Mojito Madness...

This entry will be short and sweet today - but I promise to make up for it next week. Just wanted to say that I had the most dee-lish mojito at dinner last night. But instead of mint, they used basil. It was wondrous. Unfortunately, I couldn't pull a recipe out of them. But I'm guessing it goes something like this:

Basil Mojito
1.5 oz white rum (like Bacardi)
10 fresh basil leaves
1/2 lime
7 oz club soda
2 tbsp. simple syrup (or two packets of sucralose-based sweetener)

Also, on the mojito front, I noticed that Splenda.com has a recipe for a Mango Mojito Pie. Um, yes, I WILL be trying that one out soon.

If you beat me to the punch, let me know the pie's level of yumminess, on a one to ten scale!

No matter how hard you try, you can't make me sing...

Okay, so I have a multi-day work event coming up later this week and the rumor is, we have to do karaoke one of the evenings. And, unfortunately, this will not be a situation where we can slip unnoticed into the bathroom (or under the table) when it comes time to volunteer. I'm hearing they will actually be calling each of us up to the front to perform.
Eeek!
Here's the deal: I don't mind hitting up the occasional karaoke bar with a group of buddies, an outing that typically follows the consumption of a few cocktails. I actually once brought down the house with a rockin' version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin" - performed, of course, before Jessica Simpson butchered the song with a lame, soul-sucking cover version that somehow still managed to get play on major radio stations...moving on. HOWEVER, I do mind climbing up on a stage and belting out a tune - stone-cold sober - in front of a large group of managers and work colleagues.
So what should I perform - if I'm forced to perform - that's work-appropriate and will entertain people of varying ages and musical interests?
According to this Entertainment Weekly list, songs like Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel are consistent karaoke crowd pleasers while Don McLean's sprawling "American Pie" and anything from the "Grease" soundtrack are sure to irritate your audience. However, I don't agree with all of the list's choices. After all, they did give a thumbs-up to a Backstreet Boys song. A boy band?? For serious?
Anyhoos, I'm considering the forever-awesome "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes or maybe some Tom Petty, Black Crowes, Jefferson Airplane or Sublime. Let me reiterate that these would only be sung under extreme duress, as in I'd be dragged up to the stage, kicking and screaming.
Couple random karaoke tidbits for you, courtesy of Wikipedia.
* Finland holds the record for the largest number of people singing karaoke at one time, with 80,000 people singing "Hard Rock Hallelujah" on May 26, 2006 in Helsinki.
* China holds the record - achieved back on Jan. 1 of this year - for the longest non-stop rally of karaoke; a whopping 214 hours, 20 minutes, and eight seconds.

Also, since I know y'all are jonesing for some recipes, I'm including a few smoothie ideas here to keep you cool on these hot days.

Berry Smoothie

Mango Yogurt Smoothie

Peach Melba Smoothie

So, gang, any other karaoke song ideas? Any blog entry or recipe tips?

Either way, if I do wind up on stage, I figure I can't possibly be as bad as this group. Talk about making ears bleed. Yowza.

I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!

Vincent Vega: Did you just order a five dollar shake?
Mrs. Mia Wallace: Ummhh.
Vincent Vega: That's a shake . . . that's milk and ice cream.
Mrs. Mia Wallace: Last I heard.
Vincent Vega: That's five dollars? You don't put bourbon in it or nothin'?
Buddy Holly: No.
Vincent Vega: Just checking.
Pulp Fiction

And you can thank the brilliant "There Will Be Blood," for the title on this particular blog entry. Like Pulp Fiction, it's a dark movie but certainly well acted - but unlike Tarantino's famous flick, there's little humor to be found in "Blood."

On to happier topics...Guess what today is??! National Vanilla Milkshake Day. And guess what I'll be drinking once I get home? Oh you betcha. I love me some milkshakes - especially on a hot day.

For all of you who want to make a low-cal version, rather than buying a fatty one from the local DQ, here is my own healthy variation of a Paula Deen recipe.

AT's Low-Cal Vanilla Milkshake
4 cups sugar-free vanilla ice cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 packets Splenda (add or subtract amount based on personal sweetness preference)
2 cups skim milk, less for thicker milkshakes
Using a blender, mix all ingredients together until smooth.

Oh and P.S. Tomorrow is National Peaches and Cream Day. And Sunday? It's National Chocolate Eclair Day. Happy eating y'all!

Finally, for a Friday ha-ha, here is a clip from Ugly Betty featuring one of the character's doing a rather entertaining version of "Milkshake" by Kelis. Enjoy!

