WIAW-The Green Chile Edition

It has been Oh So Very Long since I’ve participated in a What I Ate Wednesday party hostessed by the lovely Jenn at Peas & Crayons. I’m so excited to be back and to see what everyone is sharing today. Let’s see if I remember How!

So much has happened in the months since I’ve been away but most recently Ralph and I spent 3 weeks in New Mexico.  Was I happy to be there?  You better believe it!  I love being there in general, but the food is one of my favorite parts of our visits. Also another reason that I can’t wait to be there permanently.  Here Goes…

One of the best things about New Mexico especially in the fall is the presence of green chiles.  Everywhere you go they’re offered.  Trust me, I’m not complaining.  Here are some of my happy meetings with the ever-present green chile.

One of the wonderful things about New Mexico is that if you ask nicely they’ll turn a veggie burger into a green chile cheese burger.  This was a new restaurant we hadn’t tried before.  We Will go there again.

This was a green chile cheese quesadilla.  I asked to have grilled mushrooms added…Very Good Idea.

This is called a Build Your Own Omelette.  I added spinach, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and green chile.  So good!  You can’t see much of it in the photo, but this could possibly be the best biscuit I’ve ever eaten.  I’ve been to this restaurant for breakfast before but never thought to ask for a biscuit.  Believe me, I won’t make that mistake again.

Another breakfast was huevos rancheros.  These are so unique to New Mexico.  I always try to have them when I’m there.  You get the choice of either red or green chile, but of course I always pick the green!

This was a black bean and cheese quesadilla.  As I think about it, I probably should have requested green chile be added.  Missed opportunity but it was still delicious.  Also tasty was what they called guacamole salad. It was a fresh, crisp salad topped with guacamole.  Very good.

I realize that this sounds like a Lot of green chile.  I suppose some people might think it sounds boring to have the same thing so often.  There is a real variety of great food choices in Silver City.  I just never get the green chile anywhere else.  When we move there, maybe I’ll get tired of them, but for now I take my opportunities whenever I can.

Be sure to check out all of the other bloggers sharing their mouth-watering selections over at Peas & Crayons.  Get some ideas, leave some comments.  Join the party!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

 

WIAW~I Think I’m Eating Out Too Much

Wednesday already and it’s time for another addition of What I Ate Wednesday.  It’s always fun at Jenn’s party over at Peas and Crayons.  Be sure to catch up on what’s going on with everyone over there when you’re finished here.

I have the feeling that a lot of people will be posting Thanksgiving prep photos.  Or maybe that will come next week.  Regardless, you’ll get none of them from me today.  As the title indicates, I’ve been eating out too much.

Last Thursday, Ralph and I went out to lunch at a diner we don’t go to very often.  There were not a lot of vegetarian choices.  For example the Greek Salad comes with chicken mixed in to the salad! I know I could ask for it to be left out, but that doesn’t bode well for the veggie at the table.

The did have a great side salad.

 

Rarely do they come this big.

I noticed they had a veggie burger on the menu and asked for it made as what they called a fajita burger.

 

It had sautéed onions and peppers and cheese on it.  The veggie burger was sort of destroyed in the process, but it still tasted good.  If I had known that the side salad was so big, I would have just asked for that with the veggie burger on top.  That will be my choice the next time we go there.

We also had lunch at a local pizzeria that we don’t go to very often.  We were there last week and I discovered something on their lunch specials menu.

You start with soup…I picked their vegetable which they assured me was purely vegetables.

 

It is very light, garlicy and delicious.

It comes with a grilled cheese sandwich on Texas toast. It’s supposed to come with french fries, but they’re happy to substitute a side salad.  I got mine with balsamic vinaigrette.

This was really good.  It’s not greasy the way some grilled cheese sandwiches are.  Fairly high in Points for me, but very good.

Included in this week’s food was of course a crock pot full of my Weight Watchers veggie soup. But no pictures.   I also think I’ve finally found how to make perfect black beans in the crock pot.  I don’t think I’ve been cooking them long enough.  I need to try it again to see if I’m right then I’ll post about it.

