#FridayFinds - Tovala Oven

We have a new appliance...
And a new meal delivery plan...

And I am loving it.
Meet the Tovala:

In the picture was the first "delivered meal" that we cooked in the Tovala - Chicken Pot Pie.
And it was yummy! If they offer it again, I'll be flagging it for delivery...

It is great - take plastic off the containers, put in the oven, scan the bar code and hit start!
Usually takes me about 2 minutes...
Add a few if you need to pour a container of sauce over something...

I am a big fan!  We only order 4 meals a week, so 2 nights worth and there are some nights that I am disappointed that we don't have more.  The portions are perfect for me (I feel full even counting calories), but MBB has to supplement sometimes to have a full meal.

I will say their meal plan is a bit pricey ($12 per meal - that's for one person)...
But then I remember that we would spend more if we ate out...
Most of the time I don't feel like cooking after a 9 hour day at work...
And this is a bit more on the healthy side too, which is big with me counting calories again.

Another benefit?

You can scan stuff that you buy at the grocery store to cook...
Sometimes, it is there (Grands Cinnamon Rolls) and sometimes it isn't.
If it isn't, you can program the cook time (and adjust it for future cooks if you need to) and it will save it for future barcode scans.

And - the Tovala is a steam oven... I'm not sure how that works, but stuff like the individual Red Baron pizzas cook way better here than in the microwave! At least that's what MBB says.

Namaste.

*Note - Tovala did not pay me to write about them.  They don't even know I exist.
But, if they see this and want to offer me a few free meals, I wouldn't be opposed!  :)

Trying Again...

So, I was doing pretty good earlier in the year with intermediate fasting and dropping some pounds...
Then June 11th happened.
Any I couldn't deal with everything at once, so it all came back on (and then some).

I'm still not over this summer...
I still have paperwork and stuff to deal with...

But - it is time to try again...
I can't let my health get completely out of control - that is why I lost my mom.
So, I am going back to what worked about 12 years ago...
It's time to count calories again.

As miserable as I will be, it will be nice to be healthy again.
To be able to ride my bike without getting winded.
To feel like I can go up and down the stairs without my knees hurting.

And it is time to get going again.

Today was Day 3...

And I need to celebrate that I have had three successful days!
Here's to 100 more...

Namaste.

Remembering - The man who stepped up

On August 24, 2016, I got a call that no one wants...
And I was in an airport, not able to hear well and didn't understand what was going on...
Then a text cleared it up - I wasn't going to be able to say goodbye to my dad...

And even three years later - I miss him like crazy.
We didn't talk often - he wasn't the type to talk on the phone.

But, if I needed him - he was there.
When the tornadoes of 2012 hit us - he was there.
When my kids and grand kids had birthdays - he was there.
He even drove to KY about two months after having open heart surgery - by himself.
He was there.

And it really hurts that as much as he would want to be - he can't be here anymore.
He will never make the drive north to my new place...
He will never see my grandkids play sports...
He wasn't there to talk over the swingzeebo or the dining room table with MBB...
He wasn't there to hug me when I said goodbye to my mom (and a divorce would not have stopped him from being there)...

I miss my dad.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Sidelines Italian Grille

We never seem to learn our lesson and keep trying new Italian restaurants...
Our track record isn't very good (see previous #FridayFinds for proof)...
But we did find a winner this time!

It doesn't beat Rosie's, but it isn't as crowded - so that pushes it up the list.

Bruschetta

Chicken Gnocchi

Allison's Lasagna

Manicotti

Full disclosure - the Lasagna and Manicotti pictures may be switched.  :)
The pics have been on my phone for awhile and I can't remember which was which.

Namaste.

Remembering - Hexx's Breakfast Potatoes

Hexx is one of our favorite breakfast places in Las Vegas.
I absolutely adore their breakfast potatoes!

So much that this past trip, I only ordered their breakfast potatoes and a granola parfait as my meal.

And I quickly realized that the chef's was having a very bad day...
They were horrible - dry, bland and cold.
I sent them back and they wanted to try again.
And though they were better (at least they were warm) I sent them back again and had bacon instead.

They reassured me that they didn't change the recipe...
I will try again...
But it truly did put a hole in this last Vegas trip.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Mancy's Steakhouse

We've lived in the SE Michigan area for almost two years and we keep saying that we need to try the "well known" steakhouse, but we never do...

Now, keep in mind that we tried Mancy's Italian restaurant and we weren't fans.

But, everyone kept telling us that Mancy's is known for their steaks and we should definitely give it a try.  So for my birthday, MBB took me to Mancy's Steakhouse.

Macadamia Nut Crusted Brie (like the Brie, not the bread - too hard)

Tournedos Oscar

Mashed Cauliflower (I liked, MBB didn't - no surprise there)

NOTE: My picture of MBB's filet mignon didn't turn out and by the time that I realized it, the steak was in his belly...


Overall, we were happy.

Now, I will say that for the price - it is definitely a special occasion location only...
But I am glad that we can now say that we have gone.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Chayo in Las Vegas

We attempted to head to Hash House in Vegas for lunch, but the line was way too long...
(Never fear - we made it another time)

So, we ventured into a new Mexican restaurant at the Lync...

Queso Dip w/ Chorizo

Chicken Al Pastor Burrito (no beans, queso on top)

Chayo Breakfast Burrito

The verdict?
No thanks.

My breakfast burrito was 90% black beans and was so dry that I could barely eat it.
MBB didn't care for his burrito either.
The highlight of the meal?  The queso dip.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - The Inside Five Brewing Co.

Our weekly crew decided to try out The Inside Five Brewing Co. in Sylvania, OH.
Wasn't bad - if you are a beer drinker, you should try it.
We aren't, so it probably won't be a repeat for us...But is still a good place to go.

I decided to try some beer - since we were at a brewery...
TBD (Lost one of my pictures), Kilt On (Scottish Ale), Sqaures or Triangles (PB & J),
Pregame Mean (Donut, Maple Syrup & Coffee Sweet Stout)

I don't remember the name of the three hamburgers that we ordered... but they were all good.

Namaste.