Diet Hot Fudge Banana Split

I've been trying to lose weight because, frankly, I really need to.  I've been  exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables,  I've also been severely limiting my intake bread and pasta and whatnot.  

I'm not a huge sweets eater, so cutting back on that isn't really an issue for me.  But, sometimes  I get a craving for a sugary snack that a bowl of grapes or a handful of dried dates just won't satisfy.  

A two-scoop hot fudge sundae is about 550 calories. More than half of those calories are from fat.  Mmmm, tasty. But, realistically, not good for someone trying to shed the unwanted thunder thighs, saddlebags and/or Buddha belly.

My alternative to a big bowl of ice cream with all the fixins is a banana split sans delectable dairy.  You don't get that cream, cold nomminess but it tastes good and hits the sweet spot.  And it's only 210 calories only 10 of which are fat calories.  You could knock off 30 calories by using sugar free hot fudge but I'm strongly against artificial sweeteners.

Diet Hot Fudge Banana Split

1 Small Banana (90)
1 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts (45)
1 Tbsp Hot Fudge (75)

Cut the banana in half and then split the halves.  

Drizzle with hot fudge and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.  

Enjoy. You will, I promise!

Caramelized Apple Cheesecake Parfait

Caramelized Apple Cheesecake Parfait

1 Pkg. (8 Oz.) Cream Cheese, Softened

3 Tbsp. Confectioners Sugar 

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Recipe Caramelized Apples

1/4 Cup Butter

5 Graham Cracker Sheets

Whip together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. 

Crush graham crackers in blender or food processor   Melt butter in a small pan. Mix in graham cracker crumbs until all crumbly.

In a wine glass, jelly jar or any other glass begin to layer your parfait.

Graham cracker/butter mixture, cream cheese mixture, then apples.  Repeat twice then sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs as a garnish.  

Gently tamp down the graham cracker layers to compact them.

You should get four parfaits from this recipe.  

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Apple Zucchini Crisp

Apple Zucchini Crisp

3 Cups of Granny Smith Apples 
1 Cup of Small Zucchini  
1 Tsp Granulated Sugar
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/2 CUp Flour
1/2 Cup Old-Fashioned Oats
1/3 Cup Softened Butter
1 1/2 Tsp. Melted Butter
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8" round or square pan. 

Peel and slice the apples and zucchini.




Combine melted butter, 1/4 tsp of the ground cinnamon, and regular sugar and mix with apple and zucchini slices. Pour into pan. 

In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats, softened butter and remaining cinnamon, until it's all crumbly. 

Top apple and zucchini slices. Don’t worry about covering every inch.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and inside slices are tender when pierced with a fork. 

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Mint Chocolate Chip Pie

Mint Chocolate Chip Pie

This recipe calls for a regular pastry crust.  I think a graham cracker crust would really good or even better!

2 Cups Whipping Cream

2 Tablespoons Confectioners' Sugar

2 Cups Cold Milk

1 1/2 Teaspoons Peppermint Extract

5 - 6 Drops Green Food Coloring, Optional

2 (3 1/2 Ounce) Packages Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix

1 Cup Miniature Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1 9 Inch Pie Shell, Baked

In a small mixing bowl, beat cream and sugar until soft peaks form.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, extract and food coloring if desired.

Add pudding mixes; beat on low speed for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Fold in cream mixture and chocolate chips.

Pour into pastry shell.

Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.

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Just because I like country music, muddin, guns, and big trucks doesn't mean I'm a hick.

When I was a kid we lived on top of a mountain in a fairly rural part of Pennsylvania.  Our home was surrounded mostly by forests and farms.   However, it wasn’t uncommon to see run down houses with livestock running amok on the property.  The yards of many of the homes were littered with broken down cars, machinery, furniture and all manner of stuff. 

All lot of folks around could easily be classified as what supposedly cultured individuals would call hicks . . . but they were mostly good, hard-working people. 

What exactly is a hick anyway?  Yeah, I know it’s a redneck . . . that’s not what I mean. 

What is the origin of the word?  Well, I was surprised to discover that "hick" is nothing more than a 16th century familiar form of the proper name "Richard."