That’s WIAW for me for this week.  Be sure to check out all of the fun over at Peas and Crayons.  You’ll find lots of great food and fun ideas there.

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

Strange But Good~Restaurant Version

One of the most interesting things about writing a blog is reading other people’s’ blogs.  By doing that, I think I’ve found a lot of kindred spirits with several of my obsessions…Books/Reading…Photography…FOOD!!

Fridays have now become Strange But Good days.  Every time I type that I have to check back to be sure I haven’t typed “strange but true.”  I don’t know why but that keeps coming to mind.  I must be watching too many episodes of Ancient Aliens! 😉

So why not join everyone who is playing along with Strange But Good over at Sprint 2 The Table, hostessed by the lovely Laura.  This link up is starting to rev up and everyone loves to hear your comments, so be sure to stop by.

This is not what I intended to write about for Strange But Good.  However due to certain circumstances, Ralph and I found ourselves at one of our favorite diners yesterday, The Meadows in Blackwood.

We’ve eaten at the Meadows a number of times and I’ve almost always eaten the same thing.  They offer a dish called the Athenia Burger.  It’s listed on the menu under “weight watchers.”  Lower case letters I suppose so they can’t be called on the carpet for copyright infringement (Weight Watchers is picky about that!)

The Athenia Burger consists of a small Greek salad side by side with a “burger.”  I know their intention was for it to be a hamburger.  My first time there, after noticing that they offered a veggie burger, I asked if the veggie burger could be substituted and the answer was “yes.”

 

When I’ve told people about it, they’ve thought I was crazy.  It’s not That strange, but some people can’t seem to think creatively! 😉  In fact several times when I’ve ordered it, a waitress will say, “You want the What??”  I get the feeling it’s not ordered very often.

It’s tasty and filling…two of my requirements.  In truth, yesterday’s veggie burger was a little overcooked but still tasty.  I’m still trying to find out where they get these burgers.  I initially thought they were fresh made and asked if I could get the recipe.  Then a waitress told me they were packaged and I asked if she could find out the brand for me.  The answer I received after she checked is that the chef will not give out that information.  Ok…a “secret” veggie burger.

Rarely one to leave well enough alone, I now have a friend who works there.  I’m going to put her on a mission.  Her husband is a former police detective who worked with Ralph so she’s pretty crafty. If anyone can find out for me she can.  I’m going to get her to find out where they get these burgers.  No kidding, they’re that good.

I’ll let you all know how I do.  It may require some undercover work on my part.  Wait…Me as a waitress…No, you wouldn’t want that! 😉

Remember to stop over at Sprint 2 The Table to enjoy some more Strange But Good foods.

Happy Friday!

WIAW~I Have To Get In A Car…Again?!?!

Good Morning and Happy What I Ate Wednesday!  For any of you who don’t know what WIAW is…it’s a fun time cooked up by Jenn over at Peas & Crayons.  All of the really Fun kids (You can be one!) hang out over there, posting our fabulous foods for the week and oohing and aahing with comments about each other’s posts.  Join us…It’s Fun!!

Fall is my favorite time of year and the time when Ralph and I head out for his Army Reunion.  This year we’re heading to Atlanta.  I’m excited because while at the Reunion we’ll get to see an old friend of mine from college who I haven’t seen in many years.  So excited about that.  Of course, last year after the Reunion we drove to New Mexico.  Wonder if I can do some razzle dazzle on Ralph and make him forget we’ve already BEEN there and that we NEED TO BE there?!?!  Probably not, but I can try! 😉

So on to the food!!

One of my 3 ingredient (well…4 this time) meals ready in 7 minutes.  Whole wheat pasta cooked up and at the same time a can of Ro-Tel tomatoes with green chillies cooked up with some crock pot black beans and topped with Romano cheese.  So good, filling and Quick!

