Whoa. . . . slow down there. . . .

I'm eating leftovers tonight.  And I'll probably be eating leftovers tomorrow as well.  I'm hoping to share another new recipe on Thursday. 
For now, though, please enjoy my sister's chicken dip recipe!

JulieK's Chicken Dip

2 pkgs cream cheese

¾ cup mayonnaise (Spectrum Canola Mayonnaise does not have sugar)

1 – 2 chicken breasts  cooked & shredded

16 oz shredded cheese (cheddar, colbyjack, etc)

1 jar mild or medium salsa

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 tbsp chicken bullion

Put it all in a crock pot and heat it up.


JamiK

Drum Roll, Please!!

Okay, okay, okay . . . . I'm a slacker. I have many things to share due to my long absence from bloggerland, so this is going to come in a couple of installments.

I shall begin this post with a confession. Since the beginning of July, I have not been particularly vigilant about the 'GREED' content of my food. July 2010 was literally the busiest month of my life to date. . . .

5 day Trip to Milwaukee to visit a friend. (one of these days was spent on a boat consuming pre-made sandwiches from the grocery store deli, chips & dip, and Summer Shandy followed by an amazing pizza on shore between the sun bathing and the fireworks)
7 day vacation / camping trip in Central Wisconsin (all the usual - hot dogs, brats, baked beans, pasta salad, breakfast bars, granola bars, and who knows what else)
Family reunion in Chicago (fried chicken, pasta salad, and lots of other fixins not prepared in a sugar-free restaurant)
3 wedding weekends (8 days counting travel and additional time at the various locales) . . . . one in Iowa, one in Wisconsin, and one in Indiana. (I can't even remember all the 'terrible' (aka yummy) foods I ate)

For a total of 23 days on vacation . . . . . . . I could get used to this. . . . . .

Now that the confession is out of the way . . . . . . At the end of June, I noted several things regarding my physical condition and then couldn't find my original notes to compare with. Thankfully, the notebook has been found!

-------------------01/03/10----------07/01/10--------Difference

Weight:--------------185-----------------162------------23 lbs
Pants size:------------16----------------10/12
T-shirt size:---------Large--------------Medium
Shirt Size:-------------14----------------10/12
Shoe Size:-------------9.5------------------9
Ring Size: I haven't gotten around to actually measuring this, but the size 7 CZ ring I used to wear as an engagement ring to scare off the crazies on the dance floor is now loose on my middle finger.
Measurements
Bust:-----------------42"------------------40"--------------2"
Waist:----------------34"------------------31"--------------3"
Panty line:-----------38.5"----------------36.5"-------------2"
Butt:-----------------44"------------------40"--------------4"
R Thigh:--------------28"------------------25"--------------3"
L Thigh:--------------28"-----------------24.5"-------------3.5"
R Knee:---------------20"-----------------19"---------------1"
L Knee:--------------20.5"----------------19"--------------1.5"
R Arm:---------------14"-----------------12.75"------------1.25"
L Arm:---------------14"------------------12.5"-------------1.5"

I'm feeling pretty darn good about myself right now. (despite the fact that you all now know how big my butt is)

I shall end this post with a committment: I am back to life sans sugar. As of Today, I am once again living inGREEDient-free. I even made some Greed-free ice cream tonight to kick off my return to a better lifestyle. (I totally made this recipe up, so I'm not sure how well the rest of the world might enjoy it)

Blend 1 quart Bolthouse Farms 'Purely Chocolate' Soymilk, and 2 cups of frozen mixed berries. Pour the mixture into the waiting ice cream maker, and churn away for approximately 30 min. Spoon it into a bowl, and place in the freezer for another half hour.

I call it "Berry Chocolate".

Sleep Well folks! I'll have more to share tomorrow:)

JamiK

Rockin & Rollin in PA

Hanging out on the road is truckloads of fun. I am truly blessed to have a job I enjoy so much. While travelling, I plan to do some serious research in grocery stores around the country. I hit the local 'Super Eagle' here in Moon Township, PA this evening.

Goal #1: Find hummus & something to dip in hummus.

Goal #2: Check out the organic section - look for new stuff

Results: I found my favorite Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus, and picked up a little bag of mini carrots and a box of triscuits. They have a decent organic selection - plenty of chips & crackers, and snack type foods, but fewer staples - good variety of Naked, Bolthouse Farms, and Odwalla beverages. I did find what is bound to be a new favorite: Lundberg Rice Chips. Awesome flavor - no sugar. While wandering the aisles looking for hummus (which was not where one would have expected it to be) I FOUND CHICKEN STOCK WITH NO ADDED SUGAR!!

It's true folks. Kitchen Basics makes their chicken stock with honey, not sugar.

I will be talking to HyVee (my hometown grocery) about adding this product to their shelves next week.

