Another Pinterest Failure: The Make Your Own Easy Mac Pin, and how to do it better.

We've all seen that Pin.... that one that looks so easy and delicious. That make your own "Easy Mac" Pin. That Mug of Macaroni Pin. This Pin.

Mmmm... looks so delicious and creamy right? Well I decided to try it today, and it didn't exactly look like that. It looked like this.

Yeah. Gross. 

The problem, like most things on Pinterest, is the picture doesn't actually lead to anything. It doesn't lead you to a website telling you how to make it. It leads you to a page saying that the Pin has been blocked for misleading information or something like that. 

The text on the actual Pin does give ingredients though. It says: "QUIT buying easy mac, people! Instant Mug o Mac Cheese in the Microwave: 1/3 cup pasta, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese"

I did change a couple of things. I used whole grain macaroni noodles, reduced fat cheddar, and skim milk, to make it a little more healthy. The only thing that the Pin doesn't say though, is how long to microwave it for. So I threw everything in the mug and tried 2 minutes. Nothing happened. 3 minutes, and it boiled over causing a huge mess in my microwave. I cleaned it up and tried another minute, and this is the product I got. The noodles were very, very undercooked, and there was still a little bit of milk/water mixture on the bottom, but the cheese was beginning to burn and stick to the mug in terrible ways. So I tried it, and it didn't taste like anything. I added garlic powder, fresh ground pepper, and seasoned salt and that made it slightly more tolerable. This whole thing was a huge mess though, so I want to tell you a much, much easier way to do this and to enjoy it too.

First, scratch the mug idea. It's cute, and seems easy, but it causes a huge mess.

I will be using the same amount of ingredients, if you want to make it for two people, double the amount.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup whole grain or whole wheat macaroni pasta.

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup skim milk

1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Creates 1 serving (about 1 cup)

- Put the milk and the water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once the mixture is boiling add the macaroni noodles. Cook noodles until soft.

Note: To add more flavor at this point, add to the milk and water a pinch of minced garlic or garlic powder, or add some minced onions, or even better, some little bits of fresh broccoli.

- Once the noodles are cooked and still hot, remove from heat and immediately add the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix in with the noodles until melted.

- Add salt and pepper to taste. You could also add a pinch of cayenne if you really want to give it some good flavor.

-Transfer to bowl (or mug, if you really have to).

Voila. Same thing, less mess. Plus it tastes  and looks ten times better...

And it's only 6 Weight Watchers points per serving! (if you use my healthier ingredients) :)

PS: I've lost 8 pounds so far!

Goals....

Yes. I suck at making goals, and then sticking to them. Obviously I got bored with the 365 day Photo Project thing after what... 3 days? But that is because I am focusing on a different MORE IMPORTANT goal, and that is losing weight!

This is the first time I've probably ever been really serious about it. I joined the Y when I was in college and I did lose weight then, but classes got busier and finally I just stopped going. I tried other diets before too, like Alli for about a week, and then I read an article about how one woman pooped her pants while taking Alli so I quickly stopped taking it. I tried just eating healthy but that is very difficult for me. I love to cook, and that hasn't been the best for Dan and I. The food is wonderful sure, but cooking a huge meal for 2 people (although I love doing it) is probably not the best thing in the world for us.

So I finally joined Weight Watchers! I saw Jessica Simpson on the advertisement and I was like... hey, I met her once. Seriously. That's me on the left.

Holy dork fest. Except for Jessica Simpson, and Jasmine (my cousin) on the right. 

I thought it would be difficult dieting again, but, and I swear I'm going to sound like a commercial here, Weight Watchers is SO easy!! For example, I ate fast food everyday for lunch last week, and I still lost 2 pounds in one week. I am just teaching myself what is okay to eat, and what isn't. I ate at places like McDonalds, Subway, Culver's, Taco Bell, Arby's and Noodles & Company, and I have new favorite point-friendly foods at each one. 

I also have gotten much better at cooking healthy food, and measuring what I put into food. A couple of examples of meals I have made at home since I started that I got from Weight Watchers...

An amazing baked macaroni & cheese with broccoli, one serving is only 7 points, and one serving is actually more than you would think!

Eggo whole grain waffles with maple syrup, or if I'm in a hurry, Eggo waffles with "no sugar (or artificial sweetener) added" Smucker's Strawberry preserves.

Progresso Vegetable Classics Lentil Soup over white rice.... ohh it's amazing.

Corn Flake crumb breaded pork chops.

Panko breaded onion rings

Seriously... they were all so delicious. I don't want to become one of those people who talk about their diets all the damn time, so I'm only doing this one post about it, but really. If you need to lose some lbs, Weight Watchers is the way to go. 

Thank you Jessica Simpson.

365 Photo Project: Day 3

I started dieting today, for real. I joined Weight Watchers online and everything. I have a bunch of grapefruits at home so I decided to bring one as a healthy snack... unfortunately I forgot how painful it is to eat a grapefruit without sugar. The first couple slices are okay, but then you get to this point (which I pictured above) and your mouth hurts and it tastes like you just threw up 8 times and it feels like NOTHING will ever taste good again. After work I went grocery shopping and bought a ton of different fruit to bring to work the next day... fruit that wouldn't ruin my morning.

365 Photo Project: Day 2

Day 2: I used to be able to play this Chopin Sonata by heart, and am attempting to re-learn it. I can play the majority of it, except for this part. Even with all of my old piano teacher's notes, I'm still struggling and kind of want to throw this book out the window right now.

365 Day Photo Project: Day 1

So, I decided to partake in the 365 Day Photo project that I came across on Pinterest from the bloggers Peas & Carrots. I thought it would be pretty cool to document an entire year of my life through photography. So here is Day 1 of the year 2013.

Here is our kitty Sammy Jango, relaxing in his cat tree, which is basically all Dan and I did on our last day of our Holiday break before we head back to work tomorrow. Except we weren't relaxing in a cat tree. We were relaxing in a human tree....er... on the couch.