A COOKING LESSON

And...no...it is not a recipe designed for NASCAR tailgating!!! So relax!

This is really kind of a follow-up on my blog of last week where I said that it would be ideal if my cooking didn't have to be divided between "on-plan" and "off-plan" recipes. This is a lesson about taking a family recipe and putting so many spins on it that even a political pundit would be proud!

Ever heard of "Stuffed Cabbage Leaves"? Well, it has been a favorite of mine ever since my Mom...the genie of all cooking...used to make it when I was a kid. There were no crockpots back then, so she put it in the "deep-well" that was made into the far-left back corner of our old gas stove, turned it to low, and let it cook for hours.

So here are the basic ingredients:

1 head of cabbage
1 pound of ground beef
1 cup of rice
1 medium onion
Salt and Pepper
1 26-ounce jar of spaghetti sauce

The original recipe calls for the head of cabbage to be cored and dunked into a pan of simmering water until the outer leaves begin to soften. The leaves are then cut away from the core end one at a time until you get to the center and the leaves become too small and thick to worry with. At that point, just chop the remaining center of the cabbage and reserve. Cut the thick center "veins" from the cabbage leaves and let them sit while you prepare the filling.

Cook the cup of rice with 2 cups of water and a teaspoon of salt. I put the rice, water and salt in a heavy medium pan, bring it to a boil, cover, lower the heat and set the timer for 20 minutes.

Dice the onion and place it, the raw hamburger and the cooled, cooked rice, salt and pepper into a mixing bowl and combine it well.

Now, take a couple of tablespoons of the rice mixture and place it at one end of a cabbage leaf, tuck in the sides, and roll it...like a burrito. Keep doing this until you have run out of rice or cabbage leaves.

Place the cabbage rolls in a crockpot. Pour any left-over rice and the chopped cabbage around it, and pour the jar of spaghetti sauce over it. Rinse out the jar with half a cup of water and pour that over everything, cover, and let it cook for 6 to 8 hours on low.

Now the variations:

LOW FAT: Substitute ground chicken or turkey for the ground beef.

LOW CALORIE: Decrease the amount of rice by half and use ground chicken or turkey instead of the ground beef.

VEGETARIAN: Leave out the ground beef and substitute a 15-ounce can of drained and rinsed kidney or black beans and 1 cup frozen corn kernels. You could also add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese or 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano.

MEXICAN: Add the corn, beans, and ground beef to the rice and onions. Use an equal amount of Salsa in place of the spaghetti sauce.

ORIENTAL: Use Savoy cabbage or Romaine lettuce leaves in place of the cabbage. Substitute ground chicken for the ground beef. Add a cup of frozen peas to the rice mixture. Substitute chicken broth for the spaghetti sauce and add 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp grated ginger, and 2 Tbsp soy sauce.

LAZY VERSION: Chop the head of cabbage and place in salted boiling water for about 10 minutes. Drain and cool. Combine cabbage and rice mixture and spread in large baking dish. Cover with the spaghetti sauce and 1/2 cup water and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

SOUP: Brown the ground beef and chopped onion in a soup pot. Add chopped cabbage, 1/2 cup uncooked rice and jar of spaghetti sauce. Also add 1 large can diced tomatoes and 2 cups water. Cook over medium heat for about an hour.

So...how's that for a recipe with loads of variations? My casserole is in the fridge now waiting for the oven this evening...yeah, I went the lazy route and used lean ground beef and half the rice...another variation!!!

CHANGE IS GOOD

I've been getting up just about every morning for months and starting the day with a cup of coffee, the news, and an English muffin topped with peanut butter. I like it, it gets me going and lasts for about 3 hours before I have to grab a little mid-morning snack. A no-brainer, easy, and cheap.

Well, if Junior can leave the DEI #8 Budweiser and climb into Rick Hendrick's #5 COT and feel good about it...then Kathy can change out her Tuesday morning breakfast.

So, to commemorate Junior's big move, I started my day with a bowl of hot, creamy, chocolatey CoCo Wheats!!!

BOOGITY...BOOGITY...BOOGITY!!!

CYNICISM...IT'S CONTAGIOUS

I wrote the following for my "Everything Else" blog this morning, but I also think it applies to weight loss:

"Have you noticed how easy it is to slip into being cynical...especially if you are surrounded by cynical people?

I have to guard against it...it's contagious...and it is fun...but it can be so hurtful.

