Pork Roast

Pork Roast

This meal is super duper easy to prepare.  Take a pork roast around 5 to 7 pound range.  The one in the picture is an extra large double one from Sam's.  This makes a great crock pot, pressure cooker and if your home bake it in the oven type of meal.  Simply rub the entire contents of the Happy House special rub (available at  http://happyhousebunkie.blogspot.com/2017/01/pulled-pork-spice-rub.html )  onto a 5 to 7 pound pork roast.  Wrap the roast tightly in saran wrap and marinate overnight.  This meal does not require browning.  If you cook your roast in the oven bake at 250 for 8 hours.  If you are cooking in the crock pot, cook on low for 8 hours.  If you have a pressure cooker follow the directions for the cooking time for your unit.  This meal consists of 2 separate uses in one.  When we first cook this dish, we eat as a roast with some healthy sides.  This is only 210 calories for 4oz of meat.  Then we take the leftovers with the juices and shred into pulled pork.  Add your favorite BBQ sauce to it and serve over a bun.  In my case a tablespoon of Sweet Baby Ray's and a Great Value hamburger bun weighs in at 365 calories.  Sorry you don't get anything else to eat with the sandwich.  But, you could do celery or something like that.  It is so delicious.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

Johnsonville Sausage Brats and Grits 365 Calories

Johnsonville Sausage Brats and Grits 365 Calories

This is another meal that you can have anytime.   Cook your Johnsonville brats sausage in a good nonstick skillet, browning on all sides. When it is browned add a little bit of water and cover for about 10 minutes to fully cook.  When you think it is ready take the lid off and cook the water out, will make like a gravy coating on the sausage.  While your doing all this, cook yourself some homemade grits with butter.  The sausage is 260 calories, 1/2 cup of grits is 55 calories and one tablespoon of butter is 50 calories.  Total for this complete meal is 365 calories.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

White Beans and Sausage Soup 380 Calories

White Beans and Sausage Soup 380 Calories

This meal is super duper easy and serves 6 people.  Soak 1 pound of white beans for 8 to 12 hours.  Brown 1 large onion and one pound of smoked sausage in a large stock pot or your pressure cooker.  Then add 8 cups of water and the beans to the pot.  Cook on the stove top for 2 Hrs or in the pressure cooker for 25 minutes.  If I were you, I would invest in the pressure cooker.  See, you can put your beans to soak before you leave home for work.  When you get home, you can spend about 10 minutes prepping and 25 minutes to cook this meal.  If you eat with rice, don't serve yourself more than 1/4 cup and a little less beans.  I stay away form starches and do not eat my beans with rice.  Just remember to keep  your calories right around 400.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

Pan Grilled Fish and Oven Roasted Vegetables 297 Calories

Pan Grilled Fish and Oven Roasted Vegetables

Ok here is an easy and quick meal.  I seasoned my vegetables and fish using my olive oil seasoning blend link here:   http://happyhousebunkie.blogspot.com/2017/01/olive-oil-seasoning-blend.html .  I get the vegetables at Sam's Club in the fresh vegetable cooler by the celery, lettuce area.  For this serving I poured 4 cup of veggies (break cauliflower and broccoli into smaller pieces if needed) on a foil lined sheet pan for easy clean up for 3 people (I forgot to take a picture and the plate is one I had taken has cauliflower, broccoli, yellow squash and zucchini squash in it.  But you get the idea.  I will update this when I cook it again).  Follow these directions on how to bake it  http://southerndiet.blogspot.com/2016/09/baked-zucchini-squash-and-bell-peppers.html  .  As you see in the recipe you can use any fresh vegetables.  It takes about 2 minutes to prepare and 35 to 45 minutes to cook.  You kind of decide how cooked you prefer your veggies.   Ok for this serving of vegetables seen on the plate was 162 calories for 1 1/2 cups.  The fish I cooked in a real good nonstick skillet with a tablespoon of my oil blend and a tablespoon of butter and seasonings you prefer with 4 Members Mark tilapia fillets.  Each fillet is around 3 to 4 oz and should serve 4 people. In my case it served 3 because my daughter ate 2.   Cook on medium high or higher, when the butter starts to turn brown it's time to cook the fish.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side.  Each serving of fish is 135 calories, that is for 3 oz.'s.  So this dish has a total of 297 calories.  If your really hungry you could add 1/2 a fish or some more veggies to your plate.  But keep it under 400 calories.  You can probably make it less calories than that by baking the fish.  But I prefer to cook my fish this way.  Because you know it's how southern women diet! lol

A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  Second portion control with good choices.  Third is physical activity.

