KEEP THE SCALE GOING DOWNTON CHALLENGE

[CarolynF]

Hi..

Oregano tea is for colds, coughs, flu, etc..You are really supposed to use oregano oil, but my nurse friend used this and it worked great..

Yes, two little halforphaned children..Boy and girl. I'm sure Mary will have lots of romances....but it might take a couple of years.

[TuscanGirl]

Maybe the next season will jump forward a year or so like like the last episode did!

So - just dried oregano and steep it?

[Buffy45]

Is Mr. Selfridge going to be on PBS also? Will have to google it. I just set my recorder to tape the series "Parade's End" which starts tonight. Little blurp in the paper said better than Downton, though I can't imagine. WW1 era.

Ok, solved my little chocolate cake dryness, I had made the little cake recipe into 3 littler mini cakes and had one left. Poured some HWC in the little container it was in, sloop, it soaked it up and was ever so yummy!!!

Where is Judy? Oh yes, she is in her kitchen making 9 lbs worth of Lupin flour goodies.

Oh MK, I don't think walking your dog in the rain would be good for you if you have a cold or flu?

[TuscanGirl]

Yes - Mr Selfridge is another BBC show on PBS. I think with Jeremy Irons - it's about Selfridge's Dept Store.

What is Parade's End?

And I survived the walk, but it wasn't fun - very wet!

[Buffy45]

Don't know anything about Parades End but that little bit in paper. Thought it would be worth a try. I see that the one you mentioned starts later in March.

Hey gals, made it to 30 minutes on my treadmill today, my goal for this week.

[TuscanGirl]

Yay Buffy!

Parade's End looks like it's tonight through Wednesday.
Since it's on HBO you can watch it OnDemand.

[JMCM1]

Aw, Buffy - you ARE getting better!!! Yay!

I cooked nothing today! Nothing! I still have enough chili to feed the neighborhood, so let me know when you can all drop by, please.

Cindy your snow picture is beautiful. We were warned and warned and told to be VERY careful and got hardly anything.

MK I saw the promos for Mr. Selfridge and I wondered if we could pick it up - it did look interesting.

Buffy, Cindy is right - it's the liquid and how long you cook it.
I think you solved it beautifully, however! Even though I have been out all day I didn't want to cook - now I want to make a little chocolate cake!

Sandy I believed you too much and did not make the egg noodles. Not saying "never", just not right now.

I have this week turned into one of the "Ladies Who Lunch." I had lunch yesterday out with DH, today out with DD almost 9 weeks, will have lunch tomorrow with an old friend who does my same kind of work, and the next day with my cute, smart 84-yr-old mother. Home cooking will suffer, I tell you!! I haven't eaten out this much in months.
Carolyn manages to eat out quite a bit and still cooks. I must work on that.

Loved reading all your notes.

[rosewoodb]

Hi All! I missed one morning and I feel like I'm weeks behind!! I loved reading all your posts. It seems the sickies are all on the mend, even if it's just baby steps! And speaking of babies, Judy, your news is so exciting!! I agree you might get them born on the same day!

As for me, I GAINED BACK 2 of the pounds. I ate chicken wings from Chili's and drank probably 40 oz. of Diet Coke and not enough water. Boo. Lesson learned, however. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I guess this is why they tell you to weigh weekly. Seeing up down up down might make me go crazy!

On the exercise front, I've started walking with a neighbor. We walked yesterday and today. Also, I did a yoga class for the first time in 10 years. My legs are already sore from the stretching out of those under-utilized muscles! I am hoping to get to a strike (body-combat, like kickboxing) class tomorrow, and then another walk with the neighbor. I already told the moms at the yoga class today that I'd be back Thursday. *eek*

Sorry about the noodles. I guess I won't be rushing to try them. I made chicken soup for dinner (with my homemade broth) and just put in chicken, carrots, celery, and mushrooms (1 c. each in the whole batch) for variety. Even DD (age 6) ate the soup (picking around the celery and mushrooms... sigh, but it's a start!).

Be well!

BJ

PS- I believe the 4th season of Downtown Abbey starts about 9 months in the future. No funeral torture that way...

[TuscanGirl]

Hi!

Judy - I never cook when I go out to eat for lunch - usually because I only eat 1/2 of my lunch and save the rest for dinner.

BJ - any time you can get kids to eat anything, it's a win!

[Buffy45]

Made a little choc cake tonight, added more moisture and nuked less time, very yummy.

[JMCM1]

BJ: Ditto was MK said, plus - yahoo on all your exercise!!
Dog got a long walk tonight here.

I did bring home half my food but I still had other leftovers to eat. I really appreciate leftovers most of the time.

Little chocolate cake!
Little chocolate cake!
Little chocolate cake!
Next on my list...

[Shalbrihil]

Good night ladies. It's been fun reading everyone but not much news here. Sleep well.

[JMCM1]

Sharon I'm glad you checked in!

Originally Posted by Buffy45

Made a little choc cake tonight, added more moisture and nuked less time, very yummy.

And then I frost it with a little cream cheese, vanilla DaVinci frosting...
I do that.

[Buffy45]

Morning!
Well, don't waste your time finding Parades's End, I couldn't follow it, couldn't make out their words, bored.
Judy, the Lupin flour is just sitting in your kitchen getting old, better rush in there and try something with it. You social butterfly you, lunching every day!!! When I finally quit working enough that I had time to lunch, all my friends still work, now by the time they are going to be free to lunch, I won't want to anymore Nah, I still do like to lunch, probably more than go to dinner.

