CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

A Lovely Poem About Wine

I love wine because it make me feel like a grown up.

A grown up who giggles like a four year old watching puppies play on the floor.

I love wine because it makes me brave.

So brave I contemplate running into the cold rain on my front lawn…in my underwear.

I love wine because of it’s anti-aging properties.

It’s proof positive that sometimes getting older really does mean getting better.

I love wine because you pour it into pretty glasses.

Pretty glasses just like the forty-two pretty glasses I just unpacked in my kitchen.

I love wine because it’s an all weather beverage.

Unlike lemonade or hot chocolate, wine is cold going in, but warm going down.

I like wine because wine doesn’t care if I’ve shaved my legs. 

Or brushed my teeth, or washed my hair, or sat around in sweat pants all day.

I love wine because it speaks French.

And it makes me speak French when I say Cabernet…or Chardonnay.

I love wine because it’s best friends with cheese.

And who doesn’t love cheese?

I love wine because it’s healthy for my heart.

After only two glasses I start to feel all romantic.

And I love wine because I drank some…

But I suspect I won’t love it in the morning.

Until the next time…I’ll be nursing a wine hangover.

author/source: http://www.ericaluckedean.com/the-daily-blog/2012/5/9/why-i-love-wine.html

 

When We Eat Matters

A Guide to Champagne Cocktails (You're Welcome)

Healthy? That's questionable. 

Enticing? Absolutely.

Source: http://blog.loku.com/slider-ex-1/

Skinny Oreo Cookies and Cream Milkshake

Ingredients 

1 cup reduced-fat (1%) milk or ½ cup fat-free and ½ cup reduced-fat 2% 
2½ reduced-fat Oreo cookies 
1 tablespoon instant vanilla pudding (dry mix) 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 package Splenda or Equal 
1½ cups ice cubes 

Directions 

1. Add all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Add a few more ice cubes if the shake isn’t thick enough. 
2. Serve at once. 

Makes 2 (1 cup) servings 
118 calories, 2.5g fat, 3g protein, 20g carbs, 0g fiber, 181mg sodium, 8g sugar

Source: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/517684-skinny-oreo-cookies-and-cream-milkshake

In Honor of Pi Day!

Happy PI DAY! In honor of the day, and my love of pie, here's a little something delicious I found on Pinterest. I'm not claiming they're healthy but don't they look delightful and tasty!!??

Cherry Pie Cupcakes

1 box French Vanilla Cake Mix + ingredients to prepare cupcake mix

1 cup flour

Buttercream Frosting

Icing tips #104, #18 (Note from COFG: I'm not gonna lie. No idea. But it's there, so I copied it.)

1 21 oz. can cherry pie filling (or similar size)

Americolor food coloring egg yellow, ivory 

Prepare cake mix according to package directions, add in 1 cup flour. Place three tablespoons batter into each section of the cupcake pan top with two cherries and some syrup. Bake according to package directions. Let cool. Mix frosting with food coloring, only a little bit is needed to achieve tan color. Pipe stripes first with tip #1-4, then change tip to #18 and do outside edge.

Source: http://www.createdby-diane.com/2011/11/cherry-pie-cupcakes.html

Delicious Heart-Healthy Recipes!

I am SO. HUNGRY. Publishing recipes was a poor choice. I'm about to eat my desk, kids. No joke. 

But regardless of my poor desk's fate, I hope you enjoy these recipes via Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa's chef, Anthony Stewart, who previously gave us those delicious low-cal french fries! (Did anyone try them? I actually did -- they were delicious.)

Garbanzo Bean Hummus Dip

Yield -- 2 cups

7 ounces dried garbanzo beans, cooked and drained

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill

1 dash hot sauce

1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor. Process until puréed. If mixture is too thick, add 1 tablespoon water, pulsing to combine.
2. Serve with raw vegetables or crackers.

Per 2-tablespoon serving: 45 calories; 0.5g fat; no saturated fat; no cholesterol; 2g protein; 7g carbohydrate; 1g sugar; 2g fiber; 5mg sodium; 15mg calcium.

Fun tip: Add green food coloring to serve on St. Patrick's Day! 

 

And why not pair it with...