Not much in the house because we’re heading out.  Lunch on Tuesday was a sliced apple and two rice cakes with Sunflower butter.  Very good, but I think the rice cakes were getting stale.  Didn’t matter, I only really wanted the Sunflower butter anyway!! 🙂

Dinner (again because there wasn’t much in the house) was a Morningstar Farms spicy black bean burger on a sandwich thin with American cheese and pickled jalapeno.  If you told me a few years ago that I would be half way through a jar of jalapeno in such a short time, I would have said you were crazy,but I just love these!  It was a fast and easy dinner.

One of my favorite drinks the last few days? Or maybe my Favorite…

Fresh hot coffee made with the addition of pumpkin pie spice in my wonderful Big Purple Mug…second cousin to my Big Purple Bowl…I think.  You put the coffee in the filter the regular way, then shake some PPS into the coffee.  Be sure to stir it in otherwise the spice forms a barrier and the water over flows.  Who Knew?   Nevertheless…its’ Delicious!  Try it!

So that’s WIAW for me this week.  I’ll be on the road when you read this.  Hopefully I can figure out a way to post it to Peas & Crayons from the road.

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!  Yes, we’re on the Road Again!!

WIAW~Feeling Like A Human

In all my daze and confusion during our recent trip to New Mexico and California, I never forgot What I Ate Wednesday.  One week I had to post a non-food edition, but hey, I still TALKED about food and I was here for the party.  I’m feeling more like a human now and I’m getting back to more of a normal routine…well, normal for me at least! Remember that this fun food fest is brought to you by Jenn over at Peas & Crayons.  Be sure to visit all of the other fun food people over there when you’re finished here…Leave some comments, Kids!

It’s Fall and I love Jenn’s new WIAW logo…there I said it!

Tuesday was the first day where I felt back on track in food and in other aspects.  Started with a good breakfast.

Barbara’s shredded oats-leftover and brought back from NM.  I can’t find them anywhere in the regular grocery stores here.  I have to start looking further afield.  Delicious with the Silk Pure Almond!  This bowl makes me Happy!

In my effort to get back on track, I made egg salad in the morning.  It’s a great thing to have on hand because both Ralph and I can eat it for lunches (oh, Ok, for snacks sometimes too!)  A big plop of it (Ok, I measured…it was a half cup) on top of some of the leftover salad from the big salad I made to take to Ele’s on Saturday night.  I love when I have already made salad in the fridge.  I should probably do it more often.  A little bit of Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime and some pickled jalapeno spiced it up.  I’ve recently gotten hooked by these tasty beauties.  I had them at Ele’s house and I can get them in a jar at Aldi…cheap!  I forget what I paid, but I’ve put them in eggs, on veggie burgers…Yum!  Also love my Free yellow bowl! Perfect size for lunch.

Dinner was fairly standard…the rest of the leftover salad with some added celery, green bell peppers and tomatoes (which didn’t go in until after the photo!)  Topped with some shredded cheese and Catalina dressing (also brought back unopened from NM, couldn’t open it because of the fridge issues) Oh, yes…a Morningstar Farms spicy black bean burger, too.  They are still my favorite!  All mixed up in my very favorite…The Big Purple Bowl!!

We’ve had a great deal of rain the last few days and even though I’ve been starting to feel like getting out to walk again, the weather has Not cooperated.  I know I need to start to get exercise again.  So it was 40 minutes on the exercise bike for me.  Great way to get some exercise in and some reading…well I’m exercising too, right?! 😉  Wish I had a treadmill…once we move, I’m voting for a treadmill!

I also feel VERY accomplished because I did a lot toward sorting and packing.  My hairdresser is buying a set of dishes that I had packed away.  They were packed in plastic bins wrapped in clothes.  I thought they were my clothes but they were shirts of Ralph’s.  As I packed up the dishes in the new way I’ve learned (I’ll explain that sometime!) Ralph tried on all of the shirts to see if they still fit.  😦  Only weeded out one shirt, but I’ll find more. 

Three plastic bins OUT of the bedroom and ready to be packed with something else!  Moving them out allowed me to get to several boxes that were marked “Books Not Read.” OK! I went through those books (mostly Goodwill finds so-Cheap!) Found two duplicates of things I’ve bought again, because I didn’t realize I had them! But weeded through them as well, pulling out books I don’t think I really want to read.  More for the Yard Sale…Hooray!!  I was able to then pack in some others that were in my towering (toppling) To Read pile.  I now have more room in the bedroom and more fodder for the Yard Sale!

