Scenes from my Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the belated birthday cake that my friend got to celebrate our October birthdays and the pumpkins we carved before the trick or treaters and the cake. A nice night and we were matching witches too!

Isn't that birthday cake just the most truthful you have ever seen?  Some days I am glad to grow old.  Others, not!

I hope you had a ghoulishly good evening!

Halloween candy info from Hungry Girl

No stats on the back of your bite-sized Halloween goodies? Don't stress! Check out our new HUGE guide to the calorie counts and fat contents of your favorite candies, and then forward this to all your hungry pals!


Guilt-Free Classics!



Tootsie Caramel Apple Pop - 60 calories, 0.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Charms Blow Pop - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Dum Dum Pop - 25 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Lik-m-aid Fun Dip 0.5-oz. Pouch - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Jolly Rancher Hard Candy (3 Pieces), Original - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Jolly Rancher Lollipop - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Laffy Taffy Miniature - 32 calories, 0.4g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Pixy Stix (7 Straws) - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Smarties Candy Roll - 25 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Tootsie Pop Miniature (3 Pops) - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Tootsie Pop - 60 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Tootsie Roll Midgee (About 1-Inch Long) - 23 calories, 0.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Tootsie Roll Snack Bar (0.5 oz., About 3-Inches Long) - 50 calories, 1.25g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Twizzlers Strawberry Twists, Snack Size (3 Minis) or Individually Wrapped Twist - 30 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Chocolate 101: Size Matters!



Before you chew, know the difference between Snack Size, Fun Size, and Miniatures...



Miniatures/Minis are the square-shaped morsels -- those babies are each about a quarter-ounce in weight.



A Snack Size or Fun Size chocolate treat weighs in at a little more than a half-ounce and is usually about 2 inches long.


Not all size-categorized treats are created equal. We've found seemingly identical Fun Size bars on shelves -- same brand, same flavor -- with varying weights and calorie counts. If you want to be extra-careful, we recommend going by the higher set of stats listed below.

Choc-O-Licious



3 Musketeers Mini Bar - 24 calories, 0.7g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



3 Musketeers Fun Size Bar - 63 - 70 calories, 2 - 2.25g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)



Almond Joy Snack Size Bar - 80 - 85 calories, 4.5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Butterfinger Miniature - 45 calories, 1.75g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Butterfinger Fun Size Bar - 100 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Hershey's Kiss, Milk Chocolate - 25 calories, 1.4g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Hershey's Kiss, Pumpkin Spice or Candy Corn Flavor - 23 calories, 1.3g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Hershey's Miniature Bar, Any Flavor - 42 calories, 2.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Hershey's Milk Chocolate Snack Size Bar - 67 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Milky Way Mini - 40 calories, 1.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Milky Way Fun Size Snack Bar - 75 - 80 calories, 3g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Nestle Crunch Miniature - 30 calories, 1.5g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Nestle Crunch Fun Size Bar - 60 - 70 calories, 3 - 3.3g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)



Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cup - 44 calories, 2.6g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Reese's Snack Size Peanut Butter Cup - 90 - 110 calories, 5 - 6.5g fat (POINTS® value 2 - 3*)



SHOCKER! Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkin - 170 calories, 10g fat (POINTS® value 4*)



Snickers Miniature - 45 calories, 2g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Snickers Fun Size Bar - 80 calories, 4g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Twix Mini Caramel Cookie Bar - 50 calories, 2.6g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Twix Fun Size Peanut Butter Cookie or Caramel Cookie Bar - 80 calories, 4 - 5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



York Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Pattie Pumpkin - 60 calories, 1.25g fat (POINTS® value 1*)


Goodie Bag (or Box)!



Dots Mini Box - 75 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Junior Mints Snack Size Box - 80 calories, 1.5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Life-Savers Gummies Pouch - 70 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



M&M's Fun Size Bag - 63 - 83 calories, 2.6 - 4g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)



Peanut M&M's Fun Size Bag - 67 - 90 calories, 3.3 - 5g fat (POINTS® value 2*)



Mike and Ike Snack Size Pack - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Milk Duds Snack Size Box - 53 calories, 2g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Nerds Mini Box - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Runts Mini Package - 70 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Skittles Fun Size Pack, Original - 53 - 80 calories, 0.5g - 1g fat (POINTS® value 1 - 2*)



Sour Patch Kids Treat Size Package - 55 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Starburst Original Fruit Chews Fun Size Package (2 Chews) - 40 calories, 0.8g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Swedish Fish Treat Size Package - 55 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)



Sweetarts Pouch - 50 calories, 0g fat (POINTS® value 1*)

I finally partook in a CSA!

Sorry for the image quality.

I had heard about Sandy P. from a customer at the health food store I worked at this year.  I wanted to join the CSA but didn't need a full share for myself and never found someone to split a share.  Thus, I never joined.

