Recipe: Turkey and peanut curry

Ingredients:

• 500g turkey
• 5 carrots, sliced
• 1 tsp green curry paste
• 3 tbsp peanut butter
• 3 tbsp cheese spread
• 1 tbsp honey
• Salt, pepper, mint

Instructions:

1. Fry off the turkey. Add the carrots and then curry paste for a couple of minutes.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.

April Goals

I'm still loving this monthly goal setting experience although one is clearly falling by the wayside.  I've set myself the unachieved goal again this month and am hoping that when the warm weather finally arrives and my running program finally gets off the ground, I'll finally achieve it - in time for the dress fitting!

Honey Glazed Salmon Stir Fry

Here's my latest new recipe attempt - honey glazed salmon stir fry from the Weightwatchers Fast and Fabulous book.  It was delicious.  I love how fast and easy stir frying in the wok is anyway and it was nice to include fish in that too.  Lovely.

Success!

Just got back from my second Weightwatchers meeting and after a very nervous weigh in (the lady is very quiet while she works it out and I ate a lot of home made ice cream last week - all pointed up though) - I lost 1.3 kilos (about 3 lbs).  My goal was 500g so I am very pleased and plan to keep it up.

I figured my new favourite post run song is now appropriate here as I wave goodbye to another kilo at last.

The Saturday Update

It's been a busy week at work again this week.  First we had the last two days of induction week for year five and then we had to get back into normal lessons.  It went quite well.  We managed to keep a trip on the schedule despite thunderstorms on Tuesday and with my regular classes, there are just two I really need to keep an eye on control wise.  As well as that we had year team meetings to plan the class trip in October, Whiteboard training and unfortunately, our first call to parents for a particular naughty pupil in our class but at least we are on top of things!  

On a personal level, it was my first week back at Weightwatchers and so far I'm feeling good.  Even though I don't entirely trust them any more, my scales at home say I have lost three pounds (and that's despite the delicious Hawaiian Chicken on Sunday) so we will see on Monday.  I only got on them to give me an extra boost to stay on track over the weekend.  I need to get back into running ready for the 10k but for the second week running, I've cycled to work every day, earning me an extra 20 WW points!

This morning I'm heading to Ikea with Loreto as we are out of DVD space now.  Apart from that we're planning on a quiet weekend.  The weather really turned this week and I'm really feeling it with the sniffles and a cold sore on the way so need to rest!  I finished Robinson Crusoe - my classic for the month and started re-reading Cloud Atlas in anticipation of the film later this year.  We've also booked our trip to the Harz in October with Dad, staying in Goslar this time - looking forward to that.

Weightwatchers

Yesterday, it was back to Weightwatchers for me.  Having made no progress this year, or living a one step forward, one step back approach, I decided I needed some real motivation, and I'm hoping that getting on those scales in public once a week (and on a Monday) will be just that.

The plan has changed a little since I last did Weightwatchers but I think I'm on top of it.  I decided to do the monthly pass so that I am under extra pressure to go and also that means I get the online tools included so I cancelled my long underused British online account.

I was a little down about being back there having got to goal once already but one of the rules is to have a positive outlook and the fact is that fully dressed and after lunch, I weighed less on the official scales than I do at home (on Weightwatchers weighing scales) so not as far to go as I thought...

The other big difference is that it is all in kilos so I need to get my mind around that too but I'm going to stick with it.  It's Turkey Curry for tea tonight.

The Saturday Update

It's been a lovely last week of the holidays for me.  Since arriving back last weekend, I spent Monday having lunch with the lovely Loreto who I had really missed during our combined travels and then signed my permanent contract!  

On Tuesday we visited Nico's family and picked Pete up.  We even took him for a walk around their huge garden on the lead and are looking forward to his new one arriving so we can do the same here. 

Wednesday was our last day of the holiday together as Nico was back on Thursday.  We relaxed and watched Total Recall!  I love the idea of the film but how dated it looked (I couldn't believe it was made in 1990) was laughable.  Looking forward to seeing the new version.