I was caught up in the Carl Edwards vs Matt Kenseth story last week...NASCAR's version of a soap opera...and eagerly awaited the next story about the shove that shook the world. It soon devolved into hints of "steroid rage" being leveled at Carl...and I found myself looking at him and wondering if it could be true. I was prepared to put this young guy in a "box" ...someone I had admired, by the way...just because of some innuendo leveled at him by a few people commenting on-line. It was a rush.

Then I read DW's level-headed commentary on the situation, watched Carl during on-air interviews, and started re-reading some of the same comments and felt absolutely ashamed of myself for being swept up in this wave of cynicism that had followed the incident. I started to see the incident for what it was...a driver who was mad, hurt, and responding inappropriately...but no drug using heathen who must be thrown to the curb.

I see cynicism take over in the political process all the time...it results in a polarized voting public who seek out the extreme members of each party to represent them and ignore the moderate approach to solving problems. The Jerry Springer approach to elections...that can't be good.

I think it is a sign of maturity to step back, really listen to what is going on, filter out the hyperbole, and come to a reasoned view about events. We have to remember that a lot of what we see and hear about current events and public personalities is presented to us by the media who have a vested interest in "hyping" stories to get our attention. It is up to us to sift through all that and see what is "true" and reasonable.

And...we should try to give up our addiction to the adrenaline rush that accompanies these stories. It may be fun...but it is not helpful."

I have found myself being the cynic about weight loss, too. Instead of being happy for someone who has found success, it is easy to view them with the cynic's eye and wonder how they "really did it" or convince yourself that it is easier for them for some unknown reason...they are rich and can afford chefs and personal trainers...or they have had surgery...or they have given up so much to be "skinny" that they can't possibly be happy...it takes indulging in food to be "happy", doesn't it?

Cynicism gives us the perfect excuse to not take personal responsibility for our own weight loss...we can convince ourselves that it is so difficult to lose and keep it off that it is not worth the effort of even trying...might as well not even begin.

A more reasoned approach would tell us that it is always worth the effort to improve our eating habits, that it doesn't take a lot of money or surgery to be successful, and that a cynical attitude toward making lifestyle changes is not going to lead us to the success we deserve.

Just a "Monday Morning" thought!

FINALLY...A MAN WHO READS DIRECTIONS

You know the old cliche about men never asking for directions or reading the instruction sheet before beginning to assemble something...well, Skinny Guy is not one of them. I quote Lonnie here a lot because (a) he has lost a lot of weight. (b) he is keeping it off, and (c) he makes a lot of sense.

His post today made me stop and think. When I began WW almost two years ago, I had a chip on my shoulder and did not expect results, but I got them anyway, and began a journey that has seen me lose about 80 pounds. I have had my ups and downs along the way, but I genuinely believe in the program.

That said, Lonnie reminded me today that I may believe in it, but I don't always follow it...as written! I play with the guidelines...a lot. I've adjusted and made it my own...but to the detriment of my weight loss plan?

The closer I stick to the plan...as written...the more successful I am. The further away I stray, the harder it is for me to succeed. I think the longer I am on the program, the more I estimate points...make excuses not to drink water...get too busy to journal. And the end result reflects that lack of discipline.

Reading other blogs is sometimes an eye-opening experience. Days go by and I browse through them, commenting to friends, collecting ideas and recipes, and then I will read something that hits home...as if it was written just for me. I'm going to get out my WW material and I'm going to read the directions again. Maybe I need a reminder of just what it takes to follow the plan...as written!

IS YOU IS OR IS YOU AIN'T?

I started thinking after launching my newest recipe site last night that, in spite of nearly two years of working with this weight loss plan, that I still tend to separate my food and recipes into two camps...on-plan and off-plan. And that presents a problem.

I have the off-plan thing down pat...I've been doing that for years...to my detriment. It involves cooking and eating some very good food and eating portions that are larger than are healthy for me.

I also have the on-plan thing down...eating healthy food prepared in a healthy manner in portions that help me reduce my weight and keep my blood chemistry in a healthy range.

But I have kept them separate...for the most part. There are many recipes that I have "cleaned up" and moved over to the healthy column, but there are so many that just aren't suitable for that process...they suffer just by their content or they suffer in taste or texture to the point that I have dismissed the idea of ever putting them into the healthy column.

But I started thinking that until I figure out strategies...once and for all...for merging those two columns of food into one healthy eating plan, I am never going to be truly successful at this game. There will always be foods that I will consider to be off-plan and when eaten, will begin the process in my brain that signals a free-for-all attitude toward eating. And that is something that still needs to be worked on.

It always helps to identify a problem, for once identified, it can be addressed and solutions can be found for solving it.

