Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Hoppin' John

Hoppin' John is a traditional southern dish and is thought to bring good luck year round if eaten on the New Year's Day. The black-eyed peas represent pennies or coins and the jalapeno is supposed to add wealth (green = money), add cornbread and you're tripling your luck (gold = riches). On the day after New Years, Hoppin' John is referred to as Skippin' Jenny and is also good luck - the leftovers show ones frugality, therefor bringing extra prosperity for the upcoming year. We Southerners take our traditions very seriously and this is no exception.


Now this is the version I make every year but there are several out there and frankly I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Ive not only healthified it but also sped up the prep time by using frozen peas instead of the old-fashioned soaking method.


Calories: 140  |  Carbs: 18  |  Protein: 7  |  Fat: 5
Nutritional value based on 8 - 1/2 cup servings
 
 
You'll Need -
 
1 16oz package frozen black-eyed peas
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cups of water
4oz smoked turkey sausage, sliced 1/2 inch thick
4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (seeded if you want less heat)
Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Louisiana hot sauce, for serving
Brown rice, for serving (calculate extra calories!)
 
 
 
Then You'll -
 
Heat half of the oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, turning once, until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
 
Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining oil, onion, garlic, jalapeno and bacon to pan - cook until onions are tender and bacon is no longer raw - about 6 to 8 minutes.
 
Return sausage to the pan, add the peas along with the 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add seasoning. Reduce heat and simmer until peas are tender.
 
Serve over brown rice and pour on the hot sauce!
 
 
Happy Cooking!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Friend Makin' Mondays: 12 Things

Now…If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 

 

Twelve in 2012


1. What was your greatest personal accomplishment in 2012?  I like to think I did several cool things this year but moving to Chicago was by far the most awesome!

2. What’s the best thing your did for your health?  I had gastric sleeve surgery. It not only cured my diabetes but I've lost 65 pounds so far and I'm getting healthier by the day. I also haven't had any pop or carbonated beverages in 5 months - no alcohol either!

3. Share one thing that caused a significant change in your life this year.  I hate to sound repetitive but moving to Chicago, picking up and moving my entire life has given me the courage to do so much more!

4. List a few things that you experienced for the first time at some point over the last twelve months.  
- I sailed on Lake Michigan (in a pirate ship!)
- This is my first apartment "underground"
- I did the Color Run
- I mailed out Christmas cards (I never had to before since I was local)

5. What was the coolest place you visited? Chicago of course ;)

6. If you could change one thing about the last year what would it be?  I would have curbed my extra spending slightly (OK a little more than slightly) - but I'll be starting the AndThenWeSaved program next year - super excited about that.

7. What is the best meal you ate this year? Giordano's stuffed pizza and Alfie's zucchini chips. Both of which are on my do-not-eat-or-it-will-turn-you-into-a-fat-ass-again list.

8. Tell us about a new friend you made.  All of my friends have been new this year, I cant point just one particular person out, they're all great!

9. What did you hope to accomplish this year that you did not? I wanted to travel some.

10. Share something you learned in 2012.  Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle.

11. Share an odd and unexpected thing that you experienced this year.  I can't say anything odd or unexpected happened to me this year. It's been pretty normal for once lol

12. How do you think 2013 will differ from 2012? It is going to be full of so much awesome. I'm going to be skinny. I'm going to be rich(er). I'm going to travel. I'm going to (continue to) be badass.



Now it's your turn! Don't forget to link up! Happy Monday everyone!
 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Angry Orchard Hard Cider Review

I was recently contacted by Angry Orchard and offered the opportunity to try their product line. All my friends rave about this stuff so I was excited to give it a try. Unfortunately around the same time I received the sample I started having issues with my gallbladder and the doctor restricted me from all alcohol. Rather than let it go to waste, I let a co-worker and self proclaimed "tasty beverage connoisseur" have the honor of guinea pig and product reviewer.


Image courtesy of Angry Orchard


Angry Orchard just happens to be made by the fine folks at Boston Beer Company (the makers of Samuel Adams) and are naturally gluten free to boot! Their cider apples are specifically grown for cider-making and hand-selected for every batch. Cider apples are traditionally tart and bittersweet, often being described as "angry" - hence the name.  They vary in between 5% and 5.5% ABV and each bottle is around 200 calories.

