Cold turkey and a piece of cake

"It's like at the Ritz," declared Tuck this evening as we laid his supper before him: Haddock with leeks and snow peas served on a bed of rice and garnished with apple-strawberry mix, the first of a new burst of homemade lean cuisine dinners inspired by our decision last week to do something about this too, too solid flesh. It's easy to make, low in fat and calories and wicked delicious: Simmer sliced and cross-cut leeks in chicken broth 10 minutes. Add haddock, cover and cook another 10 minutes, tossing in snow peas for last minute. Meanwhile, microwave rice in chicken broth on high 5 minutes and then medium heat 20 minutes. Artfully arrange on plate and drizzle with pan juices. Who says dieting has to be boring?

Update: Why doesn't she publish The Cold Turkey Cookbook? Click on the link for all recipes and commentary to date. Update II: Index of Recipes, a work in progress.

Now it can be told. We jumped on the wagon cold turkey one week ago today, cutting out the booze, the second helpings and the midnight snacks. We feel better already. The first day was the hardest. Since then it's been a piece of cake. But no cake for us until further notice.

Outside, as we dreamt of the joys of eating less, palace lions Baby and Tiny dreamt of the joys of eating more.

They're going to love those haddock leftovers for breakfast tomorrow.

Update: As we said in the comments of Nancy Rommelmann's "Gin!" post at Pajamas Media the other day -- with a nod to the Lloyd Bridges character in "Airplane!" -- "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking martinis." Stephen Green of Vodkapundit drank his way through last night's Republican debate so we didn't have to. A few sips of his liveblogging at Pajamas Media:

6:58pm (Still on Eastern Time, but I plan to drink my way through that.) Somebody asked me why I call half the Republican candidates “Jim Beam.” Mostly, it seems silly to learn all their names. But really because they all seem vaguely Southern and make me want to drink.

7:00.5pm Wait - which one is Fred Thompson?

7:04pm “My name is Thompson. Tommy. Not the actor.” OK, that’s one down.

7:05pm “I’m Mitt Romney, and this is the amazing Romneymatic 2000 Juicy Juicer machine.”

7:06pm OK, they’re all flying by too fast to make fun of. If only we could say that about the next 550+ days of nonstop campaigning.

Top shelf.

Comments

[miss kellymi]

Ah yes, I understand completely, unfortunately. No second servings for me either, and no cookies, chocolate or ice cream on weekdays. The addition of two-three pounds a year over ten years is not a pleasant sight. But no booze?? Ooh, that would be hard! Good luck to staying on the program!

[Greta (Hooah Wife)]

Best of luck to both of you! Cold turkey - yikes!

[Gayle Miller]

Just saw this post. I've been reading Bob Greene's "The Best Life" book and it too makes sense to me. But giving up the booze? Maybe just until Thanksgiving? I probably could hold out that long.

ALTHOUGH - Linda has discovered making a nice watermelon slushie with white rum and lime juice! Tasty, relaxing and refreshing! Although last night it was margaritaville!