Happy Eating
Angell 

Pan Seared Steak and Baked Vegetables Using Olive Oil Blend

Pan Seared Steak and Baked Vegetables 

Using the Olive Oil Blend

This seasoning blend has been a favorite cooking ingredient in our kitchen. I have decided to make it available for everyone. You simply place the seasoning blend into a quart of olive oil. Let sit over night. Use it in place of oil when browning, basting breads, pizza crusts, baked vegetables, ect......seasoning blend is available for only $2

This meal of pan fried steak and baked vegetables was prepared with the olive oil seasoning blend and was a great treat on my diet.  I had 6oz of rib eye and 1 cup of veggies.  Measured right around 525 calories.   This is a treat that is.  You can save some calories by doing a smaller portion of meat.  I took the Sam's Club Angus Rib-eye and placed in the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm it up.  I took an electric knife and sliced the cuts in half longways.  So my 3 steaks turned into 6.   Pour around 2 tablespoons of olive oil blend to your black skillet.  Toss steak in the oil coating both sides.  Set steak aside and get the pan hot.  Return steak to skillet, season with desired seasonings and cook on both sides to desired temperature. Cook veggies in the oven by following the recipe on this link http://happyhousebunkie.blogspot.com/2017/01/olive-oil-seasoning-blend.html .  When the steak was done I dabbed some of my homemade garlic butter on it.  Garlic butter seasoning blend will be available in the future.  I hope you will enjoy

A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eatting

Angell

Holiday Diet

Ok guys and gals. I know it's hard to do my kind of diet. But I tell you once you learn what to eat and how to portion your foods you can loose or even maintain your weight. I went though Thanksgiving and Christmas and haven't gained but one pound. That is even splurging on Christmas. I ate so much that day it was ridiculous. But I have indeed made a positive lifestyle change. Just remember baby steps.  Tackle one habit and the pick the next to work on. It's attainable. Here is to 2017. I have a minimum of 12 more pounds to go. We can do it!

A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eatting

Angell

Taco Soup

Friday December 16, 2016

 I am still doing great on my dieting.  I only lost 1 pound in the past week.  It is still good because I am still eating healthy.   On that note a real easy low calorie food is the Weight Watchers taco soup.  You pour a can of this, a can of that and some taco seasoning with ground meat.  In 30 minutes its ready to eat.  Now where this soup can go wrong is if you add too many fixings to it.  Say away from adding cheese, chips and sour cream.  It tastes wonderful just on it's own.  A whole cup is only 239 calories.  If you have the time you could make it a little less calories by using a leaner ground meat or use fresh dried beans instead of canned ones.  The only issue I have with the canned vegetables is that it has way to much salt in it.  This one cup serving has 470mg of salt.  So try you some today.  It is very filling soup with lots and lots of protein.  

A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eatting

Angell

Onion Bacon Egg Cheese Omelet

Monday December 12, 2016

Ok here is another calorie saving meal.  Your probably wondering why I worry about these small calorie savings. Well when  your trying to loose weight every calorie counts.  It also allows you to eat a little more for the next meal and you won't be so hungry for the day.  Like I said last time when I cook bacon I always cook an extra slice just because I have to slave over the stove top to cook one slice of bacon.  Yea who wants to cook 1 slice of bacon?  Well for breakfast I wanted an omelet for breakfast.  I diced up a quarter of an onion and a teaspoon of bacon bits in skillet till the onions where how I liked them.  Then I fixed my eggs mixture and slow cooked it in a skillet (see link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hkQF4sNjXk ) .  I would have normally put 2 slices of bacon when cooking this dish.  Using the precooked bacon bits I saved 80 calories.  I could have save some more if I would have used a low calorie cheese also.   That was 80 calories I was able to save.  Your ought to try it.  No difference than using regular bacon.  It's actually better.  I have been doing good on my new eating plan.  I lost another pound Yay! 