If you like pina coladas

Okay...enough already. I work out regularly. I watch what I eat. And up until recently, I was pretty successful at maintaining my weight. But now, all of a sudden, I've noticed a few new pesky pounds popping up and I feel completely unprepared for bikini season. And you know why? It's because of all the recent backyard BBQs and sipping of cocktails on outdoor patios with friends. How's a girl supposed to lose - and keep off - weight around here, once the weather warms up?
Anyway, I came across a fabulous article on the Weight Watchers site that discusses the caloric wallop of those fabulous frosty beverages. Take a piña colada, for example. The average eight-ouncer can set you back more than 400 calories. Wow.

So here are some Weight Watchers tips to lighten up the next drink order.
1. Never come to happy hour hungry. Arrive with a growling belly and you may find yourself downing a few handfuls of bar nuts (about 600 calories), or chowing down on nachos or chicken fingers. Instead, work in some extra exercise and eat a piece of fruit before hitting the bar.
2. Be mindful of mixers. Hard liquor runs 100-200 calories per shot, but add a sugary or creamy mixer and you'll double or triple the calories. So order your fave but make it lighter — a rum and Coke using diet cola, a gin and tonic using low-calorie tonic. Or skip mixers altogether and sip a light beer or a glass of red wine.
3. Make the cocktail your dessert. If you can't resist a daiquiri, drink seltzer during your cocktail hour and savor the mega-calorie libation instead of ice cream or a slice of cake.
4. Enjoy alcohol every other round. Alternate each alcoholic beverage with seltzer or water. It'll cut down on calories and help you keep count of how much you're drinking.

And here are a few lower-cal cocktail recipes designed to help you avoid moving up a dress size.

1. Caipirinha. Cut a room-temperature lime into quarters and drop it in a shaker. Add one packet of sucralose sweetener and one tablespoon water. Mash the mixture very well with a wooden spoon, dissolving the lime into mush. Add a shot (1½ ounces) of white rum and enough ice cubes to fit in an old-fashioned glass. Shake well. Pour mixture (including the peel) into a glass. Variation: Add slices of mangos or a few cherries along with the lime.
2. Mojito. Pour 3/4 of an ounce (about half a shot) fresh lime juice into a glass. Add one packet of Splenda and four or five mint leaves. Stir until the sweetener dissolves. Add a shot of light rum and several ice cubes. Top with 2 ounces club soda and a sprig of mint.
3. Margarita. To shaker, add 3/4 of an ounce (about half a shot) fresh lime juice, 1 to 1½ ounces low-calorie triple sec and 2 ounces tequila. Add ice. Count slowly to 10 while shaking. Rub a lime halfway along the glass's outside rim, then roll the moistened part of the rim in kosher salt. Pour margarita into the glass.
4. Long Island Iced Tea. To shaker, add 1/4 shot vodka, 1/4 shot rum, 1/4 shot gin, 1/4 shot tequila, 3/4 ounces fresh lemon juice and two packets of sucralose sweetener dissolved into 2 tablespoons of water. Shake. Pour into a tall glass filled with ice and top with diet cola. Squeeze lemon on top.
5. Sangria. Dissolve four packets of Splenda into 4 tablespoons of water. Pour into pitcher. Add slices of oranges, lemons, limes, peaches, plums or nectarines as well as grapes (for white wine sangria, red grapes; for red wine sangria, white). Add a bottle of red or white wine. Stir, then let sit. Before serving, top pitcher with a drizzle of club soda.

And now, because I've referenced pina coladas in this entry, I have the dang Rupert Holmes song running through my head. Of course. So because I love you all so much, I decided to share it with you...Don't hate. Appreciate!

Chew on that

"And then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa!" - Chunk, The Goonies

Well, bust out the Godiva box because today is National Truffles Day. And I'm not referring to the ones that look like slimy little fungi...(ugh, mushrooms!) These truffles are of the chocolate variety.
So okay, if you're like me, you associate boxes of chocolate with either Valentines Day, the weepy days following a bad break-up or Forrest Gump. But since I was able to pass by that fabulous looking confectionary shop yesterday WITHOUT stopping in for a sampling, I figure I'm due for a little "something something" - in this case, sucralose-sweetened, low-carb chocolate truffles! Can I get a "Woo hoo?!" No?
Alrighty then.
Long story short, truffles are typically made with a chocolate ganache center coated in chocolate or cocoa powder. Other fillings include cream, caramel, nuts, almonds, berries, fudge, nougat and liquor, to name a few.
Since I'm stuck house/dog-sitting for a friend this weekend, I plan on whipping up a batch of these babies and noshing in style. Thanks to RecipeZaar for the tasty looking recipe.

