SOMETHING NEW: THE FRIDAY EDITION

Three of my four "new things" have been food related...interesting...but not surprising. Food is so full of possibilities that there are countless new things to try...an easy pick.

So today, I have chosen an idea suggested to me by fellow blogger, Cathy, at Dinah Soar. She wrote to me that she adds cottage cheese to her morning oatmeal...hmmm! Had to try that one.

Back in the fat days, my oatmeal was topped with my favorite of all sinful foods, butter, and lots of it...along with about a tablespoon of brown sugar. If I had it in the house, I might also float another tablespoon of cream or half-and-half on top of that. You see where my taste buds go...mellow, creamy, not too sweet. I have left that world behind me...but my taste buds still seek out that combination of flavors, texture, and heat vs cold. Never been there? That's what hot fudge sundaes are all about. And hot apple pie ala mode.

So, the idea of hot oatmeal, cool creamy cottage cheese, and something sweet to float on top sounded intriguing...I had to try it. Here's my version:

• 1 packet Simple Harvest Oatmeal...I had Vanilla Almond in the pantry...or any other oatmeal of your choice, cooked according to directions
• 2 Tablespoons low-fat cottage cheese...creamy or fat-free according to your taste and diet plan...more if you want to boost the protein in the meal
• 1 teaspoon real maple syrup...I only needed a teaspoon...lots of flavor and sweetness packed in that teaspoon

Cathy says she stirs the cottage cheese into the oatmeal and it melts...I wanted the contrast of cold cottage cheese to hot oatmeal so I just sat mine on top and poured the syrup over that. I loved it!!! Simple...a very good healthy version of everything I enjoyed in my oatmeal in the old days.

HAVE SOME FUN

Studies have shown that people who include fun and laughter in their lives heal faster and live longer. I decided back in January that I would follow my food plan this year and continue my journey toward losing weight and eating healthier. And my second decision was that I would have more fun and I have followed through on both.

I have purposely sought out fun reads, watched fun television shows and movies, had fun with my grandkids, watched my dog's funny reactions to events around him, and tried to see the fun in every day activities.

I share one of my "fun" moments on my "Everything Else" blog today.

So, as well as trying something new today, I also challenge you to have fun...tell a joke, tickle the kids...laugh at the dog's antics...whatever it takes.

My granddaughter Morrigan loves to tell me knock knock jokes...I'm not even sure she understands them, but she laughs herself silly as she tells them and that is funny in itself. She has had two favorite ones that she told over and over:

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Orange
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say Knock Knock!

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Cargo
Cargo who?
Car go beep beep!

She had a new one last weekend:

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Panther
Panther who?
Panther not...I'm going swimming!

I'll leave you with that...I guess you had to be there and see the little imp with the killer blue eyes and the Lady Diana like, shy downward glance, relate it with such enthusiasm...it takes a Grandma to appreciate Knock Knock jokes!!!