Well, 1/3 of the gals couldn't make it to the Favorite Things party tonight, so the hostess has rescheduled for March 13th which is the 2nd Wed. night of the month and that is when our group usually gets together, so hopefully, that will work so that most if not all of us can come. So, I may see if my friend can go for her birthday tonight, it didn't work out last night.

I finally got around to make up a bigger batch of the "now called" better than flour mix which is what we are using to make the little chocolate cakes. Will be nice to just grab a 1/4 cup of mix, then add whatever to make the variety of cake I want. Tried to get a good measurement on the fudge frosting last night but things went amok and I lost track, ended up with a wonderful fudge sauce though. Will try again to get the right measurements to you and once you experiment, then you can make it thicker or thinner.

Ok, got an appointment with the new neurologist on March 8th. Now, I have to get a hold of the records dept. at the hospital I was in the first time in January to get a copy of the cat scan and the neurosurgeon's report and get to him before he sees me. Progress.

Is everyone who got snow digging out? So many pretty pictures of it on the news and FB and a good news story of a neighborhood who got out in force to dig an ambulance out of the snow and save a man's life.

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

Judy, the Lupin flour is just sitting in your kitchen getting old, better rush in there and try something with it. You social butterfly you, lunching every day!!! When I finally quit working enough that I had time to lunch, all my friends still work, now by the time they are going to be free to lunch, I won't want to anymore Nah, I still do like to lunch, probably more than go to dinner.

It takes me a long time to spackle and paint and get all my girdles together.
That lupin flour is just going to have to wait!

Love the idea for that Favorite Things party - glad it could be rescheduled so hopefully nearly all can attend. I think your birthday dinner sounds nice, too.

Good job on the neurologist!! I, for one, would like an answer to this occipital blobbedy blagh blob (the name of the problem escapes me)!

[JMCM1]

The only thing that will keep you out of your now big-batch better than flour mix is all that fiber.....

I love my big batch.

Occasionally.

[Buffy45]

Originally Posted by JMCM1

It takes me a long time to spackle and paint and get all my girdles together.

I go through spells where I try to do the spackle and paint thing each morning so that I am ready to FACE THE WORLD with all my pretty make up on. Then, there are the spells where I brush the teeth, wash the face, slap on a little lipstick and SUBJECT THE WORLD to that look!!!

Guess what? THE WORLD DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE WHEN YOU ARE 67 years old!!!!

[Buffy45]

Yes, the little cakes do have a lot of fiber. But, they are soooo filling that I think I only ate the whole thing at one time the first time I made it. Now, I make it into 2-3 smaller pieces and save one for the next day. Did I dream this or do I remember seeing that each one had 17 grams of fiber?

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

Yes, the little cakes do have a lot of fiber. But, they are soooo filling that I think I only ate the whole thing at one time the first time I made it. Now, I make it into 2-3 smaller pieces and save one for the next day. Did I dream this or do I remember seeing that each one had 17 grams of fiber?

I think you are about right.....

My DH shares my little cakes.

I really am going to make that lupin bread today. I think I need to convert the weight into measurements.

[Buffy45]

Yay, can't wait to hear back on the lupin baking. I really want something that adds that "flour" taste and texture to foods.

[Shalbrihil]

Has anyone came up with next month challenge name yet? Here's my contribution. "Home is Where the Scale Is Challenge"

Boy this month flew by fast!

[CindyCRNA]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

Yay, can't wait to hear back on the lupin baking. I really want something that adds that "flour" taste and texture to foods.

Yes, Judy, hurry!! I'm waiting to see if it is worth buying 9 pounds to get free shipping!!

[Buffy45]

I am going to make another big batch of the Better Than Flour mix but use all almond flour. I made the original recipe yesterday which had all coconut flour and the taste comes through just a little too much for my tastes.

[Buffy45]

oh, going to mix that big batch with the first big batch!

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

Yes, Judy, hurry!! I'm waiting to see if it is worth buying 9 pounds to get free shipping!!

I'm hurryin', I'm hurryin'!!!! lol

Originally Posted by Buffy45

oh, going to mix that big batch with the first big batch!

SO smart - you!
Because I was going to suggest half coconut flour, half almond flour - that will work for nearly every application.

[Buffy45]

Judy, I hadn't tried it with all coconut flour before, had always mixed half and half with almond flour, so I guess I wanted to see if it was better. I did like the texture a little better but like I said, the coconut came across a little strong.

[CarolynF]

Hi..

Well, I lost 1.1 pounds of ugly fat..and 1.9 pounds..Yeah, me..!!! The doctor was happy and my VAP test came out great. They check lots of things and I'm at low risk for heart problems or cholesterol problems. I do think that metformin really helps with the cholesterol..really..

You are all baking ladies.. How fun..

Other names for March..Sharon, sometimes we like a March theme..March Madness or a St. Patrick's Day them....Anyone have some ideas????

Judy: I'm leaving at 9 with those ladies on Friday and don't know what they have planned except lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and shopping until we have our first night's event that night..

Check in later...

[JMCM1]

Carolyn!! You are just shrinking!

If you have time and I can get out wherever you are, I'd love to meet you in person.
If not this time, there will be another time!
I do know I'm going to the home & garden show sometime this weekend - of course we don't know when.

I'm not a giant fan of coconut either, Buffy. Don't hate it, just don't need it in every single application.


OK - off to the kitchen!

[Buffy45]

Carolyn, that is just great. I am so happy the metformin is helping along with all your hard work.

[sjl330]

That's wonderful progress Carolyn!! I'm so happy this new Dr. is working for you. Why can't there be more just like her?

I'm still fighting this horrible cough but I think it's a bit better today. My head feels like it's going to explode every time I cough!