Recipe: Spanish Omelette

Today's choice of a recipe is a filling & healty spanish omelette with eggs, potatoes, chorizo and vegetables.
A former Au Pair from Spain came for a visit with her future mother in law and both cooked this lovely dish. As we are having hens on the farm, we always have loads of eggs. 
Last week, I tried to do it myself, and this is with what I came up with.
This recipe makes two large omelettes and about 16 slices, one slice has a value of 4.
You could do this recipe easily on a filling and healthy day, without the Chorizo (or count them with your weeklies, same goes for the oil, but remember, you are allowed to have two teaspoons of oil on a F&H day) and more vegetables.

You will need for 2 large omelettes:
makes 16 slices - one slice has a ProPoints value of 4

600g babypotatoes
12 medium eggs
90g Chorizo
1 large onion
90ml sunflower oil
1 large pepper
5-6 mushrooms
salt & pepper

to serve:
mixed lettuce
tomatoes
pepper
spring onions
balsamic vinegar

Cut the babypotatoes, mushrooms, pepper and onion  in fine slices. 
Cut the Chorizo sausage in small cubes.
Divide the potatoes in two bowls and mix with some salt and pepper. 
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add one batch the potatoes, fry them for a few minutes on medium heat and add then half of the chorizo, mushrooms, pepper and onion. 
Fry until potatoes are cooked trough and begin to brown slightly.

Take the mixture out of the fat and fry the rest of the potatoes, the sausage and vegetables in the same way. 
Meanwhile take two bowls and crack 6 eggs in each. Mix with a fork.

Add the fried potatoe-veg-sausage-mixture and combine. 

After frying both batches of potatoes, remove the oil from the pan and put one egg-potatoe mixture into the empty frying pan. Cook on medium heat.
After about 30-60 seconds, turn the omelette with plate (put the plate onto the omelette turn the pan around, that the omelette will be on the plate, than put the omelette back into the pan, to cook the other side). 

Do this three to four times until the omelette is browned evenly and cooked trough.
Optional put the omelette under the grill and finish it this way.
Cook the other half of the mixture the same way.

Serve warm or cold, with a fresh mixed salad, dressed with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

A girl's weight-loss-journey #9 - 3 milestones

Hello from a wet Athlone! (Well we have had fantastic weather the last few days but today it's rainy, and really damp)

So here comes an early post after today's Weight Watchers meeting.

Statistics and key information:

Check out my other weeks here

Number of weeks: 13

Weight loss this week: -3,5 lbs, ~ 1,6 kg

Weight loss in total: -3^st  1,5lbs, ~19,7kg

Feeling: Okay-ish. I guess. I mean, what wouldn't you like about the fact, that you've lost 3,5lbs in one week and three stone, almost 20kgs in three months?
My week was more or less alright, all in all.
I didn't think a lot of my weight loss during the week, except on Tuesday. 
I have the problem, that I put myself under pressure. It's not even that I think, "I HAVE to lose weight", it's more, "I have to lose at least three pounds, better 5lbs". 
I know, that this is so wrong, but I can't help myself. I still have a lot weight to lose and I want to do it in a short time...

Favourite food: Steak & chips with lettuce & mushrooms, meatballs with mashed potatoes, roasted beef with vegetables & potatoes, shepherds pie, spanish omelette

 Favourite treats: double chocolate buns, large chocolate macadamia latte (geez, I was kind of shocked, when I pointed it... :-)), chips & chicken nuggets, Cadbury crispello chocolates

Exercise: I went walking in Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun, Mon & Tue. And I walked to town and back on Saturday, what would be a 10k in total. 

Recipe: Something Sweet - double chocolate buns

Unfortunately, for my and my weight, I am having a sweet tooth. 

I love chocolate! But as I do weight watchers I'm looking for low points alternatives and recipes. 

So today I have a double chocolate buns recipe, with 3 ProPoints per bun. 

