Tilapia with Curried Vegetables

WARNING: Work in progress!
This was yet another 'thrown together' meal that turned out pretty well.  But I do think the curried vegetables needed a little something and I haven't yet solved the mystery of the missing ingredient.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed it on the day and as left-overs so it wasn't too lacking!

Any protein could be served but the tilapia was a very affordable and tasty choice.

Servings: Two

Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes, diced into 1-inch cubes (probably into 8ths)
• Two tilapia fillets
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup broccoli including stems, diced
• 1 cup cauliflower, diced
• 2 cups greens that will wilt: e.g. spinach, kale, beet leaves (my new fave!)
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 8oz tin chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup no fat yogurt, greek or balkan style
• fresh coriander, to taste and for garnish

Method:

Boil the potatoes until tender.

Meanwhile, stir-fry the onion, broccoli, cauliflower.  Tip: add them in that order with about 2 minutes in between each as they cook at different speeds.

Stir into the vegetables the curry powder and tomatoes, simmer.  Add the potatoes as soon as they are cooked.  Add in the greens and allow to wilt.

Pan fry the tilapia.  This will be QUICK, don't over-do it.

Take the vegetable mixture off the heat, stir in the yogurt, sprinkle with coriander, and serve with the tilapia alongside.

Possible Alternatives / Things to Try:

Perhaps it needs to be sweetened a bit, try brown sugar...?

Fish Tacos

I seem to be more adventurous than usual lately and created the following by, once again, just sticking a bunch of things together.  Turned out really well!

Servings: Two

Ingredients

• Two cod fillets
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2-3 tbsp lemon or lime juice (of course fresh would be best!)
• 1/2 cup fresh coriander, chopped, split in two
• Flour tortillas and / or hard taco shells (we had some of both!)
• 1/2 cup no fat sour cream
• One medium tomato, diced
• 1-2 cups shredded lettuce
• Corn Salsa

Method

Preheat over for the tortillas & taco shells.

Heat up a grill or frying pan.

Mix the olive oil, lemon (or lime) juice, and one half of the coriander on a plate.  Lay the cod in to soak one side and turn over to sit and marinate.  Leave for 5 minutes, turning once.  Put fish onto grill or pan fry turning once until just flaking.

Heat tortillas & taco shells as per package instructions.

Put the fish on a serving plate and shred loosely with a fork, sprinkle with the reserved coriander.

Serve with sour cream, tomato, corn salsa, anything else you can think of so each person can create their own wraps and tacos!

Possible Alternatives / Things to Try:

My kids like cheese in all wraps - just grated cheddar.  I manage to avoid it most of the time as it is SO "off-diet".

Corn Salsa - Summer in a Bowl

This was introduced to me by my step-mom as a lovely salad to accompany a meal but I've been eating it all week in all sorts of variations including:

• side salad with meal
• addition incorporated with slaw and mixed salads
• filling in fish tacos
• filling in Salsa Beef Wraps

So versatile, simple, and refreshing.

Servings: one side salad or filling for tacos / wraps for two

Ingredients:

Note: all the ingredients that need to be 'diced' should be diced to uniform size, i.e. size of a corn kernel

• 1 cob of corn, fresh (i.e. not cooked), kernels cut off the cob
• 1 red pepper (or yellow or orange if that's what you have), diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 mango, diced (frozen worked fine as a substitute for me this week)
• 1/2 cup (-ish) fresh coriander, chopped
• 1/2 lime

Method:

Add all the ingredients except the lime together.  Squeeze the lime over.  Stir.

Done.

Wonderful!

Possible Alternatives / Things to Try:

To make it a meal, add black beans drained & well-rinsed.  The quantities of the main ingredients are all pretty balanced so aim for probably 1/2 cup.

Salsa Beef Wraps

I had some left-over roast beef and a hungry family, what to make?  Look what we had!

Ingredients:

Note: my ingredient quantities are estimates only as it was all 'thrown together' from stuff in my fridge and really did seem to allow for a lot of improvisation.

