
- magazine subscriptions
- warranty information
- vehicle records
- Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness - Have a medical emergency? Grab the Household Notebook on the way to the Emergency Room. Visit to the pediatrician? Use this section to record illnesses, medication and medical history.
- diet trackers
- blood pressure record
- first aid kit checklist
- medical information sheet for each family member
- emergency directory
- medical authorization form
- prescription drug record
- insurance information
- pet health records
- Travel and Activities
Travel and Activities - covers the extra-curricular activities that make life worthwhile. Hobby, church, club, sports, volunteer, vacation and travel ideas are included here.Your Household Notebook may have several dividers for this purpose. Are you part of a musical chorale? Give it a divider. Do the children play serious soccer? Divide it up! What belongs in these sections? Any and every piece of paper pertaining to that activity.
- Phone Tree lists.
- Sports information sheets.
- picnic planner
- travel packing checklist
- before-we-leave checklist
- camping checklist
- vacation idea list
- house-sitter information sheet
- PTA newsletters and rosters

Making A Household Notebook

To create your family's Household Notebook, start with a three-ring binder, some clear page protectors, paper and tabbed dividers.

Using tabbed dividers from the office supply store, set up dividers according to your family's needs. Remember, each family grows their own family organizer; expect divider categories to change along with your family. I've listed some suggestion, but your family is unique, so your dividers will reflect that. Be sure to place a few page protectors behind each divider section.

Next, get printing. At a minimum, your Household Notebook will need calendars, phone and address forms and lined blank pages; form-a-holics may go whole hog and print until the wee hours. Add the forms you need to each divider section.

Pretty cover and spine inserts can be used with a clear-view binder, or glued to the front and spine of your binder. They'll help keep you motivated - and make it easy to find your notebook in a crowded bookcase.

Once the dividers and page protectors are in place and you've added calendars and basic forms, you're ready to begin.

Gather all scattered slips and scraps of paper: pizza menus and business cards, school hand-outs and church bulletins, class schedules and scout camp brochures. Enter information in the Notebook, writing phone numbers on the correct phone directory pages, punching and filing club calendars, slipping magazine articles into page protectors.

Be creative! Add dividers that express your household's priorities and needs. A freezer cooking divider stores recipes, instructions and reheating information for the results of a once-a-month cooking session. Planning home improvement projects? Add a divider, and store snips and swatches in page protectors. Use Master To-Do and Daily To-Do lists in any divider to keep track of ongoing projects and goals, while blank lined pages hold information not covered by a specific form.

Keep your Household Notebook near the family's main telephone and family calendar to guide family activities and decisions. Cupcake request from the Cub Scout den mother? Note it on the calendar, and add the ingredients to the shopping list. Planning a Friday-night date with your spouse? Open the folder to the Babysitter's Information page and review the information with the babysitter before you leave the house.

Household Notebook

Unlike a personal planner, which is designed for use by one person, a household notebook or family organizer serves as "command central" for your entire family. While each family's organizer will be unique because you're family is unique, they almost always start as simple three-ring notebooks with several divider sections.

Most household notebooks will include a telephone and message section, a divider for schedules, clubs or volunteer activities, travel, home management and finance. sections, medical information, and personal records like gift list and clothing size charts. Because they're infinitely expandable, household notebooks become as distinctive as the family that uses them.

A family with school-aged children involved in dance, music and sports will include organizer sections for rehearsal and practice schedules, summer activity ideas and video to-rent lists.

A military family may include a large section on moving or hometown docs.

At-home and homeschooling parents often add personal and family schedules to coordinate life with young children.

A two-career couple with pre-school children may add babysitter and day care dividers and an emergency telephone list to their household notebook.

Empty nesters will rely on packing checklists for vacations, home repair records and gift suggestion lists for far-flung. children.

Bento 30 - Left Overs from the Bento Box Place

Left overs - Fried Rice, 4 pieces of california roll, 2 pork chop skewers, and some tereyaki chicken.

