Happy New Year!

Well, yet another year has come to an end. This journey is all about making choices. Accordinly, I have chosen to give myself the day off and enjoy a few things that I don’t get to eat very often any longer with my current eating plan (authentic Mexican food and some real ice cream ) I’ll be back tomorrow for a new year and a new OP streak.

Instead of my journal today, I’ll leave you with a photo and a recipe.

Pumpkin Fluffernuggets

A couple of people have asked me about the fluffernugget entries on my journal the past couple of days. The recipe can be found on the Hungry Girl website. Two fluffernuggets are 1 point. Here is a pic of the ones I made:

Here is another quasi-recipe for something I’ve been enjoying lately. I’ve really come to love the unsweetened Almond Breeze. It’s extremely versatile, has a great taste, and is much lower in calories (40 calories per cup) than nonfat milk.

Almond Breeze Chai Latte

Mix equal parts unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze (could also use original flavor) and sugar-free Oregon Chai original chai tea latte concentrate. Add Splenda to taste if you like your chai sweetened. I usually just add a splash of sugar-free DaVinci Chai syrup which both sweetens it and boosts the chai flavor as well.

This recipe can be enjoyed either hot or cold. For a hot latte, mix everything together and then just put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes on High. For a cold latte, mix everything together and pour over ice.

Per 16-oz serving: Approximately 40 calories, 3g fat, 1g fiber
Points: 1

If you can’t find the Almond Breeze, this recipe can also be made using light soy milk. The points would need to be adjusted based upon the soy milk used to make it.

Saturday, Dec. 30 - Day 55

Breakfast:
Banana - 2.0
Toast - 0.5
Coffee - 0.5

Lunch:
Roasted corn & pepper soup - 2.6
Baked Tostitos scoops w/salsa - 3.3
Baby carrots - 0

Snack:
Western Bagel pita - 1.2
Roasted red pepper hummus - 2.7

Dinner:
Veggie pizza - 5.9
Pumpkin Fluffernuggets - 2.0

Snacks:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Granola bars - 3.4

Total: 27.7
WPA balance: 34.4
Water: 64 oz

Friday, Dec. 29 - Day 54

Breakfast:
Banana - 2.0
Coffee - 0.5

Lunch:
Veggie burgers - 2.6
Baked Tostitos scoops w/salsa - 3.3
Baby carrots - 0

Dinner:
Couscous pilaf - 7.4
BAS - 0
Pumpkin Fluffernuggets - 2.0

Snacks:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Vitalicious muffin top - 1.3

Total: 22.7
WPA balance: 34.4
Water: 56 oz

Thursday, Dec. 28 - Day 53

Well, it’s Thursday, so that means it time for another weekly weigh-in. I had another maintain this week, but I’m fine with that for the following reasons:

1. I was out of town for about half of the week.
2. I had Pad Thai one night.
3. I went a bit crazy (still OP though) with Christmas appetizers.
4. I used nearly half of my WPA this week.

Given all of that, I’m more than happy with having a maintain.

As promised in yesterday’s journal, here is a pic and recipe for the hot cocoa I’ve come to love lately. It’s so rich & creamy that it seems just like the real thing to me. It’s soooooo much better than the packets of diet cocoa, IMO.

Almond Breeze Cocoa

1 cup Almond Breeze unsweetened chocolate almond milk
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Ghiradelli)
1-2 packets Splenda (to taste)
DaVinci sugar-free Toasted Marshmallow syrup (optional)

Mix together the cocoa and Splenda. Set aside. Pour almond milk into a microwave safe cup and heat on High for 2 minutes. Add cocoa/Splenda mix and stir well until dissolved. If desired, add the marshmallow syrup.

Yield: 1 serving
Per serving: approximately 50 calories, 3.5g fat, 1g fiber
Points: 1

Now, on to today’s food journal …

Breakfast:
Thomas’ 100 calorie English muffin - 1.3
LC light cheese wedge - 0.8
Almond Breeze hot chocolate - 1.0

Lunch:
TJ’s roasted corn tortilla chowder - 3.8
Baked Tostitos scoops - 3.3
Baby carrots - 0

Dinner:
Big veggie stir-fry w/chik’n strips & feta cheese - 8.1
Frozen yogurt - 5.4

Snacks:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Vitalicious muffin top - 1.3

Total: 28.6
WPA balance: 34.4
Water: 64 oz

Wednesday, Dec. 27 - Day 52

I had a really great dinner last night. I found something new recently in a visit to Trader Joe’s. It was a vegetarian stuffed poblano peppers entree. They were stuffed with soy crumbles, black beans, corn, green peppers, onions, etc. and topped with a chipotle salsa. There were directions for cooking either in the oven or microwave. I cooked mine in the microwave and then topped them with a little shredded 2% cheddar cheese. I had plenty of points and was pretty hungry, so I ate them both. I paired it with a big ass salad and it made a wonderful quick & easy dinner. Here’s a pic:

Now, on to today’s food journal …

Breakfast:
Vegetarian Denver omelette - 2.4
(I used diced cremini mushrooms in place of the ham.)
Thomas’ 100 calorie English muffin - 1.3
Almond Breeze chai latte - 0.8

Snack:
Almond Breeze hot chocolate - 1.0
(I’ll post the recipe tomorrow.)

