Happy Tuesday! I simply cannot believe tomorrow is February. It seems like New Year's was just the other day. I'm thinking it's time for a Munchies Night - maybe one of these evenings soon.

Tonight, we had Chicken & Broccoli Casserole, with a gruyere/parmesan white sauce and egg noodles. It was pretty good, but not so much so that I plan to keep the recipe. At $15 per pound, the gruyere was rather expensive, too. Very good, but way too expensive for every day and pushing it for Supper Club. We are all about having whole, from scratch foods, which tend to run a little high, anyway, but that's definitely pushing the upper limit. (We also had corn on the cob, dinner rolls and chocolate cake.)

I LOVE corn on the cob - fresh, frozen; it doesn't matter. (My family, however, does not.) This was Birdseye, in the freezer section (okay, okay, not exactly 'from scratch', but I'm not into growing my own). Keeping in mind that frozen foods are often even more nutritious than fresh, they were really good!

I am really running out of ideas for our Suppers. Next week is my son's birthday week, so I'm letting him decide. That's one. Now what about after that? I think I've tried everything I was really, really wanting to try - stuffed salmon, shrimp scampi, a little Nediterranean, a little Italian, a little Mexican, a little good old American... I need to find some time to pore over my cookbook collection. Then again, we can always go for repeats on some of our favorites! We'll just have to wait and see.

I would like to try some good soups. My familiy isn't big on soups, but the whole idea is to try new things and enjoy some good fellowship. Maybe I'll actually hit on something they like.

You know, I think I have discovered that our biggest problem is that I am so into food (unfortunately) and they are NOT. I don't think I've ever had more than an "it's okay" from my husband. He's just not into food and never has been - and that's okay. I wish I was more like him in that respect.

I defintely need to get back on track with the weight loss, Supper Club or not. I actually made it to the gym last week! I thought I was starting slow, but ended up at the doctor with a very irritated sciatic nerve. It's much, much better today and I'm hoping to get back to the gym next week. My idea of starting back slow was 20 minutes on the elliptical at a slower pace; my doctor's is 3 minutes, adding a minute a week and building up slowly. I'm thinking it's hardly worth the drive to do 3 minutes, but I will do it. I need to get back to going 2-3 times a week instead of eating out every day - that would save on health and budget, and Heaven knows, both need help!

So, looking down the road, we're going to try some soups, some salads, more veggies, leaner meats and more fish.

Thank you, God, for the variety You have given us. Please help us make better choices. Amen.

Till next time, happy HEALTHY eating!

L

Several years ago, I bought a "Country Personalities" cookbook. It was neat looking through it the other day - quite a few of the people who submitted recipes I haven't heard of in years! They were very popular back in the day, though, and of course, there are a few 'one hit wonders'.

Tonight, we had Larry Gatlin's Texas Chili - ground round with Rotel tomatoes w/chilis, onion, garlic, tomato paste, seasonings. It was really good - I used mild Rotel and chili seasoning, so it had a little kick, but not too bad. We shredded cheese on top, too. Homemade cole slaw and cornbread finished out the menu. The cornbread was okay, but not nearly as good as I remember when someone else made it! I'll have to double check the recipe.

I'm running out of things I been wanting to try off the top of my head here lately. I think I'll spend part of the weekend poring through some old cookbooks, looking for fresh ideas.

Til next time,

L

Tonight, Jeff made Meat Pies for us: ground beef, spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, potatoes and cheese in a crescent-roll shell. They were really good! I had agreed to provide a veggie and/or dessert but when it came time, I didn't have a thing on hand. We thought about trying individual 5-minute Coffee Mug chocolate cakes, but none of us were hungry. Maybe next time.

On Saturday, we tried another Deen recipe - Pimento Mac 'n Cheese. It was really good! Probably not so healthy, but really good nonetheless. It went perfectly with steamed cabbage, carrots and kielbase sausage.

Next week, Chili and Cornbread. I'm thinking about a white chili, but we'll see what I can find. For now, though, I'm going to take my book, turn on the electric blanket and go to bed.

Til next time!

