Healthy Cooking Secrets

Here are some healthy cooking secrets from an article online. I picked out a few that I thought might be helpful.

1. Study the recipe. Closely examine the original to see where changes can be made. "You can't just wing it, no matter how familiar you are with the recipe," says Test Kitchens Professional Kathryn Conrad. "Look at each ingredient to see where you can take away, add, or substitute."

When I first starting cooking years ago, I always thought I had to follow the recipe exactly. I now know better. I add my own things, take away things, or use whatever is in my pantry. I never understood when people would say they cooked something, but would have trouble giving a recipe. Now I understand- a little of this, and a little of that!

2. Limit sodium. Try the recipe with half the recommended sodium.

This one is hard for me because seasonings add so much to a dish. Where I come from- you don't season lightly!

3. Reduce portion sizes. When plating, start with a smaller amount and see if that satisfies you.

This seems obvious, but so many people pile stuff on their plates. I've heard over and over again that you should eat a little bit. If you are still hungry 15 minutes later, then you can eat more. If not, you are full but would not have realized it if you hadn't waited.

4. Sprinkle cheese, chocolate, or nuts on top rather than mixing into batters. As toppings, they deliver concentrated flavor.

Many casseroles call for cheese in them. Rather than mix the cheese in, just save it for the top. It will save a lot of calories.

5. Increase low-calorie ingredients. For example, add extra vegetables to casseroles and fruits to breads, muffins, or snack cakes. This will increase the yield of your recipe without adding fat.

6. Use nonstick pans and cooking spray in place of oil or butter.

7. When you need oil, use canola, which has nearly half the saturated fat and more healthful, unsaturated fat than other oils.

Source

http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php

That is a GREAT website to help count calories. It is so simple. You copy and paste the recipe into the box and it does all the work for you.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/

That is a site where you can record your calorie intake each day.

Read this post for inspiration.

Favorite Valentine's decor

Sources:

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My Wish list

1. Bird tray 2. Lamp 3. Songbird Tray 4. White antique picture frames

I guess the theme here is very neutral. I plan on creating my own lamp much like that one, but for much less. I will keep you updated on the progress!

Beauty Products/Tips

Over at Kelly's Korner, she is hosting a SUYL- Beauty Secrets. Here are a few of the things I use.....

I have super curly SUPER frizzy hair. When I chose to style it curly, I usually put some John Frieda Frizz Ease, then put some moose in my hand and put a little bit of the sculpting gel with the moose. If I just used the sculpting gel, it would make my hair too hard. I find that the moose with the gel mixed (only a little) makes it not too hard, but keeps the frizz down.

For my straight days, I use the John Frieda Frizz Ease again with Bumble and Bumble Straight and my Paul Mitchell flat iron. I LOVE Bumble and Bumble Straight. I recently found it. I will tell you that I have tried EVERYTHING to get my hair straight. I love this the most so far. It's more expensive than other things, but it works really well and lasts awhile. I also find that the PM iron works better than the Chi. It is more expensive, but I have had it for probably 7 years. A chi never lasted that long. I also have a CHI hair dryer which works like magic and I use the Chi round brush.

As far as make up goes, I use Clinique, Laura Mercier powder, YSL mascara, lots of different kinds of eyeshadow.

I recently bought Peter Thomas creme in a tube because my face was really dry. I like it so far!

I need tips on blow drying my hair straight- which I do with a Chi round brush (they are magic) and then curling with a curling iron and actually getting the curls to hold. I don't have fancy tips for hair or makeup. I need some!

Day 11-Favorite tv shows

I cannot write a post without including some of my favorite TV shows from the past..........

I miss Friends! I remember watching the finale with several sorority sisters in my old apartment. I always wanted Ross and Rachel to end up together!

You got it dude!!! Oh how sweet the twins used to be!

I never missed an episode of Saved by the Bell. I also taped them on many different occasions back in the day when it was VHS and I would have to stop the tape during the commercials and then start recording again. If only I had DVR back then...........

Now, I don't really watch that much TV. My weekly shows consist of Modern Family, Cougar Town, and Desperate Housewives. When the Bachelor(ette) is on, I can sometimes get hooked to that mindless drama. I recently watched a Housewives series for the first time- Beverly Hills. Gosh they have a lot of money! They also have TOO MUCH drama that I would rather live without!

Grey's Anatomy is a show I used to watch. I have watched it on and off recently. It has gotten a little boring.

None of these shows are life altering. There are purely for entertainment purposes and I could definitely find something better to be doing with my time. Any shows I am missing out on???

Day 7-Favorite movies

Here are some movies that I have enjoyed. It was hard to think of my "favorite" movies. The only one that immediately came to my mind was My Father the Hero because I LOVED that movie when I was younger. Most people had never heard of it, but I had it on VHS and DVD. I think I still have both copies to this day!

Career Path

I took a career test and these were my results:

I highlighted the ones that I may possible be interested in..................

career counselor
psychologist
educational consultant
special education teacher
librarian
artist
playwright
novelist/poet
editor/art director
information-graphics...designer
HRM manager
merchandise planner
environmental lawyer
marketer
job analyst
mental health counselor
dietitian/nutritionist
research
educational consultant
architects
interpreter/translator

What should I be "when I grow up"?????????????? What I think my dream job would be is some type of event planner, a decorator, or working with kids in a smaller setting. Many times in the classroom, it seems like you are babysitting and dealing with crowd control than actually teaching. I can't even begin to explain how sick of testing I am. Every time I turn around, we are giving another test and then having to have an hour long meeting to discuss the data! It's ALL ABOUT THE DATA!!!