A little about me, I have always loved food - at some times I have had my issues with meat and other things (like artichokes, I miss them, but the smell makes me ill now!) I do eat meat now but have just started to eat more pork, I was traumatized by a pig roast when I was younger. Note to parents, it is NOT funny to put sunglasses on a pig when you are roasting it whole, it is also not funny to let your kid eat venison (deer,) tell them its beef and then say, "YOU JUST ATE BAMBI!" Yes, these were some reasons why I didn't eat meat for a while.
We never thought I could cook. I am the youngest of two and my sister took most cooking duties when we were teens. I ate convenience foods (mac and cheese, ramen) and at the dining hall in college. After college I had mom and then a room mate who cooked. When I started dating Christopher, I started cooking out of a need, he was stressed and pushed to the limit as a single father of two pre-teen girls. I found some recipes online at Moms Who Think, and they became my "bible". I began to experiment more and got some other cookbooks. I then discovered a LOVE of baking. I began making cupcakes like nobody's business! I baked my own (small) wedding cake and about 200 cupcakes for the guests (complete with Cupcake Caps, this was in my pre-making-your-own-frosting days.)
All of the cooking and happiness added on a few (okay, a lot of) extra pounds and I joined Weight Watchers in February 2011. I have lost about 17 pounds so far, and lately have been at a bit of a plateau. I also have become more conscious of WHAT we are eating. I like to use fresh ingredients and healthier options as much as possible. I like to bake my own bread, make cookies and snacks from scratch and the like. I really enjoy Kiwi Magazine for its recipes and ideas on green and healthier living!
So, enough about me, I'm sure you'd love to know what I am eating now! I usually plan out two weeks of food ahead of time and do one big shopping trip when I am NOT hungry. I will run to the store a few times during those two weeks for produce and milk (or the "OH-CRAP-we-need-dog food-detergent-etc run.) We spend about $600 a month (or a little more) on groceries for a family of four, which include household cleaning and care items, as well as the dog! Keep in mind that we also pack four lunches a day.
This is my two week meal plan starting last Sunday. We have strayed a bit from the plan since today my girls wanted Manwich. Their mom passed away in March and today would have been her birthday and she LOVED Manwich. So we will re-arrange. All of these meals are under 300 calories (main entree.) I got most from "The Comfort Food Diet" cookbook by Taste of Home. Others came from a slow cooker cookbook that I have.
So, Sunday and Monday's meal was "Pork Tenderloin with Herb Sauce." I took some last minute pictures, so they're not the best! We added whole wheat noodles (1/4 c) and green beans.
Pork Tenderloin with Herb Sauce
Makes 6 servings (I stretched it to be 9 somehow)
4oz of pork & 2tbsp of sauce = 238 calories
Points Plus values: 6
Ingredients:
2 pork tenderloins (1lb each) *Hormel loins are a little over a pound.
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp butter (I did use the real butter, this is what is called for, I'm sure you can use margarine)
2/3 c half and half (I used fat free)
2 tbsp fresh minced parsley
2 tsp herbs de Province
2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tsp beef bullion granules
1/2 to 3/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (I just sprinkled!)
-Cut each tenderloin into 12 slices. Sprinkle with salt.
-In a large non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray, brown pork in butter in batches over medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Return all pork to the skillet.
-Finally I made whole wheat pasta for a starch and added green beans (cooked in microwave) with olive oil, garlic powder and onion powder.
I hope you like this meal, we LOVED it! Have fun cooking!
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