Fat Frog Diary

We just had this last night, and everyone raved!   Ladies and gents, this is much easier than it looks. The most difficult part is using the meat mallet to pound on it. It's noisy, but gets out your frustrations! I do recommend setting the spinach to drain first. Lay out all your ingredients and pre-measure to save time and trouble. I baked my bacon at 375F that morning and let them drain and cool all day. By the time I waltzed into the kitchen to cook dinner, most of the hard work was done. Assembly was nearly effortless.  However, my flank steak was a fairly large one. Using the broiler only meant it was still rare in the center, and my DH prefers well done. If your family doesn't like rare to very rare, I suggest a half an hour in the oven before popping your pinwheels under the broiler.  For a bandster, these things are two meals, so go ahead and cut yours in half before serving the family. If you're smart, you'll be wise to hide that half you're saving. My ...

Okay, I admit to being a slacker about lunches. Most of the time I rummage in the fridge for a leftover if I'm hungry enough to bother. However, recently I had to start thinking more about this since my DD3 got a job. DD3 has been low-carb dieting with me since she got here, even when her progress seemed small. Just lately, she got the encouragement of seeing a comparison between an earlier visit to my bariatric surgeon and a recent one. Wow, that was a lot of fat lost! That was the impetus she needed. However, now that she has to brown-bag it to work, we have new challenges. She has no access to refrigeration or a microwave, so we have to make do with an ice pack in her lunch box, and that's it. So, forget the soups and stuff you have to warm. Too bad, but the hamburgers with portobella "buns" will just have to wait for the weekends. Here's my list of what I can find for lunches that are low carb, portable, and don't require heat. Hard-boiled or stuffed eggs...

Just last week I went to the doc and he gleefully reported I'd lost TEN pounds! Yes!!! With all three of my darlings DH, DD, and Dante all at work, I'm not tempted anymore. With an official 215 lbs logged, I felt I was well on my way. (My scale at home reads about 7 lbs lighter, so I just add 7 to what I see at home.) After two days of being ill, I stepped on the scale this morning. My heart stopped. Did my scale read 203?? Really? Okay, add the 7...210!! Another five pounds gone. Yes!! (Dancing in a weak, falling up against the wall sort of way) I can see One-der-land now. (For those that don't know, One-der-land is when you weigh under 200 lbs, as in one-hundred-and--anything) I haven't seen One-der-land in twenty years. Can I have an Un-birthday party when I make it there? I'll tell you what has worked--my food diary. Keeping it throughout the day makes sure I budget those precious carbs so I'm not chewing on bacon and cheese while everyone else enjoys ...

As anyone in our sisterhood of Scale Whores Anonymous (SWA) knows, I'm the nut case who keeps track of her weight by writing it down on the bathroom mirror with a wipe-off board pen. I have an antiquated bathroom scale that looks like it belongs in the Art Deco Revival era several decades ago, and I love it because of that beauty. I know it's not accurate, but I step on it anyway every day. (That's why there's an SWA-- we're compulsive about it.) Last month, just before Christmas, when I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office, I got a nasty shock. Despite repeated attempts to be very good, I'd *gained* a pound. EEEK! So, I was determined to get back on the wagon. I pulled out the old food journal and locked all the carb contraband out in the cabinet outside. My scale said I lost. At one point it dipped down to 205 lbs, and my shriek of joy should have shattered the bathroom window. (Thank you, tempered glass.) Still, I drove with butterflies i...

Cooking.com had this recipe, and it looked so good I thought I’d share. I don’t normally drink, but if you want to toast the New Year, this looks good. Besides, 149 calories and 0 carbs? I can get behind this for one little drink.   Caramel Martini Source: Cooking.com Active Time:   5 Minutes Total Time:   5 Minutes Makes 1 cocktail Remove Image "We have a young, hip crowd and a relaxed, after-dinner loft atmosphere," says John Baydale, who, as vice president of WB Stage 16, which operates the Venetian, helped develop the cocktail. "And I have a sweet tooth. This is a drink that can stand in for dessert." INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup chilled Stolichnaya vanilla vodka 2 tablespoons chilled butterscotch schnapps Splash of chilled iced tea 6 ice cubes Fried s...

