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!!