Lick Your Chops-Looneyspoons Cookbook

Sauce:

1/2 C ketchup
2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 T molasses
2 T minced shallots or onions
1 1/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

4 boneless pork loin chops

This recipe is for grilling the chops and using the sauce to brush on the chops as they grill or to marinade the chops in the sauce overnight and then grill.  I decided to brown the chops in a skillet sprayed with non-stick spray and then I placed the chops in the crockpot.  I added half of a large onion, sliced into large strips.  I then mixed all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and poured over the top of the chops.  I cooked it on low for about 8 hours.  I served the chops over shirataki tofu noodles and a side of kale and greens. For the greens and kale, I put a small amount of olive oil in a skillet, added some minced garlic and sliced mushrooms.  After the mushrooms were cooked, I added a bag of greens and fresh kale, sprinkled with salt and pepper.  Covered with lid and let cook for about a minute or so.  Take lid off, stir and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes more until the greens have wilted.       

DR. OZ!!!

I was contacted by a producer from the Dr. Oz show this past August.  We were asked for pictures and to make a small video clip.  The segment FINALLY aired on Jan. 10th 2013.  
I feel very honored for the "shout out" from Mehmet himself!  I began watching his show at the beginning of my weight loss journey.  I learned a lot of good tips and tried many of the recipes shared on his show and on his website.  =)  Copy and paste link in separate window to view.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teCOKYm5m9U&feature=youtu.be

Happily Ever Apple Pork Chops-Looneyspoons Cookbook

2 tsp olive oil
6 boneless pork loin chops, trimmed of fat
1 cup apple butter
2 T yellow mustard
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cups peeled and sliced Golden Delicious apples (about 3 large)
1/2 cup thinly sliced onions
2 T cider vinegar

Heat oil in large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook chops until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine apple butter, mustard, cumin, salt and pepper.  Spoon evenly over chops.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook until chops are just slightly pink in the center and juices run clear, about 10 minutes.  Remove chops from skillet (leave sauce in skillet) and keep warm.

Add apples, onions and vinegar to sauce in skillet.  Stir to coat apples and onions with sauce.  Cover and cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until apples are softened and onions are tender.

To serve, spoon hot apple mixture over warm pork chops.

I served this with baked broccoli, green beans and banana squash.  Easy to do and tasted great!

Media attention!

I sent out an email regarding our weight loss story to some surrounding newspapers and received a reply from a writer at the Ogden Standard Examiner.  She was interested in writing a story about our family's weight loss. Eddie, Kyle and myself answered questions through email and then a photographer was sent out to take some photos.  Our story ran in the paper on Dec. 11th 2012.  That same day I answered my door and found a reporter and camera man from ABC channel 4 news, Utah. ( Come to find out, I went to Jr. High and High school with the camera man!)  They had read our story that morning and wanted to do an interview!  I had not been aware that our story ran that morning, so that was a surprise.  Another surprise was that the news crew wanted to interview us RIGHT then and air it on the evening news. I was taking this all in while standing there in my workout clothes, no make up, hair going in all directions...lol!  While the reporter talked with Eddie, Kyle (who I had just woken up!) got dressed and made himself presentable and I threw on make up, clothes and sprayed my hair.  I'm happy to say that it actually cooperated and I looked halfway decent...ha ha!!  We are excited at the attention our weight loss story is receiving and hope that we can help inspire others to make healthy, lifelong changes in their lives.  =)
Layton family reduces its combined weight by 367 pounds


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Wi8JFZpbQ

Copy youtube link and open in a different tab in order to view it.

Stew Good to Be True-Slow cooker beef and vegetable stew-Looneyspoons Cookbook

2 lbs. stewing beef, trimmed of fat and cut into 1 inch cubes
3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
2 cups chopped carrots
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
2 cups no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 can (10 ounce) reduced-sodium beef broth, undiluted
1 T Dijon mustard
2 tsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 1/4 tsp each dried marjoram and dried thyme
1 tsp granulated sugar (I used splenda)
1 T cornstarch
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

Combine all ingredients except cornstarch and parsley in a 3-quart or larger slow cooker.  Cover and simmer on low setting for 8 hours.
Combine cornstarch with an equal amount water and stir until lump free.  Add to stew and mix well.  Cook for 1 more hour.  Stir in parsley just before serving.

This was so easy and tasted great.  Smelled really good while cooking.  I served this with multi-grain saltine crackers.     

Crock-a-Doodle-Do Beef and Sausage Chili-Looneyspoons Cookbook

8 ounces light Italian sausage (I used Jennie-O turkey sausage patties)
1 1/2 lbs. extra lean ground beef (I used extra lean ground turkey)
1 cup chopped onions
2 tsp minced garlic
1 can (19 ounce) no salt added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (19 ounce) no salt added red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (19 ounce) no salt added navy beans or black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can reduced sodium beef broth, undiluted
1 can (5.5 ounce) tomato paste
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 cup medium salsa
1 1/2 T chili powder
2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 T minced fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

Remove casing from sausage and break into small pieces in large, nonstick skillet.  Add ground beef, onions and garlic.  Cook and stir over medium high heat until meat is no longer pink.  Drain liquid/fat from skillet and transfer meat mixture to a slow cooker.
Add remaining ingredients, except cilantro, to slow cooker.  Mix well.  Cover and cook on low heat setting for about 5 hours.  Stir in cilantro before serving, if desired.

This smelled so good good while cooking!  Tasted great...served it with multi-grain saltine crackers and fat free sour cream.     

Hawaiian Turkey Meatballs-I combined two different recipes from my Looneyspoons Cookbook

Meatballs:
1 1/2 lbs. lean ground turkey
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs
3 T finely minced green onions
1 T minced fresh cilantro
3 T egg substitute
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. grated gingerroot
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 tsp. each salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray rimmed cookie sheet or large baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
To make meatballs, combine all ingredients in a large bowl (using your hands works best).  Form meat mixture  into 1 to 1 1/2 inch meatballs.  Place on prepared pan.  
Bake for 15-18 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and nicely browned on the outside.
While meatballs are cooking prepare the following sauce:
2/3 cup your favorite barbeque sauce
10 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
2 T grated gingerroot
4 tsp honey
2 tsp sesame oil
Whisk together in large skillet over medium heat.
Add the following to skillet:
1 can (20 ounce) pineapple chunks, juice drained
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
3 green onions, chopped
1 large container of fresh, sliced mushrooms

Mix together and cook until veggies are tender.  Add cooked meatballs to mixture and stir.  I served this over spaghetti squash.