That brings us to the end of What I Ate Wednesday…And Everything Else I Did!!  I felt very accomplished by the end of the day.  I need more days like this in the food department and in the sorting and packing department as well!  I think it’s still rainy out there, so no walk for me today, but I WILL be on the bike!

Don’t forget…hope over to Peas & Crayons to check out what all the WIAW cuties are posting today!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!  I Need To Go Do A Project!!!

 

 

 

Should We or Shouldn’t We?

I got all caught up in telling about the wonderful 50th anniversary lunch yesterday that I completely skipped Tuesday and quite a monumental lunch.

I’m usually the one when Ralph suggests going out for lunch, I say “Ok, what’s today?  Let me think…well maybe…”  On Tuesday for some reason…It was a different story!

Ralph suggested going to 25 Burgers and I immediately said yes!  We had been there once before and thought it was very good.   It is good but what they serve you is Huge and could really be a problem if we went there too often.

I like it because they offer a veggie burger AND you can have it turned into any one of their 25 burgers!

Oh, Lordy!  I got a 6 alarm burger.  That included fresh salsa, jalapeno and hot peppers, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and chipotle may.  It was dreadfully messy but enormously tasty!  Ralph insisted that I get sweet potato fries and I didn’t put up much of a fight.  I was just feeling like something decadent and believe me I got it!  There was a tasty dipping sauce with the fries which I forgot to ask about.  It was incredibly tasty and believe me, I won’t be doing this too often!  It was so good!!

Tell me…Do you think Ralph is happy about his burger?!  I think he was!

I’m actually excited about something.  After doing my post yesterday about the anniversary party, I needed to post the pictures on Facebook.  I actually taught myself how to do an album on Facebook!  I’ve been trying to learn how to do that for all the time I’ve been on there!  I know that might not sound like much of an accomplishment for some of you…but I was pretty proud of myself! 🙂

I’m also reading a rather interesting book

Found it at Goodwill, of course!  Very interesting story.  I’m about a third of the way through it.  Hope it stays interesting!

I’m still working hard and doing well with my walking!  I was up and out by 6:30 this morning!  It was actually cool and very comfortable for walking. I’m so glad I started this!

Happy Friday!!

What Will The Scale Say?

First I have to say thanks to everyone for your concern regarding our plumbing issues.  Interesting that the water technician from our borough was of much greater help than the dolt sent to us from the plumbing company.  Ralph and I have decided it’s the last time for them!  The town water tech however did a great deal to help and we think we’re all back on-line.  Just have to address that washer filled with yesterday’s laundry.  That’s my next project.

I learned a good lesson today.  If I’m going to the produce market…do it at 8:30 in the morning!  Less traffic getting there, almost no one in the parking lot and almost no one in line.  The lines there can take 10 or 15 minutes to get through, but not so today.  Must remember that for the next time! 😉

I needed to pick up salad type things for the birthday party we’ll be attending tomorrow.  Yes another birthday!  We’re looking forward to it.  I’ll be making a mega salad in a few minutes.

Also had to stop at Walmart (logistically it was the closest) to pick up some dressings to take with the salad.  Since I was there and since Walmart usually has the least expensive Morningstar Farms products in the area, I went foraging.  Foraging is really the word because they had the boxes all every which way and it was difficult to find out which varieties were there.  I even told the check out lady that they need to organize it.  I’m really speaking up lately!  I think I’m proud of myself!

I was so excited because I found these…

The mushroom lover’s burger!!  I haven’t been able to find these for months, maybe even last year some time.  Trust me these will be dinner tonight! 😉  I still say that I wish Morningstar would lower their prices on these, but soon, I hope to be making my own veggie burgers!  Ummm…didn’t I say that last week?!  No this time I’ll be doing it the Right Way!!

