Tina Macuha & Julissa Ortiz's Blog

Chili Cookoff & Biggest Loser Update

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:34:46 GMT

4th Annual Chili Cookoff 2010

Every year before that big football game, we ask the staff if they want to compete in our annual Chili Cookoff. 5 people came forward and one was crowned the winner! I think the pics tell the story...

Ok did you put that all together? The competitors this year were Producer Jim, Lisa G. and her mom Mimi, Sr. Coordinating Producer Alyson and Senior Editor Leah. Oh yeah and Toots (aka Producer Jason). Marianne was tallying. I was assisting. Julissa was standing around looking cute. Judges were Noah Zonca (Chef at The Kitchen and Selland's Market), Jay Cohen (former restauranteur and now with Hanson McClain), Dani Luzzatti (East Bay Restaurant Supply and Bellalu Catering Owner), Juan Martinez (Chef at Tres Agaves in Roseville), and TV's Mark S. Allen. This year's winner: Producer Jim Landrith! Congratulations! Runner up: Alyson with the Veggie Chili entry! Yayyyyy! Tina

BIGGEST Loser Update...

Last month we introduced you to a group in Modesto on a mission to get in shape.

In all, 16 people resolved to lose weight in 2010. I just got their first update--They are off to a great start! They've been working hard these last few weeks and as a group lost 48.6 pounds!!! The biggest loser for the month is Glori Hiltabidel! She dropped 10 pounds!!! Congratulations to the entire group!!! You are doing great! I'll post their pictures as soon as I get them!

Since we're on the topic....

It's my anniversary! (Well sort of!)

A year ago today, I started my own mission to get in shape...

Remember this picture?

Thanks to Sandra Augustin I did it! I dropped the weight, kept it off and I feel great!

I remember walking into the gym and meeting her for the first time...boy was I scared! I could hear her yelling the moment I walked in the door! Now--12 months later-- I worry when I don't hear her yelling! Haha!

Over the last year, I made a major lifestyle change. I work out, I've learned to eat healthy and more importantly, I'm healthier. Sandra has motivated me all along the way...and continues to do so! Heyyy! Ju

Thanks Blog Readers!

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:25:12 GMT

Thank You: Just wanted to say thank you for reading this blog. We will work on posting more pictures more often during the week. I will try to take more behind the scenes pictures too. There's a big competition among us here at work on who gets the most blog hits. Can you guess who does? DUH. Yeah, we are working on a thank you gift of some sort. We'll see what we come up with.

Diet: So you know I'm trying to do Weight Watchers. Well, this week hasn't been on track so I didn't weigh in. Guess it's part of life's ups and downs. I pay attention to my moods too when I eat certain things. This week I'm just pooped. Let me know if you find any good food finds too. None of this 1 point candy stuff either. Rather not think of that.

Health: Some of you have been wondering how I've been doing... I saw my breast surgeon a couple of weeks ago for a follow up. I'll see her every 4 months for the first year and then either once or twice during Years 2 through 5. All is good. I'll see my plastic surgeon tomorrow as a follow up on the reconstruction. I'm doing well and feel so blessed! People continue to write me and I do my best to write back. Hopefully, I am helpful in some way.

Show: Tomorrow we have our annual Chili Cookoff among the staff. Ju and I won last year and I won the year before. Stef won the first year. Tune in tomorrow (Friday, 2/5/10).

Crab Feeds: Keep scrolling down and you'll see the long list of Crab Feeds. You can still send me info on yours. Write it in the format I have it in so I can cut and paste.

Have a cheery weekend! Tina

Weight Watchers Week #3 & WW Recipe

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:29:10 GMT

Oh geez... so I thought I did better but I guess not. Weighed in last Tuesday, 1/26/10, at 143.4. Up. I ate a lot over the weekend too so I'm not looking forward to the weigh in tomorrow. Here's a great WW recipe I tried some time ago... tasty! Tina

Weight Watcher's

Korean Lettuce Wraps

Serves 4

Weight Watchers Points 4

1 pound ground lean beef (5% or less fat)

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon sherry or dry vermouth

1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons bottled Asian red Chile sauce

2 teaspoons light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon Asian (dark) sesame oil

8 iceberg lettuce leaves

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

1. Mix the ground beef, garlic, sherry, soy sauce, red Chile sauce brown sugar, and ginger in a medium bowl until well combined.

2. Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add the beef mixture and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in the sesame oil.

3. To serve, place 1/4 cup cooked ground beef mixture in each of the lettuce-leaf cups. Top each with one-eighth of the sliced cucumber and sliced bell pepper. Serve at once.

Per serving (2 filled lettuce cups) 195 Cal, 7gr Fat, 1 gr Fiber

The Hoff in the House!

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:10:48 GMT

We got a special visit from David Hasselhoff this morning!

He is in town to promote his special Valentine's Day performance at Cache Creek.

Very nice...very fun!

Looking for a Crab Feed?

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:31:52 GMT

then you'll have to scroll down a bit for the long list! So many to choose from! They aren't in chronological order. If you have one, email me the information in this format so I can cut and paste! Tina

Long Live the PITA!

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:15:37 GMT

It's the anniversary of bubble wrap and someone here decided to test it out... and test to see if it would protect the glass pita we've had for many years. It didn't make it. Sigh. Memories.... just look at these pictures to see who the culprit is. Who do you suppose wrap this in bubble wrap and asked Martha to throw it from 20 feet? Long live the PITA.... Tina

Weight Watchers Week #2 & WW Recipe

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:49:59 GMT

Hi all -- what a week with all these storms! We stayed on the air until noon yesterday - a long time sitting down. I made sure to walk around and drink my water. Weighed in yesterday with Teresa Rose, ambassador and super cool person at Weight Watchers at the Citrus Heights and Roseville centers. I think I did ok for the first week. Mind you I did had a sweater on when I weighed in the first time. I took off my sweater yesterday then Teresa hung it over my shoulder to prove I dropped. Here's this week's number: 142.8. My goal is to keep moving! Here's a recipe Teresa sent me to share with everyone! Zero points! How are you doing with your goal? Tina

Arrabbiata Sauce
Makes 8 servings
POINTS® value | 0 per serving
Ingredients
•    2 sprays olive oil cooking spray
•    1 tsp olive oil
•    3 medium garlic cloves, minced
•    1 1/2 cup chopped onion
•    29 oz canned, diced, fire-roasted tomatoes
•    1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
•    1/8 tsp sugar
Instructions
1.    Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; set over medium-high heat. Add oil to skillet; heat through. Add garlic; stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions wilt and begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes and sugar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, scraping sides and bottom of pan occasionally, about 10 minutes.
2.    Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

2010 Crab Feeds!!!!

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:17:32 GMT

Here's the list... (not in chronological order)

Natomas High School Athletic Booster Club
6th Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser
Saturday February 6, 2010
Natomas High School Main Gym
Tickets $40 in Advance $50 at the Door
Contact:Marcy Pena @ 271-5326
or mopena@winfirst.com

Active 20-30 of Greater Sacramento #1032

17^th Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed

Giovanni Hall at St. Mary’s Church

1333 58^th Street, Sacramento

Saturday, February 27, 2010

5pm – 11pm

$45 in advance/$60 at the door if seats are available

Tickets available online at www.sacwomens2030.org

The Granite Bay High School Emerald Brigade Band Boosters

2nd Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Faith Center Lutheran Church

6365 Douglas Blvd.in Granite Bay

6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Ticket prices are $40.00 per person

Tickets may be purchased by contacting Dee Grimm at 791-4495

The Modesto Junior College Agriculture Department

3^rd annual Crab Feed

Mary Stuart Rogers Student Center on MJC West Campus

2201 Blue Gum Avenue, Modesto

Friday February 5 from 6-9:00pm

Tickets $45.00 or a table of 8 for $320.00

Tickets can be purchased from the agriculture department at 209-575-6200

O.N.I.P.P.A - Organization of Native Islanders of the Pacifics It's Alliances and Affairs

