Paper Salmon

Bond and I participate in Foyer Groups at our church.  It is a small dinner group that changes members twice a year so you get to meet and socialize with new people.  Each person or couple takes a turn hosting.

A new group just started and we hosted the first dinner over the weekend.  The host makes the main dish and then the other people bring sides, salads, and dessert.  I made a delicious and healthy Salmon baked in parchment paper.

Ingredients per serving @ 170 calories
4 oz. Salmon Filet
Fresh Green Beans
1 Tablespoon Capers
Lemon zest
1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Square of parchment paper

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  Place salmon filet in the center of parchment paper, add green beans, capers, lemon zest.  Drizzle olive oil over fish.

Fold the parchment paper in on the sids and twist the ends like a piece of candy.  Place the pouches on a tray and bake for about 20 minutes.  They go in like this....

And come out like this....

You can serve directly in the pouches!

It was great with the potatoes and caesar salad brought by out guests.  The fourth couple couldn't make it so I put together a dessert too, a Chocolate Banana treat!

Ingredients for 8 servings @ 290 calories per serving
4 bananas halved
1 jar of Hot Fudge topping
1 cup of granola
8 craft sticks

Peel the bananas and slice in half.  Insert a craft stick into each banana half and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Place into the freezer for 2 hours or until hard.

Place granola into ziplock back and roll with rolling pin to crush granola.  Then place granola on a shallow plate.  Heat the chocolate jar until liquid and place on a second shallow plate.  Roll the banana in the chocolate topping using a spatula to completely cover, then roll in the granola and place back on pan.

Freeze for another 2 hours or until hard.  Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.  These were a big hit!

What would you add to the Salmon? Or Chocolate Bananas to make it your own??

Sunday Routine

Our normal Sunday routine is early church, and by early I mean really early, we attend the 8:00 a.m. service. Then Bond goes to the office for the morning and I head to the grocery store. It's great to hit the supermarket early on Sunday. I get there about 9:05 a.m. and breeze through the isles. I am usually home by 10:00 a.m. feeling good since I have already accomplished several things on my todo list.

Once I get home from the grocery store I unload everything and put it away. This leads to a massive fridge clean out. I grab all the left overs and decide what stays and what goes. Then I start on some other "todo's"... get laundry started, clip coupons from the Sunday paper, vacuum, etc. Then it's time for lunch. I try to keep it light and use up leftovers from the week before.

Today I had some left over refried black beans and spinach so I threw it together on a carb balance low calorie tortilla with salsa and sour cream.





It really hit the spot! The great thing about our Sunday routine is that by the time Bond gets home, which is usually just in time for lunch, I have gotten most of my "todo" list done and we can hangout, walk the dogs, take a nap, read, watch sports, basically whatever we want.

What is your Sunday morning routine?

- Posted using my iPad 2

Temptation Rears its Ugly Head

Those who read my post about Lent know I gave up pastry, especially donuts.  Lately donuts had become a huge vice for me, serving as a stress reliever sugar comma to get me through the afternoon.  So on this wonderful St. Patrick’s Day morning it was difficult to find this upon entering my office….

I managed to successfully avoided the donuts and went for only the fruit and a frozen low calorie whole wheat waffle with peanut butter.  Very proud.  Unfortunately after my morning meeting I returned to find these…

Cookies I rationalized are not pastry…or are they.  I am currently avoiding the cookies while trying to determine if cookies are a pastry?  Please help!

Lent

Lent began last week on Ash Wednesday. Lent for those who are unfamiliar is a Christian name for the time period leading up to Easter.  Traditionally it is a time to reflect and remember the sacrifices made for man.  Many people do this by giving up something they enjoy in their daily life.  I have done this mostly with food items because they tend to be one of my biggest vices, and thus the most difficult to give up.  I have also practiced adding something into my day to better myself, including vitamins, exercise, reading news or the bible.  This year I am giving up pastries, especially donuts, which are currently one of my biggest vices. 

Are you giving up anything for Lent?  Or maybe adding something to your daily routine? If so, what is it and why?