Welcome to the Weekend - April 11 & 12

[gitfiddle]

The most successful people are those who are good at plan B.
James Yorke
Are you facing a big family dinner this weekend? Do you have a plan? Can you make a PP-friendly choice if there's a sudden change?

We’re having a small meal with some relatives, but I know what the menu is and I’ll just avoid the rolls, potatoes and dessert. Everything else is cool.

Today, I’ll have a protein shake for breakfast, roast beef wrap and carrots for lunch and a pork chop and green beans for dinner.

What have you got going this weekend? :)

[Puddin]

Robbing a m inute on a friend's computer because mine is KO. ADSL out of sorts.

All well here in my area. Earthquake in midItaly is terrible. We're sending lots of aid in the way of clothing, blankets and food.

PP progressing well. Easter will not be a problem because we ONLY have PP happy foods except for the bread. There won't be ANY changes fortunately because I am the cook. I can live without the potato salad a cousin is bringing!!;)

Wishing you all a happy Easter and Passover! Offline again till next week!

[maxlharris]

Going to trade joes for shake restocking, which means a stop a J. Alexander, which tends to lead to some prime rib action!
Then, craft store because wife wants an album to put vaycay phots in.
Then, I'm thinking, the butcher store, to see about the price of duck leg quarters for CONFIT! I am totally obsessed with Confit. And I had it on the second to last night in Paris, so it's been almost two weeks since I had it.
Other piece of food I had in Paris that I am mildly obsessed with is Shoarma. But I don't think this is a feasbile home cook thing. But man, the stuff they do with lamb over there that we are simply not paying attention to with our mostly beef, pork, chicken, turkey meat staples. In Paris, saw a lot of lamb, duck and beef. Not much pork (I think this is seasonal) or turkey (ditto). Chicken here and there. Some goose. I think my meat palate is a tad restricted, compared to what I saw there.

[gitfiddle]

Spent the morning just messing around with little stuff. Went to the gym with DS and for some groceries with the Geezer. He's busy stuffing an Easter basket for the grandblessing. He won't even let me help. :rolleyes:

I had my shake this morning and I've switched my lunch to cauli-bake and carrots. We bought some ribs at the store and the asparagus looked good, so that will be dinner. I also have a large bag of green beans to clean for tomorrow's dinner.

Puddin, I'm sorry your computer let you down!

Max, it's nice to have you back. I love lamb, and I've had it greek-style and plain, but the guys I live with don't care for it. Never had the opportunity for confit.

[Mitra]

I'm enjoying a rare moment of quiet. My young visitors (a week or two short of their seventh birthday) are asleep, and all the other adults have disappeared to watch a film.

I love confit too, and have used the same method successfully with pork and lamb as well as duck and goose. We do actually eat lamb quite a bit over here, but at this season, you either get the year old lamb, or the very new spring ones that are extremely tender but don't have much flavour. I think it's at its best around mid-summer to autumn if you just want a plain roast leg of lamb. We have some most weeks all year round in some form or other. Shoulder is the cut we use most often, and I often mince (grind) it, though sometimes I'll cook it slowly either whole or cubed.

[maxlharris]

had some wonderful lamb chops in Paris. Probably the year old stuff because they had nice flavor. Although, nice sauce probably helped too. Therein lies one piece of why the food in Paris was so damn good... sauces. Should whip myself up some Bernaise for the next set of steak.

The other thing, and this I will miss, is the soft cheeses from unpasteurized milks, that you cannot get in the states without knowing a cheese making farmer. And they aren't going to make the camembert like in France. Man, you crank me a nice slice of the Cam, a 25cl glass of wine (that's a third of a bottle, in one glass), and a demi baguette and I am set. Of course, now, the hard part... making a low carb good baguette. *sigh* Back to the drawing board.

Did not get the duck. I kind of want to do it in the slow cooker, but I am kind of leaning towards getting an enameled cast iron pot for making it. Either way, I am not really well set up for it at the moment. And, still a bit jet lagged, so my energy tends to crap out between 2 and 4.

In other news, have already gotten to work on NEXT YEARS Trip. We are doing Spain, some portion of it. Most important thing (for both of us) is the Prado. The Bosch Garden of Earthly Delights is there (probably my all time favorite painting... hoping to get a center panel in a snow globe) and wife is a massive Goya fan, so clearly. Aside from that, it's open to plan. Got DVD and companion book for Spain... on the road Again. When the 2010 Rick Steves comes out, will get that.

Love the idea of confit treatment for pork, lamb and goose and even chicken.

