I have so many of those tiny peppers to use up. I kind of get crazy when I see stuff on the $1 rack!

I think I’ll grill some up to make a grilled pepper soup, but decided to sauté some up to make something for breakfast and see where my inspiration took me. A quick look in the fridge and I had . . . bacon. Doesn’t bacon go with everything? Then I chopped up a zucchini, and about six of those tiny peppers.

Bacon and Pepper Egg Bake

Fills two, six ounce oven proof ramekins

240 calories, 13 fat, 7 carbs, 1.8 fiber and 20 protein or only 3 WW points (maybe because they are so low carb?)

Ingredients:

· Six small peppers, diced

· 1 medium zucchini, diced

· 4 slices of bacon

· 1 cup egg beaters

· 1 ounce cheddar cheese

· 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

· Pinch of salt and pepper

Directions:

Cook bacon in skillet. Remove when its crispy (yep, can’t have chewy bacon – ew!). Drain almost all the fat, then add in the zucchini, peppers, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Sauté until the veggies are done to your liking.

Spray your ramekins with Pam. Put two pieces of bacon on the bottom of the ramekin (I just crushed 2 slices to cover the bottom) divided the veggie mixture between the two, added ½ cup of egg beaters to each one, than topped with ½ ounce of cheddar cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes.

I also added some cherry peppers to kick it up, if you don’t like the spice, just leave them out.

 

I forgot my good camera at home, so I had to use my blackberry, but here was my breakfast with sautéed apples and slivered almonds.  Breakfast comes in at 390 calories, 22 fat, 27 carbs, 5.8 fiber and 22 protein.

I had every intention of walking at lunch yesterday, but the winds were 35-40 mph. I had some work errands to run, so I ate lunch before I headed out. 1.5 ounce sesame bagel, 2 ounces deli turkey, .8 ounce of provolone, some salad mix on the bottom – toasted under the broiler in the office toaster oven, with yucca chips on the side with some watermelon.  Lunch comes in at 567 calories, 9 fat, 77 carbs (yikes!), 3.8 fiber and 22 protein.

Um, are you thinking what yucca chips are? I made them from a yucca root. My store sells this size yucca root for around $1.50. Sliced thinly and crisped up in my deep fryer – I basically can have three ounces of these chips for the same calories as potato chips. Only one slight problem. I have no idea why I thought yucca was low carb, it’s not. In fact while my 3 ounce serving is only 160 calories, it has 40 grams of carbs! I did some research and discovered that turnips, rutabagas and celery root are low carb (like only 6 grams per cup) so I am going to play around with making chips out of those veggies.

    

I store them in an airtight container.  These are so delicious!

I had help with dinner from my buddy Rick Bayless.  Again, from my pantry clean I found that I had this taco packet – 2 tablespoons are only 20 calories.

Two chicken tacos, with Veronica’s crock pot pinto beanson the bottom.  I follow her recipe to the T, except I add two full chipotle peppers to mine to kick it up.  Dinner comes in at 458 calories, 15 fat, 43 carbs, 8.1 fiber and 38 protein.

I keep reading some of my brothers old posts – I really miss that he stopped blogging, but with his work schedule, any family time I realize that something had to go. I especially love this post – called point of view.I think it’s especially appropriate for those of us losing weight. For some of us, it’s the final number on the scale, or a smaller size jeans. But I think trying to get to the “end result” we forget to stop and applaud ourselves during the journey.

Case in point – my dear blog friend Shelley – even though she was sidelined for over a year with a foot injury, she participated in a 10k run over the weekend. Was it a PR? Nope. But it doesn’t matter because she’s doing it! I also think it’s cute how color coordinated her running outfits have been the last 10 weeks leading up to that race. I am lucky if I have less than five stains on the shirt and sweats I wear. Yep, still klassy like that!

Stats for the Day:

• 1310 caloires, 46 fat, 149 carbs, 17 fiber and 79 protein
• 46% of calories from carbs, 32% from fat 22% from protein
• 30 minute stretch before work
• no wine 😀
• no snacking after dinner 😀

Make it a great day!