A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.
It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

Real Crumbled Bacon Bits

December 7, 2016

I have been working on my weight loss again for about a week. I found out that though my experiment last month that I could maintain, but I still have more to loose. I have been measuring and weighing my foods. Then entering it into my food app. I am proud to say I have lost another pound.  Now I am at 196 and have 5 more pounds to loose for my trip and 11 more to go for my first target weight. You know what? It's going to happen sooner than you know.  Here is a little foodie tip. Get the real precooked bacon bits for substitutes in your meal planning. I love to eat homemade grits with bacon. One slice of bacon sometimes 2 is what I will eat with it. That is 55 calories per slice. Well if I substitute with the bacon bits I get 25 calories of bacon instead. I'm not tempted to eat as much bacon. Because you know if your cooking bacon you might as well cook a couple extra pieces. My bacon and grits is only 234 calories instead of 319. That is calories saved for another meal!

A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Throwing The Diet Out The Window

December 5, 2016

 It has been exactly one month since I have written in my blog and my food diary.  I have been doing a personal experiment to see if I really learned from this life changing eating experience.  I called this experiment throwing the diet out the window.  What did I want to accomplish?  My goal was to maintain my weight without all that measuring and weighing.  I wanted to know if I did memorize the good and bad foods.  I wanted to know if I really could measure 1/3 or 1/4 cup of rice, etc... Below are some items I had taken pictures of that I ate on my maintenance.  Baked chicken, veggies, brown rice shrimp veggies and egg and smoke sausage breakfast was among the few things I ate.  I did keep up my exercise regimen.  I just didn't weigh myself during this time.  What did I learn?  Well on 11/28/2016 I got on the scale for the first time in a month.  When I began this experiment I weighed 197 lbs.  My current scale reading I weighed 197 lbs.  That is AWESOME!!!!!! I didn't gain any weight.  I actually did maintain.  I learned that I did learn how to eat right.  So here I am today, I am beginning my food diary again only to loose some more weight.  I do know that it is realistic for me to be able to maintain my weight after all this is done.  My scout goal is to be 191 to be able to attend the National Jamboree.  My personal goal is 185.  I have only 12 more pounds to go.  Then I will make an appointment for the nurse at the hospital to do a personal BMI based on my body structure.  At that moment I will maybe make myself a new goal.  185 is where I want to be at this moment.  On another note, I have went through all of my wardrobe.  I have officially gotten rid of all my 4x, 3x and 2x shirts.  Also gone are my 18 and 16 sized jeans.  I have had a few friends give me some hand me downs and I have hit some really cool sales to make me a new wardrobe.  I didn't have many things to wear after I took out all of those clothes I shrunk out of.  But that is a good thing, because I am never going that big ever again.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Cracker Barrel Restaurant

 November 3, 2016 MENU

 Keeping up with this food diary on blogger is appearing to be a daunting task.  I will be posting some shorter blogs to explain what may be wrong or right in my diet.  Which brings me to this visit to Cracker Barrel Restaurant with my mother.  I choose what I thought was the best option for me.  They brought you cornbread and biscuits.  Well I pick cornbread.  Wrong pick, it had 110 more calories than the biscuit and wow it was 300 calories with the butter. UGH.........  For the meal I picked a sweet potato, hamburger steak plain and fried apples to eat as desert.  The sweet potato came with brown sugar and cinnamon. Not to mention I needed butter on that.  So I put the potato in a to go box.  I ate just the hamburger steak and fried apples.  I still ended up eating 800 calories! OMG seriously.  So what I thought was not that fattening, was.  I should have skipped on the cornbread.  But I can't take it back.  We all just need to stay away from the restaurants.  But I know sometimes it hard to do.  My next post will also explain what has been happening with my diet.  Stay tuned!

Museum Training

October 27, 2016 MENU

My day started with me heading to Natchitoches to the Magnolia Plantation for a museum training.  I didn't get to eat breakfast.  When we got there they had coffee and little muffin cake slice things. lol  I got a slice of the blueberry one.  Then at lunch time we had club sandwich with spinach on it, potato salad and a dill pickle.  For desert I had 1 chocolate chip cookie.  There was hardly cell service so I had to wing my food diary.  I just knew I was over by now.  But when I got home and entered everything in I had enough calories to eat some leftover baked chicken and mixed vegetables.  I forgot to take a picture of my meal's.   I finished the day with a total of 1305 calories for the day.  I was under by 25 calories. If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

