Love the Veggies & A Weigh In

I admit it, the number wasn't exactly what I wanted to see. After losing 5 pounds last week, I am down another .6 pounds. I know a loss is a loss. However, when you have as much to lose as I do, you want bigger numbers each week. I have a number in mind I am hoping to hit by the end of March. I can still get there if I stay on track...which is exactly what I intend to do.

I was home a little earlier than normal and decided I needed to get that leftover Korean Chicken used up. My sister-in-law sent me these rice paper wrappers. I had plenty of veggies. Everything came together to make Summer Rolls. I julienned all the veggies.

I found a dipping sauce recipe online that seemed to be very similar to the ones that my sister-in-law has made. I had all the ingredients on hand. I even have my very own rather large bottle of fish sauce which has very pungent odor (in other words it stinks), but when used with other ingredients adds another dimension (in a good way). I bought that bottle for my Cambodian egg roll recipe and it lasts forever. Fish sauce is usually made from anchovies and salt and allowed to ferment for a year or so. It is an essential ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking.

I don't remember my sister-in-law using the chili/garlic sauce in her dipping sauce, but I enjoyed it. I used the sauce right away tonight, but the flavor of the leftover will meld together even more.

Now it is time to work with the rice paper. The sheets are very hard and brittle. (I forgot to take a picture while I was making them. Since my phone was tethered to the computer I just brought in to take a picture...and you get a gratuitous bonus shot of the LEGOs.) 
Each sheet has to be dipped in warm water individually to make it pliable, but too long will turn it into gelatinous goo. I placed it directly on the counter.

All the julienned veggies and chicken are stacked on the softened rice paper. I also added rice vermicelli (you can see it on the bottom of the stack). It is basically a noodle that is cooked like spaghetti.

Then starts the rolling process tucking the ends in as you roll. You can see the rice paper is sticky.

A few more times through the process and you have this delicious dinner that more than finishes the requirement for a five veggies/fruits challenge :)  Maybe I sound like a little piggy, but I ate six of these rolls and sauce (calories from sugar) for a total of 471 calories.

I love how colorful they are. I would have added carrots, but didn't realize I was out. You can also see the noodles right by my thumb. The chicken worked very well with the veggies.

My husband had salsa verde chicken tostadas. I knew summer rolls would not be his thing. It worked out well because I already had leftover salsa verde chicken, so throwing together the tostadas was super quick  - leaving me more time to create my dinner :) Another advantage to advance meal prep.

I am trying to get some of the herbs my sister-in-law to root in water. Hopefully enough survives to get a start going for my garden. This herb was delicious in the summer rolls.

After dinner we watched tv for a few minutes. Well, my husband tried to watch, but his lap dog gets in the way :)

I have been very good about not getting into the candy at work, but today that tiny Twix would not be ignored.  It is tracked :)

I wore one of my new tops to work today. Please don't notice that it is pulling a bit more than I realized around that "tummy roll" area. Still photos always seem to catch things the eye doesn't. Anyway, it will look even better soon. I wasn't going to post the picture, but I think it will be good for comparison later.  I also wore a new pair of pants - next time I will remember the belt. As the day wore on they got a bit too relaxed :)

I can't believe I tried the top on at the store and got completely dressed this morning before I noticed this sleeve detail. I thought the seam had split. I am not sure I totally love that detail - it is a bit confusing.

Another recommitted week in the books. Overall, I am happy with the track I am on. I am determined to get a couple walks in this week...don't let me off the hook :)