The flex plan is designed for just this dilemma...it is designed for allowing us to be able to eat our cake and lose weight too. The plan is there...I just need to continue to wrap my mind around the possibilities and incorporate them into my overall eating pattern or I will never truly escape that biggest buggaboo of all...feeling that i am either "on" or "off" my plan...the old dieting mind set.

Cathy from "Dinah Soar" has been working on that balance with a great deal of success and has offered her insight in comments she has left here...she has a great attitude toward this very subject and seems to be making progress...she inspires me. And I thank her for that.

On that same note...the Holidays are fast approaching...for some, it will begin as early as Halloween. Are you working on your strategies for handling the foods and general holiday attitude? It's not too early to begin. TB was asking for ideas about Halloween last week...when you have small children it can be a real problem. If you have good ideas...share them. We can all learn from each other.

Have a great Tuesday...and Shannon...I did the rain dance for you but I think I made it fall here instead of where you are...my bad!!!

Yeah Colts...still unbeaten!!!

TA-DA!!!

I've told you before that blog sites are like peanuts...you can't have just one. I'm unveiling a new site that will be the home for many of the recipes that are in my personal cookbook. They are family favorites and delicious...but they are not particularly point-friendly...so I have decided to roll them into a new site where they will not temp those of you who are not interested in the more Paula Deen style foods.

The site is titled: Kathy Calculates: Potluck Recipes. I will be adding recipes to it regularly as I copy my personal recipes onto this central site so they are quickly available to me and my family as well as any of my cyber friends who may be interested.

Enjoy!

HOOSIER GREEN BEANS

I don't know about you, but when I feel I have indulged just a little too much, I kinda rein myself in by concentrating on vegetables for a few days.

I thought I might begin my entry today with a plea for anyone with a copy of an "all the pie you can eat" diet to please send it to me, but I thought better of it and decided to spend the time preparing a big crockpot full of my favorite green beans.

HOOSIER GREEN BEANS

4 15-ounce cans green beans, drained
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
4 chicken bouillon cubes
red pepper flakes, to taste...I use just a sprinkle of them

Place everything in a crockpot and let it perform its magic for several hours.

And I have to leave you with this Monday morning question...Does "comfort food" leave you feeling comfortable????

I'M SO SAD

There's a great article at Diet Detective today about the effect that the decrease in the number of hours of sunlight that begins in the fall may have on the brain chemical serotonin. It seems that during the winter months, the brain uses serotonin at a faster rate and then the body sends out the message to eat starches and sweets which are necessary for the body to produce more of the stuff.

So my seemingly insatiable need for carbohydrates...comfort foods...in the fall is nature's way of dealing with the darkness of winter!!!

Does that mean I can go ahead and eat the garlic bread that comes with the spaghetti??? And the breadsticks before the pizza???

All kidding aside, there is so much to be learned about our bodies and how they function...so much we don't understand yet.

So, please, let's not beat ourselves up and think we are weak-willed, undisciplined human beings when we crave different foods or find ourselves giving in to things which we have not been tempted by in a very long time.

We have to do the best we can with what we know and try to come up with solutions and strategies when we are able, but there are a lot of chemicals seeking balance in our bodies, there are a lot of things in our environment signaling us to eat, and there are a lot of hours in the day to get through...with or without the proper amount of sunlight to keep us from feeling so " SAD".

MODERATION

I read yesterday that it may be better for children if they are offered moderate amounts of foods containing sugar and fat rather than the sugar-free, fat-free, or low-fat versions of the same foods. The reasoning behind the theory is that children become accustomed to eating larger portions of the slimmed down foods and don't learn to eat food in moderation.

It's something to think about and I do believe there is a case to be made for offering a child a 4 ounce glass of real orange juice and then a big glass of water...remember water? A lot of kids are rarely offered water and expect all drinks to come flavored and sweet. And, while I think kids are better off with an apple most of the time, I think there is still a place for a cookie or two and a glass of milk in a kid's meal plan.

One of the things I have been trying to adjust in my daily eating is the amount of food that I eat. I don't have much trouble stopping with a single chicken breast or an apple...I usually only want half a baked potato...but I will sometimes eat a salad big enough for a family of four just because it is made up of vegetables and "free".

I look at the size of portions as listed on packages and try to limit myself to that amount...unless it is vegetables...and then I eat until I don't want any more.

I know that if I'm going to eat too much of anything it is best if that anything is a vegetable, but is this teaching me to eat in moderation? If I am ever going to recognize what it means to feel full and stop eating just shy of that, does it make sense to continue eating any food to excess?

