a fortnight....

20 Days - since I last posted. Isn't that a fortnight? I have been trying to read some of the "classics" such as Jane Eyre and Tess of the D'ubervilles. They talk about visiting relatives for a fortnight... I think it is 20 days...can you imagine having family visit for 20 days.... yikes.



Anyways.... a lot has happened in our fortnight... the youngest, P-man as we call him, had pneumonia and was in the hospital for a few days... but is home, doing great and causing trouble! The hubster got a new car (a camaro), so we can check "mid-life crises" off of his to-do list. I painted the dining room. And the daughter, Ginger (second from the left in purple), went to the Homecoming Dance. Which that alone could probably elicit about 4 or 5 different postings. Somehow, every dance and event at school has become this huge production. An hour and half of pictures, hundreds of dollars, wanting to party all night long... and in case you are wondering... I am the meanest mom in town. Only did about 45 min of pictures, spent only a hundred dollars, and made the girls come home at midnight and wouldn't let them go to a party.

Back to the Hungry Girl cookbook...here's where I am at on this cookbook. I think it is a good cookbook but it isn't the type of cooking I do. Most of the recipes are quick easy on the go recipes. I prefer to make up my dinner recipes in the morning after the kids have gone to school so everything is cleaned up and put away by noon. I usually do a lot of crock pot cooking and am pretty good at adapting recipes to the crock pot. (Made a delicious recipe - Beef Mushroom Barley Soup from the Penzey Spice magazine that I was able to make in the crock pot.) This book is a lot of wraps and under 10-15 minute recipes. My main criticism would be that she uses lots of splenda and what I call "fake foods" - substitutes. I probably lean more towards using natural organic items. I also have had a hard time finding the noodles and a few other items that she suggests. If I can ever find the noodles - then there are a few pasta recipes that I will definitely be trying!

I am not giving up on Hungry Girl! I love the fun facts and little tips she gives... but I am going to add a little variety some recipes from 3 other cookbooks that have been sitting on my shelf gathering dust.



Weight Watchers is probably the closest to a low-cal healthy Betty Crocker cookbook. Has casseroles and crock pot recipes. Pretty normal everyday food - your basics. And ingredients are items that you most likely already have in your pantry.

McCormick & Schmick's - well, it isn't super low-cal - but we have all heard about the health benefits of fish! And there is a recipe for lobster pot-pie... how can I NOT try that one??? (probably zero health benefits) The cookbook I have is not exactly the one pictured... I got mine free at Costco...so if I try something and you want a copy of the recipe - please let me know!

Last - as I mentioned, especially with fall coming, I find crock-pot cooking extremely convenient for a Mom so I will be pulling recipes from the Fix It and Forget It Lightly! I have family members eating at different times so this is great for me.

If you have any special requests that you would like for me to try- please let me know! I do love to try a new recipe!