Hi again!! Hey, does anyone know where I can find a recipe for Broccoli Beef? I've been craving it and if it's easy to make, I know it would become a favorite at my place...

I'll be back later, my tummer is hurting like crazy and right now I gotta go...

jenl - i'm a travel eater too! jenk - where in italy are you going?
food in italy is pretty darn good! i went to naples, rome and florence last summer (on that cruise i won). all fab. i am a huge pizza and pasta fan though, so i guess i'm easily pleased!! best thing is the gelati! so many ice cream shops with so many different, and absolutely gorgeous flavours. yummmmm. and if you like sorbet that's low in points and totally delicious. mmmmm.
jess - hope your tummy is ok. mine was a bit dodgy this morning but seems to be ok now. which is good cos there is a "vomit bug" going round london right now and the girl that works next to me was off sick yesterday with it. i was worried i was going to be the next victim.

Hello ladies!

I'm at work under duress. Don't wanna be here. It's a beautiful day outside and I want to be out there! Not much is going on today. I could work on some projects but it's Friday, after all. Who wants to work on Friday?

Busy board today! Hi to everyone! I've never been to New Orleans either, but I'd love to go sometime. My free-spirited sister has been and let's just say she — ahem — got a lot of beads. My sister arrived at my house yesterday and will be staying with me for a few months. I'm very close to her, even though we're as different as sisters could be. For example: She showed up with her hair in dreadlocks.

As for low-point chocolate snackies, I like the Sweet Escapes bars. There's one that tastes like a Whatchamacallit candy bar, another that tastes like a little bit like a $100,000 bar. They're small, and each is 2 points. (Jen: I don't like the WW bars either. They taste yucky and are way too much $$).

Food, food, do we ever stop thinking about it? I had a breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts this morning and now I'm contemplating what I could eat for lunch that wouldn't be awful. I think one of those sandwiches is 11 points, so I haven't left myself much to work with today. Darn, darn, darn!

Well, I'm off. Hope everybody is having a good day!

Hey Gals!

WOW is it ever busy in here this morning!! Guess nobody is working too hard! I'm not b/c today is my day off After work yesterday I spent the day working on an annoying student loan interest relief thing that took the rest of the afternoon! Argh! Plus I did laundry all afternoon too. Then I spent the rest of the day cooking I made some quiches that I froze for later & some super good salads. We had this one last night that was pretty good. I'll post the recipe later b/c it is only 3 points a serving Today I'm not doing anything but taking it easy. It is still really beautiful weaterh here so I definitely am going for a long walk. I hope DF feels like coming with me. Its his day off too.

Ali, wtg on your 5lbs. Sounds like you've got a great goal to work towards. Good thinking on your breakie!

Kirsty, good job on being motivated! You'll have to get your friend to come on here & read all the advice about NO b/c there is so much of it!

Lolly, congrats on catching up on your life! Have a great visit with your sister!

Jess what is Broccoli Beef? I don't think I have ever heard of it before!

Kay, glad to hear your job prospects are growing! Have fun playing with your new hairstyle!

JenL, I figure when you take a vacation you take it from everythign right? Might as well enjoy it! Just have to work hard when you come back to real life!

JenK, did you get all moved to your new place yet? If so how is unpacking coming? New computers are always such a novelty.

Lisa your talk of mufflettas is making my tummy growl. I have a recipe somewhere for a vegetarian one in a health food cook book. If its low in points maybe I'll post it later...

By the way what are Kudos bars?? I have never heards of them. Does anyone know if we have them in Canada?? They sound yummy!

Talk to you all later
-Rina

Hi Kim! You must have posted while I was typing! Hope you afternoon goes by fast! Have fun with your sister! My bro & I are good friends but I couldn't stand living with him for a few months! Anyway have a good weekend

I logged on expecting only about a couple of posts and my screen was smoking!! WOW!
I agree with everyone, the bars ARE expensive, but I just put them on my credit card with the box of smoothies, too.
Jen: I got the cookie dough one and don't mind it too bad.
I used to buy the Slim Fast bars a lot so the WW bars taste like candy to me!
Kim: Sweet Escapes don't last around my house at all! One for breakfast, one for snack, one for lunch, one for snack, one while cooking dinner, well, ok maybe two, one before bedtime....get the picture? Especially the 100 grand types. Yummy monster!
Hey where's Tonya? Was she going on a business trip or something?
Hi to everyone! Kirsty, Jess, Lolly, Kim, Kay, Rina, JenL, JenK, Lisa
and Ali! I'm sorry if I missed anyone!
I'd better get back to work.
About those Kudos bars...are they REALLY only 2 points per???
WhooWeee! Look out WalMart, here I come!!!!!!!