I also found this analysis of chicken stocks/broths where Kitchen Basics got top honors in one category, and second in another.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/01/difference-between-chicken-stock-and-broth-which-store-bought-stock-is-the-best.html

Thanks for reading tonight folks:)

Au Revoir,

JamiK

On the Road Again. . . . .

I was not prepared to travel. There was not enough time to find a decent meal during my short layover in Minneapolis last night. I settled for a bag of Miss Vickies 'Simply Sea Salt' potato chips, and a cup of coffee. By the time I reached my destination it was too late to seek out a grocery store and stock up on acceptable dressings, snacks, & beverages.

Breakfast: Fresh Fruit Salad & a Cup of Coffee with Stevia & Half & Half

Lunch: Grilled Chicken Salad with Lite Italian Dressing
(yes, there was sugar in the dressing. I'm stopping at the grocery store tomorrow to find a sugar free variety)

Dinner: French Onion Soup, Honey Soy Salmon, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, & Iced Tea.
The Sewickley Cafe had the most delightful atmosphere, and amazing food. Our Server was happy to ask the Chef about sugar content of the items I was interested in ordering, and the Chef was happy to make my Honey Soy Salmon without the usual brown sugar in the glaze. Amazing food. If you're ever in Pittsburgh, check it out.

Keep Truckin'
JamiK

Help!!

I need meal ideas! I had no 'oomph' to make dinner tonight. Nothing interesting came to mind when I opened the cupboards and refrigerator. I have food in the house, I just don't know what to make. Tonight I have opted for a salad, but tomorrow, I shall probably want something a bit more substantial to eat.

I am especially interested in any ideas that include rice, or rice pasta. I have both in the house, but I don't know what to do with them. Fish? Chicken? Help!

Recipe for my brother's amazing salad:
2 cups fresh diced tomatoes
1/2 - 3/4 cup fresh mozzerella in small pieces/cubes
1/4 cup thin sliced onion
Chopped fresh basil
A little drizzle of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
A splash of red wine vinegar

Toss, and let marinate in the refrigerator for a half hour.

I also brewed up some unsweetened tea (I used the standard Lipton variety) and sweetened it with honey. This will do nicely for an afternoon beverage at work when I need something more interesting than water.

:)
JamiK

Happy Tuesday!

To anyone who has tried to leave comments, I didn't realize that I had not enabled the commenting functions as I should have. You may now comment away:) I would love to hear from you about what you are doing to give up the inGREEDient. Tell your friends about the experiment - I relish the opportunity to share the journey.

I have been working on a post which I have begun to refer to as 'The Declaration of Independence From Sugar'. I had no idea that a few thoughts would turn into a short book. Ultimately, I may have to publish it over the course of a week, as a 42-page post would probably discourage some from reading it. In it, I am compiling the thoughts and philosophy of those I consider the great minds of health and adding my own comments.

For today's bit-o-news, I will simply let you know that I visited one of the organic markets here in town on Sunday, and did find inGREEDient free vegetable broth - three types actually. Pacific Natural Foods brand organic vegetable broth, Imagine brand organic no-chicken broth, and Shelton's brand organic chicken broth. The downside to these product is that they are, of course, more expensive than the brands found in the grocery store. For now - for the sake of the experiment, and my health - I am willing to pay the price. I will, however, be making my own chicken broth more often, I am sure.

Wow - This is Getting to be Fun!

I am amazed at the awesome discoveries that have been unearthed by my friends and supporters. I know there are 'sugar-free' folks out there that advocate making everything from scratch, and using only organic ingredients, and all that jazz. . . . while I applaud their tenacity, I do not have the energy to live in such a manner. I need short-cuts in my life.

I got a text last night from Carole who had discovered No Sugar Added Alfredo Sauce - The Cheesy Ragu 'Light Parmesan Alfredo'. Melissa discovered No Sugar Added Bread - the New England brand 'Brown Bread'. Therese discovered that Mission brand tortillas now makes a 'Jalapeno Cheddar Wrap' in addition to their 'Spinach Herb Wraps' which are free of added sugar. Heather found 'Organicville Ketchup' which is sweetened with Agave Nectar instead of sugar. While searching for these items at the grocery store tonight, I also found a brand that I am pretty sure I am going to love - World Classics Trading Company - I picked up a jar of their Marinara Sauce and their San Francisco Style Cioppino Sauce (I'm not really sure what this last one is, but it looks spicy, so I am pretty sure I will love it).

I feel like a super-sleuth!! Each discovery is more exciting than the last! We CAN eliminate the 'inGREEDient' from our daily life - without suffering!

I made baked pork chops (using MomK's breadcrumb recipe) and a chopped salad for dinner tonight. What did you make for dinner tonight?

High on Life - Not Sugar:)

JamiK

Resources & Random Commentary

A friend of mine suggested the following website as a resouce for salad dressing recipes: www.epicurious.com I have decided to try the lemon garlic dressing first. Thanks Kristy!

