Food Art Journal: The Beginning

I'm starting over once again. I'm fighting a losing battle right now, and I've decided to take a stand... I'm done with "diets," a permenant change is due to combat my serious weight issue. I decided that the most important factor in my eating/exercise habits is my own mind. The fact that I have zero self-control or will to exercise plays a huge role in how I look and feel. If it's all about the mind, then why haven't I addressed my mind and feelings before? It was all about counting, measuring, hoping...

From Mixed Media Art Journal

I started doing mixed media art journaling about four months ago. I LOVE IT!! It's not just a hobby anymore, it truly is becoming one of my passions! Mixed media artwork is amazing to me. What is it? For those of you missing the craze... it's just basically taking several types of media: paint, ink, stamps, paper, stains, and whatever else you want to put in a book and creating beautiful artwork (no, it has nothing to do with DVDs or Reporters). I take this type of art and create a journal. I learned how to art journal through Christy Tomlinson's "She Had Three Hearts" workshop (http://www.christytomlinson.typepad.com/).

From Mixed Media Art Journal

I have decided to combine art journaling with food journaling in my latest crusade to change my body! I want to share my journey with you. I want to inspire people to make changes in their own lives. I think that this idea is cutting edge. It's not a diet at all... it's a journey documented in one of the most creative ways possible. Not every page has art on it, in fact most of it is old school journaling, pen to notebook paper. But every now and then I'm going to do a mixed media page to spice things up. I will not share all of my entries, because some of them are just too personal... but I will give you a glimpse into my journey in hopes that some of you will join me to change the way we eat and live.

From Mixed Media Art Journal

Also, know that I fully intend to put videos and things like that on here, it's just that I do not have a really good camera yet. One day!! One day!

Bible Study 1

As part of my food art journal, I am also including a Bible study to add in the spiritual element that is so important to me. As I get closer to God, through the study of his word, I will begin to fully understand the importance of taking care of my body. The following is taken from my journal:

August 9, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Bible Study 1: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

Those two verses say it all! Everytime I shove food excessively into my body I am destroying the temple of God! I never thought of my overeating to be sinning but it is. I've never asked for forgiveness after leaving a buffet or downing a gallon of ice cream! Today, I ask for God's forgiveness for treating His temple like garbage. I will strive to do God's will by eating only for nourishment, not pleasure.

My body is His temple! And it's time for a renovation!

Terry’s Wicked Wings

From Food

BBQ Wings

From Food

Buffalo-Style Wings

12 whole fresh chicken wings

1 bottle of fat free Italian dressing

1 small onion

2 cloves of minced garlic

3 tbs. of hot sauce or to taste

Non-stick cooking spray

Your favorite buffalo or barbeque sauce

 

Cut whole wings into two pieces at the joint and discard the tip. In a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie, add the bottle of Italian dressing, onion, garlic, and hot sauce. Add wings. Seal the bag tightly, shake and toss wings a bit, then add bag to a container and place in refrigerator for anywhere from an hour to 8 hours. Preheat oven to 375. Spray cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray. Remove wings from marinade and place on cookie sheet in a single layer. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and top with your favorite buffalo sauce or barbeque (KC Masterpiece!!) sauce. I made half and half to please the entire Super Bowl crowd. J Bake another 15 minutes until chicken is completely done, white, and easily comes away from bone. Serve hot and with extra sauce! I am unsure of the nutritional values, but these are baked not fried. Watch the nutritional information on your sauces as they can contain a lot of calories. I would guesstimate these wings to be 2 points each. THAT'S A GUESS!

Jelly Window Pane Cookies

From Food

Your Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe (I used store-bought dough *blush*)

8 oz. of Your favorite flavor of jelly, jam, or preserves (Strawberry Preserves)

¼ c. powdered sugar

 

Preheat oven according to sugar cookie recipe directions. I also like to use the recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens (red and white) cookbook, and if you don't own one… you must. You can't call yourself a cook without it! Roll chilled dough and cut into shapes. I used a heart because it was Valentine's Day. Make sure you have another cookie cutter that is smaller than the one you're using to cut initial shape to make the center. I used a smaller heart. DO NOT CUT the center before baking. I tried, it wasn't pretty. Just cut out the basic large shape and bake according to directions. When hot from the oven, carefully cut the center out of half the shapes leaving a whole cookie for the bottom. Transfer cookies to wax paper carefully removing hot centers from cookies. (Feed centers to your hungry, drooling toddler or decorate) Sprinkle the cookies with the holes with powdered sugar using a salt shaker (remove the salt first… need I say?) full of powdered sugar or a sifter. Spread the bottom cookie generously with preserves putting most of the preserves in the center to prevent oozing around the edges. Top with powdered sugar cookie frame. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container. These cookies were absolutely delicious! Try different shapes and jelly flavors for different occasions! Not weight watchers, eat at your own risk! J

