Good morning! How are we doing? I haven’t started back on my exercise yet, but I’m making strides in the healthy eating department. I made the YUMMIEST Black Bean and Rice Salad this week.
Rice-
1 quart (4 cups) chicken broth + 1/2 cup water
2 1/4 cups brown rice
2 bay leaves
Salad-
4 cups cooked black beans, rinsed
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium red onion, diced
1 medium bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
Sauce-
1/2 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons orange juice
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt to taste (lots of salt for me)
garnish with cilantro sprigs, serve on a bed of lettuce
Bring the chicken broth, water, bay leaves, and rice to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook 45 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Toss with remaining salad ingredients and sauce.
This recipe is fabulous immediately when it’s still warm, and it’s great refrigerated the next day. We eat it in pitas with romaine lettuce and sour cream, or in tortillas, or as a side dish. It makes tons.
I’ve been doing the wheatgrass thing, and I’ve run out of grass. I had no idea I would go through that much grass that quick, so today I’m going to go get some more topsoil and seed trays so I can increase production. And if we get all that done, I might just jump on the treadmill.
June 18th, 2005 at 3:59 am
I enjoy your blog, and really enjoyed the stitch marker tutorial. Middle son and I made some and posted them on my blog, with a link back to your site, but I don’t know how to make it an active link. We gave the markers as gifts for handwork teachers… they loved them, and I am enjoying my collection as well.
June 18th, 2005 at 6:59 am
I’m still exercising and I’m still avoiding the scale. I’ve given up on trying to follow a specific diet; instead I am trying to make smart choices out of what is presented to me each day and eat reasonably-sized portions. My mood and my energy level have improved, but I haven’t seen any difference in the fit of my clothing yet. If I can move more gracefully and develop more physical endurance, then I can live with my weight.
June 18th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
How is that wheatgrass tasting? I’ve only ever had it as part of a slushie, so I have no clue how it is on its own.
June 18th, 2005 at 11:35 pm
I like lots of salt too! I think it runs in our family…..my father does not use the salt shaker at the table, he uses the big carton it comes in from the store!
I am not a fan of juicing because it does use up so much to make so little. I can buy my middle son ten pounds of carrots, and in a day or two, he is saying he needs more carrots! There is just so much pulp leftover. We started a compost pile for our garden with it.
I lost two more pounds this week, for a total now of twenty pounds lost!! Not only have I gotten rid of the bra-extender, my bra now seems to be getting looser on the last hook! I have twenty pounds less on my poor feet, that will help my feet hurt less.My middle son told me yesterday that he can see my behind is getting smaller! But still, no one who doesn’t know about my diet has commented on my weight-loss. I bought some yarn on clearance yesterday, and I am very hopeful that now I can actually knit myself a sweater in a smaller size and be able to wear it! I’ve never wanted to knit a ‘tent’ for myself, so I always knit for my slim daughter.
June 19th, 2005 at 1:17 am
JENNY!!!!! That is so exciting! Twenty pounds? Wow. Good work!
June 20th, 2005 at 8:55 am
I’m hesitant to even post, but that is the best thing about this – accountability! I did what I usually do: went all out exercising for the first 2 weeks and fell flat on my face! Almost literally. I messed up my left calf something awful and my poor physical therapist kept apologizing to me our entire appointment about it. I guess he didn’t realize that I would not only DO the exercises, but do them everytime I could. I guess most people never actually do their homework. Imagine that.
So this week, I took it pretty easy and now I am trying to figure out where that delicate line is, between good and too much, before I blast past it so far I can’t walk back to it again.
I didn’t weigh in, but for the first time ever, I did notice my bra was loose and put it on the middle snap. Something good must be happening.
Good job Jenny!! Great inspiration!!!
June 20th, 2005 at 8:55 am
You know, I think I need to make rice. Thanks for the reminder.