[oceanblueLA]

Hello All. Hope your Easter/Passover weekends are going well. I have been fighting to stay awake today. And I have to go out tonight. Yikes. If it wasn't to see one of my absolute favorites in a very small venue (Kathy Griffin)... it's a fundraiser... I wouldn't go.

Carol -- I've been doing my best to stick to my plan. I've been starving all day. Thank goodness I do have a plan so I can stick to it. But it's been a rough day staying squeaky.

Mitra -- glad you found a pocket of quiet!

Puddin -- glad your eye is better. I hope the same can be said of your computer.

Thanks Max... reading about French cheese and baquettes has made me even more ridiculously hungry. ;-) I'm headed to Italy for 2 weeks in August. Can't wait for that. Although I think you had the right idea going when the weather is cooler. How did your new trip shoes hold up? I need to get and break in a new pair before I go.

Have a good night everyone.

B -- eggs w/ bacon, coffee & 1/2 & 1/2
S -- piece of swiss sheese
L -- 2 hotdogs with pickles, tomato
S -- soy nuts
D -- chicken with a big salad, sf jello

[friendly]

I just finished a marathon all afternoon and evening cooking session. I did my usual PP cooking for the beginning of the week-chicken and beef, plus I made a big bowl of coleslaw, an Easter cake, and two low carb desserts both from the Atkins cookbook: Lemon Chiffon Pie, and Cheesecake. My SIL is bringing another lc dessert as well. Tomorrow I just have to brown the rolls, heat up the ham, and make the green bean cassarole. All after church and before hiding eggs. hehe--good thing I love Easter.

At dinner tomorrow, I'm having a feast for nine--I'll be able to eat everything but the scalloped potatoes, rolls, cake, and rice pudding. Candy isn't a big temptation for me, I really like licking the spoon when I cook, though. I resisted. As a joke, I put a low carb meal replacement bar in a small basket for me:) I made special baskets for the kiddies. It will help that more of us are low-carbing than not.

Today I was so busy I didn't eat much:
8am-oopsie roll w/ butter, black coffee, tea
11am-chicken, more black coffee
2pm-cottage cheese and strawberries
5pm-chicken and salad, caesar dressing and feta, diet pepsi
now--small protein snack TBD

Hope your tomorrow is filled with good Easter memories, past and present.

[Ammy]

Long day...food is sucking...but I did make it out on a 2mile walk today.
Guess that's something.

I'm exhausted...going to bed, I don't care that it's only 9pm...

[LulaZula]

Hi,
First post, not a great report - but my decision to join the challenge was *after* this day happened...

B: Overslept and had to run to a morning board meeting with no breakfast or coffee.
S: Coffee w/half'n'half, hard boiled egg, slice of gouda cheese, small multi-grain cracker
L: Indian food buffet... chicken, lamb, cheese, egg, but also nibbles of rice, flour dumplings, grits and a donut-thing (1 golf-ball size) in syrup. Argh. Way too many ECC to count (and no way *to* count)
S: 2 coffees w/half'n'half, ~20 goldfish cheddar crackers (from son's snack), 1/2 apple. again, too much ECC.
D: 2 grilled chicken thighs w/avocado guacamole and sour cream, 2 sections grapefruit, coffee w/half-n-half

No exercise.

:(

[maxlharris]

Thanks Max... reading about French cheese and baquettes has made me even more ridiculously hungry. ;-) I'm headed to Italy for 2 weeks in August. Can't wait for that. Although I think you had the right idea going when the weather is cooler. How did your new trip shoes hold up? I need to get and break in a new pair before I go.

No french cheese or bags in Italy, so no worries. OTOH, the ice cream is irresistible in the right parts of Italy (mostly anywhere, but especially Florence).

As to weather, I think Italy would have been great for late March, Early April. Where we were, I think would be better in Mid April on. But then, that's when the tourists come (of course, they come to Amsterdam for De Keukenhoff, which is mid-March to mid-May).

On the shoes... I actually brought two pairs, one pair of light sneakers (Nike Free 7.0... a "barefoot" sneaker) and the special pair. Wore the sneakers every morning, wore the new shoes at night. Kept feets very comfy and let the sneakers re-inflate at night. Have this theory about the cushioning in sneakers needing time to rebound... At any rate, plan worked well. For next year, I'm thinking about getting some Adidas GSG9.2 boots for the trip. Hard to take off for airport security, but supposedly super comfy and very breathable. Good enough for law enforcement and military, good enough for me.

