Counting calories

A friend gave me a recipe for chicken a couple weeks ago, but she prefaced by saying that it was delicious but very high calorie and could use a few substitutions. Challenge Accepted (channeling Barney Stinson).

Mission accomplished (channeling anyone except G.W.).

I don't know what the original dish tasted like, and I assume my version has a lighter flavor, but it was excellent. Verdict: yummy. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture, but it's one of those meals that is all the same color anyhow so it won't photograph near as good as it tastes. Trust me. If you need something easy, filling and tasty you should try this one out. 3-4 servings at 471-628 per serving. The new dish has 30% of the calories of the original, not accounting for serving differences (because I have no idea how many people the original fed).

Lighter Baked Poppyseed Chicken Spaghetti

8oz whole wheat linguine, cooked and drained
2 chicken breast, boiled and shredded
1 can cream of chicken
1 can water (chicken broth only adds 20-30 calories and would give a stronger flavor)
6oz nonfat plain yogurt (I used regular but greek would probably be better)
poppyseeds

mix all and place in 9x9 pan.

topping
1/2 sleeve whole wheat ritz, crushed
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
3 tbs butter, melted

Mix together and crumble on top of the casserole. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes until topping is browned and filling is bubbly.

Serve with a side of something green and steamed. hehe.

37 cents.

We had such a terrible dinner last night. We were all out in Orlando- Shea, Kyle, Christen and I, and wanted to go to our very favorite restaurant out there -- Jungle Jim's. They have fantastic burgers, and not ones that we can get out here, so we always make the effort to go there. So we get there around 6:30 and THEY'RE CLOSED. No note on the door, no "We've moved our location", just gone. So we drove out to the Church St. Station location, which I haven't been to in 6-7 years, and we couldn't find them either. So back to Crossroads, and we ended up eating at Buffalo Wild Wings, and the food was terrible, the service was horrible, and the manager didn't give a rat's ass. All around bad, bad experience. Although none of ever leave bad tips, we snuck out with only leaving a 37-cent tip because we were all just so mad. I've never done that -- usually I will just round my dollars down instead of up if I'm unsatisfied. This time -- well, I'm never going back there anyhow. Not to the one here either, actually. Other April said she's never had a bad experience there but I'm not chancing it. If you work for BWW, please don't try to bribe me with coupons -- I don't even want them.

Other than that, though, it was a pretty decent weekend. As I mentioned, I was drunk on Friday night. Actually, I went to happy hour at Bar Louie, and although I really wasn't that tipsy while leaving, I opted to get a ride home anyhow, and by the end of the ride I felt trashed so it was a good thing I got a ride. It was way fun, and I was so glad I went.

Other highlights:

-- Went to dinner Saturday night with Christen's parents and my dad. Leaving, I was talking to my dad and he goes, "I've never noticed how green your eyes are", and I said, well, I'm wearing contacts ... and he was aghast that he didn't even notice! :) It was very funny. I'm not wearing colored contacts, but my eyes are a dark hazel so they range from more brown to more green.

-- Went to the outlet mall in Orlando w/ the crew on Sunday. Fun, and I got two shirts for very cheap. Downtown Disney yielded a bath bomb (incentive for me to clean the bathtub) and almond soap. We also stopped in to Ragland Road for a beer and appetizer which was very cute, but next time we'll opt for the outside "Hole in the Wall" bar. It seems to have a bit more character. There is a Guiness Hat picture floating hereabouts of Shea and I. We also played minigolf, and I came in last. Great fun!

Work now, but it hasn't been too bad. I'm looking forward to the three-day weekend! 1/2 day down, 4 1/2 left!