Barbecue Meal Ideas

Here are some ideas for summer bar-b-queing and Weight Watcher point values for you.

Grilled Meats
1 lean Hamburger (3 oz. cooked), 5
1 lean Cheeseburger (3 oz. cooked & 1 slice cheese), 7
1 Vegetarian Burger (meatless), 2
1 "Boca" Burger (meatless) *Excellent, 1
1 Hot Dog (beef or pork), 5
1 Ball Park Fat Free Franks, *Excellent, 1
1 slice London Broil (2 oz.), 3
3 BBQ Spareribs (pork), 7
1 BBQ Chicken Breast (skinless, with bone, ¼ cup BBQ sauce), 5
1 Chicken Leg (skinless), 1
1 Chicken Thigh (skinless), 3

Grilled Fish
½ cup Shrimp (cooked), 1
1 Tuna Steak (6 oz. cooked), 4
1 Swordfish Steak (6 oz. cooked), 4

Vegetables/Sides
Grilled Veggie Kabobs - Alternate sliced zucchini, mushrooms, onion, green or red bell pepper & cherry tomatoes on skewer. Brush with 1 tsp oil. Grill until tender, turning often. 1
1 cup Baked Beans (canned), 4
1 small ear Corn on the Cob, 1
1 cup Coleslaw, 6
Tossed Salad, 0
½ cup Potato Salad, 6
1 medium unsweetened Pickle, 0

Breads
1 Hamburger Roll, 3
1 Frankfurter Roll, 3
1 Roll, any type, 3

Snacks & Desserts
14 Potato Chips, 4
1 slice Watermelon (2"), 1
1 cup Fruit Salad, 2
1 piece Apple Pie (1/8 of 9" pie), 10
1 scoop low-fat Frozen Yogurt, 3
1 slice Angel Food Cake (2 oz) topped with ½ cup blueberries, ½ cup sliced strawberries, ¼ cup whipped topping, 4

Dressings & Condiments
2 tbsp fat-free Dressing, 1
2 tbsp reduced-calorie Dressing, 2
2 tbsp regular Dressing, 4
¼ cup Ketchup, 1
¼ cup BBQ Sauce, 1
Mustard, 0
1 tsp Relish, 0
1 cup Sauerkraut. 0

Beverages
1 bottle or can Light Beer (12 oz.), 2
1 small glass Wine, 2
1 can Diet Soft Drink, 0

from Dotties Newsletter

Chips - good choices and bad choices!

Chips seem to be a staple at many picnics and family gatherings and I could easily sit down and eat half a bag of potato chips by myself!! The problem is that most chips are very high in fat and calories, which doesn’t help us lose weight and stay there! There is also the problem that it is extremely hard to “just eat one" (as I said before!)
Below are the calories, fat and sodium of some of the more popular chips on the market. This will help you make the best choice for your fun-filled get-together.
Some of your best bets are:
Snyder’s of Hanover MultiGrain, 8 chips (1 oz) ~ 130 cal/5g fat (0g saturated fat)/110mg sodium ~ 3g fiber makes this a great choice!
Funyuns, 13 pieces (1 oz) ~ 140 cal/7g fat (1g saturated fat)/240mg sodium ~ I love these! Sun Chips Original, 16 chips (1 oz) ~ 140 cal/6g fat (1g saturated fat)/120mg sodium ~ Sun Chips uses only whole grains, which helps keep your blood sugar stable along with helping you feel full.
Baked! Tostitos Scoops!, 15 chips (1 oz) ~ 120 cal/3g fat (0.5g saturated fat)/130mg sodium ~ Half the fat of Fritos and double the pleasure!
Baked! Doritos Nacho Cheese, 15 chips (1 oz) ~ 120 cal/3.5g fat (0.5g saturated fat)/220mg sodium ~ Add 2g of fiber to these and you’ve got a winner!
Que Pasa White Corn, 14 chips (1 oz) ~ 140 cal/7g fat (0.5g saturated fat)/50mg sodium ~ Wonderful plain tortilla chip!

