Michelle....my salsa recipe...

Roma Tomatos
Green Onion
Cliantro
Garlic Salt to taste
Sugar to taste
jalepenos (optional)
1 jar of medium salsa (Chi Chi's or Pace chunky)

Place salsa and tomatos in blender together...blend. Pour in bowl and save.

Place green onion and cilantro in blender together...blend. Pour in with tomatos.

Mix all together; add garlic salt and sugar to taste. (I leave sugar out and add splenda or sweetner when serving).

If you want to freeze this add 1 Tablespoon of bacon grease to mix. (This acts as a preservative)


I don't know the number of tomatos or other ingredients I use, I just throw them in the blender til I think it looks good. Do not blend till mushy or watery. Only blend till chunky.

If you want it hotter, you can blend in a few jalapenos.

Most everyone LOVES this salsa.

Morning all - Morena Porangi
Tena koutou katoa

Okay - Muesli. Michelle I will give you the original recipe and then talk about my variations. It's an old recipe.

Basic Muesli:
6 cups rolled oats
2 cups wheatgerm
1-11/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup sultanas

Mix all ingredients except the sultanas in a large dry roasting pan. Bake at 350F (180C) for 30 minutes stirring every 5/10 minutes so the mixture does not brown too much on the sides and bottom of the pan. Remove from oven, add sultanas, cool and store in airtight tins or jars.

Interesting muesli
Add to the basic mix (minus the sultanas)
1 cup skim milk powder
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup soy flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1-2 tablespoons chopped almonds
1-2 tablespoons chopped brazil nuts
1/2 cup dried apricots chopped
1/2 cup dried apples chopped
1/2 cup sultanas
Mix all ingredients except fruit and bake as above. Add the fruit to the warm mixture

Okay - so I never use that amount of sugar. Sometimes I forgot about it all together. And I don't make that huge amount either. Try cutting the recipe in half or quarter. I also often add lecithin from the health food stores. And or bran sometimes as well. Depends on what is in the cupboard. And it doesn't have to be toasted. Leave out the flour if you are going to eat it raw.

Bircher Muesli. Now this is something I really love
To one cup of muesli add another cup of rolled oats
1 cup of wheatbran if not added already
2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup almonds if not already there
200g low fat flavoured yoghurt
1 green apple grated
150g seasonal fruit per serve
2 tablespoons honey (preferably the Bee Vital or Active X or Manuka Honey - you may be able to get this from the health food store or the health food section of the supermarket. Beware it is not cheap)
Put oats, meusli and bran in a large ceramic bowl and pour over lemon juice and hot water. Soak for 30 minutes
Add almonds, yoghurt, and apple and stir to combine. Cover and refridgerate overnight.
Serve with fruit and a drizzle of honey plus extra yoghurt.
Serves 8 - so you could cut it down if you don't want so much. Keeps and improves over 4 days. This recipe is from the CSIRO dietbook.

I'll think up some bakes and frittatas later today.

Michelle - me ??? organised and methodical.
Your talking to someone who has their best ideas in the middle of the night. Sit up straight in bed - mutter Eureka that's what I'll do and settle down again. At least that's what the ex said I did. When I got the rest of the house moving, I would be back to sound asleep apparently.

Gotta go. Work calls. I'll be back to finish this shortly. For those of you having trouble in the throne room, try a Fuji apple and melted balsamic onions during the day. Works wonderfully for me.

Back later

Michelle
Congrats

Just a quick fly by. Didn't stop tonight until after 12:30 so I am a bit tired. Only have one side of a sheet of paper from a steno book left to do then I am done . Taking me a bit longer to do things because I am watching out for the shoulders and back. Sorry I haven't had time to chat with everyone.

ANNIE...WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS OF TOMATOES AND SALMONELLA...GOOD THING YOU STILL HAVE YOUR OWN SALSA!!

MICHELLE..."ONDERFULLNESS" HOPE YOU DO FIND THE TIME TO BASK IN THE JOY OF IT!

HAPPY...HOPE THE MEETINGS WENT WELL! HAPPY DAY!

SHAD....WELCOME AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALSO! THANKS FOR THE RECIPES. IF I FEEL ENERGIZED ONE DAY I MIGHT JUST TRY ONE! A FUJI APPLE AND MELTED BALSAMIC ONIONS??? DID YOU FIND THIS CONCOCTION OUT BY ACCIDENT??
rofl:

RENNIE...HAPPY STENO-ING!!!

