Mingle it up

Ingredients

1 Medium Onions finely chopped
1 Medium Green Bell Pepper finely chopped
½ Medium Red Bell Pepper finely chopped
1 Medium Tomato
2 tbsp of Tomato Puree
Any vegetables you like - Zucchini, Broccoli, Corn, Carrots
½ tbsp ginger finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 bay leaf
½ Cup Garbanzo Bean
½ Cup cooked Whole Wheat Elbow Macaroni
2 ½ - 3 Cups Fat Free low sodium Vegetable broth (I buy this from Trader Joes. I LOVE shopping from TJs).
Fresh or Dried Basil & Oregano
Red Crushed Chilies,
Paprika,
Garlic salt with parsley (Or you can use plain salt)
2-3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Cooking Time - 20-25 mins

Serves - 3-4.

Heat some oil in Pan and add 1 Bay leaf.
Add Chopped Ginger, Garlic
Add Onions & sauté them for about a min & add some salt. Salt helps removing moisture from Onions.
Add the chopped bell peppers. Cook them for another 1 min.
Add any other vegetables you like depending upon their cooking time.
Add Garbanzo beans & let it cook for another min.
Add Tomato & cook till almost tender.
Add Tomato Puree & cook till you see oil starts to separate (approx for 2-3 mins)
Add all the spices like Basil, Oregano, Red Chilies, Paprika, Garlic Salt and Salt
Add Vegetable Broth & let it simmer for about 3-5 mins
Add cooked Elbow Macaroni & let it cook in the liquid for another few mins.
Put 2 tbsp of grated Parmesan Cheese in the soup to get a little creamy texture.

Serve with some grated parmesan cheese on top.

Popularity: 60% [?]

Ingredients

Oven Temperature - 375 deg F

Time - 40-45 mins

Tips: Raisins may be replaced by the same amount of chopped dates or omitted entirely. Quick breads should be mixed until well blended but not over-mixed in order to prevent the formation of tunnels in the baked loaf.

Combine eggs, oil, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, vanilla, salt and baking powder in large mixing bowl. Stir until well blended.
Stir in nuts, raisins and apples until a rather stiff batter is formed.  Add a few tbsp of water if needed.
Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly blended, but do not over mix.
Pour into a greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 mins or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Popularity: 67% [?]

Ingredients

Oven Temperature - 350 deg F

Time - 30-35

Serves - Makes 12 Cupcakes.

Preheat oven to 350 F and line Muffin baking tray with cupcake papers
Put all the ingredients except Flour & Soda in a heating pan & bring it to boil.
Shut the heat when it comes to boil & let it cool.
Add the flour, baking soda & the above mixture.
Mix well but don’t over mix it.
Pour this mixture into a greased cupcake and bake at 350 degrees for almost 30-35 mins or until a tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.
When cupcake springs back when touched in the center you know that are done.

Popularity: 61% [?]

Ingredients

Egg and butter should be at room temperature

For glaze:
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup sugar

Oven Temperature - 350 deg F

Time - 35-45

Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and almonds.
Beat butter, sugar, egg, orange zest and orange juice in a large bowl.
Add the above flour mixture to this and stir until moistened.
Pour this mixture into a greased 9″ by 5″ loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for almost 35-45 mins or until a tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest for couple of minutes.
Meanwhile mix 1/2 cup of orange juice in 1/4 cup of sugar, heat and stir until sugar dissolves.
With a spoon, glaze this orange-sugar juice over hot orange loaf.

Popularity: 61% [?]

Eggless Chocolate Cupcake/Cake

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon vinegar OR 1 Egg

Oven Temperature - 350 deg F

Mix all ingredients together until moist and well blended. Put in cupcake cups and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Frost with your favorite icing.
To make a layer cake,
double the recipes and put in 2 round cake pans.
Increase baking time to about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Healthy version of the cake- (Whole Wheat sugar free Cake)

Ingredients

Replace 1-1/2 of All purpose While flour with 3/4 cup White + 3/4 Whole Wheat
Replace 1 Cup of Sugar with 1 Cup sugar Substitute (I used Splenda)

Popularity: 58% [?]

Having the right mindset is the most important factor in your weight loss. You should use this to channelize your energies in the right direction. There will definitely be days when you want to indulge in just about everything unhealthy but with the right mindset you can always come back on track.

I find this quote by Swami Vivekananda very inspirational, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.”

Lets start -

1. Be very clear on why do you want to loose weight.
It could be any reason, you want to look great & get sexy body, get rid of pregnancy fat, want to get healthy, no more plus size sections for you.

2. Throw away your past failures and inhibitions.
Past bad experiences are like detractors, they pull you down. Past is past. Act wisely in present for a lovely future.

3. Be open about your weight loss to people.
Tell your friends & family about your plan rather than shying away and lying. This always helps when you are in a party, over to a friend’s place for lunch/dinner, team lunches etc.

4. Sketch out a plan & stick to it.
Set your goal for example goal weight, goal size, goal inches. Have mini milestones to reach your goal. Treat yourself when you reach your milestones like a book you wanted to buy, shoes, Ipod etc. Reward yourself for your hard work !

5. Maintain Logs.
Its very important to monitor your progress and see the numbers. Its very motivational for you to stay on track if you are doing good or a good indicator if something is going wrong.

6. Pick a time & day of the week for weighing.
Weigh in every week at one time & register your weight. Your body weight fluctuates during the day so its best not to be obsessive about weighing everyday. Similarly measure your inches if your goal is specifically to decrease your waistline, reduce your flabby arms etc.

I think these are some important points to always keep in mind when you are on a healthy plan to reduce or maintain weight.