Oh, Meowee! Ouch, ouch, ouch! And, I was griping because we owed Iowa $350 (which still makes me mad because the part we owe is for the local school's surtax and if we had been able to move to the town where our son actually goes to school, we'd owe nothing). But, oh, my goodness, $5000 is scary! Just put it out of your mind-food won't help, in fact, in the long run, it'll make you feel worse, so don't succumb! Just remember that tax season is over, plan for next time, and do something that's more fun today.

Hope everyone else is having a good day. DS3 has PT this afternoon, so we're trying to get their testing done (those standardized tests the state requires we give them every year) this morning. They've been working on them for the last couple days, but since you have to time everything and keep interruptions out, we usually spread it out over a few days, like they do in the schools. After this, the boys will think the school year is over already, but we still have to keep at it for a few more weeks. But, we're usually done by the beginning of May, except DS2 will, of course, still have to go to the public school for chemistry until the end of May. Trying to plan a vacation to visit my dad, aunt, and cousins this summer too. The boys are hoping we can do the Kings Island amusement park in Cincinnati again this visit. They've decided they like roller coasters as much as DH and I do!

Well, must go and get tests done. Have a great day, everyone!

Almost kept my nose clean at lunch. If I could figure out the calories it probably wasn't too bad. We had Chinese and I had mostly vegetables and avoided anything breaded or deep fried . . . but . . . Oh the salt. Think I'll stay off the scale for a couple of days.

Yah, I'm still up pretty late; actually, I came in here around 8 pm and wrote a nice long post, but when I pushed the 'submit reply' button the post froze up and disappeared, so I just went and did something else for awhile. This has been happening a lot lately; this site seems to be having some difficulties and the freezing up is occurring quite often lately.

So I went and put my feet up and did a puzzle; then I fell asleep for a few hours. Finally woke up around 1 am and then sat on my rocker for awhile admiring that beautiful full moon and a few stars around it. The skies have cleared up and that is great becuz that means that white stuff isn't falling for now. They are predicting a sunny weekend for us ... yeah!!!

Anyways, this will just be a quicky tonight and I'll answer the posts better tomorrow. Hope you all have a FANTABULOUS GOOD FRIDAY!!! ROSEBUD

Our long Easter weekend is starting out nicely -- gorgeous sunny day -- it is destined to deteriorate though. I have a busy day today and then a fairly calm Saturday and Sunday.

Afraid both the FBGL and the weight are up this morning -- the weight blip was totally expected; but the FBGL blip was not. Oh well, both will go back down again.

Yes PURPLE, rutabaga is the spelling. We tend to call it turnip around here and, yes, that does get things confused with the small white and purple turnips (which I don't much like anyway). All of those "squash" type veggies make great alternatives to plain old potatoes, but the are all pretty starchy vegetables and we diabetics are supposed to count them as starch. The reason I like the cauliflower is because it qualifies as a non-starchy vegetable. For example -- sweet potato (oh how I them) has 15 grams of carb per 1/2 cup serving and cauliflower has only around 6 grams for a whole cup.

Yes ROSEBUD, we've been having problems lately but Suzanne is working on it. Something to do with the filter that screens the flow of advertising (needed to pay the bills of course). If you use Quick Reply to post and things freeze, sometimes if you click on Go Advanced things will thaw out and the original will post. There is a thread about this over in Announcements and Forum Help with a few other ideas that have worked for some people . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...24#post2691424

HI LADIES ~ We have had lovely sunshine all day and it's been heavenly. Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words; I really appreciate them.

HI MEOWEE ~ thanks for the suggestions about subbing the cauliflower for the mash potatoes; will have to try that sometime soon. I was wondering if you know if GOOD FRIDAY is an actual holiday in Canada??? Or is Monday the civic holiday becuz of Sunday being Easter Sunday? I know our town picked up our garbage a day early (on Thursday) instead of our usual day which is Friday ... so DH was wondering if that meant that today, Friday, is a holiday?

Yes, I suspected that they were having problems with freezing posts at the site becuz it was happening so often; sometimes, I was able to use the <- BACK <- and retrieve my post to save it in a word file, but last night for some reason I lost it completely. So sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Now, I am copying it into a notepad file BEFORE I press the 'REPLY' button, so it's safe, if things don't work out ...

