MENA diet/exercise thread

[Nasturtium 500]

Does anyone make their own cheese? I just ordered a cheese making book because I was thinking about how frustrating it was in Jordan where there was no cheddar Recipes don't look hard from what I can see, just like they need practice. I was wondering if home made cheese has more flavor since it would be fresh... then again it could have less since it wouldn't be all full of additives...

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I don't make cheese or anything else really sorry.

I was bad today too. I had a foofoo drink and a large brownie.

[sereia 0]

i was bad too. i ate an english muffin with butter and danish cheese on it. oops

[doodlebugg 10]

I was good today. First day official of Weight Watchers. Not happy about it but I guess I"ll be happy when my pants fit.

[doodlebugg 10]

Thought you guys might like this. I'm going to attempt to make it tonight. It's a Weight Watcher's recipe:

Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Almonds

main meals

POINTS® Value: 7

Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 15 min

Cooking Time: 30 min

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

This Moroccan classic is known for its exotic blend of flavorings: sweetness from the dried fruit and honey and a spicy warmth from the cinnamon.

Ingredients

4 oz dried apricot halves

1 cup fat-free chicken broth

1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 medium onion(s), chopped

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Tbsp honey

1/4 cup slivered almonds, or whole blanched almonds

1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste

1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

2 cup cooked couscous, hot

Instructions

In a small saucepan, bring apricots and chicken broth to a simmer. Set aside.

Coat a large, nonstick saucepan with cooking spray and place over high heat; toss chicken with flour and then sauté chicken until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in onion, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until onions are very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and honey.

Stir in apricots, broth and almonds; season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes and serve over couscous. Yields about 3 ounces of chicken, 1/4 cup of sauce and 1/2 cup of couscous per serving.

[~Jackie~ 30]

I am totally preparing to start 'Couch to 5K' when the temp hits 50 here. I have read it. It is structured enough to keep my interest. Wish me luck cuz I am sooooo inactive.

Jackie

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Yeah! I would start as well but I am unsure just yet because my formerly broken footsie is still complaining sometimes. I don't want to push it.

I am bad too. I had a candy bar for breakfast. I never do that. I think I am emotionally eating.

I am totally preparing to start 'Couch to 5K' when the temp hits 50 here. I have read it. It is structured enough to keep my interest. Wish me luck cuz I am sooooo inactive.

Jackie

[doodlebugg 10]

omg I hope no one went out to get ingredients for this!! It suuuuuucked bigtime!!! I don't know about you guys but I just couldn't stand all that cinnamon with meat. I like my meat salty, not sweet and bitter. blech!!!!

Thought you guys might like this. I'm going to attempt to make it tonight. It's a Weight Watcher's recipe:

Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Almonds

main meals

POINTS® Value: 7

Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 15 min

Cooking Time: 30 min

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

This Moroccan classic is known for its exotic blend of flavorings: sweetness from the dried fruit and honey and a spicy warmth from the cinnamon.

Ingredients

4 oz dried apricot halves

1 cup fat-free chicken broth

1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 medium onion(s), chopped

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Tbsp honey

1/4 cup slivered almonds, or whole blanched almonds

1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste

1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

2 cup cooked couscous, hot

Instructions

In a small saucepan, bring apricots and chicken broth to a simmer. Set aside.

Coat a large, nonstick saucepan with cooking spray and place over high heat; toss chicken with flour and then sauté chicken until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in onion, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until onions are very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and honey.

Stir in apricots, broth and almonds; season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes and serve over couscous. Yields about 3 ounces of chicken, 1/4 cup of sauce and 1/2 cup of couscous per serving.

[sereia 0]

yay me. i went to the gym today and actually worked out!

[MrsAmera 41]

Bridget,

Maybe it was too much cinnamon. I make the normal Moroccan version of this and it rocks.

[RAKASA 0]

Bridget,

Maybe it was too much cinnamon. I make the normal Moroccan version of this and it rocks.

I love the version I've made of this... I'll have to compare the ingredients. My husband loved it too - it was YUMMY!

[MrsAmera 41]

So my brief analysis would be that the flavor of the apricots got too concentrated. When I make this I cook the chicken and all the spices together first either in a pressure cooker or dutch oven. In a small skillet I add the apricots, honey and sprinkle of cinnamon and cook just until the fruit rehydrates and gets soft. I then top the chicken with this mixture and almonds on the very top.

[doodlebugg 10]

I dunno guys, it really really sucked.

Today I'm making koshari though.

I"m kind of cheating but here's my reasoning......I started WW in the middle of the week kinda and not on my normal Monday weigh in so the software is off and saying that i have a lot more flex points than I do SO....................I"m thinking it's a sign from above that says I should eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase my way into this thing so Monday morning it's full force WW and today is the last day of any kind of cheatin'. Luckily though I don't have much cheatin' fuel in the house so instead of eating a whole lot of Edy's ice cream I cheated by having two WW icecream bars instead of 1, so not too too bad I don't think.

There's my confession. lol

[RAKASA 0]

I dunno guys, it really really sucked.

Today I'm making koshari though.

I"m kind of cheating but here's my reasoning......I started WW in the middle of the week kinda and not on my normal Monday weigh in so the software is off and saying that i have a lot more flex points than I do SO....................I"m thinking it's a sign from above that says I should eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase my way into this thing so Monday morning it's full force WW and today is the last day of any kind of cheatin'. Luckily though I don't have much cheatin' fuel in the house so instead of eating a whole lot of Edy's ice cream I cheated by having two WW icecream bars instead of 1, so not too too bad I don't think.

There's my confession. lol

As your penance, you shall walk up & down the stairs one extra time!

[tnh9479 1]

So my brief analysis would be that the flavor of the apricots got too concentrated. When I make this I cook the chicken and all the spices together first either in a pressure cooker or dutch oven. In a small skillet I add the apricots, honey and sprinkle of cinnamon and cook just until the fruit rehydrates and gets soft. I then top the chicken with this mixture and almonds on the very top.

When my husband has made this, he does it just like you Amera. It is very good and sweet (why we haven't had it in quite some time). I like the fruits better with beef or lamb than with chicken.

Twila

I've been good at using the bike and my mom and I must have walked 10 miles yesterday while we were shopping at IKEA and an outlet mall in the Fort Lauderdale area.

Twila