My Secret Recipe

Sat., March 12 (Heading to WW) Maintained my weight!  :(
More Saturday pics at the end of the blog.

Secret Recipe??? "What?" you say.  You have probably picked up from  knowing me or reading this blog, that I'm not much of a cook.  That's true and there's several reasons for that....1. Most of the time, it's just me at home.   2. Most of the time, I don't particularly like to cook. (Especially after I have been working.)  Cooking requires planning ahead and I'm way out of the habit.  3.  My mother didn't like cooking that much either.  (Like mother, like daughter)

I do have some tried and true "go-to" recipes that I will share.  Part of the reason I don't like to cook is because I can't ever think of what to cook.    I like these recipes because I have them memorized.





Grape Salad (Everyone loves this!  It's great to take to potlucks or to someone who is sick.  It shouldn't have the word salad in the title because it really isn't a salad.  It's a dessert.  Also, the name implies that it is healthy and the only thing healthy in it is the grapes!)

1 lb. red & 1 lb. green grapes
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
8 oz. sour cream
1/3 c sugar
1 t vanilla
Topping:
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c chopped pecans

Mix softened sour cream, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Fold in washed grapes.  Spread in a shallow dish.  Mix brown sugar and pecans. Sprinkle on top.  Keep chilled.




The next recipe is healthy and relatively low in calories.  Another side-note, My recipes evolve over time.  My friends have named this dish "Patty Soup".  It's funny, they will talk about it and I'll have to say, "How do you make it?"  That's because I may have made it one way and now I make it a different way. 



 I make a big pot of this and eat on it all week.  My version was adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe.  I will give you my lowest calorie version, but I will also give you optional items that I add for when my son is home.  Also, I will put a range of quantities.  You really can't mess this up.



Patty Soup

V8 Juice (large bottle)
1-2 cans bouillon (either vegetable, chicken or beef)
1-2 cans Rotel tomatoes (original, mild, or hot)
1 large can Home style Veg-Al
2 cans of beans (I like black and dark red kidney)
1 bag of Picsweet frozen onions, green peppers
* 1 can green beans
* chopped mushrooms
* chopped cabbage (don't cut pieces too small)
1 small packet of Lipton's chicken noodle soup
*(When my son is home, I brown 1 pound of 97 % fat-free hamburger.  Drain & add to soup)
*Optional items


Put it all in a pot and boil and that's it! Oops, I almost forgot, I add dashes of cumin, oregano and pepper. Enjoy!





Here's another recipe that I would like to share.  Ladies really love this.  Guys like it too, but it's more of a "ladies' luncheon" type dish.


Grapefruit Salad (This is a salad.)

1 bag of baby Spinach salad
1 bag of lettuce (I prefer a spring mix)
1 pkg. of dried cranberries
1 pkg. of candied walnuts (These can be hard to find.)
1 pink grapefruit (cut into bite-sized pieces)
Raspberry Walnut dressing

Toss all items together.  Right before you are ready to serve, toss with dressing.  I LOVE this and wish I had some right now.  It's healthy, but not low calorie!!  :0(


Do you have any secret recipes??  It's nice to be able to follow a recipe when you cook.  You know one of those tried and true recipes that you know when you follow it......things always true out perfectly.




Wouldn't it be nice if there was a recipe book for life?  Step 1, 2 and 3.  If you followed it, everything would always work out perfectly.  Wouldn't that be nice?




In life we often aren't sure what to do.  We don't know what path to take.  Do you ever stress over decisions in life? 



Well, there is a recipe book for life.....It's called the Bible.  Often times, we pray to God for an answer and we wait, we look and we wonder.......What should I do?  What's God's answer?

Go to God's word.  It's a compass, a guide book, an instruction book, a recipe book for life!!!  Things won't be perfect, we aren't promised that, but things work out in the end. 


What's your secret recipe?????



Saturday, I spent some time looking around in one of my favorite stores.  I'm sorry for those of you who don't have one to shop at.


Target

Cute stuff that I didn't buy

70s anyone?????

Signs of Spring

My deals from Target:



I have had my eye on this raincoat for awhile.  I wore it to church Sunday morning.

This is a silly picture, but I found this dress for less than $20.  It's hard to see the detail on the front.


I considered this raincoat, but it was very lightweight and wouldn't be warm enough for me.  I'm looking old! :o(


Overheard in Target: Who's that weirdo taking pictures of herself?  No, I didn't really hear that, but I wouldn't be surprised!

Cocoa says "Hi!"  Can you see what my silly dog is doing???

I hope you have a great week!

xoxo PJ