I also discovered The "I can't believe this has no sugar" cookbook By Deborah E. Buhr . . . . I will double check the items used as sweeteners before I purchase it . . . . seems too good to be true.

Triscuits do not have added sugar! Neither does Bible Bread Gourmet Crispbread (I like the garlic kind). Beef Jerky is safe, if you choose the plain or pepper varieties (but double check the ingredient list of your favorite brand just to be safe).

I will be returning my 'Stevia In The Raw' brand Stevia to the grocery store tomorrow. . . . it lists Dextrose as the primary ingreedient. The 'Sweet Leaf' brand is just stevia.

Mmmm Mmmm.

I really do love food. The chili I made last night was spectacular. . . . here's the recipe:
(this makes a LOT of chili, but you can freeze half of it for later)

2 lbs ground beef - browned
2 large white onions - chopped
2 red, green or yellow bell peppers - chopped
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers - chopped fine
1 habanero pepper - chopped fine
1 large clove garlic - minced
3 16 oz cans tomato sauce
2 16 oz cans red kidney beans
4 Tbsp chili powder
4 tsp salt1 tsp cumin
1 dash cayenne pepper
1 dash basil
1 dash of hot sauce (optional)

Brown the ground beef, add 1 cup water, the salt, cumin, and half of the Chili powder to the meat and simmer on low heat until liquid is absorbed.
Saute the onions, bell peppers, jalapenos & habanero in a saucepan until the onions are translucent
Combine all ingredients in a large soup pot or crock pot and simmer on low/med heat for 2 - 4 hrs. Test periodically - add salt or chili powder to taste. If you prefer a mild chili, eliminate the habanero and the hot sauce, and use only 1 jalapeno pepper.

Tabasco sauce does not have added sugar
Melinda's XXXtra Hot Sauce does not have added sugar

Sheesh . . . I just want to eat. . . . is that too much to ask?

Mellow Greetings, Yookie Dookie! I am making chili for dinner (with leftovers to last for a while).

Thanks to an intrepid notation made by my sister-in-law, I have been researching two items today - Maltodextrin & Xanthan Gum. I spent over three hours at two different grocery stores yesterday, and ran into these two ingredients everywhere.

While considered to be a carbohydrate, maltodextrin is understood to be more easily digested than some other forms of carbohydrates, leaving behind less of the potential for health issues. This can be especially important for an individual who is trying to manage their Type 2 diabetes with their diet. Usually made from rice, corn, or potato starch, maltodextrin is produced by cooking down the starch. During the cooking process, which is often referred to as a hydrolysis of starch, natural enzymes and acids help to break down the starch even further. The end result is a simple white powder that contains roughly four calories per gram, and extremely small amounts of fiber, fat, and protein. (Definition courtesy of wisegeek.com)

Xanthan gum is considered a polysaccharide in scientific circles, because it is a long chain of three different forms of sugar. What's important to know is that all three of these natural sugars are present in corn sugar, a derivative of the more familiar corn syrup. The Xanthomonas campestris bacteria literally eat a supply of this corn sugar under controlled conditions, and the digestion process converts the individual sugars into a single substance with properties similar to cornstarch. Xanthan gum is used in dairy products and salad dressings as a thickening agent and stabilizer. Xanthan gum prevents ice crystals from forming in ice creams, and also provides a 'fat feel' in low or no-fat dairy products. (Definition courtesy of wisegeek.com)

So . . . Maltodextrin = corn syrup and Xanthan gum = corn syrup. yippee skippee (insert 'blah' tone of voice here). I was just hoping that I would come across more ingredients to avoid. . . . (please note sarcasm).

Xanthan Gum appears to be in EVERYTHING. It's the ingredient that keeps salad dressings and sauces from separating. I would be more than willing to shake the bottle before pouring it on my food. It looks like I am going to have to start making my own dressings and sauces. . . . . At this juncture, I shall also have to recant my prior assertion that Marie's and Bolthouse Farms Salad dressings are free of added sugar. They both contain xanthan gum. However, I am going to follow up my discoveries with this pondering:

Xanthan gum and maltodextrin are not used as sweeteners. Xanthan gum is used as a bonding agent, and maltodextrin is used as a thickener. In discussing my findings with MomK, she reminded me that in her original experiment, what she did was remove sugars used as sweeteners from her diet. I am not going to throw out my salad dressings . . . . for now. I will however, continue to seek out alternatives and share all my findings here.

:)
JamiK

Meal Ideas

Since I decided to give up refined sugar, there hasn't been a single moment in which I thought it would be an easy task. I have been gathering ideas and mentally preparing myself for this since early November. To anyone else who might contemplate giving up sugar in 2010, I would love for this blog to be a resource for ideas and encouragement. My fabulous Sisters-in-Law are joining me in this experiment, and I know that all three of us are going to need all the encouragement we can get. Thankfully, we can rely on MomK to provide lots of ideas and assistance.

