Jackson (R.I.P.)

My BFF's cat, Jackson, was the largest grey tabby cat I've ever seen.  He was an outdoor cat, and just mozied on around the condominiums like he owned the place.  Nobody messed with him because he was just huge, quite plump too... when I'd get out of my car, he'd stroll up, flop over on his back and rub around my feet for loving.  Or, she and I would be standing outside talking, and he'd do Circle 8's around my ankles ... She and I had been really busy one day, and she was over at my condo - when there was a scraping sound at my door - we opened the door, and there he was, sitting pretty, telling her it was time for her to come home - so he could get some food, water and sleep time... He was over 14 yrs old, and a friend of her daughter's backed up out of her parking spot (yesterday), not knowing Jackson was under her car, and killed him....

My friend is devastated...

So, my Noomi and Habibi got some extra hugs and kisses last night - I would be so devastated if anything happened to them... of course, mine never step foot outside unless in their little pet carrier... but you just never know ... my fears are always that they will make a wild mad dash outside... the truth is, they really have no interest whatsoever except for the birds in the trees - and they seem content to stay in the climate controlled home and watch them through the windows... they live the life of luxury and seem to appreciate it very much so....

I'm Melting... Diet Log #46-47

Everyone was melting at the Birthday Brunch - it was outdoors, no fans, no real breeze, and over 90 degrees outside...the ice in my diet soda was melted by the time it got to the table... but, we had a fantastic time - and most of all, I loved hearing about how good I looked... Ego needs some boosting!  AND, the scale dropped 2 lbs... so I'm happy about that as well.

Omelet with feta and spinach was all I ate, and only half - shared with friend.  Dinner tonight - I am roasting yellow squash.  I am not really hungry for much - that sounded best, lite and easy... too hot outside to really want to eat anything heavy.

Visited my grandmother for a little bit and she couldn't stop going on about how good I looked too ...

So - even if the scale is moving slow - it's showing - and my pants are getting loose... feels good - I have more energy, I feel more confident... I'm happier... looking forward to losing more!

TGIF! - Diet Log #45

Last night I made:

Sausage/Pimento Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

I blended 4 turkey sausage patties with a tub of (no sugar added) pimento cheese and then stuffed the mixture into mushrooms, baked at 375 for 40 minutes... My friend who claimed she did not like pimento cheese thought they were fantastic.

Funny, when I told her what I was making, she immediately wrinkled her nose.  I said "Before passing judgment, just take a tiny bite".... and the rest is history.

Tonight I am making Spinach/Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms...

I am blending a French Garlic/Herb cheese with spinach, stuffing the mushrooms, and again, baking at 375 for 30-40 minutes.  Along with the mushrooms I am cooking up a turkey meatloaf and zucchini.

I am so glad it is Friday... I am ready for the weekend.  Sunday I have a birthday Brunch to go to - being held at a little cafe on the dunes of the beach...  So - tomorrow I have to run out and grab up a birthday gift and card... looking forward to getting out and seeing friendly faces!  Hoping that the weather is decent enough for it to not be "miserable" - being at the beach won't mean it will be great outside - or cooler - not at this time of the year - it will probably feel like a sauna... ughhhh...

In the Clouds - Diet Log #43-44

My sleep was interrupted all last night, either because my son was doing laundry after Midnight while I was wearing my supersonic ears (I need a louder fan in my bedroom), or the cats were playing at 2 a.m., 3 a.m., and 4 a.m.  So, I feel like I'm walking through a fog or clouds, I obviously used "Auto Pilot" to get to work...

Last night's dinner was Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts - nothing else.

Yesterday's lunch was delicious, I had chicken kabobs with grilled vegetables at my favorite Turkish restaurant.  My picky lunchmate even felt adventurous and was happy for it, as she's already recruited another person to go with us - AND - they've decided they also would like to try Indian... ahhhhh, after my own heart.  BUT, can I possibly go to an Indian restaurant and turn down rice and Naan??  Do I really have to turn down Naan, I believe it is made with Chick Pea Flour?  I will have to research this .... as my will power is only SO strong.

