Archives for June 2011

My Go-To Sandwich Bread

Morning!

I used to spend about $5 a loaf for a good organic whole wheat sammy bread!  (none of the stuff from the bread isle in the grocery store- it’s FULL of preservatives!  And some of those preservatives come from animals bones…ewwwww!!!!)  My bread machine has more than paid for itself already in the few weeks that I’ve had it (I got it on amazon for $79, but I’ve heard people say they’ve found awesome ones at the Goodwill for just a few dollars.)

This is my go-to bread for sandwiches.  I make a loaf at least 1-2 times per week!  This recipe is for a bread machine, but if you want to knead it out by hand and totally show me up you should go for it!!  (I was born with the inability to knead bread.  I’m totally not joking, I seriously can’t do it!  Enter the bread machine- the new love of my life.  Sorry hubby Winking smile)

Sarah Snacks Go-To Sammy Bread
(Print this recipe!)

Ingredients:
1 cup warm water (110 F)
2 Tablespoons organic sugar
2 teaspoons yeast
2 Tablespoons canola oil
2-3 Tablespoons agave nectar (optional, but tasty if you want a honey-wheat type bread)
1 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour (I like King Arthur)
1 1/2 cup organic bread flour (again, King Arthur)
1 teaspoon wheat gluten
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Into the bread machine goes the warm water, sugar, and yeast.  Let proof for 10 minutes (you can just add it in with the flours if you want, but I really think you get a better rise on the bread if you proof the yeast first- especially since it’s mostly 100% whole wheat!)

Once the yeast is proofed, add in the rest of the ingredients according to your bread machines instructions- mine says to do wet ingredients first, then dry.

I set my machine to sandwich bread with a light crust.  And this will be a 1 to 1 1/2 lb loaf.

Let the bread machine do its thang.

(trick to slicing a loaf of sandwich bread… let it cool COMPLETELY before slicing.  I know it’s hard to wait, but you’ll get more even slices and they won’t fall apart as you slice!  Also make sure to use a bread knife!)

 

 

Ta Da!!!!

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Perfect for a good old fashioned PBJ!!!

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Enjoy!

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Weigh in Saturday

I originally started this blog to help keep me accountable and eating healthy on my weight loss journey. Even though I think it’s morphed into something better than a blog that’s just about weight loss, weight loss is still a really big part of my life.

The fact is that I used to weigh 210 pounds. I don’t anymore. I’m now at 174 (after this weeks weigh in). If you want to see my before picture check out the about me tab.

And even though I’ve kept off 36 pounds I’m still not in a healthy weight range for my height. I’ve been floundering around this weight for almost 3 years. Gaining a little, losing a little over and over again. It’s so frustrating. But then I realized that I really should be using my blog more to help keep me accountable. So that’s what I plan on doing.

I want to walk the walk and be a good, healthy example for my future patients. I have to confess that sometimes I go to class feeling like a fraud because I’m learning about how to make people healthier but I’m not at a healthy weight. It’s time to take the bull by the horns and officially really start to try to get the rest of this weight off!

I’ll be weighing in on Saturday mornings and posting my losses. I’m really excited about getting the rest of this weight off- it’s going to make running so much easier because I won’t have so much pressure on my knees- and I’ll probably be able to run faster too! 😀

So…
Last weeks weight was 176. And this weeks weight is 174. That’s -2 lbs!

Hooray for weigh-in Saturdays!

Bloggie meet up!

Wednesday night we had a fun North TX blogger meet up in Denton! 

I met Laura in Fort Worth, then we headed to Denton to pick up Heather.

The three of us gals headed out for a pre dinner drink (I can’t remember the name of the place)  But $2 beer- woohoo! (side note- I used to hate beer!  All the sudden I love it.  Random.)

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Heather and Laura.

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Me and Laura.

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Me and Heather.

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Then we headed on to Mr. Chopsticks, where we met up with some more bloggers!  I’m going to try and remember everyone, but I’m sure I’m missing someone.

Trinity, Nicci, Anne, Mandy

Edamame…

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And Basil Tofu!!!!

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This food was epic!  Crispy tofu.  Zucchini.  Carrots.  Tomatoes.  Spicy sauce.  And of course basil.  I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

I didn’t get a group shot.  I was too obsessed with this food!

Lots of laughs were shared.  Lots of blog talk.  Good times.

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My first 10K

I meant to post this yesterday since it was national running day, but I got a little busy and ran out of time!

On Memorial Day I did my very first ever 10K!!!  It was crazy and amazing at the same time!  I had a couple of goals for this race… 1)Don’t die, 2)Finish, and 3)Finish in under an hour and a half.  And I definitely met all three of those goals!  My time was 1:24:54.  It felt soooo awesome to cross that finish line!

The course was crazy with some INSANE hills!!!  And around mile 5 my stomach started growling like crazy. Oops- nutrition fail!

So I met Laura, her boyfriend Matt, and her cousin Jennifer there.  Heather and Nicci were also there!

Heather, Laura, and Nicci did the 5K. 

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(this pic stolen from Laura, who got it from Heather- gotta give credit where credit is due Winking smile)

And Matt, Jennifer and I did the 10K.

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(thanks for the next few pics too Laura!)

Lookie who’s about to cross the finish line!

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Hooray!!!!

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Next up is a half marathon- I’m thinking the Cowtown in February!  Anyone know of a good training plan??

 

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