Added to meal - 2 Apple Bunnies (hiding in the corners), some carrot sticks for a snack, and the last of the "Lucas" cupcakes (went over to mom's and baked with him on Thursday - I brought home 4 cupcakes - can you figure out who ate them?)

Wow - looking at the picture - it's kinda monochromatic isn't it, hmmm?

Funday - instead of Friday

I got off work a little early today (friday) cause it was extremely SLOW. Ran over to Target and got my Bedtime tea and some printer ink. (Hopefully will be adding new "layers" to the blog with a section on the Household Notebook and another on personal health soon, but that is a post for another day) Finally found a BB&T ATM that will accept a deposit (why are all of them broken) and got the cash to pay a bill and headed home.

Jim(DH) stayed out of work today due to a sprained ankle and achy back. So he said he wanted to just hang out around the house.

Well Cin was outside yakking(LOL) on the phone when I pulled into the park so of course I stopped to harrass her. We fussed about the kooky neighbors and what not. Then I needed to get home and Cin said she would come over in a bit.

Cin, Jim and myself (okay so I was staying up late again) were watching Space Buddies and I looked at the clock and it was 11:15a. Since Cin didn't have to pick up O til after 2p and I was already staying up late - we all decided to fly to the Bento Box Place today (yes the restuarant has a real name - it is Matsuris Restaurant, 1940 Skibo Rd Fayetteville (910) 826-9900).

Meal was wonderful as usual. Miso Soup, Salad with the super yummy sesame dressing, California Rolls, Tereyaki Chicken, Fried Rice, and some sort of skewered pork chop that was fried with onions.

Then we went over to Joe Mugg's for coffee - I was not impressed with the service or the beverages today. I must say howevere that I like Joe's cause you can sit outside and smoke (well I don't anymore but Jim & Cin do) and hang out and chat for a while.

After that - DH & I headed to Wally World - not to pick up anything special just to hang out a bit. I got a "Think Green" shirt and DH got a "Kiss me I'm Irish" one for St Patty's Day (of course I can wear mine year round cause I'm going green)

And we picked up some small tennis balls for the Divo puppy

And I got a new Portable Pilates Studio today (not so much for the Pilates aspect but for the bonus arm work out). I figure it will be an easy way to add some more exercise to my time at work. I've got to get a lot more serious about getting healthy or else I'm going to start feeling like I'm just wasting my time.

"Our Portable Pilates Studio lets you perform reformer-style movements without heavy equipment. Use it for personal training or at home. Two 30" long resitance tubes are attached to each side of a bar which allow you to perform a variety of movements utilizing the attached foot straps. The bar disassembles for easy storage. The Portable Pilates Studio comes complete with an easy to follow workout DVD." Box Blurb

Bento 29 - This little piggy

Hehehe - I tried to make pink onigiri piggies - didn't work so good. But the Garlic Pork Stir Fry is absolutely yummy.

10 Strategies for permanent weight loss

1 - Exercise is essential for weight loss
It's nothing new, but exercise is probably the most important predictor of whether you will succeed at long term weight loss and weight loss maintenance. In order for exercise to be helpful in weight loss, you should strive for a minimum of five 30 minute sessions per week. The good news is that recent research has shown that three 10 minute sessions in a day are as good as one 30 minute session. This helps many in combating the old "no time for exercise" excuse. Be certain to find something you enjoy. You'll be more apt to stick with it. Try walking with a friend, joining an intramural sports league, participating in outings with a group like The Sierra Club, or trying some classes at your local gym. Once you give exercise a chance, you will begin to enjoy its positive benefits on your psyche as well; you will literally become "hooked."

2 - Weight loss and weight training
This is listed separately from the "exercise" category because of the significant weight loss benefits attached to weight training in and of itself. The basic equation is this: the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn. This is why world class weight lifters must eat thousands of calories a day to maintain their weight. Muscle is active tissue, fat is not. Thus, muscle "burns" a significant number of calories each day for its own maintenance. In her book Strong Women Stay Slim, Miriam Nelson, a Tufts University researcher, showed that a group of women who followed a weight loss diet and did weight training exercises lost 44% more fat than those who only followed the diet. While aerobic activity can help burn calories, muscle's where it's at when it comes to giving your metabolism a significant daily boost even at rest.

