Baked Belgian Endive ~ Weigh-In Wednesday

Countless times I have traveled around the perimeter of the produce area in many a market, but never have I even once given a glance, or a second thought, to a leafy veggie known as endive. All I knew was that I pronounced it "ehn - dive", not "ahwn - deeve". It's all very toh-may-toe, tah-mah-toe, to me. I still say, "ehn-dive", but am no longer passing it by. In fact, now I'm known to seek endive out before stuffing any other vegetable into my basket. It's now a "must-have".

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Italian Garlic Shrimp and Sauted Zucchini ~ Weigh-In Wednesday

Seven days in each week, 24 hours in each day. Every single day different from the other, but with one common taughtly-pulled thread running straight down the center: the thread of focus. "Stay focused," I say to myself each day. "Keep your eye on the prize." Wrapped in loving support and sincere encouragement by my family I am able to forge ahead with my commitment to reach my optimal health this year.

"Week Two" has been a good one. My headaches are gone. My energy is up. The fog I was in last week has lifted. My weight loss was 1.6 Lbs! And that, folks, was without exercise. Not bad. In fact it's downright amazing! Last week's 6.4 loss plus this week's 1.6 brings me to a total loss of 8 Lbs. My goal is to reach a total of ten Lbs lost by end of week three. I'll start walking in week three, so I'm hopeful that it will bring good results. Rain, rain GO AWAY! I want to walk EVERY DAY!

I hope you had a successful week, too. Any good walking tips?

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The "Bell" of the Ball ~ Stuffed Bell Peppers ~ Weigh-in Wednesday

It's pretty amazing to me that we're already sitting here officially in the month of FEBRUARY. Goodness, where does the time go?! Oh sure, I could get down about a whole month having passed and I'm just now getting on track with this weight-loss plan, but really, as you know, this month has been all about  getting to where I am now. I'm actually not frustrated or unhappy at all. In fact I feel good. Why? I finally officially started the "Take Shape for Life" plan three days ago!

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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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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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