Well, time to finish my cup of coffee and get to work.... I'm in the "feast" part of the month, and if I don't stick to the job, I'll be working late - and I'd rather go home and wake my "BFF" up and drag her out somewhere like Home Goods or Sephora, etc. and see what kind of mischief we can get into....

Nommm Nommm - Spinach! Diet Log #42

Spinach is sooooo full of fiber that it is absolutely fabulous for Low Carbing.  There are not many vegetables that I don't like - I do make a good vegetarian, at times.  Though, every now and then, my body craves meat - and I mean a lean mean steak on the grill.  The best steak I ever had was at a restaurant called La Villette, in Brussells, that had this incredible garlic/mushroom/wine cream sauce with fries... ohhhhh my.... my mouth waters... how I wish, so wish, I lived in Belgium!!!!!!!  I can just see myself in a cute apartment in one of the smaller cities outside of Brussels or Antwerp, with a bicycle, riding the trains, and hanging out with friends in incredible little restaurants for hours, drinking wine, beer, eating well - and laughing... what a dream I have, too bad nobody in Belgium wants to hire a paralegal who only speaks English... pffft, I can say Hello and Goodbye and Thank You in MANY languages... I can even say a few things in Farsi... but, not enough to get a good job overseas.

Today's recipe that I am going to make and serve with a rotisserie chicken from the super market:

GREEK SPINACH RECIPE:  3 SERVINGS; 3 NET CARBS PER SERVING

1 T. Butter

1/4 small minced onion

1 pkg of frozen, chopped spinach, thawed

1/4 c. crumbled feta cheese

1/4 c. cottage cheese

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and let it sizzle for a minute; then add spinach and saute, stirring now and then, for 5 to 7 minutes.

Add in the cheeses and stir until they start to melt - for another minute. Then ready to serve.....

Little Baby Cabbages recipe....

This is the recipe for Fried Brussels Sprouts that I came across.... pretty much the same as what I do with them but in the microwave oven....

I toss them in olive oil, sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, and sprinkle with garlic powder - then cook them for about 15-17 minutes on high in the microwave oven - and then I sit and eat every single one of them....   I am going to try it on the stove like this recipe with fresh garlic.... yummmy.

Cafe au Lait...Mmmmm... Diet Log #38-41

This here Chick-a-Dee is drinking down a delicious cup of hot coffee and trying her best to keep the spirits up high!!!!!  I had this really weird dream going on, then the alarm went off, and it felt like I was being interrupted in a really good movie and then missing the big ending!

A Hair Stylist, I am NOT... and yet this weekend I pulled my friend's hair through a cap (that's how much of a NON-Stylist I am!) and highlighted her hair... it wasn't a total disaster... she's got blonde highlights!!!

My photo is definitely not pretty like the recipe one... but my zucchini was absolutely fantastic!  Sadly, I could not find some good sized ones that would be needed for this recipe.  The larger, the better for this recipe because you really don't have much to work with using small ones.... My son and I gobbled these down for dinner last night with a bit of chicken... I definitely mark this recipe as a Keeper!!!!!  I am making it again tonight!!!

Excited about my new purchase - got a new food processor.  My Cuisinart died after having lost parts through moving... so with all these new recipes I want to try - I can now have some real fun and save some time with the slicing, grating, etc.

The weather was crappy - lots of storms blew in - and if it wasn't stormy/rainy, it was too miserable to be out of the Air Conditioned indoors.... So - went to see The Heat - some great laughs.

I was terrified going to the movie theater - my one weakness, POPCORN!!!!  Movie Theater Popcorn!!!! So, as soon as I walked into the lobby, I just took off like a bat out of Hell to the theater - not looking, holding my breath, just whatever it took to get me into that theater, into a seat, and without a break down/melt down because I wanted a soda and popcorn.... My friend laughed - she knew why - so in the theater she was pointing out the weak and easy to mug (for their popcorn)... She and I had a blast - between the funny movie and our own jokes!

Another weekend of NO STRAYING from the path of Low Carbohydrates!!!!!