Some of your worst bets are:
Natural Cheetos White Cheddar, 32 chips (1 oz) ~ 150 cal/9g fat (1.5g saturated fat)/290mg sodium ~ Sure ‘Natural’ is on the package but that means nothing in the eyes of the FDA.
Fritos Original, 32 pieces (1 oz) ~ 160 cal/10g fat (1.5g saturated fat)/160mg sodium ~ I love these but they are a very poor choice if you’re watching your weight.
Fritos Pinch of Salt, 34 pieces (1 oz) ~ 160 cal/10g fat (1.5g saturated fat)/75mg sodium ~ These are lighter on sodium but remember that 90 calories are from fat.
Bugles Original, 1-1/3 cup (1 oz) ~ 160 cal/9g fat (8g saturated fat)/310mg sodium ~ Each bugle is almost 50% saturated fat by weight.
Tostitos Multigrain, 8 chips (1 oz) ~ 150 cal/8g fat (1g saturated fat)/135mg sodium ~ Half of the calories are from vegetable oil which supplies each serving with a full gram of saturated fat.
Tostitos Hint of Lime, 6 chips (1 oz) ~ 150 cal/8g fat (1g saturated fat)/160mg sodium ~ Yes, these taste good but they are a bad choice if you’re planning on staying on your Journey.
_{Resource: ~~Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding}

Activity in your life

I started bowling a couple of weeks ago and man, was I sore the first time!  But I figure it's a fun way to get in my exercise.  Here's an excerpt from a newsletter that I receive.  Thought it was good advice!

By Dotti

Getting some kind of activity in your life is probably one of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being. In fact, a lot of experts are recommending you focus on getting more activity in your life before you make any dietary changes. Why? Moving more will give you a jump-start by revving up your metabolism, helping your body to be more responsive to losing body fat. You will see results when you become more active.
Let’s talk about some strategies to help you stay on your course of activity. Why not see if you can come up with a few of your own too.

• Get an activity buddy to help keep you accountable
• Set goals and give yourself rewards to help keep you motivated
• Always look for new ways to get more activity into your life
• Hire a personal trainer
• Try something different from what you are doing; mix it up
• Get your activity where others are active
• Keep a log of your activity; review it often
• Put your activity time in your appointment book; make it a priority

Why is it that activity is the last thing we seem to fit into our busy schedule? I’ll bet if you planned a fun activity like maybe bowling, water skiing or swimming at the lake you’d fit it into your schedule. So, why not start out by planning some activity that is fun, playful. As you become more active you will be able to start focusing on the frequency of your activity, along with increasing the time and intensity.
One of the most important things to remember when planning your activity is to pick activities that you will enjoy and be able to do over the long run; not just to lose the weight you want to lose. Physical activity not only helps you lose the weight but it also helps you to keep the weight off for good.
Hands down, walking is the most convenient activity for most people. I personally like walking because it is something I can do anywhere, any time. I can also fit walking into any time frame. If I only have 15 minutes out of my day to get some activity in then a walk will work. You don’t have to do all your walking at the same time. You can string together a couple of walks during the day, maybe during your two fifteen minute breaks at work. Walking is relaxing too!
Walking is aerobic and works the large muscle groups, so it’s great for burning calories. You can burn anywhere from 100 to 200 calories during a moderately-paced walk. Do you know how many calories you’d burn in a year if you did this every day? 36,500 calories or 10 lbs! Amazing, huh?
The experts say that you are better off walking a longer distance for 25 minutes at a slower pace than trying to jog, getting tired, and quitting after only 10 minutes. Did you know that you burn almost the same number of calories walking a mile as running it? It just takes longer to walk it. (You get about 90% of the same benefit from walking as you do from jogging, with a lot smaller risk of injury!)
The same goes for your other activities also. When you work harder or faster for a given activity it will increase the calories spent, but not as much as lengthening the time spent on your activity.
Here are a few ways to get some extra activity into your life without even realizing it. You can add to the benefits by putting some extra movement into them like swaying your arms as you walk the dog or doing a little dance around the car as you wash it.

• Vacuum briskly – 5 minutes
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator – 3 minutes
• Walk the dog – 10 minutes
• Walk to lunch instead of getting it delivered – 7 minutes
• Wash your car instead of going through a car wash – 15 minutes
• Make extra trips carrying in groceries – 5 minutes
• Rake leaves – 15 minutes

