Cooking

Wholesome, Delicious & Easy Homemade Granola

updownflight1 Comment
All natural goodness and worth the splurge!

I’ve always liked granola and tried making it homemade a number of times, but this version is the best I’ve ever had! It’s more than worth the splurge. Yet it has some healthy additions that help offset any guilt. Sometimes I do indulge in eating it in a little milk, but a little goes a long way as it’s so flavorful, crunchy, and satisfying. It’s also perfect sprinkled on top of yogurt or ice cream or as part of a parfait.

This homemade granola is super easy to make. You can vary the nut, fruit and seed options, but I strongly suggest considering all (or at least some) of the ones I use. It’s a perfect combination! I’ve been making it frequently as I have a very large supply of honey in my pantry. Beekeeping is very popular in Czech Republic, where I now live. My brother also keeps honeybees in New Jersey, in the US. It’s a good practice as the honeybee populations are crucial to maintain in the world. Plus, honey tastes marvelous!

Continue reading →

Czech-Style Potato Salad

updownflight2 Comments

Czech-Style Potato Salad (2)
There is actually a lot more potato salad in the bowl than it appears. Around 3 quarts.

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans! I hope everyone has good weather and will perhaps enjoy the delights of a BBQ.  I’m going to my dad’s house today, where my brother will surely be the grill master. We will have simple barbecue fare, like good ole’ Loeffler’s hot dogs, hamburgers, and pork roll (a New Jersey specialty). I was asked to bring potato salad. Continue reading →

Beef Stroganoff – Diet-friendly version, but only the cook may know it

updownflight3 Comments

Beef Stroganoff Light version
Beef Stroganoff served with egg noodles

In my household, Beef Stroganoff is both a comfort food, and yet more than worthy of serving to guests, including my diet-friendly version. I had never eaten or made this dish until about 15 years ago. My first version was loosely based on one considered fully “Core” for Weight Watcher’s former Core Plan, now the Simply Filling Plan. I’ve since reworked this recipe from its simpler version, to one that wows both my husband and I. Continue reading →

The American food industry thinks we are stupid, inattentive, or complacent

updownflight8 Comments

Yogurts cropped
The gradually decreasing size of yogurt containers

After a rather stressful appointment today, I decided to pick up a few things from the grocery store. The main items on my list were granulated sugar and pure almond extract. Both items happen to almost always be in the same aisle, the baking aisle, so I went there first before getting side tracked and buying more than I wanted to. The store had zero pure almond extract. They only had the imitation crap. That pissed me off! I refused to buy that. Then what was worse, when I went to pick up a bag (meaning one, 5-lb bag) of granulated sugar, I almost had a fit. I could tell in a millisecond that they were smaller. All of the bags (all brands) were suddenly 4-lb bags! Continue reading →

Weeks 10 & 11 – Friday Fitness and Weight Loss Updates

updownflight5 Comments

Steps back steps forward
One step backward, two steps forward equals progress

It’s been a tough couple of weeks! My computer has given me major problems (explaining the combined weeks 10 & 11 post), my mood has been low, and my motivation to keep up my fitness and weight loss journey was disturbed much of the time.  At the end of week 10, I thought I would’ve at least maintained my weight, but I didn’t though my calorie consumption seemed mostly in the maintenance or slight weight loss range. This past week 11, I did a little bit better. I weighed myself a bit early, and was encouraged. Luckily, I lost a touch more by my weigh-in day. Here are my results: Continue reading →

Beef Goulash Znojmo Style (Znojemský guláš)

updownflight4 Comments

IMG_20180321_133819038
Not the prettiest dish, but it tastes so good! Pictured with Karlovy Vary bread dumplings.

Goulash is very popular throughout Central Europe, and is a real comfort food, made at home and offered at some restaurants and pubs. Its origins are from Hungary, but the recipe takes on many forms, depending on where it is made. In this post, I’d like to share a goulash from the city of Znojmo in the South Moravian Region of Czech Republic. Continue reading →

Czech Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) Bread Dumplings – Karlovarský knedlík

updownflight2 Comments

Knedliky
Knedlíky are great for soaking up sauces or with sauerkraut

Dumplings (Knedlíky)! The Czech people just love them, and they come in various forms and flavors, for various purposes! Dumplings are often served with meat dishes (usually with sauces or sauerkraut), may appear in some soups, or even have fruit or other sweet fillings Continue reading →

Week 7 – Friday Fitness and Weight Loss Update

updownflight

jet lag
I hate airports and jet lag!

TGIF! I’m happy to report that I’m finally tracking my eating again, after not doing so during the full course of my recent two-week vacation, and four days after my return.  Those following my updates saw that I gained much more than expected during my time away from home. Stress eating and illness unfortunately played a part. Continue reading →

Week 3 – Friday Fitness and Weight Loss Update

updownflight48 Comments

Week 3 visual total weight loss equivalent-001
~7.4 lbs (3.36 kg) of products (my total weight loss after 3 weeks)

I just finished week three of my fitness and weight loss journey! I’m so proud that I’ve remained committed to this endeavor. Actually, after getting past the first two weeks, tracking and staying on plan is getting easier. It’s like less effort, and comes more naturally. Though I know not all weeks will yield weight losses, so far I have lost weight every week since my journey’s start. See this week’s results below, followed by reflections, a statement of my updated interim goals, and a link to my plan details (for those who’ve not read them). Continue reading →