3 - Keep a diary for triggers that hinder weight loss
Keeping a food diary can be a huge asset in successful weight loss. Devote some time each day to record what you have eaten and how much, your hunger level prior to eating, and any feelings or emotions present at the time. A food diary can provide a large amount of self-awareness. It can identify emotions and behaviors that trigger overeating, foster greater awareness of portion sizes, and help you discover your personal food triggers. Study any patterns that emerge from your food diary and identify where you may be able to make more healthful changes. A food diary provides an added benefit of keeping you focused on and committed to your goals.

4 - Stay focused on being healthy, not on becoming thin
Many people become more successful at long term weight loss when their motivation changes from wanting to be thinner to wanting to be healthier. Change your mindset to think about selecting foods that will help your body's health rather than worrying about foods that will affect your body's weight. The Food Pyramid offers a basic outline of the types and amounts of food you should eat each day to give your body the nutrients it needs for optimal health.

5 - Find out why you overeat
All too often overeating is triggered by stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, depression and other emotions. Learning to deal with emotions without food is a significant skill that will greatly serve long term weight control. The Solution, a book and national program developed by Laurel Mellin, RD, helps participants to identify their eating triggers and respond to them without food. A research study showed that the participants in this program demonstrated a better rate of long term weight loss maintenance than those who simply diet and/or exercise and don't address behavioral and emotional issues. Chronic over-eaters and "emotional eaters" can be significantly helped by learning new behavioral skills such as those Mellin presents. You can also seek help with behavioral and emotional eating issues from a licensed counselor or psychologist in your area.

6 - Weight loss support: join a weight management group
A big key in long term weight control comes from receiving encouragement and support from others. You can check to see if groups such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers offer programs and resources in your areas. You may also wish to check with your local hospital to see if their registered dietitian conducts group weight loss programs.

7 - Weight loss and portion control
With the advent of "super-size" meals and increasingly huge portions at restaurants, our concept of normal serving sizes is a distant memory. Be mindful of the amounts of food you consume at a sitting. When necessary, divide your food in half and ask for a take home bag. It is all too easy to be a "plate cleaner" even when served enormous portions. Learn to pay attention to your hunger level and stop eating when you feel comfortably full, not stuffed.

8 - Lose weight slowly with small changes
Try to remember that "losing 15 pounds in two weeks" is nothing to celebrate. It is important to realize that the more quickly weight is lost, the more likely the loss is coming from water and muscle, not fat. Since muscle tissue is critical in keeping our metabolism elevated, losing it actually leads to a decrease in the amount of calories we can each day without gaining weight. Fat loss is best achieved when weight is lost slowly. Strive for a weight loss of no more than 1-2 pounds per week. One pound of weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. By making small changes like eliminating 250 calories a day from food and expending 250 calories a day from exercise, you can lose one pound (of mostly fat) per week.

9 - Eating slowly can lead to weight loss
Did you ever notice that thin people take an awfully long time to eat their food? Eating slowly is one method that can help take off pounds. That's because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minute signal has had a chance to set in. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary significantly depending on how quickly you eat. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy and savor every tasty morsel.

10 - Weight loss through eating less fat - but do it wisely
It's been known for some time that limiting high fat foods in the diet can be helpful with weight loss. That's because fats pack in 9 calories per gram compared to only 4 calories per gram from proteins or carbohydrates. To many, the message to limit fats implied an endorsement to eat unlimited amounts of fat-free products. Just to clarify, fat-free foods have calories too. In some cases fat-free foods have as many calories as their fat laden counterparts. If you eat more calories than your body uses, you will gain weight. Eating less fat will help you to lose weight. Eating less fat and replacing it with excessive amounts of fat-free products will not.

