It's been a difficult summer...so I'm trying a new recipe

1. big battle with depression
2. having to go to doctor 3 times for suspicious mammogram, which the surgeon has decided is nothing to get excited about
3. totally unmotivated to exercise because I really hate to sweat

so....trying to get back in a good mental space with school starting, finding a good food routine, and finding things to be thankful to God for

Tomato, White Bean, and Bacon Soup

1/4 lb. bacon, diced
1 lg. onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 c. peeled, chopped tomatoes (or, if your tomatoes didn't do a darn thing this summer use canned tomatoes w/juice)
2 c. chicken broth
1 T. dark brown sugar
1 can white beans, drained
optional: some type of small cooked pasta such as bow ties (a/k/a farfalle, shells, ditalini, or orzo.
salt & papper to taste

Note: to peel fresh tomatoes, cut a shallow X shape one one end, blanch in boiling water for about 30 sec., remove from water and skin should easily peel off.

Cook bacon in medium heat in large saucepan unti lightly browned. Remove from pan and placed on paper towels to drain.

Add onion to pan, cook on medium heat until soft. Add garlic and cook about 1 more minute.

Add tomatoes & broth. Cook about 20 minutes.

Stir in brown sugar. Add beans, bacon, and pasta (if you are using it). Add salt & pepper to taste.

Serve with crusty bread or cornbread.

Crazy 8 tagged by Rachel!

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. spending 2 wks. with Kari and Natalie
2. more summer late-sleeping days
3. more good books to read
4. being a grandmother (hmm...what will be my grandmother "name"??)
5. AASL in Nov. with Kari & Esther
6. doing more photography shoots
7. growing more tomatoes
8. having 100 people follow me on Twitter! lol

8 things I did yesterday:
1. be lazy
2. start mermaid house
3. read and enjoy hearing the thunder and rain at night
4. send Warren a birthday card
5. start cleaning off my desk
6. go grocery shopping
7. talk to Kari
8. e-mail, genealogy research, twitter, etc. on computer

8 things I wish I could do:
1. play the piano
2. sing well
3. travel for a month every year
4. swim every day
5. lose weight faster
6. not procrastinate about finishing projects at home
7. enjoy house cleaning
8. live close to Kari & Warren

8 shows I watch:
1. Top Chef
2. Project Runway
3. Grey's Anantomy
4. America's Next Top Model
5 - 8 anything that might catch my interest like 20/20, Ace of Cakes, Next 48 Hrs., Oprah

Blisterin' hottt!!!

Things I love about summer:
1. bacon & tomato sandwiches (for breakfast, lunch, or supper)
2. the sound of cicadas
3. sleeping late
4. running around with Kari

Things I should get done this summer:
1. Clean out my drawers (didn't I just do this last year?)
2. Weed my bookshelves (more than half are in boxes in the garage and it's blisterin' hot, so....)
3. Organize unfinished projects (well, actually, I think I did that summer before last) and get a timeline of finishing them...before I die (now I understand why people inherit quilt tops)

Things I'm not going to get done:
1. Plant the backyard corner flower bed....because a bunch of some kind of ground cover came up...didn't feel as if I should deprive it of growing
2. Save on the electricity bill....cause when it's triple digits for days on end...I intend to stay cool (hopefully, I'll sweat off some weight)
3. Lose 40 lbs....cause I'm just not feeling motivated enough to do it

Things I am getting done:
1. Create some items for a "magical worlds" theme in the school library: I'm finished with one, have 2 others almost finished, another one about halfway, and a 5th one that I haven't started, but can throw together with a glue gun and a couple of bags of glue sticks
2. Getting ppts and other items prepared for school next year (I know this doesn't fall under vacation!!) Ok...so too much of my vacation is falling under "school work"!!
3. Reading and catching up on movie watching

Things I've discovered this summer:
1. Gelato (lemon and mango)...yummy...and a 1/4 c. is plenty to eat to satisfy
2. Popcorn tortilla chips (don't remember the brand...it was a green bag from Central Market)
3. great cotton hipster panties (you needed to know that didn't you?)

and I'll leave you with a simple, cool drink recipe

Melon Agua Frescas

4 c. watermelon, cateloupe, or honeydew
1/4 c. sugar
2 c. cold water

Process melon and sugar in blender until smooth. Scrape down sides as needed.
Pour through a strainer into pitcher. Stir in water. Cover and chill till ready to serve. Serve over ice. Makes about 5 cups.