Low Carb Chocolate Truffles

Also, I found this fun little test, designed to determine if you're a true "chocoholic." I think I already know my answer. What will your response be?

Finally, because it's Friday, I thought I'd add a clip from The Goonies, one of the greatest movies of the 80s. At least I thought so back when I was young. Remember Chunk and his "truffle shuffle" dance? Well, I'm not attaching that clip, because it can be a wee bit offensive, but I am including his hilarious confession to the Fratelli family. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Jamba that!

Not knocking Smoothie King or anything but...where's a Jamba Juice when you need one?!
As someone who keeps a close eye on food and drink specials at area restaurants and stores, I'm super bummed I won't be able to take advantage of this. To help promote their new line of breakfast items, a number of Jamba Juice spots nationwide are giving out FREE 12-ounce smoothies and juices tomorrow (April 8) until 10 a.m. Did you hear that? Free, I tell ya! Unfortunately, there are no Jamba Juice stores in Atlanta. BOO! But far be it for me to deny others...so in case any of you are J. Juice first-timers and hoping to score a freebie, I suggest the Jamba Light smoothies, which have about 1/3 less calories and sugar than the regular versions. More specifically, I love Berry Fulfilling, which mixes strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, Splenda, non-fat milk and whey protein for only 150 calories of 16-ounce deliciousness. Since I'm not particularly familiar with the chain's newer breakfast lines, I asked friends in-the-know for their recommendations. Responses seemed to center around the Sunrise Strawberry, which blends soymilk, non-fat yogurt, strawberries and bananas, and the Mango Peach Topper, which features mangoes (duh!), bananas, peaches, soymilk, low-fat yogurt and organic pumpkin seed flax granola. Yum!
That being said, don't be fooled into thinking every item on the Jamba Juice menu is healthy. Take the Peanut Butter Moo'd smoothie, for example. A 24-ounce cup has 840 calories, 21 grams of fat and 122 grams of sugar, according to the company's nutritional information. To put things in comparison, a McDonald's double quarter-pounder with cheese is 740 calories, 42 fat grams and 9 grams of sugar. Wowza. Men's Health Magazine even recently named the chocolate version of the Moo'd smoothie one of the 20 worst foods found on American menus these days.

Finally, for those of you that want to save your money - but still enjoy a tasty smoothie - here's one that I've been whipping up in recent weeks. Combine 8 fl. oz. of unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze and two tablespoons of Better'n Peanut Butter - both of which can be bought at Trader Joes - with a banana, packet of Splenda and a little sugar-free Hershey's chocolate syrup. Voila! A tasty, low-calorie liquid dessert awaits!

This just in!

According to a new study, eating several pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream each day not only won't cause weight gain, but also helps to build stronger bones. JUST KIDDING! Sorry, y'all, but since it is April Fool's Day and all, I thought it was only fitting. Speaking of B&J, though, that reminds me...I need to find out if they're ever going to resurrect Festivus ice cream, which was quite possibly my favorite kind EVER, despite the fact that it was sent to the flavor graveyard after two short years. I mean, how can you not want brown sugar cinnamon ice cream loaded with gingerbread cookies and featuring a ginger caramel swirl? Oy - I am salivating just thinking about it.
Back to April Fool's pranks, a few friends have pointed out that YouTube is actually "rickrolling" anyone viewing their Featured Videos list today. What, you might ask, is rickrolling? Well, according to the ever-accurate Wikipedia, it's when someone provides a link they claim is relevant to a certain topic which instead redirects people to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" music video.
For those unfamiliar with the 80s crooner, this is the song in question.


For additional giggles, I'm including a YouTube clip of one of the most famous April Fool's Day pranks of all time...the spaghetti tree. Back in 1957, a BBC program ran a three-minute spoof reporting on the harvesting of spaghetti trees in Switzerland. Hundreds of people later phoned in to ask how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.


On that note, here is a sucralose-sweetened Fresh Spaghetti Sauce recipe to try out the next time you whip up a plate of pasta. And yes, this recipe is for real - no pranks involved. Enjoy!

