The Journey Continues and Wonderful Cabbage Soup!

If you are like many people you are ready for some wonderful Cabbage Soup to warm you up! Enough of this snow and cold weather! This recipe is great in warm weather too!

CABBAGE SOUP

2-pounds of ground round             6- small zucchini...cut in pieces

1- medium onion...chopped           5-stalks of celery...cut in pieces

1-green pepper...cut in pieces

1/2 head of cabbage...cut in pieces                  

3- 15.5 oz cans of Dark Kidney Beans

2-14.5 oz. cans of Italian Green Beans

2-1qt 14oz.cans of tomato juice            Chili powder to taste

Salt and Pepper to taste                        Caraway seeds to taste

2-Tablespoons vinegar                   2-pkgs. artificial Sweetener

Cook ground round and onions in large kettle. Drain meat. Add meat, tomato juice, cabbage, zucchini, celery, and green pepper.

Cook until veggies are to your liking. Add kidney and green beans and seasonings and let simmer for 45 minutes.

This is a healthy soup with little fat. Ground round is 86% lean.

If you want a lower calorie soup, omit the ground meat and add some beef broth or beef bouillon. Let simmer 45 minutes.

This recipe is from a Weight Watcher I knew over 38 years ago. I was a lecture and I had the ladies bring in their favorite home made recipes. I have added the ground meat and kidney beans to the soup as the years have gone by. Sometimes I add elbow macaroni if I have it on hand.

My Journey Continues

The month of January I lost a total of 18 pounds. I also found out I have a stomach ulcer and I am on medication to help heal the ulcer. I have had to adjust my foods and have gone up and down 2.5 pounds this month of February. On Monday I was down 1/2 pound. I think I'm on the right track now. So...I've actually lost 16 pounds, not bad at all...

These things happen and I'm not letting it throw me. As you may know, things always come up when we are on a food plan that can cause us to go off our plan. I've learned over the years to not beat myself up and get right back on track. I don't wait until the next day any more, I get right back on track the next meal.

Have you ever just started watching what you eat and  you are invited to a friends home for dinner? Panic can set in...I've felt that way many times. All anyone can do is make the best of what is served and do the best you can. It's a good idea to ask if you can bring a dish to help out with the meal. This way you will have more control over some of the food that will be served.

Helpful Hints to Help with Cravings

1. Plan ahead what you can do instead of eating.

2. Change what you are doing.

3. Move to a different room.

4. Chew gum.

5. Drink  low calorie pop, coffee or tea.

6. Take a walk.

7. Read a book.

 8. Brush your teeth! ( this works really well)

9. Stamp!

10. Take a nap.

I used all of the above. If I'm watching t.v. and I just want something to eat, but not hungry, I change where I am and what I'm doing. 

I've been working on some projects that I will share with you soon, but here is a Valentine Wreath and an Anniversary I was commissioned to make for a customer.

I used a 9 inch Styrofoam wreath I bought at a local craft store and cut 2 inch strips of Riding Hood Red card stock and wrapped the strips around the wreath and used straight pins to secure the card stock. I used punches and die to make a variety of hearts from card stock and Designer Series Paper. I used Heart to Heart Extra-Large punch and the Hearts and Brackets Originals Die. I chose Love Letter DSP, Riding Hood Red and Pretty In Pink card stock for the hearts. The bow was made of 1 1/4 inch retired Riding Hood Red Stripped Ribbon.

This anniversary card was made for the Husband of one of my customers for their 17th anniversary. I used Perfect Plum card stock and Stampin' Pad, Very Vanilla card stock, 5/8inch Satin Ribbon and 5/8 inch Victoria Crochet Trim. I added the three paper flowers right above the bow.

I hope you will give the Cabbage Soup a try. Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Jane