Total Time – 60 minutes
Look how fast those minutes of activity added up! WOW! You may be sitting there thinking you are getting no activity but in reality you are!
If you are one of those people who have problems regularly setting aside time for activity why not try adding short segments of activity (short walks or the examples above)? The goal is to try and get in a total of 30 minutes, but you can accumulate that amount over the course of the day. The separate bits of time spent do not have to happen back to back in order to reap the benefits.
A total of 20 minutes of activity a day is recommended but for weight loss results, 30 minutes is best. Of course, doing a longer stint of activity daily (40, 50 or 60 minutes a day) will burn even more body fat. Your heart will also reap more benefits from the added activity. Please remember that, if you’ve been inactive for some time, be sure to start with shorter activities and increase the time gradually.
I have started adding a regular exercise program back into my life recently and I can tell you I’m reaping the benefits. I have decided to make my elliptical trainer time fun. I watch an episode of Sopranos (HBO) every time I get on the elliptical. I don’t get off until the episode is over (usually 47-55 minutes). It’s a long workout but goes by quickly because I’m enjoying my show. I’ve also added in a 2-mile walk at lunchtime with Al, which gives us time to hold hands, talk, get out in the fresh air and just be together with no interruptions. Priceless. I’m losing weight again and feeling much better physically and mentally.
It doesn’t matter how you get your activity into your life. I’ve used walking as an example of one of the easiest ways, in my opinion, to accomplish this. Joining a gym, bowling league, or hiking club are a few other ways. Make sure if you can’t schedule your activity into your life, then do the short stints of activity during the day. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s something you enjoy and will be able to continue throughout your lifelong Journey.
Let’s all plan to move more in the upcoming months as spring approaches bringing the warm weather, beautiful flowers and birds singing.

Copyright © DWLZ, Inc. - 2009, all rights reserved

A recipe for you

Washington Apple Turkey Gyros
Serves: 8
Ingredients:

• 1 cup vertically sliced onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
• 1 cup thinly sliced green bell pepper
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• ½ pound cooked turkey breast, cut into thin strips
• 1 medium Washington Golden Delicious or Winesap apple, cored and thinly sliced
• 8 pita rounds, lightly toasted
• ½ cup plain low fat yogurt

Preparation:
Cook and stir onion, bell peppers and lemon juice in oil in nonstick skillet until crisp-tender; stir in turkey and cook until heated through. Remove from heat; stir in apple.
Fold pita in half and fill with apple mixture; drizzle with yogurt.
Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Serve warm.
Nutritional Info Per Serving (1 filled pita):
[268 Cal, 4g Fat, 3g Fiber, 40g Carbs, 322mg Sodium, 19g Protein] *5.5
~Recipe from Washington Apple Commission

5-Minute Heat and Go Soup

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 can, 16 oz, low-sodium navy beans, rinsed and drained
1 can, 14½ oz, diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions
1 cup water
1½ tsp dried basil leaves
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp low-sodium chicken bouillon granules
2 tsp olive oil

Preparation: Place all ingredients, except oil, in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, uncovered. Remove from heat, stir in oil; serve.

Nutritional Info Per Serving (3½ cups):[198 Cal, 3g Fat, 9g Fiber, 34g Carbs, 252mg Sodium, 11g Protein] *2.5 (3.5)

~The Weight Loss Bible, Publications International LTD

Gym Terms

•  “I'm getting pumped up” - I'm standing in front of the mirror and flexing because I'm enamored with the way I look
• Getting ripped - eating miniature meals in an attempt to remove all of the healthy fat from my body
• Supplements - products with all of the calories and nutrients contained in food but which have no resemblance in taste, texture, or appearance to food
• 'roids - illegal drugs taken by people who don't mind the inconvenience of having to walk through a door sideways
• Aerobics - masochism with an instructor
• Stairmaster - masochism without an instructor
• Reps - the number of times you torture yourself by lifting a heavy weight off your chest
• Free weights are better than machines - I'm too stupid to figure out how to work the machines
• Machines are better than free weights - I dropped a dumbbell on my foot one too many times
• Bench press - a strength training exercise in which you lie on a bench and try to prevent a weight-laden bar from plummeting down to crush your chest
• Treadmill - a device which allows you to walk or run, much like can be done outdoors, but this way you get to pay $25 a month and a large up front fee for the privilege of doing it indoors

What Does Lite Really Mean?

There is a standardized definition developed by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for every low-this and reduced-that on the food labels.  Below are some of the more common label lingo and the nutritional information that it represents.