One of my goals was to have three weeks of meal plans ready to go before January 3rd. I'm not there yet. But. . . . . there's a long flight to NYC this Friday, that may give me the time to get this all put together. I will eventually be posting recipes for the more complex dishes that I use, but for now, here is a list of meal ideas that I will be keeping in mind on my next trip to the grocery store.

No Added Sugar Dishes:
Grilled, Baked, or Broiled Fish, Poultry, Pork, or Beef
(I was going to add fried, but if eating out, be careful - there might be sugar in the batter)
Meatloaf
Pasta does not usually have added sugar
Recipes for Spaghetti & Alfredo Sauce to follow soon
Black Beans & Rice (or Red Beans if you prefer)
Chicken Noodle Soup, Chili, & Beef Stew
Any type of fresh fruit or vegetables
Cheese does not have sugar added to it. (Velveeta & 'American slices' do not qualify as cheese)

Foods to watch out for:
Bread - I spent 20 minutes in the bread aisle at the grocery store this week looking for bread with no sugar added. No luck. Per MomK, French style bread from the bakery usually doesn't have sugar on its ingredient list. I shall investigate and report back. A good substitute in the meantime is Mission brand Tortilla Wraps. The funny thing is, the plain kind do have sugar - the Garden Spinach Herb, and the Tomato Herb varieties do not.
Salad Dressing - see post from 12/27 - Marie's Blue Cheese, and Bolthouse Farms brands are OK
Deli Meats - The only deli type meats I have found so far are a smoked ham, and oven roasted turkey breast by Oscar Mayer. Will be found with the packaged deli meats at your grocery labelled Oscar Mayer 'Natural'.
Bacon - What a drag. Life without bacon is going to be miserable. MomK is working on making a smoker so she can cure her own. I am not yet that ambitious. I shall double check with the organic foods market before I resort to smoking my own bacon.

Once I have figured out how to customize my blog, I am hoping to have tabs for meal plans and recipes. . . . I'll get the hang of this eventually. . . . I hope. . .

Talk to you later:)
JamiK

Almost Time to Buckle Down

Technically, the experiment has not yet begun - but I am already irritated. I made my favorite dish today - Pad Thai. And though I made it from scratch (no premade sauces, or packaged mixes) no fewer than three of the vital ingredients contain sugar (added sugar, that is). Mirin (an asian cooking wine), Sriracha Sauce (a spicy red chile paste type sauce), and Ketchup. Ketchup has sugar in it. Why? I'm pretty sure that the last time my sweet tooth had an itch, it wasn't itching for ketchup. AUGH! I need a sugar fix! Someone get me some ketchup!!

Riiiiiiiight.

I've already googled the recipes for ketchup and sriracha sauce. We'll see how that goes. As for the wine. . . . I think I shall try substituting a plain old white wine in its place - I'm not ready to start my own winery.

In preparation for the experiment, I have eliminated all foods containing sugar from the premisis.

Items I am sending to the food pantry or discarding are:
Breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, pasta sauce, spinach dip, taco sauce, queso dip, barbeque sauce, cocktail sauce, wheat crackers, Miracle Whip (where did that even come from?), Ketchup, baked beans (left over from a camping trip), stewed tommatoes, Pad Thai Sauce (premade), glazed pecans. Salad Dressings: Catalina, poppyseed, ranch, peppercorn ranch, thousand island, tangy tomato bacon, italian, and balsamic vinnagrette. There are a dozen freeze pops melting in the sink as I type this (except for the one in my hand), and tomorrow when I take the trash out, I shall dispose of the two cans of lemonade concentrate in the freezer.

Items I am not getting rid of even though they contain sugar:
A1, Heinz 57, and Worchestershire sauce (in case I have company over for steak sometime). If life without sugar gets so bad I end up chugging Worchestershire Sauce . . . . . . well, let's not go there right now.

One of the first things I freaked out about when MomK suggested I try giving up greed, was the salad dressing (please note the number and variety of dressings in the discard pile above). I like salad - no - I LOVE salad, but I'm not just gonna eat the veggies without the dressing!! Thankfully, I have discovered two brands of salad dressing that do not contain refined sugar.

Marie's Chunky Blue Cheese Salad dressing (It's to die for - if you like blue cheese, that is)
Bolthouse Farms makes seven or eight different salad dressing sans sugar - they are sweetened with apple juice. So far, I have tried the ranch, and the honey mustard. Both are excellent.
Both of these brands can be found (usually) in the refrigerated produce section of your grocery.

My irritation with regards to the ketchup seems to be subsiding. . . . . I had better go clean up the mess in the kitchen before I lose all my steam:)

Catch you later,

JamiK