Watermelon Radish

Part of me feels like I would have more fun making this into a food blog rather than a weight loss blog. The pictures would be so much more exciting. For example, Saturday night, I ate dinner at my friend's house. The dinner was so spectacular, I not only forgot about my diet, I forgot to take pictures. Thank goodness, I remembered to have my camera out for the first appetizer. It was as beautiful as it was delicious! The watermelon radish canape was followed by a Korean pork  homemade dumpling, blue cheese wedge salad, and roasted duck that was beyond description. My culinary self esteem flew out the window, and I was ready to sign up for professional cooking classes.  Even without the excellent food, the ambiance of the presentation was beyond compare. Flickering candles were everywhere! I aspire to be that kind of hostess! Fattening food is so much more fun than a salad. (especially a salad with dressing on the side.)

Shrimp and Feta

I know I am behind in my blog posts, (that could be a topic on its own)  but I will share with you last night's dinner. Shrimp is very low calorie and I usually eat it just to be good on my diet, and not because I enjoy it so much. However, last night I made it in a way that I remember eating it when I was young and had traveled to Greece. I especially remember going to a taverna called "The Pig and the Whistle." I would get Garides me Feta every time and I adored it. Last night I made it and it was so good. I only ate 4 shrimp so I was still physically hungry, but the emotional eater in me was totally satisfied.  I sautéed shrimp in garlic, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper. (Ok, and just a tad of butter.) I put them in a baking dish. then I added Vermouth and chopped tomatoes to my pan. I cooked it a few minutes till the liquid reduced, and poured it on the shrimp. Finally, I crumbled French feta on top and baked it for 20 minutes. Since this was all that I ate, I definitely stayed within a minimum of calories. It just felt like I was splurging.

Getting back to my diet was not too hard today. I didn't grocery shop yet, but I had enough things in my refrigerator to have a successful day. I snacked on celery and cucumbers throughout the day.  I had an egg for breakfast, half of a turkey sandwich for lunch, and a big salad for dinner. I also drank a lot of water and tea. It feels good to get back to being on a more structured schedule. Tomorrow I'll make a trip to the grocery store and and get back to reading the Beck Diet Solution. 

Vasilopita

Today I made a Vasilopita. (a Greek cake like bread traditionally made on January 1st.) Most years I make it with yeast, but this year I made it more like a cake using baking powder.  It is usually decorated with powdered sugar, blanched almonds, or sesame seeds,  but due to lack of ingredients,  I made a very plain one. The most important feature is a coin placed in the dough. I certainly did not leave that out. When the bread is sliced, the person who receives the coin is supposed to have good luck all year. We had friends stop by when we were cutting it. The good luck coin went to my wonderful friend, Vicki. I don't know many people who deserve good luck more than she does. I ate a slice and finished my last day of "splurging". It's back to healthy eating on Patti's Plate.

Happy New Year!

What hope a new year brings!

Hopefully this year is the year my finances improve, my children all find "their way", I learn to be a better friend, and I lose my weight for good. If all that happens, I promise to have a much more exciting celebration report for New Year's Eve, 2013. As for New Year's Eve, 2012, well, let's just say I did wake up at 11:56 to watch the ball drop again on CNN.  Tony and I sat on the couch under our beloved blankets and spent the evening much like most other nights. I mentally prepared for a higher calorie dinner, but am proud to say that by staying home, I was able to make up for the overeating from the night before. I made a Greek egg lemon meatball soup. It was something a little more labor intensive than my usual weeknight dinner, (I had to roll the meatballs), but there was no frying involved, (they simmer in chicken broth). I was satisfied that it was light enough for Patti's plate, but special enough for Tony's tummy.  Happy, healthy, New Year to all.

There is a really good reason why this hermit should remain a hermit. I went to another holiday dinner at the home of my dear cousin, Johnny. For some reason, I didn't think about watching what I ate. It's been a while since I have been really strict, so I guess my brain is trying to revert back to its old way. I'm not worried about it. I've been a January 2nd dieter all of my life. I haven't lost any additional weight in the last month, but I haven't gained any back either. (I didn't weigh in today) I will be starting again strictly in two more days. That's not to say I will be eating with abandon today and tomorrow, but really, New Year's Eve only comes around once a year, and New Year's Day is a holiday. (excuses, excuses.....where are my Beck index cards?)  So, back to last night's dinner:  We started with a colorful salad, and went on to delicious barbecued lamb chops, roasted potatoes and asparagus. It was actually a pretty healthy meal. The problem is that I started with a cocktail which in turn let my resolve down, and I finished with the most delicious homemade cheesecake!!!

 

The end of the year is upon us. I always like this time of year because I feel like I can forgive myself for all of the mistakes I have made throughout the year and get ready for a fresh start. I can strive to do better. I usually am at my heaviest weight around now. Halloween candy leads to Thanksgiving overeating, then to Christmas season indulgences. But.....not this year. Thankfully, I have made a drastic change in my eating choices and I am ready to step it up in the new year. As I review the last year, my change in diet also coincided with a change in my general thinking. I have thoughtfully and emphatically tried to change a part of my personality that often gets in the way of my own happiness. I have always been a "pleaser". I want everyone to be happy and I try to do my best to help others reach that goal. In the last couple of years, I finally came to the conclusion that it is an impossible task.  As hard as I try to protect those closest to me, I have no power to insure their happiness. So, I can only be true to myself, and make choices that are well intentioned. Sometimes that means not being as social as I once was. It often means being a hermit.  There is nothing wrong with being a hermit.

As Albert Einstein once said, "Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature."

Maybe I am maturing.