Break the Cycle

Wow - another month has gone by - and guess what I served my kids for breakfast? Danish. Seems like I'm really having trouble staying focused and truely breaking the cycle for them. I think one of the reasons is the lack of outside support. I have my WW meetings once a week - wonderful support - but then again, it is only once a week. I belong to a couple online groups -but either I don't fit in (not the right religion or I homeschool, ect) or else I'm the group moderator/manager - and I give help, not get it. So today I went searching online for an online group that I can join, the one place I can visit and get to know people who have been where I was and know where I'm trying to get to. I want to limit my time online going back and forth between groups where I no longer fit in. I need to get this right, and get my children on the right track now, before it's too late.

It was a wonderful trip - if you ever have the opportunity - GO !! No need to worry about making advanced reservations (unless you NEED 4 start hotels) easy enough to just walk along the beach until you see something with a For Rent sign on it - call the phone number (take your cell) and usually you'll be sleeping near the beach for way less then the cost of the hotel. As an added plus - you'll most likely have access to a full kitchen - and there are grocery stores in every town (be prepared for crowded parking lots!!) I'm going to work on posting a much longer do / don'ts post - to give some insight - but a quick post to let you know it was awesome !! Course - I did gain some weight while I was there - but my next WW meeting isn't until Saturday - so I have all week to drop it ! Actually, I didn't do too bad - it is Mango season right now - and the mangos were wonderful - and free. You just picked them up off the ground, wash them, and eat them. Can...

Finally back to my normal weight this week at WW !! Good luck to Karen who'll be running on the boards this weekend. She's so close to goal - I just know she'll make it while I'm gone. Speaking of being gone - yep, we're going to Puerto Rico !!! Have never been, so it'll be fun. I know the kids and I are going. Bought a ticket for dh, but still not sure if he'll make it - lots going on at work right now. Needed to buy some new beach shoes for the kids and I, as some of PR's beaches can be rocky - found the perfect ones at Lands End They have some pretty neat new styles of beachware - way much better then flip flops or crocs (although my crocs are going with me - along with my frog gibbitz to represent a coqui !! Check out the overstocks, on the counter, and slightly defective stuff while you are shopping - sometimes you can pick up some really great deals. And you can't beat their Tankini swim suits!!

Citrus Chicken serves 6 at 4 pts each 1 orange 1 TBS fresh rosemary 1 tsp EVOO 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp garlic salt ¼ tsp pepper 6 (1/4 lb) skinless boneless chicken thighs Preheat oven to 350*. Zest orange (do not use white part –that’s bitter). Trim off remaining rind and cut orange into 8 wedges Combine rosemary, orange zest, oil, paprika, garlic, salt and pepper. Rub over chicken – through in pan, surround with orange segments cook about 45 minutes.

Tex- Mex Meatloaf – serves 6 at 4 pts each 1 ½ lbs lean beef ½ cup chunky salsa or pico de gallo 1 egg white, lightly beaten 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp dried oregano ¾ tsp ground cumin ¾ tsp salt 1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350* - spray a 4 by 8 loaf pan with non stick spray Combine beef, ¼ cup salsa, egg white, chili powder, oregano, cumin and salt. Transfer half of the mixture to pan – top with cheese leaving ½ inch border along the edges. Sppon remaining mixture on top. Spread top with remaining ¼ cup salsa. Bake 65-70 minutes (internal temp of 160). Cut into 6 slices after letting stand for 5 minutes. Pure Comfort page 125 WW

Meatball and Barley soup – serves 4 at 4 pts each 1-2 lb lean ground beef ¾ tsp dried basil ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 2 tsp olive oil 2 large leeks - white and light green parts only – clean and chop 2 carrots, chopped 5 garlic cloves, sliced ½ tsp dried thyme ½ (10 oz) package fresh mushroom, sliced. 2 (14 ½ ounce) cans reduced sodium beef broth ¼ cup tomato paste 1/3 cup quick cooking barley Make meatballs with beef, basi;, ¼ tsp salt, 1/8th tsp pepper –make 16 balls – cook in 1 tsp oil for about 4 minutes and set aside Heat rest of oil, add leeks, carrots, garlic and thyme. Cook 3-4 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook another 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in broth, paste, and rest of salt and pepper. Simmer about 10 minutes, add in barley and cook covered another 10 minutes. Add meatballs and heat through 5 minutes. Can be frozen in single serving containers up to 2 months. From WW Pure Comfort

happy Cinco De Mayo - got my menu done - will post more about that later. Sunday – Lamb and rice Monday - Chicken Paprikash and rice Tuesday – Meatball and Barley Soup with fresh bread and salad for us Mac and cheese and hot dogs for kids Wednesday – Pasta with white clam sauce Thursday – Tex Mex Meatloaf and Mashed taters Friday – Pizzas – for dh use Speedy Margherita Pizza, kids make their own Saturday – Citrus Chicken and brown rice