Hey, check this out! There's hope!   http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/holiday_collection_1'>http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/holiday_collection_1'>http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/holiday_collection_1   L ena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com  

“Lena, stop dressing like a fat woman!”   Those were the words of my co-workers and fellow teachers at JoAnn’s Fabrics this past weekend. My only pair of new size 18 jeans were dirty, so I’d thrown on my old size 24 black jeans, a nice shirt, and my favorite black butterfly brocade jacket. I thought I looked pretty snazzy, even if my jeans were held up by my belt. Apparently, I was wrong.   The two sewing instructors insisted on giving me a detailed analysis of how I need to cut down my clothes and re-tailor them to fit. Moreover, my lovely butterfly jacket is “only something fat women wear to hide their rolls of flesh.” (Oh, dear.)   Guess this means I’d better pull out some of my patterns and make myself some new clothes or my co-workers may just rip my clothes off my body next meeting! EEEK!   Still, what they said bugs me. Do I dress like a fat woman? What does a fat woman dress like?   Lena Aus...

With the holidays approaching fast and furious, we bandsters need to re-think our holidays. While our friends and family think, "Good food" we have other things to consider. This recipe covers our needs-- it's low carb, serves a crowd, and nicest of all it's make-ahead. Egg & Sausage Casserole From Eating Well: November/December 1998 — Subscribe Now! A dozen for brunch? No problem with our delicious makeover of a classic egg casserole. Assemble the casserole the evening before you plan to serve it. Recipe 12 servings Active Time: 35 minutes Total Time: 6 1/4 hours (includes 5 hours chilling) Ingredients 5 ounces turkey breakfast sausage, (4 small links), casings removed 1 teaspoon canola oil 1 onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 4 large eggs 4 large egg whites 2 1/2 cups low-fat milk 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2/3 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, divided 10 slices white bread, crusts removed Prepa...

Overnight Oatmeal Here is an easy way to serve a crowd a hearty breakfast before facing the elements for a day of winter sports. You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evening and wake up to a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal. The slow cooker eliminates the need for constant stirring and ensures an exceptionally creamy consistency. It is important to use steel-cut oats; old-fashioned oats become too soft during slow-cooking. READER'S COMMENT: "Easy and delicious! I would award 5 stars except for the fact that the dried fruits lost their flavor during the overnight cooking. Hereafter for better flavor, I'll add fresh or hydrated dried fruits when I serve the oatmeal in the... Lena's note: Raisins work very well, but I recommend adding fruits and flavorings just before serving. Steel cut oats are better for you anyway. However, compared to the sugar bombs many moms are forced to serve in the name of effciency, this kind of breakfast wins hands down despite t...

Yesterday, Dante, my DD Susan, and I went to the Jacksonville Zoo. Not that big of a deal, right? It was for me. One year ago, I couldn't have hauled my badly overweight carcass around a grocery store, much less acres of walking trails. I would have been humiliated and restricted to one of those expensive rented electric carts, unable to ride the train or get "up close and personal" with the exhibits. I'd have been in my black stretchy knits, hoping no one noticed how sweaty I was. My swollen feet would have been crammed into my black Crocs, just so my feet could breathe and cool me. A few years ago, I would have jonesed for a cigarette and been unable to satisfy my craving because the electric carts would have been difficult to get to the few places where smokers could be. This year was radically different than all years past where I sat in my wheelchair while Dante and Susan had fun. This year I was in size 18 jeans and a pink tee shirt, bouncing all over the z...

