Monday, April 30, 2007

"Dash your curry like you're not in a hurry!"

For my blog title, I should give props to M.I.A., a Sri Lankan songwriter/hip-hop artist about whom I know very little, but whose music I completely love. I listened to her album Arular while cooking this meal tonight.

This recipe is from a favorite and well-loved and -beaten cookbook that was a lifesaver in my early days of Weight Watchers. I used to set my cookbook on the top of my stove while cooking, sometimes while baking things. I only stopped doing this and got a cookbook holder after I realized that the pages of this and my other cookbooks were turning very brown and crispy. This recipe was the most fried:




Curried Cauliflower with Black Beans

from Weight Watchers Versatile Vegetarian

POINTS® value | 3
Per Serving | 176 cal, 6 g fat, 10 g fiber
Servings | 4

main meal | As heavenly as it is quick and simple, this is an incredibly satisfying and flavorful meal.

Ingredients
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 small cauliflower, cored and separated into florets
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• one 14-oz can crushed tomatoes
• one 19-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 Tbsp minced cilantro
• salt to taste

Instructions
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the curry, cumin and coriander; cook, stirring, until just fragrant, 10-15 seconds. Add the cauliflower, pepper flakes and 1/4 cup water; cook, stirring as needed, until the cauliflower is well-coated and nearly all of the liquid is evaporated, 3-4 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and 1/4 cup water; cook, covered, stirring as needed, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Gently stir in the black beans; cook until heated through, 2-3 minutes. Sprinke with the cilantro. Add salt to taste.

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Sunday, April 29, 2007

I reached my Weight Watcher's goal on April 11th!

I noticed in the recipe below that I had converted all the calories and nutritional information to POINTS, with the help from Weight Watchers. I don't think I've ever mentioned on this blog that I'm in Weight Watchers. For those of you thinking of trying it, Weight Watchers is fantastic and incredibly successful. It has been for me, anyway. Since May of 2006, I have lost 22.4 lbs! I reached my goal on April 11th, and I'm currently half-way through the process of "Maintenance". This is a period of 6 weeks, during which you work to maintain your weight goal. If, after six weeks, you weigh in at no more than two pounds over your goal, you are awarded Lifetime Membership! This is very exciting, because you can continue to attend the meetings and gather the support from the group for free for as long as you keep off the weight.

I'm working very hard for this ultimate goal.

So here are the before and after pics:

Before: At my mom's graduation, 05/13/06:
ww_before

After: In my bedroom, immediately after my WW Meeting, 04/11/07:
ww_after

Isn't that cool?! Woo-hoo!

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