Simple Basic Tomato Sauce

Simple Basic Tomato Sauce

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup diced onion

1 green pepper, diced
2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed or diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

2 cloves minced garlic

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and pepper; saute until translucent. Add the garlic and cook and stir another 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt. Cook until completely heated, another 2 to 3 minutes.

For a smooth sauce, place mixture in your blender or food processor and process until texture that you want.

Makes approximately 3 1/ 2 cups (enough for 4 to 6 servings).

You Look Marvelous!!!!

I thought it might be nice to show you my progress. The scale has been slowing a bit but the inches are still coming off and I'm finding muscles that have been covered by fat for far too long. Top to bottom: Top: 247 lbs October 2010
2nd photo: 230 lbs December 2010
3rd & 4th photos: 225 lbs February 2011
bottom photo: 220 lbs Easter 2011

Arlene's Cranberry Sensation

Arlene's Cranberry Sensation (makes enough for the whole family)

Ingredients
1-12oz package fresh cranberries
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar (I'll either leave out or replace w/ agave)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I will replace w/ agave and a little molasses)
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup triple sec
1/2 cup mandarin oranges
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions
In medium sauce pan over medium heat dissolve sugar and brown sugar in water/juice mixture. Stir in cranberries and cook until they start pop (about 10 min.) Add craisins, pecans and triple sec. Simmer until it starts to thicken (about 5 min.). Remove from heat and stir in mandarin oranges. Serve warm or chilled.

Straight from Mexico Spanish Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup white rice (can substitute brown)
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped celery
• CELERY LEAF!- probably the most important ingredient!
• 1/2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 fresh tomato
• 1 can tomato sauce (or 2 cups homemade sauce)
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/8 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Cook rice according to package directions, using stock instead of water; set aside. In a small skillet, saute the green pepper, celery, onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the tomato, tomato sauce, celery leaf, seasoned salt if desired, chili powder, pepper and cooked rice. Cook 3-4 minutes or until heated through.

Nikki's Carnitas

Yummy carnitas!!!!

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (4 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Mix together salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl. Coat pork with the spice mixture. Place the bay leaves in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.
2. Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 10 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 5 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks. Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.

Keep Your Salads From Being Boring

1. Here are my 2 faves: #1- romaine, cottage cheese, tuna, bacon bits, croutons, cucumbers, tomatoes & ranch! #2- spinach, (veggie) chicken, almonds, croutons, tomatoes, avacados, & balsamic vinaigrette mmm I'm hungry now lol
2. try some walnuts, dried cranberries, and a little blue cheese crumbles...yum! Also I use kale, spinach, and spring mix
   5 hours ago
3. One that I make is baby spinach leaves, strawberries, walnuts and red onion with Kraft Raspberry viniagarette..I make lots of salads and they all turn out great..I wont even pay for one in a restaurant now!
4. 
   
   
   I like any veggies, kalamata olives, feta cheese, grape tomatoes, or heirloom(colors it up nice) Love strips of bell pepper(great fat burner) I will put peperoncinis in mine, goodness, sprinkle sunflower seeds or pepitas, or walnuts, all measured of course. Pepitas, sunflower seeds, and ground flax are good, so is avocado. I like fresh squeezed lemon on my salad as well. Just a few things I could think of!
   5 hours ago
5. i put cottage cheese in with balsamic vinegarette and carrots, tomatoes, hard boilled egg and spinach...amazing!
6. Romaine lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, black olives, sliced chicken breast, light balsamic vinegar...
7. Mixed greens, olives, red onion, various peppers, cherry tomatoes and dressed with salsa.
8. I love pears or apples in my salad - but fresh tomatoes and persian cukes! An egg is always great - or a little reduced fat cheese. It's all about the dressing for me. Finding a low cal one that I like! I love the Litehouse Pomegranate Blueberry!
9. This is my famous everyone loves salad (super easy BTW) Orangic spinach and herbs mixed greens, 1 tbls olive oil, 1 tbls basalmic vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. I never measure the spices (sorry) I just sprinkle them on LOl :) This is the base, from this you can add anything. For just a simple home dinner I add cherry tomatoes and sliced raw almonds sometimes avocado. For a dinner party I add dried cranberries, spiced almonds, pears, low fat feta and mix 1tbls honey to the oil and vinegar. You can do a combo of broccoli flowers, boiled eggs, celery and bell peppers. Pomegranate seeds are a good add too. I am always asked to bring the salads :)
   5 hours ago
10. I love fruit on my salads - normally dried cranberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges or blueberries - usually always with feta or bleu cheese!
11. when i get bored i try other greens. i know you just said you don't like fruit on your salad, but my new favorite is raw pea shoots w/ mustu (crispin) and scallion. lime juice, olive oil, a dash of sesame oil, sesame seeds. YUM!
12. oh also if you get bored easily w/ lettuce, you can keep things like blanched green beans, cooked potatoes, etc. in the fridge and throw them in your salads. i'm a big fan of hard cheese and olives and nuts in salad! :D
13. I do all spinich and then add a egg (hard boiled) / a Tblspoon of almonds / 1 serving of Feta / and 2 tblspoons of low fat light ranch -- that does it for me.. its my favorite salad -- of course I like a couple others with fruit but you said you don't likey.. :)
    1 hour ago