Weight Loss Wednesday

Holiday parties usually mean swirling chips in something creamy and decadent. Well here's a recipe I found in the December episode of O that is light in calories but heavy on test!!

Blood Orange and Avocado Salsa with Pomegranate Seeds

Recipe adapted from Skinny Dips (Chronicle), by Diane Morgan Oprah.com

Servings: Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients
Blood Orange and Avocado Salsa with Pomegranate Seeds
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
1 tsp. kosher or sea salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
6 blood oranges
1 pomegranate
1 large Hass avocado , halved, pitted, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2/3 cup diced red onion
1 jalapeno chili , seeds and ribs removed, minced
2 green onions , including green tops, cut on the diagonal into thin slices
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions
Active time: 35 minutes Total time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

In a large bowl, whisk together lime juice, salt, and pepper until salt dissolves. Remove all skin, white pith, and seeds from the oranges, reserving any juice that's squeezed out in the process. Drain juice into a measuring cup and set aside. Cut orange segments into 1/2-inch pieces and add to bowl containing lime juice.

To extract the seeds from the pomegranate, cut the fruit into quarters. Submerge the quarters in a large bowl of cold water and place it in the kitchen sink to contain any squirting pomegranate juice. Using your fingers, gently detach the seeds from the membrane and rind. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl. Discard any pith, drain the water, blot the seeds lightly with paper towels, and add to the bowl with the orange segments.

Add the avocado, red onion, jalapeño, green onion, and cilantro to the bowl. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the ingredients together, being careful to not mash the avocados. Add reserved orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until salsa is moist but not soupy. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and set aside for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Serve at room temperature with tortilla chips.

Per 1/4 cup serving: 46 calories, 1.6 grams fat, 1 gram protein, 2 grams fiber

Note: This can be prepared up to 8 hours in advance

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Pumps, Purses & Positivity

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women

Holiday Parties

This past weekend, I was responsible for hosting our Holiday Party at work. It took a lot of work and effort, but we pulled off a flawless event, except for a few people that were somewhat out of control.
I just want to give a few tips on how to attend a holiday party and not end up looking like the class clown and have it talked about at every holiday party going forward…..

1) Wear the appropriate attire. This is not the time for you to show your inner “hoochie” Remember, these are the people you will see on Monday. Believe me, what happens at the party will be circulated at work , Facebook, Twitter, etc, come Monday. This is not Las Vegas. What happens at the holiday party gets magnified. usually, most black dresses work, just not the Lil Kim necklines….. Use color and sparkles to liven up an outfit.

2) Maintain your composure at all times. If there is a two drink ticket limit, do not harass people for their extra drink tickets. Just because I choose to use my ticket for a soft drink, does not mean it is a waste. It just means I don’t want to be tipsy in front of the people I work with and I don’t want my striptease act to be caught on someone’s cell phone.

3) Conversations should be general and kept conservative. Now is not the time to discuss problems at home, politics, religion, issues with your boss or crushes on co-workers. This information always gets back to the people you don’t want it to.

4) Attend the holiday party and accept the holiday gift graciously. These days a majority of companies are not hosting parties, let alone giving holiday gifts to their employees. If you are fortunate to work for a company that is still doing these things, say “Thank You”. Holiday parties and gifts are a way for a company to give back to their employees. If you don’t attend, the company will think of it as a waste of time and cut it out all together. Believe me, when companies start cost cutting measures, you don’t want it to be something that can be a motivator for employees.

Remember, people watching at a Holiday party is better than going to the movies…..Don’t be the one others are watching and talking about.

Peace and Love,

Sandals

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women