The Greek Yogurt Lie

So, I got in a HUGE argument with my husband in the car because he said this; "I was reading how Greek yogurt has so much more protein than regular yogurt."  This lead to me screaming at him that yogurt is a protein!!!  Okay, maybe I'm a little hyper about such things.  To me it's really a simple thing to know that yogurt is a dairy based product and therefore a protein.  But I guess not everybody, especially a lawyer, would know that.  So I guess I overreacted.  Go figure!

Here are the side by side comparisons on the numbers with Chobani and Dannon Plain Non Fat.  The Chobani is a 150g serving size and the Dannon is a 170g serving size, but it's the best I could do.

Chobani

Dannon

There is very little difference between them!  There is certainly very little difference in the protein!!!!

Ugh!  Be informed about what you eat.

Father's Day Central!

Tons of Ideas for Father's Day

Filet Mignon Oscar 

Ingredients:

4 tbsp. softened Butter

4 filet mignons

1 lb. thin asparagus with bottom 2 inches trimmed off

¼ cup Scallions

2 cloves minced Garlic

1 lb. Crab meat

Juice of 1 lemon

1 Cup Whipped Cream Cheese

½ cup heavy cream

1 Cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1 tsp. Fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp. butter and sauté filets for 6 minutes on each side.  Remove from skillet and keep warm. 

In rapidly boiling water, blanch asparagus for 2 to 3 minutes.  Set aside and keep warm.

Melt remaining 2 tbsp. butter in skillet and sauté scallions and garlic for 2 minutes. 

Toss crab meat with lemon juice. 

Add cream cheese to skillet stir and cook until melted, about 2 minutes.  Add crab meat.  Stir in heavy cream and ½ cup of the cheese.  Stir and cook until melted, about 2 minutes.  Add pepper and stir.

Pre heat oven to broil.

Place filets in a baking dish and top with asparagus, crab mixture and remaining cheese.

Place filets in oven and broil until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.  

Now what dad won't like that?!

Asparagus with Lemon Dill Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of Pencil Grass Asparagus
• 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
• 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
• 2 Tbls. Mustard
• 1/2 Tbls. Garlic Powder
• 2 tsps. Fresh cracked Black Pepper
• 2 Tbls. Fresh chopped Basil
• 2 Tbls. Fresh chopped Dill
• 1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

Directions:

• Cut off bottom 2 inches of asparagus. Blanch asparagus in rapidly boiling water for 2 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all other ingredients and whip with wire whisk until well blended.
• Drain asparagus and serve with sauce immediately. Sauce can also be warmed. Yield: serves 4

Trust me on these!

Pride of The Yankees

Ingredients:

6 Red Bliss Potatoes washed, quartered and cut into 1/4 inch slices

4 oz. Philadelphia whipped Onion and Chive Low Fat cream cheese

1/4 Cup Low Fat Sour Cream

1/4 Cup I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter

1 tsp. Fresh ground black pepper

Preparation:

Put water on to boil as you prepare potatoes. Quarter and slice potatoes in ¼ inch slices. Boil in rapidly boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain.

Add Cream Cheese, Sour Cream and Butter substitute to hot pot. Add hot potatoes and Pepper on top. Stir until mixed thoroughly.

Serves 4.

After all, every man wants potatoes with his meat!

Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

• 1-cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 fresh egg
• 1-teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy cream, heated
• Sweetened whipped cream for garnish

How to Make

• Break the eggshell and pour its contents in an electric blender, along with chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Blend for 30 seconds.
• Slowly, pour heated cream into the chocolate mixture by removing the middle of the blender lid. In case that is not possible, stop the blender while pouring heated cream.
• Blend chocolate chips melt nicely and mix well. Pour into wine glasses.
• Refrigerate until it is set, at least 1 hour. Garnish with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream and serve.

The mousse is so simple, but he will LOVE it!!! Just add a tie or a shirt and you are good to go!!! 

