Texas Trail Beef Macaroni *Untested*

I keep hearing really good things about this recipe, and I will definitely try it soon. It seems super easy!

Texas Trail Beef Macaroni
1 lb lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 qt beef stock (4 cups)
29 oz canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water, as needed
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 tsp chili power
1/2 tsp dried basil
4 cups whole wheat macaroni, uncooked
Fat Free sour cream for topping
Fat Free cheddar cheese for topping
Tabasco, optional if you want it spicier

In a large pot, brown beef with onions. Add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover and cook 10 minutes or until the macaroni is tender. Top with sour cream, cheese and/or tabasco if you want.

Why We Eat Too Much

I don't know about you all, but I struggle with emotional eating, and well, just eating! I often eat because I'm bored, stressed, happy, sad... I can find any excuse really!

I found this article about why we might eat too much and I thought you might enjoy it.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/18/why.overeat.eat.much/index.html

BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad

So, I'm not a huge salad lover. I like them, but don't love them... the salads that I love are usually the ones with really yummy things on them like crispy fried onions... or chocolate... wait, no, I don't like chocolate on salads... :-)

Really though, I've just never been a salad eater. I know I should, but haven't been able to do it...

There are 2 restaurants though where I can feel really comfortable ordering a salad, and knowing that I'll enjoy it... Those restaurants are The Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen. They both have a BBQ Chicken Salad of some sort and they are really good...

So, I decided to make my own... this is what I did:

- 2 cups romaine lettuce
- 3 oz chopped chicken (dark and light meat mixed) - I used a rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 to 1 cup black beans, drained
- 1 Roma tomato chopped
- chopped red onion, to taste
- jicama, chopped, about .2 lbs or 1/2 cup
- cilantro, chopped, to taste (I like a lot)

Toss all those ingredients together.

For Dressing - 2 TBL of lite ranch dressing, 1 TBL of BBQ sauce mixed. Pour over salad and squeeze lime juice over top.

ENJOY! It makes a really big, filling salad!