Lunch:
Bolono sandwich - 1.5
Baked Tostitos scoops w/roasted tomato salsa - 3.3
Banana - 2

Dinner:
Veggie pizza - 6.9
(made with fresh cremini mushrooms & diced eggplant. YUMMM!)
Vitalicious muffin top - 1.3

Snacks:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Z-bar - 2.0

Total: 26.1
WPA balance: 20.7
Water: 64 oz

Tuesday, Dec. 26 - Day 51

Breakfast:
Banana - 2
FF yogurt - 2

Lunch:
Bolono sandwich - 1.5
FF Pringles w/salsa - 1.7
Baby carrots - 0
FF/SF pudding - 2.4

Dinner:
Stuffed Poblano peppers - 7.2
14g 2% cheese - 1.0
BAS - 0
Hershey’s 100 calorie dark chocolate bar - 2.2

Snacks:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Granola bar - 1.7
Z-bar - 2.0

Total: 27.3
WPA balance: 20.7
Water: 88 oz

Framing Happy Dance Again

I managed to get by the framers yesterday before they closed to pick up my Quaker Samplings I by With My Needle. I’m really pleased with how the frame turned out. I think it plays off the colors of the fabric and fiber very nicely. Unfortunately, I noticed after I got it home that they mounted the hanging wire the wrong direction. So, now I’ll have to take it back on Wednesday to have them correct it.

Here’s a pic:

I also snapped a quick pic of my Taj Mahal kit I mentioned a couple of days ago. It’s very scary to think about how much stitching this is going to be, but I can’t wait to start on it. I’m pretty sure this is going to be my January 1 start.

A couple of other friends have told me that I have stash goodies on the way, but they’ve not yet arrived. Once they do, I’ll be posting more pics. All in all, it’s been a good Christmas, both with stash and otherwise. I even got a Santa bunny.

Edit: Ok, so I had to come back and add one more picture. For the very first time in my life, I actually had my picture taken with Santa. Even though he was a bit thinner than one might expect for Santa, his hair and beard were real. I was out with a dear friend and another couple and we all had our picture taken with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Afterward, I casually mentioned that I had never had a photo taken with Santa before and he insisted that I should sit on his lap and have one taken by myself. I may be a grown woman, but still thought it was pretty cool sitting on Santa’s lap to get my picture taken.

Happy stitching!

Monday, Dec. 25 - Day 50 of 50

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today!! I hope you all have a day filled with happiness and joy.

This is it — day 50 of my 50 day OP challenge!!!

Day 50 of 50

Breakfast:
Light English muffin - 1.3
LC light cheese wedge - 0.8
Coffee w/creamer - 0.5

Christmas Lunch:
Assorted cheese, crackers, and hummus - 14
Veggie burgers - 2.6
Mashed potatoes - 4.0
Green beans - 0
Grands biscuit - 4.0

Dinner:
Whole wheat pasta w/veggies - 4.2
Frozen yogurt - 5.4

Snack:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Vitalicious muffin top -1.3

Total: 41.3
WPA balance: 20.7
Water: 64 oz

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today!! I hope you all have a day filled with happiness and lots of stash under the tree.

Sunday, Dec. 24 - Day 49 of 50

I realized very late last night (ok, technically it was very early this morning around 2am) that yesterday was my 500th post since I started my Bunny Food blog. I had no idea that I’d made that many entries!

Today was a travel day for me as I was returning home after spending the week visiting with friends. Since I was going cross-country via airplane, my meals are a bit funky.

Day 49 of 50

Breakfast:
None

Lunch:
BK veggie burger (no mayo) - 6.5
Side salad - 0

Snack:
Z-bar - 2.0

Dinner:
Bolono & cheese sandwich w/lettuce, tomato & onion - 2.7
Baked Tostitos Scoops w/salsa - 3.3
NSA peaches - 1.4
Frozen yogurt - 5.4

Snack:
Nonfat milk - 3.6
Z-bar - 2.0

Total: 26.9
WPA balance: 34.0
Water: 64 oz