Hi guys. Just a quick post. My company has expanded and I have 5 couples coming for dinner Saturday. So, I am in heavy duty cooking/cleaning/cooking mode, with very little time. But I had to, absolutely had to stop and give you guys this recipe. I knew it would be fabulous when I saw it. I tweaked it a little and it's over the top sentsational. Look good enough to serve at a wedding. I'll post it on our recipe thread, but here it is for now. I'm serving it Friday night. If there's any left, that is. Kidding. Just kidding. I'm perfectly in control.

Maple Roasted Squash (with Apple Filling) Recipe
Ingredients:


4 acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 teaspoons whipped butter or less-fat margarine
4 tablespoons maple syrup or 8 tablespoons light pancake syrup
3 apples, cored and diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped assorted fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, parsley) OR 2 teaspoons assorted dry herbs (thyme, rosemary, or parsley)
Preparation:


Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place squash halves, cut side up, on a baking pan. Season the inside of squash with salt and pepper.
Place 1 teaspoon of whipped butter or margarine and 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup (or 1 tablespoon light pancake syrup) into the bowl of each squash half.
Distribute diced apples into the bowl of each squash half. Sprinkle herbs over the top.
Roast squash until tender and nicely browned (about 1 hour). Periodically (every 20 minutes or so), spoon syrup from the squash bowl over the top of the apples.
Yield:
8 squash halves

Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 180 calories, 2 g protein, 41 g carbohydrate, 3 g fat, 1.7 g saturated fat, 0.8 g monounsaturated fat, 0.3 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 33 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 14%.


I used absolutely ZERO butter or margarine. I used no herbs.

I diced up the apples and added a handful or 2 of raisins and a handful or 2 of chopped walnuts. And lots of cinnamon. I sprayed each 1/2 generously with cooking spray and sprinkled on some cinnamon.

It's absolutely AWESOME. And it's pretty too. Thing is, I was going to serve it as the second course, after soup. Now, I'm thinking I should serve it as dessert. It's THAT good.

Gotta run. I hope you are all well.

Robin, that looks fabulous! Thanks for posting! I'll copy it to the recipe thread -- you go get ready for your party.

And a good hour of weight-lifting is behind me. Woo. After having been seriously drained for two weeks, and the gym being closed before that, it feels good doing some serious training again.

Kara -- In fact, to be really honest, I don't need BC right now (I'm not in a committed relationship). But I kept on taking mine (Diane 35) because it had completely removed all the negative part of my period, like severe cramps, heavy bleeding that left me anemic for five days a month, that kind of things. I don't want to go back to that, because it really impeded my ability to function for days every month, so I'm worried all the same. I really can't afford getting that kind of stress and tiredness on top of what's been plaguing me for the past weeks.

Meg -- I don't know, maybe you're lucky? Any book sends me reading until 3 am or worse (except Kant ).

Aqua -- The truth is that I had already prepared myself for the diagnosis being bad, so I guess it helped in not being too crushed when I got the official results. And then I think, it's a genetic defect, I've been living with it since conception and nothing has ever happened to me; it's not because I know now that I'll get a phlebitis tomorrow morning, and it sort of... contributes to rationalizing it all? (But you're right, if I had got the results two weeks ago, I can't guarantee I wouldn't have been way more emotional about it...)

Robin -- Hmm, that looks yummy. *wipes the drool off keyboard*

Hello maintainers,

Can't say 'fellow maintainers' as I am in the midst of a serious blip.
Almost two months now without cardio and it is really showing
I have been trying to walk more and at least do my pilates dvd, but I really miss my running, skiing and skating.

I tried the protein pancakes this AM - loved them!!
They are super tasty and a great way for me to eat cottage cheese (which I don't really like)

Hope everyone has a great day.

-Susan

Kara- Just adding a few more healthy things to your current menu is a great way to maintain. If you love what you eat, you've found a lifetime plan rather than a "diet"

I can't remember the last time I shaved my legs. They were never particularly hairy ever and as I've gotten older, the hair is almost non-existent.

