Break the Cycle

One more week left - and I'm ready to go home. We still haven't left dh's hometown. It was ok for the first couple of weeks - but now I'm feeling smothered. Yes, we have our own apartment here - but it's only 2 bedrooms - much smaller then "home". Plus, we do most of our eating at MIL's - and I miss my own cooking LOL. We have done some shopping - got a couple wonderfully warm robes for myself, and 4 pairs of shoes. Seems big feet are not all that rare in Egypt - nice. Got some clothes for the girls as well. They stopped swimming a couple weeks ago - seems like the outside pool finally got too cold for them. The coach called last week to let us know it was being heated - but I'm wondering just how they heat an Olympic size outdoor pool??? I know we will spend a couple days in Cairo - we have to return our minivan to storage - and we usually do that 2 days before we are scheduled to leave - in case of problems. We'll take the chance to...

WE've been here almost 2 weeks already - boy, time sure does fly. Dial up only here in the small town where dh grew up - so no pictures to share yet. We usually don't stay here more than a week - but the girls are swimming with the Egyptian team here - in a olympic training pool - so they aren't ready to go anywhere yet. They don't really understand everything the coaches are showing them - but they are getting a chance to swim - and that is the world in their book !! I've been watching the sweets - you can easily go overboard with that here. I think my weight is just about the same. It was down the first week - as I am very careful about consuming anything that contains the local water - but as my body becomes acustom to the changes - I'm able to eat just about anything (although I still won't drink the water unless I know there is a filter - here I buy bottled !) We're really not missing much from back home - certainly not the cold weather. Weat...

Looking for something different this weekend - going to try this one Hawaiian Baked Chicken INGREDIENTS 12 boneless skinless chicken thighs (4 ounces each) 2 cans (8 ounces each) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained 1/4 cup sherry or chicken broth 1/4 cup spicy brown mustard 1/4 cup honey 2 tablespoons butter , melted 1/2 teaspoon paprika SERVINGS 6 DIRECTIONS Arrange chicken in a shallow baking dish coated with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine the pineapple, sherry or broth, mustard, honey and butter; mix well. Spoon over chicken; sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 35-45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 180°. Yield: 6 servings. NUTRITIONAL INFO Nutritional Analysis: One serving (2 chicken thighs with 1/3 cup sauce) equals 285 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 118 mg cholesterol, 288 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 26 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fruit, 1 fat. This came from the Light and Tasty website - works...

I know I bought these for my DD - I'll be returning them as soon as I found how how/where. Make sure to check it out if you have Aqua Dots - just do an online search for recalls Jerzy

With the upcoming holidays - ask yourself if you are protected from Identity Theft. If you've ever had a purse stolen (or lost) and someone else uses your credit cards, or worse, opens new accounts in YOUR name that you don't even know about until your credit is totally trashed - then you know what a pain it is to try and clear your credit - it can take years, and thousands of dollars. There has been a new law passed - you can now ask for a credit freeze. It works a bit different in each state (some charge fees, some don't). Basic info is that your credit is frozen - no one can open a new account in your name. You can still use your previously approved credit lines, but thats it. Even employers won't be able to access your credit reports. Anyway - here in NJ it is something like $5 per freeze - then another $5 if you want to "unlock" your account, either for a specific reason or specific time frame. Anyway - look into it here http://www.consumersunion.or...

Ordering vitamins and such to take over to Egypt for relatives. I've found the prices at Puritan's Pride to be the best - plus the usually have coupons for buy 1 get one free, or buy 1 get 2 free, or my favorite - buy 1 get 3 free LOL. Course, that comes with free shipping. Right now what I need is 50% off - plus I have a coupon code for $30 off $150 - so that'll work Puritans Pride Just click and you should see a link on the right for the $10, $20 or $30 off.

Quickly - we are leaving in a week - so much to do - so little time - Need to organize bills, pack, buy things - including a new laptop Dell Deals Laptops hopefully this will work as well Laptops

Time is certainly flying ! Tried a new dessert last night - the pumpkin praline cake from WW - excellent - definately one to consider for the Thanksgiving Dinner table http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeId=87061 Not much going on today - catching up some paperwork - doing a bit of online shopping. Always seem to be trying to play catch up instead of getting ahead and relaxing - one day..... +

Working on paperwork and getting a menu together. Got my order from the local co-op, lots of rice and beans. Also got some pepitas - love those sprinkled on everything - from salads to yogurt. I grinded up a cup of them and made some pumpkin bread for dinner tonight. That and leftovers and salad. Might have to make some fishsticks - not too many leftovers leftover this week LOL. Next week - going to Crockpot Lasagna Spicy Chicken with Apricot Couscous (copied on paper - will post later. WW In One Pot 100) Stove Top Mac and Cheese (WW In One Pot 214) Creamy Orzo with Chicken and Mushrooms (WW In One Pot 219) Rice with Shrimp and Peas Salmon Strudel and of course, at our house, it's not dinner without dessert so we'll be trying - Chocolate Zucchini Cake Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake Praline Pumpkin Cake Will make up a grocery list later. I'm thinking of making up weekly menus - sorta like Saving Dinner? That way I can keep them in my own computer, and just print out groc...

Ingredients 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon dried basil 1 tablespoon dried oregano 4 (8-ounce) cans no-salt-added tomato sauce 1 (28-ounce) can no-salt-added whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 (1-pound) eggplants, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices 1/4 cup water 3 egg whites, lightly beaten 1 1/4 cups Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Vegetable cooking spray 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese Fresh oregano sprigs (optional) PreparationCombine first 7 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes. Place eggplant in a large bowl; add water to cover, and let stand 30 minutes. Drain well; blot dry with paper towels. Combine 1/4 cup water and egg whites in a shallow bowl. Combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese; stir well. Dip eggplant in egg white mixture, and dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place half of eggplant on a baking sheet co...

