Two days ago, after my husband and I finished cutting a customer’s lawn, I got a craving for a milkshake.  It’s been so many years since I’ve had one.  I couldn’t even think of a place in town that made them.

I went to this icee place and had to settle for a root beer ice cone.  I didn’t care for it.  It tasted wayyy too sweet.  Since I don’t care much for sugar, I wasn’t able to eat it.

When I got home, I still was thirsty for a milkshake.  Low and behold I had some Blue Bunny strawberry frozen yogurt in the freezer.  I used that large glass in the picture and filled it with ice cream and 2% milk.  Wow,  was that ever good.  In fact, I made myself one of these strawberry shakes two days in a row.

I was feeling guilty about all the calories. I was kicking myself for indulging in such a manner.  I decided today to take a look at the calories and sugar I consumed. Ahhh….not as bad as I thought.  There are 90 calories in half a cup (I used a cup) and there are 120 calories in 8 ounces of 2% milk (I used 2 cups).

The shake really filled me up and on both days it ended up actually being my lunch.  I’m not feeling so bad now.  I’m glad to see my indulgence wasn’t as bad as I had orginally thought.  This actually could be considered a weight loss drink.  It  filled me up so I didn’t need any lunch.  It kept me full and I didn’t do any snacking before supper.

This is my newest weight loss recipe.  It’s funny how I can go from feeling so guilty for indulging to realizing this milkshake is going to help me lose weight.  Wow…what a win-win recipe.

Milkshake Pros:             Milkshake Cons:

1.  Filled me up            1.  Over 16 grams of sugar

2.  Only 330 Calories       2.  No Fiber

3.  Zero fat               3.  More calories than I usually drink at one time

You should check out the Blue Bunny website.  They have information a nutrional guide, recipes, and even a $1.00 off coupon for their ice cream.

It’s time for me to get my grass cutting shoes on….where off to make another customer happy.

We picked up another lawn customer this past week.  It’s a very large apartment complex.  It took us a little over 3 days to cut and trim the entire place.  I cut grass with my pushmower as well as the small rider the first day.  (even apt. complexes have hills down here) The second and third day, I was doing edging with an Echo SRM 230 string trimmer.  The first day I used the trimmer from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.  The second day I used the trimmer from 9:00 AM until 6:45 PM.  I didn’t take a lunch break and only stopped long enough to drink some water  while I was cutting the first day.  The second day it was much hotter so we did take an hour lunch break.

I love this Echo trimmer.  It’s light weight and easy to use.  It has a nice big trimmer head so I don’t have to keep loading the string so often.  I’ve never done trimming.  I’ve always left that job up to my husband.  Since there is so much trimming with this complex, I knew I was going to have to learn.  

By the end of the second day, I was scooting right along with my trimmer.  I’ve claimed that trimmer as mine.  Using this trimmer has helped my shoulders as well as my upper arms.  I’m looking forward to the next job so I can do the trimming.                                                                                                 I tried using my husband’s  trimmer but it just didn’t work for me since I’m left handed.  The guard on the bottom of the shaft was on the wrong side for me.  I had no protection from flying rocks and debris.  I tried holding it with my right hand but it just felt too uncomfortable.

It’s been raining off and on all morning so the grass cutting is I’m getting a break.  This has given me a chance to make up a large cucumber salad.  I’ve used fresh cucumbers, onions and tomatoes from our garden.  I add fat free half and half, cider vinegar, and a little sugar to balance the taste.  Top it with a little salt and pepper and let it marinate for a couple of hours.  This makes for a nice low calorie healthy salad.  I don’t put much tomato in the bowl because it makes it too watery.  It’s better to just add the tomato to you individual bowl a few minutes before you are going to eat it.  

You can also keep adding cucumbers to the dressing.  When it begins to taste bland, it’s time to make a new batch of the dressing.  (Although it’s not necesary, I usually peel the skin off my cucumbers.)

I’m off to visit

My husbands hard work is paying off in the garden.  We are finally getting vegetables we can eat.  This morning I decided to whip up this healthy dish before we head out to cut grass.  I have cooked up freshly diced green peppers, onions, garlic, celery (not from the garden), and baby portabella mushrooms.  I added a little sea salt and some fresh ground pepper.   It smelled so good while it was cooking, I had to taste it.  Yum!!  It’s great!!

In another pan, I cooked up some fresh broccoli from the garden and plan on added it to my healthy concoction.  I plan on dishing this over jasmine rice (it’s my favorite).  I don’t know the calorie content of this recipe but it has to be very low.  What a bonus, low calories and good tasting.  That is such a winning combination.