Hanging out on Avenue Q

My more loyal readers probably already know about my long-standing adoration of Sesame Street and the Muppets. Needless to say, I've been jonesing to see Avenue Q - the Broadway show starring puppets - since I first heard about it several years ago. I finally got my opportunity last night, when the production came to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Holy hilarity, Batman. We literally laughed so hard, we cried. It was fabulous!
For those of you in the dark, Avenue Q is the story of a group of 20 and 30-somethings living in a New York City neighborhood and their struggle to find jobs, dates and a purpose in life. It centers around bright-eyed kindergarten teaching assistant Kate Monster and her romantic interest Princeton, a newcomer with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Other characters include struggling comedian Brian and his fiancee, Christmas Eve, a therapist unable to find patients; slacker Nicky and his uptight roommate Rod, a Republican investment banker with a secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster and a building superintendent named Gary Coleman, who just happens to be a former child actor. Ya huh. The show is an homage to Sesame Street, but with an emphasis on adult issues.
Although the material is couched in comedy, I think the show rings true with many grownups - especially those in my age bracket. My group of friends certainly related. With songs like "What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?" and "I Wish I Could Go Back to College," it's almost as if the writers were listening into some of our recent conversations...in my case, just replace the English BA with a Journalism degree. Hee.
Anyhoo, should the utterly irreverant and hi-LAR-ious Avenue Q be playing in your neighborhood in the not-so-distant future, I strongly encourage you to attend.
Although I'd love to attach some AQ clips here, the content isn't really appropriate for this blog. So instead of Trekkie, I thought I'd include a song featuring Cookie Monster, the character he is modeled after.
I'm also including this sucralose-sweetened sugar cookie recipe to honor my favorite monster, as well as a Long Island Iced Tea recipe in honor of a certain scene from Avenue Q.

Happy Friday, gang!

Long Island Iced Tea
1/3 oz vodka
1/3 oz rum
1/3 oz gin
1/3 oz tequila
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
2 packets Splenda
2 Tbsp water
diet cola
fresh slice lemon
tall glass of ice
* Dissolve Splenda in water. Add mixture to cocktail shaker, along with all liquors and lemon juice. Shake well. Pour into tall cocktail glass filled with ice, add diet cola until filled. Garnish with fresh slice of lemon.

With visions of Cadbury Creme Eggs dancing in my head...

Happy almost Easter! If you're anything like me, you may be tempted to dive into a basket of Cadbury Crème eggs and assorted chocolates this weekend. However, seeing as how one egg is nearly 172 calories, that's probably not the best idea.

So I figured I'd pass along a couple tidbits for all you health nuts out there.

For starters, Carrot Cake always makes a yummy Easter weekend treat. And when you make it with Splenda like in this receipe, it goes down even better!

And, of course, don't forget about the perennial Easter fave known as marshmallow peeps. After all, nothing says Easter like peeps jousting. And now there are sugar-free peeps out there for all you calorie-counters.

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend.

Who knew?

And here I thought all my parties this weekend would involve embracing my Irish roots. A buddy just passed along an e-mail letting me know that today is Pi Day. Nope, I didn't forget the e...For those who (like me) are completely unfamiliar with this holiday, apparently it was born 20 years ago at San Francisco's Exploratorium and it celebrates the mathematical constant known as pi. Today, you see, is March 14 - or 3/14. And pi roughly equals 3.14...ad infinitum. Get it? Anyhoo, today also happens to be math genius Albert Einstein's birthday, so I guess it was meant to be.
Here's some more information on the holiday, as well as its creator, a physicist named Larry Shaw.

"Pi represents the relationship between one dimension to another in the sense of the linear dimension and the plane; or the relation of the linear dimension and the sphere. Pi is key to these relationships. So for Shaw, Pi was in the air and definitely on his mind. He and his colleagues were talking about a Pi Shrine or a Pi Day, something to make the concept of rotation noteworthy. And so it all came together. For the first Pi Day, they installed a Pi Shrine (a small brass plate engraved with pi to a hundred digits) at the exact center of a circular Exploratorium classroom, a spot that also corresponds to the center-line of the museum's building. And they walked around the shrine because as Shaw notes, "People go around things to show respect to them in many cultures and religions." And they ate pie. It wasn't until 1989 at the 3rd Pi Day, that the overlap with Einstein's birthday was uncovered by Shaw's 14-year-old daughter Sara, who is, today, a veterinarian. She was writing a report on Einstein and told her dad that his Pi Day -- 3/14 -- was also Einstein's birthday. Voila. With all that mathematical kismet going for it, Pi Day gradually took on an international life of its own."

What I find most entertaining is all the pi-related rituals that appear to accompany this holiday. Participants sing Pi Day songs, bead a "pi string" and circumnaviate a pi shrine? Even better, though, it appears they eat pie...And that's certainly something I can appreciate. So in honor of pi - and Albert Einstein - I'm going to enjoy some sugar-free lemon chiffon pie tonight, thanks to this fab new recipe from www.Splenda.com!

Dining out without pigging out...

