We have started on the second page of #18 so thought I'd start a new thread.

Glad you all liked the picture of my kids. It was taken at our monthly BBQ for those who asked. The cake was yummy!

Well I've started going through stuff and weeding out what goes and what goes on the yard sale. This is job i hate but it does need to be done. Don't want to pay for a lot of junk to be transported.

Hi to all of you can't stay That long as I'm expecting a phone call.

Karen

Karen That was a very nice picture of your kids. They looked so happy, and the cake looked delicious. What a good idea to have a monthly BBQ.
Maria Loved that driving clip you sent. Very funny, I had to send that on.
Our DD and SIL were entered in a Golf Tournament and so we got to babysit the little all day yesterday. She really kept us on our toes.. what a little go getter. We were so tired when we got home. She can't get out "Grandma & Grandpa", it is more like "Baba & Papa" ... she can call us anything she wants to.
I go see my doctor tomorrow, I have to find out what to do about this allergy. It is driving me nuts. Maria it is interesting that you find the dry climate hard to cope with.. I am just the opposite. Any time it is humid I have some kind of a problem. We have had a wet spring, and I think that is why I am not feeling good.
Lily I used to just love gardening and now would rather sit quiet, in the shade and read. My DH still loves to putter around, attacking weeds with a vengance. I don't know what our yard would look like if he was like me.

Bye Bye..

G'day all,

Had my weigh-in last night and was down .9 kg which is...I think in your language 2 lbs. I was a little disappointed, I had expected a bigger loss the first week however I won't complain if I do this every week.
What you probably know by now is that when I set my mind to something, I go full bore and my return to WW is no exception. I bought an excercise video last night (it was on special for less than half price ) and some more recipe books. I watched the video this morning and it was very good so I aim to do the video at least 3 times a week as well as my daily 30 minutes walks.

I have had a bit of spate of funny emails from dh, some are very funny.
For some reason some that I emailed to you Lily are returned but others are not.

Trudy interesting how different weather patterns affect us. Unfortunately my allergies are back, the most difficult to cope with I find, are the itchiness of my skin. I just scratch and scratch

Karen good luck with sorting our your stuff for the garage sale. A job I don't envy you but as you say, MUST be done.

Cheers
Maria

Morning everyone! I haven't read all the posts. I think I told your our computer is down at home! Drat!

Maria, I'm sorry you weren't down more, but you will be as you sound so determined! I was down, too, -1.2. I wasn't sure about being down because it's been 2 weeks and my sister was here and we ate a lot.

Slavika - I got all the makings for the Jell-O cake recipe. How did you bake the angel food cake? Did you use an angel food cake pan? One Pyrex 13x9? Or 2 loaf pans? I was hoping I could use the Pyrex one.

Now I've gotta read the posts, just wanted to say hi and I'll be back as soon as I can.

Hi to all!

Marnie

Hi Marnie you have to bake the angel food cake as per the instructions on the box, and they say you HAVE use an angel food tube pan....you know the metal kind with the tube in the center. Be sure not to underbake and immediately invert pan upside down on a glass bottle until the cake is cooled. Marnie, for this part of the recipe you just follow the instructions on your cake mix box. To finish the recipe off, you break up the cake (when it's cooled) into 2 inch squares and then put them into a glass pyrex 9x13 pan, and then follow the rest of the instructions in the recipe. I hope you like it.

Hi Everyone:

Slavika: I have made the cake recipe twice. Once with the orange, and once with the peach. with the peach I put about 1/2 tsp of almond extract in the pudding/whipped topping. It was very good too. I made them for covered dish dinners we had, one at the clubhouse, and one at our church, to welcome our new pastor. None left, so that says something about the recipe.
I'm happy to say that since my meds. were changed I have lost 5lbs. I keep doing WW on the old program before the flex points. When we get back from our trip, then I will go back to WW. Went to the Dr. on Monday to get the results of my blood work, and am happy to say everything was good. I have to keep track of my cholesterol, and my white blood count.

Maria: I have loved your jokes. I'd like to get a steering wheel of my own. My DH like them too. The men's rules are funny, and actually so true. That is the way many men feel, I think< but they just don't say so. I've heard my DH say to me just answer yes or no. I don't need a long explanation.! Sounds like you are doing okay with the WW. Just keep it up. Was the pizza recipe in a WW cookbook? We like pizza now and again.

Marnie: I made the cake in the Angel food tubular pan. It is really so easy, using a box mix. I'm sure you will like it. Are you working on a new quilt? You are doing well on WW too. You gals will by my inspiration.

Peggy: Girlfriends are really important in the scheme of life. I look at our group as a group of girlfriends. Hope things are going well with your house sale, and all the moving.

