Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Olives

I got this recipe out of the Cooking Light magazine and made it tonight. It was so good. I had no problem getting my 2 kids ages 10 and 6 to eat it. A little different but delicious. Served mine with Basmati rice and mahi-mahi fish. Best part is it only has 176 calories.

Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Olives

Ingredients

5 1/2 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 pound)
24 green Spanish olives, pitted and halved
8 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 450°.
2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small roasting pan. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with pepper and salt. Toss well to coat. Bake at 450° for 22 minutes or until cauliflower is browned and crisp-tender, stirring after 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap!

Mamarazzi is having another Favorite Things Swap. I have participated in 2 so far and they were both wonderful. If you are interested hop on over to Dandelion Wishes to sign up.

Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta

I found this recipe in Cooking Light magazine, and made them to take to our Thanksgiving dinner. Man they were yummy! Brussel sprouts are the "in vegetable" right now so there are lots of good recipes floating around. You can use bacon instead of pancetta if you like.

Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped pancetta (about 4 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Cook Brussels sprouts and 1 tablespoon salt in boiling water 6 minutes or until almost tender. Drain and plunge into ice water; drain well.
3. Cook pancetta in a large skillet over medium-low heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove pancetta from pan, reserving drippings.
4. Cut Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise; place on a baking sheet. Add reserved drippings, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until browned, stirring after 10 minutes. Combine Brussels sprouts, pancetta, and vinegar in a large bowl; toss well.

New Year - 2010

Well here we are in 2010 already. Still cannot believe it. Had a heck of a time getting up this morning and back into that school and work routine. Started Day 1 of my diet today....so far so good. But the first couple of days always seem to be the easiest for me. It is the sticking with it that’s a problem. I do know that I have willpower just got to find where it is. My hubby is dieting with me so hopefully it will work with the two of us being there for each other. We quit smoking together - June 2010 will be 5 years, so I know that together we can do it. So the plan is:


Breakfast - Special K


Lunch - we will be alternating weekly between All-You-Can-Eat Diet Soup (just like vegetable soup and actually very delicious) and salads with baked fish or chicken.


Dinner - As usual but with portion control and hopefully some new low cal recipes


I am limiting myself to 1-8 ounce glass of Coke a day and plan to drink lots of water.


So with that being said my goal is to lose 20 pounds by mid March. I will post my weekly progress here. Anyone interested in the recipe for All-You-Can-Eat Diet Soup will find it below. It only has 45 calories per cup! Recipe is very easy and makes 28 cups.


·1 pound(s) carrots, sliced

·3 medium (1 1/2 pounds) onions, chopped

·4 stalk(s) celery, sliced

·2 large cloves garlic, crushed with press

·2 can(s) (28 ounces each) whole tomatoes in juice

·1/2 small (1-pound) head green cabbage, thinly sliced

·3/4 pound(s) green beans, trimmed and each cut into thirds (I used frozen)

·1 can(s) (48-ounce) chicken broth ·6 cup(s) water ·1 teaspoon(s) salt

·1/4 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper

·3 medium (1 1/4 pounds) zucchini, sliced into half-moons

·2 bag(s) (6 ounces each) baby spinach leaves

Directions
1. Coat 12-quart stockpot (or 2 large saucepans) with nonstick cooking spray. Over medium-high heat, add carrots, onions, celery, and garlic; cook 8 minutes or until vegetables soften, stirring occasionally.

2. Add tomatoes with their liquid, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Add cabbage, green beans, broth, water, salt, and pepper; heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.

3. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to high; stir in zucchini and spinach and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

2 cups butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 15oz can pumpkin
4 cups all purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In large bowl, beat butter with mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds or until creamy and 'whipped'. Add granulated sugar, baking powder & soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally.
3. Add eggs, and vanilla, beat until combined.
4. Beat in pumpkin
5. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the remaining flour.
6. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookies sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tops are set. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk or half & half
1 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 cup powdered sugar

1. Heat butter and brown sugar in small saucepan until melted and smooth.
2. Stir in vanilla and milk. Transfer to a medium bowl and get out your hand held mixer.
3. Beat in powdered sugar until smooth.
4. Spread frosting on cookies. If desired, sprinkle with additional cinnamon.

Makes about 60 cookies.

HP TouchSmart Giveaway!

I came across this awesome giveaway over at MckMama's blog for a HP TouchSmart 600! It is so super awesome. You can enter to win here http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-giveaway.html ♥

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

Got this in my email....


AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR ARTERIES. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

DAILY THOUGHT: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

♥ Boots

I am in need of new black and brown boots for this fall/winter. These are a couple I am drooling over....

L.A.M.B. Jadia

Frye Valerie Piping

Frye Matilda Button

Mia Bijou

Industry SLF09058

Steve Madden Cybul

Nine West Half Pint

Just for kicks - these would be so cute for rain or snow!

Wordless Wednesday - 10-28-09

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people will accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It never was between you and them anyway.
-Mother Teresa


Stole this off The Tale of A Southern Belle.

Fun days

So everyday lately my family has been going for a walk over to the park. This is a really nice park with lots of scenery and a lake. My littlest one really loves rolling around in the grass.