Kery- Sorry to hear the news but you're right, you have to just deal with it and keep all the cautions in mind. I'm taking a new medication which has a low risk of deep vein thrombosis and the precautions are about the same; get up and move! Especially during plane flights. At least I can stop the medication if I end up having to be immobile for any reason

Jessica- Oh My! I haven't had matzoh brie in at least 25 years! The first time I made it for dh (who is not Jewish) he thought it tasted like soggy cardboard. I thought it was delicious! Our protein pancakes must taste very different Mine taste like a not very sweet pumpkin pie.

Mmmm, Robin, I've made those with no sweetener also. Yum! Add some dried cranberries and they are even better.

Hello to all :wave;

Mel

Hi folks. I love that line Mel, LOVE it:

"If you love what you eat, you've found a lifetime plan rather than a "diet".

I couldn't agree with you more. That's basically the reason why I spend so much time chopping and dicing and cooking. I need to LOVE the foods that I eat. I knew right from the beginning that that was going to be a major key for me. Cause' if I didn't love what I was eating, there was no way I was going to "stick" with it. If you love what your on plan food is, well then there's no reason to go OFF plan. (For the most part )

Speaking of which, I was telling somebody about that Maple Acorn Squash recipe. It got me to thinking. Not even 2 years ago I hadn't a clue as to what that funny shaped dark green thing was sitting there in the produce section. I can't believe all the yummy foods that I missed out on because I was just willing to boil up some water with a boullion cube and stick some white rice in there. I know even back then I would have enjoyed that squash. Why did I limit myself so?

Mel, I actually thought of putting in craisins instead of the raisins. I should try it without the sweetner as well.

Anyway, it's super late and I am zonked. My house is spotless. Spotless. Well as close to spotless as it's ever going to get. Sleepover company coming tomorrow afternoon. Others arrive Saturday afternoon. I think I will head to bed now. Gotta be up soon. Night night.

Early good morning maintainers. I had a good day yesterday. I happened to buy acorn squash too of all things so this weekend I'm going to try robin's recipe. It's serendipity. Which I probably spelled incorrectly, LOL. Time for more coffee.

Good morning, everyone!

Even though I've eaten pretty well this week and kept up with my walking, I'm up a few pounds again. I'm trying to just let go and do what my body needs to do without freaking out about weight gain. There are so many scary things that can happen with pregnancy -- I'll count myself lucky if weight gain is all I have to deal with.

I talked to my mother last night, and she hasn't seen me since I got pregnant. I think she's more worried about the weight gain than I am. She keeps saying, "Now you don't want to gain all that weight back." No kidding! Thanks, Captain Obvious. It's like when she used to constantly tell me to lose weight because it's not healthy to have a lot of fat around your heart. No way! I never would've known that if she hadn't told me! duh... Sorry, I love my mom to death but sometimes I wish she would respect the fact that I know what's going on with my own body. It's tough, though, because I'm sure she worries about me.

Anyway, I just need to get through today and then grade about 95 research papers this weekend. It will take me pretty much every hour of the weekend to finish. If anyone is considering teaching and doesn't want a lot of extra work at home, do NOT teach English!

All this talk of shaving made me shave this morning for a grand total of 2 shavings this week! Gosh, that's practically my summer schedule. It's pouring rain and will be stormy all day here, though, so I have nowhere to flash my newly shorn legs.

I went to the gym yesterday and was physically there, but not mentally. I am still lacking on sleep and behind on a bunch of things. I somehow got put in charge of organizing the annual meeting for the community theater I'm involved with, and I think I'm making it harder on myself since I've never organized something like this before. Hopefully the next meeting will be easier. All I can say is thank goodness it's Friday. Though I have a busy weekend planned.

LisaMarie, I guess it's a Mom's job to worry about her daughter. I know what you're saying, though - it's amazing how other people tell us the most obvious things about ourselves!