Thursday was a long, quiet but productive day by myself in the flat.  I got tidied and cleaned up, finished unpacking etc and read over half of Shadow in the Wind in preparation for reading Carlos Ruiz Zafon's latest instalment - The Prisoner of Heaven which I'm well into now.

Friday was more of the same, getting things done and reading lots.  Nico was home a little earlier though so we enjoyed a lovely steak dinner together.  Despite the lovely food and drink all week and not really paying attention to the diet since I'm going back to Weightwatchers, I have lost the pound that I put on on holiday.  I'm still planning to go back to meetings, I'm just waiting to get my timetable from school so I can see which time is best for me.

So next week is the big one, back to work, meeting the new class, more catching up with friends I haven't seen all Summer.... Have a good week!

The Saturday Update

It's a been a great week on many fronts this week.  First of all we had a visit from my Mum and Doug.  They stayed Sunday to Thursday and we showed them the sights of Huchting and around (they have been to Bremen before).  We had glorious weather at the start of the week too which made it even nicer.

They brought a lot of my things from England - mainly DVDs and clothes.  The DVDs went straight into our lovely DVD shelves that we bought in January but the clothes will take a bit more time.  They're my inspiration for getting back to goal since there are too many nice ones I can no longer fit into.  It seems to be working already as despite all the eating out and drinking this week, I lost two pounds!  

On Monday we had a quiet day, wandering round the park in Huchting, unpacking and visiting the Mongolian buffet for dinner.  Afterwards, we cracked out the board games, introduced Nico to scrabble, Mum and Doug to Dixit and then had a round of Carcasonne.  Lovely evening.

On Tuesday we headed first to the Baumarkt (German equivalent of B&Q) to buy supplies for finally putting a cat net on the balcony so we can sit out more - another project in the pipeline...  Afterwards, we met up with Loreto and headed out to Fischerhude.  It was my first trip there and we all totally loved it but more on that later.

It was back to work on Wednesday for me and Nico and the nice weather started to disappear.  At least it was a shorter working week that was mainly about returning grades and preparing year eight for London next week.  After work we had a nice, late lunch in Bremen and then headed home for the evening.

Thursday was the last day so we headed into Bremen to meet Loreto and Ed at a Thai restaurant for an early dinner followed by coffees at Cafe Bar Celona and then an early night as they set of back at 2am.

On Friday I had my usual short day at work before getting all my jobs done around the flat.  Today I've got more to do, including those clothes and heading to the Roland Center so we are going to be relaxing tomorrow.

In amongst all this, I completed my last knitting project of a mobile phone holder, took some lessons from Mum who kindly brought me tons of needles, wool and books, and started a new project which is going well so far (touch wood).

Next week should be pretty smooth with four of my seven classes away on trips, I will probably have lots of cover but at least there'll be less planning and marking!  I also have my English conversation group, an appointment at the council about my contract and a day and a half off for marking which is already in the bag!  Have a good one people.

Inspiration

If you read my regular Saturday updates you may have realised that I am indeed struggling with my on going goal to get back to my goal weight.  When I'm good I'm good, and the rest of the time, I undo all my good work.  Recently I decided to motivate myself with this pretty food diary.  I went out and bought myself a pretty notebook and a set of coloured pens and got to work.  It may seem silly - I've been tracking online for over a year to no avail but somehow getting the pens out and writing it down makes it seem more daunting and important.  Since I started I have had my two lowest weigh ins of the year although I did get a little off track while we had visitors (and we have more visitors next week).  Watch this space.

The Saturday Update

We've had a great week here in sunny Bremen.  We had a lovely visit from Briony and Lucas as you may have seen from this week's posts.  Here are a few final piccies.

Enjoying a frappuccino in the sun!

Finding new friends

At the Mongolian on the last night

Posing!

Just lovely!