If I give in to that need to keep eating...it will be vegetables when I am being "good"...but it will be pizza, cookies, or Thanksgiving stuffing when I'm being "bad".

Moderation in all things should probably be our goal...there's good reason for practicing it even when we're being "good".

PROTECT ME

I had dinner with the triplets and their mother last night at Denny's...their favorite place in the world to eat! I was sitting next to "the boy" who had eaten his rocket shaped chicken nuggets after "crashing them into the ketchup crater" and his teddy grahams who had all "gone overboard" and fallen into the bowl of applesauce. He then leaned into me and asked if he could come home with me. I told him I didn't think I knew what to do with a boy because I had only taken care of girls.

"What do you do with boys, Xander?"

And without hesitation, he looked at me with his big blue eyes and said," You take care of them. You feed them...you rock them...you put them to bed with a teddy bear...and you protect them from the YOWIE WA HOOIE!".

"Oh, my...what is a YOWIE WA HOOIE?"

"He is a monster who comes and steals teddy bears!"

I guess we all have our YOWIE WA HOOIE monsters who attack us occasionally and steal away our peace of mind and our comfort. In my diet attempts, I call mine "the crazies"...that feeling that comes over you when you are so at peace with your eating and can't imagine what ever made you eat like a maniac in the past and all of a sudden you are back at it...eating madly again...and all attempts at putting on the brakes are for not...just like a loose stock car spinning into turn 4!!!

I've tried to figure out for years what causes those feelings...there are a lot of theories out there. But the wonderful thing about my present journey is that those episodes happen far less often and don't last as long. I'm so grateful for that.

So, today...I'm asking the good Lord to protect me from my very own YOWIE WA HOOIE!!!

MAD COW AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA

After my rant yesterday over the possibility that I was losing what was left of my ability to think clearly, I was reassured by several of you that it was just a temporary fog and that I certainly wasn't the only one who suffered from this malady. I was further comforted by the fact that the passport application ended up looking like someone had attempted the New York Times crossword in pen after Hubby resumed the chore of filling in the blanks. We finally decided to just finish it and copy the correct information onto a new form before turning it in. Lesson learned...don't fill in government forms...or crosswords...in pen first. Do them in pencil and then, finally, after everything is as it should be, go over it in pen.

And, as a final note on the dementia episode, I was amused to run across this yesterday...apparently Esther had a much worse encounter than I did...I give you: Esther's Note

YOU MAY BE A WITNESS

No kidding...as you read my blog from day to day, you may be witnessing the total breakdown of my remaining "little gray cells" as Poirot would say.

Today began with me doing a load of laundry, cleaning out the lint trap, setting the dial and starting the dryer, remembering that I had not put the conditioner sheet in, opening the door, tossing that in, restarting the dryer...and not noticing until I opened the washer to put the whites in that I had never placed the wet clothes in the dryer!!!

Then I went to fill in the paperwork for Hubby's passport application...gotta have it in 2008 for Canadian fishing trips...and promptly wrote in the wrong number for our house address. No, not an old address...that might make sense even though we have lived here 5 years now...but a purely fictitious one!!!

I am starting to think I should not be trusted with important things like writing checks and turning off the oven.

Senility? Old-timers? Mad Cow...as Denny Crane calls it? Need of a second cup of coffee? or just inattention and multi-tasking? Who knows.

Rant over...now to weight loss issues.

We have a favorite restaurant we frequent a lot...one of those Greek run places that has a wide variety of foods available. One of my favorites is their grilled orange roughy...I have it at least once a week. They also have a wide range of soups that they rotate...always something interesting to try.

But one thing I have a devil of a time with is the fact that they have mirrors on the wall here and there around their dining room and it is difficult to seat yourself anywhere that you aren't occasionally glancing up and viewing yourself eating...ewww!!!

I have always found it difficult to watch myself eating. I remember a behavior modification approach to weight loss that I tried to follow years ago that actually called for the placement of a mirror in front of the diner to remind you to eat smaller bites, chew slowly and carefully, and be aware of the eating process. I remember experiencing a lot of angst about that step...I just did not want to watch myself eat.

I'm not particularly fond of mirrors anyway and I suppose a little denial about how you look in general is always a part of the overweight person's daily existence. I guess I still want to hang on to that denial as I enjoy my meal. I do know one thing, watching myself eat sure takes away any pleasure I might be feeling and definitely spoils my appetite. It's not that I take huge bites or let food fall from my lips or anything gross...it's more the feeling of "why are you eating at all...you are still too fat to enjoy any food...you don't deserve to be eating."

