Gettin' Healthy Cont...

It has been a month already, and our weight-loss journey has been a frustrating one. In four weeks, we have lost 2 pounds. Actually, in week 1 we lost 4 pounds in the first few days, then put then back on. Then, in week 2, we gained 1 pound and lost it again. Week 3, we maintained our weight all week. Followed by week four where we have taken off 2 pounds and kept them off. We are disappointed and discouraged.

BUT, we are eating healthier and feeling better each day. Though the diet hasn't worked for weight loss, it has made us feel better, with more stamina and less dependent on naps to get through our day. And our brain power has improved slightly too.

What we need is to add some kind of exercize to the plan. This is more of a challenge but one that can be overcome by willpower. I'll check back up in a couple of weeks.

Gettin' Healthy

We are embarking on a weight loss journey at the Gettin' Fresh household. We have set a timeline and will employ a plan. Using The Schwarzbein Principle as our main guide, we will attempt to loss 10 lb. in 6 weeks.

We have come up with a strategy for dealing with a few challenges:
Busy Schedule
To overcome our hectic schedules, we will plan ahead for the coming week. We will make enough healthy meals on Sunday to last us all week and freeze them. Then we can reheat in minutes in the microwave as we run out the door.

Stress
With finals looming, we will eliminate temptation by not buying the fattening and unhealthy snacks that we usually run to when we face stress. Soda and chips are not good stress relievers.

Feeling Deprived
This is a tricky one. We will allow a treat every once in a while as a reward for successfully following our plan. This treat will strike a balance between sinful and healthy, like frozen yogurt with a candy topping instead of double-cream ice cream topped with hot fudge.

Speaking of Breads...

I found this at a local restaurant.

Other Class Goodies

When making bread in class, there is a lot of down time. We must find something to do while we wait for bread to rise.

We have been encouraged by Chef Smith to make other things. If we ask her, she will provide recipes for us. Here are a few of goodies:

Maple Bacon Cookies (there are bacon bits inside the cookie)

Sprits Cookies with Apricot Jelly

Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Wheat Rolls

Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate Mousse Frosting and Toasted Coconut

Fist-sized Peanut Butter Cookies

Artisan Breads

I have been attending culinary school for a year and a half now. I expect to graduate in the spring. One of my classes this quarter is Artisan Breads. I find that making bread is like doing the laundry: it takes more time than effect, it is a neverending job (bread is a staple around here, as are clean underpants), and no one actually wants to do it. I am one of those rare breeds who doesn't mind doing the laundry, or baking my own bread.

Here are a few of the creations we have turned out int he last month:

Soft Dinner Rolls

Cheesy Dinner Roll

Brandy Raisin Bagel and Cinnamon Sugar Bagel

French Loaves using 2 different starters

Sourdough Loaf with Asiogo Cheese

Oven Lovin'

Limoncello cupcake with lemon curd center and limoncello frosting.

Oven Lovin'

Chocolate chip cream scones.

Patriotic sugar cookies.

Passionate About Food

"Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it."
-Julia Child

I am passionate about food. Not just any food, but nutritious, gourmet quality food.

My cooking style has developed over time, from the TV dinners and cassaroles of my childhood, to the easy comfort foods I fed my own children for 17 years, to the healthier whole food options I discovered were more agreeable to my aging body. When I enrolled in the culinary program at The Art Institute of California, I learned all the techniques for working efficiently in the kitchen, as well as the flavor profiles of international cuisine. I take notes while watching cooking competition shows on The Food Network. On my days off, I like to compile a list of new recipes to try or experiment with. For all this, I still feel like I don't spend as much time cooking as I would like.

I like to bake bread. I savor the smell of onions and garlic sauteing on the stovetop. I love the challenge of pairing a good wine with a well cooked chicken breast. I think fresh vegetables taste the best. And I believe butter is the single greatest gift God bestowed onto mankind.

Yeah, I'm passionate about food. And I stay tremendously interested in it.