Italian Seasoned Chicken! Super easy!

Take some boneless, skinless chicken breast and place in your crock pot.

Grab a package of  Good Seasons Italian dry salad dressing mix and sprinkle over the chicken.  A serving of this dressing is 0 Weight Watchers Points Plus.

Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.

Turns out tender and yummy!

Lettuce, how do you keep it fresh?

Since I have been talking about the food co-op so much the last few days, I thought I would post my tip on how to keep lettuce fresh.

Roll out about 3 sheets of paper towels and place the lettuce on one end of the sheets.

Now roll your lettuce up in paper towels.  You will want to do it pretty tight.

Then place in a plastic sack and put in your fridge's crisper.

Your lettuce will last for weeks and weeks.  I have some in the fridge right now that is 6 weeks old and still good.

For the first time ever I am a guest blogger!

I am so excited to be a guest blogger over at one of my favorite food blogs Domessticated!

Over at Domessticated, I have posted the instructions on how to pick up your food from the co-op Bountiful Baskets.  So go over to Domessticated and read all about it.  While you are there be sure to look at all of her amazing food ideas and recipes.  You will love this blog!  Thank you Tyra for letting me be a guest on your blog and answering all my questions about the guest blogging world.  Your the best!

Food Co-op / Bountiful Basket! Ordering Instructions!

I love, love, love participating in the food co-op.  For $15.00 I can get a ton of fruit and veggies.  For a bit more I can add on some of the 1 point amazing 9 grain bread.  Have you wanted to participate, but are overwhelmed when you go to their website to order?  I was when I started.  If it wasn't for my cute niece Niki, I would probably still be trying to figure out how to do it.  Well today I am here to help!

Step by step instructions on ordering your basket:

1. Go to http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/
2. Click on a little tab under the header called “register”.
3. Complete the form and click on “submit”.

Once you are registered, complete the following steps:

1. Wait to order until Monday at 10:00 AM for Utah.  For all other States ordering starts at Noon.  You only have until Tuesday to order, so hurry, because supplies are limited and they run out fast.
2. Go to http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/.  On the far left there will be a clip of a basket under the words “Offerings”.  Click on that basket.  It will take you to a current offering screen.  Click on “get my basket” under your state.  If you get to the website before 10 AM or noon (which ever time your state does it) the offering will not be there.  At this point you will log in and Bountiful Baskets will take you to an offer screen.
3. Complete the form by first selecting the county you want to pick your basket up in followed by the site you want to go to.
4. Choose how many baskets you want (3 is the limit).  If this is your first time basket you must pay a one time fee of $3.00.  Do you want to upgrade to an organic basket for 10 extra dollars?  Warning about the organic basket -- it is smaller, you pay more, and get about ½ of what you would expect when compared with a normal basket.  There are also add-ons.  I get the 9 grain bread.  It is absolutely delicious and it is very inexpensive.  To top it all off, it is only 1 weight watchers Point Plus per slice!  Yes this is the bread I ALWAYS talk about!
5. Press Submit.  Please note once you do this you are committed to the basket.  They do not offer refunds and if something comes up and you can’t pick it up, you are just out of luck.  Notice the handling fee of $1.50.  You have to pay this every time.
6. Click on checkout.  Enter your payment information.  Click on submit.  This will then take you to a thank you screen.
7. Click on "Printer Friendly Version" and print (top left under header).  Save the printout for your pick up day.

Don't forget to remember the date and time to pick your food up.

This is all the fruit I got on my last visit to the co-op.  Awesome right?  Wait we are not done...

We can't forget about the vegetables.  All of this for 15 bones and 0 Weight Watcher's Points Plus.  Amazing!

Come on over to my blog on Monday!  I will have the instructions posted on how to pick up your basket.
Update:  I will be posting the pickup instructions on Tuesday instead of Monday.

Fat Friday!

Gotta love those double chins!

Peaches and Oatmeal!

I had some peaches laying around so I decided to throw them into my oatmeal.