I can escape that "self-talk" most of the time, but not when I'm in front of a mirror.

SOMETHING NEW: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

I remember, as a kid, lying on my back in the floor of the living room, staring at the ceiling and wondering what it would be like if that were the floor instead.

I remember lying in the grass and staring at the sky and seeing the cloud formations floating by and seeing creatures, flowers, and faces.

I remember looking at my foot and after staring at it for a while, noticing how oddly it was shaped with that heel popping out there at the back...thus, my fascination with sock knitting???

Nurse Lara told me about a friend who had a decorator come into her home and one of the first things she did was turn a large square mirror that had been hanging on the wall onto it's point...now it was diamond shaped and the wall took on a different feel.

Today, I want to begin seeing my world from a new perspective. I want to challenge my beliefs. I want to stop listening with cynical ears. Just for today, I want to look at things in my life from a different view point.

If I am to continue my journey toward a healthier lifestyle, I will have to continue changing old habits and assumptions. And that doesn't just end in the kitchen.

If my life is stressful, perhaps the source of the stress is not without but within.

If I have held the same beliefs for a very long time, perhaps it is time to review them and see if they are still valid.

If I have never enjoyed classical music, maybe it is time to take another listen.

If I have always voted with a particular political party, maybe it is time to sift through the hype and really listen to what the other party is saying about things that are important to me.

We all know that a lot of our emotional eating has its source far away from the kitchen...maybe if we can question some of the things in our life that we assume are beyond question, we can get a new perspective on the eating as well.

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!!!

SOMETHING NEW: DAY THREE

Today, I have two new things. First, I am having another of the Green Giant frozen vegetable medleys. This one is the Szechuan Vegetables which contains broccoli, water chestnuts, sugar snap peas, and red peppers in the Szechuan sauce. They weigh in at 50 calories, 0.5 grams fat, and 2 grams of fiber for each serving...there are 2 1/2 servings per box.

I found the texture of these vegetables to be pretty par for the course and comparable to most broccoli mixes, but the seasoning in the sauce was spot-on...I didn't have to add anything to make it to my liking...very unusual for me. I am going to try this mixture over an egg-white omelet sometime...kinda like egg-foo-young...one of my favorites! It would also be great with a half cup or so of brown rice.

The second thing I've done is crush up a bag of Fiber One cereal for future use. After fixing the onion rings the other day, I've been thinking how handy it would be to keep a supply of it already crushed up and handy for coating fish or chicken or vegetables for baking. I found them easier to crush with a mallet than whirling them around in my food processor. So, now I have a handy supply all ready in a Gladware bowl.

A lot of food talk lately, but I have to keep the enthusiasm going and trying out some new food items and recipes always shakes things up and keeps them interesting.

I'm hoping the guys do some serious fishing this weekend ...there is a lot of that "around the campfire" time for the guys too...and I get a nice supply of salmon and trout as a result. I've already seen a recipe for baked salmon in an orange Oriental glaze that I would LOVE to have an opportunity to try!!!

Have a good one, blogger friends!

TRY SOMETHING NEW CHALLENGE

I challenge everyone to try one new thing every day for a week...Skinny Guy is walking and hiking...Veronika is experimenting with a vegetarian lifestyle...a lot of us are experimenting with new recipes. We all need to broaden our horizons...that's what keeps us inspired and moving forward.

Yesterday, I finally got around to trying Hungry Girl's version of onion rings and they were fantastic...crisp and pretty near as good as the deep-fried, batter covered originals. I used egg white instead of the Egg Beaters and added a little seasoned salt...I also liked her idea today for using hot sauce...a jumping off point for trying this method for chicken nuggets Buffalo style!!!

My something new for today is to read a chapter of a knitting book I bought which features new techniques for dealing with the heel increases...dry as sand to anyone who doesn't knit...but a way to stretch the possibilities inherent in sock knitting for me.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I find inspiration in a lot of places. I start my day with a cup of coffee and a little blog reading. I like to drop in on my favorites and see how they're doing. I gather a lot of strength and optimism from reading how other people are getting through the day on their weight loss journeys and how they are coping with life in general. As I read your blogs, I get a feeling for who you are and I've grown to consider you friends in every way...my family thinks it's funny that I refer to you in conversation just as I would neighbors on the street where we live. You are my neighbors...my cyber neighbors...and I keep up with your lives more than I do some of my own family!

I find inspiration in my hobbies...my knitting reminds me that most things can be fixed with a little work...I've done my share of "frogging"...that difficult tasks are "do"-able if taken one step at a time...and if the finished project is less than idea, well, I've at least enjoyed the process and learned a new technique.