As previously stated, I passed my 6 pack sampler onto my co-worker Steve and after a week of taste testing this is his (full, complete, and unedited) review:


Recently I was asked to try a few bottles of beer by a co-worker. I didn’t know whether I should be happy or slightly offended. I’m not an alcoholic but I am a beer enthusiast (I guess that’s what they call it now a days). Either way I enthusiastically agreed to be the taste tester and Angry Orchard Hard Cider is the flavor of the day!

            Angry Orchard has a rich history in Europe and in the United States. In Colonial times hard cider was the flavor of choice.  Like most beers, the process to make the different flavors of the hard cider is very complex, however, each flavor includes one very simple ingredient- Apples. I don’t know about you but I’m a sucker for apples.  When I was a kid anything with apples in it was pretty much the best thing ever. Apple juice, apple pie (McDonalds), apples and peanut butter; thus, Angry Orchard’s use of the apple is pretty genius.  In the 6 pack I received there were 3 different flavors to experience; Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry, and Apple Ginger. Each of these flavors offer a significantly different taste that would complement any beer enthusiast’s palette or introduce non beer drinkers to a great alternative to keep the party going.

            The Crisp apple flavor literally tastes like Apple Cider fresh from grandma’s own home brew. I’ve had my fair share of flavored beers ranging from pumpkin to strawberry but usually there’s a bit of a hoppy flavor. Angry Orchard’s Crisp Apple is very smooth with no hops flavor at all. This would be the perfect choice for anyone who doesn’t drink beer. You get the entire apple cider flavor with no kick from hops flavor.  The reason why there’s no hops flavor is because the master brewers at Angry Orchard don’t use hops. They let the flavors ferment over time and let the flavors infuse into themselves. It’s pure genius.

            The next flavor in the pack is called Traditional Dry. The Traditional Dry flavor is reminiscent of Old English brews. This flavor boasts a whopping 10 apple concoction infused with cinnamon and spices that gives it a spicy kick. This flavor is perfect for your Holiday dinner party.  It’s dry on flavor not as much juice as the Crisp Apple or Apple Ginger flavors but that’s ok a bite of a good steak or even a pork lion or roast would compliment this flavor just right.

            The last flavor is called Apple Ginger. This flavor is for the wine enthusiasts that love wine flavors such as Moscato or traditional white wines. There’s a slightly tart after taste due to the added ginger spice.  This flavor still goes down smooth. It’s a good middle of the road flavor in comparison to the Crisp Apple and Traditional Dry. It’s sweet like the Crisp Apple but has the spiciness and uses less apple juices to make of the flavor. As a matter of fact, this brew includes some aged wine included in its brewing process. It’s a very complex flavor and the only thing I have to say is that you have to try it for yourself.

I guess I like being a taste tester especially when it comes to flavorful beers. Angry Orchard offers great flavors for your self-proclaimed beer enthusiasts (like me) or the casual beer drinker who likes smooth sweet flavors. Even if you’ve never tasted beer in your life Angry Orchard would be the perfect place to start.  You get a sweet flavors and spices with a kick! No hops and no carbonation like other hard drinks on the market.
 
 
Image courtesy of Angry Orchard


Now the one thing Steve didn't mention was how great these guys mix with other spirits to create unique and tasty cocktails. You can find the entire list here.

 To learn more about Angry Orchard,
visit the orchard at: www.AngryOrchard.com
and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AngryOrchard.
 
Please drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. Must be over 21 to indulge.
 
**Review disclaimer - I was given a free 6 pack sampler to try and give an honest opinion about. I was not compensated in any way. The review was not altered in form to show favor towards the product**

 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Christmas Questions

 

Its that time of the week again! You know what to do, answer these questions on your blog (after commenting on mine of course lol) and link back to www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
 
 
Christmas Questions
 
 
1. How will you celebrate the holidays this year? This year I'm going solo, all my family is back in Texas. I'm not sad though, its my first Chicago Christmas so there's lots of new traditions to be made.

2. What’s the weather currently like where you live? Its starting to get colder but as we've now hit a record 281 days without snow, I can say I'm far past ready for some white powder awesomeness!

