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Posted by Ash on April 11th, 2008 in Mind-Body-Spirit

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Since deciding to work on getting rid of this last extra amount of weight, I have been thinking a lot about food.  Not because I am craving certain things or because I have been depriving myself, but simply because I wanted to see why I eat what I do and what needs to change.
I came across a great site that shares recipes, as I would like to add a few new ones to what I typically cook. They also do a weekly food meme called Four Foods On Friday. As with any meme, its a way to discover other blogs and get to know one another, plus this allows the participants a way to collect recipes. So, I decided to join in.
Here is today’s four questions:

#1. What’s your favorite food smell?

That would be Mexican food. I grew up in New Mexico. I love eating out at good Mexican restaurants. Mexican food is a comfort food for me and one of my typical cravings is chips and salsa, but I love smelling garlic and onions being sauted, pinto beans cooking, chilies…..
#2. What’s your favorite kind of apple?

I’ve never been a big fan of apples, so this is a hard one to answer. I guess I would have to say the Rome apple.
#3. What veggies do you like in your salad?

It depends on the type of salad, but I have to have mixed greens or romaine with spinach, red onions, green or red bell peppers, cucumbers and avocados. The fun part of a salad to me is mixing in fruits, cheeses and nuts!
#4. Share a recipe that uses beef.

I don’t cook with a lot of beef, but this is a recipe shared with me by an old friend that I went to high school with and since these questions reminded me of growing up, I’ll share it!

Taco Soup

1.5 pounds cooked hamburger
1 can kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
2 cans tomatoes w/ green chilies
2 cans creamed corn
1 can confetti corn
1 envelope ranch dressing
1 envelope taco seasoning

*This can be cooked directly on the stove top in just a few minutes, but I like to put it in the crockpot for 3-4 hours. When first mixed together you will think there’s not near enough liquid in it, but somehow it is just perfect.

Top with sour cream and shredded cheese if desired.  I’m not a big fan of canned corn (confetti corn is the canned corn with red peppers in it) So, I omit that and add chopped zucchini.  Serve with tortilla chips or flour tortillas.

Now, for my weight loss update -

I have not stepped on the scales in several weeks, but the last few pairs of pants I bought in a size 12 (I was near a size 16 when I saw I had to make changes! I went down to a 12 and thats where I have been) are now baggy on me! I think I’ll go try on some 10’s now!

I allow myself one soft drink a week. Here at home besides water, I make green tea with raspberry tea in it, or I’ll drink an Izzie if I am craving a soda (it is sparkling water with fruit juice)

I am now using agave syrup as my sweetner in coffee and tea. It is a natural fructose sweetner with a low glycemic level. I use a very tiny amount in my coffee and tea and we are learning to use it in cooking whenever sugar is called for. (Although, we seldom use a lot of sugar in anything we cook)

I have a small bit of quality dark chocolate about an hour after dinner each night. It fills that need for something sweet and since dark chocolate has benefits, I’d rather do that than ice cream or other desserts.

I am still using coconut oil and buying dark, mixed grain breads.

I’m anxious to step on some scales soon!

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