Go to www.allrecipes.com and you can do a search for Broccoli Beef. I think it even gives nutritional content, too!

Hi! I just made beef and broccoli last night and it tastes just like take out! Here goes:
1/2 lb sirloin

Marinade for beef:
2 t cornstarch
1 T sherry
2 t water
1 T oil (I usually omit this)
1 T soy sauce

1 lb fresh broccoli

Thickening sauce:
1 t cornstarch
1/2 t sugar
4 T water
2 T oyster sauce

cooking spray
1/2 t salt
2 slices peeled ginger root

To prepare ahead:
1. Slice meat into thin slices (it helps to put the meat in the freezer for a few min before)
2. Marinate beef slices with marinade in a glass dish for 30 minutes.
3. Wash broccoli and cut into small pieces.
4. Mix the thickening sauce in a small bowl.

To cook:
1. Heat Wok (or large pan) and add cooking spray. Add broccoli and salt and cook for 3 minutes. Add a little water if it gets too dry. Transfer to a plate.
2. Wipe the wok with a paper towel and return to heat. Add more spray or a little oil. When hot, add the ginger slices for a couple of seconds. Next, add the beef and cook until done. Discard the ginger slices.
3. Add the broccoli back into the pot and stir in the thickening sauce. Stir until thick and serve.

Hope this helps. I serve it with rice cooked in beef broth and some canned won to soup.

Jen L ~ I haven't been for Mardi Gras either. My hubby says that the french quarter is the only place in town that is slightly raunchy. THe parades are in the surrounding areas and lots of families go. You might think about it

Po'boys are sandwiches made from crusty french bread and stuffed with mayo, fried oysters/shrimp or roast beef and gravy, lettuce, and tomato. A proper po'boy should be dripping messy to eat. yum!

Red beans and rice are so good. we eat them a lot because it is filling and cheap.

I love my hair now. It is way trendy. I also got my nails done for the interview and it was like an hour of heaven.

I have to run now! TTYL
K

Hi Guys,

WOW, so many posts. I can't even try to properly respond to everyone, so I will try to remember most, and please forgive me if I forget you!!

I think NO sounds like a blast, never been there, would love to go!!

Rina ~ Enjoy your day off. Our weather is really nice too. Sunny and 40 F.

I have never tried the WW bars, not really a snack person, but maybe I will try the MM kudos, I love M&M's!!

Kirsty ~ I hope you don't get the UK flu!! Stay healthy!

Jen ~ Your laptop sounds like fun, I have a new Gateway laptop work bought me. It is cool. Just bought a new digital camera for home, going to use it this weekend. Then you all can see my puppy, my kids and my new red hair!!

Lolly ~ Don't work too hard!

Stacey ~ Thanks for asking about me! I am still here, just busy with budget stuff at work!!

Hi Ali ~ How is the personal trainer??

Kim ~ I know how you feel about work today, I don't much feel like working either, and it is really nice outside. May skip out a little early to walk the dog!

Jen ~ How is the little walker at your house? I love the just walking stage in kids, it seems so long ago that my kids were at that stage!!

Jess ~ You are becoming a cooking queen! You go girl!!!

Kay ~ How is the job hunting going? I LOVE getting my nails and hair done, if my DH only knew how much money I spend on that stuff!!!!!

Trish ~ Busy with baby I assume.....oh those newborn days, lots of work!!!!

KT ~ How are ya??

Well, I know I forgot people, and I am sorry!! I am totally going off of memory, and I can barely remember what I wore yesterday, let alone what everyone posted!!!

Things are good with me, eating has been o.k., but exercise has been non-existent. Need to work on that!!

Well, better get back to work....TTYL!!!!

Hello all you chatters - so busy today!! I loved reading about all the NO food! My latest craving is for lobster and crawfish. We had lobster tail at dinner saturday and now I want a whole one (just because they're soo cool looking) - I've never been anywhere cool to eat. Unless you include the okanogan which has some amazing orchards so the late summer is great for just about every fruit that tastes good. I went to Maryland just over a year ago and didn't even eat crab (although we had peel and eat shrimp.)