It’s still be real hot here.  My husband and I are still busy cutting grass.  We just picked up another new customer on Thursday.  It’s great because they live across the street from one of our regular customers.  It makes it nice when you can knock off a couple of lawns without having to drive any distance.  It seems we get most of our customers by referral.  Our customers are happy with our prices and our work. 

I’ve been drinking plenty of water in this heat.  The good news is I’m down two more pounds.  My husband just finished fixing my push mower ( fuel line was clogged) so it’s time for us to hit the dusty trail.

Hoping everyone has a great weekend!!  (We’re going to the weekly Saturday night auction tonight.)

       So many diet desserts taste flat or like cardboard.  This low fat sugar free recipe tastes like the real deal.  I think if you did the blind fold test between these low calorie muffins (142 Calories) and the high fat, high calories (usually 500-600 Calories) muffins you buy at your local bakery, you won’t  be able to tell the difference.  This is a flexible recipe and you can substitute all kinds of fruit.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup      Quick-cook oatmeal                      
• 1/2 tsp   Allspice
• 1 Cup      Fat-free skim milk
• 1 Cup     Splenda
• 1/2 Cup   White flour
• 4            Egg whites 
• 1/2 Cup   Whole wheat flour
• 1 Cup     Mashed bananas
• 1/2 Cup   Ground flax OR whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp      Vanilla extract  
• 1 tsp        Baking soda
• 1/2 Cup  Fat-free sour cream
• 1 tsp        Baking powder                               
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 tsp    Ground cinnamon                          
• 1 Cup     Blueberries (drained)
• 1/2 tsp    Ground cloves                                
• 1 Lge      Apple 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line muffin tins (12 muffins)
2. Soak oatmeal in skim milk for 20 minutes
3. After the 20 minutes, add splenda, egg whites, bananas, applesauce, vanilla and sour cream.  Mix well.
4. In a different bowl, mix all the dry ingredients well. (flours, flax seed, baking soda, baking powder, spices)
5. Slowly mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients.  Mix well.
6. Fold in berries or apple (You can subistitute any other friut)
7. Fill the 12 muffins cups equally.  It doesn’t expand so will not overflow out of the cup.  Bake until a toothpick can be stuck in the middle of a muffin and it comes out  clean.  (About 15-20 min)

Although I’m the only one losing weight in this household, everyone likes these muffins.  I’m sure they will be a hit in your home too.  Finally a great diet muffin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we fix meals it’s often hard to figure out the calories, carbs, or proteins in a serving. This can play havoc on any weight loss program you are following.

Like most women, I have more cookbooks than I care to count. Most of them never leave the bookcase. I have found it is much easier to look up a recipe online. So whether I’m looking for a low calorie, low carb or high protein recipe…it’s easy to find.

I enjoy the Betty Crocker recipe site. It is a computer friendly site making it easy to find recipes for a specific item or requirement such as low fat or low calorie. The recipes directions are easy to follow and use basic ingredients. You can rate each recipe as well as read and give a review. Each has a picture of what the finished product should look like.

How about a Chinese Pork and Pasta recipe? The recipe is for a serving of 6 with a calorie content of 255 per serving.

Another appetizing recipe is Skillet Beef & Vegetable Stew. It is a recipe for 6 servings and only takes 25 minutes to make. It has a surprisingly low calorie content of 175 per serving.

These are just a few of the low calorie recipes at the Betty Crocker site. No matter what kind of weight loss program or diet you are on, you will find something at this site that can fit your needs.

When the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays roll around, pumpkin desserts are always a favorite in our household. I wanted to share this easy recipe. It is only 85 calories (2 points)and it makes 10 servings.

EASY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PUDDING

Ingredients:
1. 8 oz fat free cream cheese (softened)
2. 8 oz fat free cool whip
3. 8 oz fat free sour cream
4. 3/4 C. Splenda
5. 1 tsp. lemon juice

6. 1 can pumpkin puree
7. sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice (flavor to your liking)

8. 2 pkgs of the 100 calorie Honey Maid Thin Crisps (crushed finely)

Directions:
* Mix ingredients 1-5.
* Next add 6 & 7.
* Pour into approx. 10 dessert cups (ex: muffin tins)
* Top with final ingredient #8.
* Chill in the refrigerator until firm (couple of hours)

Easy and delicious and low calories…can’t ask for anything better.