Weight Watchers Shrimp-and-Corn Soup

It has been cold and rainy all week and snow coming tomorrow in CT!  I chose to make something for dinner tonight that is both healthy and warms your soul.  Also, it is only 5 weight watchers points per serving. The BEST part is, you just have to throw the ingredients together and simmer!

Weight watchers provides many aids for success.  I re-joined right after the holiday pound gain, and I feel great about myself. Coupled with this, I have been working out 5-6 days a week using Josh's training.  I have never been so toned in my life!  While I have only lost 15 pounds so far, knowing I am on the right track and changing my body with exercise really feels great! 

Here's the recipe adapted Weight Watchers Five-Star Recipes

Quick Shrimp and Corn Soup

Ingredients

Cooking spray

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

if you have leftover pepper like I did, leave the seeds inside the remainder.  It helps it stay fresher longer.

1 garlic clove, minced

3/4 cup (6 ounces) 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened

2 cups fat-free milk

1 (15 oz) can creamed corn

1 (10.75 oz) can reduced fat, reduced sodium cream of mushroom soup

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles undrained

1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

I use pre-cooked shrimp from Aldi because it is cheaper, use whatever kind you'd like!

Preparation:

1. Heat a dutch oven or large saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.  Add chopped onion, pepper, and garlic, and saute 5 minutes.  Stir in cream cheese, reduce heat, and cook until cheese is melted.  Add milk, corn, soup, and tomatoes; cook ten minutes, stirring occasionally.  Bring to a boil. Add shrimp; cook five minutes or until shrimp are done. Remove from heat. Ladle soup into bowls.  Sprinkle green onion over soup.

One serving is 1 cup soup.  We loved how creamy it was, yet still low-fat!

I paired it corn muffins

What is your favorite warm the soul soup?

Vocational Woes....

Work Stinks!  You hear this more and more these days.  Its a problem thats plagued people since the beginning of civilized society.  The necessity to work, drives people to do things or say things they really don't want to.  It forces a person to become someone else, breaks down hope, and drains us of all of our energy.  The truth is though, that work doesn't have to be that way.  Heck it doesn't have to be "work" at all.  Now if your comfortable in your position at work, or you have the job of your dreams and couldn't imagine doing anything else, than the suggested workout for your vocation would be to improve you performance even more at that particular vocation.  If however you feel dissatisfied, and lost at your job, underappreciated, and walked all over, this workout can give you some assistance.  First, take some time and really think; do I need this job? More times than not the answer will be yes.  If its no than the solution is quite simple....find another job.  If yes, then ask yourself, how can I make this experience better?  Think about ways you can get focused and on task with your current employment, which will help carry the time better.  When you have free time, make a list of all the things you like to do, then try to think of ways to make them profitable.  Theres no time table on this exercise, so take sometime and really analyze the things you like and find a way to make money from it.  If something comes to mind, GO FOR IT!  The truth is that you only live once, if you find something that you feel gives your life purpose, or is in direct line with your purpose in life, do it, otherwise you may regret your decision.  For now, work on that list.  If you want, post some questions on the blog and feel the ideas out with other readers, you may find more useful feed back than you think!

Chicken Pot Pockets

Today was the first day back from school for me from February vacation.  After a long day of teaching to students who were yawning, and putting their heads on the table to rest, I could not wait to get into the kitchen to lose myself in my cooking.

I have never used eggroll wrappers for anything, and honestly was a little nervous to try.  I imagined them to be more thinner than they actually are.  They were actually pretty easy to work with.  I chose to use NaSoya Brand because I trust their soymilk.  Eggroll wrappers could be found usually near the tofu in your grocery store.

This recipe is adapted from Hungry Girl who I love to go to for less fattening versions of well known fatty foods such as chili dogs and nachos. 

Chicken Pot Pockets (for fellow Weight Watchers, each pocket is only 2 points)

Ingredients

 12 large square egg roll wraps
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can 98% fat free condensed cream of celery soup (I use Campbell's)
2 cups frozen bite-sized mixed vegetables (any kind you like)
One cooked skinless boneless chicken breast (4 to 5 oz)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste
Directions


1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


2.In a small dish, mix cornstarch thoroughly with 1 teaspoons cold water.

3.In a large bowl, combine cornstarch mixture with soup, and mix thoroughly. Add veggies and chicken, mix well, and then season to taste with salt and pepper, if you like. This is your filling. Set aside.









4.On a large dry surface, lay out three egg roll wrappers.

 Set out a small dish of water, dip your finger into it, and then run your finger along all of the wrapper edges -- repeat this as needed while preparing your pockets, as it will help keep them sealed.

* I found I only needed to do this process once per wrapper if I was quick..Use your judgement.

5.Starting about 1/2 inch from the bottom, place 2 - 3 tablespoons of filling along the bottom half of each wrapper, leaving a 1/2-inch border on both sides. Fold the top half of each wrapper over, so that the top edge meets the bottom -- the mixture should be completely encased with a 1/2-inch border on three sides. Dab each border with water, and fold each inward about 1/4 inch to lightly seal all sides. Press firmly along the borders with the prongs of a fork to seal completely.

This may seem to be a nuisance but really does seal the wrapper better than pressing with fingers.

6.Line a large baking pan with foil and/or spray with nonstick spray. Using a large spatula, carefully transfer the pockets to the baking pan. Repeat the entire process 3 more times, so that you have 12 pockets on the baking sheet. If needed, prepare and use an additional baking sheet.