Robin, enjoy your company!

sznn, I believe you're suffering from more of a broken-bone-induced-exercise-rest than a "blip"! Don't be so hard on yourself. You can watch your food, certainly, but you can't exercise much! Once you can I know you'll whip yourself into shape.

Robin, that recipe sounds delicious! Thanks for posting!

Mel - Which protein pancake recipe do you use? I used one I found on here: equal amounts of cottage cheese, oats, and egg whites. Yum!

I am too zoned out this morning to answer everyone specifically so I'll just say HI to everyone!

I'm around 138 now so I am still inching towards my red line at a rate of approximately 1lb/week. If I can keep it up I'll be at my red line in three weeks, and at goal in eight weeks!

I made a recipe for a lentil rice casserole last night (had in it broccoli, green beans, bell pepper, baby corn, and leeks). I feel like the cookbook tricked me though! It said "casserole" but it was more like soup. For one thing it was cooked entirely on the stovetop and a casserole is usually baked. For another, the lentils and rice didn't absorb nearly all the liquid, so it was a pretty soupy consistency. Yummy, but it should have been labeled stew or something at least!

Jessica, I made red lentil dal 2 night ago. It was definitely more of a stew (although it didn't claim to be a casserole). It was pretty good, and had a bunch of veggies too, and served over rice. The recipe said to add less water for a thinker consistency. I'm trying to figure out how much protein red lentils have - I got them from the bulk bin, and fitday has "pink lentils" and "lentils" that are very unspecific.

Megan, I went and checked the USDA database and it also only has "lentils" and "pink lentils". Both have about 48 grams of protein per raw cup so maybe that's a good guesstimate for the red ones?

Robin, that recipe looks delish! I love acorn squashes and haven't had any in quite a while . . .

Megan, I felt that same way on my morning workout (just going through the motions but not there mentally); but I'm glad I got it over with.

Meg, yep I definitely plan on getting In Defense of Food, but waiting for a good sale on the hardcover or coming out in paperback (I still have quite a few other books to slog through).
---------

I went a little over my calories yesterday, watching TV with friends and noshing on corn chips with tomato sauce. Oh well.

My left knee/inner thigh also feels a little "funny" -- not exactly pain but kind of leading up to it. So I iced it down last night and it felt better this morning when I did my strength workouts -- hopefully it won't interfere with my workout schedule.

Tonight could be potentially tricky, planning on hitting a bar and having light dinner and then some clubbing -- though I have a tendency to not follow through with my plans when I'm less-than-sober. Hopefully that won't be the case tonight or I'll dance all those extra calories off!

Used up the last of my eggs today to make a gardenburger/onion/bell pepper scramble -- super tasty with a dollop of mustard & some tabasco! But I also ran out of fruit, so will probably be hitting a local farmers market this weekend.

Anyhow, happy friday to you all!

Hi Megan, Mel, Meg, Aqua, and everyone else!

I've been thinking a lot today about the whole pregnancy weight gain thing. I can't go back in time and start over, but I really want to be much healthier for the rest of the pregnancy. I've been listening to some pregnancy podcasts about health and prenatal exercise and they're inspiring me to do more than my twice weekly walks and occasional yoga. I've been walking a little more lately, but it still feels like very little exercise. I bought a couple of exercise DVDs for pregnancy but I've been really afraid of doing any weight lifting while pregnant, especially since I didn't do that much of it before I got pregnant (it was all about running and I was a little lax on the strength training -- in fact, I was just getting into it). Have any of you done light weightlifting while pregnant? Should I be scared? Should I stick to the walking? (Don't suggest swimming, by the way, because unfortunately I never learned how, so that's out for right now!)

I just took a walk and now I'm snacking on red and green pepper strips, so I'm doing ok right now! Now if I can keep that up over the weekend...

Lisa, you sound so much more upbeat! Could it be because it's Friday?

on the healthy snacks! As for the weekend, take it one day -- or even one hour -- at a time. Does it help you to make a food plan for the weekend in advance? I do so much better when I have it in black and white on my refrigerator door!