My Mom's sweet potato pie is my favorite. I have it once a year. I also like her dressing. Really, anything my Mom makes is good, but there are just a couple of things that we only have during the holidays.

I like my Grandma's biscuits, especially with chocolate sauce! And her cornbread. yum.

Dagmar -
I LOVE FRUITCAKE... as long as it's the kind loaded with fruit and nuts, as opposed to the cake-y, super sweet variety. Now... favorite Christmas foods... OH, where to BEGIN?!?! Um... eggnog flavored ice cream, peppermint patties, fruitcake, cheese logs with those nuts and stuff around them, baked brown sugar ham, sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie (though that is more Thanksgiving than anything), those huge tins of popcorn with the assortment of caramel, cheese, and butter, peanut brittle (or cashew brittle -- even better!), popcorn balls, that seasonal peppermint stick ice cream, cordial cherries, um... EVERYTHING! I am not a very picky eater when it comes to bad foods and desserts... ESPECIALLY desserts... ironically enough, I have a wicked sweet tooth.

Jay - I know you can get back on track... and you know you can post here any time... we all love you... everyone loves you!

midwife - I feel you on letting weight management take over aspects of your life and making it so that less focus is placed on creative outlets.
For instance, I used to be really into music. I had a band that went on tour. I used to be really into acting. I was in some plays and an extra in a couple not-so-well known movies. After I gained weight, I stopped pursuing these things and since losing weight, my focus has been so much on fitness and bodybuilding that my performance aspirations feel like a distant past.

the brand is Peanut Butter & Co and I've gotten it at whole foods or Redners, not sure if they are everywhere or just PA. You can order it online and they also have a sandwich shop I'm NYC that I'm almost afraid to go to. Almost. There is also dark chocolate, cinnamon raisin...I have a thing with trying new nut butters, natural or just good old Jif I love them all but i try to only have a few tbsp a week. Try is the key word. Most of it is used for baking. I'll have a small taste then force the rest on friends and family. I swear if it were possible I would live off the stuff.

They have those peanut butters here at Kroger (I'm in the Atlanta suburbs).

Hi everyone, I'm back from a glorious 15 day visit with my son. It was great to see him. We did a lot of family activities and cookouts. He left back to Iraq on Nov. 2nd. My computer has been down until today. DH tried to download an antivirus program which turned out to be a virus of itself. OOps!

So, today I joined Weight Watchers to try to keep my weight in check through the holidays and hopefully lose this extra 12.5 lbs.that I am carrying now. I start the Flex program tomorrow and I'll see if it works for me. I may need to switch to the Core program. I'm a little apprehensive about all this, but something has got to work for me. I'm getting very little exercise due to hip pain that makes even barely walking quite miserable.

Tomorrow morning will be grocery shopping so I will have the right foods on hand. I would have went tonite, but it's cold and rainy. I've read my WW books and I'm ready to get started. My size 5 jeans are looking very lonely hanging in my closet since I can no longer wear them!

Meg, I read your post. Not sure if I had a total collapse or a relapse, but either way I need to get serious again! I do feel like my portions had increased and I was WAY less choosy about what I was eating.

I did check out a Jenny Craig meeting early this morning and decided that their plan was too expensive for me (considering Christmas coming next month and a ton of kids and grandkids to buy for). Accountability is what I feel I'm most needing and hopefully WW weekly weigh-ins will help me with this!

Hope everyone else is doing fine and you will be seeing me here often again.

Eggnog (I could drink it by the gallon)
Russian Tea Cakes
Cranberry orange bread
Homemade cranberry sauce

Our special family cake - it's a white cake made with a pecan praline frosting. The recipe originated from my great grandmother who made it for my grandfather every year for his birthday (he was born on Christmas). The making of the cake passed down to my mother, and the last few years I have been making it, even though my grandfather is no longer with us.

Lily,
I'm so glad you had a great time with Shane!!

And good luck with WW. It is a great program! I lost my weight on it and in fact, I just had my training tonight to become a receptionist. Let me know if you need any help with the program. I have done strictly flex but will probably try Core so that I am more familiar with that program too.