Way back then, the name “Richard” was considered a commoner’s name . . . not a name bestowed upon the boys of the upper classes.

That’s pretty interesting considering that the name “Richard” is derived from the Old English word “ric” meaning “ruler”. 

Richard is often diminutived to Rich, Richie, Rick, and Ricket; from Rich you got Hitch and from Ricket you got Hicket. . . and then there’s Hick and Dick from Rick.

“Dick”, of course, is not only linked with the name “Richard” these days.  But before “dick” became associated with the manliest of man parts, it was commonly used as a shortened version of the words declaration & dictionary and then came to be a nickname for policemen.  

The origin of “dick”, as in the one-eyed-wonder-worm, is dubious but it wasn’t because some obscure “Richard” was being a wiener.  The word wasn’t used in a derogatory fashion until the 1960’s . . . it’s probably some hipster bastardization of the word.

Anyway . . . “hick” as used as a nickname is no longer in use . . . unless of course you’re describing a country bumpkin.

Cocoa Banana Frozen Dessert

4 Ripe Bananas (Very Ripe Preferably)

2 Tablespoons Pure Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup

Peel the bananas and place them in a blender or food processor together with the cocoa powder.

Add the vanilla extract and the maple syrup.

Blend until very smooth. Pour into individual custard cups or small bowls and freeze till just frozen.

Though we adore men individually, we agree that as a group they're rather stupid.

Ladies, have you ever noticed that when you ask a man to get something for you it seems he can never seem to find it?  Whether it be milk from the refrigerator or  a stamp to mail a letter.

It’s called man eyes and they all seem to have the same problem.

You know how it is . . . you send him to get it and chances are pretty high that he won’t be able to find it.

I have theory on this phenomenon. 

This is what I believe happens.  You ask with a please and a thank you and all other manner of politeness.  Then suddenly, without inexplicably the man is struck blind . . . selectively blind . . . man eyes.

He can maneuver about without bumping into walls or falling over furniture but as he approaches his target his vision is suddenly impaired . . . its kind of like reverse tunnel vision. 

My experience has been that its just easier to go and get whatever it is I need for myself.

And that, girlfriends, is what it all boils down to.  it’s not that they can’t see . . . it’s that they won’t see. 

If they do it enough times they know that you will eventually give up and stop asking them to do anything for you.  It’s a conspiracy at the highest levels of manly deception.

And all you men out there??  We are on to you!

Mormon Peach Cobbler

The fruit, usually immersed in a sweet syrup, is traditionally covered with a biscuit topping so that it has the rough, uneven appearance of cobblestones—hence the name “cobblers”.  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Fruit Mixture

1 29 Ounce Size Can Of Sliced Peaches In Syrup

1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Drain the juice into a saucepan.  Mix a little of the juice with cornstarch to make a soft paste and add the paste to the rest of the juice.  Add the spices.

Heat until bubbly, stirring as needed.  The syrup should thicken to a slurry.

Pour the slurry and peaches into a small casserole dish.

Topping

1 Egg

1/3 Cup Milk

4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

1 Cup Flour

1/4 Cup Sugar

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

In a medium bowl, whisk the butter, milk, and egg together.  Add the sugar and stir.

Combine the dry ingredients and add them to the liquid mixture.   Stir until well combined.

Spoon over the peach mixture so that the fruit is covered.

Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is a golden brown.

Serve hot or cold with vanilla ice cream or even cold milk or crème anglaise.

Though we adore men individually, we agree that as a group they're rather stupid.


Mary Poppins

After all, a girl is... well, a girl. It's nice to be told you're successful at it.

Hubby and I went to a social gathering this weekend for bloggers in my region.  Most of them are men, most them blog about guns, politics and the like.





I'm not opposed to any of those things . . . I just choose not to blog about them.  During the course of dinner, beer and conversation, our "social director" commented that I have a "chick" blog.  Wha . . . what?? Me?  A girlie blog?



Sure, I'm a girl  . . . but still . . . 

I hadn't ever considered it.  But now that he mentioned it, it's kind of bothering me.  I ain't no girlie-girl.  I didn't think I was writing about womanly thingie-doodles or even feminine what-cha-ma-call-its.