For about 14 Buns you will need

-each will have 3 ProPoints-

90g self raising flour

90g sugar

90g low fat spread

2 medium eggs

50g plain chocolate cut into small pieces

20g cocoa powder

bun cases

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Sift the flour into a bowl, add the sugar and spread. Give it a quick stir.

Add the eggs one at a time and stir until the mixture becomes a homogenous batter.

Add the cocoa powder and the chocolate pieces. Stir until everything is combined.

Use two tablespoons and spoon the mixture into the bun cases.

Bake the buns for about 15 minutes. Check with a skewer if they're cooked through.

Serve them warm or cold. With fresh fruits, like strawberries, blueberries or raspberries.

Recipe: Cabbage - a traditional Irish vegetable

I love vegetables, and so I am glad, that most of the veggies have 0 points, wich make them a great and filling  side dish, for meat and potatoes.

Today, I want to show you a simple, yet delicious recipe with cabbage. A typical Irish vegetable that I would serve with potatoes and ham (so we had this dish the last week and it was 10 Points)

Cabbage:

You will need:
1 head of green cabbage
water
vegetable stock cube
salt, pepper corns, chili powder
1 onion
bayleaves

Half the cabbage, remove the hard core and peel the leaves of the cabbage. Cut larger ones into smaller pieces. 
Peel an onion and slice it in quarters.
Put the cabbage, vegetable stock cube, onion, bay leaves, pepper corns, salt & chili powder into a large sauce pan, cover it with water and bring it to a boil

Turn down the heat and let the cabbage simmer for about 20 minutes. 

Drain the cabbage, remove the bay leaves & onions, put the cabbage back in the pan and shred it with the help of a large knife.

Have your cabbage with the food you want:

A girl's weight-loss-journey #8 - And life goes on

Hello there!

I hope you had a great week and a wonderful weekend.
Last week, I was too busy and disappointed with the result, that I just gave it a miss. (For those who want to know the result, I lost 1lb the last week and I did a lot of exercise and behaved really well)

Statistics and key information:

Check out my other weeks here

Number of weeks: 12

Weight loss this week: -5,5 lbs, ~ 2,5 kg

Weight loss in total: -2^st  12lbs, ~18kg

Feeling: Yes, I was sad and disappointed after the last week and I was a bit unmotivated for the weeks to come, I thought, I had a really bad week, and I did not expect a good weight loss, and tadah, I lost 5 1/2 lbs. You see, every time, I am having a good feeling, I do not lose that much, and if I am feeling that the week was bad, I lose a huge amount. Crazy. But so, this means, I've almost lost 20kgs in 12 weeks, since January and I am proud and really happy. Hopefully, I will lose two pounds this week, so I would get a silver seven for 3 stone gone. That would be amazing, honestly!

Favourite food: Pasta & Carbonara Sauce, Spanish Omelette, Lentils with potatoes, chorizo, bacon & pepper

 Favourite treats: Fish&Chips, Buns

Goals & plans for the next week: Well, I walked a lot and long distances. I went to town the last Sunday, and to the centre, it's about a 5 km distance, so I walked 10kms in total and it took me about 1hr each way. So I want to walk a longer distance, at least one time a week, to improve my fitness levels. I really enjoy walking, and I do not mind, if there is rain or if it's cold and windy. 
And I want to concentrate on eating less rubbish, hopefully, I will fit in another Filling&Healthy food day.

A girl's weight-loss-journey #7 - Totally 10%

Hello there!