As for me:
Protein: ~150
Carbs: ~30
Water: Good
Fitday: Check
Report: Check
Calories: ~1900, good, but not great.

[gitfiddle]

Carol -- I've been doing my best to stick to my plan. I've been starving all day. Thank goodness I do have a plan so I can stick to it. But it's been a rough day staying squeaky.
Vivienne, I've often resorted to a high-fat snack that sounds deadly, but turns out to be less harmful than the carby lowfat stuff that will perpetuate my cravings. I hate being hungry! Hope you made it! Your menu looks good, maybe you just need more of it on days like this?

Candy isn't a big temptation for me, I really like licking the spoon when I cook, though. I resisted.
Good job resisting the spoon, Friendly! :) Candy has ceased being a problem for me, too, somewhere along the way. Who'dathunkit!

Long day...food is sucking...but I did make it out on a 2mile walk today.
Guess that's something.That certainly is SOMETHING, Amy! :nod:

Hi,
First post, not a great report - but my decision to join the challenge was *after* this day happened...Well, then we won't hold it against you, LulaZula. This time! ;) You already know that planning is a big part of how we stay low-carb. You'll have to train those people to do breakfast board meetings! I keep some oven-toasted almonds in the pantry for a quick, on-the-road breakfast-in-a-baggie. It's better than nothing and they hold me for quite a while.

I look forward to having you join us here! :)

I'm on my way out for breakfast with the Sibs (DH's sisters) and I can't eat too much or I'll ruin my dinner that's supposed to happen at 1:30. Too bad, because breakfast is my favorite meal when dining out.

The grandblessing is coming over for a few hours, which warms my heart.

Have a great Easter, my friends!

[LulaZula]

Well, then we won't hold it against you, LulaZula. This time! ;) You already know that planning is a big part of how we stay low-carb. You'll have to train those people to do breakfast board meetings! I keep some oven-toasted almonds in the pantry for a quick, on-the-road breakfast-in-a-baggie. It's better than nothing and they hold me for quite a while.

I look forward to having you join us here! :)

It was a mad rush. And your suggestion is so right. Thanks!

[Gaelen]

Are you facing a big family dinner this weekend? Do you have a plan? Can you make a PP-friendly choice if there's a sudden change?

My family did something a little off the grid (for us.)
We had an Easter *brunch* at my SIL's...and since she and my brother are more or less empty nesters, and are doing South Beach, it was a very PP friendly menu. Plus, since it wasn't dinner, and even MY family hasn't progressed to desserts for breakfast, there was significantly less sugar and carbs in evidence. The menu was scrambled eggs, prosciutto and cream cheese wrapped roasted asparagus, melon and blackberry salad, a baked casserole of spinach, eggs, sausage and cheese, and a baked ham, and a french toast casserole topped with apples and cinnamon. On the side (didn't even tempt me...) were assorted danish, and my mom made blueberry muffins. My SIL also dipped fresh strawberries in 85% dark chocolate (I did have a couple of those) and the drink du jour was Mimosas.

I skipped the mimosa and went straight to coffee, filled my plate about half-full with normal sized portions of ham and scrambled eggs, sausage-spinach casserole, three beautiful bundles of roasted asparagus & prosciutto, and a spoonful of the berries and melon. I had three choco-dipped strawberries with more coffee after brunch. The whole meal was relaxed and satisfying, and no one finished it feeling like they needed to sleep for three hours.

After brunch, we sat around talking over coffee and looking at the blog of my oldest bonus nephew and his family (my SIL's oldest son from 1st marriage.) They have been in Khazikstan for the last few weeks adopting their second child--an eight month old baby boy whose English name will be Nathaniel. His middle name will be his Khazikstani name, Arman. He has a five year old sister (Irina, also a Khazikstani adoptee.) Fingers crossed, court papers will be signed within a week and they'll be visiting the states within a couple of weeks to secure Nate's US citizenship.

It was such a pleasant day, someone suggested we do this every week--or at the very least for Easter every year. Here's hoping it's going to be the plan for Mother's day.

Good holidays, all. ;)

[gitfiddle]

Pat, what a delightful brunch menu! A refreshing change from dinner, too. I'm glad you had a pleasant time. I also hope your family becomes one little boy richer. :cool:

My dinner was equally uneventful and very PP-friendly. I had rosemary-garlic pork roast and beef pot roast, garlic-butter green beans (my contribution) and tons of fresh vegetables. My sister brought a strawberry cheesecake, which I skipped, and a bowl of fresh strawberry slices. I had two helpings of those because we sat at table for an hour after dinner.

