SICILIAN MAMA'S JOURNAL

[LINDA RN]

But you have stayed with the program when other diets have failed and this one is healthy and delicious enough for the whole family. And you have your family to prove it. Just think, this could be what gets you to the Food Network.....sigh...... and I can say I met and have talked to her (LOL, via internet). Can't say that about any of the others on Food Network. If you get your own show I would get Satellite back just to catch your program

[Sicilian Mama]

Linda...

You are really too kind... I'm crying... that was so nice...

The show I would LOVE to be on for this weight loss... is Dr. Oz... but that Truth Tube will have to wait until I am at goal weight...

I am going to start doing YouTube shows of my recipes... both LDL and regular (for my catering clients) and see how that goes

Today, breakfast was a fruit smoothie,

Lunch was a Tri Tip, marinated, with a bevi of roasted veggies, a huge salad and my hubby and kids all around our table in the patio... the weather was so nice and warm today.

Dinner was another smoothie...

I don't know why I waited so dang long to try a smoothie..now I'm completely addicted!

[Carolina Girl]

Ditto what Linda said,SM. This WOE is a journey that you are on and I think they might really be interested in making people aware of  how your whole family benefits while all of you are on this journey. A lot of the people to apply for this contest will be individuals, but because so many whole families are overweight they would be inclined to take notice of your story. Just a thought...

[Sicilian Mama]

Ugh... you guys have to stop... my keyboard is getting all wet!!!

I will take whatever God has in store for me... I just didn't realize how much this has changed my mind, my body and my soul!!!!

[rodie]

SM,
I made your turkey burgers today and had one for lunch,it was so good! I have them in the frig already for the week,but one thing I forgot I didn't put the darn beans in them,lol! I guess I should have wrote the recipe better.I wrote just the things I needed at the store so when it came time to make them I didn't have beans on the list,so totally forget um,isn't beans what it's all about?LOL!

Hugzzzz
Rodie

[lulu65]

Linda...

You are really too kind... I'm crying... that was so nice...

The show I would LOVE to be on for this weight loss... is Dr. Oz... but that Truth Tube will have to wait until I am at goal weight...

I am going to start doing YouTube shows of my recipes... both LDL and regular (for my catering clients) and see how that goes

Today, breakfast was a fruit smoothie,

Lunch was a Tri Tip, marinated, with a bevi of roasted veggies, a huge salad and my hubby and kids all around our table in the patio... the weather was so nice and warm today.

Dinner was another smoothie...

I don't know why I waited so dang long to try a smoothie..now I'm completely addicted!

I would love to see you on Dr Oz... I like him very much...  Those turkey burgers are awesome.. Got enough for the week too.. Now to make the 2 or 4 or 6 bean soup and then I should be good to go. .I have taco salad all made in freezer...  and going to round up fruits for the smoothies

[Sicilian Mama]

Rodie...

I forget sometimes too! so to counter act that faux pas, I whip up the beans in shallow frying pan with some EVOO, garlic and onion as a side dish to my burgers... yum!

Louise...

I love the Taco Salad...So glad  you do too!

[LINDA RN]

Have to ask the experts,
How do you cook meat inside in a skillet and make it come out juicy? Basicall want that grat grilled consistency cooking on the stove. Tried steak cook slow, cook hot then slow, with salt and without. Most times (unless it is a really marbled ribeye, LOL) it turn out tough. The only meat I have been halfway successful with is pork steak (too fatty) seasoned with Adobo seasoning. DH is pretty Plain Jane and just wants his meat cooked plain with salt and pepper. He is willing to forego the breading. But we have a bunch of tender chicken in the freezer we raised cut up in pieces. Would like to be able to cook them without sauce and just eat with veggies. Suggestions? I am more a soup and casserole cook and never got plain meat down. I either undercook it or burn it. Helppppp 

Anyone have the George Foreman Flavor Wav? I was thinking of getting one with the refund. Would it help? The George Foreman Grill is put away. Meat tasted tough in it also.

[Sicilian Mama]

linda, you got my reply... right?

Breakfast today was fruit... IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN RAINING FOR TWO WHOLE DAYS HERE!  So strange to have weather!  We've had 9 months of sunshine!!!

Lunch was a large salad, all the trimmings, and Healthy TAco Salad

Dinner was 3 mandarin oranges, a banana and rooibos tea...

Rain makes me want to eat... so I have been extra careful not to overindulge today... I need my sunshine back... last week we had 80 degree weather all week!

[LINDA RN]

Sandra,
No I don't get your reply. Still looking.

[crickadoodle]

Sandra, you really do need to get into the contest.  Just be honest about where you are coming from and where you are right now.  Your story is inspiring.  I'm inspired by you all the time.  In fact, today I'm making a stock with my veggies from the soup I am already making and some chicken carcasses I froze with the intention of making a stock one day.  Then I'm going to use that stock to make my husband some Rags soup!  He loves egg drop soup when we eat at Chinese restaurants and this seems much like it, but I'm sure healthier, since I'm making it with so much love!    (He never has tried my yummy bean soup I make every week!  He needs soup too, you know.    He has lost 28 lbs. without eating beans or soup, so can you imagine what he'd do with both?)

