Gotta be Smart if you Want to be Lazy

Generally speaking, I am proud of my work ethic. I like being the go-to girl that people can count on. I take pride in what I help my team accomplish and I really want to make an impact with what I do. The down side to being a hard worker is that I tend to throw myself, head first, into my work. When sh#$ gets busy I go balls to the wall and I'll keep going until it's done... sacrificing everything that keeps me fueled up and then I get burnt out and slide back into bad habits. 

As Christmas approaches, I get busier at work because I have a retail schedule. It just so happens this is also the time when cookies, cakes, and delectable treats make their way to everywhere tempting the crap out of me. Clearly this is a recipe for disaster. 

Having just broken up with my gym I have to be more diligent about finding good work outs and that is work in itself. To make sure that I don't slide into bad habits because of work I've instituted a new practice. This Sunday I spent 3 hours in the kitchen making meals for the upcoming week. I finished the dishes and have food prepared for the whole week meaning that I can through myself into my work and not have to stress about going home and cooking or caving to fast food pressure. I've gotta be honest, I'm feeling pretty damn good about myself. 

The first dish I made (that will feed us for at least 2 meals.. maybe 3) was a chicken Shepards pie. Generally I hate Shepards pie because I hate the corn, meat, and potato all smooshed together. Why wouldn't you just make a meatloaf with mashed potato and corn? This chicken shepards pie is different though because it doesn't use beef, making me want a meatloaf. Here's the lowdown:

Ingredients:

Filling:

2 cups shredded chicken

3/4 cup package chicken gravy

3/4 cup package onion gravy

2 cups of peas

2 cups of carrots

Crust:

2tbs crisco

1 cup or so of flour

a little water

Topping:

2 cups Mashed potato

How to Make it:

1. Mix the crisco and the flour until it is crumbly

2. add water a little at a time until the dough pulls together

3. Roll out enough dough to make a bottom crust

4. Bake the empty pie shell for 30 minutes in a 350degree oven 

5. Mix your filling by coating the chicken and veggies with the gravy mixture

6. Put filling into baked crust

7. Top with mashed potatoes

8. Put whole pie back in the oven and broil on low for 10 minutes or until the potato browns a little on the top

I know this isn't exactly a sodium or carb friendly dish but it is a portion friendly dish. By limiting yourself to just one piece you are not over doing it and it is completely satisfying.

The second dish I made was my famous chicken soup that I've shared the recipe on here before. That will be good for at least 2 meals and then, if I put the "guts" of the soup in a casserole dish with a can of cream of mushroom I'll have another meal without any more work. 

Last night I got home late and it wasn't a problem because there wasn't a whole bunch of work waiting for me. It was great! I think this will be something I continue to do because it makes life so much easier! It is all about how you set yourself up to be lazy.

<3Katie

Day 161

191 lbs!!

Feeling Smart and Lazy