 

Perfectly Portioned Leftovers

October 26, 2016 MENU

I was not worried about my meals today.  My mom cooked some biscuits and made a white gravy to put on top.  That was all fine and dandy.  I have so many pre-portioned meal options available in my freezer that I just choose what I was hungry for at that particular meal and made it fit my calorie regimen.  Then I get to work and someone brought donuts.  Well I did very good and waited to eat just 1 for a snack later in the day and balanced my meal options to fit.  I finished the day with a total of 1318 calories for the day.  I was under by 12 calories.   Oh and don't forget to get some exercise in.  If you live or work in the Pineville area lets go walking together.  I go walking almost 5 days a week near my work at lunch time.  If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Southern Style Nuts

October 25, 2016 MENU

This whole day revolved around what leftovers I would eat and how much of it.  I entered in my lunch options, then the supper options and I choose what to eat for breakfast on what calories I had left.  So oatmeal won! lol  But everyone should have some oatmeal in their diet.  I was doing great.  Until bedtime that was.  I wanted a snack.  Was not sure if I wanted salty or sweet.  My mom bought some of these southern style nuts from Sam's.  As I ate this very tiny portion quarter of a cup of mixed stuff I tried each item slowly to make it appear to be more than it was.  I am not sure I would use this mixed nuts/stuff as a future snack.  I would rather it be just almonds, pecans or cashew's.  I was disappointed on how many peanuts were in this mix.    I finished the day with a total of 1419 calories for the day.  I was over by 89 calories.   I  haven't been blogging about my exercise, but I have been exercising every day faithfully.  If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Bobby Flay's Shrimp and Grits

October 24, 2016 MENU

My Monday meals I had planned were just spot on.  For breakfast I ate a couple of sausage links with toast.  For lunch I had some leftover baked chicken wings.  Then I had 2 reasonable snacks.  I had defrosted some shrimp that needed to be cooked.  I was going to grill them with some veggies.  Well when I got home my mother had made Bobby Flay's shrimp and grits.  Instead of using the recommended bacon to cook we used some real bacon bits to save on the cooking time.  The recipe also asked for bacon grease to cook the shrimp in.  Well we had that covered too.  When we do cook bacon we save the grease in the fridge to season some foods with. At this point we have plenty because I haven't used any recently.  Oh if you ever want to try shrimp and grits this recipe was a winner.   We saved around 65 calories per serving using the bacon bits.  But, when I did the My Fitness Pal recipe I had no idea that this dish was that fattening.  The bowl you see in the photo was 560 calories. Oh my.  I finished the day with a total of 1473 calories for the day.  I was over by 143 calories.   If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Traditional Italian Sunday Gravy

 October 23, 2016 MENU

This Sunday was my cheat day.  If you noticed I did cheat but I didn't go overboard.  We have new owners in town at the donut shop.  I wanted to give them a try.  I had half a dozen of donut holes and one powdered sugar glazed one.  Conclusion, hole were good and powdered sugar one did not wow me.  I had a lighter lunch with a chicken taco.  It was basically a soft corn tortellini, chicken and cheese.  We baked it in the oven.  Now were things went downhill for my cheat day is I had an Italian spaghetti sauce dish called Sunday gravy.  It is basically a 3 meat spaghetti sauce.   I put chicken legs, Italian sausage and beef short ribs in it.  Oh la la la la it was delicious.  I even put some of my fresh basil.  Then I got some desert before bed.  Yep a good ole sugar cone with ice cream.  oh yea.  I finished the day with a total of 1836 calories for the day.  I was over by 506 calories.   If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Sea Best Shrimp

October 22, 2016 MENU 

My Saturday was a very busy day.  I missed breakfast doing a job at a local festival.  I had my eyes on this food booth that was selling fried fish and shrimp.  I'm like I really want some fried shrimp.  Well I made my order and paid for my meal.  Then he went to cook it and grabbed a bag of pre-breaded shrimp labeled Sea Best shrimp.  Ugh I wanted some homemade shrimp.  Too late now.  It was very delicious but not as good as the real fresh kind.  Then almost immediately my fingers swelled up from the excess salt.  My meal came with french fries.  But I did not eat them.  I brought them home for my daughter to eat.  I was eating light for my lunch on purpose.  I was going to a evening party with my mom for her choir group.  We ate BBQ chicken, bacon wrapped green beans, olive garden style salad and a deviled egg.  Oh there were many other options I didn't choose, like potato salad, nuts, celery with pimento cheese or cream cheese to just name a few.  I did get me one half of a mini pecan pie for desert.  I was soooooo tempted to go back for the other half of pie.  I did some great self control.  With skipping breakfast and eating a semi light lunch.  I finished the day with a total of 1035 calories for the day.  I was under by 295 calories.   If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Raisin Bran Cereal