Saw this recipe on HG this a.m. - sounds good, and since our eggplants are still producing - I think I'll give it a go - Ingredients: 1 large eggplant 1/2 cup egg whites (about 4 large egg whites) 1 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original); ground to a breadcrumb-like consistency in the blender 1 cup canned tomato sauce w/ Italian flavoring (such as Hunt's Tomatoes Sauce with Basil, Garlic & Oregano) 1 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup reduced-fat grated parmesan-style topping 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper Optional: dried Italian seasonings (basil, oregano, etc.) Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice ends off of eggplant, and cut it lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips. Use a paper towel to blot eggplant slices on both sides (to remove excess moisture). Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray. Season crumbs with garlic powder, salt, pepper and, if you like, additional seasonings. Coat eggplant slices on both sides -- first with egg...

Praline-Pumpkin Cake desserts POINTS® Value: 5Servings: 16Preparation Time: 15 minCooking Time: 60 minLevel of Difficulty: Easy Take a break from traditional pumpkin pie and complete your Thanksgiving meal with this scrumptious pecan-topped pumpkin cake. Ingredients 1 sprays cooking spray 15 oz canned pumpkin 12 oz fat-free evaporated milk 1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute 1/2 cup sugar 4 tsp pumpkin pie spice 18 1/4 oz unprepared white cake mix, 1 package 1/2 cup pecan halves, chopped 1/4 cup reduced-calorie margarine, melted Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Stir pumpkin, milk, egg substitute, sugar and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl until smooth; pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and gently press it into pumpkin mixture to moisten. Sprinkle cake with pecans and then drizzle margarine evenly over top. Bake, uncovered, until knife inserted in center of cake comes out cle...

Well - to start off - I was up this weekend at WW. Course, after last weeks loss - I didn't really expect to have another big loss - but I wish I would have maintained at least. Oh well. Course, then yesterday it was such a beautiful day - took the kids to a few parks - and we ate outside - more than I should have of course. Lots of pretzels - salt will catch up with me today or tomorrow - so drinking lots of water. Going toa local amusement park today to celebrate dd's birthday - so probably another day of not so great food choices. I do have on my pedometer today. My goal this week - never go to bed with under 10,000 steps. If 8 pm rolls around and I'm a bit short - I'm hopping on my treadmill. I've said it, so now I must do it. A friend from my WW meetings let me borrow one of her cookbooks - I'll browse that tonight and see if there is anything new I'd like to try. This weeks menu - not so sure yet - tonight will probably be pizza. Tomorrow wil...

OK - holidays are coming - and if you have kids - that means LOTS and LOTS of batteries. I've been buying mine online - they last just as well as the "name brands" but wow - look at the price difference. Batteries.com They have digital camera batteries, back up batteries for your camcorder, cell phone batteries (excellent to have a charged back up battery when you're on the road !), laptop batteries, but the best deal of all (at least in this house) is the deal on the AA and AAA battery pack - here's and idea of their prices 40 AA's and 10 AAA's for $7.50 or 400 AA's and 100 AAA's for $49.99 - that works out to be 10 cents a battery !! Gotta love that. here's a couple more of their hotter deals - plus a coupon code - don't know how long the special prices will last - so stock up now for the holidays ! AcerNote 750 Replacement NiMH Laptop Battery $49.99 (Reg. $88.99) IBM ThinkPad 380 / 385 NiMH Replacement Laptop Battery $64.99 (Reg. $124.99...

Crockpot Tortilla Soup http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Tortilla-Soup/Detail.aspx Makes 8 servings, 6 points each. Ingredients 1 pound shredded, cooked chicken 1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce 1 medium onion, chopped 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups water 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 bay leaf 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro 7 corn tortillas vegetable oil DIRECTIONS Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut t...

WW: Crockpot Beef Stew Posted By: Hick Chick Wed, 25 Feb 2004, at 7:19 a.m taken from http://www.recipes-from-friends.com/weight-watchers/crockpot/beef-stew.htm 3 potatoes, diced 5 carrots, diced 4 stalks celery, diced 2 small onions, chopped 1 head (not clove) garlic, minced 1 large tomato, blanched and chopped 4 Tbs. barley 4 beef bouillon cubes 1 3/4 pounds lean beef 1/2 tsp. rosemary 1/2 tsp. savory 1 t salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 2 Tbs. flour 2 Tbs. corn starch Cube and brown the beef. Add flour to beef and stir together. Combine all ingredients except potatoes, corn starch, rosemary, and savory in a crockpot. Cover with water. Cook on high 12-24 hours. 1 hour before serving, add potatoes, rosemary, and savory. Immediately before serving, thicken with corn starch. (3 Points Per Cup)

Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff Makes 6 servings, 4 points each. Ingredients 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken 1 container (16 oz) fat free sour cream 1 packet powdered onion soup mix 1 can fat free cream of chicken soup 1 small can mushrooms Instructions Add all ingredients to crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours.

Crockpot Lasanga Makes 8 servings, 7 points each. Ingredients 1 1/2 lbs lean ground turkey 1 large onion, chopped 2 Tbsp minced garlic 1 lb fat free mozerella 12 oz fat free cottage cheese 1 tsp Italian seasoning salt & pepper to taste 8 oz no-bake lasagna noodles 30 oz tomato sauce 6 oz tomato paste 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 1/2 green pepper, chopped Instructions In a frying pan, brown turkey with onion and garlic. Add spices and tomato sauce and paste, stirring over medium heat until warm all the way through. Mix cheeses in seperate container. Layer 1/3 meat sauce, 1/3 noodles, 1/3 cheese, and 1/3 vegetables in crockpot. Repeat 2 more times until all ingredients have been used. Cook on low 4-5 hours.

if you read the previous post - I think I posted about not breaking anything while riding the horses .... well, 1 ambulance ride, 1 ER visit, 1 referral, and 1 visit back to our favorite Ortho Doc = a broken elbow - in 2 places no less - URGH ! Yep - same dd - #2 - but not from riding - she was FEEDING the horses, and tripped over a cut down piece of bamboo - landed hard on her elbow - and that was that! I rode in the ambulance with her - since we were so far from home - it was easier on dh and the rest of the kids. They went to Chuck E Cheese - we went to the ER. We were actually in and out pretty quick - although they waited until our Ortho guy saw the x-rays in case he wanted to do surgery - urgh again. No surgery - barely. He said if the one break was just a bit worse, that would have been different as well. BRIGHT PINK cast - just like mom's last one - although it looks so much better on her then on me ! I did blow my eating that Sunday - the stress and all - so Monday ...

