Italian Meatloaf

I continue to look for flavorful, low-calorie recipes which are quick and easy to prepare. This meatloaf recipe is from the same cookbook (I'll have to ask Kari what the name of it was) as the roasted pork tortilla soup.

Italian Meatloaf

3/4 lb. ground beef chuck
3/4 lb. ground pork
1/2 c. pesto
1 c. fine bread crumbs
2/3 c. chopped oil packed sun dried tomatoes
1 egg
salt to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have an 11 x 7 baking dish ready.

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Mix gently, but thoroughly. Form mixture into 9 x 5 inch loaf in baking dish then smooth top.

Bake meatloaf until firm and top is richly browned (internal thermometer should read 160). Let loaf stand in pan 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.

Makes for good leftovers for sandwiches.

Tortilla Soup With Roasted Pork----Delicious!

This recipe is very low-calorie and delicious!

Tortilla Soup with Roasted Pork

1 1/2 c. roast pork, shredded
2 T. oil
1 sm. red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes with chipotle chiles in juice
6 c. chicken broth
4 T. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
1 sm. can corn (optional)

In large pot warm oil. Add onion and garlic, saute 4-5 minutes. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cilantro, and pork. (Add beans and corn also, if you like.) Raise heat to med-high and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to med-low, cover partially and simmer for 10 min.

Serve over broken tortilla chips. Top with a squeeze of lime (this really makes a dramatic difference in the taste!), some diced fresh avocado, and some crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese.

Cold enough for soup again!

Because it was literally almost freezing when I got up this morning, I decided it is still soup weather...and it would be so nice to come home to a bowl of hot soup!

I found in my cabinet a mix that I'd picked up somewhere (wish I could remember where!)--Antonio's Tuscan White Bean Entree. I chopped up a ham steak and added to the beans along with Antonio's secret seasoning blend (cornstarch, dehydrated potato flakes, garlic and onion powder, dried parsley) and 4 c. of water. Set on low and cook for 8-10 hrs. When I got home this afternoon, I added about 1/2 c. shredded carrots, 1 rib of celery (finely choppped), and a handful of chopped, fresh spinach...let it cook another 30 min.....grab a bowl and some hot cornbread and I'm ready for supper!

The good news? It's only 110 calories....well, without the cornbread it is! You could also add chicken or Italian sausage to this mix or even some frozen veggies.

I've got another slow cooker mix in the same brand--Signature Family Recipes--that is called Big John's Texas BBQ Beans. Since I have no idea where I bought these, I did find a place to buy them online...and you can too!
http://trinidadbenham.com/catalog/category.asp?category_id=109

Even more praise for the Lose It! app...

I forgot to mention in previous posts re: Lose It! app that one doesn't have to use it for weight loss. It can be used to track the nutrient levels in your diet. Lisa uses it to track her sodium intake. It will also track fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein--all measured in g or mg. Then it gives it to you in percentages--such as 33% of what I've eaten so far today is carbs and while 26% has been protein.

Like I said before--very useful app!!

Who knew?

...that a phone could help change my life so much?! Since I've begun using the Lose it! app (see previous two blogs for an explanation if you don't already know) I've now lost 7 lbs.! Yea! This is really, really turning out to be a tremendously useful tool for me. I love the whole calorie budget idea. If I'm over say 23 calories, I don't worry because most of the time I don't add any exercise in unless it's something big like walking for 20 minutes or more or some other significant exercise--so it all balances out.

I have to be much more deliberate in eating and thinking about the choices I make---and even considering the nutritional values. This has caused me to increase my fruit intake because they have such fewer calories---it's like I'm able to "cheat" that way. I'm anxious to see more results after the next two weeks...especially since I'm at a conference this week where we always do tons of walking and loads of wagging around books. We sorta like to think of it in terms of power shopping except that it's all free! lol