Nothin' new

1) I've got poison ivy for the first time in my life!!! and it's on my neck, chin, and cheek! ugh!

2) Wondering why I can't find an underwire bra that I can actually have long enough to wear out before the left wire snaps (it's always the left one!)

3) Excited that me, Kari, and Esther's proposal was picked to be part of the Exploratorium that opens the AASL conference in Charlotte, NC this fall.

4) Haven't tried any new recipes in a few weeks, but over the weekend did visit a Central Market store for the first time...what an experience, but it still doesn't beat going to market in Philly or Lancaster, PA.

5) Life is short....laugh as much as you can, love and hugs your kids as often as you can, be thankful for the friends and family who love you the way you are, make a difference in someone's life when you have the opportunity to do so, be a giver and not a taker, thank God for his mercy and forgiveness.

Italian Meatloaf

I continue to look for flavorful, low-calorie recipes which are quick and easy to prepare. This meatloaf recipe is from the same cookbook (I'll have to ask Kari what the name of it was) as the roasted pork tortilla soup.

Italian Meatloaf

3/4 lb. ground beef chuck
3/4 lb. ground pork
1/2 c. pesto
1 c. fine bread crumbs
2/3 c. chopped oil packed sun dried tomatoes
1 egg
salt to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have an 11 x 7 baking dish ready.

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Mix gently, but thoroughly. Form mixture into 9 x 5 inch loaf in baking dish then smooth top.

Bake meatloaf until firm and top is richly browned (internal thermometer should read 160). Let loaf stand in pan 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.

Makes for good leftovers for sandwiches.

Tortilla Soup With Roasted Pork----Delicious!

This recipe is very low-calorie and delicious!

Tortilla Soup with Roasted Pork

1 1/2 c. roast pork, shredded
2 T. oil
1 sm. red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes with chipotle chiles in juice
6 c. chicken broth
4 T. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
1 sm. can corn (optional)

In large pot warm oil. Add onion and garlic, saute 4-5 minutes. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cilantro, and pork. (Add beans and corn also, if you like.) Raise heat to med-high and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to med-low, cover partially and simmer for 10 min.

Serve over broken tortilla chips. Top with a squeeze of lime (this really makes a dramatic difference in the taste!), some diced fresh avocado, and some crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese.

Cold enough for soup again!

Because it was literally almost freezing when I got up this morning, I decided it is still soup weather...and it would be so nice to come home to a bowl of hot soup!

I found in my cabinet a mix that I'd picked up somewhere (wish I could remember where!)--Antonio's Tuscan White Bean Entree. I chopped up a ham steak and added to the beans along with Antonio's secret seasoning blend (cornstarch, dehydrated potato flakes, garlic and onion powder, dried parsley) and 4 c. of water. Set on low and cook for 8-10 hrs. When I got home this afternoon, I added about 1/2 c. shredded carrots, 1 rib of celery (finely choppped), and a handful of chopped, fresh spinach...let it cook another 30 min.....grab a bowl and some hot cornbread and I'm ready for supper!

The good news? It's only 110 calories....well, without the cornbread it is! You could also add chicken or Italian sausage to this mix or even some frozen veggies.

I've got another slow cooker mix in the same brand--Signature Family Recipes--that is called Big John's Texas BBQ Beans. Since I have no idea where I bought these, I did find a place to buy them online...and you can too!
http://trinidadbenham.com/catalog/category.asp?category_id=109

Even more praise for the Lose It! app...

I forgot to mention in previous posts re: Lose It! app that one doesn't have to use it for weight loss. It can be used to track the nutrient levels in your diet. Lisa uses it to track her sodium intake. It will also track fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein--all measured in g or mg. Then it gives it to you in percentages--such as 33% of what I've eaten so far today is carbs and while 26% has been protein.

Like I said before--very useful app!!

Who knew?

