Irish Pork Stew with Cider (Serves 6 at 9 propoints each)

500g lean pork loin, cut into chunks
8 rashers of lean smoked bacon, cut into small pieces
2 carrots, peeled and cut into small chunks
1 turnip, peeled & cut into small chunks
4 medium potatoes, peeled & cut into small chunks
1/2 cabbage, shredded
200ml cider
400ml pork or chicken stock
1 bay leaf

Fry the bacon in a little fry light and then add the pork loin, once they are a little coloured add the cider and the pork stock.

Add the remaining vegetables and the bay leaf and allow to simmer for about an hour.

Add salt to taste - we added more stock to make sure all the veg were covered and cooked properly.

New Year, New Me - 2012 is going to be a good year !

OK, I have been weighed and today is the first day of really sticking to the plan for the last 6 months really.  I am totally switched on, had a good morning already and have been for a good walk with my friend.  Feeling good.  Chicken Madras for tea (5 propoints), I have already earnt 4 bonus points using my pedometer, so hoping to up that a couple by tonight.  My kind friend also gave me a couple of WW recipe books (one that I have been toying with buying for the last 6 months so I'm going to have a good look through them this afternoon and plan a few more meals as I have already planned the meals up to next Tuesday. 

At the weigh in I put 7 lbs on since the beginning of December which is not so bad as I have had my 40th birthday, Christmas and New Year and had a fantastic time too.  But because of that I now have 25 lbs to lose to get back to my goal weight.  I will also be doing this on my own with the fantastic support of my friends and a facebook group, but not attending meetings anymore as I am fed up of being a clerk in a meeting and not getting any support or being appreciated so I have decided to stop attending.  I am feeling very good about the decision though and positive about the future.