7.Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

 
 
 

My eggroll wrappers came in packs of twenty. If you have extra also, they can freeze safely for two months. Just label with a use by date and you are good to go!





What have you used eggroll wrappers for?

Bacon, Egg, and Asparagus Pizza

Josh and I both work 2 (sometimes 3) jobs, so we don't often get to sit down together for a meal. When we do, I try to make it wholesome and delicious. Every Sunday morning, we do get the chance to eat together. Yesterday morning I made Bacon, Egg, and Asparagus Pizza. I consider this recipe what Rachael Ray would call a BLD. It could be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It also is low in calories and fat while giving protein!

Bacon, Egg and Asparagus Pizza
Adapted from Eating Well (April 2010)
Ingredients
1 pound prepared whole wheat pizza dough
2 strips turkey bacon
3/4 cup sliced white onion
1 pound asparagus, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar

Preparation

Be sure to cut asparagus and onion prior to anything else, so they are ready when you are!

1. Preheat oven to 500°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet or pizza pan with cooking spray.

2.Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about the size of the baking sheet.
Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake until crisped on the bottom, about 8 minutes.

3.Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on a paper towel.

Turkey bacon takes longer than regular bacon.  This is what it looks like when done.  If you prefer a crispy bacon, use the regular thing!

4.Add shallots to the pan and cook, stirring often, until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add asparagus and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes more.

5.Spread the vegetables over the crust and crumble bacon on top. Whisk eggs, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until combined; slowly pour over the vegetables, trying not to let any run off the crust. Sprinkle the pizza with cheese. Bake until the eggs are set and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes.

Before cooking.  If you want, you can use reduced fat cheddar.

The finished pizza.  Both Josh and I loved it! 

What do you love to eat for weekend breakfast??

Circut Workouts

When it comes to doing physical workouts, the first thing I usually hear people say is "I don't have time to workout". I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret; you don't have to workout for that long to start achieving your fitness goals. Circuit workouts are beneficial for several reasons; 1. you can do a circuit workout anywhere, 2. They can be done according to YOUR determined intensity level, 3. They don't take much time at all!

An example of a circuit would be:

1. 10 push ups

2. 15 crunches

3. 25 jumping jacks

To make it a circuit, repeat the exercises 1, 2, 3, with short breaks in between. If your looking for a way to start a base for physical fitness, try doing this circuit three times in a row. It should take no more than 15-25min. Remember, this is only a suggestion, pay attention to your form while doing all exercises. Correct form, leads to productivity, incorrect form, leads to injury. For those of you that are interested, do this circuit and let us know how it goes!

*Consult your physician before starting any exercise routine.

Suggested workout

Weekends are a good time to work on the spiritual aspect of total health. One workout to try, would be to find sometime for yourself. It doesn't have to be 13 hours or anything or even a half hour, just find at the very least 15 min to reflect on the things are going right. We all spend so much time of the week concentrating on whats going wrong, that many of us don't have the practice focusing on whats right. Set the stage before this exercise. Put on some music that will get you into a positive state of mind. If you have access to it, find something positive from your past or your present, or even a symbol for future positive feelings. Teach yourself to really enjoy the things you do have and you'll find that you'll worse less about the things you don't....Good Luck and please let me know how it goes!

Combining Goals

The task of improving ALL aspects of your life may seem daunting, even impossible. I find it helps to start small, as Josh said in the previous blog. Also, it helps to combine goals. For example, I am currently working on weight loss and fitness goals. Every week, I set a goal of about how much I would like to lose this week, as well as how many times I will get some sort of exercise. I find mentally thinking about when and how I will work out motivates me to do it.
As part of my fitness goal, I have registered to participate in Fight for Clean Air Climb
This event is part of the American Lung Association. In about one month, I will run up 68 flights of stairs to support my support for the fight for clean air. My goals are: 1) to raise 100 dollars for the organization in pledges, and 2)run the entire way up the stairs, without stopping.
So, in order to achieve this goal, I am working my body by training for this race. Also, I am working my spiritual side. The American Lung Association is particularly important to me because my paternal grandfather passed away from lung cancer 11 years ago. He was not a regular smoker. So, while some say people who die of lung cancer are asking for it, this is not true. I feel as though I am doing something for him, even though he is no longer with me. Are you looking to lose weight or get in shape? I encourage you to register for a race or walk that helps an organization you are touched by. Not only will the fact that you will be timed help your fitness goals, you will also feel good inside by helping someone you love!

To donate to my cause please visit my fundraising site.

Thank you and stay tuned for recipes from me!

~Amanda

Welcome All!

Welcome to Train Your Life! This Blog can be used to help build up your strengths in the following areas; Mind, Body, Spirit, Relationships, Professional, and Financial. The first step is to seriously think about goals you would like to set for the improvement of your mind, body, spirit, relationships, professional, and financial lives. In the beginning, set goals that are readily attainable, that you can use as a base. For your mind you can do ten math problems to help your mind move faster, or start jogging a little bit a day to help improve your body. For profession you can arrive at work 5 min. earlier, or leave 5 min. later. The Spiritual aspect doesn't really mean "church" or religion, but more of inner feelings, whatever drives you personally closer to inner peace. A walk on a sunny day, or a list of your accomplishments may help. As for the financial, saving a small percentage of your paycheck for yourself week by week and take some of that savings and buy something for yourself...YOU'VE EARNED IT! The purpose of this blog is for its readers to try to log something they've done to improve one of these aspects everyday and share with everyone else your methods, find support for those methods, and to overall improve the quality of your own life...ENJOY!