L

God Bless Paula Deen. First off, we had Southwest Pasta Salad from a home spun cookbook - tri-colored pasta, whole kernal corn, black beans, salsa, sour cream, cumin, garlic, chopped red pepper. It was really good! The recipe called for putting the dressinged (is that a word?) pasta on a platter and layering the vegetables. Since all of us don't like all the veggies, I had everything staged so people could layer their own with whatever they chose. There was even a little leftover, which will go to work tomorrow for Salad Day.





For dessert (our First dessert!), I made Paula Deen's Chocolate-Pecan Cobblerm served warm with vanilla ice cream. Oh. My. Gosh. Sinful, just simply sinful. Enough said.





Next week, Jeff and Ginger are making Meat Pie. I'll come up with a veggie of some sort - maybe a casserole? Hummmm. I'll have to think on it. I do know we're going to dessert it more often. :-)





I haven't done so well with my resolutions. I'm planning to hit the gym tomorrow, though. We'll see if it happens.





Till next time!





L

This month's issue of "Guideposts" magazine has an article by author Debbie Macomber. Each year, she chooses one word to concentrate on for the year. Or rather, a word picks her - she just has to keep her eyes and ears open while deciding. I decided to follow her lead and picked "hunger" as my word for 2012. So much of who I am deals with hunger - the overeating, the hunger for knowledge, for love, for serenity, for solitude, for peace. Debbie has chosen such words as faith, trust, and even hunger (it was her first, too, back in the 1990s somewhere, I think). I am going to try to listen: to my body, my thoughts, my feelings, and try to discern just what it is I am hungry for at that moment. I know I often eat when it's the last thing I really want or need. Maybe I can change that. I especially need to work on feelings - I spend so much time and energy trying not to feel anything.

I once read a book by Geneen Roth titled "When Food is Love". It took so many attempts before I was able to read it all. I'd get into the first chapter or two and just start sobbing. It would be months before I could pick it up again, then I'd start over. For two whole years after I was finally able to read it through, I was working so hard on being healthier, until yet another disillusionment came along. Maybe this is a way I can get back on track and stay there.

So, in 2012: I hunger for strength, discernment, good food within healthy limits (both quality and quantity), knowledge of new things, the ability to recognize & appreciate special moments, a stronger (and smaller) body, and a closer relationship with God. Not necessarily in that order, though. :-)

Til next time,

L

New Year's Day! We had the traditional and invited the Supper Club crew at the last minute. Baked Ham with Pampered Chef Pineapple Rum sauce, blackeyed peas, turnip greens (I don't care for collards - close enough), pasta salad, cranberry salad and fresh bread. Our luck and prosperity are covered for the year! :-)

I need to buckle down and come up with something wonderful to start off our club next week. I know it'll end with warm Chocolate-Pecan Cobbler with vanilla ice cream (you can't go wrong with Paula Deen!). I was thinking about Shrimp and Pea Risotto, but I don't think anyone else would eat it LOL. I do know I want to try for healthier fare this year, every day, but especially on club nights (Monday or Tuesday is still up in the air - we'll probably go with whatever is convenient for most each week). At least I have a week to be thinking on it.

Til next time, happy and HEALTHY eating!

L

Happy New Year! Two Thousand Twelve - wow. I remember all the hoopla as we approached 1984 (due to the book), much less Y2K.

We had so much FOOD yesterday! We were planning a party, but the young folks were here early and left for a bonfire and the older folks were sick, so it ended up just me and Richard there the last few hours. We didn't even make it to midnight. :-)

Anyway, the menu last night (since that's what I write) was Crockpot Nachos, Cheese 'n Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms, Pepperoni Balls, Cheese & Crackers. Pretty good, but lots of leftovers. I made a Jewish Apple Cake, too. Apparently, my tastes have changed - I used to love the Nachos (ground beef, Velveeta, Salsa, Cheddar Cheese soup), but not last night. They just aren't that good anymore. The Pepperoni Balls were kinda bland, too. I think I'm just tired of the same old, same old, but that's what my guys ask for every year. Next year, if we attempt it again, I'm going to add at least a couple of new, healthier options, if only for me.

Happy New Year! I wish health, happiness and prosperity to everyone. My resolutions all surround taking better care of myself - body, soul and spirit.

L