So we are now enjoying a quiet weekend, especially Pete!  We had some lovely mojitos in the sun this afternoon and will be catching up on some projects tomorrow.  

Next week is a back to normal working week except that it includes the English exam on Wednesday which is stress but also means an early finish and a day and a half off to mark in a couple of weeks.  

We will then be getting ready for another family visit the week after but more on that later.

When I got weighed on Thursday this week I had lost two pounds - must be all that pram pushing!  I will be being extra good this week too!  Have a good one!

The Saturday Update

There's not a lot to report this week.  I've been working hard at school - preparing for the new year five and planning another little project for next year (fingers crossed.).  It's funny but although I have already been at the school for almost two years, it's only now that I'm really starting to feel a part of things.  It really makes me want to work harder and better which is why it's lucky that I have more time for it than ever with my MA and French course finished.

I did three lots of Zumba this week and started the Race for Life training plan in preparation for my 10km race in October.  That and the amount of salads and fruit I have been eating have paid off with a 3.25lb loss this week so I am at my lightest weight for 2012!  Just have to not blow it next week now!  I have to say the weather helps a lot.  I just know that I'm too good and treating myself when we have visitors and this week we've got my sister and baby nephew and in two weeks my mum and step-dad!  Must retain my will power!

I also had my first experience at a German opticians this week.  My supply of contact lenses from Specsavers is finally coming to an end and I decided to make a fresh start here.  I passed the eye test (luckily it was done by numbers and not letters as I have more problems with my accent there and it could have been fun) and have to pick up a test pair of lenses next weekend.

Next week promises to be fun with a short work week and the aforementioned visit from Briony and Lucas, which means another trip to the zoo, rediscovering Bremen and if the weather holds, baby's first trip to the beach!

The Saturday Update

This week I have ... stayed the same.  I am not impressed.  I have been having three square weightwatchers meals per day with fruit as snacks and cycling for at least an hour every day.  I have never been so good on weightwatchers and had such a bad week.  :-(  

I had a bit of a snacking session at lunchtime out of anger but am back on the wagon already.  I'm hoping that it is just taking a bit longer to kick in.  Nico is trying to convince me that the fat has started turning to muscle with all the cycling but I'm not won over yet.  I'm wondering if the scales may be broken since that weight hasn't changed since the move - and it measures to the half pound!  They may get some vigorous testing later...

First week at work wasn't bad.  With the meetings and pupils not having subject lessons until Friday when I only have one class, I had a fairly light week so we will see how it develops this week with a normal timetable.  On the positive side, I've been invited along on the class trip to the school centre in the forest with my favourite class in September so looking forward to that and on a personal note, became an auntie again when my little sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy - Lucas.  

Tomorrow we are taking a trip with Nico's family to Cuxhaven, where I have never been before so I'm looking forward to that and must remember to take the camera!  Photos of the flat will be online tomorrow now that we have tidied up a bit but the office is not on yet, for that very reason!! 

The Saturday Update

Yep, I'm back with my weekly updates.  After some weeks off the diet to get used to being gluten free and with the move, I'm back on Weightwatchers and trying to get into a routine. 

This week I have stayed the same.  Actually, despite good intentions last week it's been pretty rocky and apart from still being on holiday, it's been up and down emotionally so I think with all the comfort eating, staying the same is a good result.

This week it's back to school and hopefully back into a good routine.  After a quiet week exercise wise, I will be cycling too and from school every day so hopefully that will give me a good boost.

Back on the Wagon

As of yesterday I am back on the Weightwatchers Wagon in terms of food.  (I can't promise anything on the drinking front until the holidays are officially over)  We got of to a great start with a delicious pork Sunday roast.  When Nico said he wanted a nice meat dish and not just mince and chicken that we normally eat, I have to admit I did wrinkle my face up a little bit.  I am not a fan of red meat, and of all red meat, pork is probably the last I would pick out.  I eat it and if it's well cooked I really enjoy it but it's not the first thing I pick from the menu or in this case, the latest Weightwatchers magazine.  Yesterday, I was proved wrong. 

