Is it January already?

My baby is 4 months old.

Wow...when did that happen?

I've been doing pretty good with the healthy eating thing...pretty good.

I only have 8 pounds to go to get to my pre-pregnancy weight.

I could do better.

I've just been using the nursing excuse to eat a "few" treats here and there.

BUT...I've been trying some new recipes...so it's time to share.

My sister and I have been trying lots of recipes off of Skinnytaste.com

Pretty sure almost all of them have been BIG winners.

I'll share my favorites in another post.

The other day my sister told me about a Skinny Taste recipe called Turkey Taco lettuce wraps.

What?!

Tacos using lettuce as the shell?

Brilliant...and 150 calories "cheaper"!

So I made my family chicken tacos.

With pico de gallo...smashed avacado and quinoa (still need to share that recipe)

Wrapped up in some lettuce.

DELICIOUS!

Really...you should try it!

Great crisp crunch...plus, you normally put lettuce on your taco...

why not wrap your taco with it instead?

This is the way to go!

Try it...let me know what you think!

Back on the wagon.

It's time to get back to counting calories. I had my baby on September 1st...and almost a month later I've lost 25 of the 40 pounds I gained. I actually dropped the 25 pounds in his first 2 weeks, and have been stuck for the past week and a half. I know I need to be realistic about dropping the weight too fast (especially since I am breast feeding and need to make sure I'm eating enough calories), but I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight at 6 weeks with my first, so I'd like to be somewhat close to that with this new little guy.

Here's my real problem...I need to be accountable for what I am putting in my mouth. I've been eating pretty crappy since he was born. I'm hungry all the time...but I'm trying to fill that hunger with junk, because it's easy and honestly it just tastes good. So...I'm back on Loseit.com to keep track of what I put in my mouth.

I am also back to cooking. I didn't do much of that during my pregnancy...and now I am excited to feel up to cooking. Also, my sister pointed me towards a great website with TONS of recipes that look fantastic. She has tried a few of them and has loved them all...so tonight I start trying some of them for myself. Best part of skinnytaste.com is her calorie count and weight watchers point information. She has fantastic pictures too! You really must check her out.

So my "back on the wagon" goal is to loose the last 15 pounds from my pregnancy, plus the additional 5 that I didn't get off before I got pregnant. I am shooting to have all 20 off by the end of the year. I'll keep you posted on the weight loss along with putting up new recipes and telling you about other low cal recipes I have tried from other's sites.

By the way...David is still right where is was when I got pregnant...he didn't even gain a pound over the past 10 months...lucky guy :)...Really though, I will take the weight gain since it brought me the sweetest and cutest baby ever! But now that he is here...it's all comin' off!

Turkey, Bean and Cheese Burritos

(This is a recipe from my mom. I believe it is a weight watchers recipe,

but I don't have the WW info...it is a must try!)

Turkey, Bean and Cheese Burritos

10 oz ground turkey

16 oz (can) refried beans

1 C salsa (I use Pace)

4 oz can chopped green chilis

1 tsp. chili powder

3 T scallions

1 C shredded jack cheese (I use the jack/cheddar combo)

Brown ground turkey. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Divide mixture between 8 tortilla shells. (I use the medium size ones and they are pretty full) Bake at 350* for about 20-25 minutes. I cover mine with tin foil to keep the tortillas soft. My mom cooks them uncovered and the tortillas get a little crisp...so whatever your preference is. They can be served plain...or you can top them with low fat sour cream or more salsa or guacamole. These are also great reheated from the fridge or freezer.

Calorie Total: 1/8th of mixture is 175 calories.

The tortillas I use have 150 calories...which is the norm for most tortillas. You can find lower calorie tortillas as well.

We LOVE these burritos at our house. They are full of flavor and one fills me up...especially if you serve them with a green salad or roasted corn and red onions.

Good excuses for weight gain...

I've put on 8 pounds...and it's ALL baby weight!

Yep...20 weeks pregnant...having another little boy Sept. 7th!

I started this blog and then shortly after found out I was pregnant and shortly after that couldn't even stand the thought of food let alone look at this blog...so sorry for all the instant recipes, then nothing. Here's hoping I can get some more up here soon!

Bear with me...I may not post a lot over the next 5 months...but once it's time to drop this baby weight...recipes will be flowing out:)

100 Calorie Veggie Chili

Turkey Chili

10oz lean ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, cut in half and sliced thin

1 tsp. Olive Oil
2 - 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, diced into bite size pieces
2 medium yellow squash, diced into bite size pieces
2 - 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 - 15 oz cans fat free beef broth
4 celery stalks, halved and sliced
2 bell peppers (one red and one green), cut into bite size pieces
2 - 1 1/4 oz packages of chili seasoning

Salt and Pepper

Heat olive oil in pan, add onions and season with salt and pepper. Saute till onions are soft and starting to caramelize. Place onions in crock pot. Cook turkey, breaking into small pieces, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add turkey to crock pot. Add remaining ingredients to the crock pot and stir well to combine. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

Calorie Total: 1 Cup = 100 calories

(this recipe makes about 20 cups...even better as leftovers)

This recipe is from my mom (don't know where she originally got it) and is delicious. Stock full of veggies and yummy chili flavors. I serve mine with cornbread muffins. They are about 150 calories per muffin, so be careful there :)

Weight Watchers Info (not including the veggies):

Fat: 1.4 g

Carbs: 13.0 g

Fiber: 3.7 g

Protein: 7.2 g

Great Yahoo article about weight losing bloggers.

Read this article today about 8 people who lost lots of weight and blogged about it as they went. Some amazing transformations. Funny how the one consistent thing...accountability...is what kept them going. If you have a minute, check it out here!

Smokey Turkey Calzones

Smokey Turkey Calzones

Makes 6 calzones.

Serving size: 1 calzone

1 Rhodes frozen bread loaf, thawed (about 5-6 hours)

1 T Olive Oil, divided

8 oz ground turkey

salt and pepper

2 ½ tsp smoked paprika, divided

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 red bell, pepper diced

8 oz mozzarella cheese

Heat ½ T olive oil in large skillet. Add turkey, ¾ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Cook through (about 3-4 min). Add 2 tsp paprika and cook, stirring for 30 second. Stir in bell pepper and cook until softened. Transfer to a bowl and cool slightly.

Cut bread dough into 6 pieces and roll into circles.

Pile 1/6^th of turkey mixture and 1/3 C mozzarella cheese onto half of circle. Wet edge with water and fold over, pressing closed.

Mix the other ½ T of olive oil with ½ tsp paprika and brush over top. Cut a 1” vent slit in each.

Place on preheated pizza stone at 500* for 7 minutes.

Calorie Total: 1 calzone = 350 calories

Weight Watchers info:

Fat: 11.9 g

Carbs: 39.1 g

Fiber: 5.4 g

Protein: 22.1 g