Cooking so my heart won't explode

Last night's theme was recipes. Every time I make one I like -- or find one in a magazine -- I throw the paper version on my desk, then enter it into Mastercook (eventually).

So there I was. Typing up recipes and searching the Internet when I became despondent. Why, you ask? I'll tell you. The best looking recipes were not something I could feasibly eat right now. They were full of whole milk, butter, bacon, chocolate... all the things that make life good.

In Weight Watchers, they make a big deal about not feeling deprived. You can eat whatever you want, they say! Simply reduce your portion size or plan for it! Technically that's true. I could make the peanut butter hot chocolate recipe and drink a 1/4 cup of it and stay on track. I could make the bakery version of the chocolate cream pie and have 3 bites. (And throw away the leftovers for a nasty guilt complex.) The truth is, when I have to put my spoon down and walk away, even though I got to nibble on my treat, I will still feel deprived.

The only way I won't feel deprived is if I fall face first into the chocolate pudding and eat until I pass out.

I don't often feel this way. I'm usually happy with the choices and the very specific definition WW relies on for deprived -- it means to take something away or to withhold it and I guess since you get a small bite then it hasn't been taken away in its entirety. Loophole, much.

But in my recipe searching, I find I am much more impressed by recipes that achieve full flavor in a healthy way. That's why I'm always so excited to share the recipes I've made from www.skinnytaste.com. I can have realistic portion sizes that fill me up, and not break the points plus bank.

Yeah, yeah. The things I am whining about are wanting to overindulge in the behaviors that got me overweight in the first place. Who am I to nitpick about WW motivational strategies?

Maybe we can all pretend this isn't a whiny entry about doing stuff I need to do (but don't wanna) and pretend it's a celebration of healthy, good tasting recipes instead. Speaking of which, if you have any of those recipes you'd like to share, please link them in the comments.