I didn't realize that all squashes and yams are considered starch veggies too along with corn and peas. DH and I do like the summer turnips and I used to grow them all the time in our garden; they are much milder than the winter turnips or rutabagus, which I also like. I suppose we could use them too, but I will definitely try the cauliflower as well.

My only issue with cauliflower is the price here; on sale it's not bad. On occasion, I have gotten it for only .99c special price for a small head, and I can throw it in the freezer, but the rest of the time, they are $3-4 each. I can do mash for .99c or less, for the both of us. I have thought of doing a half & half mixture of the two; that would help a bit too. A friend told me they were able to grow some one year, but they ended up full of critters ... yuck! That's why I prefer to buy them from the store. Sorry, if that's too much information ...

PS ~ If you buy local or farmer's market cauliflower, you have to soak the cauliflower in SALT WATER, and they will come out. We had to do that with our homegrown cabbages all the time!

PURPLE ~ that TOFFEE YOGURT with bananas sounds yummy. Care to share the recipe? I have heard that you can buy or make CHOCOLATE Yogurt too; haven't seen it or tried it yet, but I like your banana-chocolate ice cream the best -- good price and no fat at all! Chocolate yogurt does sound like it has possibilities; maybe mix in some cocoa powder, sweetener, to low-fat & low-sugar vanilla yogurt. Gee, have to try that and see how it turns out, but don't have any plain yogurt right now.

Yes, we have cut down our meat portions, so we buy a better quality of meat too, like nice Sirloin steak or roast (Round Roast sometimes too), x-tra lean hamburg, turkey, whole chickens, lean boneless center pork, and so forth. We also buy leaner ham and large sausages (bangers), and Pealmeal bacon or Canadian Bacon as you call it -- now and then. Also, I like the deli smoked ham, beef, and turkey for sandwiches; this all costs a bit more, but as we are using less, it's affordable. We also eat tuna, sockeye salmon, and fish like sole as well.

I am trying to get lots of the fruit and veggies on sale; I watch for the specials each week and buy them. Bananas and oranges are a fair price most of the time; I buy a small box of oranges like tangerines or clementines as that is more economical (about 24+ in a box).

VALDINE ~ hang in there girl, I was bouncing around with the same 3-5 lbs last summer and fall; I made some changes in January and thankfully it has finally helped, but I must keep at it. Can't wait til summer, so we can go out to the lot too.

RONNI ~ DH and I have paid school taxes for almost 30 years and we don't have any kiddies, but we don't mind paying as we do have nieces and nephews that benefited from the system. In Canada, or should I say, Ontario -- anyone who owns a home, or land, or a business has to pay school taxes; and everyone contributes through their income taxes, retail taxes, and purchase of lottery tickets ~ that's just how our system works.

Well, I have to go and get dinner started; DH just sauntered out and that's a hint! TAke good care ladies and have a WONDERFUL EASTER WEEKEND!!! ROSEBUD

Good Friday is the official Statutory Holiday. Monday is not a holiday but a lot of people take it off and a lot of companies close on the Monday as well. Now that so many places (especially retail stores) operate seven days a week, they don't even have to be closed on Easter Sunday although most will be I imagine.

I think half Sweet Potato and half Cauliflower would be a great combination. I agree cauliflower is a terrible price, but if you are going to cook it to mushy so you can mash it, frozen will work fine. BTW, it's just the winter squash that is considered starchy. Summer Squash -- like spaghetti squash and zucchini -- are much lower in carbs.

It's morning . . . but the weather is definitely starting to deteriorate . . . oh well, why is it that the forecasters seem so much more able to get things right when they have bad news.

On the happy note . . . both the blood sugar and the weight seem to have recovered from the Thursday Chinese Food Debacle . . . now, if I can just ward off the advances of those clucking bunnies in the Cadbury's chocolate ads.

Have a great Saturday . . .