...that a phone could help change my life so much?! Since I've begun using the Lose it! app (see previous two blogs for an explanation if you don't already know) I've now lost 7 lbs.! Yea! This is really, really turning out to be a tremendously useful tool for me. I love the whole calorie budget idea. If I'm over say 23 calories, I don't worry because most of the time I don't add any exercise in unless it's something big like walking for 20 minutes or more or some other significant exercise--so it all balances out.

I have to be much more deliberate in eating and thinking about the choices I make---and even considering the nutritional values. This has caused me to increase my fruit intake because they have such fewer calories---it's like I'm able to "cheat" that way. I'm anxious to see more results after the next two weeks...especially since I'm at a conference this week where we always do tons of walking and loads of wagging around books. We sorta like to think of it in terms of power shopping except that it's all free! lol

Lose It! is working for me!

This is my 2nd week of using the Lose It! app on my iphone (did I mention that I luv my phone?! lol). What a great tool it is turning out to be for me. I can already tell a difference in the way it helps me track food, keep myself honest, and follow a calorie budget.

It has also helped me think smarter by considering whether I might want to eat a small orange at 25 calories vs. "spending" 100 calories on something else that might not be as filling.

Lose it!

I bought an iPhone (luv, luv, luv it!) this week! Woo hoo! That was my first big purchase since paying off my car last month. I spent a day getting it charged and all my contact numbers & e-mails added in and then spent the next day playing and adding apps (definition: a computer application). A great one that we found was called Lose it! http://www.loseit.com/

You begin by entering your current weight and your target weight goal. Then you decide whether you want to lose 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, or 2 lbs. a week. Lose it! responds by giving you a target date and how many calories you can have per day in order to reach your target date.

Kari and I both are using it. We've found it easy and very user-friendly. I think this is just what I need to give me a framework and tracking device to lose 100 more lbs. (Kari wants to lose 20 lbs.).

Check it out...it's a FREE app download!

Another day of 100 calorie recipes!

Kari started our St. Patrick's Day with Smoked Salmon Scramble--another 100 calorie recipe. She lightly broiled tomato halves and scrambled eggs with a bit of crumbled smoked salmon, chopped green onions, the few leftover roasted potatoes from last night, and a tiny pinch of cilantro. Delicious!

For supper Kari fixed a mild bbq grilled chicken from the recipe book. Her sauce was:

1 shallot or green onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 c. tomato sauce or 1 T. tomato paste blended with 2/3 c. water

2 T. red wine vinegar (I don't know if she added this or not)

1 T. prepared mustard

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

I fixed Esther's oven roasted veggies---always yummy! You can use any variety of veggies you like and eat just about as much as you want. For today I used sweet potatoes (peeled and cut like french fries), asparagus, grape tomatoes, purple onion, red bell pepper, garlic cloves, zucchini, and shredded carrots. [I like to add mushrooms, but Warren doesn't like them.] Toss with some salt, pepper, dill weed, and olive oil to coat. Roast in oven at 375 degrees till desired doneness--stir occasionally to prevent sticking/burning.

Tomorrow night we are having Salsa Tilapia (you can also use sole) which is rolled up with a filling of chopped onion, tomato, feta cheese, and jalapeno, and grated orange rind. Cover with foil and cook about 15-20 min. at 350 degrees. Uncover and sprinkle with paprika and pepper and cook for another 5-7 minutes. I'm going to make fresh guacamole to go with it.

100 calorie recipes! Yummy!!

I told Kari before I came down that I needed to eat a lot of fruits, veggies, and protein this week to help me get back on track. I've been gradually getting more out of control since Christmas. We did a lot of walking today---in Walmart, in the mall, at DSW, and at Kohl's. :)

I brought Kari a little cookbook called Just 100 Calories: Delicious and Simple 100 Calorie Recipes by Parragon Books (c) 2007.

We had taco salad last night for supper. This morning Kari made Wake-up Kabobs which were apples, canteloupe, strawberries, and bananas drizzled with cinnamon and honey and broiled for about 5 minutes. Then she put the fruit in a bowl and topped with a little granola and bit of yogurt. We loved the bananas like that! The apples and canteloupe were pretty good, too. We didn't care for the strawberries as much.

