I’m jelous of the new exercise routine. I’m still at the procrastinating stage…good luck

Islagringo, You are so right about the incredible kindnesses…people are so nice. There is a funny story about the lady with the yarn, though. She wrote me a kind of curt email asking about yarn stores in Mazatlan and saying she didn’t have time to look through my site. I don’t know why I was so cranky but for some reason I was a teeeeeensy bit short in my reply to her. She felt so bad when all she had to do is click Labels-knitting that I think that’s what prompted her to offer. She is so nice, I am sure we will be friends when they are here (almost) full time.

Jan, In order to keep on my food and exercise routine, I keep telling myself that the next six months are going to pass whether I do anything about my weight or not. And wouldn’t it be great to have an achievement under my belt? (As well as to tuck in my shirt?) I am not going to Guadalajara on purpose, I need to take care of the critters and house, plus we would talk English to each other! So my turn will come. It was cool again today (that is about 84 to 88 but not much humidity) but we know it is only a cool spell. I think SC usually is warmer than we are though. Let’s get together sometime! xo

Good for you on the workouts. I am trying but am such a slacker. I really need to get better. But I love yoga on the beach so I have been doing that. Now I just need to get an ipod for the long bike ride.

That was really nice of that woman to bring you some yarn. Isn’t that nice. I have someone bringing me Thai Chili Sauce next week. I am so excited. It is so sweet what people will do without having even meeting you in person.

PS- I LOVE that little pig!

I also copied Teresa’s recipe but haven’t corraled all the ingredients yet….but am will tit eventually. Let us know how yours turn out.

Here’s a very filling recipe from “Biggest Looser Cookbook”. I’ve made it with both ground chicken and ground beef — much prefer the ground beef….as it goes better with Picante sauce

CABBAGE STRATA
Ingredients

Olive Oil Spray

8 slices center-cut bacon, cut into 2″ pieces

1-1/4 cups minced yellow onion

1 cup uncooked instant brown rice

6 cups shredded green cabbage

1-1/2 lbs extra-lean chicken breast or 96% lean ground beef (but not turkey breast)

1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

2 (8 oz) cans no-salt-added tomato sauce

3/4 cup water

Hot sauce, to taste (optional)

—————————————————————

Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly spray an 8″ X 8″ X 4″ deep oven proof glass or ceramic casserole or baking dish with the olive oil spray. Line a dinner plate with a paper towel.

Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until the bacon is cooked and starting to crisp on the edges. Transfer the bacon to the lined plate. Discard all but 1 TBSP of the bacon fat from skillet.

Add onions and rice to skillet and place over medium heat. Cook in bacon fat, stirring, until the onions are tender and the rice is just starting to brown ( 3-5 minutes).

Spread 3 cups of cabbage in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with the rice mixture, forming an even layer.

Add the chicken (or beef) salt, and pepper to the skillet and place over medium-high heat. Cook chicken/beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon , but leaving some large chunks, until no longer pink (3 – 5 minutes). With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken/beef to the casserole dish to form another even layer. Spread the remaining 3 cups cabbage over the chicken/beef.

Discard any liquid from the skillet and add the tomato sauce and water. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. With a ladle or large spoon, carefully spoon sauce evenly over the casserole, being sure the dish doesn’t overflow. Lay the bacon pieces evenly on top the cabbage.

Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes longer, or until the cabbage and rice are tender and the strata is heated through. Let stand 5 minutes to set. Cut into 6 equal pieces and serve with hot sauce on the side if desired.

Makes 6 servings Per serving: Carbs = 20, Cals = 271, Prot = 32

(Most of the servings in recipes I’ve tried from this Biggest Loser Cookbook can reasonably be cut in half – so the numbers would be halved also).

Since my husband doesn’t like cooked cabbage, I let casserole cool, then dish it out into 1 cup Glad containers for freezing – then reheat them a serving at a time in the microwave.

1st Mate, Follow the link to Theresa’s cooking blog for the recipe!