Weight Loss Recipe of the Day: Pumpkin Spice Sunshine Muffins or breakfast quick bread, to diet for!

Fall is a great time to start or improve your diet and exercise regimen. So, I'm doing a series of "Weight loss recipe of the Day" posts. Think fall and you think pumpkin spice right? I also think home-baked after going oven-free all winter long and because, well, I always think baked goods, lol. Muffins are my drug of choice. But after losing 100 pounds which I'm trying to keep off, they're kryptonite. If you're craving that pumpkin spice shtick and muffins, here's a healthier diet version. My diet recipes tweak favorites with low sugar, better sugar, protein and fiber, low calorie, lowfat (and good fat) options. Make this "to diet for" breakfast muffin/quick bread with 1/3 the calories and tons of healthy stuff! 

Pumpkin Spice Sunshine Breakfast Bread/Muffins

1/2 cups unsweetened homemade applesauce

1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup pumpkin (you can use cooked winter squash too)

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/2 to 1 cup seeds: pumpkin, sunflower, chia

1 teas. cinnamon

1/2 teas. nutmeg

1 teas. each baking soda and baking powder

Flaxseed to make two eggs

1/4 cup melted 35-calorie light butter or Greek yogurt

mashed banana

fresh crushed peaches or pineapple 

optional: walnuts

Mix ingredients (chunky applesauce and banana is good) and bake 350 for 55 minutes (bread) about 35-40 (muffins). Loaf makes about 20 servings. Calories 100 to 130 per slice. Makes 12 muffins 140 calories each.

Low-cal Labor Day picnic recipes, light BBQ grill entrees, meatless menu pleasers for weight loss, special diets

Labor Day is the last official picnic day of summer. With everyone on some special diet--vegan, vegetarian, kosher, weight loss, lactose intolerant, gluten-free, diabetic, halal--it's difficult to plan a picnic buffet that suits everyone. Throw some picky, fussy eaters (a.k.a. kids) into the party crowd and the harried Labor Day hosts are at their collective wits' end to know what to feed the hungry multitudes. Here are low-cal Labor Day picnic recipes, light grill entrees, menu pleasers that dieters and everyone else will love!

Whip up the Ultimate Labor Day Salad Bar Buffet. Make your own restaurant-style salad bar and hot buffet. If you do the whole thing, it may get expensive, so trim corners as you need to. Or have guests each bring 3-4 salad toppings. Create an outdoor refrigerated salad bar by laying a clean bath or beach towel on the buffet or picnic table. Cover towel with a layer of ice cubes. Place another clean towel over ice. Replace ice as it melts.

Next make a huge bowl of greens. Get a package of six romaine lettuce heads. Tear up lettuce, rinse with warm water and drain or spin to dry. Place lettuce in zippered plastic bag and chill in the refrigerator until serving. This makes lettuce extra crisp. Or use pre-cut bagged salad like Dole Classic Romaine, with Romaine lettuce, matchstick carrots and purple cabbage. If you serve field greens, remember these lettuces are much more delicate and must be used immediately. Serve in a large stainless steel mixing bowl or salad bowl.

Here are salad toppings guests can pick and choose from to fit any special diet. Arrange salad toppings in individual bowls with forks, spoons or mini tongs for sanitary self- service. Set out diced cucumbers (leave skin on),sliced mushrooms (white or Baby Bella), chopped celery, chopped sweet onions, chopped green, red, yellow and orange peppers, baby spinach, sprouts (alfalfa, broccoli, onion, or spicy), chopped broccoli and cauliflower or broccoli slaw mix, shredded carrots, chopped tomatoes, shredded beets, shredded purple cabbage, pea pods and avocado slices.

Make a relish tray of assorted olives: Spanish (green),black, pitted Greek olives, capers, sports peppers, banana peppers, hot pepper rings, sweet pickles, dill pickles and canned beets. Set out fruit
toppings: raisins, dried cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits. Set out nachos, croutons, chow mien noodles, sliced almonds, mixed nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.

Set out garbanzo beans, cottage cheese, shredded Mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese grater, cubed feta cheese (for Greek salad) and diced hard-boiled eggs, salad shrimp, flake crab meat, sliced pepperoni and anchovies. To season salad, set out fresh chopped herbs (dill, rosemary, oregano, sage, basil), pepper grater and Himalayan pink salt grater.