DARK AND GLOOMY TODAY. I WANT TO GET INTO THE BEDROOM AND FINISH THE CLOTHES MESS I HAVE MADE. I WAS GOING THRU SOME WINTER THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T WORN AT ALL. STILL DECIDING!
JEN WILL BE HERE TODAY. THE GIRL IS WITH HER UNCLE AND JEN HAS THE DAY "OFF" FROM MOTHERHOOD.
I AM OFF TO SHOWER AND EAT. FEELING DECIDEDLY SWEATY THIS MORNING. VERY HUMID OUTSIDE.
HAPPY THURSDAY/FRIDAY!

Happy Thursday ladies --

Wishing it was Friday, but today will be much better for me than yesterday. I've got one of my big projects done, and the other one looks to be nearly done. Phew. Last night, some friends of mine and I volunteered to sort donated new clothes (department store samples and discontinued clothes) for an organization that donates to low-income families and right now to flood victims. Tonight, I plan to go to the gym for cardio and strength training.

Annie - Thanks for the salsa recipe! and for the tip about adding bacon grease as a preservative to freeze it!

Shad - Thanks for the muesli recipes. I, too, get my best ideas in the middle of the night. Usually about 3 am. I wake up and write it down, and go back to sleep. Sultanas - never heard of them so I looked it up...a type of grape or raisin. I'm guessing for muesli you use raisins, right?

Rennie - On the go until 12:30? My gosh, girlfriend, don't overdo it, okay?

Mel - We're having a very muggy day here too. Here's to staying cool and dry today, huh? Have fun going through your clothes. I'm looking forward to going through my clothes again soon and donating all my Size 16s and up!

Happy - Hope your meetings went well and that you have a great day today.

Well, better get to it....still have a project that needs to get done.

Happy Muggy Thursday from Indy....

Probably won't walk today as everyone would melt. Sheesh. Our high is 90 degrees and 150 percent humid.

Tonight I am having a Silpada Jewelry party. I love Silpada jewelry, but it is quite expensive, therefore I am having a party to obtain FREE jewelry.
It is all sterling silver stuff.

Not doing personals today, I am leaving at 2:00 and have much to do here at work.

Have a marvelous day all...

Love and Hugs

Hi Annie -- Good luck and have fun with your Silpada party. I've been to one. It is beautiful jewelry and very high quality. I'm not much into jewelry, but I know women who love Silpada!

FOR ALL THE 3FC FISH LOVERS


Summer Bouillabaisse

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large bulb fennel, thinly sliced
4 stalks celery, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1 pound cod fillet, skin removed; cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 pounds tomatoes, chopped
1 pound mussels, scrubbed
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and pepper
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the fennel, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly tender, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the cod, shrimp, and tomatoes and cook, covered, for 3 minutes. Add the mussels and cook, covered, until the cod and shrimp are cooked through and the mussels have opened, 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in the vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle with the tarragon before serving.

Substitution: This light French seafood stew works well with a variety of fish. Sea bass, flounder, and halibut are tasty alternatives to cod, so buy what looks best at the market.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

CALORIES 335 (20% from fat); FAT 8g (sat 1g); CHOLESTEROL 111mg; CARBOHYDRATE 20g; SODIUM 795mg; PROTEIN 40g; FIBER 5g; SUGAR 6g

FOR BOB GREENE FANS:



A SATISFYING SNACK
Take advantage of sweet California grapes, which are in season right now, and pair them with a high-fiber cracker for a quick and healthy snack:


Wasa with Grapes, Ricotta, Almond Butter
Makes 1 serving
Prep time: 3 minutes
Total time: 3 minutes

Ingredients
1/3 cup nonfat ricotta
1 teaspoon almond butter
1 Wasa crispbread (any Best Life-approved flavor)
6 grapes, halved

Directions
Combine ricotta and almond butter in a bowl. Spread onto crispbread and top with grapes.

Nutritional Information
Per Serving. Calories: 160. Protein: 14 g. Carbohydrate: 21 g. Dietary Fiber: 2 g. Total Fat: 3 g. Saturated Fat: 0 g. Cholesterol: 6 mg. Sodium: 211 mg. Calcium: 283 mg.

Morning ladies! I have been busy already...we set up our tent and left it up overnight, and it rained, so there was water in the tent...I spent the morning drying it out, then DH helped me move it into the garage so it can continue to dry before we pack it for the trip.

Have to run to the laundromat to clean the sleeping bags...will get to that this afternoon. Thankfully Dh is off tomorrow so we will have some extra time to pack and clean the house...will try to hop on tomorrow and Sat before we leave.