Well, I believe the spring weather is about to spring forth. Not only have I been able to ditch my jacket at home the past few days, I actually saw the first batch of flowers blooming this morning when I walked into the office. Just as a sidenote: I hated spring when I lived in the Midwest...probably because there really was no such season there. It could easily snow on a mid-April afternoon in Chicago. But in Atlanta, the weather is gorgeous by late March and the only thing you need to worry about is that pesky pollen problem.
Still, while I'm enjoying the warmer temperature, spring is typically an annual wake-up call - one reminding me to get back into shape before I have to start busting out the skimpy clothing again. So I'll be ramping up my workout efforts in upcoming days to prepare for the impending swimsuit season. At the same time, I've got a few St. Patty's Day parties looming, along with a never-ending stream of birthday dinners. So what's a girl got to do to stay in shape and eat healthy while maintaining an active social life? Here are a few dining-related tips that don't involve steering clear of restaurants altogether.

1. Avoid buffets. While economical, buffets make it too easy to load up the plate with an array of high-carb, high-calorie and high-fat foods.
2. Step away from the bread basket. If you'd like a roll, grab one then move it outside of your reaching distance. The same goes for chips, should you be at a Mexican restaurant. Grab a small handful than stay away from it the rest of the night.
3. Meal modifications are key. Feel free to make special requests. Ask the waiter if they can put the sauce on the side - or to substitute french fries with veggies. Find out if your meal can be made without butter, oil or salt...anything that could help cut down on calories.
4. Start out healthy. Consider ordering a light salad or soup to kick things off. This will help to fill you up before you dive into the big meal. You also might want to split your entree with a friend.
5. Practice portion control. Remember that restaurant sizes are often larger than normal. Consider eating half of your meal and putting the rest in a doggie bag.
6. Avoid all the bells and whistles. Don't add a bunch of extras to your meal. When it comes to a salad, avoid topping it off with buttery croutons, grated cheese, bacon and dollops of high-fat dressing. The same goes with a burger, baked potato and other entrees.
7. Don't binge drink at the dinner table. A glass or wine or two with your meal is one thing. But don't knock back a six-pack of beer or a few bottles of wine single-handedly. It's not good for you - and in more ways than just calories.

One more thing to digest...(Hee. See what I just did there? See?? Whatever. This is a tough crowd.)If you'd like to try your own hand at making a high-class restaurant-style meal, check out this dee-lish recipe from Splenda.com.

Kevin Rathbun's Panang Curry Barbecue Chicken With Lemon Grass

Calling all hot cereal fans...

Breakfast has always been one of my favorite meals. Some people avoid it...I can't get through the day without it. From scrambled egg whites and toast to yogurt with granola, I just HAVE to eat some sort of morning meal to function. That's why today is such a great day. Rejoice, breakfast fans, because it's National Cereal Day. And as far as I'm concerned, you can snarf down cereal anytime of the day - whether it's morning, noon or night.

Lately, in particular, I've been all about the oatmeal. There's just something so satisfying about it. Plus, it doesn't hurt knowing that studies show daily consumption of oatmeal can lower blood cholesterol. When I have the time, I make the steel-cut version. Most days, unfortunately, I seem to be rushing out the door, and that's when my single-serving packets of the instant variety come in handy.

Anyhoo, I've been trying to regularly switch up my oatmeal styles, so as not to get bored with it. From bananas to brown sugar to peaches and cream, toppings truly do make a difference. So for those of you who think oatmeal is boring, I'm attaching two yummy looking recipes - the first from Splenda.com and the second from Hungry Girl - to check out.

Oatmeal with Blueberries & Cream

Guilt-free Oatmeal

I'm also including a link to this old-school Quaker Oatmeal commercial that brings back memories. While I still often associate that brand with an old Wilford Brumley talking about how it's the "right thing to do and the tasty way to do it," I was about Timmy's age when this particular commercial came out, so discovering it on YouTube was pretty funny. Only question is, will it make a hot cereal lover out of you?!!!