I’m writing this on Friday afternoon and I’ll be scheduling it for Saturday morning.  When it posts I’ll be at my Weight Watchers meeting.  I’m hoping for the best and I certainly have felt as if I’ve been on track this week.  Regardless of the result, I know that I’ve been mindful of my eating and making every effort to keep myself from getting out of control on anything.

Tomorrow I’ll be telling you all about Another Birthday Party!!  Won’t that be Fun!! 😉

Happy Saturday!!  Wish me Luck!!! 🙂

 

WIAW~Without the ABC’s

Welcome to a regular plain old What I Ate Wednesday with no letters attached, just food.  Let’s see how I do without an Alphabet to support me.  Of course, all the fun is still directed and supported by the lovely Jenn at Peas & Crayons. When you’re finished here, be sure to visit P & C to get some great food ideas and leave some comments.  Let the fun begin!

I like to be more orderly when I’m sharing my Food Fun with all of you, but as I look at my photos, not much excitement to be had.

There’s a breakfast…

Key lime pie yogurt (only 39 cents at Aldi!) very tasty.  My first time trying this flavor.  Yum.  Wish they had more flavors there.  Of course its little friend, the bowl of Fiber One (actually Aldi brand too) always tags along.  Very tasty and filling and can also do double duty as a quick lunch.  Actually…it’s good Any Time!

The last of my 2 months of free Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee.  I’m sad 😦  but I just got some more coupons.  2 coupons for 99 cents, but Free is still better! Hey, it’s Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.  Better get it while I can…I’ve never seen Dunkin’ in New Mexico!

I love a lunch that starts out as a quick pick up at the WaWa…

Veggie and dip pack from WaWa and cottage cheese from home (also Aldi-it’s everywhere!)

It became a very satisfying lunch…it really held me for quite a while.

Two dinners for you.  After my slashed finger last week, I hadn’t been doing a lot of chopping, not wanting to get my war wound wet.  I ate a lot of veggie burgers on buns.

So happy to have a salad again.  This one with home-made dressing again.  I’m not even sure what I put into this one.  Need to perfect that and start writing down what I use!  Added to it were 2 Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Patties.   Such a great addition to a salad.  10 grams of protein each and only 3 Points each on Weight Watchers.  All tossed together in the Big Purple Bowl, Of Course!

A Wonderful veggie combo…onion, garlic, yellow bell pepper, zucchini, Portobello mushroom, tomatoes and broccoli.  Various spices (gotta remember to write those down!)  Very tasty.  It’s so good to get back to fresh veggies.  That reminds me…I think there needs to be a trip to the produce market planned into my day today.

That’s this week’s What I Ate Wednesday.  Please be sure to follow the link over to Peas & Crayons to check out everyone else’s goodies and leave some comments.  There’s always something interesting over there, and I always find new and interesting blogs to read.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing my new look with you.   Not the blog…Me!  Got new glasses yesterday (I look Very studious), but I need to do hair and makeup before I do a photo… 😉  Gotta look my best don’t I?!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

 

 

 

Old Familiar…

I often bemoan on BCDC the fact that I repeat my foods so often, how boring they seem when I look at the photos and how I should change that.  I could probably save space on my WordPress account by reusing the photos because they look the same.  OK, so I like what I like and I like to repeat.  I’m bored too sometimes, Kids.

All that being said, when I got up bright and early on Wednesday into the crock pot went my bag of pre soaked black beans.  The result…

These beauties!  I’ve said it before, nothing beats the flavor of home cooked beans.  They’re so inexpensive, I think this bag cost $1.29 and so easy now that I know how to do them in the crock pot!  All I have to do is remember to soak them!  I get so many meals out of them, it’s crazy!

Lunch looks pretty familiar over the past couple of weeks…

I am just loving having egg salad ready for a quick lunch.  Ralph loves it in sandwiches and I pair it with my low-fat cottage cheese on top of chopped Romaine lettuce.  I love to liberally sprinkle Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning on top. So Tasty!