Sandy included me in her weekly emails and this week she stated that there were some veggies remaining for purchase.  I spent $15.40 and got:

2 bunches beets

2 pounds sweet potatoes

2 bunches turnips

2 pounds winter radish

and a head each of romaine and red leaf lettuce.

 

It didn't seem like a lot when I ordered it, but my oh my was it a nice hull.  I can't wait to roast the beets and the turnips.  I have no clue what to do with the winter radish (daikon).  And I will have some yummy salads the next few days with organic lettuces.

 

And I could get more in the next couple weeks.

 

The greens on the turnips were full of little bug holes.  I wouldn't use them and made a comment that I wouldn't.  Sandy said if I wasn't she would take them for her guinea pig.  I removed them almost immediately for her little "piggy."  The guinea pigs need to feel the love too.

 

I had taken a lot of Sandy's time with emails when I was inquiring about joining.  So today I stayed for a little over an hour helping her sort the delivery for the shareholders.  I should clarify that I was there for a little over an hour, but a lot of that was meeting the shareholders and waiting to do work when Sandy was free.  I alphabetized her invoices and put away the storage bins.  I took a half day at worktoday.  I ran my necessary errands before going to Sandy's.  I was in a very relaxed and giving of myself state when I arrived.  Her big hug greeting me helped too.  I was so grateful for her help to me this year and thus it felt right to help her and I am glad I was able to give her my time.

 

If you would like her contact info, email me at meggysue90@hotmail.com.

Salad turnips, just for salads????????

Tonight I tried cooking the salad turnips I bought at the Farmers Market 9 days ago.  I wasn't sure how long they would last.  But, I figured I'd give it a go.  The greens were pretty wilted, so I didn't saute those.  I was told that they were great sliced in salads, not even peeled. 

I wasn't in the mood for a cold salad, so I decided to slice and saute them.

They got a little soft, but they were yummy.  Raw, they have a mild radish taste.  Cooked, that is much more mild.  I liked the flavor of the raw turnips, but I was also pleased with the mild flavor.

I sliced about 7 salad turnips and sauteed them in 2 t canola oil.  I added crushed black pepper, minced garlic, and a little salt.  I cooked on high heat until it started to brown and then cut the heat.

Yum!

Homemade Veggie Chili - and a huge revelation as a side!

At the local produce stand yesterday, along with the 11 ears of corn for $1, I got all this for $3 more. So, I decided to use the slightly bruised green peppers and 2 onions to make some veggie chili. A few pieces and slivers of green pepper had to be removed and not used, but the majority was still beautiful and ripe. The tangerines are back in the fridge for eating this week.

I sauteed the onion and green peppers in 4 teaspoons canola oil.  The onions went in a few minutes first.  The spices were added in next.  Cumin, cayenne, garlic, freshly ground pepper, and chili powder.  Lots and lots of cumin and chili powder!  I then added in canned tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, drained & rinsed canned black beans, and corn.  If I had homemade tomato sauce and corn I would have used those.  I am trying to get away from so many canned items. 

It needed a little more liquid to it, so I made up some veggie bouillon and added 2 C of that.

As I was cutting up the green peppers, I thought of how the bruised peppers are a metaphor for me and my continuing weight loss journey.  I have gained it all back.  It happened when I didn't even know it.  Sure I am to blame for most of it.  But the pain in my body and lack of exercise have something to do with it too.  When I bought the peppers on the dollar table, I didn't remove each to see if I should buy them.  I trusted that I would have enough to use for chili.  I don't know how they became bruised, if by nature or man, but do the bruises make them any less valuable?  In a food sales world, yes.  To me, no!  I have picked up some emotional bruises along the way and I have to ask myself, does that make me any less valuable?  No!  So, there are a few pieces of me that I need to discard (weight), but, I am still valuable and worthy like those peppers.

And given that today is my 33rd birthday, I think this is a great revelation and start to a healthy and bountiful year!

Frozen Corn recipe with a kick!

The local produce stand had 11 ears of corn for $1 on the dollar table. I bought it, husked and cleaned it. I brought water to boil, added in a vegetable bouillon cube, cumin, and ground red pepper. I stirred with a whisk to blend in the spices. Once the water boiled, I added the corn. The water didn't come back up to a boil after the corn was immersed.

This simmered for about 5 minutes, upon which I removed with tongs and let cool on a plate. I cooked the corn in 2 batches. I didn't bring the water back to a boil between batches.

After cooled, I sliced off the kernels and placed in a vacuum freezer bag to store.

I ended up cooking 10.5 ears and it yielded 4 C kernels.

It is a tad spicy and aromatic. It will be quite tasty and won't need any other flavorings, like butter.