7 Layer Taco Dip

From Food

8 oz. light cream cheese

8 oz. light sour cream

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 lb. of hamburger

1 16 oz. can black beans (or refried beans*)

1 8 oz. jar of taco sauce

½ c. green onion

½ c. tomato

1 sm. can of sliced black olives

1 7 oz. pkg. of 2% Mexican style shredded cheese

 

Allow cream cheese to come to room temperature. Brown hamburger and add drained and rinsed black beans. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Mix cream cheese and sour cream thoroughly in a medium sized bowl. Add taco seasoning and mix well. In an 8 x 8 pan, spread cream cheese mixture on the bottom evenly. Top with hamburger and beans. (If using refried beans, put them below the hamburger) Top hamburger with taco sauce, onion, tomato, olives, and cheese layering everything in that order evenly. Serve immediately or refrigerate. You can make this dip a day ahead. Serve with baked tortilla chips. Makes 16 ¼ c. servings for 5 points. 200 cal; 11 g. fat; 1 g. fiber. You can also substitute fat free cream cheese, fat free sour cream, and fat free shredded cheddar for a lighter recipe. *using refried beans will alter nutritional values.

That's Diet Cobbler?!

From Food

1 c. flour
2/3 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ c. vegetable shortening
16 oz. bag of frozen fruit (blackberries, cherries, peaches, apples, etc.)
4 packets of Splenda (optional)
¾ c. (6 oz.) of diet Sprite or 7-UP

Mix flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture looks like cornmeal. Set dry mix aside. Place bag of frozen fruit into 8 x 8 pan (do not thaw). Sprinkle Splenda over blackberries (if using different fruit, sweetener may be omitted depending on sweetness of fruit). Cover fruit with dry mix. Pour Sprite over mixture. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 min at 350. Uncover and bake an additional 40 to 45 minutes. Allow cobbler to cool. Cut into 16 pieces and serve warm or cool. 2 points per serving; 109 cal; 3 g. fat; 2 g. fiber per serving.*Nutrition facts were calculated using frozen blackberries. Different fruits may yield different nutritional information.

Oh Cherrios, Oh Cherrios.. why do you mock me?

Well, sorry I haven't even put a menu up for this week! I've not done very well on my Weight Watcher endeavor as far as planning goes. Maybe it's the constant snow storms that get me down! My cupboard is getting bare and my dishes are piling up. Ugh. Nonetheless, I am continuing with my workout regimen like a real soldier, and hope to make a good wholesome dinner tomorrow night consisting of pork chops, mashed potatoes, and peas.

I have this serious cereal problem right now. I have always loved cereal and when I was pregnant I really went nuts on the stuff. Upon returning to Weight Watchers after Drew arrived, I still found myself reaching for the cereal bowl. I wasn't losing weight very well and every other week I would gain, or so it would seem. So on top of starting a new insanely difficult work out plan, I decided to leave the cereal bowl in the cabinet for awhile. It has been hard. I was eating cereal two or three times a DAY! I would look at the gallon of milk at the end of the day and think... wow I wonder how many points half of that gallon is?! It was truly a problem. I mean, it's not like I was breaking out the Shredded Wheat and measuring cups. I had Honey Bunches of Oats in my bowl, and believe me the bowl was running over.

So I put my foot down, dug my heels in, and committed to not eating cereal for one week. One week turned into two after I had lost like 4.5 pounds that first week... two weeks turned into three after seeing a 3.5 pound weight loss, and as I approached my third week of no cereal I thought I could handle it no sweat. I gained last week. 1.5 pounds. It wasn't the cereal... because I still haven't touched the stuff (staring at it longingly doesn't count). Last week was Super Bowl week, and I had taco dip, hot wings, and yes.. oh yess.. Pizza Hut pizza (meat lovers!). Oh, the recipes for the taco dip and the hot wings are to come! They fall in that figure-friendly-ish category ;) So here I am halfway through week three without cereal (Monday will begin week four since I've had my lips around a milky spoonful of sweet goodness), and I'm about to break like an '03 Ford Taurus (inside joke.. haha).

Why do I even want the cereal in the first place? Is it that tasty? Is it that satisfying? Most of the cereal I am lusting for contains no nutritional value what-so-ever. Sure there are claims on the boxes about whole grains, extra fiber, vitamins, and "part of a balanced breakfast," but the sad truth remains that it is just carbohydrates dredged in mountains of sugar and food dye. Oh the sweet little Fruit Loop O's dance in my head creating little rainbows of goodness taunting me from my toddler's high chair tray. If I eat the cereal, I will be giving in to the craving not the hunger. I'm not hungry for cereal... I just want to eat the cereal. So I will not. I will stand strong. I will laugh in the face of Toucan Sam and urge him to keep tempting me because this cereal-loving maniac isn't folding this time. Keep your cartoons, carbs, and high fructose corn syrup. It's time I got healthy, and left the cereal behind!