I hope you all have a wonderful sunny weekend, just like we're having in the middle of Ireland.
Today, I'll have my weekly weight loss update for you

Statistics and key information:

Check out my other weeks here

Number of weeks: 10

Weight loss this week: -5 lbs, ~ 2,2 kg

Weight loss in total: -2^st 5½lbs, ~14,9kg

Feeling: I lost 5lbs this week and I ate chocolates around Easter. Of course, I am more than happy! And with that, I also reached my 10% goal, and that means I am 10% lighter than I was 10 weeks ago! And I do that Weight Watchers programme only for this 10 weeks, and I am neither starving nor unhappy and I am feeling so good.
I also reduced my daily allowance this week (I started with 51, ten weeks ago, and now, I am with 46 PP). Actually, this was one of the things, I was afraid of, that I wouldn't cope with the reductions of my daily allowance, but actually, I don't miss the other points, I've used before. 
Especially during the last two weeks, I recognized, that I haven't had cravings for sweets in the afternoon. The last week (with Easter) I found it actually difficult, to use all of my daily points, but without being hungry or something like that.

Favourite food: Pasta & vegetable stir-fry, pasta & carbonara sauce

Favourite treats: Fish&Chips on Good Friday, it was Easter of course chocolates :-)

Goals & plans for the next week: Last week: honestly, I was walking a lot and for a longer time. I went to Galway's Food Festival, and walked the whole day, I also went to town, and walked back from there, what is a bit over an hour. I also walked my usual "small route" in the fastest time ever.

With the spring forward and the lovely sunshine at the moment in Ireland, I am so motivated, to go outside for a walk, it's such a great exercise and I recognized, that my thighs and bum got more toned, what makes me really happy.

Tips and thoughts: 
1. We usually believe, what we're telling ourselves, so maybe it's time to think positve, don't lose the confidence in yourself. YOU CAN DO IT.

Instead of saying 

I can't

I'll never

Nothing will change

I shouldn't 

try

I will lose weight

I am able to do it

I am capable

I can manage it

A girl's weight-loss-journey #6 - Staying on track

Hello there!

This won't be a long one, as I will to busy and gone at the next weekend - it's Easter and I will be down in Galway for the Food Festival  - to write a proper article.

Statistics and key information:

Check out my other weeks here

Number of weeks: 9

Weight loss this week: -2 lbs, ~ 0.9 kg

Weight loss in total: -2^st ½lbs, ~12,5kg

Feeling: I reached another “milestone” this week, with losing my second stone in 9 weeks. I am so happy, and without sounding to cheeky, I am proud of myself and it's just great, to get the applause from all the other members after my leader announced my two stone weight-loss at the end of the meeting this morning. I kind of had a good week, although I “just” lost 2lbs. I am happy with that and haven't had any cravings during my PMS this time, which totally surprised me.

This whole week, I never thought of the amount I would have lost, but last night in my bed, I was kind of thinking, and panicking: What if I haven't lost anything? I kind of pressurized myself and I, myself, would have been disappointed. I know, that there could be weeks without seeing anything on the scales, but it would have meant, that I didn't put in all my effort. Actually no one would say that, except of me, and just me.

I know, as well, that I should change my attitude and that means, I will try to take it from week to week and every week, as it comes. There might be better ones than others.

Favourite food: Prawn Curry with rice, pasta bake with mushrooms and tomatoes, pork fillet with potatoes and vegetables

Favourite treats: Hot cross bun, Cadbury Roses

Goals & plans for the next week: Last week: walking on three days, due to weather conditions and school holidays.

Next weekend is Easter, so I might use more than my weekly ProPoints, I am used to, for some Easter chocolate indulgence. Chocolate is definitely my downfall. I will also be in Galway for it's annual food festival. I am really excited about the things, I will see there. I hope it won't be to hard to stay on track. I think, this is my first real challenge, as it is something unusual and I don't know what to expect. But I am really looking forward to this weekend, anyways, and food should not reign over your whole life.

Tips and thoughts: I just have two ideas for this week: 1) Make your weight-loss visible: put two cents, for example, in a glass for every pound you've lost during a week and 50 cent for every whole stone you've lost. At the end of your journey, you could use the money for buying yourself a new top in your new size or something else, that symbolizes your “new you”.

2) Award yourself with something non-food related for every “milestone” you achieved. Buy new earrings, nail polish, a book or something else you would like