Yep - I'm back on track and know exactly what I'm doing. I can make good decisions and be happy with myself, or make bad decisions - and live with it. Lost 4 lbs at my WW meeting today - I am on my way. Got some meals planned - did some healthy grocery shopping. Picked up some carmel apples for treats - they really aren't as high in fat/calories as you'd think - much better choice then a doughnut !!! Going to take the kids out to ride horses - lets hope no one breaks anything ! Jerzy

Love, love, love Lands End - their boots, their all weather clogs, their clothes that last forever! Anyway - they are offering free shipping - through this link - until Tuesday, Oct.16. Not sure if it'll work in the outlet and overstock - but I'll let you know as soon as I go shopping. Perfect time to start your holiday shopping ! Yep - free shipping on your entire order. Some excellent deals in their overstocks and on the counter deals - some things that I purchased - flannel sleep shirts - $1.50 a pet sherpa jacket - $5 swim suits for dh - about $17 each lots of socks - 3 packs for $6 (includes mens, womens and kids) Jeans for girls - from $10-$15 twill pants for me - $7.50 When I order - if I'm not sure of the size - I order 2 or 3 sizes - if you live near a Sears store - returns are simple and easy !!! When you click on the link above - make sure to write down the source code and pin that pop up - you'll need them for the 3 day free shipping when you check out ! Je...

As you see - I've been working on some new recipes. Received my latest edition of cooking light - lots of good recipes this time around. Next week I'm going to try a few of the new ones posted below - as well as some linked ones - the spinach and ricotta-stuffed shells (7 pts) and the chicken, pasta, and chickpea stew (5 pts). I'm sure I'll try the baked ziti casserole (7 pts) sometime later this month. Just came across a chocolate chip cookie recipe - definately need to try that one LOL :)

Rely on a large Dutch oven or stockpot because this recipe makes enough sauce for several meals. Cook at a low simmer--just a few bubbles every few seconds will yield the deepest taste. For freezing tips, see below. This recipe goes with Chicken, Pasta, and Chickpea Stew , Mussels Marinara , Swordfish with Lemony Red Sauce , Sausage and Pepper Pizza , Spinach and Ricotta-Stuffed Shells , Baked Ziti Casserole , Shrimp Fra Diavolo , Colorful Vegetable Lasagna , Portobello Parmesan , Escarole, Three Bean, and Roasted Garlic Soup Ingredients 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 cups chopped yellow onion (about 3 medium) 1 tablespoon sugar 3 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6 cloves) 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons dried basil 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 3 (28-ounce) cans no-salt-added crushed tomatoes Preparation Heat oil in a large ...

Quick-cooking red lentils don't need to be pureed since they break down as they cook. Lentils are a great source of protein, as well as fiber. This recipe gives 20 percent of your daily fiber goal. Serve over brown rice with a side of broccoli for a vegetarian meal. Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided 1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 whole clove 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom 1 dried hot red chile 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger 1 garlic clove, minced 4 cups organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic) 1 cup dried small red lentils 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Preparation Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large heavy cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; cook 2 minutes or until charred. Carefully turn over onion, and cook an addit...

Any winter squash would work in this spicy-sweet side dish. Though you start with a lot of squash, it cooks down in the preliminary roasting. Even the small amounts of currants and pecans contribute to the dish's hefty seven grams of fiber per serving. Ingredients 10 cup (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 8 pounds) 2 teaspoons olive oil obj 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons brandy 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup dried currants Cooking spray 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour 2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces 3 tablespoons chopped pecans Preparation Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange squash pieces in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan. Drizzle with oil, stirring to coat. Bake at 400° for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until squash is tender and beginning to brown, stirring every 20 minutes. Transfer squash to a bowl. Add juice, sugar, brandy, 1 tablespoon butte...

Pilau (or pilaf), typically consists of meats or vegetables added to a grain, and is an ideal way to add more fiber to your diet with whole grains like wild rice, brown rice, or bulgur. Serve with pork chops and green beans. This hearty side's squash, potato, and brown rice offer about 10 percent of your daily fiber needs. Ingredients 2 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled fresh pumpkin (about 12 ounces) 1 1/2 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato (about 1 medium) Cooking spray 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 cup diced onion (1 small) 1/3 cup diced celery (about 1 rib) 2 teaspoons minced garlic 4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 1 cup brown rice 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 bay leaf Preparation Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange pumpkin and sweet potato in an even layer on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 35 minutes or until tender and just until vegetables begin to brown, stirring after 18 minutes. ...

Short-grain, starchy white rice, such as Arborio, provides silky texture and creamy consistency for this satisfying dessert with universal appeal. Ingredients 2 cups cooked Arborio rice or other short-grain rice 3 1/2 cups fat-free milk 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk obj 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs, beaten 1/4 cup golden raisins 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon PreparationCombine rice, fat-free milk, sugar, nonfat dry milk, and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place eggs in a medium bowl. Gradually add half of rice mixture to eggs, stirring constantly with a whisk. Return egg mixture to pan over medium-low heat; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in raisins and vanilla. Spoon 1/2 cup pudding into each of 8 bowls. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon over each serving. Yield 8 servings Nutritional Information CALORIES 176(7% from fat); FAT 1.4g (sat 0.4g,mono 0.5g,po...

Ingredients 2 cups dried black-eyed peas 1 tablespoon peanut oil 3/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion 8 ounces turkey kielbasa, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 4 cups organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 (28-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes (10-ounce) bag prewashed mustard greens Preparation Sort and wash peas; set aside. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 3 minutes or until tender. Add sausage; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in broth; bring to a simmer, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in peas, salt, peppers, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer 45 minutes or until peas begin to soften. Uncover and cook 15 minutes or until liquid begins to thicken. Stir in vinegar, tomatoes, and mustard greens; simmer 10 minutes or until peas are tender, stirring occasionall...

