Mozzarella Pepperoni Stuffed Chicken Breasts

So, week 1 down and so is 6.8 pounds WOOT WOOT!
Aside from the plague descending on our house leaving my daughters and I hacking, coughing, sniffling, and coughing some more...my first week was pretty darn easy.  I didn't have a ton of cravings, it was mostly needing to stop myself from reflexively grabbing a piece of candy as I walked by the dish.
Also, if anyone would like to see my weekly food log, just email me and I will email it back to you.  I am very Virgo so I keep track of everything, HA!
Onto the recipe!
We had this last night and it was SCRUMPTIOUS!  The pepperoni added a little kick to the chicken breast and who can resist gooey, melty mozzarella cheese?!  The kiddos and hubby loved it too.  According to my lovely daughter, it is like a cross between Chicken Parmesan and Pizza.  I served this with Parmesan & Herb Pasta that I made using Trader Joes High Fiber Spaghetti and a Caesar Salad, hold the croutons.

Mozzarella Pepperoni Stuffed Chicken Breasts

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 16 slices of pepperoni (turkey or regular)
• 4 ounces Mozzarella Cheese plus a little more to sprinkle on top
• 1 cup low sugar Marinara Sauce.  I used Trader Joes Three Cheese Pasta Pomodoro Sauce
• Garlic Salt, to taste
• Dried Oregano, to taste
• Dried Basil, to taste
• Parmesan Cheese, to sprinkle on top

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9x13 baking pan with non-stick spray.
Cut a deep, horizontal pocket in each chicken breast, being careful to not cut chicken breast in half.
Sprinkle Garlic Salt, Dried Oregano, and Dried Basil into the pockets.  Stuff with 1 ounce Mozzarella Cheese and 4 pieces of Pepperoni per chicken breast.  Using a toothpick, carefully close pocket to prevent all your luscious filling from melting out while baking.  Cover each breast with 1/4 cup of your Marinara Sauce

Place chicken in baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with additional Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese.  Return to oven and bake an additional 5 minutes until cheeses are melted.  If you like to have your cheese slightly browned, turn on your broiler for the last 1 minute.
Let sit for 3-5 minutes before serving and make sure you remove you toothpicks!
Enjoy!

Menu Plan 1/29 - 2/3

I am a meal planner.  I started it several years ago and am continually surprised at how much money, time, and sanity it saves.  We are a family of 6, so saving in all those areas is really important to me.  I always share my menu plan over on Siggy Spice, so I thought I would over here too!  I find sharing and reading other meal plans always helps in the brainstorming process.  I will be taking pictures and posting these recipes soon assuming they are "blogworthy" ;)

Sunday
     Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
     The hubs and kiddos will have their burger on whole wheat buns with potato wedges on the side

Monday
     Pepperoni Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Caesar Salad, Parmesan Pasta
    (only a small amount of pasta for me of course)

Tuesday 
     Japanese Steakhouse Chicken and Veggies with White Sauce, Brown Rice
     (again, only a small amount of rice for me)

Wednesday 
     Seasoned Tilapia with Dill Sauce, Garlic Almond Green Beans, Salad
     The hubs and kiddos will also have Rice Pilaf

Thursday
     Roasted Boursin Chicken, Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower
     Mashed Potatoes for the rest of the family

Friday
     Left-overs or out for dinner

Do any of you Menu Plan?  What is on your plate for the upcoming week?

Just a thought



photo courtesy of Pinterest

 The above is a quote I saw on Pinterst (aka fantasy football for girls) that I wanted to share.  If you are on Pinterest, look me up!  http://pinterest.com/siggyspice/ 

I had all intentions of posting at least every-other day.
Ahhh...those dang intentions, lol!  I have actually been sick this week.  I think it is a combo of my body freaking out a little bit due to sugar/carb withdrawal and kid cooties.
That aside, I feel GREAT!  I have not felt the slightest bit deprived or discouraged.  As soon as it may seem, I do feel less puffy.  I think sugar and carbs attributes a lot of inflammation to my body.
I should be getting my shipment today of Nature's Hallow products and some coconut flour.   I am looking forward to passing along recipes and product reviews soon!

I also wanted to let you know, just so there is no confusion, if you click on my Blogger Profile, it will show 2 blogs, this one and Siggy Spice.  Siggy Spice is my food blog that I started almost 2 years and 25 pounds ago.  While it was incredibly therapeutic for me to do after the passing of my Dad, it wasn't so much to my weight.  I still have several recipes I am going to share on Siggy Spice that are sitting in my queue that were made weeks, if not months, ago.  Once I am through those, Siggy Spice followers are going to start getting the same recipes as you.   I am going to go through the existing Siggy Spice recipes and see what I can re-tweak to fit the low sugar/low carb journey I have begun.  I just didn't want you thinking I was leading some kind of secret double life, HA!

I think if I am feeling up to it, I am going to go see "One For the Money" this weekend...I have read that entire series and love it.  If you plan on seeing it, there is a groupon from the movie studio that lets you go see the movie for $6 a ticket...any time, any theatre.  The deal is set to expire at midnight tonight though I think.
ANYWAY, I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!

Why today?

Why Today?

Knowing that something has to be done is one thing.  Knowing what you believe in your heart to be the right way to do it is another.  Starting it is a whole different story.  I know I need to release weight.  I believe that eating low carb/low sugar is the way for my body to do that.  Yet starting is a whole new story. 

Ready or not, here I go. 

Today I start claiming my body.  Not the body I have had for many, many years, but the body I know is my right to have.  Strong, healthy, and vibrant.   So, if I know this and feel this, why am I scared?  Why am I nervous?  For me, I am scared to death of another failure.  I have, like so many, lost weight only to regain it back.  Granted, I have never  been able to meet a goal weight, or even come close really.   The thought of releasing 100 pounds is so overwhelming.  So I have decided I am NOT going to lose 100 pounds, I am going to lose 10 pounds...10 times.  Sure, it is semantics...but this is my journey, so I can play that game with myself if I want, lol!

So, why today?  Long story short, it is my Dad's birthday today.  My Dad would have been 63 today.  He died almost 3 years ago of Lung Cancer.  Lung Cancer that he developed by smoking excessively for many years.  I could never understand why he couldn't just STOP smoking.  I mean, he knew all the risks, he saw his Mom die due to complications of smoking.  Why were cigarettes more important than his family he was surely going to leave behind?  It was his addiction.  Then it hit me.  My weight is the same as his cigarettes.  It will surely cause as much damage to my body.  It will surely shorten my life, taking time away from my family.  Plain and simple, I do not want my children to see me like that. I do not want my children asking why I can't just STOP.  I do not want my children to lose me so young. I do not want my children to have to figure out who is going to have to take care of me. I WANT to see my kids grow up and grow old. I WANT to be involved in my grandkids lives. I WANT to live a long and healthy life for them and for me. This is a disease I am going to have to fight every day. That is how I have to view it. Same as a nicotine, or a drug, or an alcohol additiction. I will never be cured. Even at my goal weight, I will have to fight the obesity disease EVERYDAY.

Starting today.  On my Dad's birthday.  As a reminder of what lies ahead of me if I do not take care of my body.  As a reminder of those I stand to hurt beside myself.

Starting today, starting right now...