For hot buffet items, place in three-sided warmer. Grill chuck steak, ham slice, salmon and chicken breast and cube each. Grill bacon and crumble. Make taco meat. Warm nacho dip in a crock pot. A good salad bar should include these dressings: vinegar and olive oil in separate cruets, a lite or low calorie salad dressing (spray-on salad dressing like Raspberry vinaigrette is good), ranch (Hidden Valley is best), French (Russian, Western, sweet and sour) Thousand Island and bleu cheese (Marie's) and Caesar. Serve with french bread. Guests can make their own taco, Caesar, Greek, Salad Nicoise, Antipasto, Cobb or other specialty salads.

Valentine's Day recipes, homemade decorations, heart-shaped cupcakes, cookies

Arrgh! Your child did it again. She volunteered you to make three dozen cupcakes (pink, heartshaped, with sprinkles, please) for her class Valentine's Day party--tomorrow! And when does Lil Miss Cupid spring this news? 9 p.m.--no time to go to the store for supplies. Well, have no fear, Mama Been-There-Done-That has super-fast, last-minute, homemade treat recipes made with on-hand ingredients. You get bonus DIY heart-shaped snacks and improvised frosting, sprinkles and decoration tips.

DIY heart-shaped cookie cutter--Murphy's Law will have it that if you need heart-shaped cookies you won't be able to find your heart-shaped cookie cutter. If you ever had one. So, here are quick, homemade ones. Bend a coat hanger or large paper clip into a heart shape. Or draw a half-heart on the folded edge of a piece of sturdy paper. Cut out the heart and place on rolled out cookie dough. Trace around it with a butter knife, toothpick or metal skewer. Or just freehand it! The kiddies will
Pink cupcakes made with diy food coloring

Heart-shaped cupcakes--Make paper cupcake holders shaped like hearts by folding in half. Open and fold top point inward to form rounded sides of heart. Place folded cupcake paper in cupcake tin with three marbles: one between the halves of the heart to keep it open and one on each side to support the point.

Homemade pink frosting. Mix three parts red and one part blue food coloring and dye vanilla frosting. No food coloring? Use these mix-ins: red juice (grape, cherry, cranberry or beet), red pop, strawberry jam; strawberry ice cream syrup or red gelatin dissolved in a little hot water. Or melt red hard candy in the microwave.

No frosting? Blend a stick (or 8 ounces) of margarine with powdered sugar and milk to desired consistency. Add a dash of salt and vanilla or almond flavoring. For chocolate, add baking cocoa, melted baker's chocolate or melted chocolate chips. No powdered sugar? Heat granulated sugar in sauce pan to make glaze? No margarine? Use milk for icing.

Homemade Valentine decorations. Fresh out of requested sprinkles? Shave chocolate pieces. Crush hard candies in the blender. Form heart shapes with tiny candies: M&Ms, Runts, Nerds or other small candy. Use mini-marshmallows, pretzels, chocolate, cherry or vanilla chips, Snip fruit snacks, jelly beans, gum drops, red licorice into small pieces. Cut letters from gum strips or Fruit Roll-Ups. Kid's favorite: decorate with breakfast cereal: Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, Trix, Fruity Pebbles.

DIY Valentine decorative frosting. To make icing you can write with, place frosting in small plastic bag. Squeeze frosting into corner, tie end closed and snip the tip off the corner. Use like decorator icing to write Valentine messages, like "These cookies brought to you by a creative mom who's kid forget to tell her till the last minute!" (Probs too long, but tempting).

DIY Valentine sentiments. Add messages to cookies and cupcakes with valentine conversation hearts. Write valentine words with Alpha-Bits cereal or letter-shaped pretzels. Cut letters from Fruit Rollups. Write on cookies with diluted gelatin water in a turkey baster. Form letters from thin cut strips from licorice or use string licorice, also called licorice laces.

Let little last-minute Lucy help and you'll get some fun bonding time, too. Your emergency Valentine treats may turn out to be the most popular yet!

Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

 

So trick-or-treat is over and now your kids have a haul of Halloween candy. And of course you want them to eat all that sugar as soon as possible (not!). Or maybe you're stuck with stale candy you couldn't give away because it rained on Halloween or you didn't get as many trick-or-treating children. Or maybe you gave out yucky kinds like Mike-N-Ikes or Mary-Janes, tsk-tsk. You could blow your diet, eat all the treats and then regret it. Or you could try one of these healthy ways to use up leftover trick-or-treat goodies.  

"Buy" trick-or-treat candy from your children. Have them sort out and keep their favorite candy (the

chocolate candy bars, maybe?) Bring the rest to a dentist or doctor who is participating in Halloween

Candy Buy Back program. Caregivers "buy" kids' candy to spare patients' teeth and health. If you

can't find one, offer to trade your children a new book for their unwanted candy. 

Trade leftover candy for fruit. Make a big fruit salad and serve it with your child's favorite meal.

Freeze leftover candy and use for stocking stuffers. Use to fill Easter eggs in the spring. Save

chocolate for baking. Have an ice cream party and use fruit candies (Nerds, Runts, gummy worms) for

toppings. 

Bake cupcakes with candy surprises inside. Use Halloween candy to decorate birthday

cakes. 

Save trick-or-treat candy for birthday party treat bags and party game prizes.

Take leftover Halloween candy to nursing homes or area senior centers. Give the candy to staff to

distribute. Not all elderly people can eat candy, but those that can will love it! Many enjoyed trick-or

treat as kids and passing out candy as adults. Halloween is sad for them because they don't see

many children. Take a few minutes to visit and maybe make a new friend.

Donate candy to local food pantries. Share leftover candy with those who come to soup kitchens and

homeless shelters. Look for food giveaway truck locations. Give the candy to be distributed. 

Add candy to Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. Through the Samaritan's Purse organization,

people fill shoeboxes to go to children around the world who lack basic necessities. Candy is a rare

and sometimes unheard of treat. They will appreciate the leftover Halloween candy more than those

kids who already have so much.

Fat burning 4th of July dessert recipes: Decadent patriotic RWB diet desserts

Hello friends! Part of how I lost 100 pounds was with calorie restricting and diet food swaps. Holidays are the hardest times for dieters. So how about decadent diet desserts that actually burn fat instead of create it? Here are fat-burning 4th of July dessert recipes with a patriotic, red-white-and blue theme. 

* Red, White and Blueberry Cream Pie: Cream pie---on a diet? No way. Yes way. Swap non-fat sugar-free Greek yogurt for sour cream. Blend with instant sugarfree, fat-free Jell-O cream cheese or vanilla pudding, sugarfree vanilla almond milk, sliced strawberries and blueberries. Line pie tin with reduced-fat crushed graham crackers blended with milled flax seed (omit butter or shortening; crust will be looser, but doable). Arrange berries on top in star shapes. Make star patterns with spray whipped topping. 

* All-American Apple Upside-Down Pie: Spray pie tin with zero-calorie cooking spray. Pare and slice tart Jonathon or Macintosh apples. Arrange in pan. Dot with light margarine. Sprinkle with zero calorie Ideal sweetener, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. Blend oats, Ideal sweetener, flax seed and Bob's Red Mill 7-grain pancake mix. Bake till crust is browned. 

* RWB Super-fruit Parfait. Make applesauce leaving skins (for color) on and milling. Cook raw cranberries with one cup water and Ideal sweetener to taste. Cook cubed rhubarb with water and Ideal. Alternate layers of fresh blueberries, spray whipped cream and fruit sauces in fluted or dessert glass, 

* Chocolate Indulgence Cake. Prepare boxed chocolate cake mix with homemade applesauce instead of oil and flax seed for eggs (three tablespoons per egg), half cup Greek yogurt and cold coffee. Melt unsweetened dark chocolate (70-percent or higher cacao). cold coffee, coconut or almond milk, sea salt and Ideal sweetener to glaze consistency. Serve over cake. Top with shaved sweetened dark chocolate, raspberries, and spray whipped topping. 

* Rocky Road Trifle. Cut angel food cake in squares. Melt dark chocolate (70 percent cacao), Before chocolate hardens, blend cake cubes, peanuts and spray whipped topping. Allow to set and top with sliced strawberries. Angel food cake has only 70 calories per serving, no fat and less sugar than regular cake. 