Bento 28 - Snack box

So I didn't feel like any one thing tonight - so there is a mixture of a whole bunch of different things in the box.

Apple bunnies, strawberry hearts, and kiwi stars to eat with yogurt.
Maki (sushi w/o rice) with ginger.
Celery sticks, baby carrots, and cherry tomatoes.
Cheese crowns and hammy high heels to eat with crackers.
And dessert sugar free strawberry jam and angel food cake.

Hit Play

Make yourself a new playlist of relaxing tunes, and hit "PLAY" whenever you're stressed - great for waiting rooms, crowded trains, and long lines.

Recap 2-16 to 2-22

Summary

Monday - Off no Bento tonight

Tuesday - Off again

Wednesday - Not a bento - but it was my lunch

Thursday - 11pts total

Friday - Up way longer than expected today - went over to mom's after work and baked a birthday cake w/Lucas for his mommy.

Saturday - Free hand scultped sticky rice rabbit w/ginger for ears & nose, cucumber for eyes & mouth -> I'm glad I woke up early.

Sunday - Off work & today is my brother in law's birthday.

Bento 27 - Jack Face

A jacked up version of Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas.

Bento 26 - BBQ Chicken & Stuffing

Bento 25 - Smiley Salad

And yet another "face"

John Birthday Cake

Yet another Lucas pick - at least this one is closer to the mark - Dad works on cars.

Lucas and Aunt Win baked & decorated this cake just for his daddy.

Bento 24 - Spaghetti & Salad

No picture - my phone died - argument from the depths of hatred - picture the bento from 2-16 Manicotti - now sub spaghetti. That is it

Bento 23 - Crock Pot Chicken Paella

Love Doesn't Have to Hurt

Finding help from domestic abuse

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…” The opening line of Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities is how my friend Anna used to describe her relationship with her live-in boyfriend Mark. “When things are good, they’re amazing!” she said. “But when they’re bad, they’re brutal.” It wasn’t just that Anna and Mark fought often, it was the fact that when Mark got angry, he was also violent. Anna kept this fact hidden for a long time, ashamed that she was the one to provoke him - that in some way, his hitting her was her fault. The last time I saw Anna she couldn’t hide this anymore; she was wearing a scarf around her neck to cover the bruises where Mark had tried to strangle her.

As you’ve heard by now, domestic violence can happen to anyone—even Rihanna. How Chris Brown could even think to hit his girl, is beyond me. Anger should never reach the level where it gets physical. The fact that he made threats to kill her, too, cannot be taken back. Chris Brown is just like every other punk who thinks it’s ok to hurt the person he claims to love, he’s a liar. Abuse isn’t love.

Each year, 5.3 million women are the victims of domestic abuse, and 1,232 of those women will lose their lives because of it. Living with an abuser makes it harder to leave because you have to leave everything - but it’s not impossible. Since its inception in 1996, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has helped two million families across the United States and in Puerto Rico. Each day, NDVH receives over 600 calls from people who are being abused, or who know someone who is. By making a donation to the organization or volunteering to take calls, you can help support victims of abuse and save lives.

When I told Anna that what Mark was doing to her was abuse, that he could seriously hurt her and even kill her, she looked at me as if I was being dramatic. “I’m not going to call the cops on him,” she said. “We might still be able to work things out.” But I knew that they couldn’t and that they shouldn’t. This was the second time he’d injured her. The first time, Mark hit Anna so hard she couldn’t stop her ear from ringing, affecting her balance and causing her to fall every time she tried to stand. Mark wasn’t going to change, but Anna could change her situation. She could leave him, I told her. She could stay with me, or go to a safe house in town. At the safe house Mark couldn’t find her, most of all he couldn’t harm her.

By calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline, a victim of abuse can be connected with resources in their area, specifically a safe house. “Emergency shelter is a safe and nurturing environment a place to heal, to regain your sense of self, and to learn to create a life free of violence and abuse,” says NDVH. “Emergency Shelter is available to women for whom safety and confidentiality is necessary.” Safe houses are also a great resource for battered women who need a place for their children to be protected from abuse as well.

