South Beach Diet

Obviously, since marriage and children I have needed to lose weight. I can't seem to get out of the 220s, though.

I have been inspired by a friend to try the South Beach Diet which consists of 3 phases. The first phase is the most restrictive and lasts for at least 2 weeks (maybe a 3rd depending on my motivation and whether I think I need it). The second phase lasts until I have reached my goal weight and the third phase is just the maintenance for the rest of my life. It seems like a very reasonable way to go.

Seeing as how I have a couple of weeks before my first vacation this year (we have a total of three planned), I am going to start this tomorrow and see how it works for me.

Breakfast

Protein: Quantity is not limited.
Vegetables: Minimum 1/2 cup.
Fruit: None
Starch: None
Milk: None
Fat: 1 tsp mayonnaise or oil (optional)

Lunch

Protein: Quantity is not limited.
Vegetables: Minimum 2 cups.
Fruit: None
Starch: None
Milk: None
Fat: 1 Tbsp mayonnaise or oil.

Snack

Snacks are required. Choose from the Protein or Vegetable list, or eat nuts from the Fats list.

Dinner

Protein: Quantity is not limited.
Vegetables: Minimum 2 cups.
Fruit: None
Starch: None
Milk: None
Fat: 1 Tbsp mayonnaise or oil.


And, remember, this is only phase one. The choices are limited for 2 weeks and then I can start adding in fruit and dairy and some starches.

The Pezzner Family Reunion

I am certain, by now, all my readers (however few there are) know that I am adopted. Also, that I found my biological family within the past few years and have been keeping in touch with them through emails and phone calls. Since they live in California, we have never met in person. That is soon to change.

Friday evening, I received a call from my "uncle", Rick. He informed me of the yearly reunion coming up the weekend of August 14th and said that he would like me and my family to be there as a surprise. And that he would be funding this trip. YOWZER!

That is cost for 3 plane tickets (Jonah doesn't need one, yet) and a hotel. That's a lot of money! I guess my "family" is quite comfortable in that area... a hidden blessing with sharp daggers at times.

Since we are going... yes, we are definitely going (who refuses a free vacation??)... I am making plans to meet up with a couple of people. Take a look at these pictures. Do you see any resemblance?

This is Terrie, the "mom", when she was pregnant with me.

Jim, the "dad", with half sister Samantha (age 16).

And... last, but certainly not least... my full-blood sister, Shanna. She is 24 (I think). She's a freakish look-alike.

What do you think?

Beef Shish Kabob marinade and Spoon Bread

As I mentioned two days ago, we were going to make Shish Kabobs again. It turned out so much better than the first time with the two marinades.

The marinade I used for the beef is as follows.

1/3 c. soy sauce (I actually used less since I was running out... 1/8 cup)
3/4 c. salad oil
1/8 c. Worcestershire Sauce (increased it to 1/3 cup)
1 tbsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. parsley
1 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 crushed garlic clove
1/4 c. lemon juice

After soaking for about 12 hours, it was absolutely beautiful. Jeremy's confidence in grilling greatly increased and it turned out perfect.

As a side to our meal of meat, fruit and vegetables, I had a spoon bread made from cornmeal. It is pretty bland, but goes well with so much flavor and pungency from the kabobs. The recipe is:

2 cups milk
1 1/3 cups cornmeal
1 tsp. salt
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
4 large eggs, separated


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Combine milk, cornmeal and salt in saucepan; mix well. Stir in hot water. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly (very important), until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 1 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter.

2. Stir egg yolks into cooled cornmeal in saucepan. Beat egg whites in a large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold cornmeal mixture into beaten egg whites.

3. Pour batter into prepared dish. Bake spoon bread until a knife inserted near center comes out clean, 35-45 minutes. Serve hot.


Have a wonderful week of cooking and cherishing your family and friends!

Shish Kabobs

A very recent phenomenon has occurred at the Young household. We discovered Shish Kabobs. Unfortunately, once we discover something we continue it over and over to perfect it. We are in the midst of 3 weeks of shish kabobs. I haven't regretted it, yet.

The first time (last week), I made a marinade, touted to be awesome with beef, and soaked the chosen meat (round steak and chicken) for 24 hours. We found that it tasted the best with the chicken. So the search is now on for making our steak taste just as delectable and, preferably, spicy.

The marinade for "Beef" (use chicken... just trust me on this) is below.

1/2 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon vinegar (I used white)
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1-1/2 teaspoons ginger
3/4 cup oil (olive is healthier and tastes just great... though it does look funky after 24 hours of soakage in the refrigerator)
1 green onion -- chopped (not completely necessary.. I used minced onion)
2-1/2 pounds boneless beef top sirloin -- cubed (used round steak)
1-1/2 1 pound Polish sausage links, low fat -- sliced (subbed for chicken... use the chicken!)
1 8 oz can pineapple, chunks -- drained (I bought a fresh pineapple... totally worth it)
3 green bell pepper -- cut in 1 1/2" pieces (used red bell pepper)
2 red onions -- cut in 1 1/2" wedges (bought only 1)
10 metal skewers

My darling husband has done his utmost to learn how to use our charcoal grill so he feels like he is helping and is "manly". What we have both realized is that grilling is a delicate balance of daring and expertise (neither of which he has in abundance). Me: "Jeremy... STOP opening the lid. It won't cook!!" "Yes, it is definitely done... it is NOT bleeding. You're not going to get salmonilla.. Just trust me."

So far, he has not been ill or died from anything I have forced him to take off the grill "even though it's still bleeding," but I'll keep you posted.

Tonight, I am going to be experimenting on a new marinade for tomorrow's Sabbath Eve supper (for which we are expecting an honored guest... Miss Sandra, a lovely woman who has graciously adopted our grandparent-less children). My children do have grandparents, but they live on opposite coasts from us in the midwest.

Until tomorrow... have a wonderfully blessed supper and cherish your family and friends.

More Change

I have had a few of you friends ask me how my weight goals were coming... and they had sort of stagnated. I couldn't get below 223 and then kept jumping back up. This was frustrating me to no end, so I changed my diet again... I cut out breads (as much as possible) and limited my dairy intake. I am not going extreme because it isn't practical... but as well as I can. I am eating my carbs in the morning (for the most part) and dessert around lunchtime (it's impractical to think of cutting them out completely... there are too many cookies lying around for the rest of the family). But I am monitoring how much I eat and when I eat them. I am also trying to not eat anything after 7pm, which is difficult because we normally start supper at 6:45. No snacks, no nothing.

So far, I lost 4 more pounds... total of 14.5.

I will keep you guys posted.

Life is busy... life is great!

I haven't posted anything in about 5 months because life is just crazy since our Jonah has joined us. He is a precious little boy who is now crawling around and trying to stand up against furniture.

Jeremiah loves his little brother, but sometimes forgets that he is still too small to wrestle and doesn't know how to catch balls that are thrown at him. I am looking forward to seeing their relationship progress as they get older.