I find inspiration on the NASCAR circuit...ok...laugh if you must...but these are some of the most determined guys I've ever come across. They LOVE what they do so much, that win or lose, they come to each track with the heartfelt knowledge that they CAN win the race if they just work hard enough. There is not one driver on that track who doesn't believe he can win. I love that enthusiasm, that desire, that spirit. I admire them all and borrow their "can do" spirit.

I find inspiration in the kitchen...I know for a fact that healthy food can be good food and it is in my power to make dishes that replace the "old" recipes and make them taste so good that my family will love them and not mind the substitution. When I look at the difference in the dishes I prepare now and the ones I prepared 30 years ago, I am amazed...we have truly moved forward toward a healthier way of eating.

OPRAH MADE ME DO IT

I just finished "One-Clicking" an order for two of Jessica Seinfeld's new book, "Deceptively Delicious", after seeing her on Oprah. I was kinda surprised they had any available after Oprah rolled it out on her show yesterday...I'm still waiting to hear that it will not ship until March like the sock knitting book I wanted so badly.

Anyway...for anyone who missed it...the idea of the book is sneaking vegetables into your family's food. There are several books about this very thing, but Jessica's recipes are also low-fat and filled with other high nutrient ingredients...which is why I wanted a copy for myself...the second will go to Sarah and the triplets (Audrey eats vegetables even I won't eat!!!).

The kids who tried the recipes loved them and Oprah was talking around a mouth full of food throughout the entire show.

If you are interested in a couple of the recipes, you can go to Oprah's show site, click on yesterday's show and then Jessica's blog where you will find links to her recipe for Chicken Nuggets...very popular on the show...and Scrambled Eggs with Cauliflower.

Some of the other recipes mentioned were Chocolate Cake made with beet puree, Sweet Potato Pancakes and Doughnuts (they appeared to be baked), Cookies made with Chickpeas, Brownies made with spinach, and Macaroni and Cheese with squash puree.

Roni has a great recipe on her site for hiding vegetables in a tomato sauce that she uses on spaghetti and pizza...I haven't tried it yet, but it seems to be getting rave comments from moms who have.


On another note, I picked up a box of frozen vegetables the other day that are absolutely wonderful! It is the Green Giant Healthy Weight mix that contains sliced carrots. sugar snap peas, black beans, and edamame. They are in a buttery sauce but come in at 90 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of fiber for a 1 cup serving. I was very pleased with the texture of the vegetables...carrots tend to be watery in a frozen mix and beans tend to be dry and hard...these were perfect and retained the natural sweetness that is found in the vegetables. I ate them as a side with a grilled chicken breast last night, but I can imagine them in a salad or bundled in a whole grain wrap with some salsa and chopped onion...they are definitely on my "keep these handy in the freezer" list.

I am flying through the day now with my renewed enthusiasm. Hubby is going on a fishing trip Thursday through Sunday...Steelhead, I think...so I will be eating at home this weekend...much safer, most of the time, food-wise.

Have a great day of healthy eating, blogging friends. If and when the book arrives, I will do some trial runs and let you know if the hype was genuine!!!

I JUST HAVE TO SHARE THIS

I saw this little story on another blog this morning and I just had to share it with my friends ...so just click below:

ENJOY

THIS AND THAT

Happy Monday!
Happy Columbus Day to anyone lucky enough to get it off!
And Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians!

I'm doing really well and the "I don't-wanna-do-this-anymore" funk seems to have left the building...good riddance!

The weekend was pleasant and exciting...in spite of the "global warming???" induced sweltering weather.

I had all four of my grandkids here for a Friday night sleep over. I'd forgotten how fast a house can go from calm and organized to chaotic and topsy-turvy...it only takes three "almost" 6 year-olds and one 7 year old to do it. I had also forgotten that Hubby does not have the ability to hear children between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. I also discovered that three little girls do not want that boy near them, that boys sleep with dinosaurs that glow in the dark, that it is fun for little girls to wake their "Mimi" at 5 in the morning to tell her how much they love bacon and can then proceed to make fun of her disheveled hair!!!

We traveled to Bloomington Saturday morning with three of the little angels discussing their issues with personal space and sharing most of the way. We had to scoot into town before the IU football game traffic began and out before the game was over. And we were ready to deliver the little sweeties to their mom at that point anyway. You know how too much sugar can spoil the tea? Well...(sounds better than the old thing about guests and fish going bad after 3 days, doesn't it?)

