Darn You Alton Brown

So I just happened to catch Alton Brown the other night -- all skinny and bossy and full of information -- and he had these rules to follow. Seemed easy enough. I went out, bought sardines and almonds, and have been trying to follow his advice ever since.

I can't say that my weight has changed, probably because when he says alcohol once a week I take that to mean alcohol, more than 2 glasses of wine, once a week.. but I do FEEL healthier -- and that's what it's all about.

So I posted the list on the fridge, and the family reviews my "stick to it"-ness periodically

The List
Everyday
- Fruits
- Whole Grains
- Leafy Greens
- Nuts
- Carrots
- Green Tea

3 times a week
- Oily Fish
- Yogurt
- Broccoli
- Sweet Potato
- Avocado

Once a week
- Red meat
- Pasta
- Dessert
- Alcohol

NEVER!
- Fast Food
- Soda
- Processed meals/frozen dinners
- Canned soup
- "Diet" anything

Mexican Lasagna

Okay, I had to post this one because my husband said it was awesome and dipped back into the dish a stunning THREE times during the meal. I got the recipe from the Food Network web site -- word of warning, it takes about an hour in the oven to cook -- but I made it with leftover chicken and ingredients I had on hand.

12 oz. cooked chicken, cut into cubes
1 c. salsa
8 oz. sour cream
1 1/2 c. mexican cheese
1 t. chili powder
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 can chopped green chilies

combine in a bowl and set aside.

Cut tortillas into wedges and line bottom of 10x10 dish (sprayed with non stick spray)
top with 1/2 of the chicken mixture
add another layer of tortilla pieces
top with second half of chicken
top with 1 c. of mexican cheese

Bake, covered by foil for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. After 30 minutes, remove foil and bake another 30 minutes.

Here Comes the Comfort Food -- Baked Potato Soup

It's been bitterly cold here -- just plain gross weather. At the end of an extended winter break where we've eaten too much, drank too much, and helped ourselves to just about everything we've wanted to ingest, I decided we needed one last hurrah before we buckle down to salad and fruit and water.

I'm also starting to think that soup on Sunday is a good idea. So, on a bitterly cold, ugly Sunday before we go back to the grind, what a better thing to prepare but Baked Potato Soup! This recipe is so bad -- it called for a cup of sour cream at the end, but I just couldn't do it. It's got potoatoes, cheese, milk, flour, butter -- BACON... but it was universally accepted by the family, and will be a "make again."

My apologies to those health nuts out there -- but here goes:
Baked Potato Soup
(From Fix It and Forget It Cookbook)

4 large baked potatoes
2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. flour
6 c. milk
¾ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
4 green onions
12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Melt the butter in a large stock pot. Add the flour and stir, heat for a minute or two. Slowly add the milk and stir constantly until soup thickens. Add salt, pepper, potatoes, onions and bacon. Stir and heat through. Right before serving, slowly add the cheese.