Yes Rina, we have the Kudos bars here - Wal-mart but also at the grocery stores, I bought mine in Save-on-Foods - they keep them with the granola bars and rice krispie squares - I like them, but they're small so I would rather have a rice krispie treat for the same 2 points. I don't really like the WW bars either and for over a doller each bar, I'd rather excercise off a real snack.

I'm like Tonya, I can't keep up with whose here and who said what but hi everyone - Tonya, Rina, Ali, Jen, Lolly, Kirsty, Stacey, Kim, Jess and all the other people I missed or who are just lurking - where are you newbies? Post away.

Speaking of where are you...where's Belle? Hope you're doing all right if you're just lurking.

Well, I plan to spend the weekend avoiding my MIL - I think she's having a dinner party at my house on saturday and BF may have sunday off for the first time THIS YEAR so she was going to make some stupid plans to mess up his relaxation - if he does get the day off, we're running.

Gotta go surf some more, WI tomorrow - I've had a horrible week so we'll see if that magical 50# magnet comes into possession or not. Have a great weekend all!!

KT

Hey everyone! Boy, the board has been busy!!! I personally like the 2 pt. bars-the chocolate crisp-even though they are expensive!!! Went back to WW today after eight weeks off
I lost 1.2!!! Not bad for eight weeks of so-so. Now I am back OP with a vengeance-I have the goal of a wedding and Jamaica in eight weeks!!!! 8 pounds to goal!!! This is the third time I have joined WW in two years-this time I am going to hit goal without dropping out-and get lifetime membership!!! Need to stay strong and resist temptation!!!!

Kirsty--My stomach is feeling much better. I knew i shouldn't have eaten so much popcorn because it always upsets my stomach, but it's SO good! I'm glad you didn't get the vomit bug that's going around, I'm sure that would be terrible.

Rina--Broccoli Beef is a super-yummy Chinese dish. I don't know how many points it would count as, but it's basically just broccoli with steak in a sauce. (See recipe that TXAggie posted). Some good stuff, if you like broccoli. And Kudo's bars are granola bars with chocolate in them (the most important ingredient).

Stacey--Yep, M&M Kudos bars really are only 2 points. (Needless to say, I buy a box a week, they're the best). As far as the other flavors of Kudos bars, I'm not sure how many points they are, probably close, though... Thank you also for the link to allrecipes.com!!

Kay--Thanks also for the recipe for broccoli beef. Does it take long for you to make? For an unexperienced cook, it sounds pretty complicated.

Tonya--I too love M&M's. And those Kudos bars are topped with them, so you can really taste the M&M's, which helps keep me from buying and eating an entire bag of them.

OK, I gotta run to another building, so I'll probably talk to everyone later!!

Snickers Kudos are 2 points, but I think Butterfinger Kudos are 3. They may be small, but so are the WW bars. And the Kudos taste much better. Actually, any granola bar tastes better and most are around 2 points.

Thanks for the recipe Kay... Oh and Stacey, I have to try that coleslaw. There are over 700 recipes on e-tools and today I found 2 coleslaw ones that sound good. For some reason I am in the mood for slaw!

Jess, one thing I highly reccommend to aid your cooking endeavours is purchasing a little mini chopper. You know they look like a miniature version of a food processor?? I have a Black & Decker one that I use constantly! It saves so much prep time. Mine has two different blades-one that chops or dices stuff & the other that will shred or grate as well as slice. It is sooooooooo handy! I use it everytime I cook. I think mine holds two cups & how often do you ever use more than 2 cups of an ingredient in a recipe? Pretty much never! Anyway just thought I'd share that with you. I know I sounds like a sales pitch but it really is my very favoritest appliance!! I timed it today & it took me 7 seconds to shred 2 cups of cheese!! So amazing!!


Kudos bars sound great! I have to look for them. KT, In Canadian Wal-Marts are they with the gummy bears & chocolate bars or are they with the regular granola bars?? I am suprised I haven't noticed them anywhere....

Hey did you guys watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies tonight? They were pretty neat. I love watching the teams walk in the stadium. Its cool that the time zone isn't too far off this time. Of course it sucks cuz I have to miss all the stuff in the day time when I'm at work. I wish I could just skip work! I am an Olympic fan through & through. Go Team Canada GO!!!!!!!



Anyway talk to you all later

-Rina