This recipe comes courtesy of my fellow author, Mychael Black. I had to share. Note this is a very high-carb recipe. Serve this to the kids and that skinny person in your life who needs a few pounds. Sweet and Crunchy Ghosts Desserts By: Pegi Lee Online Rating: (0/10) Beneath their marshmallow coverings, these ghosts have a crunchy, salty surprise: pretzels! If the marshmallow starts to stick as you roll it out, just add more powdered sugar to the work surface. 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, divided 1 cup marshmallow creme 4 (3-inch-long) pieces thick pretzel rods* 8 mini chocolate chips 1. Stir 1 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar into marshmallow creme in large bowl, kneading with hands towards end as necessary. 2. Dust work surface with remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Divide marshmallow mixture into 5 balls. Roll or pat 4 of the balls into 6 1/2-inch flat rounds. Divide remaining piece into 8 balls; place 1 ball on each end of pretzel rods. Place pretzels upright on serving platter, press...

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/96/five-kitchen-gadgets-that-save-you-money-and-time.html For me, the soda machine is not necessary, even ridiculous. However, I agree on the others. C'mon, give up the carbonated beverages. You know they're bad for you, so stop lying to yourself. This is very, very true even though I no longer use my bread machine the way I used to. However, baking my own bread in the bread machine does save money. I make the dry ingredients in ziptop bags all at once, and then all I have to add is the wet ingredients and the yeast. Fast and easy! Most bread machines come with recipes. The slow cooker is a godsend! Right now, I have Carolina Slow Pork in there, and have since about 6:30 AM. By the time the guys come home, even I will be able to choke down a little well-cooked pork, something my band usually hates. The coffeemaker is my biggest money saver. While I was never a Starbucks addict, I do love flavored coffee. I use the DaVinci Sugar...

Okay, I'll admit that I've been a fan and buyer of Swiffer Wet Jet since it came out. I still have my originally purchased Swiffer even though a newer, cooler version has come out. However, it had one problem: I was constantly buying the replacement pads at a minimum of $7 a box (on sale.) Worse, all those pads went into the trash and into the landfill, and that's not very "green."   So, what's a girl to do who loves a clean floor, but hates the old "mop and bucket" routine? I found my answer at Flylady.net. Look at the link below. http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_mop.asp The initial outlay is about the same as what I paid for my Swiffer, but the microfiber pad is washable! Now that's cool. I could buy the mop and a set of pads, and they'll pay for themselves in about two and a half months.   Between this and the MagicJack, I may have found the best money savers of the year.      Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com Writin...

Now of course, any low-carb bandster knows to steam up some cauliflower and pulse it through the food processor until they have bits resembling rice, but a whole lot easier to get past the band. I highly recommend cutting the steak in a half-frozen state, and cutting across the grain is vital to make the meat tender enough to eat. To reduce carbs even further, don't bother with the cornstarch.

Now these are easy treats! Marshmallows on sticks with a candy coating. Wow! I'm so doing this.     http://www.wilton.com/idea/Kooky-Candy-Coated-Marshmallows       Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com  

This reminds me of the old "Sunday dinner" scenario, where you might have a large meal at noon after church. I saw many a housewife hop in the car and zoom home to attend to the Sunday dinner while the men hung around to talk to the preacher. Eventually, the husband whose wife drove off would get a ride with his son or father back to the house, just in time to pull off his tie and sit down to a huge feast. However, a little reversal here and change of timing, and you might find this delicious roast on your dinner table some night. Prime rib rarely needs more than salt, and maybe a dash of pepper.

For the low-carb version, skip the toast and just sprinkle shredded cheese right on top of the soup. If your band is very, very new or you've just had a fill, cool the soup completely then whirl it all up in the food processor before heating and eating.

Again, you can avoid the noodles and use a vegetable peeler on the carrots to produce noodle-like strips.

It works fine in the food processor as long as you pulse so the motor doesn't heat up the cheese into goo. Definitely give this a thorough chilling. A small disher scoop or melon baller makes the small balls a snap. I prefer the small balls so I can avoid the carbs in the crackers.