Got home in time to watch Mikey win the pole for Talladega...Yahoo!!!, reclaimed the house, finished off the third Christmas sweater, had a great salad and hamburger for dinner, and went to bed early...us "Mimi's" have to recover from sleepless nights!

Sunday morning found us at Bob Evans for Hubby's weekly gravy fix...I had my usual of 1 egg, a turkey sausage link, and half a pancake with sugar-free blackberry jelly on it...love it.

I planned to take my time over the Sunday paper after I baked my pumpkin muffins, but the neighbors are redecorating their kitchen and offered to sell us their hutch they no longer wanted and I've been looking for at a ridiculous price of $50...woohoo!!! So then I had to move everything in my dining room, polish up the hutch, and move my red and white dishes into it...beautiful.

By then, it was getting close to time for the race to begin so we had a quick lunch...salad with grilled chicken breast on top and fat-free honey mustard dressing.

The race was boring to everyone but me...Mikey actually led some laps and was in serious contention until a tire blew with just a few laps to go and then the Hendricks guys moved up and took over.

We celebrated the last of the summer weather and a serious sale on steaks by using up the last of the charcoal from the bag and grilling up two great steaks.

So, the weekend was great, my eating plan was great, and I'm pumped for the week to come.

COMMENTS...

This from Dinah Soar... I made your broccoli soup from a previous post and it was really good. Today I made it substituting carrots for the broccoli and it was delicious. I added a clove of fresh garlic and pureed the soup after cooking, and added 1 T. of evaporated milk per serving which gave it a creamy consistencey. My husband said "this one's a keeper" which means he really liked it.

This from Skinny Guy...You're right, it's easy to tire of veggies if you don't dress them up a bit now and them. My current favorite is to saute up some frozen spinach in some EVOO and minced garlic, add a few tablespoons of canned diced tomatoes, and liberally sprinkle with some Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy seasoning. Yummy! Especially topped off with some grated parmesan!

I'm finding a lot of enthusiasm I had lost by trying some new recipes...give it a try...and these are all so simple!

HIGH-FIBER PUMPKIN MUFFINS

High-fiber Pumpkin Muffins

3 cups All Bran Extra Fiber Cereal
2 cups hot water

Combine cereal and hot water and allow to sit for 5 minutes until cereal is soft.

1 box Pillsbury Pumpkin Quick Bread Mix
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup water

Combine these 3 ingredients and then blend in the softened cereal. This is a "brownie-like" dough and should be wet enough to just moisten all the dry ingredients.
Divide into 24 muffin cups and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

These are so good and moist and the house smells wonderful when you bake them. They freeze really well and can be warmed in either the microwave or a toaster oven (the oven makes them kinda crispy...I like that) for a quick accompaniment for a cup of coffee or spiced tea. My grandkids loved these...a healthier version of pumpkin bread.

Makes 24 muffins at 1 point each, 3 points for 2.

I CAN'T HELP IT...LET ME BE EXCITED!

MICHAEL WALTRIP CAPTURES THE BUD POLE

BROCCOLI SOUP

This is my recipe for Broccoli Soup that I made yesterday...it was so good and "rich" tasting that I got over that "darn, I'm tired of vegetables" feeling that I had been suffering through. I've said many times that there is nothing boring about healthy foods...if it gets boring, that is my fault...I just need to plan ahead and make a little more effort.

BROCCOLI SOUP

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp chicken soup base
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1 bunch broccoli, rough chop
• 2 15-ounce cans chicken broth
• Red pepper flakes, to taste

In medium saucepan, cook the onion, soup base, and water over medium-high heat until the onion is limp. Add remaining ingredients and cook, covered, over medium heat until the broccoli is tender.

At this point, I used an immersion blender to puree the soup. It could also be put through a food processor.

The soup base adds a little extra flavor and I routinely use it or bouillon cubes dissolved in a little water to prepare the onions in soups. I also like the taste of the red pepper, but it could be omitted or white or black pepper could be substituted.