Trudy: Sorry that you are having allergy troubles. It makes for a lot of unpleasantness, that is for sure.

Karen: I'm sure you will have a great time with a moving sale. When we moved down here, we got enough from our sale to buy a lot of needed things. When do you expect to get down here? Your kids photo was very nice. I'm sure that it is a worry to know that they will probably be going to Iraq.

Glenda: How are things with you? I think you were going to spend some time with your grandkids. I'm sure you had a good time and a tiring one.

Lily: I don't like weeds, but I think I would like green cement even less. My DH always said he wanted to put green cement in so he wouldn't have to mow the lawn. Now we have a lawn service, so he doesn't worry about it anymore. Isn't a shame that one can never let up with the WW program? Maintenence is not easy to do, I have found.

We are leaving on the 13th and don't know exactly when we will be back. I will try to post as we get to different places where there is a computer. We had planned to visit with DH's brother and SIL as a part of our trip, but he recently had a fall, and bumped his head. Didn't think much of it, but when he went for his regular check-up, the Dr. thought he should have a Cat scan.
It was a good thing, because he had a hematoma between the brain and the skull. He eventually had to have surgery to relieve the pressure, and so he will be having a long recovery. So we don't know if he will be home by the time we get there in the middle of July. Se we just have to see what happens. I'll keep track of what is going on, before we leave. Ann

G'day all,

Ann the recipe for the pizza is from the weight waters book week 1 and here it is........

Ham, ricotta and cherry tomato pizza
1 Lebanese bread 3 points
1-2 tbs tomato paste 0 points
30 g ricotta 1 point
5 cherry tomatoes halved 0 points
25 g shaved ham 1/2 point
4 green onions fineley chopped 0 points
pinch of dried oregano 0 points
1/4 cup of grated reduced
fat mozzarella cheese 2 points

Place bread on baking tray, spread with tomato paste. Top with ricotta, tomatoes, ham, green onions and oregano.
Sprinkle with mozzarella.
Cook at 200 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese is golden and base is crisp. Serve with a 0 point salad.
Total points 6 1/2


For dh I put a bit of extra ham and cheese and also some hot pepperoni that he likes. I have it exactly as above and it is really very nice.
I think this is the first time I have ever put up a recipe here
I guess it just took me a little while to get around to it.

I did my ww excercise tape this morning and it is very good. It is all systems go here with my new resolve to once and for all loose this excess weight.

Marnie good to hear you were also down, it must have been a bit more difficult with your sister visiting.

Peggy thanks for your email re girlfriends, I am like Ann and look on you all here as girlfriends, perhaps even more because I talk to you every day which I don't do to my girlfriends.

I have applied for a job this morning It is for a 'Media Contractor Adelaide' (www.rehame.com) Part of the spiel was 'The service to be provided includes summarizing and submitting written reports of media broadcasts on-line' etc. etc. . You need to have an interest in current affairs, news etc. and it is ideally suited for someone who has a home office and a business registration number....well that is 'moi'
I am probably too old but what the heck, I might as well have a go. I am an absolute bore and listen to news broadcasts and current affairs for most of the day so that part is covered. Not too sure about succinctly summarising news items.

Time to watch Dr. Phil

Cheers
Maria

PS I have updated my website, the restore page now has a restored photograph of a very old aircraft and the RAAF men under it. Check it out, the cusntomer was very pleased and I am pleased that they OK'ed it for me to put it on my website.

Hi,

All this food talk is making me hungry and I just had breakfast. Yahoo groups has some good WW recipe groups. I like Recipes by Jayme. This is the Key Lime Pie on her site.

Key Lime Pie

Estimated POINTSŪ Per Serving | 3
Servings | 8

Ingredients
Sugar-Free Lime Jello
1/4 C. Boiling water
1-reduced cal. pie crust
2-light key lime pie yogurt
8oz. fat-free cool whip

Instructions
in a med. bowl.Add 1/4 cup boiling water to jello.mix until dissolved.
Add yogurt mixing well.With wooden spoon fold in cool whip.Spoon
into pie,refrigerate 3hrs. or over night.

Special Notes
It taste better if you don't use a off brand of yogurt


Karen - you sound so ready to move. I am exicited for you. Your new place sounds so nice and next winter you will be so nice and warm and love looking at that palm tree instead of snow. Your picture of the kids was nice and I wish them love and safety. My nephews son just graduated high school and he is joining the army and his just graduated from college daughter is joining the peace corp. I think she is going somewhere near Iran.