Crab Feed 2010 Hula Extravaganza

Entertainment provided by Ka Pa Hula Kanoelehuaokahalema'uma'u O Kalama

and Dan's Hawaiiana's

Dante Club

2330 Fair Oaks, CA 95825

Sunday March 28th from 3-8:00pm dinner served at 4:30pm

Tickets $45.00

Tickets can be purchased visting our website www.onippa.net or calling 916-344-7270

Divine Savior Catholic Church

Annual Crab Feed

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Divine Savior Catholic Church

9079 Greenback Lane

Orangevale ca 95662

Doors open at 5:30pm

Tickets are $40.00 each

To purchase tickets call church office at 916.989.7400 or online at www.divinesavior.com

Howard Training Center

16^th Annual Crab Fest

Howard Training Center Witmer Hall

1424 Stonum Rd, Modesto CA 95351

Friday March 5 and Saturday March 6

Doors open at 5:30, dinner at 7:00

Live Auction and Raffle prizes

Dancing to the Silvermoon Band

Tickets $45

To Go $30

Ask about our “Party in a box”

Tickets can be purchased by visiting our website www.howardtrainingcenter.com or

Or by calling 209-593-5618

Elk Grove LIONS

Crab Feed
March 6, 2010
S.E.S. Hall
10427 E. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove, CA, 95624
Doors open at 6pm, dinner at 7pm
Raffle, No Host bar, 2 kinds of pasta, Shrimp, Crab
$35.00 per person
For more information or tickets
916-681-6292

Lincoln 8th Graders Crab Feed Fundraiser
Saturday February 13, 2010
Whitney Oaks Golf Club
2305 Clubhouse Drive, Rocklin, Ca 95765
All you can eat! No host bar.
D.J., dancing, great raffle prizes, auction,and magic show!
For ticket information: fundraising4dc2010@hotmail.com
Also contact Laura(916)990-1768 or Tina(916)295-0722
$47. each or $45. each for a group of 10

San Joaquin AIDS Foundation

Shrimp & Crab Feed

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Lodi Grape Festival Grounds - Chardonnay Hall

413 East Lockford Street in Lodi

$40.00 per person

No Host Cocktails 6pm, Dinner 7pm, Entertainment to follow

209.476.8533

Crossroads/Heartland Better Together Church Surf and Turf

All you can eat Crab , Tri Tip and Pasta Dinner

Raffles, Door prizes and Auction

Vinewood Community Church

1900 W. Vine St. Lodi, Ca. 95242

Friday , February 12^th @ 6:00 Pm

Tickets $40.00

Tickets can be purchased by calling Brian 209-327-4083

Sacramento Law Foundation Crab Feed

All you can eat Crab, Pasta & Salad Dinner

Live & Silent Auction, Raffle, No Host Bar

Sacramento Association of Realtor's Auditorium

2003 Howe Ave, Sacramento,

Saturday, February 6^th @ 6:00 PM

Tickets $40.00

Tickets can be purchased at www.saclawfoundation.org

Call Coral for more information 916-874-6013

Modesto Lions

7^th Annual Crab Feed

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Riverbank Community Center

3600 Sante Fe, Riverbank

6pm No Host Cocktails, 7pm Dinner

Live Auction & Raffle

Donation $40, Mastercard & Visa accepted

For tickets, contact Kim 209-545-4242 or 209-484-9229

Center High School Football and Jr. Cougars

2^nd Annual Crab Feed

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Maidu Community Center

1550 Maidu Drive, Roseville 95600

Tickets $40/person, $45/person at the door

Doors open at 5:30pm/Dinner at 7pm

Salad, pasta, bread and all you can eat CRAB!

D.J., tons of raffle prizes, dessert bar

Contact djbeily@centerusd.k12.ca.us for tickets or call 916-339-4703

Fraternal Order of Eagles # 2143 Modesto
Annual Crab Feed
Eagles Lodge
126 Camellia Way, Modesto, Ca.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
No Host Bar-Opens@5:00p.m.
Dinner-Served@6:30p.m.
Donation- $40 per person
Contact Jim @ 510-967-6548 or
209-577-2298

Suisun City Buisness Group

12th Annual Crab Feed

Feb. 13, 630 pm

Joe Nelson Community Center

611 Village Drive

Suisun City CA 94585

$40 per ticket

Crab, shrimp, pasta, salad, garlic bread, and dessert.

