I'm here to help...

[Apples2 19]

Hey Mellisa...good hear from you and that you are hanging in there. Good luck with the TG Day dinner. I and mom's DIL are going halvsies on the dinner. Since we both farm and we figure all our guys will be harvesting corn, we will do it together. Always nice holiday at their home.

I am the pies (I'm thinking at least 5-6 pies), potatoes and salad...and a bread of some sort.

[Great2BThin 5]

And what kind of pie are you, Apples? Apple perhaps? :thumbup:

Linda, glad you are getting your hip taken care of, if it's like my knee so far it's been worth it. I am not pain free yet but am in less pain than before surgery on my left knee. Now to get the right one done. It would've been so cool, had it been closer and you could meet us!

Phyl, nice beadwork! I see all the pretty beads in Michaels and wonder how to make them into something pretty.

Melissa, glad you are hanging in there. Good luck with the Thanksgiving dinner!

Janet, Phyl, Eva, great photo, looks like a fun time!

I am busy doing laundry and stuff so I can pack tomorrow. DH wants to load the car tomorrow night so we can hit the road just before 4am on Tues. I am going to miss checking in here, not sure how much, if any computer access I will have while gone.

[Apples2 19]

Great..for sure a couple of apple pies, a couple of pumpkin, a pecan and maybe a couple french silk.

How far of a drive is it for you? I'm thinking about 9-10 hours to SD for you? Looking forward to Saturday. See you then!

[Great2BThin 5]

Great..for sure a couple of apple pies, a couple of pumpkin, a pecan and maybe a couple french silk.

How far of a drive is it for you? I'm thinking about 9-10 hours to SD for you? Looking forward to Saturday. See you then!

It is a 9 hour drive however, my knee dr made me promise I would stop every hour and a half to get out and walk around a tad, guess for 3mos after surgery there is still a blood clot risk, so it is going to take longer. We are caravaning with 2 other cars and I've warned them but they still want to all caravan. So we will stop in Ft Morgan, CO for Breakfast, a rest stop on the CO/NE state line for a potty break, walk around break, N Platte, NE for lunch, another rest stop or two, gas station or two, etc.

Dumb question: What is a french silk pie?

Looking forward to meeting too. Think I will go check the long range forcast and see if they are talking any storms!

[Apples2 19]

French silk pie is VERY rich. Tastes almost like brownie batter in a crust. Made with butter, eggs, chocolate. Never been a fan of it. I have always had an aversion to anything rich.

Good to hear you plan to get out and walk. It's gotta be better for the knee to not have it in the same position for that many hours. You guys have a safe trip. A lot of traffic on our highways this week. (That goes for anyone else traveling also).

[Apples2 19]

OK, Meredith, time to check in...missing you!

[Apples2 19]

OK...tried a new recipe today and thought I would share. It's actually pretty good.

2 lbs hamburger, browned and rinsed

Put meat back in pan and add 2 cups Water and 1 package onion Soup mix, 2 chicken bullion and 2 cups chopped celery. Simmer for about 15 min.

When the celery is tender, add 2 cups FF sourcream and gently toss in two cans of cut green Beans. (I used fresh that I steamed).

You can cut this recipe in half easily.

[Apples2 19]

Also, you can use low sodium bullion and onion mix

[1day at a time 2]

So as to as to share th cost my family and DH family are brining stuff I have the turkey though :thumbup:

[Meredith2424 0]

Im here! So sorry that it has been so long since I've even checked in! I didn't realize that it had been so long. I just caught up on my reading here. Whew! Busy gals!

Anyhow, my sis came home for thanksgiving on Friday, so we went out last night downtown. We first went to a great restraunt in greektown (one of the best greektowns in the country i think) and then to an irish pub called the old shelleileigh. Its a great place with a trio of guys who have been playing there for 20 years! The upstairs is all irish and the downstairs is like a club with hip hop music. We stayed upstairs. My sis, her new boyfriend, his father, andrew and myself. It was so much fun! I slept in really late today and I am so embarrassed about it! Oh well, I must have needed the sleep. Tomorrow I have aerobics and weight training and then an apointment for a fill at 4:15. I already have 5 cc's in a 10 cc band, but i do feel like I need more restriction.

Phyl, Janet, and Eva~ You girls look wonderful! I hope you had a great time with one another! The neclace and earrings are also so beautiful Phyl! Nice work.

I have to get dinner together for andrew and I. I really don't feel like cooking, so I may convince him to run across the street and pick up a carry out. I like the grilled chicken ceasar salad (if I've had a low cal day, which i have today, and no croutons or garlic bread) and andrew gets a grilled chicken sandwich. Delish.

I am still stuck at -59. So annoying. I have eaten well, and I have been exercising like a mad woman still. My trainer seems to think that muscle is replacing fat and evening out on the scale. Who knows? It's annoying. However, I have noticed that clothes are much baggier and there is no way I can even still wear any of the clothes that I used to. They are all going to Purple Heart, or maybe to a client or two. Even when i was really fat I got lots of compliments on my clothes. So now. I am wearing a size 16 pant! From a 22 to a 16! I no longer have to go to the fat girl store for clothes!!!! That is super exciting to me. Anyhow, I willbe back later on to comment on everyones news from the past few days.

Love you all.