1/4 cup of oatmeal (2 points)

1/2 cup of water

1 peach

Splenda (or other sweetener)

Dice up your peach and put into a microwaveable cereal bowl.  Add the oatmeal water and stir.

Microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds.  Add your sweetener, stir and enjoy!

MMM so good!

Finger Paint Fun!

Look at these beautiful colors.  Don't you just want to dip your fingers in and paint?  Are you wondering why I am posting about finger paint?  Well, the other day I made up a batch of finger paint for the little people and I ended up having a blast.  Finger paint has a unique texture to it and when I dipped my fingers in the paint it brought back so many memories of being a kid.

This was a fun activity for the kids and I to do together and it was 0 Weight Watchers Point Plus (haha).  I know someone that had a drug addiction and to over come it they colored in coloring books.  I'd rather finger paint to get my mind off of my addiction (food).

Do you want to make finger paint for your kids to play with?  Here is how:

Grab some food coloring, corn starch and water.

1/4 C. Cornstarch

3 1/2 C. Boiling Water

1/2 C. Cold Water

Food Coloring

Dissolve cornstarch in 1/2 cup of cold water and set aside.  In a pot, boil water, gradually add the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.  Add the food coloring and mix.  Cool mixture completely and paint.

This recipe made enough paint for me to divide into 6 bowls so the little people had a good variety of colors.  They had enough for the 3 of them plus leftovers.  Have a blast!

Corn! Don't forget it!

I forget all about fresh corn on the cob because it is not a 0 Weight Watchers Points Plus food.  Well, don't forget about it!!!!  It is so delicious and only 2 Points Plus for  about a 7" cob.

I have my favorite boy that always likes to help me cook.  In favorite boy's therapy his therapist has him prepare a lot of vegetables, so at home he is in charge of all vegetables and calls himself the "Sue Chef".  So favorite boy husked all the corn for me (yes he made a huge mess).

One of the biggest mistakes people make with corn is the amount of time they let it boil.  I hate overcooked corn on the cob (you know like at KFC).  After your water comes to a boil, only cook it for 5 minutes.  Promptly take it out, don't let it sit in the hot water because it is still cooking.

Momma taught me a trick years ago and I have modified it.  You may want to keep this a secret because people will think you ALWAYS pick the best corn.

Put 3 packs of  sugar free sweetener in your boiling water!  You will have the BEST corn ever!

Put some spray butter, salt and pepper on and ENJOY!

Body Image...

Have you ever seen a photo or a video of yourself and thought "oh my gosh I had no clue I looked like that"?  Have you ever said to yourself "I always look bigger in pictures or on video? When I was at my all time high weight I had no clue how I really looked.  I didn't see myself as big as I was.  I  knew I was obese, but didn't really grasp how my appearance was.  Looking back on old photos, I now realize that it was not just the photo's that appeared to make me bigger, it was just the real me.

So I sit here and wonder why now that I have lost so much weight do I still see the image of an obese me?   I know it sounds crazy and I know I look a ton better.  You can't lose over 130lbs and not look better, but something is making me see myself differently.  I guess it is a mind thing, perhaps I need counseling.

While at our local amusement park, I made the mistake by asking the smart girl to point out people that look my size.  She kindly pointed out people, but it wasn't what I expected.  She was pointing out very large people.  I thought she would help me out, but it only made things worse.

I came home and started looking on the internet for people my height and weight.  I came across a website called My Body Gallery and I loved it.  This site lets you chose your height, weight and shape.  Then it shows you photos of real women your size.  It was a huge relief to see that I was not as large as the smart girl pointed out to me.  Check it out and see what other people your size look like.

Cooling off with snow cones!!

The little people at my house love snow cones!

We make them all the time!

For a wedding gift 9 years ago we received this awesome snow cone maker (thanks Kris and Niki).  We use it all the time!

I make homemade snow cone syrup for the hubby and little people.  

2 cups of sugar, 1 pack of Koolaid and 1 cup of water.  Bring to a boil, cool and serve.