* Caramel-lotta. The cake in the picture features diet food swaps of whole milk Greek yogurt for dairy, flaxseed and sugarless applesauce for oil and eggs,  keto coffee (with coffee, ghee butter, MCT-medium chain triglycerides and coconut oil) and Medjool dates and pure maple syrup for sweetness. We subbed gluten-free almond flour and added pepitas for extra fat-burning protein. 

* Almond Joy Trifle. Follow procedure for Rocky Road Trifle, but substitute unsweetened shredded coconut and almonds for peanuts. Omit berries. 

Capitalize on antioxidant goodness of red and blue berries, apples and dark chocolate and fiber-plus-fatty-acids in almonds, coconut and flax seed. These recipes are so yummy you'll have non-dieters begging for some! Photo is (believe it or not) a fat-burning caramel cake made with yogurt, nuts and seeds, pure maple syrup and coconut oil. 

Father's Day gifts: Man-pleasing recipes, menus and foods dad will flip over!

 

At the risk of gender profiling, let's agree women and men don't always eat the same foods. Gals will subsist on tofu and sprouts to lose weight. We may even fake we like it. Guys typically can't and they certainly won't pretend to like it. On Father's Day, they shouldn't have to. So here's a recipe shout-out for the boys. Use these Father's Day menus of man-pleasing foods to satisfy the y-chromosome! Dad will flip over any one of these Fathers Day menus Happily, recipes are easy and mostly inexpensive. 

There's an urban legend, propagated by marketers that to give dad a nice Fathers Day, it's necessary to spend big. Take it from this penny pincher parent--that's not true. For very little money, you can make big fun, especially on Fathers Day. How? With food--the secret to most any dad's heart is through his stomach. Here are kid-friendly recipes, man-pleaser menus and party food dads love that dad will eat up! These Fathers Day recipes get kids involved and teach children useful cooking skills, too. Here are some of the most successful Fathers Day fetes. 

* Fix-your-own outdoor buffets. Give dad a day off from the grill and use Fathers Day as an opportunity to teach older kids how to use a grill safely. Popular inexpensive kid-friendly recipes and party food dads love include make-your-own-chili dogs, tacos, hamburgers or pizza (wrap pizzas loosely in foil and bake on the grill). 

* From-the-sea feast. Take dad fishing and then cook what's caught. It's good to have some back-up salmon in the freezer just in case the big one gets away, though! Grilled fish makes great kid-friendly recipes. Have children clean and wash fish. Then spray aluminum foil with cooking spray and wrap fish in foil. Whisk a dressing of olive oil (not EVOO for high heat), dill, sage, garlic, pepper, celery and lemon juice. Marinate fish and bake. Firmer-bodied fish like trout, catfish, swordfish and tuna steaks work well for grilling. Or make fish kebabs--kebabs are perfect for man-pleaser menus. Skewer shrimp colored peppers, yellow squash and cherry tomatoes (season with lemon marinade). Kids love assembling kebabs--just make sure they do so carefully.

* Cold party food bar (for hot Fathers Day gigs). Set out deviled eggs, baked beans, a relish tray, cole slaw, fresh fruit chunks, a veggie tray, chips and ham sandwiches. The dad in this house loves Polish roses--snipped green scallions wrapped in baked ham and cream cheese. Children love making these super-easy kid-friendly recipes and dad will love eating them! 

* Crock pot buffet of party foods dads love. Cook outdoors in a crock pot or 3-section food steamer. Put sausage and sauerkraut in a crock pot and cook outside. Meatballs work well too. Add frozen meatballs, grape jelly and ketchup for sweet and sour meatballs. For meatballs in gravy add French onion soup, sour cream and mushroom soup to frozen meatballs. Steam mussels in one of the sections. Or make nacho dip (Velveeta cheese and Ro-Tel tomatoes--easy-peasy kid-friendly recipes for Fathers Day!)

* Indulge dad's sweet tooth. Make an outdoor dessert buffet of party food dads love. Cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, pies and cupcakes are popular on man-pleaser menus. Dads also love gelatin mixed with fruit and whipped topping. These kid-friendly recipes make good summer coolers.

