Let me, entertain you... (sing along!)

Or at least feed you. SpyC and I were finally able to have her co-worker and significant other over for dinner. We had planned a night before, but it didn't work out.

Since I love to cook this was an opportunity for me to show off my culinary skills. I already knew SpyC had talked up my abilities to her co-worker, so I felt pressure to really perform. Now that it's over, I can confidently say I did perform, quite well, and the dinner was a success. "You out did yourself," was one comment I heard.

So, allow me to indulge you (as if I haven't already) and share last night's mouth-winning menu. BTW, it was a four course meal.

First course:
Fresh gazpacho served with a grilled Ciabatta, mozzarella and pesto sandwich

Second course:
Chickpea salad served on a bed of Bibb lettuce with cilantro vinaigrette

Main Course:
Grilled lamb chops served with a coconut curry sauce and grilled potato wedges with wilted spinach and tomato vinaigrette

Dessert:
Fresh, mixed berry crumble served warm with vanilla ice cream

Beverages:

Non-alcoholic:
Freshly made blackberry limeade

Red wine:
Clos du Bois Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi, CA)

White wine:
Banrock Station Riesling (Southeastern Australia)

It was a culinary delight I am proud of... that's why you get to read about it here. I'd be more than happy to recreate this menu should you decide to come visit, or you are more than welcome to try another menu. If you're interested in other things I've been cooking, check out my recipe page, available in the links section at the top right of the home page.

Bon apetite!

In the right direction

Whew... I seem to have plateaued lately and it's been frustrating the hell out of me, but alas, I finally lost again and am now at a new low. Yeah! I am under no illusions the plateau is over. Hopefully I'll have continued success next week but it's become clearer to me I'll have to step up my game and work even harder. If you add my WW weight loss with what I achieved in the three months before WW, I've now lost over 50 pounds since the end of November. Woohoo!

Yes! I've lost 35.6 pounds so far!

Flat and happy

We're not talking my stomach here, sadly. No gain, no pain. No loss, no fuss. Ok, so it doesn't exactly rhyme, but it get's the point across (maybe) that my weight remained flat this week, that is, I didn't lose or gain. Frustrating on one hand because I walked 12 miles on my trip to London this past weekend and didn't pig out in the process. I should have lost some on that day alone. And, I didn't blow it at all this week. Not sure what happened, but as WW says, it's nice not to gain. I've got to look at the big picture. I remind myself now that I've still lost a lot of weight.

I'm on vacation now in Asheville, NC and thoroughly enjoying the Grove Park Inn. If you've never heard of it, or seen it, check out their website. This place is very, very cool. We're actually here for a conference for SpyC. I, on the other hand, get to enjoy leisure days full of relaxation (and a little Spanish homework, too). But I'm being active (cause you know the food is a problem). Today I attended an hour long water aerobics class and a one hour yoga class. The two netted me seven activity points, or seven extra food points today. Which is good. I might need them as we're headed out to dinner tonight with SpyC's boss and others from the conference.

Tomorrow I plan to attend another yoga class and a pilates class and enjoy the amazing spa facilities they have here. Plus a little more Spanish homework. It should all work out to be another amazing day full of healthy, happy living. What's not to like about that?

Yes! I've lost 33.6 pounds so far!