"MFP Win By Losing!" Pound4Pound Challenge - Support Group

I received a few emails overnight asking for my salsa recipe. So I decided to post a copy of it here as well so that all of you can enjoy it! Keep in mind that tomatoes are a GREAT source of vitamin C and potassium as well as the powerful antioxidant lycopene! To top that off, tomatoes are very low in calories. Vitamin C enhances absorption of iron from foods so it is GREAT to pair with eggs, chicken, or other meats. Top your baked fish, chicken, or scrambled eggs with a generous serving of salsa. Its a healthy addition to your meal!

Here's a copy of the email I sent out:

I'm happy to share my recipe! You'll probably want to tweak it to suit your own tastes. I like a salsa that is only slightly chunky (small chunks), very tomato-ey, and not too sweet. Last week I made a batch that was sweeter than I like. My husband picked up a lime for me and it was bigger than I normally get. I should have used half of it since it was bigger than normal but I went ahead and used the whole thing and it resulted in a sweeter and more citrus-y taste than I prefer. I also recently added the tomato paste as it gives the salsa a richer color of red, thickens it a bit, and increases the tomato taste. Plus tomato paste is LOADED with lycopene (natural antioxidant in tomatoes....it also is where the rich red color comes from). My husband sometimes complains that the cilantro has a "grassy" taste to him.....but I love that "grassy" taste (and he still eats it anyway)! So again, you'll want to try the recipe and then make changes to suit your own tastes.

I also like my salsa rather spicy. That is why I added habaneros to it. If you are unfamiliar with habaneros, please note that you should use GLOVES when handling them. Handling them and then washing your hands will NOT help. When you put them in the food processor to mix with other ingredients, do NOT hang your head over the top when you open it after pulsing because the fumes may make your eyes water a bit. I LOVE the extra punch the habaneros add to the salsa but you just have to be careful in the handling......we learned by trial and error.....which wasn't fun. lol If you prefer a milder salsa then try leaving the habaneros off and just use cayenne pepper.

Using fresh raw ingredients is best as this maintains optimal nutritional value. Plus it keeps the sodium down! A very important fact for me!

If you have any questions or need me for anything, please feel free to contact me.

Here you go! I hope you enjoy it!

Angela's Homemade Salsa

Ingredients:

Half a medium yellow onion ( actually use a little more than half as I love that onion taste)

2 gloves garlic (minced)

1/4 cup cilantro leaves

1 banana pepper, seeded and ribbed

6 large tomatoes, skin peeled off (see note below)

1 small can tomato paste

2 tablespoons white vinegar

Lime juice (squeezed from 1 small lime)

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp olive oil

2 Habanero peppers (you decide how much you want to use but start off with a small amount such as 1 teaspoon and increase as desired...these peppers are HOT), seeded and ribbed

Directions:

Chop onion and garlic into small pieces. Place onion and garlic in a food processor and pulse on high until minced. In a small skillet add 1 tsp olive oil and saute the onion and garlic mixture until soft (about 3 - 5 minutes) on medium heat. When finished, place the mixture in a medium bowl.

Chop and slice the peppers into small pieces then add to the food processor. Add cilantro leaves and pulse on high until minced. You may have to scrape the side and pulse a few times to get it minced. Add to the onion mixture in the bowl.

After tomatoes have been skinned (see note below), quarter them and add them to the food processor. Pulse on low until coarsely chopped (or they reach the texture you desire). Add to the onion mixture and mix all together. Add vinegar, tomato paste, cayenne pepper, lime juice and mix together. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight to allow all the flavors to mingle and get to know one another. This is an important step as you will notice the flavors become more intense after they have mingled for awhile.

**NOTE: Skinning the tomatoes is easier if you drop them in boiling water for about 45 - 60 seconds. This loosens the skin and makes them very easy to peel. You can seed them as well, if you so desire but try to retain the juices from the tomatoes.

Hi i would love to join my birthday is may 29th and i want to reach my goal weight by then so im ready
Pledge: 21lbs
Weight as of Jan 11 2011: 165lbs
Loss To Date during challenge: 0

I'm so frustrated!!! First of all I think I am addicted to MFP!! I have become very obsessive about losing weight now!! this isn't such a bad thing because I have been really good about monitoring every morsel that enters my body. 9 days ago I started to exercise and since then I've only lost .6. I'm having a really hard time dealing with the scale not moving. I know I should applaud the weight loss so far but it still is very frustrating!! I started to exercise to ramp up the weight loss and it has done nothing but leave me at a stand still. So I'm sad to report that I've only lost .6 since last week.

Week 2 166.2 (((aaaaahhh!!!)

I gonna try to keep on doing what I'm doing but as the scale is not moving, I am getting closer to the point where I just throw up my arms and scream screw it!! I'm really trying hard not to be there, I want this to be different than all of the other times. I'm hoping my MFP OCD will prevail. Hope everyone else is doing great!! ( thanks for letting me vent)

I'm so frustrated!!! First of all I think I am addicted to MFP!! I have become very obsessive about losing weight now!! this isn't such a bad thing because I have been really good about monitoring every morsel that enters my body. 9 days ago I started to exercise and since then I've only lost .6. I'm having a really hard time dealing with the scale not moving. I know I should applaud the weight loss so far but it still is very frustrating!! I started to exercise to ramp up the weight loss and it has done nothing but leave me at a stand still. So I'm sad to report that I've only lost .6 since last week.

Week 2 166.2 (((aaaaahhh!!!)

I gonna try to keep on doing what I'm doing but as the scale is not moving, I am getting closer to the point where I just throw up my arms and scream screw it!! I'm really trying hard not to be there, I want this to be different than all of the other times. I'm hoping my MFP OCD will prevail. Hope everyone else is doing great!! ( thanks for letting me vent)

Whoa sista......stop and breathe a moment. When you begin exercising your muscles will take on a bit more water for muscle repair. Its important that you know you are building muscle which will BENEFIT you in the long run. I support Cory's suggestion to take your measurements. I didn't do that at the beginning but decided to start watching measurements after seeing how well Cory has done not just on the scale but also in inches lost. Its very comforting to find success on more than one level. Hang in there......the added exercise will make you feel so much better as you start to feel stronger. I couldn't live without my exercise! Also, be sure to get PLENTY of sleep as a large portion of muscle repair takes place at night. Keep your chin up and hopefully you'll see much better results next week.

::HUGS::

Good afternoon All!

CW: 235
Loss of 1.6lbs

Choosing2lose and fuhrmeister, congrats on your loses! Whoop! **doing the happy dance for all of us**

Welcome to all newbies! We CAN and WILL all do this!