This week has been a whirlwind of a week.  With so much that is going on I have felt all over the place… literally!  Going on with Ten in 10 Healthy Challenge I am proud to say that 5 weeks have been completed and I am half way done.  Within those 5 weeks I am so excited and proud of myself to say that I have lost 18.5 pounds and feel incredible.

When I walked on the scale and saw what I had lost I did a double check and was amazed.  I guess all of that working out and eating healthy really does pay off.

One thing that I did try this week was my sweetheart of a friend, Paula from Bell’Alimento‘s, Tilapia with Tomatoes and Onion recipe.  It is so healthy and delicious I just knew I had to try it out and share it with all of you.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

In a saute pan heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.  When oil is hot and ready to go add onions and cook for 5 minutes, or until they turn translucent.

Add chopped garlic and cook for about a minute more.  Make sure that your garlic does not burn.

Next add the chopped tomatoes and allow them to cook down for a little.  This will allow the tomatoes to release all their juicey juices out.

Once the tomatoes have cooked down, sprinkle salt and black pepper on top.

Then add the tilapia fillets.  I made sure to season then with slat and black pepper before adding them to the tomatoes.

Gradually add the chicken stock, cooking through each time.  Continue to add the stock until it is all gone.  Cook the tilapia filets until they become white and flaky.

When the fillets are done cooking add the chopped basil on top.

Serve with rice…. I prefered brown rice but any kind is fine.

Enjoy!

Tilapia with Tomato/Onion Salsa

(adapted from Bell’Alimento)

4-6 Tilapia Fillets (enough for your family)

4-6 Roma Tomatoes – quartered (use less for less fillets & more for more fillets)

2 cloves of fresh garlic – minced

1/2 onion – chopped

1/2 can reduced sodium chicken stock

extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp unsalted butter

salt and black pepper

handful of fresh basil – chopped roughly

In a saute’ pan, heat the olive oil & butter over medium heat. When oil is hot, add onions & cook until translucent (just a few minutes). Add garlic & cook for about a minute (you do not want to burn your garlic).

Add tomatoes & cook down for a few minutes, just enough to let the tomatoes release their juices. Season with salt & pepper. Add tilapia fillets, gradually add chicken stock, cooking through each time. Continue to add the stock until gone.

Cook the tilapia fillets until white & flaky (this will depend on the thickness of your fillets) When the fillets are nearing completion, add the basil.

Serve with rice of your liking.

Enjoy!

Can you believe that January is almost done!  Thats right… It’s feeling a little surreal, when just the other day it was New Years and we were celebrating and making our new years resolutions.  If you have all been following me on twitter (which by the way is a must @thatssoyummy ) then you already know I am knee deep in my Ten in 2010 Healthy Challenge.

Week three has officially been completed and just like the other day I am proud to say that I have lost 11 pounds…… WOOHOOO!!!!!!

I have completely changed my lifestyle… I workout everyday for at least 1 hour and a half most two; I I eat a protein shake after each workout, I have been drinking water, water, and more water; and last but not least I have been eating salads, brown rice, and protein.

This is a great recipe I found for Brown Rice and Black Beans (see below)

or you can try a Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Bowl (just substitute and add whole wheat linguine)

The biggest thing for me was stopping the late night snacking, which I guess is pretty much everyday snacking… breads, juices, soda, COFFEE (which by the way I miss you so much!) and desserts.

Like these…

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Cups

or what about these Oreo Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars…

and especially not these Caramel Chocolate Fudge Brownies.

So the fight continues, 3 weeks down 7 more to go….. Let’s pray that I stay strong for the remainder, which I think I just may!

If you all know then your fully aware of the challenge I have embarked on with Lori from Recipe Girl, Ten in 2010.  Well I am proud to say that it has been two weeks and 3 days and I have lost 11 pounds.  I know pretty crazy.  I told myself that a new year meant a whole new Tasha.  I can officially say that i feel better everyday.

Kinda crazy… I know!  Especially since if you all know me you know how much I LOVE food!  Now don’t get me wrong I am still cooking and baking up a storm in my kitchen, come one now I have a family to feed.  I am just eating better for myself.

When I came across this recipe Brown Rice and Black Beans I knew I had to try it.  So for all of you who can’t let go of the rice element then try Brown rice.

It’s a great alternative… I promise!

Start with assembling your ingredients.  You’ll need an onion, red pepper, a can of corn, a can of black beans, garlic, chicken stock, and I added a tomato.

Oh yeah, how could I forget the main ingredient… brown rice.  It’s really not that bad guys

Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.