There will be a DJ for dancing, a silent auction and raffles

Info: 707-422-9777 or www.suisinbusiness.com

Sacramento Children's Home Guild Crab Feed
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Folsom Community Center
52 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
$45.00 Per Person
Fresh Crab, Salad, Pasta, Dessert
No Host Bar
Live and Silent Auctions
For Tickets phone Angela Donlan
916-698-1150

Pitman FFA Alumni - First Crab Feed

Stanislaus County Ag. Center Harvest Hall

3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto

Saturday, February 6, 2010

5:30 Social / 6:00 PM Dinner $35.00

All you can eat: Cold Cracked Crab, Pasta, Salad, and French Bread

Benefitting FFA Members who will be selling livestock at the

2010 Stanislaus County Fair. Proceeds will be used to supply bedding

& support animals through the Junior Livestock Action.

Contact: Krista, Jake, or Troy 209-656-1592

kvannest@turlock.k12.ca.us

El Camino High School Boosters Club

7^th Annual Crab Feed & Auction

March 6th, 2010 (Saturday)

Presentation School

3100 Norris Avenue

5:30 pm Doors open/6:30 pm Dinner Served.

$50 tickets covers food & drinks & entertainment (chicken available for those who do not eat crab).

You can buy tickets at El Camino High School Athletics Office, at the Booster kiosk at home games or at Salons Within (2536 Walnut Avenue).

The Booster Club is seeking donations to help raise funds for our gym improvement projects (air conditioning, sound system improvement & snack bar renovation.) Significant donations will be recognized. If you can help with a donation, please contact barton4@sbcglobal.net.

Huntington’s Disease Society of America Crab Feed!

Blue Goose Fruit Shed-3550 Taylor Road Loomis, CA 95650

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Doors open at 3pm/Dinner starts at 4pm

$45 per person $55 at the door

Crab, pasta salad, green salad, bread

Live Music, Beer, Wine and Raffle

All proceeds benefit HDSA Research.

Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow.

Call HDSA at 916-927-4400

Email: mhkruger@sundt.com

Holy Cross School

Annual Crab Feed

March 6, 2010

800 Todhunter Avenue

West Sacramento, CA

Call school office for tickets: 916-371-1313

Cristo Rey School

Crab Feed for Cristo Rey Athletics

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Newman Center

5900 Newman Court (across main entrance of Sac. St.)

Doors open at 6pm, Dinner at 7pm

Tickets are $35

Purchase tickets at the front office of school

Info: smacias@cristoreysacramento.org

Have a crab feed coming up? Email the info to me in this format so I can cut and paste! Please single space and no fancy fonts. Thanks!

Email: Crab Feeds on Tina and Julissa's Blog

Yum!

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:38:10 GMT

On gray and gloomy days like these days, I love a BIG bowl of soup!

Thanks to our Soup Swap, I have soup for several days!

To celebrate National Soup Swap Day-- January 23rd-- I thought it would be fun to have a
soup swap with the Good Day Gang!

Everyone made a different kind of soup to share.

Tina: Roasted Tomato & Croutons
Mark: Creamy-Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Stef: Clam Chowder
Nick: Italian Wedding Soup
Ju: Zesty Chicken and Vegetable (My first try!)

We each brought 6 containers of soup...we swapped...then everyone went home with a bunch of different soups!

We couldn't wait until we got home to sample!

This was a fun way to share some of our favorite recipes!

So much fun, I'm planning a soup swap with my family!

THE RECIPES

Mark’s Recipe - Creamy-Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 TBL olive oil

1 large onion; chopped

1 large (4” jalapeno) chopped (seeded for less spicy-seed in for WOW)

2 TBL minced fresh garlic

4 corn tortillas (fried tostada style and crumbled)

1 – 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with chilies

4 C chicken broth

1 C rice (long grain is best)

1 t ground cumin

1 t dried oregano

1 t turmeric

2 C chopped, cooked chicken

½ C heavy cream

1 C SHARP cheddar cheese

1 TBL chopped cilantro

Juice from ½ fresh lime

1 C dried, seeded Roma tomatoes or 1 C salsa

Sour cream for garnish

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; sauté onions, peppers and garlic for 3 minutes.