THIS IS WHY I BLOG

I knew when I sat down to write my blog entry last night that I was doing the right thing. I had felt "lost" for several days and knew it was time to send out an "SOS"...I was so right. And I thank you all for your support. I've had a great day so far and this is how you've helped make it so much better than yesterday:

• Your collective response made me feel that I was part of the group...I'm not alone in this. We all need words of wisdom and encouragement sometimes and you were there for me. I even heard from a few people that I didn't even know were there...Sarah who lives right here in town and went to school with my daughter (and has a great blog of her own), Rachel from New Zealand, and Hanlie who suggested I make an effort to go outside every day for the healthy benefits of sunlight...thank you all for your response and encouragement!
• Shannon wrote in her blog last night that she had poached an egg yesterday and that it was so easy and so good...together with Skinny Guy's suggestion this morning that we just need to change one thing to make a big difference in our lives...led me to abandon my same old breakfast I've been eating nearly every morning for a nice poached egg atop a toasted high-fiber English muffin!
• TB reminded me that the male approach to weight loss is based much less on emotion and more on a single-minded march toward a clearly set goal. I will try to emulate that behavior in the future...I think it could help.
• Christine's blog this week has been up-lifting and positive and reading about her string of "successful" days made me want to jump back on the bandwagon and get moving in the right direction again.
• Kate's reassurance that this was just a phase that would pass (offered by several others, as well) comforted me and reminded me that I was right not to fear this temporary set-back. It's easier to move forward if you're not looking over your shoulder in fear.
• And Cathy at Dinah Soar reminded me that I had a slew of strategies and recipes on my own sites that I had just forgotten to utilize. There was not one food that I've indulged in that I couldn't have replaced with a healthier version...and not lost any of the great taste in the process. It was an "Aha" moment and I acted on it.

Those vegetables that I had found so boring yesterday turned into a great marinated vegetable salad and a batch of Broccoli Soup that rivaled anything I could get in a restaurant. And the bread I've been craving will be available in the form of a great batch of high-fiber pumpkin muffins that I'm making later today.

Sometimes, you just need a reminder that eating in a healthy manner can also mean eating well...you just have to make a little effort.

So...thanks all of you...and to all the other bloggers whose sites I visit regularly. Don't ever think that your blog is unimportant or that your comments don't matter...it is and they do!

AMONG FRIENDS

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away."...George Elliot

I haven't been able to offer much in the past week or so. I always say that when I can offer help and encouragement, I will; and when I can't, I will take it from others.

I haven't felt like I have anything to offer recently...I just haven't been feeling my food plan the past few days. I've wanted to experiment and eat foods that I've been avoiding for months. I did the same thing last fall...I could try to analyze it but it really doesn't matter why, does it? The real problem is to shake the feeling and get on with my life plan.

I always hesitate to blog about my negative feelings...and not for pride's sake. I'm fearful that my negative feelings might affect one of my blogging friends. But I also know that by sharing the good and the bad experiences with following a lifetime weight loss plan, I'm keeping it real and honest and that is better for everyone.

There are times for all of us when we are strong and confident and inspired and the whole thing feels easy...we wonder to ourselves why we have had problems in the past.

And then there are the times when you are just tired and bored and want to be "like normal people" and you fight the whole process.

That is why I blog...I gain strength from you, my blogging friends. I feel inspired by your success when I'm not feeling successful. I soak up your friendship and encouragement and I know that I am among people who share my experience. In fact, I feel better just writing about it.

I used to fear these low points...they used to spell the end of a diet attempt. Now, I recognize them as normal cycles in my journey. Just as I am sometimes reluctant to cook a meal in spite of the fact that I normally love to cook, there are times when the idea of another "healthy" meal makes me want to scream. I love vegetables, but sometimes I just want bread.

I know the feeling is a passing one and I am comfortable with doing the best I can until then.

So, send me some love and encouragement...and I will do the same for you when I have some to spare.

SOUP OF THE WEEK: OAT AND TOMATO

For all you fans of oatmeal...here it is...my recipe for Oat and Tomato Soup!
After you've made it, give me some reviews. This is one of my personal favorites.

OAT AND TOMATO SOUP
6 servings @ 2 points each

1 cup rolled oats
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup water with 5 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved in it
1 Tbsp minced garlic
4 cups water
2 14.5oz cans diced tomatoes
1 tsp dried basil
Salt and Pepper to taste

• Place oats in a dry skillet and toast over medium heat. Set aside.
• In same skillet, add the onion, the dissolved chicken bouillon in water and the garlic. Cook over medium heat until the onion is limp.
• Add the oats and all remaining ingredients and cook over low-medium heat for about an hour or until oats are cooked through and the flavors have blended well.

Note: I use the vegetables cooked in concentrated bouillon method a lot instead of using oil. If you want to use your healthy oil to cook the onion and garlic instead, you can certainly do so. I like the concentrated chicken flavor that the bouillon cubes or an equivalent amount of granules adds to the soup, but if you are concerned with the sodium content in these, you can substitute 5 cups of chicken broth for the bouillon and 5 cups of water in the original recipe.