Weekend.. here we come!

This week has been an incredibly busy one.. how come being unemployed makes the days go even faster than when you are employed? There are never enough hours in the day.. for sure!!  Last weekend, I went to Tennessee to see my sister and her family.  Had a great time. Left her some Click! Protein because, let's be honest, there is just too much caffiene for this little lady, but she needs it since she has 3 kiddos!  She likes it and is using it as her "sweet" while she is doing the Atkins thing.  When I got home, I started in on the whole making food thing.  This week has been a cooking frenzy. Lot's off goodies for sure. Lot's of protein happening in my life.  My hubby has some IBS and he even commented that he's been feeling better this past week since we have been eating healthier! WOW! I feel like I have made a difference. 
I am trying to get so much done these days, in case I get a job soon and all.. Been working on new recipes for the better part of the evenings too.   I am so ready for the weekend though, spending time with my hubby and doing fun things.  What have you been up to friends?  I find that I spend a ton of time on the internet.. I gotta give up that addiction soon. I've been working on spring cleaning..yuck. Trying to tie up my brain cells so I don't think about that job interview I had last week or how much time I've already been unemployed. I have been trying to use this "vacation" time wisely. I have never NOT worked.. While in high school I had a pizza shop job.. ahh.. good times there.. and then I worked 2 jobs the summer after graduation. Went to college full time and started working at the bank, almost full time there too.  So, I believe everything happens for a reason and this little respite is something that I needed and never would have taken otherwise. I get paid severance, so financially, God has seen I am taken care of.  I have time to complete all those projects on my "to do" list plus ones that have come up.  I have been building my craft show business and expanding in ways that I wouldn't be able to if I had been working.. I get to have snow days when the weather is bad. In my book, life is still good, no matter what.  I do want to go back to work, don't get me wrong, but this chapter of my life is going along just fine in my book..

You know when you have that moment when you know one chapter of your life is over and a new one has begun?  I am so there.

This week's menu highlight was Chicken Parm for WLS Folks.. anyone can eat it, but it's soo good for us WLS people! My version is based on a recipe I found on my support group board!  I made the hubby some spaghetti noodles and he was a happy camper!

Chicken Parm, WLS Style

4 boneless chicken thighs
1 large egg, beaten

1/2 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups prepared Spaghetti Sauce, lower the sugar the better.. or make your own! (see below)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray cooking oil in a 9x9 glass baking dish, put 1/2 c of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom and then set aside. Heat oil on medium heat in medium frying pan. Dip each thigh into the egg and then place thigh into the bread crumbs, on one side only.  Put breaded thigh into hot oil, crumb side down.  Cook 3-4 minutes and then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.   Place browned thighs crumb side up in prepared baking dish.  Cover browned thighs with remaining spaghetti sauce and top with mozzarella and parm.  Bake 15-20 minutes until cheese is melty and chicken is cooked through.

Nut Info:  Cal 333 Fat 11g Carb 25 (will be less with low sugar sauce) Protein 32g
My Sauce:
2 T olive oil
1/2 c onion, diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 cans diced tomatoes

1/2 small can tomato paste
basil & oregano, to taste

Heat oil in frying pan, add onion & garlic. Saute until onion is transluscent.  In a sauce pan add tomatoes, paste and herbs.  Add in onion n garlic. Simmer 20 minutes or until sauce is thickened.  I add various in season veggies and puree until smooth.