LAter chicas!

I JUST MIGHT MAKE THIS FOR THE WEEKEND



Cornish Hens with Roasted Ratatouille

Ingredients
2 PERDUE® Fresh Whole Cornish Hens
1 medium eggplant, chopped
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 can (14-1/2-ounce) diced tomatoes seasoned with green pepper and onions
1/2 cup olive oil vinaigrette
8 sprigs fresh oregano



Instructions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Place eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes in a large bowl. Pour vinaigrette over mixture and gently stir to coat. Set aside.
Remove giblets from hens. Gently loosen skin and tuck oregano into these pockets.
Place Cornish hens in a roasting pan and surround with vegetables. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh registers 180° F.
Serves between 4-6 People
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Amount Per Serving (* % of Daily Value)
Calories 336 (17%)
Total Fat 19.1g (29%)
Saturated Fat 4.8g (24%)
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 113mg (38%)
Sodium 618mg (26%)
Total Carbohydrate 21g (7%)
Fiber 6g
Sugars 0g
Protein 22g

I've been telling myself that I need to find a sponsor or program so that I could be accountible to them not just depend on myself. I really like Weight Watchers and there is one in Jonesboro. I'm starting next week. I have 2 doctor's appointments then so I would not be spending the money foolishly on gas. I just remembered that I have a weight watchers cook book. May pt it to use this week end.

The fluid pills are working. Weight this morning was back down to 183.6.

Mel
Sounds like another good recipe to try. I've just now bought the ingredients for one of the first recipes.

My stomach is growling and I have not eaten breakfast. Wasn't hungry.

Morning all,
Just a quickie for me as I have some issues to deal with at work.

Michelle - sultana's are sort of raisins. Presumably they come from a different grape. They have a completely different flavour but raisins are fine in Muesli as well.

Bought the tiles for the splashback yesterday. DS2 says he will lay them today, but let's not hold our breath. He went out for a big bike ride yesterday and hasn't yet come home. Before you all gasp and tut, he took the ute with the bike in the back so I knew then that he was going into the mountain bike country and he probably has a tent and sleeping bag in there as well. I am not his keeper and he is entitled to time out as are we all.

Ceejay - glad to hear the pills are finally working. Goodonya

Mel - another interesting recipe - thanks. No I did not eat the apple and the onion together. One was for lunch and the other for dinner! Sheeesh.

Okay - off to deal with the warm and fuzzies. Be back later for a sanity check.

CEEJAY....GLAD THE MEDS ARE WORKING AND GOOD LUCK WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS!! USE THE COOKBOOK WISELY AS YODA WOULD SAY! I AM MAKING THE CORNISH HENS THIS WEEKEND. :hun1: OR THE MONTEREY MAC'N'CHEESE. DEPENDS ON WHETRHER I GET TO THE STORE!

SHAD....HOPE YOU DEALT WITH THE WARM AND FUZZIES WELL! NO BLOOD DRAWN?? HOPE THE DS IS HAVING A GOOD TIME. TELL HIM I NEED DETAILS THOUGH!! :look: HAVE A GREAT DAY!

HAPPY~ SAYING HELLO AGAIN! HOW GOES THE POOL? ANY DECISIONS YET? INQUIRING MINDS NEED TO KNOW SO THEY CAN MAKE VACATION PLANS

ANNIE...HAVE A GREAT PARTY!!

MICHELLE...DO SOME EXERCISING FOR ME TOO!!!



I DROPPED IN RIGHT FAST TO SAY I MIGHT BE MISSING TOMORROW.....YOU LUCKY SODS!! JEN IS HERE WITH RICHIE. WE HAD A GREAT DAY TOGETHER. RICHIE AND JEN ARE HEALING FROM THEIR WOUNDS. JEN GASHED HER FOOD WITH A ROD AND RICHIE BROKE HIS FRONT TOOTH AND ALSO STEPPED ON A LARGE NAIL SO WHILE THEY RELAX, HIS DB IS KEEPING THE DD. THIS WAY THEY CAN GO TO THE TRAILER ALONE AND HAVE A WEEKEND TO THEMSELVES AS WELL. BUT THEY ARE STAYING WITH ME TILL THEY LEAVE AT LATE NITE. SENDING LOVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS TO YOU ALL

I AM OFF TO THE STORE. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
WE HAVE ANOTHER BIRTHDAY GIRL ON SUNDAY...
NAE...ROSEBLUSH...HAS A BIG DAY ON THE 29TH!
SEE YOU LATER.