Valentines and Velvet

Happy Valentines Day, y'all. So there is one thing that I love about this particular holiday - and it has nothing to do with roses, chocolates or sappy Hallmark cards. So what, you ask, is the focus of my V-day related adoration? Three words....RED VELVET CAKE!!
Yup, my mom used to make red velvet cake every year for Valentines Day - so it has now become tradition. Other people dig into a box of chocolates or "sweet tarts" candy...I simply must have at least one slice of red velvet cake every Feb. 14.
For those of you unfamiliar with the delicious treat, red velvet cake is an aptly-named rich and sweet red-colored layered cake typically topped with a creamy white icing. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, flour, cocoa powder and often red food coloring. In a long list of worthy contenders, red velvet is quite possibly my favorite cake.
A warning to anyone planning to whip this up for the fist time...to make a quality red velvet cake, prepare to spend some time in the kitchen. And only make it for people worthy of that time and attention. True story...back in college (I believe it was my senior year) a couple gal pals came over and we decided to make some red velvet cake for the men in our lives. Later that evening, the boys came over and we all had a nice dinner and a few bottles of wine. When it came time to divvy up the cake, our fabulous boyfriends decided to turn it into a cake shoveling contest to see who could inhale the largest slice in the least amount of time. Niiiicccceeee. Well, my belief is, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em - and it soon turned into a big cake fight...after all that hard work. Needless to say, none of the couples present that evening lasted the school year. But I digress....
Anyhoo, this particular V-Day is so much sweeter now that I've realized the wonderful crew at Hungry Girl has done it again - they found a yummy-looking red velvet cupcake recipe that I will be trying out tonight. Using a reduced-sugar cake mix, Splenda, fat-free cream cheese, fat-free Egg Beaters and more, this version offers up less calories and fat grams than the typical version. I likey!
Anyway, I thought I would end this entry with a few nods to one of the best movies ever made - one that features an, ahem, interesting red velvet cake. According to this New York Times article, the movie even helped renew to national interest in the cake.
Here's a hint...
"The groom's cake! It's awful...it's in the shape of a giant armadillo. Worse, the cake part is red velvet. People are going to be hacking into this poor animal that looks like it's bleedin' to death!"
Got it yet? No? It's a quote from 'Steel Magnolias,' one of the few movies out there that can make me bawl like a baby...(Shelby was right, my hair does look like a brown football helmet!) I'm sniffling just typing that last line. Sheesh.
The flick also gave birth to some awesome quotes. Unfortunately, I couldn't find too many clips out there of the movie. But I will treat you to a few of my favorite Steel Magnolia lines.

Here you go...

* I do not see plays, because I can nap at home for free. And I don't see movies 'cause they're trash, and they got nothin' but naked people in 'em! And I don't read books, 'cause if they're any good, they're gonna make 'em into a miniseries.

* Looks like two pigs fightin' under a blanket.

* I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.

* Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!

* You are too twisted for color TV!

* I'm not crazy, I've just been a very bad mood for the last 40 years!

* You sound almost chipper. What happened today - you run over a small child or something?

* He's a real gentleman! I bet he takes the dishes out of the sink before he pees in it!

* My colors are "blush" and "bashful." ... Her colors are "pink" and pink."

* I realize as a woman how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life.

Eat some pancakes, save some children...watch a dog show?

Back in high school, when I was captain of my swim team, we used to follow-up every Saturday afternoon practice with a trip to Walker Bros. - a fabulous breakfast joint in the neighborhood. After spending hours upon hours training in a pool, downing a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and digging into a piping hot apple pancake coated in cinnamon and sugar was not a problem - we'd just burn the calories right off again at the next practice. These days, unfortunately, that's no longer the case. I even look at chocolate chip pancakes and my butt immediately grows in size. Sigh...to be a teen again. Long story short, though, I love me some pancakes.

Anyway, I've decided I just might have to stop by an IHOP today to indulge in a short stack of buttermilk pancakes. And I'd be doing it for two very good reasons. One, the food is free - which is always the best kind of food, don't you agree? And two, any donations you make would then go to a national children's charity. Hoorah!

According to IHOP, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products...hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. Since beginning the National Pancake Day celebration two years ago, IHOP has already raised nearly one million dollars to support children's charities.

Okay... so I know doggies have nothing to do with pancakes, but I watched some of the Westminster last night on TV and, well, I can't wait to see who wins it all tonight! I'm definitely rooting for my boy, Uno, who won me over with his fabulous tail-wagging personality. The 15-inch beagle was the first of his breed to win the hound group at the Westminster Kennel Club show in almost 70 years. And a beagle has never won "best in show." He'll be up against a standard poodle, a Sealyham terrier and Australian shepherd among others. My vote, though, is for the Snoopy dog! I think Uno is #1 in all languages - hee!

Back to food...here are two sugar-free pancake recipes to try out some day.

Oat Bran Pancakes

German Apple Pancakes

And a merry Mardi Gras to you too!

Happy almost Fat Tuesday, y'all!

I imagine at least a few of you are brushing off your Super Bowl-related hangovers and preparing to rip it up again in honor of Mardi Gras. I understand...Mind over matter. I used to be able to do that too when I was in my early to mid 20s. Not so much anymore. Moving on...With the bulk of my extended family hailing from Louisiana - New Orleans and Lake Charles to be precise - I've always been a sucker for a good Mardi Gras party. And while I'm sad I can't be in NOLA this week, celebrating in style, I plan to entertain a few friends post-elections tomorrow evening with a "King Cake" and some seasonal cocktails. Hand grenade anyone?