Something New and Something Old.  The something new is that I’ve finally figured out how to use Skype!  My best friends Gail and Alice have been in Florida since January.  We talk all the time and we’ve done a lot of “talking” about setting up Skype but none of us has actually done it.  I decided on Tuesday that I’d take the plunge.  Alice scared me yesterday morning by suddenly popping up on my screen.  After figuring out a few things, like the fact that I can see her a whole lot better if she turns a light on  (!!) we ended the session with plans to meet up again in the afternoon.

Ta Da!!!  There they are.  We had a wonderful time, laughing hysterically most of the time and having difficulty getting Gail to behave.  She insisted on making faces at me the entire time, much as she does when we’re together in person.  That’s what happens when you’ve know someone since you were six weeks old.  The story our Moms told us was that Gail was born when I was six weeks old.  My Mom took me to visit her Mom.  They put us in the playpen together and the rest is history.   This was great fun and we’ll probably do it every day.

By the time dinner came around, I had no enthusiasm.  However, a girl’s got to eat!  Started with Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Patties.

Cooked them up in the microwave topped with some shredded cheese on a sandwich thin.

And some reduced calorie Miracle Whip.

Nothing fancy.  I was hungry so I had two and I had enough Points left to do it.  This was very filling and kept me satisfied for the evening with the exception of a Lime Tootsie Pop.  I’ve been in pretty good control all week, which makes me happy.  Hoping for a good result at Weight Watchers on Saturday.

It’s dreary and overcast and looks like it will be rainy today.  I’m not thrilled about that, but what can you do.  I’ve also been awake since 3:30am so it will be fun later trying to stay awake.  I’m not worried.  It’ll all work out.

Happy Thursday!

 

Big City, Small Town

Ralph and I started out in Philadelphia on Monday.  We had to find an office where he has an appointment this week.  With very little difficulty we found it.  We were told it was directly across the street from the Melrose Diner and that was true!  Made it very easy to find.

The Melrose Diner  ( I forgot to take a photo…) has been in business since 1935 and you can tell it has that old-time diner feel about it.  We decided to sit at the counter and it was a good idea.  We had a very nice server and she gave us a little history of the place.

These paintings are from the original diner and were kept when it was renovated some years ago.

Everyone was extremely friendly.  I went with thoughts of breakfast but ended up with lunch.  I was surprised and happy to see a black bean burger on the menu so I zeroed in on that.

It was big and tasty and I enjoyed it.  I tried for a side salad to replace the fries, but I could only get a vegetable from the day’s selection.  I picked apple sauce and I thought that was a good alternative to the fries.  Their coffee was really good and it was overall a good experience!

It was an incredibly beautiful day.  The temperature was in the 80’s and the humidity low.  Skies were blue and as we drove home Ralph suggested that we take a ride to the Park. 

You’ve heard me talk about the Park before.  Red Bank Battlefield lies along the Delaware River and has always been a part of our lives because my sister, Ele and I grew up here.  It is a Revolutionary War battle site and I’ll let the experts tell you the history.  Please read it because it’s a wonderful history.  In October there is a reenactment of the battle.  I’ll hopefully be going this year and I’ll share it with everyone.

A cannon from the fort.

The statue of Colonel Christopher Greene, one of the heroes of the battle.

The plaque explaining the history of the battle.

Two wind-blown tourists!  We walked around the Park for about a half hour and had a great time.

The beautiful, blue sky and the old trees of the Park!

It was a great day and later I had the chance to enjoy it again when Ele called to ask if I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful day and take a walk.  Well, I already did, but I’ll do it again!!  It was very pleasant and I can certainly benefit from the extra exercise.  But don’t you know it, when I got changed I took off my pedometer to find out the battery was dead and I got NO credit for any walking on Monday! 😦  Ah, well…it’s always something…

Tuesday looks pretty sunny so far.  I’m headed over to our storage unit to do some work there.  Still have things to sort out and I hope to get some of it to Goodwill.  I’m trying to get it cleaned out before we leave on our trip.  I don’t want to have to pay for it another month.  Trying to be thrifty!!  We’ll see how it goes!

Happy Tuesday!!