Healthy(ish) Fried Chicken Alternative.

Cornflake Chicken.

This is a recipe we actually learned from Mike's mom. It is a really simple and quick way to make chicken that isn't so jam packed with calories like fried chicken (and I love me some fried chicken) but with the same satisfying crunch and I think and even better flavor.

What you will need:
1lb chicken breast
3 cups corn flakes
1 cup flour
2 eggs
1 stick lowfat vegetable spread/margarine
1tsp salt
2tsp pepper
1tsp paprika


Preheat your oven to 350degrees and grease a 9x13" baking pan. To begin, trim the fat off of your chicken breasts and do a simple butterfly cut to make the chicken very thin.


Next, take your corn flakes and put them in a plastic zipped bag. The brand of cornflakes really does not matter, these are of the 99cent brand from Kroger. Also, the best thing about this recipe, if your cornflakes go a little stale & you wouldn't eat them for breakfast, use them for this! You cannot taste the difference. After placing the cornflakes in a bag, take a mallet and crunch those babies up. Now, if you've had a rough day feel free to pound away on them with your fists, or ninja chop... which I may have done tonight.


They should be of this consistency when you are done.


Put your flour in one bowl, whip your eggs in another bowl and place your cornflakes in the next bowl. This is the order you will be making the chicken with so it is a lot simpler if you put your bowls together like so.


Dip your chicken in the flour, then the egg, then the cornflakes and line your baking pan with the chicken. And here's the fatty part. You do need to melt the lowfat vegetable spread and then pour it over the chicken. Bake for around 20minutes or until your chicken temperature registers 170degrees internally in the thickest piece.

And there you go, some yummy satisfying chicken without the massive calories like fried chicken. We tend to pair the chicken with broccoli and a simple veggie rice.

Eating your feelings....

Let's talk about depression. Something big happened to me about 4 months ago that pushed me over the edge emotionally. We'll call it, "The Event". It left me feeling empty, betrayed, and snacky.

When I'm not feeling good about life or when something depresses me, I want to gorge myself with ice cream and cake. I start feeling like there's no point in trying to take care of myself because I feel so low. 

The Event even landed me on anti-depressants. I feel much better now, but I still haven't moved past it. So I feel like crap every now and then because I think about the betrayal and the anger wells up in me. There hasn't been a day since The Event that I haven't thought about it, or imagined the things I'd like to say to the person/people involved in The Event.

But it doesn't help me. When I start thinking about it too much I notice myself eating way more than necessary. I notice myself not going to the gym, not being as active in general, and feeling very short tempered. I don't know what to do to let go of the pain. I've been praying about it, but it's really hard.

I think I can honestly say that I am no longer angry at the person(s) responsible for The Event. But I cannot say I've forgiven them. The Event was terrible, it nearly destroyed my life. It left me feeling like I couldn't trust people, and that I shouldn't help people anymore because they just end up causing drama somehow.

I don't even want to put any specifics on here for fear that the person(s) responsible for The Event will read this and start more drama. I'm not afraid of them, I just don't want this to somehow turn into a dramafest and end up with everything going south when I've been working so hard to move on.

I just want to move past it so I can stop feeling so hurt and stop letting myself overeat or make poor eating decisions because I'm so preoccupied with thoughts of this betrayal.

Fat Kid's Plight (eating out)

I've noticed one of my biggest downfalls, has to be going out to eat. I think this all started when I was married and broke, so whenever I was able to go out to eat (usually funded by my parents or my ex in laws) I would order whatever I wanted and just gorge myself because it was SO good. I can usually limit myself to a normal size portion when I eat out but other places, I just eat WAY too much or eat the wrong things.

It's hard to be health conscious when eating out, usually we associate it with a treat and if you are like me, I like to treat myself very well when given the chance.

After researching a few sites I have come up with some viable fat kid options, that won't leave you staring at your dinner party's plates in envy.