Seriously, though, I've found the sugar-free variations of a few Carnival-related treats and I'm eager to try them out. Take the "King Cake," for example, a popular Mardi Gras dessert that features colorful icing and a plastic baby. Seriously. The traditional version is a braided coffee cake decorated in purple, green and gold sugar. Each one contains a hidden plastic baby - with custom dictating that whoever finds the toy must buy the next cake or throw the next party. Hundreds upon hundreds of "King Cake" parties are thrown every year. Growing up in the Midwest, however, my reference to King Cake often generated raised eyebrows, blank stares or questions. It's not a huge tradition up North, ya hey.

I know it's hard to believe that a sugar-free, lower-calorie version can exist, but here ya go!
MARDI GRAS KING CAKE
Cake Ingredients:
2 (8 oz.) pkg. Fat Free Cream Cheese
2/3 cup granular Splenda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1 cup no sugar added apple pie filling
2 pkg. Crescent Rolls
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine cream cheese, 2/3 cup Splenda, egg yolk and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
3. Unroll crescent rolls and place on cookie sheet with points towards the center, overlapping as needed. Try to make a circle.
4. Spread cream cheese mixture over the dough leaving 1/2-inch from edges.
5. Mix the apple filling with 1 tsp. of Splenda and mash until slightly lumpy. Spread the filling on top of the cream cheese and then fold the outside edges over the filling to prevent leaking.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool and glaze.

Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup granular Splenda
1 to 2 tsp. fat-free milk
Food coloring
Directions:
1. Mix Splenda with milk.
2. When desired thickness, add food coloring to create three different toppings.
3. Spread with ease and let sit for a few minutes.

Adding to the festivities, if you can't make it to Pat O's in the French Quarter this week for their world-famous hurricane cocktail, here's a version you can make from home!

HURRICANE
Ingredients:
2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
* 2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
* 1 tbsp simple syrup
1 tbsp grenadine

* For a healthier recipe, use some V8 Splash Guava Passion and make sugar-free simple syrup combining 1 cup of sucralose with 1 cup of boiling water. Once it has cooled, strain the sucralose and water through a coffee filter.

Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Finally, if you've been jonesing for a Cafe Du Monde beignet (and some coffee and chicory...yum!) check out this tasty treat.

BEIGNETS
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons granulated Splenda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1 cup water
1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil for frying
Powdered sugar
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, combine Splenda, salt, butter, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add flour and cook over medium heat, beating with spoon until dough forms a ball and leaves side of pan. Remove from heat.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating with electric mixer at medium speed after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth.
4. Mix in vanilla.
5. Roll dough on a floured surface and cut into 2-inch squares.
6. In skillet, heat 1 to 2-inches of oil. Then fry dough (three or four pieces at a time) until puffy and golden brown on both sides.
8. Remove beignets and drain on paper towels. While hot, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

Don't forget. Tomorrow is Election Day in many states so, if at all possible, please get out and vote.

Baby it's cold outside...

Hailing from the Midwest, I'm used to brutally cold winters. My freshman year of college - at the University of Wisconsin - temperatures actually dipped to 30 below zero, meaning the wind chill factor made it feel about 60 below. That kind of weather spurred my eventual move to the South. And while I've been less than thrilled with the recent 20 and 30-degree days here in Atlanta, the weather is downright balmy in comparison to what's going on in the Midwest and Northeast.


Needless to say, it's been entertaining watching comrades here freak out over the dusting of snow and the chilly temperatures of late. When I lived in South Florida, 40 degree nights would generate the opening of emergency shelters - as well as howling laughter from friends back home. Last week, I snickered when the threat of snow in Atlanta had people scrambling to grocery stores to stock up on "emergency supplies," as well as vacate their offices hours earlier than usual in an effort to "beat the storm." Then again, I guess it is something new and different to them so I'm trying not to be arrogant when it comes to their weather-related wimpiness. Just kidding, my Atlanta friends. I love ya anyway.

Moving on, nothing beats the winter blues (for me, anyway) than a nice, steaming cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows. For those tired of the same-old Swiss Miss-style recipe, here are a few variations provided by www.Splenda.com.


Hot Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle

Winter White Hot Chocolate

Mexican Hot Chocolate with Cayenne Pepper and Orange Zest

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Finally, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, I'm attaching a video clip of the Reverend's famous "I have a Dream" speech from 1963. May his words continue to inspire generations of people worldwide.