About you being inspiring -- let's face it.  Someone real on the journey to her goal weight is so much more inspiring than someone who is always skinny -- like they put on all those commercials.  You have a real life, real family, real challenges -- I mean, if a caterer can cook all those awesome dishes and still lose weight -- not to mention all that yummy bread and not eat any of it -- Sandra, come on, you need to face the fact that you are an inspiration that people need to hear about.  You never know.

Also, I can see how a Food Network show fits into you future.  What a blessing!  I can hardly wait to say, "And I knew her when..."    When you get rich and famous, you'll have to fly in all your LDL friends and we'll help you cook our favorite recipes. 

[Sicilian Mama]

Crick...
FROM YOUR MOUTH TO GOD'S EARS!!!

Thank you.. thank you... thank you... from the bottom of my heart...

And... OF COURSE I'LL FLY ALL OF YOU OUT!!! FIRST CLASS, and we'll cook together on TV!!!!

[Sicilian Mama]

Sorry Linda...

Meat can be tricky.  Here's what I like to do...

Mix up some orange juice (bottled or just squeezed oranges), some salt, pepper, a dash of Tabasco, a dash of Worchestshire, and a favorite store bought steak rub  and put the meat and the marinade into a large ziploc bag... and let it sit in the fridge for one hour to all day long.

In inclement weather, heat up a large skillet or grill pan on your stove and get it REALLY HOT!  put tiny bit of olive oil in the pan, and slap that meat on it... cook it for 4 minutes or so on each side... THEN PUT THE PAN (make sure it's oven safe) into a 400 degree oven and continue to cook it for another 5 minutes...

That's how restaurants cook meat.  I like mine medium rare, so you can play with the time in the oven depending on how done you like your meat...

On the grill, marinading is really important, so keep the extra marinade to pour over the steak while grilling in the first few minutes... toss it out after that.

Try to refrain from poking the meat at all, use tongs, so all the juices stay in the meat..

Let me know how this works for you?

[LINDA RN]

Thanks Sandra,
What does the citrus juice do to the meat? DH doesn't like sweet meat. would plain squeezed lemons do?
The other reason I asked is because I remember reading something about not using salt while cooking. Maybe that was just for veggies.  Love worchestershier sauce but most have MSG or corn syrup.  Shying away from soy sauce too. Any better  substitutions? I will try your suggestions on my chiken parts and will let you know. I have also heard Italian salad dressing works for a marinade. You tried that?
sent from my cell, fat fingers, little keys.

[VickiLynn]

Linda,

I have used Italian dressing as a meat marinade and it works great -- tenderizes the meat and gives flavor. I usually marinade my meat all day, but on LDL I now put the marinaded meat in the refrig before I go to bed.

[Sicilian Mama]

Great suggestion Vickilynn!

The citrus is what I use because I always have it on hand... a lemon would be fine... the oranges give it an oriental type of flavor I love...

Skip the soy or Wshire. 

Salt seasons and also takes way juice... so you decide how you use it... I salt my food, with kosher salt, a less "salty" salt... I won't eat unseasoned food, that's a deal breaker for me... but to each his own... both schools of thought are fine.

I also, sometimes, just pour in straight balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil and marinade it that way...

I rarely make food the same way each time, I kinda go with what I have on hand...

[VickiLynn]

Sandra,

I am going to try your marinade because I love oriental anything  but Thai is my favorite!  Thanks for the suggestion.

Vicki

[LINDA RN]

I use Real Salt when cooking, Kosher for marinating. Just windered if salting while cooking was making it tough. Just wan't sure how the orange juice would be on an occasional steak. I have a wonderful recipe from Gordan Robertson for marinating a whole turkey. DH loves it. We then put the marinated turkey in a roasting pan and cooked it on the charcoal grill. DH loved it even though there was honey and maple syrup in the marinade. I could taste the sweetness in the meat but he did not complain. Will try all your suggestions for Marinades. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Sicilian Mama]

Linda,

Try using kosher for everything... it has less sodium, more minerals, and generally has a less "salty" taste because it lies on the tongue and dissipates differenly... I don't even buy table salt anymore...

Just a suggestion... from one cook to another...

**********************

I had a tough eating day yesterday.  I was ravenous, (at least my mind thought I was), and could have eaten all day, nonstop.  I kinda did, but I ONLY ate LDL foods.  I don't know if it was my "visitor" announcing her visit, all this stupid rain we are having, stress... what... I have no clue... but I am SOOOO GLAD I purged my home of all non LDL food.  I didn't gain an ounce, made sure to eat double salad when hungry, and today, I'm over the feeding frenzy...  don't have a clue what it was.

Dinner yesterday was Rags Soup by the trough, and mandarins...tons of mandarins...

[LINDA RN]

I get Real Salt from the Health Food Store. It is unrefined salt mined from Ancient sea bed and contains 50+ minerals. It is not refined and DH calls it "Dirty Salt" because of it's brownish color. Also does not taste like table salt. Used Kosher until I tried this stuff. Just a little more convenient and healthier when there is company. I am like you, have to limit salt so cook with way less than I want and finish salting on the plate. Trying new seasonings but since it is new for me, I many times get too much, not enough, or just plain the wrong ones. Education has it's price. Dogs benefit from my mistakes.