Delicious Manicotti!

Last night, I tried the Homemade Manicotti recipe from Gina's WW site. All I can say is YUM! I know I ate more than I was supposed to, but I couldn't resist! I didn't used to be a manicotti fan, especially when I tried making it from home, but this was extremely good and I'm anxious about trying my left overs (for fear of ruining them by reheating too much/too little).

I made the crespelles (what the mixture is wrapped in) from scratch, which is a little tricky, but so worth it! They are extremely thin (each only calls for 2 T of batter, but I used 3 since I kept tearing them :P) and they only cook for a total of 40 seconds each. I also changed the recipe by using whole wheat flour and fresh chopped spinach. I'm sure I used a little too much sauce, but I didn't want to waste the jar!

Shrimp Quesadillas with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Well, I tried to break out of the box and try something different for the fam...but this was not a hit.  I liked them all right (minus the tomatoes), but Hubby didn't enjoy them, Lovely refused to eat them, and although Snugglebug said they were tasty, she didn't finish her's, either.  So, I won't be making these again.  Sorry, Gina, this skinny WW recipe just didn't float our boats! 

So, I'll admit what all I've eaten today since I need to write down somewhere what I have consumed:

Bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios w/ 2% milk (I don't drink most of the milk--it's just there to wet the Cheerios)
Broiled white fish sandwich on wheat, salad with ranch (I dip my fork in the dressing, so I probably eat 2-3 tsp. of it), and about 3 of the little chips that come on the plate at Sam's (the restuarant)
3/4 Shrimp Ques., ~1/2 C lowfat beans, ~1/2 C Spanish rice

Downfall:  I drank Coke.  And Mello Yello.  Grrr...why can't I give that sugary stuff up?!  I could just kick myself! 

Turkey & Black Bean Enchiladas

So this isn't the most attractive food photo I've ever seen, but it is deceptive! Remember how I said I love Gina's Skinny WW Recipes? This is one of them. Those who have known me for years may seriously wonder how or why I, of all people, would try this dish, but I did, and I don't regret it! I used whole wheat tortillas, black beans, extra lean ground turkey, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cilantro, chopped onion, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, and Weight Watcher's Mexican style cheese, just to name some of the ingredients. I also made the sauce from scratch--something I've never tried before!

Other than being a tad spicy, I really enjoyed these! If I remember right, they are 8.5 pts per enchilada, and I only had one, with some lowfat beans. (I was trying to make up for the meal disaster I had earlier at Rafferty's!) Hubby really liked them as well, and Lovely at half of one, while Snugglebug picked at her's, but what can you expect? I only started eating like this once I passed age 25...no, wait, I'm still 25, aren't I? If I am, this has been the longest year of my life!

Happy eating!

Rafferty's

I had planned to go to Kroger and my favorite, Whole Foods, today, along with one of the libraries.  I had planned to go early in the morning, so I wouldn't have to slave in the heat.  I had PLANNED, you see.

Then, I heard this strange beeping in my dream...it was incessant...I mean, it just wouldn't stop; and so, I woke up around 1:30 a.m., only to find the power had gone out and our phones were out of charge, which caused them to beep.  After dismantling them both in the dark, I remembered Hubby's handy-dandy miner's light that attaches to a headband/hat, and used that to call the electric company on the only phone that's actually attached to a wall. Finally, I went back to bed, only to discover "no's" still running through my head, and so I couldn't sleep...for a long, long while.

This is my long excuse for waking up at 8:50 a.m. instead of 7 as I had planned.  After dragging the kids out of bed, I dropped them at Mom's and went to Kroger...hi ho, hi ho, groceries cost a fortune, don't you know... Sorry, don't you break into song in the middle of your thoughts, as well? 

After that, I picked the girls up and Mom, headed to the library, only to find people in line ahead of me AGAIN to get the summer book points calculated.  (Why can't I ever be at the head of the line, just the end?!) 

Then, we headed to one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Rafferty's.  I tried to be good, I really, really did.  I ordered a grilled chicken wrap.  And then I came home and looked up the nutritional value on the computer:  711 calories, 2.63 grams of fiber, and....dum dee dee duummm...28.59 grams of fat!  ACK! I was afraid of that!  So, any suggestions for ordering better at that restaurant that is still tasty? 

I printed out a bunch of recipes for this week from my favorite, Gina's Skinny WW Recipes (I LOVE that woman for creating such a YUMMY site).  Therefore, I spent more on groceries, but at least I'm making an effort to eat healthy the rest of the week.  Now, if only I could find time for exercise...

Lovely Comment

Last night, Lovely kept telling me I was the best mommy in the whole world.  She was doing so in order to earn more marbles (her currency), so the last time she told me this, I finally asked her why I was the best mommy in the whole world.  Her response:

"Because God is with you." 

That just melted my heart!

Finding Motivation

I admit, it's been difficult to find motivation of late.  It seems June has been busier than the rest of the year for one reason or another.  Now, I'm just a little more fearful of August! 

I hope July calms down a bit--I've had something going each week in June.  This morning was the garage sale, where I didn't make a fortune, but at least I made up some of the money I've spent on homeschool supplies!  lol  I got up extremely early for me (5:30 a.m.), and now I'm just wondering how on earth I can find motivation to get up early everyday (well, not THAT early..but earlIER). 

Last night was the homeschool meeting, and I volunteered to be secretary since no one else wanted the position and I knew I should be good at it since the Lord has given me skills that help with organization, listening, writing, etc.  (I was an administrative/office assistant/secretary for about eight years.)  However, there were still a couple people who would rather have no secretary than me...which simply baffles me.  Honestly, I am so tempted to resign because I don't want to make anyone unhappy, and yet I know that would be letting others down, and I don't want to do that, either.  Unfortunately, an analogy to my last job comes to mind...some students loved my classes, but there were always a couple who felt..."unhappy" with me.  It was easy to write those opinions off, but this is much harder to deal with, probably because I feel anyone who is willing to honestly help the kids and help the group and who has prayed about the decision to take such a role should be supported....but I better stop rambling!  I have a birthday party to attend...and a present to buy before I get there!

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!