Potato Chips of the Sea

Two things I crave fairly regularly are potato chips and french fries.  I seem to always get into elevators after someone has just exited with a bag of french fries, leaving morsels of their lunch wafting around my head.  That makes me NEED to have french fries.  

What I do to cure that craving is make baked fries:

Preheat the oven at 450.  Slice up a potato in whatever french fry shape you wish.  Toss with one or two teaspoons of olive oil.  Salt and/or season as you wish.  In about 30 minutes you will have brilliant "french fries."  (Weight Watchers peeps -- this is only 5 or 6 points depending on how large the potato and how much oil you choose to use. I only use 1 teaspoon myself.)

And, now my substitute for potato chips that I am certain you will not believe.   But for Weight Watchers people, this is worth trying, I promise, because one package is only ONE POINT.  Yes, folks ONE.

They have crunch, they have that little bit of greasiness -- not in the bad icky way, in the good, "make you feel like you are doing something bad" way.  And, my god seaweed is so good for you!  Try them.  Even if you are someone who doesn't like seaweed or greens of any kind.  I challenge you: try it.  You are very likely to love it!

Buon Seaweed Appetito!

Sunday Yum Brunch: Peanut Butter Banana HEALTHY Pancakes

On Weight Watchers, I'm constantly making decisions about where I spend my "points" aka "calories."  It turns out that, for instance, one tablespoon of any oil is 3 points -- and so is a tablespoon of peanut butter.  One tablespoon of oil is a lot of oil, but it's really not a lot of peanut butter, eh?!


So, when I started to whip up some of my fave (when I don't have time for scratch and man, oh, many really almost as good as from scratch) Trader Joe's Multigrain Pancake mix, I  realized i could fulfill my current peanut butter craving.  


I halve the recipe, which means -- 1 cup mix, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 egg...and today, instead of oil, 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter.  I like to chop up banana or green apple in them ...today was Peanut Butter & Banana day, so I used 1/2 banana.  I decided it might be yummy to do honey instead of maple syrup....it was.


I took a plate and drizzled it like this and then popped it in the microwave for 15 seconds.

By the time I was done with that, the pancake was ready to flip! 

Yummalicious with just the right amount of peanut butter and banana, still maintaining the great multigrain texture.


Buon Breakfast Appetito to all!

Skinny Skinny! Bang Bang!

I am back on track with losing weight again.  Finally!


So, I'm back on track with sharing Trader Joe's gems that have a lot of bang for their calorie and taste buck.  The two I've been using a lot in the last few weeks are:

Dark Toasted Sesame Oil -- It's with all the other oils.  But, it's genius because it adds so much flavor with just the tiniest drizzle.  It is so flavorful -- it's incredible!  I use it for salads, rice -- everything.  I have been craving Asian flavors.  Seriously, I usually use 1/4 teaspoon...it's that heavy and flavorful that that is all you need!


Tilapia -- It's in the frozen fish section these days, and it is clearly flash frozen because when you thaw it out it doesn't smell or taste at all fishy.  I throw it in the fridge and let it thaw overnight.  Then, I throw in a baking dish and bake at 450 for 30 minutes:


1.  Take all three filets in package and one package of mushrooms and put them in the dish.
2.  Drizzle with rice vinegar, soy sauce, and just about 1/2 teaspoon of Dark Toasted Sesame Oil.  Seriously, that is the most you need.  
3.  Toss it all gently together.
4.  Bake for 30 minutes.
5.  Take out and toss with fresh chopped chives. 
6.  Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  (These you can't get at TJ's yet...)


For Weight Watchers peeps, each filet is only 4 or 5 points.  The sesame oil is not even a point because it's less than 1/2 teaspoon.  One teaspoon of sesame seeds is only one point. 


I usually serve this over salad tossed with the same mixture as above, which tastes completely different when not heated, and 1/2 to 1 cup of rice, depending how hungry I am and how much fish I'm having.  Yummalicious!


Buon Skinny Appetito!

Lazy Doggie Owner Alert: Tis Bee Season!

My precious little Lucy stepped on a bee today -- or at least that is our best guess.  I was working outside and the girls were laying on the lawn near me, getting up from time to time to sniff a bit here and there.

I noticed her sit down quickly and start gnawing on her paw.  I assumed it was a bee and looked immediately for a stinger.  I didn't find one.  I looked for the Pet Emergency Care card.  Apparently, I moved the card from its normal several-year-long spot to some place more clever -- wherever that might be!  I know it has bee stings on it!  So, I called the vet and they told me to bring her in immediately.  

They gave her a shot of benadryl and put some Lanacane on the paw.  But, now I know what to have on hand! The vet recommends StingEze and 25 mg of Benedryl (Lucy is 14 lbs.)  

At one point Lucy started shaking a lot, so I was concerned, but apparently that was just a pain response.   The vet told me that the main concern is their heart rate.  But, if they had asked me about her heart rate, I would have said it was racing!  So, go figure, but the Benadryl probably would have calmed her pretty quickly.

My first instinct was to put cold water on it.  That apparently was a good instinct.  Ice is good for short periods too.  I was just assuming she wouldn't let me do that, but you gotta do what you gotta do to make them feel better!