• Sugar-free: Contains less than 0.5gm of sugar per serving.
• Calorie-free: Contains fewer than five calories per serving.
• Low-calorie: contains 40 or fewer calories per serving.
• Reduced-calorie:  Contains 25 percent fewer calories than the regular product.
• Fat-free:  contains less than 0.5gm of fat per serving.
• Low-fat: Contains three grams or less of fat per serving.
• Reduced-fat:  Contains no more than 75 percent of the fat found in regular versions or comparable food.
• Light or lite:  contains one-third fewer calories or half the fat of the regular food.
• Cholesterol-free: Contains less than two milligrams of cholesterol and two grams or less of saturated fat per serving.
• Low-cholesterol:   Contains 20 milligrams or less of cholesterol, 2 grams or less of saturated fat, and 13 grams or less of total fat per serving.
• Reduced-cholesterol:  Contains 75 percent or less of the cholesterol found in the regular food and two grams or less of saturated fat per serving.
• Sodium-free: Contains less than five milligrams of sodium per serving.
• Very low sodium:  Contains less than 35 milligrams of sodium per serving.
• Low-sodium:  Contains 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving.
• Reduced-sodium:  Contains no more than 75 percent of the sodium found in the regular food.
• Extra-lean:  Refers to meat, seafood, or poultry that has less than two grams of saturated fat, less than five grams of total fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3 oz serving.
• Lean: Refers to meat, seafood, or poultry that has 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, less than 10 grams of total fat and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3 oz serving.
• High in:  Supplies 20 percent or more of the Daily Value (DV) of a given nutrient per serving.
• Good source of:  Supplies 10 to 19 percent of the DV of a given nutrient per serving.
• Fresh:  Refers to a food that is raw, that has not been processed, frozen, or heated, and that contains no preservatives.
• Freshly: Refers to a food that has been made recently; may be used with "baked".

~~Women's Edge, Food Smart by Susan G. Berg and the
Editors of Prevention Health Books for Women

Super Bowl "good for you" Munchies

Here are a couple of low-fat munchies for you to prepare for your Super Bowl watching party .... while you are cheering on my favorite team ..... GO STEELERS!


Ingredients:

1 fat-free (or nearly fat-free) hot dog (like the ones by Oscar Mayer, Hebrew National and Ball Park)
1 portion Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent roll dough

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut hot dog into 4 even pieces. Stretch or roll out the triangle-shaped dough slightly, to make it a larger triangle. Cut dough into 4 long, narrow triangles. Beginning at the base of each triangle, roll a piece of the hot dog up in the dough until the point of each triangle wraps around the center. Place dogs on an ungreased baking pan and cook for about 12 minutes (until dough appears slightly browned and crispy). Enjoy!

Popcorn Shrimp
3 oz. raw shrimp; peeled, deviened and cleaned
1/4 cup Egg Beaters, Original
1/2 cup Fiber One bran cereal
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour Egg Beaters into a bowl. Using a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One cereal to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Pour Fiber One crumbs into a plastic container that has an airtight lid (or into a plastic food storage bag). Add as much salt & pepper to Fiber One as you like. Next, prepare the shrimp by ensuring that they are as dry as possible (use a paper towel to soak up moisture). Place shrimp in dish with Egg Beaters and coat them thoroughly. Transfer shrimp to Fiber One container or bag and secure lid/ seal bag. Then shake until shrimp are well coated. Place shrimp on a baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shrimp for 15 – 20 minutes (flipping them about halfway through), until outsides are crispy. Let ‘em cool; then serve 'em alone, with ketchup or with some cocktail sauce. *3 Points!

Telling the Truth

Well, I went to the dreaded weigh-in today (for my monthly Weight Watchers).  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I did have to pay, BUT, I was only 1/2 pound over my allowed weight.  As a Lifetime member, I have to weigh in once a month. If I'm more than 2 pounds over my lifetime goal, I have to pay the weekly fee.  I had weighed on my scales at home and they were showing me to be 1 1/2 pounds over, so, for once, I was loving those scales at the meeting!!! 

Of course, after the weigh-in, I had a Soup Kitchen Volunteer meeting at .... Panera Bread!!  So, just decided to have lunch there while I was at it.  My sandwich selection was probably not recommended by WW (tomato-mozzarella panini) but I didn't get the chips and got an apple instead for my side!!! 

I had a few errands to run after the meeting and had plans on going to the "Y" - even had my work-out clothes with me.  Sonny & I had a Red Cross Volunteer meeting at 7 pm, so I'd decided to just stay in Mooresville till the meeting.  Best laid plans and all .... Sonny called me around 4 and said he was debating on going to the "Y" or going somewhere for a beer & appetizers.  You know, it doesn't take much to talk me into temptation!!  So, Beef O Brady's was our choice!!  I did have a salad for dinner though!  And they had our Steeler's on TV.  Today was media day in Tampa and the reporters were interviewing the different players, so I figured we made the right choice??!!!!

