The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[StarWarsGirl]

You know, you may be on to something here. Somehow, salad sounds more appealing to me if you put it in a tortilla, or a pita pocket with mayo or dressing.

You just have to find ways of making salad appealing. I have it for lunch several times a week at home. My mom makes chicken breast for dinner, and then she makes too much so that there's leftovers. Then, she chops it up and freezes it. It's great for adding to a salad to make it more filling. I've also used leftover ground beef from tacos. I have several variations of salad I make. I like caesar salad with chicken. I use a low fat caesar dressing, chicken, some croutons, and cheese. I like parmesean, which is very low calorie. This is great to take with you to work and such. You put the chicken, veggies, cheese, and dressing in separate containers in a lunch bag the night before. Then, you add an ice pack and go. Premixed salad makes this even easier. It's nice and salty, but you get the benefit of the veggies.

The other one I like is my Mexican salad. This one is higher in calories, but good. I use either ground beef or chicken, though beans or tofu would also work. Lettuce+salsa+a little sour cream+meat/beans+Mexican cheese blend. I've also substituted the salsa and sour cream with a chipotle dressing. One of these days, I want to make my own guac and try it that way.

And then for snacks, if I'm looking for something healthy, carrots and dip satisfy my salt craving. If I want something sweet, I reach for a piece of fruit. I want to try a baked apple with brown sugar. I read about it this morning. Supposed to be low calorie, but delicious.

 

[MinnieM123]

You just have to find ways of making salad appealing. I have it for lunch several times a week at home. My mom makes chicken breast for dinner, and then she makes too much so that there's leftovers. Then, she chops it up and freezes it. It's great for adding to a salad to make it more filling. I've also used leftover ground beef from tacos. I have several variations of salad I make. I like caesar salad with chicken. I use a low fat caesar dressing, chicken, some croutons, and cheese. I like parmesean, which is very low calorie. This is great to take with you to work and such. You put the chicken, veggies, cheese, and dressing in separate containers in a lunch bag the night before. Then, you add an ice pack and go. Premixed salad makes this even easier. It's nice and salty, but you get the benefit of the veggies.

The other one I like is my Mexican salad. This one is higher in calories, but good. I use either ground beef or chicken, though beans or tofu would also work. Lettuce+salsa+a little sour cream+meat/beans+Mexican cheese blend. I've also substituted the salsa and sour cream with a chipotle dressing. One of these days, I want to make my own guac and try it that way.

And then for snacks, if I'm looking for something healthy, carrots and dip satisfy my salt craving. If I want something sweet, I reach for a piece of fruit. I want to try a baked apple with brown sugar. I read about it this morning. Supposed to be low calorie, but delicious.

Those are some tasty options. Thank you for the tips. I still wouldn't want salad every day, but I could deal with that maybe a few days a week (at night). Your mother has some good ideas about cooking a little extra chicken and beef, and then freezing smaller portions to mix in with salads.

During the work week, I never bring lunch; I buy it at the cafeteria. They have a lot of variety and I'm fickle so it works best for me. But at night when I'm at home, I could sometimes pull together the type of meals you're suggesting.

 

[catmom46]

I am sitting in the sun doing absolutely nothing. It's glorious.

So jealous right now as I sit in front of my stupid work computer!

And you still have Aulani to look forward to! We were there last year and I totally agree the pool is far superior than Stormalong. Can't beat those cool slides and lazy river.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[catmom46]

Got our MBs the other day! And in true crazy cat person fashion, here's a pic of kitty being overwhelmed by the power of the MBs!!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Got our MBs the other day! And in true crazy cat person fashion, here's a pic of kitty being overwhelmed by the power of the MBs!!

So cute! What's his/her name?

 

[catmom46]

So cute! What's his/her name?

Bootsie, because she's got little white boots on her paws! Well, they're more like slippers, but that would just be a silly name.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Bootsie, because she's got little white boots on her paws! Well, they're more like slippers, but that would just be a silly name.

Aww. I can't tell that well from the photo; is she black and white or grey and white?

 

[catmom46]

Aww. I can't tell that well from the photo; is she black and white or grey and white?

