Easy Grilled Romaine ~ Weigh-in Wednesday

It's good to be here with you on Weigh-in Wednesday! Are you ready to glide into weeek 3?
So how was week 2? Mine pretty much went like this....I'll let the photo speak for itself.

Be sure to check out the recipe below. I know it might not sound very exciting....grilled lettuce, but REALLY it's so good. Grilling mellows the sometimes sharp flavor of romaine and adds a hint of smoky goodness. It's amazingly easy to make, and freakishly good!

Weigh-in Wednesday:
It turns out I didn't have just a sore throat last week. I had strep throat. One word - YUCK! Thankfullly I'm on the mend. Even though the healing process has taken much longer than I ever dreamed it would there has been plenty going on. I've lost 2 pounds. It's a good start, and not bad for a couple of weeks that made me feel like I'd had a setback almost right out of the gate. Oddly enough though as I write this I'm finding myself at a crossroads. Already!

Starting about 4 years ago I decided to "celebrate" each new year by scheduling my annual physical in January. Crazy, huh? I also have my mamogram, see my cardiologist, my endocrinologist, and of course my dentist. It's quite the way to ring in the new year. 2011 has been no different. I've had some of my appointments, with others still coming down the pike. Part of the outcome of this year's annual physical was having my trusted doctor TELLING me what to do about weight loss, rather than make suggestions. And I'm listening. Although I'll have to admit I'm struggling with what looks like the new game plan. I have more than 50 lbs to lose, so I'm being asked to join a very specific weight-loss program. Originally I didn't want to do that. I didn't want a "one size fits all" program in my life. Mainly because I worry about the transition period out of the program back into what I call "the real world". I was worried about this blog, too. How will drastic changes effect what I do here? Thankfully not all that much. In fact, it may allow me to get back on track with what I really love doing, which are the audio interviews. It's the heart of this blog, so that won't change. And I'll still be in the kitchen cooking my dinner meal every day. That meal, following some guidelines, will be up to me to figure out. Guess I can't drag my feet anymore can I? No more excuses. This program comes with a health coach, too, which may make all the differnce in the world. I meet with her on Friday. Wish me luck!

Pssst....I dare you to try this recipe for Grilled Romaine. Have you ever grilled Romaine before?

 For a printer-friendly, text-only version of the recipe below, click here

Grilled Romaine
inspired by Grilled Caesar Salad - Gourmet Magazine

What you'll need:
(Oil mixture is for 4 servings)

1 head of romaine lettuce cut lengthwise, one 1/2 head per serving

Olive Oil - 2 Tablespoons

Fresh garlic,  1 or 2 cloves pressed through a garlic press

Fresh Lemon Juice - 1 teaspoon

Freshly Ground Pepper and Kosher salt to taste

What You'll Do:

1. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

2. With a basting brush lightly coat all sides of each 1/2 head of lettuce.

3. Grill on medium to medium-high heat, each side for approx. 3-4 min., until charred and outer leaves are wilted.

4. Once romaine is on plate you can brush the oil mixture on top again - optional

5. Serve and enjoy!

Spiced Nuts ~ A Family Heirloom Recipe

I feel like a kid again. My Mom and Dad are visiting this Christmas holiday. We realized that it's been about 20 years since we've spent Christmas together....oh how I've missed my parents being with me and my family. I'm thrilled to have them with me us again. You see, it isn't that we aren't close, we are, but we live in two different states. The miles, and most often winter weather, keep us apart. Thanksgiving is the holiday I usually share with my parents and other family, but this year it worked out to share Christmas together. It's a very special Christmas after all. This is our granddaughter's first Christmas. Peanut will have her parents, her maternal grandparents, and her maternal great grandparents with her. Such a lucky little one. Well, actually, it's all of us who are feeling lucky and blessed this Christmas to have our Peanut with us.

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How to Make Don't-Fence-Me-In Bruschetta ~ Something Special

You may remember me sharing with you our discovery of the "We Olive" shop not too long ago. Hubby and I were pretty excited with our new found bottles of "liquid gold"! But what to do with the "Blood Orange" and "Jalapeno Garlic" flavored oils once we got home? True to the don't-fence-me-in-with-a-recipe cooks we're becoming, we leaned slowly into the open fridge to seek out which tasty morsels would jump out at us pleading to be given a soothing bath in the new flavored olive oils we carted home. There they were: Ms. Juicy Red Tomato and Mr. Cool Crisp Onion, with little savory garlic cloves popping up from behind. At the very same moment "BRUSCHETTA" came rolling out of our salivating mouths in a low anticipatory tone. Something special was about to happen! Something very special indeed.

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Weak-In-The-Knees Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

I hear that patience is a virtue. Have you heard that rumor, too? Does that mean if we don't have patience that we are virtueless? Certainly not. If we didn't have patience before, could it be acquired over time? Most definitely! I'm living proof. Let's just say I've come fashionably late to the patience party. Always better to arrive late that not at all, I say. So how does this relate to me and the kitchen? One word - baking. Now there's something that hasn't come naturally to me. The precision. The balance. The patience. So when I find a recipe that makes it look like patience and I are a whole lot better aquainted than we actually are, a recipe that is a "put-a-smile-on-the-family-faces" recipe, a recipe that slides right into the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season, then I've got a recipe that makes me go weak in the knees! And all the better if it tastes so good that after one bite it makes me and my family sink down into our chairs, gleefully anticipating each and every bite to come (weak-kneed, of course).

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The Tale of Two Thanksgiving Dinners ~ Giveaway Teaser ~ Recipe

Today I'm being hit by the harsh reality that all the daydreaming about what dishes will be cascading across my Thanksgiving table is coming to a screeching halt! It's time to kick into high gear and prep for the big day! Okay, okay ... so you think I've still got about a week to go until Thanksgiving Day, which probably means right about now you're beginning to wonder just how much caffine I've consumed this morning, or what the heck I'm so worried about - right?!

Let me paint the picture for ya....now huddle in close, come on, nice and cozy. I've got something to share with you. Are you listening? Wondering why my daydreaming is over a week early? BECAUSE I'VE GOT TWO THANKSGIVING DINNERS to mastermind oversee this year for the first time EVER! So why two dinners? Well, for those of you who didn't already read about it in my Pumpkin and Potato Gratin post....how could I refuse my very own son in-law who thoughtfully made the request for a family gathering to be held one week ahead of Thanksgiving Day? You see he, Oldest, and Peanut will be abandoning us traveling to be with his family for the holiday this year - this year is one of their "alternate years". But why let that stop us? Why not celebrate anyway, together, for dinner? "It could be casual, no need for any turkey even," he says to me. Now how could I say no? After all, it looks like we've got a new tradition forming, and I'm just fine with that. What mother/nana in her right mind is going to turn down a day with her kids/grandchild??!! Not this one. Oh no, no. It's fine, really, it is. Uh huh, it's going to be just fine. Really. Right? Yes!

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