• If an option, when your food is delivered, immediately ask for half of it to be wrapped up in a to-go box. More than likely if you order a full entree, only half of it is the correct portion size. This way, you have a meal later on when you want to treat yourself and you don't have to feel guilty (or bloated) for treating yourself in moderation.
• This is a general rule for every day, but especially when you are planning to eat out make sure to eat smaller meals during the day so you are not starving when you get to the restaurant.
  
• As wonderful as buffets are, it's nearly impossible to resist getting five plates or more. I personally do not feel that I get my money's worth unless I am so miserably stuffed I can barely move when I walk out of the restaurant. Make sure to avoid these guys. Otherwise if you do go, load up on as much salad (nasty word!) as you can and only eat one plate of the good stuff.
• Chicken Alfredo is one of my favourite foods, so I really refuse to give it up. One thing you can do, if you like the heavy sauces like I do, is ask for it on the side. This way you can control the amount on your dish. I don't like a lot of sauce and this way I can still enjoy Alfredo without bombing my calorie count for the day.
• Instead of getting mayonnaise or dressing on a sandwich, ask for an avocado slice. These babies have a great Omega 3 content and are just as satisfying, if not better as the mayo.
• Don't ban yourself from eating what you want, because doing this will guarantee the end of your diet, it is possible to enjoy yourself and eat sensibly as well! And if you do mess it up, don't chastise yourself, just take it in stride and realize your mistakes.

A heartfelt farewell....

 

My Dearest Peanut Butter Panic Ice Cream,

 Lately I have been thinking about you a lot.

I have walked by you in the freezer section and considered 

opening the door and taking you in my arms back to my place.

But you have to understand that this relationship is doomed. 

It usually ends up being a one night stand, which isn't good for either of us.

You have gotten me through many a sad and happy day, 

but I think we're only using each other.

I take and take and you give and give, and when I discard you, you're empty.

But it doesn't end there for me, I have to carry around the extra weight of 

yet another meaningless encounter.

I can't promise that this goodbye is forever,

but I swear to you that if we do get together again,

you will spend more time in the freezer than you have in the past.

I will make your creamy chocolate peanut buttery goodness 

last more than one evening.

Please understand, this is for the best. 

We will meet again, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

With my undying love and devotion,

Kathy

For Kathy,

I know you had a rough day yesterday and because you love collecting embarrassing photos of me to display around your house, I thought you would enjoy this photo I found circa seventh grade "makeover" time. Complete with blue eyeshadow and a fake Marilyn Monroe beauty mark of course.

Yeah, and check out the air mattress backdrop, I was destined to be a professional one day I tell you. And see that shirt? That's a Converse shirt, I was wearing Chucks way back then, some things never change, including the blue eye shadow.

Love you best friend, feel better!

You also have a surprise in the mail heading your way on Monday!

How I Feel Today......

I am stressed. My daughter is driving me up the wall. I want to eat and be naughty (food wise of course... ;) ). I have a headache, I'm a tad crabby, I'm tired, I have a sinus infection, and I want to curl up into the fetal position and cry.

So, my first instinct is to grab something very high in calories and stuff it in my face. But I wont.

Other than that I don't have much to say right now.....so, here's a picture that perfectly sums up my current feelings....

Dear Soda (a breakup letter)

Dear Sodapop,

Oh soda, you sweet temptress. For as long as I can remember you have been in

my life. From sipping the foam off of my dad's Coke Big Gulp in California

to having a case of soda by my bed when I was growing up, I hate to say it

but you are my worst frenemy. You know I love you, right? You know I love

everything about you, from the fizz to the sweetness, everything about you

makes me happy. You know I don't discriminate, whether you are cola or

orange, Coke or Pepsi, well I love you just the same.


But, you know, the thing is, I just don't think we are moving in the same

direction anymore. Seeing you five times a day just isn't the best for me

anymore, and I think we both know it's time for a change in my life. No,

don't you worry, it really is me, not you. I just seem to have lost myself

in this relationship, I rely to heavy on you for my morning wake ups, my

headache relief and I just think it's time we move on from each other.

You know I'll always love you, and maybe sometimes I will still visit you

from time to time when the mood strikes me, but we both know we can't

continue on like this anymore.

All my love,

Heather