Diet Check In

I've been kind of successful in my new diet.  I have not adhered solely to the diet of greens, fruits, low fat dairy, and whole grains.  I am totally better about what I put in my mouth, but I am not perfect.  That's okay.

For the past few days, my breakfast has consisted of a shake made from unsweetened almond milk, a scoop of protein powder, and a bunch of frozen berries.  Does it taste like Jamba Juice?  No, but I'm okay with it.  Lunch has been a small portion of something I made earlier in the week.  This week it is a bit of rigatoni and a few turkey meatballs.  Dinner has been more or less grazing.  This is where I struggle.  I come home from work and although not really hungry, I start snacking.  For example, yesterday I had a small frozen pizza, a handful of corn chips, and then a several spoonfuls of ice cream.  I didn't eat anything for the rest of the evening, but what I did put in my mouth was a bit excessive.

B is living on mostly fruits and salads.  Good for him.  We both eat "regular" food on the weekends.  I made a pot of pasta with meatballs on Saturday.  I've been eating the leftovers for lunch.  Just a tiny portion of what I used to eat, but it is still real food.  Last week, I had mostly salads.  I haven't noticed much in weight loss, so I'm obviously not doing something right, but I'll figure it out.

Tonight I think I'll make an open faced egg sandwich on homemade bread.  One egg, one slice of bread.  That should hold me for the rest of the evening.

New Obsession -- Burrata

A few weeks ago, I was watching an episode of Extra Virgin (love that show!).  Anyway, the couple were making a very decadent cheese for their Italian dinner guest.  Once this guest realized what kind of cheese they were making, it brought him to tears.  The cheese was burrata.  It is a solid mass of fresh mozzarella cheese that is stuffed with "shreds" of mozzarella and cream.  I was intrigued by this cheese.  I have been wanting to make fresh mozzarella cheese for some time now, but all of a sudden I wanted to do the more complex burrata!

Literally a few days after viewing that episode, I was in my friendly Trader Joe's store.  I saw the elusive burrata cheese there.  I wanted it.  I craved it.  But since I put myself on a strict grocery budget, I decided to plan for it.  The following week, it wasn't there.  Yesterday, I couldn't take it anymore and I traveled to three different Trader Joe's to find it.  I nearly trampled an old lady who got in my way of this cheese.  I bought it and refrained myself from eating it in the car.

This morning, I sliced three slices of olive bread.  I was going to spread it with hummus, but remembered the burrata.  I pulled a soft mozzarella ball out of the tub and sliced a small slice.  OMG.  Cream oozed from it.  I sprinkled it with a little salt and black pepper and spread the creamy cheese on my olive bread.  Delicious!!!

It is definitely luxurious and something I should not get in the habit of eating (see my previous post of losing a couple of pounds), but it is so awesome!!!

Bright Side

I love mushrooms. B hates them. I make this creamy mushroom pasta that I absolutely love and B will not touch. I rarely make it now. I am so excited to make it while he is on his juice fast. Is that wrong???

ETA: B just announced that it may not be a 15 day fast. It might be shorter. Would it be wrong to feel disappointed? Don't judge.

Best Pizza Ever....in LA!

I live in LA. I understand that LA is not the pizza capital of the world. People from Chicago and New York will probably flame me for this, but I had one of the best pizzas here in LA last night.

B and I went out to this pizza place called Village Pizzeria. We've been there many times before and we love it each time. Last night, we ordered the 18 inch pizza (yes, there was only two of us) with pepperoni and fresh garlic. The enormous pizza came to our table and I made a comment to B about how we will definitely have leftovers. I was wrong. Both of us inhaled this pizza. The crust was thin and a little chewy. The cheese was hot and gooey. It was perfect. I am only mildly ashamed to say that I probably could have eaten a couple more slices. The kicker is I wasn't even stuffed at the end of this gluttonous meal. Don't get me wrong, I was satisfied, but nowhere near stuffed. I did feel a little better about myself knowing I had a small green salad before I devoured half of an 18 inch pizza.

I am seriously fighting the urge to stop by the pizzeria and pick one up on my way home tonight.

New Obsession

I was at my local Trader Joe's yesterday for my routine shopping trip. I saw a packet of Penguin Tummy Gummies. I have a sweet tooth and the penguins on the package were cute, so I bought them. Talk about impulse buy! Anyway, you get a lot in one bag for $1.99. I brought the bag to work for those occasional sweet cravings. Um, I finished the bag. Well, not yet, but rest assured the bag will be empty by the time I leave today.

There are three flavors: cherry, lime, and orange (I think). The tummy of the penguin is filled with this sweet "juice". I know it sounds gross and it probably is, but is so fun! I'm tempted to go and get another bag and the only thing that is stopping me is rush hour grocery store traffic. I'll wait until next week and buy another bag. Hopefully, by then I'll be able to refrain from eating the whole bag in one day!

Brie Cheese

Cheese is my life.  I love the stuff!!  I do most of my food shopping at Trader Joe's.  This place actually has a pretty good cheese selection.  Anyway, last week, I noticed my co-worker eating something out of a tiny container.  I couldn't make out what it was and since we were in a meeting, I couldn't yell and ask her.  Anyway, it was brie cheese.  It a two biter in a little container.  I loved it!  So today, she brought me a bag of them.  They are sold in a bag of five.  I just ate one and it is HEAVEN!  The Trader Joe's in my area doesn't carry it, but I will stalk all of them in a 10 mile radius for this cheese!!

Convenience Foods

For the past several years, I have gotten away from most convenience foods.  Sure, I still love Velveeta Shells and Cheese and I always have a packet or two of Ramen noodles for the times I just don't feel like doing anything, but I do try to steer clear from such foods. 

This past weekend, B and I went to our Farmer's Market.  We snacked on doughnuts and pizza and just spent the time walking around.  We stopped in a store we love and I found a huge selection of soup mixes.  You know the kind where they have all the spices and ingredients premeasured and packaged for you.  I bought the Jambalaya soup mix.  All I had to do was add my own protein and water.  I made it last night and although it is tasty, the homemade version is so much better.  Either way, this mix made a ton for $4 and we'll be eating out of it for at least three lunches this week.