I got into a conversation with my young male cousin who has just expanded his photography hobby to include a dslr. It was such a long conversation, in which we both brought our cameras out and snapped pictures around the room to compare lenses, that I got out of helping with the dishes. Perfect! :D

[SandyHanson]

I don't even want to talk about yesterday (but I will). Slept in late, so had a light breakfast of a protein shake and a very small bit of ham casserole left over. That was okay. But then we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. I didn't even look at the PP friendly items on the menu! I had a burrito that included rice and beans inside, so I couldn't skip them as I can when they're served on the side. Quite frankly the rice and beans weren't too noticeable, so I have no idea how much was in there. And then of course there was the tortilla. The only good thing was we ate late enough and it was filling enough, that I just had a sugar free ice cream bar in the evening, so total number (which I have no idea how to calculate) may not have been too terrible.

Right back on track for today, though - Started the day late again, so only two meals with a mid-afternoon snack. Today's totals:

Calories: 1305
ECC: 23.5
Protein: 70.1 (A bit below target)

[Claudette]

Hi, Y'all,

Great holliday today. Dinner at my house, I cooked, so it was on PP for sure. Desert was fresh strawberries on angel food cake for family, just strawberries w/ fresh whipped cream for me.

Son and friend in from out of town, other relatives, overall a great day.

Back to work tomarrow, back to school work tomarrow, also.

Have a great week, all.

[gitfiddle]

...so total number (which I have no idea how to calculate) may not have been too terrible.Hope not, Sandy, but there may have been enough to subject you to a bout of cravings. Be on the alert! I love Mex food, and I used to slice open a burrito to eat the insides, although it was not enough protein. I get this delicious dish called alambres, all meat and peppers and cheese, which I love above all things.


Great holliday today. Dinner at my house, I cooked, so it was on PP for sure. Desert was fresh strawberries on angel food cake for family, just strawberries w/ fresh whipped cream for me.Sounds yum, Claudette! I'm back to work tomorrow, too. :p

[LulaZula]

Hi,
I did okay today, but did bow to temptation a couple of times. So, I'm really looking forward to starting fresh tomorrow.
Woke up late, went to the gym, did 45 min. cardio (10 elliptical, 35 running) and 45 min strength training - my heart rate monitor said I burned close to 700 calories.
So breakfast became lunch - eggs, cottage cheese, cuke and tomato slices, coffee. Kids had matzah brie (matzah mixed with omlette) and younger one didn't finish. Without thinking, I finished off his plate. :O There went 15 g ECC...

Also had a brisk walk outside to run an errand in the afternoon - about 30 minutes and probably 100 calories burned.

We were invited to a surprise birthday party for our friend that took place at an Italian restaurant. I was worried what would be available so I had a protein shake before leaving. Well.... I avoided spaghetti & bread, had meat/shellfish/fish and veggies, but then succumbed to dessert.

At home, snacked on a few (6-7) pretzels that were hanging around. mindless eating.

I don't know how to count the ECC for what I ate - this is the problem with eating out...
*sigh*

[maxlharris]

Good day for me.
Breakfast out: Eggs scrambled with Salami. Small piece of multigrain toast, fat wad of butter on it.
Dinner in: Store had a special on Ribeye Roast, which is like a Prime Rib, minus the rib bones. I cooked it standing (with some skewer help) in a hot short oven then a cooler longer oven. Marinated in this african spice rub. Was very tasty, and has leftovers.
Few bits of chocolate in the lunch, nothing high sugar, nothing uncontrolled.
Half cup of strawbs with whipped cream for dessert. Forget how wonderful they are when they are wonderful.

Protein: ~140
Carbs: ~35
Cals: ~1900
Water: good
Fitday: Check
Report: You're looking at it.

They have been in Khazikstan for the last few weeks adopting their second child--an eight month old baby boy whose English name will be Nathaniel.
I cannot hear of Kazakhstan without thinking of Borat.

"Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.
All other countries are run by little girls.
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium.
Other countries have inferior potassium.

Kazakhstan home of Tinshein swimming pool.
It’s length thirty meter and width six meter.
Filtration system a marvel to behold.
It remove 80 percent of human solid waste.

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan you very nice place.
From Plains of Tarashek to Norther fence of Jewtown.
Kazakhstan friend of all except Uzbekistan.
They very nosey people with bone in their brain.

Kazakhstan industry best in the world.
We incented toffee and trouser belt.
Kazakhstan’s prostitutes cleanest in the region.
Except of course Turkmenistan’s"