Meredith

[Apples2 19]

So as to as to share th cost my family and DH family are brining stuff I have the turkey though :thumbup:

Mellisa...do you need some help with directions for making your turkey? I am sure there are a number of us that have a number of different suggestions. Just ask if you want some tips

[Great2BThin 5]

Meredith, Congrats on being into the 'normal' size stores! That was the most exciting thing to me. I usually only shopped Lane Bryant and from the day I hit a 16 and could buy clothes off the rack in other stores, I've never crossed the threshold of that store again, even though I still could wear stuff in there for quite a while. Anything new on the house buying front?

Thanks for the safe driving thoughts, Apples, just checked the weather and as of now it looks good for the entire trip. Think I'll pass on the French Silk pie too then, I am not into super rich things either. My favorite pie is banana Cream, followed by Apple ala mode, if there's no 'ala mode' then no pie. LOL and it must be warm so the ice cream gets melty.

I've made many a turkey in my day, in fact this might be the first Thanksgiving in my marriage that I didn't cook one. My daughter took a class at Williams and Sonoma and recently made a brined one, it was really good.

[1day at a time 2]

Mellisa...do you need some help with directions for making your turkey? I am sure there are a number of us that have a number of different suggestions. Just ask if you want some tips

Oh no I got it a long time friend gave be a good suggestions. it is only the second turkey I ever cooked so that was what the eek was about

[phyllser 3]

Phyl, Janet, and Eva~ You girls look wonderful! I hope you had a great time with one another! The neclace and earrings are also so beautiful Phyl! Nice work.

I am still stuck at -59. So annoying. I have eaten well, and I have been exercising like a mad woman still. My trainer seems to think that muscle is replacing fat and evening out on the scale. Who knows? It's annoying. However, I have noticed that clothes are much baggier and there is no way I can even still wear any of the clothes that I used to. They are all going to Purple Heart, or maybe to a client or two. Even when i was really fat I got lots of compliments on my clothes. So now. I am wearing a size 16 pant! From a 22 to a 16! I no longer have to go to the fat girl store for clothes!!!! That is super exciting to me. Anyhow, I will be back later on to comment on everyones news from the past few days. Love you all.

Meredith

Yes, we had a very enjoyable afternoon/evening yesterday. Palm Springs is a fun place to hang out, browse the shops, etc. and we went to my favorite fish place for dinner. We spent a LOT of time in the "Bath Junkie" store!!

Thanks for the kudos on the jewelry. I am really enjoying my new hobby... beading classes.

I'm just starting to be able to wear some size 16s, also! It is quite a thrill. I started this journey in clothes as big as 30 pants, 4X, 5X in some things. Wore my new 16W Alfred Dunner pants to church this morning and it feels great to fit in to them and even have them a little "roomy"! Wore one of my very favorite black jackets with them and it really needs to go in the "Goodwill" bag... wraps around me 1 1/2 times!

DH was doing laundry this afternoon so I used the opportunity to invade the kitchen! I made some killer white chicken chili! It is in the crock pot and it smells SO good! He gets a little defensive! He just told me it won't be done for a few hours!! Excuse me??? The chicken (chopped up rotisserie chicken) was already cooked, I sauteed all the veggies, so what is it that has to cook a few more hours!! It's ready to eat NOW assuming the carrots are soft! Bon Appetite!!

 

[phyllser 3]

OK...tried a new recipe today and thought I would share. It's actually pretty good.

2 lbs hamburger, browned and rinsed

Put meat back in pan and add 2 cups Water and 1 package onion Soup mix, 2 chicken bullion and 2 cups chopped celery. Simmer for about 15 min.

When the celery is tender, add 2 cups FF sourcream and gently toss in two cans of cut green Beans. (I used fresh that I steamed). You can cut this recipe in half easily.

Sounds yummy!

Here's my White Chicken Chili recipe... (well, actually, my friend's recipe!)

White Chicken Chili recipe

OK - here it is. Measurements are nowhere near exact as I don't measure anything.

1 T olive oil

1 lb chicken, chunked

1 sm-med onion, chopped

1.5 c. chicken broth (I use broth, but then add a bit of "better than bouillon" over the top to amp up the flavor)

1 small bunch cilantro (about a handful, mostly leaves but stems are OK too) chopped

2 t cumin

1 t oregano

1 - 2 4oz cans chopped green chilies (or mild to hot chilies from the garden finely chopped. I generally use one can chilies and one red medium hot chili fresh - I also often add some red bell pepper for color)

2 -3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

1/4 tsp cayenne (Add it. Trust me)

1-2 cans white beans - Great Northern or Cannelloni (I like to mix them)

For toppings: jack cheese, sour creme and fresh chopped cilantro

_______________________

Heat oil in pot and brown chicken, getting all those nice brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Remove chicken and set aside. Add a touch more oil and onions to the pan and saute a few minutes until tender. Add the chicken broth and the remainder of the veg and herbs and deglaze the pan. Simmer on med-low, covered, for 30min to 1 hr to meld well. Once melded, add the chicken and the beans and heat through.

Once warm, taste it. If it's a bit bland, add salt or better than bouillon to taste. If it needs some spice, add extra cumin, cayenne or chilies to taste.

You can substitute garlic powder for the fresh garlic and dried cilantro for the fresh, and it's OK, but it isn't the same...

Top with shredded jack cheese, sour creme and chopped fresh cilantro.