• 1 onion, diced
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 4 oz left-over roast beef, shredded
• 1/2 cup salsa (very low fat!)
• Handful of fresh coriander, chopped (or to taste, I like lots!), separated in two
• Tortilla wraps, I prefer whole grain wheat
• No fat sour cream, to preference, likely 1 tbsp per wrap
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• Corn Salsa (optional but delicious!)
• 1-2 cups of shredded lettuce

Method:

Preheat over for the tortillas if necessary according to package instructions (some people may use the microwave, I prefer wrapped in foil and heated in the oven).

Stir fry the onion for a few minutes until it starts to soften, add the pepper and keep stir frying until both are tender.  Add the beef and salsa, turn down the temperature to medium-low and heat through.  Add one half of the coriander and keep it all warming.

Heat tortillas as per package instructions.

Serve with the reserved coriander, sour cream, tomato, corn salsa, anything else you can think of so each person can create their own wrap!

Possible Alternatives / Things to Try:

My kids like cheese in all wraps - just grated cheddar.  I manage to avoid it most of the time as it is SO "off-diet".

Some spinach, kale, or beet leaves would wilt wonderfully into the beef mixture and really bulk up the satisfaction factor AND add a big nutritional punch!

Whose Jeans are These?

My husband has always been slimmer than I am.  As long as we've known each other that's just been the way it is.  So, whose clothes are whose has always been clear.  At some slimmer times in my life maybe I'd wear a sweatshirt of his but he'd worry I'd stretch out the waistband with my big hips...

I mention this because the other evening he showed up in the kitchen doing a camp, exaggerated, modelling of a pair of jean - my jeans!  He had them on and they were rather snug indeed.  Too funny!

Not only does it delight me that we cannot be sure whose jeans are whose at a glance and that I can wear his tops and they fit, it makes me realise how skewed my self-image still is: I look at his shape and size and cannot fathom that I am in the same region.  In my mind, I am still significantly larger.

But has he's just proven, that's not the case.  I am indeed that slim.

I am indeed slim.

Yes!

Contemplation Before Consumption

While I have maintained most of my good eating habits and continued to track (Weight Watchers method) since reaching goal, I have been splurging and my weight is threatening to creep upwards.  I won't say that the weight will 'return' because that weight is gone for good.  Any increase now is new and I declare it my enemy!

Yesterday was my first day back using my 'weight loss' points (instead of maintenance) and it went well.  I quickly fell into the more disciplined mindset of "contemplation before consumption", asking myself if I really am hungry and really want to 'waste' the points on the chosen item.  It's amazing how well this works.  I really do put things down, back in the box / fridge / cupboard, and move onto some fruit or veggies if I really am hungry or onto another task if my contemplation reveals simple boredom.

So, onto day 2 back at it and an added challenge: we are off to the campsite this afternoon.  I have plenty of experience keeping on plan while camping but am keenly aware this morning that I must plan well, very well.

S'mores can be on-plan too!

Back to Basics

Having come this far - 60lbs lost - I am determined not to return to my prior size & shape.  That 'me' is gone, deleted!  Hah.

So, now that I see my weight creeping upwards, I must act.  It is only a couple of pounds and I know exactly which lazy eating habits are too blame.  But I also know that I am complacent lately as if this new me can withstand anything.  Which of course we know I am not.  All the jogging in the world does not justify snacking on cookies after all I've learned.

And what have I been doing wrong?  Not planning.  Not keeping my environment 'safe' from intruders (cookies, baked goods, cheese sauce - just because they are for the kids does not mean I won't eat them!).  Change in routines (not working out of the home, camping trips) without mindful preparation to foster good food choices.  Utter exhaustion (busy times) has led to 'fuel feeding' - trying desperately to boost my energy with sugary, fatty foods that provide that instant kick but wear off quickly.  This last one is the worst because I know better, I really do.  I should choose something more wholesome that will actually provide sustaining energy IF I really must stay awake.  Ideally, however, why don't I just get some sleep?

So, I have to go BACK TO BASICS.  I am going to focus once again on my food intake with the attention of a scientist.  I now know that it is relatively easy as long as one commits the effort and planning. So here I go, let's get those few pounds off and reaffirm my confidence and resolve.

Stay tuned...