Maria hope you get the job. I think you would be perfect for it. I don't think you are ever too old. Your pizza recipe sounds good and I will have to try it. I love pizza but it has way too many points and I can't stop at just one piece. Yours will be perfect. Want to try the ricotta cheese on it cause that is different.

Ann my dh would love your egg salad cause he loves olives. I will be making that for him.

Slavika can you cheat and use a purchased angel food cake or would that change the point value? So sorry to hear about your dil. Thank God no one was hurt. I do what she did but from now on I will buckle up before moving.

Lily you are too funny about the green cement. I hate those pesty weeds too. They can find their way through the tiniest little space. Is the hawk still hanging around?

Marnie how are you doing?

Oops got to run - a phone call is coming in.

Trudy I'll be interested in finding out what you learned about your allergies: I am teary-eyed and coughing and I don't know if it's a cold or stuff I'm affected by the stuff floating through the air. Hope you get some relief.

Peggy & Maria I've cut and pasted the recipes for the pizza and key lime pie. I don't know what Lebanese bread is - is it like a cracker?

Has anyone ever made flatbread? I'd like to try that sometime.

Slavika & Ann I do not have an angel food cake pan, but can easily pick one up. Peggy I was wondering about using a "bakery" cake as well???

Maria another job? Good for you! I'd just love to retire and sit on the porch and listen to the birds chirping.

Karen & Peggy I don't envy you all the work to getting your households organized for a move. Sounds like tons of work, but you'll be glad once it's over and you're in your new "digs."

Ann I'm almost finished cutting out the pieces for a Martha Washington Star quilt. Lots of little pieces, but it looks so pretty in the picture! Glad to hear Slavika's cake was a big success. Lots of good recipes floating around and not too "unfriendly" for those of us who are trying to slim down. Are you all packed for your trip? Sorry about your BIL - hope he mends quickly.

Glenda how are you feeling being below your goal? I look forward to that day!

Lily I had great plans for a garden this year. DS & DH gave me a garden cherub which was going to be the focal point. The cherub is in our basement right next to the seeds I was going to plant. I've gotta get Maria to get up here and give me some of her "full bore" energy! Maybe next year!

still going strong as I end this!

bye-bye

Marnie

Hi Everybody

I just came for a "quick" read and noticed that both Marnie and Karen wanted to know if you could use the bought angel food cake.....and yes you can.........BUT
The bought cakes here are considerably smaller then the box mix ones that you bake yourself. Our bought cakes are only 283 g. and the mix is 450 g. The calorie count between the two is: Bought cake - one serving 130 calories
and the box mix - one serving 116 calories. Not much of a difference calorie wise.
So check out the already made cakes in your supermarkets and see if they are big enough. The mix I use, a Canadian brand called Robin Hood, you only have to add water to it and it bakes up into a beautiful BIG cake. You can make the cake anytime and then pop it into the freezer for when you want to make the dessert. Bye for now.

Why couldn't you use the angelfood mix and bake it in 3 loaf pans like it shows on the box? I use Betty Crocker and there is a baking time for the loaf pans too.

Marnie: the quilt sounds great. Hope when you complete it you will give us a picture.

Peggy: I love that pie recipe. I found that if my water is not hot enough, I sometimes get little flecks of jello through-out the filling, so I solved that by putting it in a pyrex cup, in the microwave and it definitely melts the gelatin. I have also substituted orange, lemon, and strawberry jello with the corresponding yogurts and they are very good too.

Maria: Thanks for the pizza recipe. I'll try it, but I'm not sure about finding Lebonese bread. Do you think pita bread would work, if I can't find the other? I will also have to put the metric measure into ounces, but I think I can figure that one out :

We have been having trouble with our AC. Wouldn't shut off, or it wouldn't start up. We have had to have the service man twice. The second time he didn't charge the service fee, since the first guy missed some burned contact points. We had ended up getting a new thermostat to the tune of $169, including service charge on Monday, and it still didn't work right. Today I think they finally got it fixed. What a pain, but we had to have it done, as we have to leave the air on while we are gone. we just set the temp. a bit higher. If not things in the house get too humid, and candles melt in their holders. That happened to us once.

BIL is doing better, and it is hoped that he soon will be able to go to rehab therapy.

So long for now. Ann

G'day all,

Ann and Marnie I think any sort of flat bread would be fine as long as it equates to 3 points.

We had a lovely chicken and fried rice dish last night. The recipes are so much better than the last time I joined WW.
I do find it very time consuming trying to plan for all the meals, getting the ingredients etc. I guess as time goes on, that won't be so bad.

I was all set to go for my walk when it started to pour, so did the excercise tape instead. It is really very good and I am glad I bought it.