I found out today that someone (hi, Jackie!) actually made the Tropical Smoothies that I had in my blog a few days ago and she said they were very good.  So, thought I'd give you another good recipe to try that's also WW approved!   These are Yummy Muffins - really moist.  I make a batch & freeze them.  Good for a snack with a cup of tea or coffee!

• One Chocoate OR Carrot OR Spice Cake Mix
• One can Pumpkin (pumpkin - NOT pie filling)
• Mix all together.  The batter will be lumpy - that's ok.  Line muffin tin w/paper cupcake liners or spray w/Pam.  Fill the muffin cups & bake for 18 minutes at 350.
• If you use an 18 cup muffin tin, it is 2 points each; if you use a 12 cup tin, they are 3 points.

ENJOY!

Speaking of cupcakes, check out this cool blog about .... CUPCAKES!!

Good for you snacks

When you are hungry and need to snack, here are some good snacks that are better than the "100 calorie packs"

¼ of an avocado
1¾ cups apple slices
1 medium banana
1 cup grapes
2 cups berries
1½ cups sliced peaches
1¼ cups orange sections
1¼ cups blueberries
2 cups diced watermelon
1 cup sliced pears
1¹/₃ cup diced pineapple
1½ cups raspberries
1 cup cherries
2 large kiwifruit
3 clementines
4 cups cherry tomatoes or 10 plum tomatoes or 3 large beefsteak tomatoes
1 medium baked sweet potato
1 small baked white potato
2 cups carrot strips or slices
12 cups torn lettuce
10 large broccoli spears
8 cups sliced cucumbers
5½ cups sliced bell or sweet peppers
5 cups whole raw mushrooms
32 spears cooked asparagus
2½ cups cooked green beans
80 snow or sugar snap pea pods
4½ cups mixed vegetable salad (without dressing)
½ cup cooked grain/rice/pasta (most, bulgur is ¾ cup)
1 jumbo hard-boiled egg
20 large boiled or steamed shrimp
2 oz chicken breast meat (a little more than 2 oz)
2 oz sirloin steak (a little less than 2 oz)
¾ cup plain fatfree yogurt
3 cups air-popped popcorn

Compared to:

less than an ounce of some kind of packaged cookie crispy thing

Tropical Smoothie

For a low cal snack, try these Tropical Smoothies

Serves 4

Recipe Ingredients
1 (15-0z) can pineapple tidbits in juice, undrained
2 bananas, sliced and chilled
1 cup vanilla fat-free frozen yogurt

Directions

Place opened can of pineapple tidbits in freezer 10 minutes.

Combine pineapple tidbits, banana, and frozen yogurt in a blender; process until smooth.

Nutritional Info Per Serving, 1 Cup
163 Cal, 0.4g Fat, 2.3g Fiber, 38.1g Carbs, 41mg Sodium, 3g Protein *3 points

~Cooking Light Superfast Suppers

Girl Scout Cookie Time

 

Lemon Chalet Crèmes, 1 cookie [80 cal/3g fat/0g fiber/12g carbs/40mg sodium/<1g protein] *2 WW points

Trefoils, 5 cookies [150 cal/7g fat/<1g fiber/20g carbs/105mg sodium/2g protein] *3.5 WW points

Do-si-dos, 2 cookies [110 cal/5g fat/<1g fiber/15g carbs/85mg sodium/2g protein] *3 WW points

Samoas, 2 cookies [150 cal/8g fat/<1g fiber/19g carbs/50mg sodium/1g protein] *4 WW points

All Abouts, 3 cookies [150 cal/7g fat/<1g fiber/21g carbs/75mg sodium/1g protein] *3.5 WW points

Chocolate Chips, 3 cookies [160 cal/9g fat/2g fiber/22g carbs/140mg sodium/1g protein] *3.5 WW points

Tagalongs, 2 cookies [150 cal/10g fat/1g fiber/14g carbs/100mg sodium/2g protein] *4 WW points

Thin Mints, 4 cookies [150 cal/7g fat/1g fiber/20g carbs/115mg sodium/2g protein] *3.5 WW points

     ~~These cookie nutritionals are from the Little Brownie Bakers at www.littlebrownie.com
February 2008

Twas the month after Christmas .... and I ate too much

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Thankgiving foods .... start walking and a pie recipe

Below are listed some traditional Thanksgiving food Points. They sure add up fast.  I don't even want to tell you what mine were!!  Look out "Y" - I'll be there next week!!!

