I’m ready, I’m ready!

I have my food all planned out, I have put together strategies to deal with the stressful things (and people) who might have thrown me off course, I am ready!

Before we dive right in the Thanksgiving last minute preparations, maybe we can take a step back and remember previous celebrations we enjoyed since joining Weight Watchers. What worked? What didn’t work so well? More importantly, what have we learned?

Learning from experience is the best way there is to build up on that new lifestyle of ours, so we can find each “our” way to make this a true lifestyle change that will endure through celebrations and changes.

Tool of the week:

What better tool can there be in a food centered celebration than our Easy Measure spoon set?

Not only they are pre-measured serving spoon, but they actually look very nice! Nobody will know you are actually controlling your portions. You can be sneaky about being healthy! What’s not to love?

I have quite a few of those sets left, I'll be bringing them around. Let me know if you want one!

What’s going on?

Change is coming, can you feel it? You want to keep your eyes open and be part of the excitement!

We have great events coming in San Francisco that might just give you the help you need, not to mention that they are going to be fun! Not only you are invited, but any friends who wants to come and check us out is welcome to stop by too!

Cook healthy in minutes
With Melanie Bourgeois
Tips and tricks to have healthy food on the tables quickly and without fuss.
(It's my first time putting an event together, I'm having so much fun with this! I'm planning on keeping it simple and fun. Any quick food ideas are appreciated!)

December 8th:
Stonestown Center,


Make Etools Work for You
With Joe Lagana
Everything you need to know about using Etools.

December 13th:
San Bruno, Bayhill center

December 18th:
Stonestown Center

In the Kitchen

This recipe call for raw turkey meat, but I have done it most of the time with leftover cooked turkey (or chicken), just add it about 1 minute before the end to cook through.

It’s delicious, and it breaks from the “Thanksgiving taste” when you’ve been eating leftovers for a few days! ;o)

The second recipe is the Banana bread I've been talking about. I had it in last week's email which never went out. :o/

Turkey Mulligatawny
4 servings

Ingredients
2 teaspoon Olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup Bulgur
2 teaspoon Madras curry powder (2 to 3)
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
5 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 small apple, unpealed and diced
1 pound bonless, skinless turkey breast cubed (3/4 inches)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 small tomato, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until golden. 7-10 miuntes. Add the bulgur, curry powder, turmeric and cloves. Cook stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 2-3 minutes.

Stir in the broth, bell pepper, and apple; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until thebulgur is tender, about 20 minutes.

Add the turkey and salt; return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered. until the turkey is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with the pepper, then sprinkle with the tomatoes and cilantro just before serving.


Adapted from: Weight watchers "In one pot" cookbook, p. 21


Banana Bread
8 servings, 4 pts/serving*

Ingredients
¼ cup Splenda
¼ cup bron sugar
2 TBSP butter
3 TBSP Apple Sauce unsweetened
½ cup egg beater
1 1/2 cup, white flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 6oz carton fat free vanilla yogurt
¾ cup ripe banana (about 1 ½ banana)
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Cooking spray
(You can add nuts, almonds or raisins, whatever but adjusts the pts value!)

1- Preheat over at 350F
2- Place sugar and butter in a large bowl, beat with a mixer at medium speed until well mixed, add apple sauce and beat a little more. Add eggs beater slowly while mixing well.
3- Sift flour and baking soda and spices together and add to the wet mixture alternating with the yogurt. You want to start and finish with the flour. Do not over-mix! The more you mix, the denser it will be.
4- Fold in the banana and vanilla extract (and whatever else you decided to add) and pour the whole thing in a 8X4 inch pan that you pre-sprayed with cooking spray.
5- Bake for about 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely.

*The original recipe was 10 serving which would be 3 pts here. To me those slices are too thin. I want a REAL slice!

Adapted from Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2007 p. 407 (November 2007)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Weight Watchers will be closed on Thanksgiving day, but we are open all day Wednesday and Friday (with very few exceptions*). If you feel the need to stop by a center or a traveler, please do so!

*The century Club is closed Friday morning and the LGBT will be closed Saturday in observance of the Thanksgiving celebration.

I will be on vacation from Wednesday evening (after my meeting at Stonestown) to Monday morning. I will read and answer emails then. :o)

I hope you have a great time this weekend! Enjoy yourself and your loved ones.

Your leader,

Melanie

willow@seamountains.net
seamountains.net/mtg.html

"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become."
~Unknown