What's my blog about?  Stuff . . . by me . . . a chick.  Sure, I almost always include a recipe or some sort of crafty thing or something, but I just write about stuff.  I don't consider it girl stuff . . . I kind of think it's gender neutral.  If I wanted to write about girl stuff I'd be writing about stuff like this or even this (proceed to links if you're man enough).


Why is it bothering me?  I don't know.  I just . . . don't . . .  know.


Chocolate will make me feel better!


That is all.

Chocolate Mousse

4 1/2 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate, Finely Chopped

2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Diced

2 Tablespoons Espresso or Very Strong Coffee 

1 Cup Cold Heavy Cream

3 Large Eggs, Separated

1 Tablespoon Sugar

Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate.

Combine the chocolate, butter, and espresso in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not simmering, water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool until the chocolate is just slightly warmer than body temperature. To test, dab some chocolate on your bottom lip. It should feel warm. If it is too cool, the mixture will seize when the other ingredients are added.

Once the melted chocolate has cooled slightly, whip the egg whites in a medium bowl until they are foamy and beginning to hold a shape. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat until soft peaks form.

When the chocolate has reached the proper temperature, stir in the yolks. Gently stir in about one-third of the whipped cream. Fold in half the whites just until incorporated, then fold in the remaining whites, and finally the remaining whipped cream.

Spoon or pipe the mousse into a serving bowl or individual dishes. If you wish, layer in fresh raspberries and whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (The mousse can be refrigerated for up to a day.)

Serves 5-8, depending on the size of the servings.

After all, a girl is... well, a girl. It's nice to be told you're successful at it.


Rita Hayworth

Awareness without action is worthless

One of my weekend pleasures is watching old movies . . . old like from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.  I like to plop myself down on the couch with a ball of yarn and a crochet hook or knitting needles, watch the classics and just chill.

I don’t know if those movies depict how people really interacted or spoke but it’s good clean fun.  Sometimes the dialogue includes a word that gets stuck in my head, a word that isn’t used in modern everyday conversation.  It dig, dig, digs.  Eventually, I make the effort to check it out. 

One word that comes to mind is ‘picayune’.  I heard it in the movie Mr. Skeffington from 1944 starring Bette Davis and Claude Rains.  Bette was nominated for an Oscar for her performance.  But that’s neither here nor there . . . the point is that that silly word is now stuck in my brain and I’m here to purge it.

This is what I found out about picayune . . .

Used up until the mid-1800’s, a picayune was a small Spanish coin, worth half a real . . . about six cents.  Interestingly, the word is actually derived from a French word meaning ‘small coin’.

Eventually, a ‘picayune’ came to mean something that is piddling or worthless.

So there you have it.

Like white on rice

Honky . . . a favorite word used by George Jefferson in the 70’s sitcom.  Mr. Jefferson was moving on up to the east side; to a de-luxe apartment in the sky who finally got a piece of the pie.

Honky . . . a word used by blacks to refer to whites.  It’s not particularly harsh sounding considering it’s a racial slur . . . it’s actually a funny word. 

The origin of this word could be a twist on words from the native language of two distinct groups . . . one from immigrants, the other from slaves.

Honky may be a variation of hunky, which was a variant of Bohunk, This was a derogatory term for Bohemian, Hungarian, and Polish immigrants that in the early 1900’s.  According to a couple of sources, black factory workers picked up the term from white workers and began applying it indiscriminately to all white folks and it caught on.

Honky may also have derived from the African term "xonq nopp" (the ‘x’ is pronounced as an ‘h’) which literally means "white person". The term may have originated with Wolof-speaking slaves brought to the US.

Maybe because it’s more colorful, I’m going with that the word honky dates back to the 1920’s.  Supposedly, the word came about because of the practice of white men who would venture into the red light districts seeking to pick of African-American prostitutes.  Those parts of town weren’t necessarily the best of areas. So the theory is that the curb-crawlers were afraid to stop their cars and would honk their car horns to draw the hookers to them.  Eventually, black people started to call the johns “honkies” and it became a part of the common vernacular.

Furnishing gratification of the senses

Do you remember Max Headroom?  No, I don’t mean the overhead signs warning of low over passes.  I’m talk about THE Max Headroom!