Good Morning Ladies

I hope we are all having a lovely Easter weekend, though our weather at the minute is not so nice for those off this weekend or have gone away. It threw it down with rain yesterday on and off. We jokingly call this dog walking weather as you can guarantee if rain is forecast and we go out for a weather as the coast looks clear for a nice short stroll the heavens open and we get drenched So we have christened rain the dog walking weather

I have a lovely aroma coming through into the lounge as at the minute I am cooking my DH his birthday cake. Though to stay on the healthy road I have cooked a fat free one (just a plain and simple swiss roll mix but put it into a cake tin 7") Then going to fill it with a reduced sugar jam, not sure what else I could fill it with that is not too naughty and like a thousand calories.
Today as you will have guess is my DH birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him

We in the UK have 2 bank holidays over the Easter weekend Good Friday and Bank holiday Monday though compared to our other European counterparts we have very few bank holidays. We have I think 8 in total, I know there was talk about adding extra bank holidays but they are yet to be put into practice.

Went to my parents for Good Friday and saw my sister also. So that is why I did not pop on here yesterday as when I returned it was getting rather late anyway. Managed to do a walk already today so got my exercise in for the day. I am absolutely shattered now I must admit so looking forward to a nice relaxing day.

MEOWEE Never thought about your issue with carbohydrates due to your diabetes. I forgot all about that as Dad is diet controlled and it is more about reducing the sugar in take and nothing about carbohydrates here. When I first went in to nursing didn't matter whether you were diet controlled or insulin control diabetic the diet regime was very strict. Measuring all carbohydrate foods and not a grain of sugar either. I know now they are a little more relaxed about sugar intake and you are allowed a very small amount if diet controlled like a very plain biscuit. I do know other diabetics apart from my dad whom are insulin controlled but I do not know if they have to watch the amount of carbohydrates. Sometimes you find that the treatment and regime for one condition is different from country to country. For example someone with low blood pressure here in the UK is not treated at all. Yet in other countries in Europe it is very actively treated like with some one with high blood pressure. (yes in the UK we do treat high blood pressure very actively)


Swede (rutabaga) and turnip are different vegetables here and we do not call a swede a turnip. I can see the confusion that can bring. The turnip the small white variety is a strong taste and many people do not like it. The swede I find is a peppery tasting vegetable which I love just mashed or pureed. I will be eating swede today for my main meal of the day as one of the vegetables. Like in Canada the price of cauliflower in the UK can be rather on the pricey side.

ROSEBUD The banana and toffee yoghurt recipe is very simple. We are lucky in the UK that we have a low fat toffee yogurt which is 49 calories per pot. So all I do is slice a banana up in a glass and pour over this yoghurt very yummy. I also do this with a vanilla yoghurt that is very nice also. One thing I really love though is stewed apples (no sugar or if you have a sweet tooth add sweetener to taste. Then spoon over about 50 grammes or 2oz of natural yogurt (fat free) I put a little bit of sweetener in this, or I use fat free Greek yoghurt, or framage frais. I like the contrast of the warm apple against the cold yoghurt. Plus I love the contrast of the slightly tart apples and sweet yoghurt. I think I will have the apple and yoghurt recipe tomorrow for dinner as it is a good way of getting a fruit portion down my DH without him thinking about it being fruit he tends to just see pudding lol. Sometimes in the stewed apples I will put Cinnamon to spice things up that is also extremely nice.

Yes like you say if you are eating less of the more expensive cuts of meat/fish then you can find it more affordable if you are on a budget which most people are especially in this economic climate. I have been threatening to do a curry that I had years ago cooked by an Asian lady which is chickpea curry which is very filling the protein comes from the beans. With them being a pulse it is a very filling meal which is quite cheap. I can now manage to eat a mild curry now my tummy appears to be on the mend. So I think now I will try a mild curry using chickpeas or another bean if I can not find that one. I also like dahl ( i think that is how is spelt) which is curried lentils but I have never made that so would have to find a recipe to get an idea how to make it.

Well must go and make a tackle in the kitchen as it looks like a bombs landed in there. I have to tidy up in there and wash the pots etc to get the place ship shape again in there. So take care now ladies


purpleorc

HI LADIES ~ We were blessed with sunshine again today; it started to get cloudy, but then we prayed and low and behold ... the clouds parted, and we had sunshine again, so we went up town to do some shopping. Boy oh boy, was it busy in that store; I have never seen it that busy ever ... I guess with stores closed yesterday and tomorrow; everyone decided to go today!

to your DH, PURPLE!!! Hope he (and you) had an enjoyable day. That cake sounded nice. I tried to find toffee yogurt; but nope ... we don't have anything that fancy here. I was happy just to get some shopping done for tomorrow; we are having a nice chicken instead of turkey as all the small turkeys were gone, so I picked up a nice plump chicken instead. DH is having his pumpkin pie and I am making myself a pumpkin custard. I also bought some yams (sweet potatoes) for the dinner as well.

