Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1490 / 37.9
Yesterday’s exercise:    30 min. elliptical
Weight Yesterday:  249.8    Today:  249.2
Change today::  -0.6 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  30.6 lbs.  /  36.0 lbs. 

I called my brother today, the one who is hosting Thanksgiving dinner, and made a special request:  “Because I am taking that day “off” from my diet, please make baked beans for Thanksgiving this year!”

My friend Diane laughed when she heard what I was requesting.  “You could have asked for double-chocolate-super-fudge-deep-dish-cheesecake or something scrumptious and decadent - but you - YOU ask for beans!”

Yup!  My brother, though, makes the world’s best home-made baked beans!  More tomato-y than B&M, thicker and richer than Bush’s, and less sweet but way more flavorful than Campbell’s, my brother’s baked beans are a little slice of heaven.  If I’m gonna indulge in some carbs, I want to make sure I don’t waste ‘em on anything less than pure joy.  =D

So after putting in my request (which, by the way, needed to be made well in advance because his beans take several days to prepare), the conversation turned to “what is Eileen bringing that day.”  We decided that I would be bringing fruit salad and a vegetable dish (I’m thinking corn souffle maybe).  Yummm.

The week before Thanksgiving, my co-workers and I are hosting a baby shower for our pregnant staff member.  We’re having Puerto Rican turkey (the most awesome turkey I’ve ever tasted!) and even though I’m tempted by the plaintain stuffing that goes with the turkey, I’m gonna stick to plan through this event.  The mom-to-be is diabetic, so she won’t be indulging in cake that day either.  I’ll just make sure that whatever I bring to share is something I can have.  Maybe broccoli-cheese casserole (even though it’s high in calories, it’s wonderfully low in carbs).  The good news is, I can have all the turkey I want!

In case anyone thinks to wonder what is different about turkey prepared Puerto Rican style, herbs and spices are injected into the meat a couple days in advance.  Not sure what all the ingredients are, but I know there’s garlic, saffron, and cilantro.  Also, sofrito (a very fragrant mixture of seasonings) is rubbed onto the outer skin.  I was used to very bland, almost tasteless white meat turkey so the first time I tasted PR turkey I was amazed at how wonderfully flavorful it was.

CARTOON OF THE DAY

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