Off to a good start this morning - our holidays should be this weekend - looking forward to it. Some of the gifts I got the girls came from Amazon - a underwater digital camera for under $100, and a pretty decent looking digital video camera also under $100 (they were both around $75 each) Gotta love new technology prices ! Keeping an eye out for a new laptop. Our last one we gave away to BIL our last trip overseas - I need to replace it - be nice to be able to do work while the girls are swimming. Plus it's nice to stay in touch when we're on vacation ! DD #1 is starting 6th grade today. She's only 10 - so I'm not pushing her - but needless to say, I've very proud of her. We use Calvert as our homeschool curriculum provider - I love having everything in one package - especially with 3 of them in 3 different grades ! In 6th grade, the lesson manual is more directed at the student - so she'll be able to set her own pace. I did tell her that she would be...

Had a wonderful, wonderful time ! Definately would recommend the Liki Tiki Village to anyone who was looking for a relaxing and not too expensive Florida vacation. We paid $100/night for a 2 bedroom apartment - it had a full living room, a deck, a king size bed in the master bedroom with it's own bathroom - complete with a jacuzzi tub that easily will fit 2 large adults. The second bedroom had 2 beds - maybe doubles? Or Fulls. Plus their own full bathroom across the hall. Each room had it's own TV - the living room also had a tv and a queen size sleeper sofa. The dining table had seating for 6 - and the kitchen had all modern appliances including a dishwasher and washer/dryer - so no need to overpack !! The only thing we did that cost extra was a seafood buffet one night (think all you can eat lobster tails !!) and a dinner/theater - Arabian Nights - very $$ - but very worth it - especially if you have horse crazy kids. I'll post pics later. On the weight loss f...

Missed last Saturday's meeting - kinda bummed. Since it's Ramadan - we need to get up early before the sun starts to rise - which means eating breakfast at 5 a.m. Last Saturday - after feeding the kids, I went to snooze for an hour or so before my meeting - and next thing I knew - it was 8 a.m. I could have gone to a later meeting - but since one of the main reasons I go to my 7 a.m. meeting are the people that sit with me and encourage me - why bother? Anyway - I will NOT miss next Saturday's meeting. I need to remember to change my alarm clock when I get up - or else just not lay back down !! Anyway - swimming is back at night - so dinners are screwed up again. Tonight I'm making some type of Egyptian beef with onions and rice. Salad on the side, of course, since dh's tomatoes are finally turning red. Tomorrow - Kufta - and Egyptian ground meat - sorta like a hamburger - but with lots of spices and cilantro mixed in. We'll have that on pita bread with...

Ingredients 4-Boneless skinless chicken breast 8 tbsp fat free Italian Dressing Directions Put the chicken breast in a casserole dish, well, any dish as long as it is deep. Pour the Italian Dressing over the chicken. Bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes. Yep, that's it. Serve with vegies and brown rice for a great meal!Number of Servings: 4 Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4 Amount Per Serving Calories: 120.5 Total Fat: 0.8 g Cholesterol: 56.0 mg Sodium: 659.7 mg Total Carbs: 3.6 g Dietary Fiber: 0.2 g Protein: 23.5 g

Fish last night was excellent - we need to eat Tilapia more often. Each child also ate an entire fillet - makes mom happy. Tonight I'm going to try the stuffed tomatoes (recipe to follow) Since the oven will already be on (baked taters and grean bean casserole) it'll make another side, and these can be served at room temps - so I may just cook them tonight and serve them for lunch tomorrow. Jerzy

OF course, I'll be using Turkey sausage for this one 3 pts per tomato 6 large tomatoes 1/4 pound turkey kielbasa, or turkey sausage 1 cup onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, or more if needed 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 cup cooked rice, cold 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped 3 tablespoons fresh parsley 1 each egg 1/2 cup shredded nonfat mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese preheat oven to 375* slice off top of tomatoes, scoop out the insides, and set the pulp aside. Salt and pepper the inside of each tomato shell and invert them onto paper towels. Let sit while you prepare the stuffing. place sausage onion and garlic in a large skillet and cook, crumbling the meat witha wooden spoon. Cook until the meat begins to loose it's pink color. Sitr in reserved tomato pulp and vinegar and simmer for 5 minutes stir in the rice, basil, parsle, and egg mixing well. stir in half of each cheese place tomato shells in baking dish and spoon in the filling mounding it on...

Crockpot No Peek Chicken Casserole (6 PTS) Serves 4-6 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts -- cut in 1" pieces 1 envelope dry onion soup mix 1 can fat-free beef broth1 can 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup 4 ounces mushrooms -- drained Combine all ingredients in crockpot. Stir together well. Cover and cook on low 8 to 12 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours. Serve over noodles or rice. Recipe may be doubled. Per Serving: 291 Calories; 4g Fat; 57g Protein; 7gCarbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 132mg Cholesterol; 1182mg Sodium.

Crockpot Italian Turkey Rice Dinner (8 Points) Makes 4 servings 3 med. carrots, shredded (2 cups) 2 med. stalks celery, sliced (1 cup) 1 small red bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup) 1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves 1/3 cup water4 turkey thighs (8-12 oz. each), skin removed 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain rice 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves 1/3 cup shredded Italian-stylesix-cheese blend or mozzarella cheese (2 oz.) Mix carrots, celery, bell pepper, basil and water in 3 1/2-4 qt. Slowcooker. Sprinkle turkey with salt and pepper; place on vegetable mixture. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hrs. Remove turkey thighs. Stir rice and oregano into vegetable mixture; return turkey to slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW about 1 hr. or until rice is tender. Remove turkey thighs. Stir cheese into rice mixture until melted. Serve with turkey. Per serving: cal 370, fat 9g, sat fat 4g, chol 165mg, sod 810mg, carb 27g, fiber 2g, prot 47g Points: 8

Crockpot Company Chicken Casserole (6 Points) 6 servings 8 ounces noodles 3 cups boneless skinless chicken breasts -- cooked, diced 1/2 cup celery --diced /2 cup green pepper -- diced 1/2 cup onion -- diced 4 ounces mushrooms -- canned, drained 1/2 cup nonfat chicken broth 1/2 cup fat-free Parmesan cheese 1 can cream of chicken soup --melted 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese -- grated 1/2 teaspoon basil 1 1/2 cups lowfat cottage cheese - small curd 2 1/2 cups water Cook noodles according to package directions until barely tender; drain and rinse thoroughly. In large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients with thenoodles, making sure the noodles are separated and coated with liquid. Pour mixture into a greased crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-10 hours. Cancook on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Per serving: 467.3 cal, 11.7g (23.4%) fat, 1.7g fiber, 824mg sodium

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup #2 (3 Points) 16 Ounces Chicken Breast Halves Without Skin - cubed 30 Ounces Black Beans, Canned - undrained 30 Ounces Mexican-style Stewed Tomatoes - canned 1 Cup Salsa 4 Ounces Chopped Green Chiles 14 1/2 Ounces Tomato Sauce 2 Cups Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese Tortilla Chips Combine all ingredients except cheese and tortilla chips into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8 hours. To serve, put a handful of chips into each individual bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top with 1/4 cup cheese. Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 248 Calories; 4g Fat (13.2% calories from fat); 25g Protein; 27g Carbohydrate; 9g Dietary Fiber; 32mg Cholesterol; 1215mg Sodium.

Crockpot Chicken Marengo (4 Points) Serves: 6 Total Points - 24 ... per serving - 4 Canned sliced mushrooms, drained 10 oz. Sliced onion 1 cup Chicken parts, skin removed 3 lbs. Canned tomatoes with juice (broken up) 14 oz.Envelope Spaghetti sauce mix 1 x 1-1/2 oz. Arrange mushrooms and onion in 5 quart (5 L) slow cooker. Lay chicken pieces over top. Stir tomato and spaghetti sauce mix together in bowl. Pour overtop of chicken. Cover. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours.

Crock Pot Chicken #2 (4 Points) 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1/4 c. white wine 1 pkg. Good seasons Italian salad dressing mix Brown chicken. Place in crockpot. Sprinkle salad dressing mix over chicken. Add wine. Cover; cook on high about 4 hours. (Low for 6 - 8 hours.)

Crockpot Chicken (3 Points) 1 10 3/4 oz can Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup 1 package dry onion soup mix 2 Cups water 2 Cups uncooked instant rice 16 oz. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut in 1" pieces 1 Cup sliced mushrooms 1/8 t black pepper Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. In prepared crockpot, combine first 4 ingredients. Add chicken, mushrooms, and pepper. Cover and cook on low 6-8hours. Stir before serving. Serves 6 (1 cup serving) WW pts: 3

Cozy Crock Comfort Serves-6 (5 Points for 1 full cup) 16 oz ground 90% lean turkey or beef 1/2 cup chopped onion 3 cups (15 oz) diced raw potatoes 1/3 cup (1 oz.) uncooked regular rice 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots 1 cup finely diced celery 1 1/2 cups Healthy Request Tomato Juice or any reduced-sodium Tomato juice1 (10 3/4 oz.) can Healthy Request Tomato Soup 1/4 tsp. black pepper1 tsp. dried parsley flakes In a large skillet sprayed with butter flavored spray, brown meat. Place browned meat in a slow cooker container. Add onion, potatoes, uncooked rice, carrots and celery. Mix well to combine. Stir in tomato juice, tomato soup, black pepper and parsley flakes. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hrs. Mix well before serving. Each serving equals: 243 Calories, 7gm Fat, 16gm Pro., 29gm Carbo, 290mg Sodium, 33mg Calcium, 3gm Fiber WW: 5 Pts.

Chicken & Dumplings 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast 1 can Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup 6 biscuits (Pillsbury Golden Homestyle Buttermilk canned biscuits -2pt per biscuit) 2 cups of water 1 Tablespoon bouillon, any flavor Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Add all of the ingredients except for the biscuits and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Add salt, pepper and any other seasonings that you would like. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, turn your crock-pot on high and tear biscuits into 1 inch pieces and add to slow cooker. Makes six 3/4 cup servings at 5 WW pts per serving.

Beef Stroganoff 1 lb very lean ground beef 1 small chopped onion 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 package of brown gravy mix 8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms 1 can Fat Free Cream of Mushroom soup 1 1/4 cup of water, divided 1 cup Fat Free sour cream 12 oz whole wheat yolk free egg noodles, cooked Brown ground beef. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, brown gravy mix and 1/4 cup of water. Stir well to mix. Pour ground beef mixture into crock-pot. Add onions, mushrooms, soup and remaining 1 cup of water. Stir to mix. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Just before serving add sour cream and stir. Allow to heat through and serve over hot egg noodles. (I like to mix the egg noodles into the crock-pot mixture before serving.) Make six servings at 7 WW pts per serving.

Apple Pie 8 apples, peeled and sliced 1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 3/4 cup skim milk 2 tablespoons Brummel and Brown Spread, softened 3/4 cup Splenda 1/2 cup egg substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cup Reduced Fat Bisquick 1/3 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons of cold butter Spray your crock-pot with cooking spray Toss apples in large bowl with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Pour into crock-pot. Combine milk, softened butter spread, Splenda, eggs, vanilla and 1/2 cup Bisquick. Spoon over apples. Combine the 1 cup of Bisquick and brown sugar. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture over top of apple mixture. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until apples are soft. This apple pie recipe is 4 WW pts per serving.

Sweet & Sour Chicken 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast 5 oz LaChoy Sweet & Sour sauce 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 /4 teaspoon onion powder 8 oz pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve 1/4 cup juice) 1 tablespoons brown sugar 1 6 oz bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables Cut the raw chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Spray your crock-pot with cooking spray. Add chicken, garlic powder and onion powder; stir. Stir in sweet and sour sauce, pineapple chunks, brown sugar and the 1/4 cup of pineapple juice. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Add frozen vegetables during the last 30 minutes of cooking and cook on high. Makes four servings at 5 WW pts per serving.

Banana Date Oat Cookies 3 large bananas, mashed 1 cup chopped dates 2 cups rolled oats 1/3 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preheat oven to 350*F (175*C). In a large bowl, combine the bananas, oats, dates, oil and vanilla. Mix well and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a non-stick cookie sheet . Bake for 20 minutes or until browned. Cool on wire rack. Store in air-tight container. Makes 3 dozen.

WW meeting this a.m. was good. I didn't WI - for some reason the scale took a very big jump yesterday (although I didn't overeat at all). So - I skipped WI instead of getting myself down. Next week I'll weigh in no matter what !! Ramadan is coming - so I'll be cooking. The kids sometimes go out to eat with dh at the mosque - so I'll stock up on Lean Cuisene. I usually don't go - as the food tends to be much heavier then I like to eat. I posted a new recipe - Chocolate Cake with Banana Cream - taken from the new WW dessert cookbook. I'll post a review after we try it (today) Also will try something with dates - just not sure what yet !! Menu - Saturday - Tilapia with coconut panko, rice and corn on the cob Sunday - Steaks and mashed taters, bbq'd egg plant and salads Monday - bbq'd chicken thighs, baked taters, string bean casserole Tuesday - shrimp and pasta with salads Wednesday - 40 clove chicken in the crock and fresh bread Thursday - some k...

2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup sucralose 1/3 cup + 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1 TBS packed light brown sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 large egg 1/3 cup canola oil 1/4 cup water 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 cup thawed frozen fat-free whip topping 1 medium banana, sliced 1. Preaheat the oven to 350* F. Lightly spray an 8 inch round cake pan with nonstick spray. 2. Whisk together the pastry flour, sucralose, 1/3 cup of the cocoa, the brown sugar, baking powder, and slat in a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk together the egg, oil, water and vanilla in a separate medium bowl. Whisk in the applesauce until slightly frothy. WIth a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the applesauce mixture just until blended. Pour the batter into the pan and bake about 15 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan When serving - stir the whipped topping and the remaining 1 tsp cocoa in a small bowl until blended, fold in the banana. Cut the cake into 12 we...

Sirloin Roast with Gravy 1 boneless beef sirloin tip roast (about 3 lbs) 1 to 2 tablespoons coarsely ground pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons ground mustard 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 cup cold water Rub roast with pepper and garlic, cut roast in half and place in a 3-qt slow cooker. Combine the soy sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and mustard; pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 5 1/2 to 6 hours or until the meat is tender.Remove roast and keep warm. Strain cooking juices into a small saucepan; skim fat. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with beef.Yield: 10 servings Source: Taste of Home Slow Cooker Recipes 2007

Ingredients: 40 cloves garlic 2 sprigs rosemary 2 sprigs thyme 2 sprigs sage 2 sprigs Italian parsley Ground pepper to taste 3 pounds roasting or fryer chicken 3 stalks celery Loaf French bread - optional Directions: Rinse chicken in cold water and pat dry. Put celery on the bottom of the crockpot. Put 1 sprig of each herb into the cavity of the chicken. Place chicken on top of the celery. Cut up the rest of the herbs and sprinkle on top of the chicken. Add ground pepper to taste. Peel garlic , leave skin on, and place on top and around chicken. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. The cooked garlic can be used in place as garlic butter for the French bread. Just squeeze and spread onto bread slices. This recipe for 40 Clove Garlic Vampire Chicken serves/makes 4

Another good week at WW - journaling is certainly the key - that and drinking enough water. Just a few more pounds and I'll be back to my lowest weight ever. Good deal. Ordered my ring yesterday - it was going to be my gift to me after hitting Onederland, but I'm hoping I'm well into Onederland by the time it gets here (6 - 8 weeks) Got my clothes from the order down below - I can't believe how much stuff I got for so little money. The shoes are real leather - the clothing is well made and cheap enough that if it only fits me for one year - I won't feel bad passing it on !!! Now - whats cooking. Not sure what's going to cook what day - so I just listed it as day 1, day 2 - you get the idea. That way - depending on what I get out of the freezer - well, thats dinner !! day 1 - Turkey breasts bbq on the grill. I picked up 4 of the london broil turkey steaks - great buy at Shoprite this week. Putting my normal chicken rub on them and will toss them on a ve...

Shopping - Woman Within - 50% off your ENTIRE ORDER - Clearance Section only - CLICK HERE - then when checking out use code WW14053 This is what I got - 3 pairs of dress shoes 9 shirts and blouses 1 two piece sweatsuit like set all for $101 DELIVERED !!!! Imagine that !! Hurry - things are running out quickly

Reading through a friends blog this a.m. - realized her's was so much better because she shared photos of her daily life - so here's Adam swimming - hard to believe this little man started out in life smaller then a lb of butter !!! Struck me this early a.m. that summer is almost over. I got out of bed early to watch the lunar eclipse. Of course, since our property is surrounded by pretty tall trees, I had to keep moving around a bit - but I saw it. Not as amazing as watching stars streaking across the sky - but does stop you in your tracks and you wonder how people can believe that there isn't a higher being holding all these things in place. God certainly is awesome. U.S. Open - pretty big tennis family here. Was watching last night. Really impressed with the young girl who played Serena Williams (not a favorite player of mine). She will definately be someone to watch in the next few years as she gets more matches under her belt. Watching these girls swing, really wants m...

The stuffed shells went over very, very well - matter of fact - I made an entire box (35 shells) and stuffed the rest with the extra spinach stuffing I had made with the chicken, plus drizzled just a bit of FF mozz. cheese the last 5 minutes of baking - and it's gone this a.m. Definately a do over. Sounds like a ton of work - stuffing all those shells - but it took me maybe 15 minutes total - and that includes the boiling of the noodles (hint, underboil by just one minute, makes the shells easier to stuff) I made mine ahead of time - put the sauce on them, with a little bit of the pasta water (used it first to swish out the remaining pasta sauce in the jar) and left it in the fridge covered in plastic wrap. After my eye Dr's appt (by the way, the Dr. informed me I had eyes of a much younger person - still 20/20 here !!) I took it out of the fridge, removed the plastic wrap and baked about 30 minutes at 375* Wonderful !! Now the chicken had mixed reviews. Next time I wou...

Whats cooking? Tonight we're having Stuffed Shells (4 pts per serving) and stuffed chicken breasts (10 pts per serving, but I'm going to try and lower that buy subbing some cottage cheese for the ricotta cheese). The chicken will include a serving of spinach - so this meal will take care of both of my dairys, and 2 veggies (spinach and tomatos in the sauce) Served with a side salad, and maybe, just maybe, a home made bagel (recipe to follow if it turns out. Seems 8yo has finally gotten the reading bug, read a book about a boy making bagels, found a recipe at the end of the book, and now we have to try it - gotta love homeschooling sometimes !) Doing well with WW this week. Journaling every day - and it really has stopped me from overeating or snacking during the day. Tried something new last night - salmon burgers. They were frozen - 2 pts each, decent size, and cooked up quickly (1 minute in the microwave to seperate them, then another minute or two with George Foreman grill)...

Stuffed Shells POINTS Value: 4 Servings: 6 Preparation Time: 20 min Cooking Time: 20 min Level of Difficulty: Easy Mixing the ricotta with nonfat cottage cheese gives the filling more body and flavor while reducing the fat content. Ingredients 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese 1 tsp table salt 1 tsp garlic powder, or to taste 1 Tbsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp black pepper 3 cup canned tomato sauce 1 pound cooked pasta, jumbo shells, approximately 24 shells Instructions Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix together cheeses, salt, garlic powder, oregano and pepper. Spread a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce on bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. When cooked shells are cool enough to handle, fill each shell with cheese mixture and place in baking dish. When all shells

SPINACH STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS 6 boned and skinned chicken breasts 1 tsp. fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp. dry thyme Salt Olive oil SPINACH AND CHEESE STUFFING: 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 lb. spinach, washed, stemmed and coarsely chopped or 1 box frozen spinach 15 oz. Ricotta cheese 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese 1 tsp. fresh basil, chopped or 1/2 tsp. dried basil Freshly ground black pepper YOGURT-TOMATO SAUCE: 1 c. plain yogurt 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar 1 ripe tomato, peeled, seeded and finely chopped 1 tsp. basil Freshly ground black pepper To prepare stuffing, cook the onion in the butter and oil until translucent. Add spinach to pan and cook until it is wilted and the moisture has evaporated. Transfer to bowl and cool. Stir in cheeses, basil and some pepper. Pound chicken breasts thin. Place 1/6 of cheese-spinach mixture on each. Fold over and secure with poultry skewers or toothpicks. Rub chicken with olive oil and thyme. Transfer to oiled baking dish. Bake in 375 ...

Good Morning everyone !!! It's a wonderful (even if it's rainy) day here in Jerzyland. Had a good weekend - stayed On Program, and my weight this Monday morning is exactly where it was on Saturday - that's always a good thing. Sat down and figured out a "mini" menu. Yesterday I picked up some thin sliced chicken breasts - so we're going to do stuffed shells one day, and use some of the stuffing to roll up in the chicken as well. Yesterday we had a chicken and noodle bake - no recipe, just threw it together. Today I'm having Cornish Hens out on the grill - I split them in half yesterday and marinated them. DD #1 wants mashed taters, so we'll do that and some mixed veggies. Full menu (with recipes for Karen) will be posted later :) Shopping - don't really NEED anything right now - although I am comparison shopping on new fridges. I want a bottom freezer, ice and water in the door - so I know it won't be cheap - but an energy efficient o...

I realize I do much better sticking to plan when I not only journal - but plan. SO - back to serious menu planning, grocery shopping planning, coupon cutting, and more moving and less sitting - so lets get moving. Tonight - we WERE going to Chinese Buffet - but after doing a WI with my kids - I'm making turkey cutlets with pasta and sauce and side salads. Will work on a menu tomorrow. Jerzy

Easy Parmesan-Garlic Turkey 1/2 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided 1 env. GOOD SEASONS Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1 lb turkey cutlets PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Mix 1/3 cup of the cheese, the salad dressing mix and garlic powder. Moisten chicken with water; coat evenly with the cheese mixture. Place in single layer in shallow baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 20 to 25 min. or until turkey is cooked through (165°F). You can serve this over your favorite pasta and sauce - my favorite is either 4 cheese light, or fire roasted tomato and garlic - the turkey alone prepared is 4 pts per serving (this makes 4 serings) - add more points for your choice of pasta and sauce.

Ended up getting a 5 megapixel Canon PowerShot A460 for $100 - including delivery - if you've never tried Buy.com - I'd recommend it. Use a coupon code for $$$ off (email me if you need one) plus if you've never used Google checkout, they'll take an additional $10 off. Shipping is free right now on Canon digital cameras. I'm happy. Just make sure to watch how they ship - of course when it first goes through it'll charge you for shipping in 3-5 days, change that to budget shipping of 7-9 days and it'll be free.

Our Fuji Fine Pix died - love the camera - so will definatley get another. Best Prices I've found so far - Overstock. Yes, some are factory reconditioned - but with the same warranty - I don't see a difference (usually they aren't used, just open box items). Also will stock up on some back to school stuff and office supplies. Love Overstock

Great Place to shop for batteries - all kinds, computers, phones, even regular AA and AAA - if you're like me and have kids - you go through tons of batteries !!! Battery.com Right now - use the coupon code HOT for 20% off and 99 cent shipping OR - SAS616 for 15% off

Missed my WW meeting - but still on track - My menu will be as follows (hopefully) Sunday - L - Chicken, Melon & Mango Salad D- BBQ Chicken Monday - L - Roast Beef Wrap D - Salmon Croquettes with Sweet Corn Tuesday - L - Greek Style Shrimp and Orzo Salad D - Broiled Mustard Steak Wednesday - L - Cruncy Tuna Salad D - Grilled Mahi with Mango Salsa Thursday - L - D - Greek Chicken with Minted Couscous Friday - L - Chicken Salad and grapes D - Saturday - L - Turkey Sandwich D - Turkey Parmesan with Pasta Of course, I may switch things around - depending on whats in the fridge and when I can get to the store - but I have even planned out my breakfasts and snacks - going to be at my goal weight by my birthday - and NOTHING is going to stop me !!!

Woke up early this a.m. - got dh off to work, and made the mistake of turning on the TV in my office to check out the weather. They had some special on about the stuff that lives in your pillows - talk about disgusting !!! Mold, mildew and dust mites - ewwww. Anyway, I ended up shopping online for those pillowcases theyadvertised (it was channel 3 or 6 news though, not an infomercial...) They said they had got theirs at 1/2 price and paid $5 each - you KNOW I could do better - and I did. I ordered mine for less than $1 each from Amazon. NOW - you can order up to 8 of them and pay $5 shipping, but if you order 9 of them - you pay $15 shipping - so if you need more than 8 - place 2 orders - it's cheaper - Here's the links King Size Pillow Protector Queen Size Pillow Protector Standard Size Pillow Protector Got that done - did some shopping at Victoria Secret - love that store. Dropped the truck off at the mechanic to get the tail lights fixed - so without wheels for a few ...

Summer Swimming is OVER !!! Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE our swim team, I think the people that run the program go way beyond a parents expectations - but still - I run them to practice nearly every day of the week, during the summer they had a swim meet once a week (which they enjoyed so again, I'm not complaining) - but whew - am I glad it's over for awhile. Wednesday they had their championships - they all did excellent - I'll be picking up their medals and ribbons tonight. Yesterday was their end of the season beach party - even dh showed up and enjoyed himself - caught some waves, boogie boarded, and had some good food and fun. The girls all got a bit of color (which is unusual since they've been out in the sun all summer - but I guess it's that beach sun....) I let everyone sleep in this morning - going to do some major cleaning, get my bills in order, get my desk in order, send out the rest of my ebay packages, put some WW cookbooks in my truck for ...

Very proud of dd#1 - her hair was down way past her waist - just too hot this summer, lots of work trying to get all that hair under a swim cap - so she decided to get it cut, and donate it to Locks of Love. What Next - why roller skating of course - Mom found her old roller blades in the garage and strapped them on - she's still got it - Of course - then dd #1 just had to try it - the skates were a wee bit large - good thing dd#3 was there to lend a hand - Of course - even the best will fall - as long as you're still smiling - thats all that matters, right? And we closed off the evening with some soccer - good night all around -

Back on Track - this week I'm cooking - Sunday - Whole Tilapia on the grill - sooo easy. Shoprite had Whole Tilapia on sale last week - I ended up getting 2 cases. Easiest way to fix - stuff the inside with some fresh cilantro and dill and some cloves of garlic (slightly smooshed). Lightly olive oil the outside and season with salt and pepper. Wrap each fish individually in Renolds Wrap Heavy Duty so that nothing can escape. Throw on a HOT grill - about 10 minutes per side. I get my grill really, really hot, then turn it down half way after I throw the packages on. If you are a garlic lover - this is an excellent time to roast some garlic - take a whole head of garlic, slice off the top, drizzle a bit of olive oil on top and wrap it up in Renolds Wrap. Just throw it on the grill at the same time. I usually put mine on that little shelf above the main grill so that it doesn't get crispy. No need to peel it first - when you serve it - you can squeeze out the garlic fr...

Putting my links all in one place - Vista Print - where I get free stuff all the time - here's a hint - put everything you want that is free in your cart. When you go to check out - the shipping fee will be enormous - no worries. During checkout they should offer you some return address labels for $3.99. If you add these to your cart - your shipping will go down to a normal amount. Woman Within - they have some stuff at $3.88 - Be Careful - they run very large - if you normally take a XL - you may have to order a Large or Medium Ebay - we've all been there Joann - love to order my sewing stuff online when I can. Use a 50% off coupon code - if you don't have one - email me '>Dell - trying a new link for small business - better deals

Another week and half has gone by - but - the workers are out, and my house is slowly getting back on track. I've put together my gym that has sat in my office for 2+ years (dh lost all the original nuts and bolts in our move). I bought this gym before I got married, so it's pretty old, but it's computerized, and still works wonderfully. I also put a TV in my office - will run a cable under the house over the weekend and get it hooked up. Hopefully with that in here - I'll work out longer. Maybe I'll even move my treadmill in here again. Even made dh his own "desk" area - so he can stop dumping his paperwork everywhere. Hopefully that will all help. Soccer camp is almost over - it's been a rough week - running from here to there, swimming, soccer and school. Adam will be finished with school at the end of the month - another whew. I did get to meet his teacher last week - it's the same teacher he'll have next year - and I like her - so...

Whew - what was supposed to be a 2 day project - is going on it's 3rd week. Since we bought this house in 2004 - I've told dh that the door between the kitchen and the back porch needs to go. Plus - we have a huge koi pond right off the porch - and I'd love to be able to hear the running water all the time. DH finally got around to removing the door, and installing a pocket door. So now we have a wonderful breeze - even if we're sitting at the table in our EIK. THEN - to further promote airflow - we took out the wall between our dining room, and my kitchen. WOW - what a difference. NOW, when we have larger dinner parties - the adults can eat in the dining room (carpeted) and the kids can eat in the kitchen (tiled) and everyone will still be sitting right next to eachother - how cool is that? I chose the kitchen colors first (since I spend most of my time there) then dh choose complimentary green shades to finish the living room. Even the back porch is getting a...