In The Beginning There Was Flour, Butter And Sugar

Well here goes, it's time to start my blog - a companion to my cooking channel My Unexpected Guest. My name is John, I love to cook and entertain but also struggle to keep my weight in some kind of proportion to my height. I refuse to eat boring food and I'm not giving up cooking, so I'm constantly trying new recipes that are delicious but also keep the calories in check.


Two years ago I lost 50 pounds, going from 210 to 160. 

Me at 210 Pounds

I did it by counting calories and taking in enough protein to keep my hunger away. This past year I went back up to 178 (yikes) after hosting too many holiday events! I really think it was the buche de noel I made that put me over the edge. Chocolate cake, mocha butter cream center and chocolate ganache - yum!  But I'm working my way back down. (I have documented my buche experience in another post)

My blog and companion cooking show will document the recipes and tricks I've created to lose the pounds and for the most part keep them off - the buche de noel is not one of those tricks!

 

Me at 160 Pounds

Obviously not everything you see on my blog will be the healthiest or lowest in calorie (see pic of the buche) but I believe in cheat days and fattening things in moderation are not going to hurt you. I will always try and give you the calorie and protein count and even the weight watchers points for those of you in that very successful program.

 Obviously not everything you see on my blog will be the healthiest or lowest in calorie (see pic of the buche) but I believe in cheat days and fattening things in moderation are not going to hurt you. I will always try and give you the calorie and protein count and even the weight watchers points for those of you in that very successful program.

 


The 2011 Christmas Buche De Noel 

I started photographing my foods and writing samples for this blog just after Thanksgiving 2011, so forgive the chronological order and theme of some of my postings but I wanted to share them with you - they will catch up to real time shortly. 

So this blog is for all you weight watching, enthusiastic cooks, hosts and hostesses out there that just don't understand the concept of buying prepared foods in a grocery store. I hope you'll enjoy following the antics of a slightly neurotic and funny guy just trying to make his way in the world. 

Don't forget to visit My Unexpected Guest if you want to watch (and hopefully repeat) my food performances... Bon Appetite!