* Enjoy a world food bar of man-pleaser menus. No money for travel? Throw an around the world party with food dads love. Men's favorites include souvlaki and baklava from Greece, brats from Germany, hummus and pita chips from the Middle East, pierogies from Poland, tiramisu from Italy and tropical fruit salad from the Caribbean. 

The man-pleaser menus will be a Fathers Day hit with dads and kids. Phot is me getting ready to make up some homemade salsa! 

Graduation open house party planning guide: cheap graduation menu, recipes

Hosting a graduation open house and need easy, budget-friendly tips? Use this party planning guide

to throw a cheap, nice backyard bash for your graduate! Here are recipes, tips shopping lists for

groceries, supplies, decorations and equipment. DIY alternatives for a graduation open house party under $100. 

Some basic money-saving graduation open house tips. Don't rent anything. Make do with what you have and borrow. Ask people to share their patio umbrellas and arrange table around the yard. Grill or griddle your own foods, to pay through the nose for catering service entrees. Skip excessive decorations--huge waste of money and bad for the environment. Repurpose holiday lights as decor. 

Graduation open house menu: Shop dollar stores, Aldi's, Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Gordon Food Service and Target. Don't fuss with outdoor electrical outlets. Prep ahead, chill or warm, and serve. 

* Diploma roll-ups appetizers

--flour tortilla shells 

--cream cheese 

--sliced ham

--spray cheese

Spread cream cheese on tortillas, Place ham on top. Roll thin. Slice in half lengthwise. Draw "tie" with

spray cheese (or use licorice ropes). Arrange on serving tray. Chill.

* Watermelon basket (or any large fruit like cantaloupe or honeydew melon) : Cut watermelon in basket shape. Make two cuts two inches apart in center. Cut one-third of the way down on each side. Cut a horizontal line around each side (connecting with the vertical. Remove cutaway portions, leaving handle. Clean out fruit with melon baller (save melon balls). Cut a scalloped or zigzag edge if desired. Carve "Congratulations Class of ____" on side. Mix melon balls with partially thawed 4# bag Walmart frozen tropical fruit (reserve two cups). Fill basket.

* Hawaiian meatballs. Blend and heat in large disposable foil pan:

--16 ounces salsa

--5# frozen meatballs 

--reserved tropical fruit

--smoked paprika, celery salt to taste

* Veggie tray:--baby carrots --celery stalk --sliced cucumbers --yellow and red peppers --dip

* Auntie Mary Mac and cheese: Mix in large disposable aluminum pan and bake:--3# cooked mini seashell pasta --2 large cans mushroom soup --2# Velveeta cheese (cubed) --French friend onions (top with) (love goes out to Auntie Mary DeKorte and probably the Dutch Reformed church in Grand Rapids cookbook circa 1959)

* Mortarboard graduation hat cookies (in lieu of cake).These went over crazy-well at our youngest

son's open house. Here's my tutorial and recipe for graduation cap cookies. Set extras out for party favors and decorations. You'll need:

--peanut butter cups (Reese's, Palmer, generic) 

--chocolate covered graham cookies (or square chocolate pieces)

--M&Ms (school colors) 

--spray frosting (in one school color)

Additional groceries and supplies: 

--serving supplies (plates, napkins, utensils, cups, table cloth) in school colors for dual purpose decorations (Dollar Tree, Aldi)

--assorted chips/pretzels 

--assorted 2-litre bottles of soda (clear, cola, fruit-flavored, diet, caffeine-free) 

--water 

--instant coffee --tea assortment --creamer --sweetener 

--2 disposable rectangle aluminum pan (turkey size) for meatballs and mac and cheese 

--2 large plastic serving trays (for veggies and Diploma roll-ups) 

--large plastic bowls (for chips or pretzels) 

--plastic tablecloths (for buffet and gift table-guests tables, optional)

On-hand or borrowed supplies--2 picnic or outdoor buffet tables --folding chairs (campfire chairs work great) --portable awning or large umbrella (for food) --30-cup coffee pot or large carafe (for hot water) --2-gallon insulated beverage cooler --2 coolers (for ice, pop)

Decorations:

Make a memory table of your graduate. Arrange memorabilia, artwork, photos, projects, mementos,

awards, instruments, sports equipment, ribbons, trophies, scrapbooks, baby pictures. Place box

discreetly for cards.