Homemade Crispy Curly-Kale Chips ~ Weigh-In Wednesday

 It's not easy bein' green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're not standing out
like flashy sparkles in the water- or stars in the sky.


When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.

 "It's Not Easy Bein' Green" (lyrics by Joe Rapposo)

It seems to me that our "greens" often get forgotten, especially if we aren't eating healthy. They do seem so ordinary and uneventful at times. But really, if you spend some quality time with them you'll find out just how beautiful they really are.

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Whip-Up-In-The-Blender Easy! ~ Meyer Lemon Cakes With A Buttery Lemon Glaze

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching and it seems everyone is anxiously waiting to experience "Death by Chocolate". Not my Hubby. Nope. I know his Valentine heart will pitter patter when I make him these zesty glazed snack cakes that are drowning in kissed by a buttery, sweet, lemon glaze. The glaze is the prefect sweet touch to the lemony tart cakes.

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Roasted Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes" ~ Weigh-in Wednesday

I made a big decision! I've decided to follow the path my doctor wants me to take and signed up for a specific weight-loss program. It's called Take Shape for Life, which includes the Medifast food program and a health coach. At first I was hesitant to sign up, but the more I meet with my health coach the more I want to do this. Not because I'm excited to be on a prescribed food plan (I'm not) but because I have a health coach in my life now. I've already seen her twice and I haven't even started the plan! That's pretty amazing to me. Mostly Dr. Jan (my health coach) is preparing me by answering all of my questions up front, helping me prep my food lists for the shopping I will need to do, ordering my Medifast meals with me, and sending me recipe ideas for my one "lean and green" meal I will cook each day. The "lean and green" meal will consist of one lean meat and a whole lot of veggies. Of course the program is much more involved than what I'm sharing today, but you get the gist of it. As time passes I'll share more with you. I'm getting excited. I officially begin the program on January 31st. I'll be ready. Is there anything you are preparing to take on?

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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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Funley's Are FUN and All Natural ~ Stix In The Mud

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway from Family Fresh Cooking. The winner recieved not one, not two, not three, but SIX boxes of Funley's All  Natural "Stix In The Mud". Hubby called me, while I was away in Northern California, to say a large box of "Chocolate" had arrived. I forgot to tell him it might come while I was away. Hubby wanted to open it up, but I said, "ix-nay on the open-ay"! I had a feeling these treats were going to be yummy, and I wanted to make sure I still had some to try when I got home! ;-) What a great gift to have waiting for me when I returned home.

Until this giveaway I hadn't heard of Stix in the Mud. But I trusted Marla, so I wanted to give these all natural treats a whirl.

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