Peggy I haven't heard anything about the job since emailing my 'expression of interest'. It doesn't matter one way or the other but I thought it would be interesting and something I could combine with what I do now. I don't think I could ever sit on the porch listening to the birds Marnie, it sounds good but in reality it is not that satisfying. Now sitting on the porch and doing some quilting etc. that would interest me.
Your new quilt you are working on sounds lovely.

Ann I have never heard of people leaving their AC running whilst away. Is that a common practice?
In our far north where it is very tropical and humid and they only have the 2 seasons, the wet and the dry, it is not something that is done there.
We lived there for 12 months and the only thing I did have to do was put EVERYTHING in the fridge. Bread, jam, peanut paste etc. that I would normally have in a cupboard, was covered in mildew if not put in the fridge.
What type of climate do you have?
I am glad your aircon. is now fixed.

We have a holiday next Monday and we are having some friends over for lunch....more planning! I also have my weigh in on Monday evening, the thought of that will keep me on the straight and narrow Our friends tend to linger on, so I will just duck out and get weighed and get my third week booklet and hopefully come home to celebrate a further loss!

See ya all tomorrow....

Cheers
Maria

Girls, it has taken me two days to read everything, and, of course, now it is all a jumble. The things I do remember: Slavika, glad your DIL is okay. You point your finger at her and tell her to ALWAYS buckle up FIRST. Trudy, I hate to hear about your developing allergies, but I have done that this year too. My 60th year and I have allergies. Two sons and my DH have had them forever and I have been sympathetic, but, you know, not really. I woke DH up the other night and told him how sorry I am that I wasn't more compassionate about allergies. Right now I am sitting here with big bumps on my forehead and neck from using a new shampoo. This is all such a shock. Maria, I am so glad to hear how well you are doing with WW. Two pounds is great. I have a friend who said she never eats "diet", but just eats regular food. So, if you don't plan everything down to a T, you can still eat regular food and just count the points. Marnie, you are doing well too. It tickles me how "fooling" yourself has made such a difference. Lily, I am not a yard worker either, but I married one, so I get the pleasure of the beauty with no effort.

We did take care of our 16-month-old Makenzie for 3 days and 4 nights. I had worried about that, but she transferred to me immediately and never once cried for MAMA. She called me Mama. She was so delightful and we just had the best time. But she sleeps with them, in their bed. I am not used to that so I didn't sleep well and I have been so tired. Why would anybody sleep with a child! But I say nothing. It is their business. The point is that they had a fabulous trip to Mexico to some resort and had a wonderful anniversary. And Miss Makenzie found out she can live without that other blonde Mama for a little while. She really is my girl. If I had ordered a GD, I couldn't have done a better job.

When I stop itching my forehead I will feel much better. Went to the doc on Tuesday and actually got a shot and taking Clarinex D. Guess I should feel lucky not to have been allergic for so many years, but, darnit! I just feel itchy (or a word that rhymes with that one.)

Glenda

Hi Everybody

Ann our Robin Hood Angel Food cake mix only gives instructions for baking in an tube pan. The original recipe from Taste of Home "Light and Tasty" magazine says:
"1 package (16 oz) Angel Food cake mix. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using an ungreased 10" tube pan. Immediately invert tube pan to cool completely."
I hope your air cond. is fixed this time round. I know how it is when you are going away, and trying to get eveything done so that you don't have problems when you get home.

Maria I checked out your newly restored picture...well done. The "job" sounds interesting. Isn't it wonderful to apply for a job, but know in your heart, things will go on just fine, even if you don't get it.

Tuesday was my Weight Watcher weigh in day and of course Tea Time. I manged to show a tiny loss of .2#...but as they say it was better then a gain. Tea time of course was fun as usual.

Glenda sounds like babysitting went well and that you had fun doing it. Sorry about your allergies. Seems like so many people are having allergy problems now.

Trudy speaking of allergies, how are you doing? I finally found some Key Lime Yogurt at Super Store so I made the dessert earlier today.

G'day all,

I am with you Peggy I don't think I would have a good night's sleep sharing the bed with a little one.
Sounds like you had a lovely time with your grand daughter.
It is strange how allergies just seem to appear. I started having allergies in my early forties when I had a 'cold' that would not go away. I have had that 'cold' ever since

Slavika I was pleased with the restoration. It is very difficult to get good examples and some people may not like having their restored photo on my website. I was pleased these people agreed for me to use it.
You are right, it makes no difference at all to my lifestyle if I get this new job or not, I will probably panic if I was to be successful but so far I have not heard anything...not even an acknowledgement of my email

Busy day....speak to you all later.....

Cheers
Maria