Chicken Veggie Burgers 

The Pritikin Chicken Veggie Burger has just a half-gram of saturated fat. That’s one-tenth the amount of artery-clogging sat fat in typical fast food fare like Carl’s Jr. Jalapeno Chicken Sandwich. (Which I think sounds disgusting, for the record. Who's had that? I wanna know if it's any good.)

Yield -- 8

1 pound free-range, skinless chicken breast

¼ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup finely chopped celery

¼ cup finely chopped carrot

1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped (Remove seeds if you want to take down the heat.)

1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic

1 teaspoon Pritikin All-Purpose Seasoning*

3 tablespoons ground whole-wheat pita bread (optional)

* Make your own Pritikin All-Purpose Seasoning by blending granulated onion, granulated garlic, salt-free lemon pepper, and paprika. You can purchase it online -- but sounds pretty easy to make!  

1. In a food processor, chop chicken till ground. 
2. In a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat, sauté onions, celery, and carrots till translucent, about three minutes.  Let cool.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, sautéed vegetables, and Pritikin All-Purpose Seasoning. Mix until fully incorporated. If desired, mix in bread crumbs.
4. Mold chicken/veggie mixture into 8 four-ounce patties.
5. On a hot nonstick skillet or grill, sear patties on each side to your desired doneness.

Enjoy your Pritikin Veggie Burgers alone or tucked in a whole-wheat hamburger bun or pita bread full of fresh, crunchy vegetables like sliced tomatoes, chopped Romaine lettuce, and sliced red onions.

Personally, I'd like to try it with the hummus! 

150 calories, 3g total fat, ½g saturated fat, 75mg cholesterol, 25g protein, 1g fiber, 150mg sodium.

 

Some day, Pritikin will invite me to come blog live from their spa. It looks so frickin' gorgeous.{{sigh}}

Antioxidants Tutorial

I have a Pinterest problem but the good news is, I find things to steal for the blog:

Awesome Deal Today via @Groupon and @Healthy_Choice

Check it out, microwave-meal-lovers! Today on Groupon, for $9, you get 5 Healthy Choice single-serving meals (up to a $21.95 value).

I love this. There was previously a 10 meals for $16 deal but it sold out already. You have to sign up for an Albertsons club card but no biggie there. 

Anyway, just thought I'd pass it along. Click here to redeem.

 

 

"No Fumble Snacking Strategies"

Loved some of the ideas on The Today Show this morning, as dished out by Dave Zinczenko, author of "Eat This, Not That." Had to share:

 

Examples:

• Dave recommends benching fattening favorites like onion dip in favor of metabolism-boosting salsa with baked tortilla chips
• Ditch calorie-heavy New England style clam chowder in favor of tomato-based Manhattan clam chowder to save as many calories as two cups of Cool Whip
• For those people who plan on ordering in, they no longer need to worry about hidden calories. For example, going with Applebee’s Classic BBQ Wings instead of their Honey BBQ version, you can save more than 500 calories without sacrificing flavor
• With drinks, stay clear from the heavy stout-type beers and instead opt for a light beer (one example, fitting with the Patriots in the game, would be Sam Adams Light).
• If pizza is on the list of food options at the party, steer clear of fat (and sodium) rich options like pepperoni and buffalo-style chicken. One idea is to order a custom pizza, and select your own toppings like grilled chicken, mushrooms and wings sauce.

 

More Drinking Chronicles from @TheFederalBar

I don't know when this turned into a drinking blog (I'm certainly no Caroline), but what can I  say -- I've had some mighty fine beverages lately and I feel compelled to share. 

Tonight's North Hollywood delight was The Federal Bar's "Mojo Mojito" made with love by its creator, bartender Sean. 

 

 

Just your standard everyday mojito. But with cucumber. And pineapple. And a dash of jalapeno. 

I know, I know. JALAPENO?! 

I don't even like cucumber but this was just delicious. The jalapeno gave it just a subtle kick - it wasn't spicy. It was refreshing. Highly recommend. 

You're all going to start planning my intervention soon, aren't you? Don't worry, my Diet Pepsi addiction is still the bigger concern. 

 

P.S. (Our waitress, Yvonne, was a doll and looked a litte but like Mila Kunis. I'm straight as an arrow but I might have a little girl-crush on her.)