Monday, January 31, 2011

Are YOU Ready for Some FOOTBALL??

Most girls (AKA my readers) aren't so into football. It's the honest truth. There are some gals that are real, true football fans but let's be honest, they are the minority! I, over the last 7 years have grown to enjoy it a lot more, due to the fact that I can actually figure out what is going on during the game. But for the most part, there are a few things that I enjoy more than the actual game:
  1. Booze before, during and after the game.
  2. The food before, during and after the game.
  3. Muscular men in really tight pants (this is even better in person on the sidelines!)
But most of the time when it's Superbowl time, us ladies not so big fans will act like we like it watch the game with the boys. And actually enjoy yourself for the most part (please don't bring up the excruciating loss of the Bears in the 2006 Superbowl. PLEASE!)

We are going to be STL anxiously awaiting our super early morning flight to MEXICO on Superbowl Sunday so can't really partake in the awesome house parties that will litter DSM so am more than happy to oblige you with what I WOULD have made if I were town. It also happens to go along with Rachel's newest PROJECT TASTELESS contest:

Don't get me wrong, I love a good game at bar. Really I am down for anything that food and booze are part of. I usually start out the day meaning well:
The hubby and I on our first drink during opening weekend in Iowa City rooting on our Hawkeyes!
But will then most of time linger in dangerous territory:

Does anyone know this stranger?
Eventually doing something so scandalous I should be arrested:
Clearly more beer is needed. Clearly.
But house/basement/garage parties are my absolute faves as you can just fall asleep when you need to:
Big boobs aren't just for breaking your back anymore!
That being said a nice house party would normally be right up my alley and I would come with crock pot and box of wine case of beer in tow! This year my new fave is a recently devised:

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup!!

This recipe was dreamt of one hungover Sunday afternoon when the snow was falling and I was craving hot wings with ranch dressing but couldn't/wouldn't drive out into the Arctic tundra that randomly hits the Des Moines area: It's super simple, pretty low calorie, AND smashes the chicken wing craving!

Ingredients
  • 1 cup each: diced onion, celery and carrots
  • 3 T dry ranch seasoning mix (3 packets)
  • 2T minced garlic
  • 4 C milk
  • 4 C water w/ 3 chicken bouillon cubes (can substitute 4 cans broth if have that)
  • 1 lb chicken breast, leave as whole breasts or cut into bigger chunks
  • 1 C Frank's Red Hot sauce (more to taste)
  • 1 C sour cream

 Directions
  • Put all ingredients (except sour cream) in crock pot, cook on high for 4-6 hours, take out chicken breasts and shred with forks. Put back in.
  • Add sour cream 30 minutes before eating.  
  • EAT!
Makes 9-ish 2 cup servings. I toasted and seasoned some oyster crackers (1/4 C oil w/ ranch seasoning packet) and topped with that.





Chicken is in there somewhere!

GAME ON!!!
TOUCHDOWN!!

Always good to wash it down with an ice cold brewski!
There it folks...the recipe you've all been asking for! Seriously, make it. It serves a crowd and if its just you and your sweet lover SUPER FAN, it reheats up real nice like for an entire week full of lunches!

And remember, if the party outscores you...there are only two real hangover cures:
Get to your nearest bloody mary and drink immediately.
End the day in the hot tub with your bestie.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Weekly Menu Plan

Good morning everyone. I HEART Sundays!

This weeks menu is a cluster of meals made up by whats in the fridge, cupboards and freezer. We are ONLY going to go buy milk and hot dog buns at the store today because we leave for Mexico in 6 days!!!!

Here's part of what is going to be on our plates:

Monday
  • Breakfast: Cottage cheese (going to expire ASAP) and orange
  • Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup (recipe coming tomorrow!) and kiwi
  • Snack: Celery with ranch
  • Dinner: Cheeseburgers with fries (hubby) and broccoli (me)
Tuesday
  • Breakfast: yogurt, hard boiled egg, and peach
  • Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup and kiwi
  • Snack: Cherry tomatoes
  • Dinner: Walking tacos for hubby and taco salad for me
Wednesday
  • Breakfast: yogurt, hard boiled egg, and peach
  • Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup and kiwi
  • Snack: Celery with laughing cow cheese wedge (new chipotle flavor!)
  • Dinner: Buffalo chicken sandwiches with fries (hubby) and broccoli (me)
Thursday
  • Breakfast: FiberPlus dark chocolate and almond fiber bar, string cheese, & peach
  • Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup (recipe coming tomorrow!) and kiwi
  • Snack: Celery with laughing cow cheese wedge
  • Dinner: Biggest Loser dinner @ Lindsey's---French dips!
Friday
  • Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole
  • Lunch:  Chili
  • Snack: Layered taco dip, pickle wraps
  • Dinner: Olive Garden
You're probably thinking WTF are you thinking for FRIDAY? At work, every Friday we rotate two people who bring in breakfast. I usually try to not partake (donuts, breakfast pizza, etc) but this week is another healthy living person who makes healthier dishes so I'm eating. We are also having a team food day for the superbowl (who doesn't like a good tailgating themed food day) so I'm going to have bits of a lot of stuff but am going to fill up on the healthier options ( so far chili is the best :) to choose from ). AND then we are celebrating my mother in law's and sister in law's birthday that was bypassed in December.

They are OBSESSED with the Olive Garden but the good news I always get the minestrone soup (100 calories per bowl) instead of the salad (350 calories) and the venetian apricot chicken(380 calories) instead of the ravioli di portabella (670 calories). The ravioli really isn't bad compared to the Chicken parmigana (1090 calories) that my husband will order then hoover down in like 4 minutes flat but since I'm not eating 100% during the day I HAVE to follow this plan. I will then hit the gym after dinner since the regular time of 4:30 won't work :(

Hint: if you know that you are going to be going out to dinner, look at the restaurant's website to see if they have a nutrition guide and if not, at least a menu to get a game plan so you don't get woo-ed or frazzled by all the delicious yet calorie laden items. It really works!

Off to CONQUER the to do list today:
  • GYM
  • Grocery store: milk and hot dogs, maybe a red box flick
  • Figure out new way to organize shoes in closet
  • Devise new way to file papers and then FILE them
  • Clean off desk in office and sweep/mop it
Having a chicken salad for lunch and then turkey loaf with mashed potatoes tonight. EXCITED!!
Had a great family breakfast today. Pancakes and sausage. High calorie meal of the day but the hubby loves them. Gotta please him every now and again ;)



Hopefully I can wake these boys from their food coma to go shopping!