KNOX BLOX Queen

That's me!  I love the stuff!  I really wish I could mass market these little delights!

Here is my set up in making my next couple batches.  Above I have my ingredients ready to make my Strawberry/Banana/Coconut  (I am a sucker for coconut) and peach/Mango/Pineapple (a favorite of my daughters).  I have my syups and flavorings, sugar free jello, knox unflavored gelatin.

The recipe is simple:

* 6 cups boiling water (if you use sf syrup just minus the amount from the water like 5 cups water + 1 cup sf syrup)
* 6 packets knox gelatin
* 2 big boxes (or 4 smaller boxes) sf jello

Mix together thoroughly - pour into brownie dish and refrigerate for several hours.  Cut up and put into little snack baggies if you want.  It's about 40 calories per little baggie.

A big hit with my son and his friend who could NOT stop eating my Lime/Banana/Coconut blox.  

I love having these low calories, tasty little treats around!

Also, I don't know what it is means, but I just love making kabobs!  I didn't ever have them growing up so it's like a special thing.  

 This was our dinner tonight for just  our family.  

I know, I know... I made enough for an ARMY!!  (lots of yummy left overs)

These are BBQ Teriyaki Pork Kabobs which I made early on in week 12 of my journey and posted about them as well.  I don't have a BBQ grill anymore so I just baked them in my oven.   I had these pork pieces marinating for 24 hours and skewered them today.  I was loving them.  My kids liked them.  I love the sauce for dipping as well.  Yum!

Here's another quick lean and green I did a couple nights ago.  

I just sauteed my zucchini, yellow squash and tomatoes with some Mrs. Dash tomato basil seasoning and added my shrimp.  I love that added flavor of the tomatoes.  For Brent, I made his standard salad with a sprinkle of low fat cheese & Walden Farms Ranch dressing and his 3 Morning Star sausage patties.  He loves those patties!

In the next couple days I will be hosting my FIRST GIVEAWAY!  I'm excited.  Some lucky winner will win some exciting Scrapbooking software.  What a way to perserve all those memories and pictures.

Life is Good!!  XOXO ~Margene

Week 12 ~ Pork Kabobs!

This week I'm down 3 pounds for a total of 49 pounds!

My guy is down 4 pounds for a total of 55 pound!

I had a pap smear appointment this week (don't worry, I won't share any details) but I was excited for the doctor to notice my weight loss. What ensued was probably the most positive doctor visit I've ever had. I DIDN'T feel GUILTY because I AM EATING better and doing something about my health. It changed the whole feel of the exam and my visit with the doctor (she was female). I feel so good that I am taking better care of myself now. I even got my blood drawn for a baseline... which I should have done before I started but I'm happy it's done now. With my brothers heart attack lingering on my mind... I really need to be aware of how my cholesterol is.

This week I had a Costco size portion of pork chops that were defrosted so I decided to make some Pork Kabobs. I found this recipe on line and LOVED it. I did the veggies on different kabobs than the pork since they don't need to cook as long. For veggies, I used yellow squash, mushrooms, peppers and cherrie tomatoes. Here is the recipe:

BBQ Teriyaki Pork Kabobs

Marinade 1 lb raw pork (cut up into 1"cubes) for at least 3 hours in:

3 T. low sodium soy sauce

2 T. Olive Oil

2 T. Rice Vinegar

1 Clove Garlic minced

Remaining Ingredients:

1 can low sodium beef broth

2 T. cornstarch

2 T. low sodium soy sauce

1 T. brown sugar (or 2 T. Splenda - which is what I used)

2 Cloves garlic minced

1/4 t. ground ginger

Veggies for kabobs:

3 portobello mushrooms, cut into squares (I used white mushrooms)

1 large green pepper cut into chunks

12 cherry tomatoes

12 chunks fresh pineapple (I did NOT use fruit... not on my plan yet)

1 yellow summer squash cut into cubes (I added this veggie)

Directions:

1. In sauce pan, combine beef broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, brown sugar/spenda, garlic and ginger. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

2. Preheat your outdoor grill for high heat (I suggest Med to High) and lightly oil grate. Thread pork cubes onto skewers, alternating with veggies... or do separate skewers for veggies.

3. Cook on grill for 15 minutes (We timed them and cooked them about 6 minutes each side), or until meat is cooked through. Turn skewers and baste often with sauce during cooking.

As you can see, I always make double/triple recipes... enough for an army!!

We basted the pork and the veggies every few minutes. The sauce was really good. Even my kids really liked that sauce!

Pork all done. Oooh... good!

This was my plate. I didn't weigh the pork, but I suspect it was over the 5 ounce amount for pork... but I really needed extra protein for that night especially! :)

I took them off their skewers and dug in. I must have sounded like Bob in "What about Bob" the way I was eating! I liked the way the squash tasted with the sauce glaze grilled on it. So yummy!

One thing I am very grateful for with my new lifestyle is how I don't have the cravings like I used to. I smell a fast food place and I may briefly think about it, but the pull on me is minimal. I crave much more healthy foods. The thought of eating french fries almost makes me feel sick when I think about it, even though I have loved them. This is the FIRST diet/lifestyle change that I have felt that I CAN stick to and enjoy it. I don't feel deprived and I really enjoy the food I eat. I have my favorite medifast foods too, and look forward to what I will choose. I love the variety. I just need to start a regular exercise program now that is consistent. Can you believe I've lost 49 pounds WITHOUT exercising????? I LOVE that this program is not based on killing yourself at the gym. I want to go to the gym because I want to and not out of forcing myself.

I'm SO thankful for the positive support I've received too. I've shared this blog on the TSFL support boards, yet only with a with a couple people who actually know me... because it is so personal, but I want to help and support others who are in my same boat. Loosing weight and changing your lifestyle is a HUGE task and we all need to be supportive of each other no matter where on that path we are. :)