I Am Back

School is back in session and so I will hopefully be better about posting. I have stayed on my journey this summer and have lost 30 pounds since the first part of May! I worked my way up to being able to walk 4 miles in just a little over an hour, plus I would walk some with a friend, that always helps the time past faster. Since I have started back to school I have begun doing the Jillian Micheal's DVD again, I am on day 3 and doing good so far, a little sore, but that is to be expected. A friend of mine found a wonderful cookbook at Sam's that I have gotten also, it is a Taste of Home book that is diet comfort foods. It has some amazing recipes that are good tasting and good for you. It is amazing how much better my clothes are fitting, and that I can wear somethings that I haven't been able to for 3 or 4 years! Tonight I made a Three Cheese Penne Pasta bake, courtesy of kraftfoods.com. I wanted to share the recipe:

1 1/2 cups of uncooked whole wheat penne pasta

3 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into big chunks

Garlic Powder and Italian seasoning to taste

1 Jar light Ragu sauce

2 oz. fat free cream cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375°

Cook pasta according to package directions. The original recipe calls to add frozen spinach during the last minute of boiling, but I left that out (not a big fan of cooked pasta)

In a large skillet cook chicken using the garlic powder and Italian seasoning to flavor the chicken to your taste preference. Cook until done, mix in jar of pasta sauce and cream cheese. Mix together and cook until the cream cheese has melted into the sauce.

Once the pasta is done drain and return to the pan. Mix in the chicken sauce mixture and stir in 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Pour into an 8 in square baking pan and bake for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle the other 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese and return to oven until the cheese is melted.

A 1/2 cup serving of this pasta bake is approximately 215 calories, serve with a big salad with your favorite fat free dressing and enjoy!

It turned out really good. And very filling with a salad.

I hope everyone is staying cool in this heat wave, I am very ready for some cooler temps!