Hanging out at the Indian buffet...

Earlier this week, I went to an Indian restaurant and was thrilled to discover they had a buffet. You know what that means? It means all the naan, samosas, daal and rasgulla that I could get my grubby little hands on. It was a great day. If you couldn't tell, I love me some Indian food. But that brings me to my point. I've heard from a lot of friends - those unfamiliar with Indian food, of course - that they stay away from Indian dishes because they are all spicy and filled with curry and exceedingly high in fat. Apparently these are fairly popular misconceptions.
Here's the deal...as with so many other meals, you can cut down on the fat grams in Indian food by reducing the amount of oil or modifying the way you prepare it. There are a number of low-calorie Indian dish recipes cluttering the Internet that can be found through a quick google search.
Just the other day, I decided to putter around in my kitchen a little bit and try my hand making Kheer, a traditional Indian rice pudding. I based mine off several other recipes but switched one or two ingredients and replaced sugar with Splenda. It came out pretty well, if I don't say so myself. By the way, before I start handing out recipes, here are a few more benefits to Indian food consumption. Popular spices like turmeric, ginger, cardamom and green chillies have various health benefits and medicinal qualities. For those who don't like meat, there are also a number of vegetarian-friendly meals to choose from. Either way, give Indian food a shot before dismissing it altogether.

Audrey's Kheer Recipe

2 cups coconut milk
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons Splenda
1/2 cup Basmati rice
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts
1/2 teaspoon cinammon

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, stir together the milk and coconut milk and bring to a boil.
2. Add the rice and Splenda and bring to a simmer over medium to low heat about 20 minutes, whisking to keep from sticking. Wait until the mixture thickens and the rice is tender.
3. Stir in the raisins, cardamom and cinammon and cook for a few more minutes. Ladle into serving bowls, and garnish with almonds, cinammon and pistachios. Can be served warm or cold.

And because it's Friday and I'm feeling generous, here are two more recipes to get you through the weekend. Don't say I don't love you!

Palak Paneer

Tandoori Chicken

Heavenly Hummus

Quote: I was thinking, you know Paul Newman's got his salad dressing and that? So why not Frankie Wilde Hummus? People come see the gigs and they say, "That was a great set, Frankie," and I say, "Cheers, mate, want some hummus?" Frankie Wilde in 'It's All Gone Pete Tong'

Thanks to the commenter on my previous post for providing the idea to write this entry. (And don't worry Anonymous...After I ramble on for a bit, I will answer your question!)

One of the first restaurants I went to last month while home for Christmas was Pita Inn. Located in the Chicago burbs, this fabulous (and insanely cheap) Middle Eastern fast-food joint has been one of my favorite dining spots since I was a little girl. To this day, I haven't found better falafel, kifta kabob, jerusalem salad and shawarma anywhere - and believe me, I've tried many a different Middle Eastern restaurant in my time. Pita Inn also operates a market and bakery next door, where we buy tubs of the restaurant's delicious hummus and baba ghanoush and nibble on sweet treats like baklava and kinafa. Hummus, by the way, is one of my favorite snack foods. It just pairs up so perfectly with pita, bread, crackers and veggies.

For those unfamiliar with hummus, it's a veggie spread made with ground chickpeas, tahini (or sesame seed paste), lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Sometimes it's spiced up with roasted garlic, red peppers, or scallions and garnished with parsley, pine nuts, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and other vegetables. As hummus grows in popularity, an increasing number of people are finding less traditional uses for it, such as a chip dip, sandwich spread or topping on poultry, fish and beef.

So let's start with the good news. Hummus is, well, good for you, high in both protein and fiber and lacking cholesterol and sugar. The garbanzo beans are also a great source of complex carbohydrates and help lower the risk of heart attacks. At the same time, the tahini is rich in minerals, fatty acids like Omega-3 and amino acids.

That being said, hummus is also high in fat, predominantly due to the tahini. Nutritionists warn a half-cup could cost you more than 200 calories and 12 grams of fat. Ouch. Still, you can certainly create your own lower-fat version by reducing the amount of oil and tahini.

Here is a Splenda-based recipe for Sweet Red Pepper Hummus that only has 60 calories and 1 gram of fat. It's certainly an improvement over the alternative. So grab some low-fat crackers or whole wheat pita or spread the dip on your sandwich. The moral of the story is, eat hummus in moderation to avoid racking up the calories.

One other note, Anonymous. If you're looking for more healthy sandwich options, try smearing low-fat cream cheese on whole wheat bread and topping it off with sliced cucumber and ground pepper. It tastes great and is easy to whip up.

Enjoy!