Birthday Cake!

It was my boo's birthday so I made him a chocolate cake. I actually had 3 attempts, and the last was a charm. I tried a couple of recipes, one from Ina Garten, one from my Southern Living cookbook, and I even resorted to a box cake (which was sub-par to say the least). Finally, I found this recipe on Apartment Therapy http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/dessert/recipe-dark-chocolate-cake-014696, and my oh my was I pleased! It was so easy, especially compared to the recipes I tried previously. I used buttermilk in place of the milk, and hot coffee in place of the boiling water. I halved the recipe, using 4.5" cake pans instead of the typical (2) 9" pans. I love my 4.5" cake pans, they make the perfect size double layer cake for a family of 3, about 5-6 generous servings. I used heavy whipping cream, semi-sweet chocolate morsels, and powdered sugar for the frosting, it was like a ganache but thicker and paired extremely well with this moist cake!

Counting Calories.

I can get obsessive about stuff, and then completely lose interest. Back when I was actively trying to lose weight, my game plan was to maintain a 1600-1700 calorie diet and engage in moderate daily excercise. I think this a reasonable plan but the problem is with monitoring calorie intake. It actually makes me think and obsess over food more, which ultimately leads to a complete disinterest in monitoring food intake. In the back of my mind I am always thinking, I shouldn't have to think this hard about food to eat reasonably. Unfortunately, my inner guide on when to stop eating is a little submissive and constantly overrided (is that a word?) by my compulsive habit of overindulgence. Anyway, just for interest fact I counted up the calories to this mornings breakfast and had a little bit of an epiphany, I say a little bit, because I actually already knew what I realized but the significance became more obvious as applied to my meals.

My "brunch" consisted of:

1/2 spicy sausage 110 calories
2 scrambled eggs 150 calories
1 medium red potatoe 200 calories
1 tbsp olive oil mayo 50 calories
1 cup chocolate milk 220 calories
salt, pepper, fresh dill and green onions

Now all together this adds up to a whopping 730 calories, however considering this is 2 meals in 1, that isn't too bad. But if it were just one meal, the chocolate milk definitely should be eliminated. Besides the fact that milk and me don't agree, that is an insane amount of calories for 8 oz of beverage. To think that this is a beverage commonly served to children in addition to their meal, makes it no surprise that obesity in American children is becoming epidemic.

Anyway, the meal itself was very filling and without the chocolate milk was about 500 calories, which is right on target. A 1600-1700 calorie diet typically includes three 400-500 calorie meals and two 100-200 calorie snacks. To stay within this range without obsessively counting calories, I follow these guidelines:

- drink water when thirsty
- I can have one 8 oz beverage a day
- I keep my portion sizes reasonable
- eat last meal before 8 p.m.
- I can have a small fun snack after 8 p.m.

I think this plan is awesome, and so far my only weakness has been BlueBell icecream, of which I eat a whole pint in one sitting, which is usually between 600-700 calories. I would say that is why I haven't lost a pound.

Another Great Couple- Peanut Butter and Marshmallow

Good Lawdy this was good! I smooshed 2 halved marshmallows between some cinnamon-raisin Ezekial Bread with a smear of peanut butter, then I pan fried it in a generous pat of butter. Wonderful!

1 Chicken- 3 Ways

Since the other members of my family like meat and kind of want it on the regular, I have to figure out a way to get them off my back. I bought a frozen whole chicken, thawed it out, ripped it apart with my bare hands, flinging salmonella rich chicken juice all over the kitchen walls and clean dishes in the other sink, as well as on my face and body and possibly in my slightly ajar mouth (ajar from the sheer effort, my concentration face). The whole event was peppered with me shrieking hysterically at my husband to get the baby out of the kitchen and growling exorcist style at him for daring to attempt to wash a plum in the same sink I was wrestling with the chicken in.



I got almost as much out of this chicken as I could. I could have made some faux foie gras from the innards but I'm pretty sure no one, not even the dogs, would have appreciated it. I baked the legs, wings, and back at 350, after sprinkling with some Cajun seasoning. I grilled one chicken breast, seasoned with salt and pepper. I ground one breast and 2 thighs in the food processor, seasoned lightly, formed in 1/2 inch balls, rolled around in Panko crumbs, and fried until golden...my version of chicken nuggets.



My husband had the 2 wings and 1 leg for dinner with some veggies. The chicken breast will be served to him for lunch in a salad. The back and remaining wing will be served in another dinner to him with more veggies and couscous. So that is 3 meat laden meals. That should get me off the hook for at least 2-3 days.



The chicken nuggets are for the baby. He seems to like meat a lot. He ate 5 or 6 nuggets, which is a good bit for him. I made about 2 dozen. Possibly I will freeze some for future use in bento boxes.



I'm glad its over and this whole ordeal just re-confirmed why I hate food prep when it involves meat. Nagging from my husband be damned, it will be a while before I do it again. I am posting a picture below, not because I am proud, but because I think the image perfectly conveys the level of throw-it-togetherness I approached this task with...