Favorite Christmas Food?

Cranberry relish. Made fresh with cranberries, whole oranges, and a bunch of sugar. Goes with any meat or vegetables. I love that stuff.

We had it when I was a kid, and now DW makes it every year. Uses an old, old, old, hand grinder that clamps on the kitchen table.

That's such a nice tradition.

We have so many celebrations and loving associations with food. We even give food - chocolate - as a token of our love on Valentine's Day!

I think that's why it's so hard to keep ourselves slim sometimes. I know we're supposed to find other things to replace food and just give our loved ones extra love etc., but food is so universal.

And DH would be so sad if he didn't find any chocolate in his stocking. I tried to give him chocolate scented grooming stuff one year and I got "the Look" several times. He never did use the scrub or soap either.

Dagmar

Huh... Guess I stumbled into the Food Porn thread by mistake...

Lilybelle, good luck! You can do this!

NightengaleShane, thanks!

Hi to everyone~

Jay

[QUOTE=JayEll;2447430]Huh... Guess I stumbled into the Food Porn thread by mistake... [QUOTE]

Yup! And it's a special Christmas Food Porn thread . I'm warming us up in advance for the big event in December.

So I'll answer my question (in the title of my post) first. I have always loved and continue to love food, cooking, eating out, etc. I just have to be much more selective about what and how much food to love!

Dagmar (the Food Porn Queen )

blah blah blah really bad stuff to eat blah blah blah. I'm not looking!

Hi Lily. Good to see you back! I've been wondering how you are doing.

Anne

Good Morning all, I'm back after a long work period and getting caught back up at home. Isn't it amazing how much damage a man can do alone in a house for just a few days? Hopefully, all the candy will stop being brought in at work by the time I go back. Don't know how much longer the will power will hold out! I did have an awsome chocoalte chip cookie that one of the ladies brought Sunday. It was my reward for not eating the ton of candy.

Lilly, glad to see you back. You were missed, but we knew you were having fun with Shawn. I think WW is a great diet and i'm sure, with your determination, you will do well. You've been through so much and remained so strong. My hero!!!

Wardhog, I didn't think anyone else ate chocolate gravy with biscuits. it's got to be a southern thing. Actually, I hate it (as much as I love chocolate) but my MIL made it all the time. DH loves it!

Jay, Good to see you here. You know you will get that extra weight off! Trips are fun but can really pack on the pounds. Why is it we give outselves a vacation from eating well too?

Midwife, It's easy to get distracted with "life" and forget about our goals. We have to make room for all the improtant things in our life. Now that i've said that, I need to rethink some things too.

Dagmar, Special food for the holiday? nothing really. I love turkey and cranberry sauce but they are both healthy if made correctly. I'm not a big fan of pie. I can take stuffing or leave it. I'm working this year so I will make Thanksgiving dinner at another date, and the kids will already have had one dinner, so I can make anything I like. Won't have to do the traditional thing. But I will have turkey. LOVE the left over sandwitches.

Mitchelle, When do you start training for the WW job? I know you will be great at it. Nothing like showing the proof that it will work!

Shane, I love popcorn balls too. They had them at Wallmart this year, with only 100 calories each. A good snack without having to worry too much about the calories. You are so creative! I didn't know about the acting and the band.

Make it a good day, Freda

hi maintainers,

Lost my post!

Lily - good to see you are back & glad to hear you enjoyed your sons visit

Anne - huge kudos for keeping up exercise with 2 small kids.

Hi to all other maintainers, from a jet lagged rabbit in hongkong. I am going hjome next friday and I hope i can restart the good work from then.

Have a great day all.,
rabbit

Hi everyone and thanks for the welcome backs.

Michele, I very well may need help with my new WW program. Thanks for the offer to help. I was a little sad about my regain but didn't want to let it go on any further. I can do this!

My favorite holiday treats are lemon pie and pecan pie. Of course, I still prefer chocolate cake over any other dessert.