Well, I have to go right now; DH just told me that he wants me to cut his hair, so off I am to get that done. He says his hair is getting so long he's starting to look like a hippy! Hope you all have an EXQUISITE EASTER SUNDAY!!!!

ROSEBUD

Good Morning . . .

Hope everybody has a great Easter Sunday . . . . . . dull and raining around here, but so far now snow.

HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY !!!





We have had lovely sunshine all day long and temps in the fifties no less ... ideal weather for Easter Sunday I think. Our front door even opened for us without too much problem, so we were able to go out and sit on the porch and watch the Sunday travellers driving by. The snow is even melting and you can see water running down the edges of the road; if the sun would stay for a while, we could get rid of some of this snow ...

PURPLE ~ yes, I have heard of bubble & squeak before, and we have actually eaten it many times, esp when we were at home as kids. Whenever we had leftover potatoes and veggies, we would mix them and fry them up; have done this for DH and I as well. My mother also taught us to make potato cakes that way too; sometimes adding some salmon or leftover ham, or just leaving them plain. We'd have them with ketchup and toast for a quick lunch or dinner.

I cut DH's hair for him last night and it turned out well -- it was getting pretty long, esp at the back (it was starting to curl quite a bit). I'm no professional, but he likes it better the way I do it than the barber, as DH says that he almost balds him everytime. I told him I don't mind as long as I'm feeling well that day.

Our Easter dinner is in the oven; we got a nice plump 4.5 lb chicken and I surrounded it with lots of veggies, and it smells great. I made my pumpkin custard and it turned out well. We will be eating pretty soon. We had invited some friends to join us for dinner, but the husband wasn't feeling well enuff to come this afternoon; he has been ill for awhile, and some days just doesn't feel up to going out. His wife called and thanked us; but we had a nice long chat anyways.

to VAL and your brother, and RONNI and family, and NUMPSTER & family, and BEVERLYJOY and family ~ Hope you all have a lovely day too! Take good care, your friend ... ROSEBUD

Scale is being kind this morning and blood sugar is okaybut up a little. Now the weather is an entirely different matter -- it's snowing -- hopefully just on and off and not seeming to stick around.

Hmmmmm . . . think I'll make some fish cakes today . . . maybe not, still hve a heard of chicken from yesterday.

HI LADIES ~ well, we had a lovely Easter dinner yesterday; everything turned out fabulously, even if our company couldn't make it. We had something else today because I like to vary things a bit; but tomorrow we will be having the leftover chicken and veggies -- hmmm ... maybe with some brown rice for a change.

I made my pumpkin custard a little different this time; I didn't put any sugar in it, but subbed 2 tbl each honey & molasses & 2 sweeteners and it tasted fantastic. I sprinkled a tiny bit of flax meal on the plate for the fake crust, and it turned out so well, even DH loved it. this is just my newest version of CRUSTLESS PUMPKIN PIE!

MEOWEE ~ sorry to hear that you had some more of that *****; hope that stays away from here.

PURPLE ~ they were supposed to have turkeys on sale here; but all the small ones were gone and all that was left were those BUTTER-INJECTED ones that I won't buy. I was hoping to find a fresh one to cut up, but again there was only the butter-injected ones left. I just want the plain nice fresh ones; gee, whoever came up with that idea to inject healthy lean turkey with more fat? Let's all tar and turkey-feather him!

It was lovely and sunny and warm today; got up to 16 C or in the 60's F today, so I spent a little time out on the deck. I also spent some time on the PC sorting and sending some pics to family. DH's niece sent us some pics of their family last night, so I sent some back today too. Gee, there goes an afternoon real quick.

Anyways hope everyone had a lovely Monday today and hope you all have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY! Hope we all have sunny weather again as lots of snow melted today. Take good care ... ROSEBUD