This evening Kari made filo wrapped asparagus spears and I helped her make fish & mango kabobs. Kari made kabobs with shrimp, mango, and tuna steak and marinated it with a pomegranite & mango chipotle sauce (got it at Walmart)---it was delicious! She roasted some cubed potatoes seasoned with dill and garlic. We had very filling, yet very low-calorie YUMMY meals today.

Trying to change doctors...

Little did I know that when I made my last post that the bariatric clinic and hospital where I've been a patient was making an announcement that day they were closing due to bankruptcy! Lisa called and told me about it a few days later--rightly assuming that I had not heard about it. The clinic is completely closed and all the patient files have been moved to the Ft. Worth office of a group of doctors. There is only a small skeleton crew at the hospital. I called and requested my medical records from the hospital and from the clinic. Then I called the bariatric doctor's office in Denison and requested to be a patient. Whoever answers the phone (office mgr?) told me that he doesn't take patients from other doctors. I told her that the hospital was closed and I was NOT going to drive to Ft. Worth to see a doctor...and that if he wouldn't take me I'd find a doctor in McKinney, Sherman, Paris, somewhere that is closer than Ft. Worth. I don't know who this woman is, but she gets on my nerves already!! This is the 2nd phone conversation I've had with her in my attempt to change doctors. I have a difficult time believing that as professional courtesy a doctor would really consider it "stealing" a patient when the other doctor is 2 hrs. away...maybe I'm wrong, tho. Maybe she is married to him and is trying to regulate how many patients he has. It is quite frustrating, I can tell you that!

Needing a fill...and not wanting one...

I really need a fill...have needed one since before Christmas, BUT I really don't want to go back to south Dallas to get one...I don't like the drive...I don't like having to miss half a day of school. It would be so much more convenient if I could just run to Denison or Sherman after school or before school. I called the one doctor that I'm aware of treating bariactric surgery patients, but was told by whoever answered the phone that he wouldn't see me. She wasn't interested in gaining a new patient for him, she wasn't interested in helping anyone, and she certainly wasn't interested in good publicity! I'm a bit frustrated, because I really do want a fill on a regular basis.

Life screening...

I've been wanting to have a health screening done for about a year--even tried to schedule one that was advertised about six months ago, but could never get through. Finally, had one a few weeks ago....and I'm fine...not that I had any reason to think otherwise, but it's just kinda nice to know....when one is over 50.

The carotid artery scan shows any plaque buildup and blood flow. Mine was mild on both sides and not affecting blood flow velocities.

The atrial fib screening was normal--nothing detected.

The abdominal aortic screening was normal--nothing detected.

The peripheral arterial screening was normal.

I had a bone mineral density screening done also, but do not have the results yet. As soon as I get it, I'll post here.

Replacing my favorite granola

My favorite granola for years has been Kellogg's Granola Without Raisins. Since late last summer, it's gone missing in my neck of the woods. The website says it's available to buy in my town, but it's not on the shelves at Walmart or Brookshires. I've even looked in Dallas at Lisa's Albertsons.


I've tried about 3-4 different substitutes and they just didn't measure up. I've lived without my breakfast of granola, yogurt, fresh blueberries, and walnuts since September. Finally, couldn't stand it any longer when I saw a shipment of fresh, large, plump blueberries last week, so searched the shelves again for a substitute and I'm happy to say I think I've found one!

New bed!

I love the bedroom suite I have...and got it at a fantastic bargain buy about 4 years ago. About 2 years ago one of the side rails developed a vertical split, however, Steve was able to bolt it back together. Then 6 months later, Gracie took a running jump and thought she could clear the footboard, but instead hit it full force with her chest and did a flip onto the bed...and in the process managed to completely break the side rail away from the footboard. I've had that side propped up with concrete blocks ever since....with good intentions of going to get another bed. Last week the side rails split on the side I sleep on (what's with that? bad wood? cut on the wrong grain?)....I went to Haverty's and bought another bed, however, I bought the upgrade bed which is mucho sturdier---but it was worth the $200 extra (actually less--I got a Valentine's Day 10% off and Steve saved me $100 in delivery fee).

Even though the sleigh style is the same, there are few differences of note: 1) The whole bed is about 2-3 inches longer because it has a different joining arrangement. 2) I'm having to rehang a picture because the headboard is so much higher--at least a foot! 3) The mattresses sit about 4-6" lower--more platform style. 4) Prissy can no longer get under the bed--which was one of her favorite places to sleep.