Add broth and water; cover and bring to boil. Remove pot from heat; stir in rice and salt. Cover and bake rice until tender, 65 to 70 minutes.

Stir in cilantro and black pepper. Serve warm and with sliced lime wedges.

Brown Rice and Black Beans

(adapted from The Way The Cookie Crumbles)

Ingredients

4 tsp. olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped fine
1 red bell pepper, chopped fine
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2¼ cups water
1½ cups long-grain brown rice
1 tsp. salt
1-2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
¾ cup corn kernels (fresh from cob, or frozen and thawed)
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
¼ tsp. ground black pepper

Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.

Add broth and water; cover and bring to boil. Remove pot from heat; stir in rice and salt. Cover and bake rice until tender, 65 to 70 minutes.

Remove pot from oven, uncover, fluff rice with fork, stir in beans, and replace lid; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and black pepper.

Serve warm and with sliced lime wedges.

Enjoy!

So 2009 has come and gone, and 2010 is here before our eyes.  This is the time when folks all around vow to make healthy New Years resolutions.  I know because I used to be one of those people who vowed that each year I would eat heathy and exercise.  The difference this year is that I vowed that I would start before the year ended and continue strong when 2010 began…. and that is what I have done.

A fellow food blogger, Lori from Recipe Girl decided the same thing and has organized a Ten in 2010 Healthy Challenge.  The challenge will begin, today January 2nd and will continue for 10 weeks.  The best part about it is that yours truly will be participating and you can too!  To jump start my goal, I joined my whole family at my local YMCA, not only is it for m e but for them as well.  A family that works out together feels better together. I am proud to say that I have been going everyday for the past two weeks and love it.. with that as well I am eating heathier, drinking plenty of water and cutting down on the sweets.

My goals for this challenge are:

• Drink plenty more water

• Eat more veggies and fruits

• No more COKE or soda like products

• No more sweets (this will be a hard one)

• Workout everyday, giving myself Sunday possibly a break

• Sleep at least 6 hours a night

• Prepare healthy delicious meals for my family

• Cleanse my body of all the nasty toxins I have accumulated over the years

Of course that doesn’t mean I will deprive all of my fabulous readers of the delectable yummies I make and share with you all because that would just be unfair.  I will just also be sharing more healthy and delicious recipes as well throughout my challenge.

For more information on the challenge and to sign up  visit Lori’s site.  Also, if you would like to track your progress on Spark People, we have a 10 in 10 group. Click here to join.

If this interests you at all then make sure to sign up and challenge yourself to become more healthy for you and your family.  WOuld love to support you and all of those that have already signed up for the challenge.  Let’s make 2010 an GREAT year and start it off right!

(Image from Recipe Girl)

Each week we round up our most yummy posts and recipes from our friends at the Kitchn.

The week, the Kitchn confesses their thoughts on some delicious fried dough… what are your thoughts?

Also in the Kitchn, tips on using mealy apples, a creamy blue cheese dressing for iceberg wedges, end of summer recipe, and ten ways to display your fruit.

• Waste Not! Five Ways To Use Mealy Apples: Quick and easy tips on how to maximize use on mealy apples.

• I’ll Raise You A Wedge: Iceberg Lettuce With Blue Cheese: Though Iceberg is quite boring on its own with blue cheese will surely make it a winner.

• End Of Summer Recipe: Grilled Eggplant With Goat Cheese And Tomato: End your summer right with this yummy recipe.

• Display Your Fruit! 10 Lovely Fruit Bowls: Display your fruit in a number of ways.

• Do You Know What A Jibarito Is… It’s a Sandwich In between Fried Plantains…. Yummy!

• Can Chocolate Save Your Life, It Just Might Be Able To.

• What Is The Difference Between a Skillet and Sauté Pan?

• Freezer Burn, yucky stuff… Learn How To Stop It!

• How Long Will Food Last In Your Refrigerator?

I know that chocolate on some days have definitely saved my life in one way or the other!

Apparently chocolate also has the ability to save your life as well.  According to a study done in the September issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine suggests that eating chocolate can prevent death in heart attack survivors.

Scientists found, after conducting a study, with men and women, ages 45 to 70, who ate chocolate two or more times a week were three times less likely to die from heart disease than those who never ate chocolate.  

“Our findings support increasing evidence that chocolate is a rich source of beneficial bioactive compounds,” the researchers wrote.  The results are likely due to cocoa’s antioxidant levels, according to study coauthor Dr. Kenneth Mukamal.

Image: Savor_soaps/Flickr