“Everyone has heard the songs about how much love can hurt. But that doesn't mean physical harm: Someone who loves you should never abuse you,” says Michelle New, PhD. “Abuse has no place in love.” I wish Anna could have realized this before she went back home to Mark that night.

If you are being abused, or know someone who is, please get help.
National Domestic Violence 24 Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Protect Yourself Online From Your Attacker: Internet Safety
Make A Safety Plan To Get Out Immediately

Chocolate Fondue

5 ounces of chocolate, chopped.
1 cup of cocoa powder, sifted.
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar.
1 1/4 cups of water.
3/4 of cup heavy cream, plus.
1/4 of cup corn syrup.
1 tablespoon of heavy cream.

Your choice of cake, cut into bite-sized pieces.
Your choice of fruit, also cut into bite-sized pieces.

Sift the cocoa into a mixing bowl and then set aside.
Put the water, sugar and corn syrup in a pot and bring to boil.
Simmer for about 15 minutes, until the sugar solution has reduced by about 30%.
Pour the cocoa powder into the solution and blend with a whisk until smooth.
Return the chocolate mixture to the stove and continue cooking over a medium heat.
Add the heavy cream; bring to boil and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped chocolate.
Pour into a fondue pot and keep warm.

Garlic Potato Pie

Ingredients:
1 lb of scrubbed boiling potatoes.
6 cloves fresh garlic, sliced finely.
1 cup of milk.
¼ cup of breadcrumbs.
3 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese.
3 tablespoons of butter.

Preparation Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 380°F (180°C).

Slice potatoes thinly.
Butter a 9-inch pie plate.
Arrange a layer of potatoes, garlic slices, parmesan and slices of butter.
Repeat using the rest of the ingredients (other than the milk), saving some of the cheese and the butter.
Heat the milk and pour over top of the potatoes.
Top with bread crumbs and remaining cheese and butter.
Bake for 1 hour, until the potatoes are tender and top has turned golden brown.

Recap 2-9 to 2-15

Summary

Monday - Off no - Bento tonight - Short Sweet little full moon rite

Tuesday - Jim helped me cook tonight

Wednesday -

Thursday -

Friday - Friday the 13th & I didn't get any sleep today. Off work, head to Starbucks for coffee with Cin, then we rushed to O's school for her Valentine dance - too sweet her mother & I got to waltz with her, then it's off and running to GiGi's (aka Mom's) house to bake cupcakes with my favorite little boy. And he actually HELPED this time. Run mom to wally world to pick up all her V day needs, then back to the rents to decorate cupcakes w/the little guy.

Saturday - Valentine's Day - forgot all about my

Sunday -

Bento 22 - Manicotti & Salad

Hope your valentine was good

Hmmm, I wonder which is better.

-My Mom gave me a beautiful card with chocolate,coffee, a hug & kiss.
-My Husband bought the purse I wanted, a cute little rain gauge, added a hug, some kiss, and a homemade breakfast.
-My Puppy got me a little stuffed animal that says I wuff you.
-My Nephew gave me a pretty card, a kiss, & a cupcake.
-My Dad sent me Beautiful flowers and called to tell me I was his girl.

What did you get? Hmmmm, nothing - did you get a phone call, from your dad, your mom, your husband, your lover, your "buddy", your baby daddy, your sister, your kid? No, how nice.

Yet you sit there and smirk at me - trying to make me feel inferior because my life is good. You tell me that you don't need to be loved or cuddled or "looked after" yet jump in the sack with any one with money. Please child - I've never been that desperate.

And trust me - it's not because you are hotter than me (as if) or skinnier then me
(that is at least true) - it's because you fall on your back and spread your legs for any dick (and some janes) that cross your path.

I'm more interested in forging life long commitments to friendship & love, not a life long commitment to Valtrex or worse.