Thanks Steve for picking up the bed! Thanks Keith, Ashley, and Lindsey for delivering and putting it together!

Now I need a new living room set-- I'm looking at leather.

25 random things about me...

Natalie posted hers...Rachel posted hers...so here are 25 random things about me.

1. I do not like milk (or coffee or tea). Once when I was preschool age, I started sneakily pouring out my morning glass of milk into the trash....that lasted until Mother gathered up the trash and discovered it.

2. I watch less than 5 hours of tv a week....I used to watch at least that much a day. I'm very comfortable with silence. (Unless I happen to catch some movies like I did this weekend: Miss Potter, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and Nadine)

3. I really dislike housecleaning, but I love to be organized.

4. I've been in 2 car accidents---I was driving both times.

5. My first cat was named "Mother cat."

6. I had never heard the words "homosexual," "gay," or "lesbian" or even knew what they were until I was a freshman in college.

7. My favorite flavor of jello is black cherry.

8. Brenda (my brother-in-law's oldest sister) taught me how to swim when I was about 12.

9. I have A- blood...so does Kari.

10. I had my tonsils removed when I was 18....I did not get any jello or ice cream in the hospital!

11. I've always wished I could have piano lessons and learn to play the piano and play it well.

12. Mother taught me how to embroider when I was 5. I've always had a love for a variety of needlework.

13. Eisenhower was president when I was born.

14. The first time I saw a scorpion, I stepped on it to kill it..I was barefoot! I had no idea what a scorpion was!

15. I really miss living in the country and riding horses.

16. I love reading magazines--everything from Mental Floss, Vanity Fair, People, National Geographic, Newsweek, Home Companion, Smithsonian. If I could afford it, I'd probably subscribe to dozens! When I was growing up we always had Good Housekeeping, Newsweek, and Progressive Farmer.

17. When I began my first full-time job as a librarian in 1993, I didn't even know how to turn on the computer! I'm amazed at the wealth of knowledge I've gained in 15 years...and even more amazed at the opportunities I've had to use it.

18. The very first thing I ever cooked following a recipe was a plain vanilla cake---and I left out the vanilla! I still have the cookbook--it was a birthday present from Mother when I was about 10 or 11.

19. I was 18 the first time I flew on a plane---and I flew by myself to Anchorage, Alaska from Dallas. I spent 2 weeks with my aunt and uncle -- it was a graduation gift from them. It was the best gift ever!!

20. I love to make ppts!! (Esther can certainly testify to this! lol)

I've spent 2 days trying to think of 5 more things to add, so I'm going to stop here!
Later: Kari came up with the next 5--and may I say...she's truly the best daughter in the world...and I love her without measure! She knows me so well... :)

21. You always sleep with the light on! Probably because you fall asleep reading one of those gazillion magazines. :)

22. You had not mowed your own yard in my lifetime until this past year.

23. You have a freakish obsession with old quilts which you have passed that gene on to me.

24. You like to travel and see new places and yet can also be a homebody and not want to go anywhere.

25. You would much prefer to drive a standard stick-shift car than an automatic.

Traviata Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDhHxIz83Ic

Two new products...

I tried the new Campbell's V8 soup today--butternut squash--and found it to be a satisfying soup. Would have been perfect for when I first had the surgery! I liked the pureed texture and adding a bit of pepper to it was all that it needed. The box contains two servings at 140 calories per serving and comes in 5 flavors.

I was raised on Nabisco Premium Saltine crackers--don't think I even knew there were any other brands! We crumbled them into our Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup (which we had on a regular basis--the only flavor we ever ate!), we had them with peanut butter and syrup, we mashed up cold leftover pinto beans and smeared them on the crackers to eat, we ate them with apples, we ate them with bananas, we nibbled on them when we were sick, we even smeared just mustard on them and ate them--we ate sleeves of them by themselves!

Today I found Mini Saltines! 17 of them have 70 calories...they are just the perfect bite size for soup!

More soup this week...

I'm trying out another new soup recipe this week--in honor of Natalie coming over to have supper with me on Monday.