Add tomatoes, broth and spices and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Puree soup base in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth, return soup to pot.

Add chicken, corn and cream and return to a boil then simmer for 5 minutes, simmer for 15 more.

Reduce heat to medium-low and sprinkle in cheese and cilantro; stir to melt cheese.

Add lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with tomatoes and a dollop of sour cream.

For best balance, get sweeter, yellow cream at a good Mexican market or carniceria.

Marilyn (Mark's mom)

Ju's recipe - Zesty Chicken & Vegetable Soup
1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into very thin strips
1-2 tbsp Franks' RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
4 c chicken broth
1 pkg (16 oz) frozen stir-fry vegetables
1 c angel hair pasta, broken into 2-inch lengths or fine egg noodles
1 green onion, thinly sliced

Combine chicken and Frank's RedHot Sauce in medium bowl; set aside.

Heat broth to boiling in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add vegetables and pasta; return to boiling. Cooking 2 minutes. Stir in chicken mixture and green onion. Cook 1 minute or until chicken is no longer pink.

Nick's Recipe - Italian Wedding Soup

1 head escarole

2 large cans chicken broth (I add a little water, usually 3-4 cups)

3 large carrots, chopped

8 oz. of a tiny pasta. Mini ziti works well or you can use elbow macaroni.

For the meatballs:

1 lb. ground beef

2 large eggs

½ C finely chopped onions

1 C bread crumbs

1 C grated parmigiano cheese

Pinch of salt & pepper

Trim the escarole and wash it off. Then cut up the leaves into 1-3 inch pieces. Should have about 4 cups.

Combine escarole, broth, water, carrots… bring to simmer and cook until escarole is almost tender, about 30 mins.

Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs. Shape them into tiny balls, less than an inch in diameter.

When the escarole is cooked, stir in the pasta and return to simmer.

Drop the meatballs in the soup (the hot broth will cook them). Cook over low heat for about 25 minutes. Stir a few times.

Add salt or pepper.

Serve hot with the parmesan.

Tina's Recipe - Roasted Tomato Soup
Serves 4

1 lb. ripe Italian plum tomatoes (or any you like), halved lengthwise
1 large red bell pepper, quartered lengthwise and seeded
1 large red onion, quartered lengthwise
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1 T olive oil
1 and ¼ quarts vegetable stock or water (I used less)
pinch of sugar (I used a little more)
salt and ground black pepper
fresh basil leaves, to garnish

Heat the oven to 375°F. Spread out the tomatoes, red pepper, onion, and garlic in a roasting pan and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes until the vegetables are soft and charred, stirring and turning them halfway through cooking.

Tip the vegetables into a food processor, add about 1 cup of the stock or water, and process until pureed. Scrape into a strainer placed over a large saucepan and press the puree through into the pan.

Add the remaining stock or water, the sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Serve hot in warm bowls, garnished with the fresh basil leaves.

* Note: You can roast the vegetables in advance and let them cool, then leave them in a covered bowl in the refrigerator overnight before pureeing.

STEF'S TO COME.................................. Ju & Tina

Speaking of Soup...

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:00:29 GMT

How about a SOUP SWAP?

Did you know January 23rd is National Soup Swap Day? On this day people around the country will invite friends and family to swap soup!

Soup Swap parties started in Seattle a few years ago by Knox Gardner...a guy who was tired of eating his leftover soup. He thought, "Instead of throwing the soup out, why not share it with friends?"

What a great idea!

Swapping parties are now sweeping the nation...from Washington State to Washington D.C.!

As a matter of fact, the girls and I decided to have our own Soup Swap on Tuesday, January 19th.

Having your own Soup Swap is easy...invite your friends...have them choose a recipe and ask them to bring six 1-quart size containers of a frozen soup. At the soup swap, everyone draws a number...Number 1 picks the first soup then Number 2 and so on until all the soup is gone!

I only have a few days to find a soup recipe! Do you have a good soup recipe? email me: gooddayjulissa@kmaxtv.com