He was basically a head in a box . . . with very little head room.  If you don’t remember him, he was a pseudo-computer generated image . . . he was never really computer generated . . . in the days way before the World Wide Web and cyberstuff. 

 

Interestingly enough, despite the fact that the current technology of the 80’s wasn’t anywhere nearly as advanced as what the television show depicted, it was a remarkably accurate representation of what was to come.

 

Perhaps Max saw a little further than "20 minutes into the future".  Does any of this sound familiar?

Webcams . . . computer controlled cameras . . . long before such a thing was a reality.

  

Artificial intelligence . . . much like Max  . . . assisting in the use of computer software.  You know, like Clippy.

Gotomeeting and Netmeeting . . . who would have imagined such a thing was possible 30 years ago? 

Web polls . . . you see them every day on websites from Facebook to FoxNews.

Flash Advertsing . . . called BlipVerts in Max-speech.  You know those annoying ads that pop up all over the place while your browsing the internet?  Yeah, those things.

The show even portrayed such computer maladies as computer viruses and hijacking.  In fact, one episode showed Max invading an enemy's computer network with an image of a wooden Trojan horse!   

The show even went further by building “firewalls” to protect Max’s systems.  

I think it's interesting that the show predicted so much technology hardly conceived of at the time.  Even cooler that he looked computer generated when it was a live actor  . . . Matt Frewer . . . with a head piece.

CARNATION® Famous Fudge

1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar

2/3 Cup (5 Fl.-Oz. Can) Nestlé® Carnation® Evaporated Milk

2 Tablespoons Butter Or Margarine

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Miniature Marshmallows

1 1/2 Cups (9 Oz.) Nestlé® Toll House® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans Or Walnuts (Optional)

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Line a 8-inch-square pan with foil.

Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted. Pour into prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 48 pieces.

Quick, easy, yummly!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

A man cruised down to the biker bar on his Harley Davidson motorcycle . . . for the purposes of this blog I’ll call him Ziggy . . . where he hung out drinking and shooting pool for several hours . . . way past the time when he told his wife he’d be home.  His wife . . . I’ll call her Donna . . . called the bar looking for him.  The bartender answered the phone and shouted across the barroom . . . “Hey Zig, you’re wife is on the phone.” 

Ziggy exclaimed, “Oh crap!  Tell her I’m not here.  ”.   Of course, all the while the bartender is holding out the phone and Donna can hear him as clear as if he were talking into the mouthpiece.  The bartender sighs and says, “he’s not here”, and proceeds to hang up the phone.

Naturally, this isn’t the first time Ziggy’s tried to pull a fast one on her and, then to add insult to injury, she got hung up on.  Now she’s rip-roarin’ pissed off.  Donna’s not one to just to sit back and let things go, so she heads off to the bar the get her husband.

One of the bikers hanging outside smoking a cigarette recognizes Donna’s car as she pulled into the parking lot.  He popped his head inside and yelled, “hey Ziggy, you’re wife is here.”

Ziggy exclaimed, “Oh crap!” And, instead of facing his petite little darlin’, he crouched down behind the pinball machines to hide. Heh . . . a real manly man, eh?

Donna storms through the door and demands to talk to her husband.  The bartender says, ‘I already told you he wasn’t here, Donna.”

So she says, “Dude, I know he’s here”.   And proceeds to look for him.  She looks under the tables, behind the bar, in the bathrooms and there’s no sign of Ziggy.

The bartender says, “I told you he wasn’t here” as he steers her towards the door and outside.

Donna knows he’s inside the bar somewhere.  She’s not stupid.  After all, his motorcycle is sitting right outside the bar in the parking lot.   

Donna was ticked off before and now she was double . . . nay. . . triply enraged.  She walks right up to the bike and kicks it over.

The bartender, who was still outside waiting for her to leave, yelled inside . . .”Hey, Ziggy, your wife just dumped your bike.”

Ziggy exclaimed, “Oh crap! “

True story . . . Hell hath no fury and all that stuff.

____________________________________

Key Lime Pie


5 egg yolks, beaten
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup key lime juice
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.


Combine the egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice. Mix well. Pour into unbaked graham cracker shell.


Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Top with whipped topping and garnish with lime slices if desired.