October 21, 2016 MENU

I started my breakfast knowing I would go eat lunch with my mom.  I picked a filling breakfast of cook grits.  Then for lunch I had Sam's Club supreme pizza.  Before I decided what I was going to eat, I went on the My Fitness Pal app see what was the best choice.  I know my choices are a meat pizza, supreme pizza and a polish dog.  Well the polish dog was the most calories and the least was the supreme pizza.  That is how I choose my lunch meal.  In the afternoon I was hungry for some junk food.  I choose to eat a Go Big yogurt instead of some junk.  Supper time I really  just wanted to eat some raisin bran cereal.  I don't know why but that has been a craving that I just needed to have.  I had a side of mixed nuts to go with it.  I finished the day with a total of 1349 calories for the day.  I was over by 19 calories.   Yay me, that was awesome.  My meal calories could have been a lot worse.  I really did want that polish dog in the beginning.  I also could have had some junk food instead of  yogurt.  I feel I did some great self control.  If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

 

Seafood Platter With Sweet Potato Waffles

October 20, 2016 MENU

For breakfast I ate some leftover cheese grits.  Just because I didn't want to waste them.  I was going to go home early to work on a few things for my evening event and had a light meal planned.  When I got home my mom had purchased a piece of fried chicken and boiled a potato to make bake potatoes.  Well I cut my potato in half and went to put on the butter and then the sour cream.  The sour cream was spoiled.  So I took my other half of the potato and made a buttered potato instead.  lol  Make do I say.  My event started at 3 pm for me so I brought me a cheese cake bar as a snack.  I had planned on eating when the presentation started around 7.  I needed something to eat before then.  Well last year they served finger foods.  Later in the event all I saw flying around the room was cake.  I was really hungry by 8 pm so I ate a piece of cake.  Oh the sinfulness of having to resort to eating that cake.  I knew I was going over on my calories.  I had my mom with me and by the time the event ended it was 10pm.  She was starving, so we went eat at Roxy's.  We looked at the menu and nothing spoke to us like the seafood platter.  We opted to split the plate.  I wanted the fried oysters and she wanted the fried shrimp and fish.  I took my oysters and a few sweet potato fries to complete my plate.  Look at what was still left in the platter!  My mom didn't event finish half of it and we took a full plate home with us.  This plate was HUGE!  So in reality 3 people could make a meal off this plate of food. Looking at my calories now I did a great job with my last meal under the circumstances.  I really could have done a lot worse.  I could have eaten some of the fish, shrimp or more fries.  I was full and ready for bed at that point.  I could have waited to eat when I got  home buy my mom felt she couldn't wait.  I finished the day with a total of 1714 calories for the day.  I was over by 384 calories.   If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Sam's Parmesan Encrusted Tilapia

October 19, 2016 MENU 

Most of these meals were great low calorie meals.  Breakfast I had an egg over easy with a piece of toast.  I ate a snack of goldfish crackers before lunch when I felt a little hungry.  For lunch I picked from my many leftovers and choose BBQ pork steak.   Now at this point I have done all of my food diary and I was doing real good.  But I wasn't that hungry.  I dug in the freezer for a quick meal and found these Parmesan crusted tilapia I had purchased at Sam's.    If your looking for a quick and delicious low calorie meal you need to purchase a bag of these.  One fish is plenty with some healthy sides.  Each piece averages 4oz of meat.  The piece I ate today was 4.5oz and was only 250 calories.  You bake it and it comforts you like your eating fried fish without all the calories.  I finished the day with a total of 1054 calories for the day.  I was under by 276 calories.   If you like my meal ideas just check out my diary for a list of ingredients for that meal.  And yes! I measured and weighed everything.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power. The second part is portion control with good choices and third is physical activity.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell