What a wonderful weekend, it was so slow and laid back due to the storm. Got to do some reading, watching movies and cooking. Oh yeah, there was a nap to two in there too. Well, the new electric snow blower worked like a charm until my sweetie rammed it into a log that was laying near the woodpile and broke the blade. Oh well, back to shoveling.
We walked the little guy down to Marshall Point where the snow was virtually blown out to sea. The land was clear of the high white stuff and our little buddy really loved being able to stretch his legs. You could almost hear him thinking "I'm flying."
Fourth day into the resolution. I have exercised each morning and have kept to my points limits. The online Weight Watchers program is pretty cool, but you need to commit to putting your information into it on a daily basis. For me, if I am paying for a program, I will use it and I love the computer anyway, so it is not a problem for me.
Last night I made Baked Stuffed Cabbage Rolls from the Discovery Health Eating Well Website. I calculated the recipe to be 5 points on the Flex or Momentum WW program. Flavor in healthy recipes is what I am looking for. I don't mind if it takes time to make the recipe or how many ingredients are in it as long as it tastes great.
Although the cabbage rolls looked lovely, they really lacked flavor despite the fresh dill, garlic, salt, pepper, caraway seeds and lemon juice. I think it needs a little red pepper flakes. So, my take on this recipe is, it is filling, but needs some spices added to make it into a meal you would want to have again.
The sound of the snow trucks rumbling down the road and the quiet - super quiet. The first storm of the year is descending on us this weekend. We are having snow as I write this, the weather is supposed to deteriorate by tomorrow afternoon and not end until Sunday evening. Because the hubs has some heart dysfunction, we picked up a little snow blower to make life easier this winter and it looks like just in time. We will really get to see if it works well by Sunday night.
I know I complain about the freezing cold and snow as winter progresses, but there is a wonderful comforting feeling of the first storm of the year, it is almost romantic. The woodstove is humming, the fire place is heating the front room and the thought of comfort food crosses my mind.
We have brought in the cross county ski shoes from the barn to warm up and remind us to USE them and get out in the weather, white or not.
Tonight, to bring in the good luck of the year, we had a lentil soup with collard greens. Thick and yummy. But to start out the year we went to a brunch at a friend's house. They served scrambled eggs (just like Julia Child's) sausage links, patties and bacon, home fries, and huge cinnamon rolls. To start things off we had bloody s and mimosas. Working this little menu into my new weight control plan was a little difficult, but not totally impossible. The brunch took the place of two meals and that was the saving part of it all. Also, we went to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes. What a great action film. I will watch anything with Robert Downy, Jr., and now anything with Jude Law.
There are all sorts of wishes and resolutions surrounding the first day of the year. This year I hope for good health and prosperity for all.
It is New Years once again and this year I will join the many thousands who vow to lose weight. Although I have dieted many times in my life before, this time the doctor has ordered it with the hopes that it will lower my cholesterol without having to increase my dosage of medication. Instead of waiting for the ball to drop in order to start, I am starting now. Armed with a new journal where I will keep track of what I eat, I am prepared to start the Weight Watchers online and I am investigating websites with good recipes. I do not want this diet to control my life or make me think of food all the time so I am going to make a weekly menu, hope to buy only those ingredients and stay away from the store in between to control my impulse purchases.
Last night I made Pan Seared Scallops with Baby Greens and Citrus Mojo Vinaigrette This is a great recipe that does not taste at all diet, but is a 4 point weight watcher recipe. The dressing is tangy and citrus laden and is a keeper. The scallops were fresh diver scallops given as a gift from my son. I also sliced two small potatoes and sprayed them with cooking spray and cooked in the oven at 400 degrees until brown resulting in unfried potato chips.
A cookbook that contains many excellent low calorie recipes that I have used since the early 90's is Vegetarian Spa Cuisine from Rancho La Puerta and Deborah Szekely. The cover states that it contains "live younger/longer recipes." I can't vouch for that, but the Tecante Ranch Whole Wheat Bread recipe is a definite winner.
The ingredients are:
3 cups of warm water
1/4 cup wild sage honey
1 packet active dry yeast
1/2 cup cold pressed safflower or sunflower oil
8 1/2 - 9 1/2 stone ground whole wheat flour
1 cup Miller's wheat bran flakes
1 tbsp. poppy or sesame seeds
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 egg white beaten (for glaze)
I used rapid rise yeast, so I put all ingredients (approx 8 cups of flour) but the egg white in the stand kitchen mixer and when incorporated and not too sticky anymore (if the dough is sticky add flour in 1/4 cup amounts until it isn't sticky) I use the dough hook and let the machine knead the bread for 4 - 5 minutes. When risen I divide the dough and put it into a bread pan that has been sprayed, cover with a towel until risen again and cook for 35 to 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven. The result is a wonderful fiber filled bread that will freeze for up to 2 months. If you cut each loaf into 25 slices, or a total of 50 slices, each slice is 107 calories, 2.4 protein grams, 17.9 carbs, 2.6 fat, 0 cholesterol and 60 mg. sodium.
Happy New Year to all of you and I hope that whatever resolutions you make will work out for you. I wish me lots of luck on my resolution and hope that it lasts until the goal is achieved.
We still have snow on the ground, the packages are wrapped and we are ready for Christmas. Paul and I will load the car this morning so that I can finish up packing our clothes and getting ready for tonight. We will have a chowder I prepared with two pounds of lobster claw and knuckle meat, one pound of shrimp and roasted corn. Steven is bringing biscuits from Robin Hood Meeting House.
I haven't tasted them yet, but hear they are wonderful. Susan and Judi are making appetizers and Marcia and Karen are bringing desserts. On Christmas day we will be having 5 cheese lasagna, soup, antipasto and dessert before Paul and I head down to the Cape to spend a few days with his 90 year old Mom.
On Monday, Karen, Megan and I spent an overnight in Boston while Megan investigated a couple of art schools. We had use of a wonderful condo on Commonwealth Avenue and went to the North End for a good Italian meal and cannoli.
The stores in Boston are very festively decorated and there is no shortage of Christmas lights.
We wish you and your families a wonderful holiday and a new year filled with love, good health, peace and a good amount of bliss.
While searching the web for some interesting new additions to party food, I ran across the Sparkling Cranberry recipe on www.101cookbooks.com . Those little darlings do sparkle and taste fantastic. Described differently by guests the other night, I found them to be totally addictive and recommend them highly as a different touch to cocktail party food and they are so very easy to prepare.
We also served Dynamite sandwiches at the party (although I have no final pictures). My husband has been talking up these monster sandwiches up since I met him and finally I procured the recipe to make them. Based on research I did, these sandwiches are French Canadian blue collar food. In the proportion of 15 pounds of peppers and onions to 5 pounds of hamburg, they make quite a massive amount and you need a rather large pan. With the addition of tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and some seasonings, it is recommended that you make this at least one day in advance to make sure the flavors blend and intensify. You serve this on "hoagie" rolls and accompany it by potato chips. A real man sandwich.
It was a fun party with lots of appetizers brought by the guests and a gift exchange that brought lots of laughs. I just love the holiday season and it is not the food or the gifts that define the season to me, it is the joy and outpouring of generosity and fun.
For over 100 years, three maple trees have edged the property of our home. They have shielded us from the sun and protected this home from the road. They all came down yesterday before they fell down due to disease spreading through them that has caused several branches to fall already. It is amazing how exposed we felt last night. It surprised us at how open the property feels. We will have to appraise the situation and figure out how to provide some privacy either with fencing, shrubbery or more trees. We will surely have to do something and although we discussed how we would feel, we are amazed that our reaction is so intense.
Also amazing is the fact that people will climb into these sick trees and risk their life and limb to cut them down.
Fourth day into the resolution. I have exercised each morning and have kept to my points limits. The online Weight Watchers program is pretty cool, but you need to commit to putting your information into it on a daily basis. For me, if I am paying for a program, I will use it and I love the computer anyway, so it is not a problem for me. 
Although the cabbage rolls looked lovely, they really lacked flavor despite the fresh dill, garlic, salt, pepper, caraway seeds and lemon juice. I think it needs a little red pepper flakes. So, my take on this recipe is, it is filling, but needs some spices added to make it into a meal you would want to have again. 
