Today, after my quite mind altering declaration and letter of a couple of days ago, I'm especially determined that this is one battle that I, and not food will win. On a side note......just referring back to my previous post, writing that letter to food (I know, its ok if you are questioning my sanity right now!), I have found some aggression - and I'll be damned if I'm going to let food get in the way of my dreams and goals anymore. I might have to spend 98% of the day reminding myself that I am calling the shots now, but thats ok. So if you see me muttering to myself, you know whats going on :)
Anyway - back to Wheels on Wednesday. I thought it best to employ some strategies to ensure my success. I need to bake today for my kids school lunches, and although I bake healthy stuff for them, licking the spoon, tasting just one, the calories add up. So, I'll be chewing the mintiest gum I can find, while I'm baking, and as soon as they're done, I'm wrapping them ready for lunch-boxes and popping them in the freezer. I've got a full and busy day planned: washing, ironing, vacuuming, study, cleaning - and that's to keep me and my mind occupied, to reduce the chances of that conversation starting in my head, you know the one, it goes something like this, 'One little chocolate will be ok, I've trained, I've eaten well the rest of the day'. Oh no we don't - not this time! I'm also going to be re-reading my goals and visualising myself in the super toned bod that I'm working on. As well - I've got a picture, of a fitness model - whose physique I admire, that I'm going to spend some time admiring......I want my thoughts and actions firmly supporting me and my goals today (and everyday!)
Finally - I'm going to have a little treat with a cup of tea tonight, because I've had a successful Wheels On Wednesday, in the form of a healthier than your usual chocolate chip cookie. I found this recipe in and issue of Shape magazine last year - the recipe makes 60 (so, yep, I'll take out my two biccies, and into the freezer with the rest) I'll share the recipe below:
Chocolate Chip Cookies - 108 calories for 2 biscuits (Recipe makes 60)
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 1/4 cup plain flour (I'll be making some of this wholemeal)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra light olive oil (I'll be using Rice Bran Oil, 'cos that's what I've got)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temp
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mini semisweet choc chips (I can't find these, so I'll be chopping up 70% cocoa chocolate)
Preheat oven to 180 deg C. Spread oats on a baking sheet, toast for 10 min. Remove and turn off oven (due to time constraints, I will probably skip this step).
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat together oil, butter and sugars with an electric mixer. Add egg, egg white and vanilla beating until well combined. Fold in oats, flour mixture and chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate dough for one hour (probably won't do this either - my biccies will just spread out more as they cook because my dough is softer).
Preheat oven to 180 deg C. Place rounded teaspoonfuls of dough 4cms apart onto two baking sheets lined with baking paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set and golden brown. Cool for fine minutes on sheets; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
And look - a very bad, doesn't do the smell or taste justice - picture of my baking!My baking notes:
I used 3/4 cup plain white flour and 1/2 cup wholemeal flour
I only chopped up half a cup of chocolate
and I reduced the sugar to 1/4 cup - kept the brown sugar @ 1/2 though.
I did end up toasting the oats, and just prepared the rest of the dough, and let it sit in the fridge for the time it took the oven to warm up and the oats to toast - saves heating the oven twice.
Also, I reckon the oats only need 7-8 minutes until they are toasty. Having done this - I'm not sure it alters the taste so dramatically that I would do it next time :)
One last thing........Use flat teaspoonfuls of mixture that are on the smaller side. Doing this, I got 55 cookies - I don't know how you could possibly get 60, as the recipe states, using rounded teaspoonfuls.
If you give these a go, I hope you enjoy.