3. Do you decorate your home for the holidays? If so, share a picture please!  I did a little as I left most of my decorations at my parents house in Texas. Here is my mini tree:






4. What is your favorite Christmas movie?  ELF! Best Christmas movie, EVER. A do have a soft spot for the old claymation classics and who can forget Emmitt Otter's Jug-Band Christmas? Love!


Image courtesy of google.com


5. What is your favorite Christmas songs?  Carol of the Bells, Feliz Navidad, Last Christmas, Little Drummer Boy and Santa Baby top my list.

6. Do you have an advent calendar?  No, I had one every year as a child but I've grown out of them.

7. Do you prefer color lights or white lights?  I have white lights on my tree but I prefer colored lights on the outside of a home.

8. What is your favorite food to eat over the holidays?  That's hard to say, ever since the surgery I haven't been indulging (yay me!). It used to be pumpkin flavored anything, now I'd have to say its an XL coffee with Peppermint Mocha from Dunkin Donuts. I live dangerously, I know.


Image courtesy of google.com


9. Do you display a live tree, or do you prefer fake trees? I'm a city dweller in an apartment, its nothing but fake for me!

10. What would you need to make your holiday perfect this year?  I'm alive, healthy, losing weight, employed, and have happy pups...I'd say its already perfect =)

 
Okie dokie, your turn! Don't forget to link back!
 
Happy Monday!
 

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Holiday Wrap-Up & Giveaway!!

I am happy to say I made it through the Thanksgiving holiday relatively unscathed (my checkbook wasn't so lucky). This was not only my first Thanksgiving away from any family but also my first being sleeved. I purposely didn't make any plans as I wanted a low-key no-fuss no-stress day and that's exactly what I got. I took 2 naps, worked on the blog and caught up on Vampire Diaries. I did go to Meijer at 6am to get a new blender, I make smoothies so much that I broke my old one and they had the red Oster on sale for $19.99 (reg. $45). My eating yesterday was on point, I had a smoothie and a ham sandwich throughout the day and with the house cleaning I did I was rewarded with a .5 pound loss. This is the FIRST holiday EVER that I have LOST weight - I'll take it (no matter how small)!

Be warned -the lighting in my house sucks!

Today was a different story. I was up at 9 and by 5, Foursquare politely reminded me I had been to 10 places. It wasn't all fun and games, 3 of those places were for returns and today was laundry day. I did get some good deals without having to stand nuts-to-butts in line for 3 hours. First stop was Nordie's (oh how I love that place!) and I took advantage of their Buy 2 Get 1 Free on butter London polish. I also purchased my stepmom's birthday gift - which I wont reveal in case she's reading this. I also treated myself since I am 1.2 pounds away from 60 pounds gone! Yay! In hindsight, I probably should've bought underwear since I'm using binder clips on mine now but hey LOL.

Black Knight, Two-Fingered Salute, No More Waity Katie, Wild Thing


Guilty Intense for my 60 lb loss! As you can clearly see I needed more perfume ;)



 I also made a quick stop to Ikea to pick up their $4.99 end tables and onto TJ Maxx because they have good clearance - it paid off because I found this super cute Betsey Johnson laptop case for $18 with my 10% off coupon. It will work perfectly for keeping all my blogging stuff together.





The best part? SEQUINS!


 All the walking and running around paid off big time, check out the stats on my FitBit One!




 

Now on to my very FIRST giveaway!!! Yay! I'm giving away 2 annual subscriptions to Martha Stewart's Everyday Food! I freaking love this little magazine. Most of you know I love to cook and this magazine is the inspiration for half of what comes out of my kitchen. The recipes are fun, simple, and can easily be made VSG or Weight Watcher friendly.
 
Image courtesy of Bing.com
 
 
 
 I know this isn't big or fancy but as a small token of appreciation for all of your continued support and helping me get my blog out there!
 
Entering is easy and just takes a few moments. 
 
- Like my Facebook page here (1 entry)
- Share this giveaway with someone on FB or Twitter (1 entry)
- Leave me a comment here telling me something awesome about your weekend!  (1 entry)
 
*Leave a comment for each entry*
 
Don't forget to include your email address! Contest will close at 11:59pm on 11/28/12. Winners will be picked using RandomPicker.com
 
 
 
Good luck!