External "Pocket Door"

My main bathroom is in the direct sight line of my front door and, therefore, a very busy street!  This can lead to some close calls and/or embarrassing moments when you are in a bathrobe running from the shower to the bedroom!  

My husband and I really wanted a pocket door installed between our formal, and traditionally decorated, living room and the hallway so that this issue could be resolved.  Well, that was estimated at $1800!  That was way outside of our budget.

Then I saw this on Pinterest:

While the industrial look didn't work at all with my decor, I thought I could redesign it and get something that would fit the situation.  I printed the photo, tracked down the mechanism and called my contractor!  

I decided that I would want the mechanism to be encased in some molding.  That was my first design change:

The next design change I made was to choose a raised panel door:

This fits in with our traditional decor just perfectly.

And, as you can see when it's closed, we get to enjoy our privacy!

The door is about an inch out from the wall.  This means I can even hang the beautiful picture my son got me for Mother's Day in that awkward space that is left when the door is closed which it is most of them since we have dogs to corral. 

Oh, so I bet you are wondering how much this cost us?  Less than $500!!!  Now that is a bargain!!!

Get The Shot!

Want to get a shot like this?  Let me tell you how.

First, if you camera has a zoom, use it. Note I said CAMERA!!! You cannot get good photos with your cell phone. You really do need a camera for your precious family photos.  Invest in a decent point and shoot if you can't afford, or don't want, an SLR.  Just try to get one with a physical zoom and not just and optical zoom.

Second, zoom in as closely as you can, fill the frame with everything you want to see and nothing you don't want to see.  Sure you can crop out later, but the more you crop the more clarity you will be losing. 

Third, always, always, always run it through some type of retouching program!!!!  ALWAYS!!!   Did I say always?  Just about every photo needs something, either some adjustment to the exposure, colors, or blemish removed.  If you don't have one on your computer, go to picmonkey.com.  It's free for a lot of stuff and cheap to subscribe to for a year.  

Here is another shot for inspiration.

Easter 2014

What our family did this year for Easter in photos.

The newlyweds

The newly enlarged family.

Mama bear and her first-born.

The happy parents.

Looking fabulous and loving her baby boy.

The new addition.

Everything Is Just Ducky!

I found this project on Pinterest: Mason Jar Duck and I thought it would be a great craft to do with my grandson!

I decided it would be a cute little gift for him to make for his new baby brother.  (Of course the candy inside will NEED to be eaten by big brother!)

Here are the supplies we used:

1 glass jar with a screw on plastic lid, Duco Cement, scraps of fabric, 1 cupcake paper cut in half, black Sharpie, some yellow and white jelly beans, and 1 package of Peeps.

I cut out feet from brown fabric and a beak from some green gingham.  I folded the cupcake paper in half and then cut it in half again. So the "wings" are the size of 1/4 of a cupcake paper.  I folded the paper so that is would stick out when glued on the jar.

Then we glued the feet on first.  Next we glued on the beak and drew on the eyes with the Sharpie.   After that it was wing time!!!  Then, it was just time to fill it with the jellybeans!!!

After that, we filled the remaining space with the Peeps and put the lid on nice and tightly!!  

He's so proud of himself!!!  Kids really get something out of making crafts and art projects.

Yep, little brother can have the jar!  He'll take the candy!!!

What Is A Brother?

 What is a brother?

My grandson is about to find out very soon!!!

His little brother, Nicholas, will be here next week.

Today, he went with mommy to her last doctor's appointment before his baby brother arrives via repeat C-section.

To help him get involved and excited, the nurse practitioner has allowed him to climb up on the exam table and measure mommy's belly as well as use the stethoscope to fine the "bump, bump, bump"!

If you are expecting a second baby, please take your older one along on your OB visits!  It's one way for them to bond with the new baby even before they arrive.  The transition will still be hard I'm sure, but we are hoping it will be just a little bit easier.