Ground Turkey Soup

Makes 12 servings (I'll cut this recipe in half--my slow cooker isn't big enough for the full recipe)
120 calories per serving

1 lb. fat-free ground turkey (If you are feeling really creative, you can make little meatballs by using some bread crumbs and one egg mixed with the turkey)
1 c. onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can navy beans or kidney beans, drained
1 c. carrots, sliced
1 c. celery, sliced
1/4 c. rice, uncooked
1 qt. low-sodium diced Italian tomatoes
2 c. green beans (I'll probably substitute zucchini)
1 t. parsley flakes
half a green bell pepper (not sure if the color really makes a difference--I've got a yellow one on hand, so will use it--and probably roast it)
1 t. salt
1/8 t. black pepper
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
3 c. water

Brown turkey in large skillet. Combine remaining ingredients in slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low 8-9 hours. Remove the bay leaf after cooking. Can also add some shredded fresh spinach to the soup--serve after the spinach has wilted.

Chocolate cravings....

I've been craving chocolate for the past month....warm chocolate chip cookies (which I've given in to repeatedly) and chocolate candy....fruit with fruit dip (the fat-free, low-cal kind). I think I've gotten it out of my system...I've now got fruit in the house without the dip and no more candy or cookies. Not sure what brought on this sugar craving after more than a year (emotional stress more than anything), but it was pretty intense...one I wasn't strong enough to battle very well.

Are there any health benefits to chocolate? Yes..but it must be dark chocolate.

*Dark chocolate contains antioxidants which help protect the body from aging.

*Dark chocolate has nearly 8 times the number of antioxidants found in strawberries. (Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Chocolate dipped strawberries....now there is a powerful antioxidant snack, huh?! lol)

*The flavanoids in dark chocolate also help lower blood pressure.

*Dark chocolate can also help reduce bad cholesterol by a small percentage.

*Dark chocolate also stimulates the peptide hormones in the pituitary gland---endorphins--which makes you feel good.

*It contains serotonin which we all know helps with depression.

*It acts as a stimulant much like caffeine does.

*About a half a bar of dark chocolate (3.5 oz. or less) contains about 200 calories--one shouldn't eat more than that a day--and will give a person the added health benefits without crossing too far over the high calorie, high fat line.

What about sugar--the white, refined kind? Did you know that sugar is the number one food additive in the U.S.? Kinda scary, huh? There aren't any health benefits that I'm aware of. There are, however, natural sweeteners such as spices (vanilla, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, cloves), fruit juices, and honey which can have health benefits.

P.S. None of the chocolate I had was dark--- I was a very bad girl!!

11 of the Best Foods You Aren't Eating

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/the-11-best-foods-you-arent-eating/?em

Esther sent a link to this NY Times article which appeared last summer. The author compiled a list of the healthy foods which people should be eating but aren't. If this were a test, I'd flunk it like crazy!!

1. Beets (I don't think I've ever knowingly eaten a beet in my life!)
2. Cabbage (I might eat coleslaw once a year, if that often---I don't I get any health benefits based on that!)
3. Swiss chard (what is that? some type of lettuce?)
4. Cinnamon (toast? in pie? does that count?)
5. Pomegranate juice (Can't say I've ever had this either)
6. Dried plums (ok...who is he kidding? Prunes!)
7. Pumpkin seeds (tried them once---they tasted like paper)
8. Sardines (haven't had any of these little babies either!)
9. Tumeric (I wouldn't even know how to use this!)
10. Frozen blueberries (Finally! A food I can relate to!)
11. Canned pumpkin (Does this mean I can have pumpkin pie more than twice a year?!! It's my favorite pie!)

If you click on the link above, you can find out how each of these foods should be served and what their health benefits are.

Tag...you're it!

I've now tagged all my posts so that you may easily search for recipes. All recipes have "recipe" as a tag. I've also included the title of the recipes, the main ingredients (i.e., chicken, beans, etc.), and a generic label (such as "soup") as tags.

So sorry it took me so long to realize I not only needed to do this, but should have been doing it all along!

Extreme weather...calls for more soup!

Ok..so our extreme weather isn't in the same category as Alaska where it is -50 something in Fairbanks (and it can get over 90+ there in the summer), but with the weekly 30-40+ temperature differences we've been having a person has to have access to summer and winter wardrobes. I find it rather annoying. Yesterday it was 72. Right now it is 36....and I just want to stay cozy in bed and read and surf the internet and eat soup.