Have a great day.

Fake Bento - Cheese & Crackers

Bento 20 - Crispy Chicken Salad

All packed up -
1st layer (Large) - Romaine Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Bacon Bits, Cheese & Hard Boiled Egg
2nd layer (smaller) - croutons (square) - Chicken Tenders
3rd layer (round) - Dressing (bag) 2 little cripsy crunchy rolls
And of course my water!!!

Cindy said my meals need to smile more - does this count?!?!

And this is all put together (I'm a dipper when it comes to salad dressing - it stays in it's little container)

This was a really fast and easy Bento - The rolls & the chicken came from a bag (just toss in the oven), one head of romaine chopped up, eggs were in the fridge already - Shredded cheese and some bacon bits round it out.

Bento 19 - It's a Chicken no a Duck

Tried to make a chicken - looks more like a duck

Bento 18 - Take Out Stirfry

Use left over steak from dinner out and turn it into stir fry

Bento 17 - Tempura Chicken

Recap 2-2 to 2-8

Summary - I'm a forgetful twit and didn't make up the weekly challenge reports!

Monday - Off no Bento tonight

Tuesday - Off again

Wednesday - Not a bento - but it was my lunch

Thursday - 11pts total

Friday - Up way longer than expected today - went over to mom's after work and baked a birthday cake w/Lucas for his mommy.

Saturday - Free hand scultped sticky rice rabbit w/ginger for ears & nose, cucumber for eyes & mouth -> I'm glad I woke up early.

Sunday - Off work & today is my sister's Birthday!!!!

Small Change

Try to remember that "losing 15 pounds in two weeks" is nothing to celebrate. It is important to realize that the more quickly weight is lost, the more likely the loss is coming from water and muscle, not fat. Since muscle tissue is critical in keeping our metabolism elevated, losing it actually leads to a decrease in the amount of calories we can each day without gaining weight. Fat loss is best achieved when weight is lost slowly. Strive for a weight loss of no more than 1-2 pounds per week. One pound of weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. By making small changes like eliminating 250 calories a day from food and expending 250 calories a day from exercise, you can lose one pound (of mostly fat) per week. You can calculate how much time you need to exercise to burn 250 calories by clicking here. You can calculate your caloric needs by clicking here, and then subtract 250 from that number.

Bento 16 - It's a Bunny

Free hand scultped sticky rice rabbit w/ginger for ears & nose, cucumber for eyes & mouth -> I'm glad I woke up early. 4pts

Baby bak choy blanched w/sea salt 0pts (under the rabbit)
Carrots & celery 0pts
Maki 8pts
Cherries 1pt (not pictured)

Bento 15 - Grilled Chicken Salad

Chicken karaage

2-4 boneless chicken thighs, depending on how big they are
A piece of fresh ginger about the size of your thumb, grated
3 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs sake or sherry
cornstarch
peanut oil for deep frying (you can use another kind of oil; I just prefer peanut oil)

Cut up the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. You can take off the skin if you like, though it does make the chicken crispier.

Put the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add the grated ginger, soy sauce and sake, and mix well. Let marinate for a minimum of 1/2 hour, and up to about 1 hour (not too long or the salt in the soy sauce will toughen up the chicken.)

Heat the oil. Toss in enough cornstarch into the marinated chicken so that each piece is completely coated. Fry the chicken pieces a few at a time until a deep golden brown.

Drain well, and eat with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Bento 14 - Perogi & Veggies

Steamed veggies & Perogi - yummy!!!
But still not veg - I added meatballs and a hardboiled egg.
Top with a banana for a snack and you have a good meal.

Points 11pts total

Fake Bento - Lunch in a Box

French Bread

Sponge

1 cup cool-lukewarm water
1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/4 cups unbleached flour.
1/4 cup white or whole wheat flour

Stir ingredients together to make a thick mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let set at room temperature overnight, or for 2-16 hours.