That homemade syrup has a ton of sugar and points.  What am I to do?  Eat just snow?

It would be 0 points!  Hmmmmm let me think about it, ummm NO!

I will have my snow with this sugar free 0 Weight Watchers Points Plus cherry syrup.  I found this at Kmart.

It is really refreshing and yummy!

Don't have a snow cone maker?  I have noticed most of our local snow cone shacks have sugar free snow cones for just a little bit more money.

Go and grab you one today and cool off!

Fat Friday!

MMMMM Cake!

Questions and Answers: Curb Your Cravings.....

Question:  Shrink, how do you curb your cravings?

Answer:  Mints!  I am in love with mints.  I have them in my church bag, in my car, and in my house.  I put them in my pocket, I don't have a purse, and pop one in my mouth all the time.  This is a great way to stop my cravings for 0 Weight Watchers Points Plus.  I especially love mints when I am at a party surrounded by chips, dips, nuts and M&M's.  It totally helps curb my cravings.

So far my very favorite mints are Eclipse!  Awe yeah!

Eat some bacon!

I love bacon!  Doesn't it look naughty?  Did you know that 1 slice of bacon is only 1 Weight Watchers Point Plus?  Not too shabby.

This is how I ate my 3 points in Bacon:

BLT!  MMM!

With two slices of my 1 point bread and mustard instead of Mayo, this delicious sandwich was only 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus.

Won't this be a treat once our garden tomatoes are on?  Yummy!

Chocolate Dipped Cinnamon Bears are Bad!

Have you ever tried one of these bad boys?  If no, then don't, because they are BAAAD! Very bad!  If yes, then you know what I am talking about.  Chocolate dipped cinnamon bears are delicious.  Sounded gross to me at first, but when I tried one I was hooked.  On my facebook status I mentioned I was craving chocolate cinnamon bears and my darling hubby brough me home a pound.  Ahhhhhh!!  I love and hate him all at once.

The problem is, I just can't eat one...   I actually ate twelve before I stopped.   At 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus for 4 of those little guys, it was not a good day for me.  So what should I do now?  How do I stop eating them!  Trust me I tried several times to stop, but I just kept eating them.  Well I ended up doing this:

I put 5 point servings in snack-sized Ziplock bags and froze them.  That did the trick!  Who wants to eat a frozen one?  Not me.

What do you do to stop eating something yummy and addicting? 

 Just so you know, I quickly found out it only takes 5 seconds in the microwave to thaw out 1.  Sigh.  I wish I only LIKED food.  Too bad I am madly in love with it!   

Simply Filling....

UPDATE:


I just got back from the big W and I lost 2.2 lbs!  Wahoo!  I'll stick to this another week for sure!

I was losing weight for a couple of weeks and now I am back to not losing.  In fact I gained a pound.  I would understand if I screwed up, but I didn't.  So it gets very frustrating.

At Weight Watchers they suggested I try the Simply Filling program.  Basically you only eat power foods until you are full and only if you are hungry.  You don't even have to track them or count points.  I choose to track them because I don't want to over eat.  You also get your 49 extra points for your non-power foods.  I have eaten 19 points in power foods per day and have tried hard not to eat non-power foods.  But I slipped up a bit and ate a bite here and there...  I DO have the points for it.  I hope it works!  I'll let you know!

Have you ever tried the Simply Filling program at Weight Watchers?  Did it work for you?  Are you not losing weight on the Weight Watcher's program and need to try something different?  Ask your Weight Watchers leader.  They can give you the information.

Fat Friday!

It is hard to imagine that this is me.

Too Cool? Warm up with this!

Ok so the other day I talked about cooling down, but I remembered a way to warm up.  I live in Utah and the weather can change very quickly.  So what if you need some warming up too?  Try this...

Sugar Free Apple Cider!

It is good and it is free!  By free, I mean 0 Weight Watchers Points Plus!

MMMM!  I got this brand at Smiths, but any brand of the sugar-free apple cider will be 0 points.  It is a good low calorie drink!  Enjoy!