This delicious recipe involves cooking the meat for a long time which is perfect for my taste and with all of the veg and spices, it was delicious.  Here's what we did:

• Preheat the oven to 180c.
• Put 300g of potatoes (cut into wedges) and an onion (also cut into wedges) in a casserole dish.
• Pour over 50ml of white wine and 50ml of vegetable stock.
• Lay 250g of pork on top of the potatoes and onion and season well with salt and pepper.  
• Roast for 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Add 3 quartered peppers and four garlic cloves to the vegetables and lay the pork back on top.  Season again and add some thyme.
• Return to the oven for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile cook some spinach.
• Rest the pork and serve the vegetables.  Add sauce thickener to the remaining juices.
• Carve and serve the pork with the sauce, vegetables and spinach.

There are also lots of other great recipes in the August edition - take a look!

The Saturday Update

Well it's been a slow week this week.  After a nice long relaxing weekend, we had a lovely dinner with friends on the bank holiday, making our favourite recipes and playing darts.  Then it was back to work for a short three day week that didn't feel so short.  I managed to get two of my year groups' grades in and the rest are to be done next week!  It's been a week of ups and downs with three family members in and out of hospital.  It's times like these that make me feel how far from home I am and I've been wondering all week if I need to drop everything and get back but touchwood, things look to be improving slowly but surely. 

So, having indulged in wine and chocolate to abate the stress and worries of the week, I was surprised to have only put a pound on this week and am starting the week with a renewed energy and resolve.  It will be another shorter week with all classes cancelled on Monday for the oral exams.  As mentioned, the main work target will be finishing the grades before reporting time.  And now it's less than four weeks to our England trip.  I'm really looking forward to it!

The Saturday Update

A little later than usual again, I'm postponing the weigh in until next week after this little visit and another week of the Weightwatchers but on the gluten free diet.  I know I haven't done well but I am completely inspired by this weather and all the Summer clothes I now have here that I need to get back into.  We also walked a hell of a lot this week again, with a new record of 7.9 points in one day!  Today, it's back to Earth and work with a bump and being very good with fingers crossed for Saturday.

Weightwatchers.

For four years now on and off, I have been following Weightwatchers and I have to say, never have I been quite so into it as I am here in Germany.  Okay, so I did get to goal in England (although I didn't manage to maintain that) but things are made so much easier here.  First of all, there is an actual Weightwatchers shop in Bremen.  Whereas in England, you could only buy products at meetings or online, here you can just call in at the shop.  You don't have to be a member or attend the meetings there (although you can of course).  Due to my poor German when I arrived and my dislike of being tied down to a specific weekly slot, I am a member of Weightwatchers online which suits me just fine as I have all the tools I need and can access it when I like. 

Also, it's not just the fact that their is a shop but also some of the products they have.  Germany have been on the new propoints system for a while so that has been a smooth transition for me but the products here are totally different to the ones I was used to at home.  I can still get the bars which are very helpful for snacks or to curb hunger while shopping/cooking.  They also have some gorgeous angel delight / mousse style desserts in a range of flavours (see the pictures from last week's post).  These are so easy to make, low points and provide a nice sweet taste after meals.  There are apple chips which are great for school break times and just one point per pack.  There are also a range of cooking sauces although I have yet to try these.  Last week, we called in on our bike ride through the city and the best part about it is the prices! - I bought a box of bars, two packs of apple chips and one dessert sachet (that makes two desserts) for five Euros!  That's about £4!

I would recommend WW to anyone - German style, online or good old English style.  I have even converted Nico to their recipes.  It's great that we can just type in an ingredient that we fancy or have left over and find a whole new tasty recipe or an old favourite.  He has been blogging on some of his favourite cooking experiences (in German) here: Nedab Blog

More on our latest food craze later!