Grey and white. You also can't tell that she's a bit on the chubby side. But it's mommy weight, which I can relate to, so I don't fault her for it.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

O.k. Idiot disclaimer ahead: you've been warned--

I read in a magazine about how you can make frozen yogurt pops. It looked easy enough, so I went to BB & Beyond and bought some (popsicle-style) freezer molds. I then mixed the yogurt, vanilla, honey and 6 oz. of blueberries and 6 oz. of blackberries together. Divided that up into the 6 molds and put in freezer for 8 hours.

Mentioned my frozen treat masterpiece to hubby. He said, "Did you try out the new blender?" ( We had just bought a new Oster blender this past week.) I said, "Huh? What does the blender have to do with my frozen yogurt?" He said, "Oh, I just assumed you'd have blended up the fruit and mixed it into the yogurt." . . . what??! I was supposed to what??!!) It NEVER dawned on marble head here, that "blend" meant to put the fruit into a blender!!!

So, 8 hours later, I took out one of frozen treats and the frozen yogurt was tasty and all but the blueberries and blackberries were like these frozen little rocks inside!

I bought Mickey icy pop makers at WDW. When I make frozen pudding pops I use Dixie cups and popsicle sticks. Then we just peel off the cup and eat.

 

[donaldtoo]

What's even better is tortilla chips and Guacamole.

Oh my. Now, I'm craving chips and salsa, guacamole, black bean dip, and queso.
I might as well just make nachos...!

 

[donaldtoo]

Thank you, great way to start the day!

Or, this...

 

[Gabe1]

Nasty nasty radar. Tornadoes on ground in Northern Illinois. So far we are holding our own.

95 mph winds before at Illinois Iowa and Wisconsin intersection. Oy.

 

[donaldtoo]

I live near a regional airport, all those clients and executives...flying in for their Friday meetings, and out on Friday night it is very noisy over my house. Starts at one A.M. and goes on throughout the night. Rant over.

Sympathy "like"
Yea, as much as I love planes and flying, I don't wanna' be kept up by 'em takin' off and landin' all night long.
In that regard, we fortunately don't live anywhere near our airport. Downside/tradeoff, of course, it's a bit of a haul to get there.

 

[donaldtoo]

Nasty nasty radar. Tornadoes on ground in Northern Illinois. So far we are holding our own.

95 mph winds before at Illinois Iowa and Wisconsin intersection. Oy.

'

Oh my. Again? Stay safe, Gabe!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Double rainbow
View attachment 97980

Beautiful!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Nope, nope, nope. Sweet potatoes are to me what tomatoes are to @JenniferS

I love baked sweet potatoes with a pat of butter and sprinkle of brown sugar.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

I love a "salad" sandwich. I eat that when I need something else to fill me up. I put all the salad fixin's on a tortilla, a little touch of mayo, or dressing. Yum, yum.

Yum indeed. I like wraps, less calories.

 

[donaldtoo]

I have to ask was that 80's firm Black and Veatch? Just wondering......

Oh my, no. I've never worked for a firm even remotely close to that large. The one I'm with right now is the largest I've ever worked for, and there are only 23 of us, including the 4 partners.

It's kind of a long story, and I've posted it before, but, I'll try to make it short.
Small firm (about 10 of us, in all) that was started by a guy I used to work with at the first firm I started working for (in 1980) 3 mo. before I graduated from High School (yes, you read that correctly).
We worked very well together at that first firm. He came to me to work for him in 1983. He had changed. Working for him was a nightmare, and turnover was high. After 3 months, I walked.
Now, here's the interesting (well, to me anyway) part. He later became the architect/builder that actress Sandra Bullock chose to do a home for her here in Austin. He completely messed it up, and tried to mess her out of a bunch of money and blame a bunch of things on her. Anyone who knows what he turned into knew better.
She even dissed him on Letterman, and, of course, won her lawsuit against him.
Still cracks me up...!!!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Ha, ha. Your bank has my bank beaten by a mile, with dog treats. I forgot the suckers, we have those at the teller's counter.

My bank is in a plaza with a Subway and on holidays they would order cookie trays and serve punch. I would often have to make the daily bank trip at work and liked when I could get a bonus treat.