I'm going to fix something I've never had before...ratatouille. What is it? It is an eggplant-based vegetable soup which roughly translates from the French as a stirable chunky stew.

Slow-cooker Ratatouille

makes 6 servings

120 calories per serving

1 T. olive oil

1 lg. onion, chopped

6 lg. garlic cloves, minced

1 green bell pepper, cut into strips

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 medium-sized eggplant, cubed

2 c. mushrooms, thickly sliced

4 tomatoes, cubed

1 c. low-sodium tomato puree

1/4 c. dry red wine, or wine vinegar

1 T. lemon juice

2 t. dried thyme

1 t. dried oregano

1 t. ground cumin

1/2 - 1 t. salt

1/4 - 1/2 t. black pepper

4. T. minced fresh basil (or 1 rounded T. dried basil)

1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped

Turn slow cooker on high for 2 minutes.

Pour oil into slow cooker and add remaining ingredients except parsley and fresh basil. [Note: If using dried basil, add it now.]

Cover. Cook on high for 2 hours, and then on low 4-5 hours.

Stir in fresh basil (unless you used the dry). Sprinkle with parsley.

Delicious served over wheat pasta or brown rice. Can also use it as a pizza topping.

[Notes: I think I'll roast the peppers first--I like a smoky flavor. If I don't have the wine vinegar, I'll just substitute chicken or vegetable stock. I have some leftover grilled chicken breasts--I'll bet this would be delicious served together!]

Sounds delicious, yes?

Shocking!

The current People Magazine is all about losing weight, diets, and what people really eat. It was the "What You REALLY Eat!" that caught my eye...

100 people (73 women, 27 men) were asked to keep a food journal for 4 days. Then the journals went to a team of dieticians and a nutrition expert for analysis. The results were shocking....and, in my humble opinion, probably representative of the majority of Americans.

95% do not get enough dairy.

93% do not get enough whole grain.

92% do not get enough vegetables.

86% do not get enough fruits.

67% ate no fish.

Recommendations:

Limit fast food meals to one a week.

You really can't eat too many vegetables.

A person tends to consume about 600 calories less a day by eating 6 small meals as opposed to 2 meals.

Women need about 800 calories less a day than men, but men need to eat more fiber.

Fix it and forget it----lightly....

Mother gave me a new cookbook for Christmas titled "Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly: Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker" by Phyllis Pellman Good. You've seen them in Target and Wal-mart. While this is advertised as a slow cooker cookbook, you can certainly make any of these without a slow cooker. I usually prepare my stuff the night before by putting most of it in the crock and then in the fridge so that I can quickly get it going the next morning before I leave.

I manage a healthier consumption of food so much better if I have previously prepared food, so I requested this cookbook hoping that it will help me through the rest of the school year. While I certainly don't come home as exhausted (mainly from DRIVING so far!!) as I have the past 2 years, I often come home hungrier because I've eaten very little throughout the day. In fact, it got to the point about 2 months ago that I had to lock the library doors and turn out the lights just so I could eat lunch!

I've marked several recipes to try during the next few weeks and bought ingredients today. I'm looking for recipes that are under 200-210 calories per serving.

Hamburger Soup

makes 6 servings

160 calories per serving

1 lb. extra-lean ground beef

1/4 t. black pepper

1/4 t. dried oregano

1/4 t. seasoned salt (I didn't have any--so just used sea salt)

1 envelope dry onion soup mix

3 c. hot water

8 oz. can tomato sauce

1 T. low-sodium soy sauce

1 c. carrots, sliced

1 c. celery, sliced

[I also added 1/2 of a zucchini, sliced and quartered)

1 c. macaroni, cooked (I don't have any, so am going to use some pesto-filled mezzaluna)
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese (I decided to leave this out and throw in a slice of American cheese)

Combine all ingredients except macaroni and cheese in slow cooker.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Turn to high. Add macaroni and cheese.

Cook for another 15-20 minutes.

Postscript: This soup turned out delicious! Great flavor and very filling without feeling heavy. I think this is a soup that would appeal to kids because of the flavor---and a good way to sneak in more veggies.