• Green bean casserole (¾ cup) *4
• Candied sweet potatoes (1 cup) *8
• Garlic mashed potatoes (¾ cup) *6
• Mashed sweet potatoes, canned (½ cup) *2
• Cranberry sauce, canned (1/3 cup) *3
• Bread stuffing (1 cup) *8
• Pumpkin pie (1 slice) *9
• Apple pie, 1 slice (store-bought) *7
• Pecan pie, 1 slice (store-bought) *10
• White meat turkey, 4 oz, no skin *4
• Turkey leg, 4 oz, with skin *4
• Wine, 2 fl oz *1
• Vodka, 2 fl oz *3

Here's a Thanksgiving calculator to see how far you need to walk next week!!  For example ....

1 piece pecan pie (1/8 of 9-in pie)   -   480 calories

1 piece pumpkin pie (1/8 of 9-in pie)   -  180 calories

A slice of pecan pie, A slice of pumpkin pie, ...that comes to 660 calories. You will need to walk 6.6 miles, 10.64 kilometers, or 13200 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.

While we're talking about pies, I tried a new pie recipe Thanksgiving and it was really good!  It was in the Charlotte Observer & called a Twofer Pie because it was a combination pumpkin and pecan pie.  It's definitely NOT a Weight Watcher's recipe!!

If you want to try it, here's the recipe:

• 1 (9") single pie crust, partially baked & cooled
• Pumpkin filling:
• 1 C canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 2/3 c heavy cream
• 1/2 c packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp dark rum (or flavoring)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp powdered ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Pecan filling:
• 1/2 c corn syrup
• 1/4 c packed light brown sugar
• 2 Tbs unsalted butter, melted & cooled (I just used marg.)
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 C pecan halves or pieces

Position oven rack in center of oven & preheat to 450.  Put pie plate w/crust on a baking sheet lined w/parchment paper or silicon baking mat.

Combine all pumpkin filling ingredients in food processor & process, stopping to scrape down sides as needed, for 2 minutes.  Leave filling in processor for a minute.

Place all pecan filling ingredients - except pecans - in mixing bowl & whisk until smooth.

Give pumpkin filling a final pulse in food processor; then rap the bowl on counter a few times to release air bubbles.  Pour into the crust.  Spread nuts evenly over the pumpkin layer.  Pour the pecan filling over the top, pushing any nuts that float back down.

Bake 10 minutes.  Reduce oven temp. to 300 & bake 350-40 minutes longer, until top is puffy & a think knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Start Walking!!

Check out below how far you must walk in steps, miles and kilometers to walk off the candy listed below.

25 small jellybeans/140 calories
20 pieces of candy corn/100 calories
2 Brach's caramels/80 calories
2 Hershey's Kisses/50 calories
1 mini Tootsie Roll/25 calories
1 Fun Size candy bar (Snickers, Milky Way, Butterfingers, etc.)/80 calories
1 mini bite-size candy bar (Snickers, Milky Way, Butterfingers, etc.)/55 calories
1 Fun Size M&M packet—Plain or Peanut 90 1 mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup/33 calories
1 full size chocolate candy bar (Snickers, Hershey, etc.)/275 calories
1 King Size chocolate candy bar (Snickers, Hershey, etc.)/500 calories
1 piece pumpkin pie (1/8 of 9-in pie)/180 calories

…that comes to 1608 calories. In order to burn that off, you will need to walk 16.08 miles, 25.93 kilometers, or 32,160 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.

~About.com—Walking…Calculator

Monster Paws

Here's a fun treat to make for those special trick or treaters!

Recipe Ingredients:
Clear plastic gloves (available at beauty supply stores)

Candy corn

Popcorn

Yarn

Directions:
Begin with washed gloves. Stick one candy corn at the tip of each finger, pointy side up, for fingernails. Fill the glove with popcorn. Use yarn to tie a bow at the wrist.

~FamilyFun

These were taken at a Luau the last time I was in Hawaii.

I'm coming home today - tired and happy (I hope)!!

Pearl Harbor

These were taken when Ashley and I were in Hawaii in 2006. Moving, aren't they?

Sunset in Hawaii

I'm thinking about you!!

Hawaii Flowers

Aren't they gorgeous?

Hawaii picture

These are pictures from the last time I was in Hawaii!!