How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it. Simple way to lose weight and be healthier. Welcome to Ethan Cruz and amazingfindss and memo1358 who are now Following.

A special event from my childhood was when our mother took my sister and me into New York City to see the Nutcracker Ballet. My goodness! The costumes! The scene design! The music! The dancing! Truly a special day for a little girl.  Pyotr Tchaikovsky began writing the music at the suggestion of choreographer Marius Petipa who wanted a ballet based on a German folktale as reimagined by Alexandre Dumas, pere. Tchaikovsky began composing in February and previewed some of the music as The Nutcracker Suite in March. The ballet was set to debut in December of 1892, on a double bill with his opera Iolanta. Unfortunately the choreographer became ill, and his replacement was sub par. The set and costumes were rushed, and not up to snuff. The premier was panned by audience and critics. Not until it was reimagined by George Balanchine at the New York City Ballet in 1954, did the work receive wide acclaim, especially due to the dancing of Maria Tallchief. Now The Nutcracker is preformed as a cherished Christmas tradition, leaving more little girls with stars in their eyes.

Today’s menus are both from the Russian cuisine section of the NYT International Cookbook, in honor of the composer Tchaikovsky.

Mushroom Smitane Scramble: 147 calories 7.5 g fat 1.7 g fiber 11.7 g protein 9 g carbs 67.4 mg Calcium  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF A recipe from Craig Claiborne’s NYT International Cookbook inspired this breakfast of Russian flavors. 

1½ eggs HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume, into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week.   2 Tbsp chopped scallion ½ oz mushrooms, chopped 1 Tbsp plain, fat-free yogurt big pinch paprika + big pinch marjoram 1½ oz pear

Spritz a non-stick saute pan with non-stick spray. Put the mushrooms and scallion into the pan over-medium-high heat and cook them until they begin to wilt. Whisk the eggs with the yogurt and seasonings, and pour into the pan. Scramble to your liking, plate with the pear, and pair with the beverage of choice.

Pojarski Cutlets: 246 calories 6.7 g fat 5 g fiber 45 g protein 15 g carbs 79 mg Calcium  PB GF – if using GF bread From an inn between Moscow and St Petersburg, comes a recipe to turn chopped meat into cutlets. Very simple to prepare. Craig Claiborne’s NYT International Cook Book.  HINT: makes 3 cutlets – one for now, two for a Slow Day.

7¾ oz ground bison meat 3¾ oz chicken breast  ½ ounce egg [1 Tbsp]	Cut the meat roughly into 1-inch chunks. Put in a food processor with the egg and process until blended and well chopped.
	Form the meat into 3 tear-drop shapes, about 1/2″ thick.
2 Tbsp white whole wheat flour ½ oz egg [1 Tbsp] + 1 Tbsp water  6 Tbsp fresh bread crumbs	Dust the meat with flour, then brush with the egg/water. Sprinkle with the crumbs and pat them on to make them stick.
Non-stick spray	Spray on a medium-hot non-stick pan and cook the ‘cutlets’ until browned on both sides.
5-6 oz asparagus	Cook and plate with the cutlets.

Ingredients for next week: Breakfast, single portion for Monday ……… single portion for Thursday:

1 two-oz egg	1.5 two-oz eggs  + broccoli
prosciutto + kalamata olives	tomato + black olive
winter/summer savory	cottage cheese + Parmesan cheese
clementine	strawberries
Optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

Dinner, single portion for Monday: …….. single portion for Thursday:

12 medium fresh oysters	left-over pot roast
spinach leaves + pickled beets	boiling onions + carrots
walnut pieces	small red potatoes
olive oil + balsamic vinegar	beef gravy
Sparkling water	Sparkling water