Hello Readers,

I haven’t officially made any New Year’s Resolutions yet, but I know I want to make some changes in my life.   I want to be healthier, more organized, and to do more with my free time,  like blogging and cooking!   I know I have made the same New Year’s Resolution each year,  and some years I am really good with them,  and some years I am not so good.

Instead of saying I want to “lose weight,”  I am just going to try to be healthier.   The reason for this is that I have struggled with my weight most of my life,  and this isn’t something that is going to go away.   I have gained and lost the same 20 pounds twice in the last three years.   I am back to trying to lose it again,  and truthfully I would like to lose another 20-30 on top of that,  but I love food way too much to know that will never be sustainable.  I went back to my Weight Watchers meetings this week.  I stopped going during December because you can’t make twelve types of cookies and go sit at Weight Watchers and wonder why you are gaining weight.   I am owning it- this cookie weight was hard earned!   Haha- well anyways,  I will be cooking healthier recipes for the next few months!

This week I have cooked meals every night for my boyfriend and me.  I made grilled chicken with roasted garlic potatoes; Black Bean Burritos;  pork tenderloin with rice; Sausage, Pepper, Onion, and Potato Bake; and pasta with red sauce and light garlic bread  (I know you are thinking that this bowl does not look like a weight watchers serving of pasta, but it is!  I measured it on a scale before I cooked it.   I used Wegman’s Super Pasta which is whole wheat pasta with protein. I highly recommend!)

Quick Red Sauce

Ingredients:
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoons dried parsley

In a sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.   Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.   Next add garlic and red pepper flakes, stir for about 1 minute until you can smell the garlic.  Then stir in tomatoes and parsley flakes.   Lower heat to medium low and allow sauce to come to a boil.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve with pasta.

Source– adapted from Fabulicious: Teresa’s Italian Family Cookbook by Teresa Giudice (from NJ Housewives)

*K’s tip-  After cooking pasta, drain, and place pasta back in hot pot.   Add some sauce and stir in with pasta.  Stir in more sauce to your liking, allowing sauce and pasta to heat up together. Then serve as normal.

Light Garlic Bread

Finely mince a half of a clove of garlic and place in a small bowl.  Add in 2 tablespoons of light butter (I used Land O’ Lakes Light Butter with Canola Oil) and a pinch of parsley, and stir together.  Spread the butter mixture on to both sides of 3 slices of Italian bread (or any leftover bread that you have.)  Place bread on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and place in oven on broil.  Watch the bread until it is toasted,  then flip to toast other side.  Make sure to watch carefully because it’s really easy to burn!  My boyfriend knows all about my “broiling” skills :).

Enjoy!

-K