Dough for French bread
All of the sponge starter (above)
1 cup lukewarm water
3/4 tsp yeast
1 tbsp sugar
3 3/4 to 4 cups unbleached flour
1 tbsp kosher salt

Stir sponge, add water, yeast, 3 1/3 cups of the flour and salt. Mix. Dough will be loose. Let rest for about 12 minutes, then knead for 10 to 12 minutes. Add the held-back flour as needed.

Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with both lightly greased plastic wrap and a damp cloth, and rise until almost doubled.

After rising, deflate dough but be gentle so as to retain some of the bubbles. The bubbles will make the holes that you want in recipe French bread.

Rise the dough for on a cookie sheet sprinkled with flour or cornmeal.

Tip: For better results, and to get that authentic recipe French bread with deep ridges and a dusting of flour around the middle, I recommend that you use a dough rising basket (lightly dusted with flour.) . The Frieling Oval Brotform Bread Mold 10.5" x 7" is a good choice.

Rise the dough for recipe French bread until almost doubled and puffy looking. When risen, make slashes across the top of the bread -- but gently, so as not to deflate.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, placing your baking stone in the oven to preheat also. When ready, gently place recipe French bread dough on the stone, seam side down.

Spray water into the oven. A plant sprayer works fine.

Place your bread in the oven, reduce heat to 425 degrees, and spray with water every few minutes for 15 minutes. Stop spraying and bake for an additional 10 or 15 minutes, or until done.

Enjoy your recipe French bread. It's especially delicious served with a soft French cheese like the aged Mimolette.

Ropa Vieja

This Cuban stew is made by braising beef until it can be shredded—thus the name (translated as "old clothes"). Serve with tortillas, and pass hot sauce on the side for those who like it fiery. Because the meat is shredded, it's also suitable for tacos and burritos.

Yield
8 servings (serving size: about 3/4 cup) about 5pts per serving of meat

Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 (1-pound) flank steaks, trimmed
3 cups thinly vertically sliced red onion
2 cups red bell pepper strips (about 2 peppers)
2 cups green bell pepper strips (about 2 peppers)
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 tablespoons thinly sliced pitted green olives
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons sherry vinegar
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon no-salt-added tomato paste
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add 1 steak to pan; cook 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove steak from pan. Repeat procedure with cooking spray and remaining steak.

Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, bell peppers, and garlic to pan; cook 7 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in olives and next 5 ingredients (through black pepper); cook 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in vinegar, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; cook for 2 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in broth, tomato paste, and bay leaves. Add steaks; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and cook 1 1/2 hours or until steaks are very tender. Discard bay leaves.

Remove steaks from pan; shred with two forks. Stir shredded beef and cilantro into pan.

Nutritional Information
Calories:229 (36% from fat)
Fat:9.1g (sat 3.4g,mono 3.9g,poly 0.6g)
Protein:26g
Carbohydrate:9.6g
Fiber:2g
Cholesterol:40mg
Iron:2.4mg
Sodium:614mg
Calcium:53mg

Recap 1-26 to 2-1

Summary
Going Deeper: I did not make a single trip to the grocery store this week & I incorporated left overs several times. No veggie boxes as of yet, maybe in the upcoming weeks. Average cost of eating lunch out $7.50.

Weight Loss: Did not actually lose any weight this week (in fact gained a pound) BUT I lost inches in total body fat gone and that makes me happy. (The reason I'm giving for the difference - I worked out - a lot this week.

Monday - I was off work - so no Bento today. I did however bake my mother a birthday cake. Hmm, do you think she liked the train? Today is Mom's birthday!!!

Tuesday - Beef Fried Rice was a mixture of freezer food and repurposing left overs. I had fried rice in the freezer and added the remainder of my steak from Jim's b-day dinner and then quick fried everything. Bento cost $2.42.

Wednesday - Hmm not as cheap, but really tasty coming in at $4.55.

Thursday - This was a pure left over meal - absolutely no cost. I fixed what (2 months) ago would have been a typical meal for me & DH, then split it up.