It's A Tough Job!

But someones' got to do it!
No one does it better than my two daughters and my two granddaughters (we taught them well)
This weekend we can be seen strolling through the malls of Big D! It is definitely a highlight of the summer for me. "Girl Time"

I feel sure when we recover from the day we will make room for these.........

or something equally delicious!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will see you soon!

Nanny

Summer Reads

I made it through this one!!!! It was difficult in the beginning due to all of the Swedish names and cities....but it has gotten such good reviews that I didn't give up! I am so glad, because it was a very good book....I loved it. I loved the mixture of plots; this one has a little of everything!

I wanted something light and funny next and this one fit the bill. A good beach read. Didn't take long to get through this one!


I've had this one waiting....last night I started it and it was very hard to put it down. When I read the front and back cover, I knew this one was going to be a page turner....
"He placed a notice in a Chicago paper, an advertisement for a "reliable wife." She responded, saying that she was "a simple, honest woman." She was, of course, anything but honest, and the only simple thing about her was her single-minded determination to marry this man and then kill him, slowly and carefully, leaving herself a wealthy widow. What Catherine Land did not realize was that the enigmatic and lonely Ralph Truitt had a plan of his own."

Next on my list will be the sequel to Dragon Tattoo and I can't wait to read it. I think filming has begun on the movie...gotta read the book before seeing! Don't you agree?

What's on your list? Some of my favorite reads are ones that were recommended on blogs.....So many good books.....So little time!

Have a good day all!

Nanny

Cobb Salad and Dressing

I promised yesterday to let you know the results of Rocco's recipe for Cobb Salad and Not Your Mama's Ranch Dressing.
First the dressing.......
Excellent! I would choose it even if I did not know how many calories or fat in it. I do not (I thought) like low fat or no fat dressings. I would rather have a sprinkle of vinegar than these. I followed the recipe using Low-Fat Mayo. I used dried chives and parsley this time but will definitely make this again using fresh. I didn't have any low fat sour cream so I substituted Dannon Greek Yogurt (0 fat)
The result was a creamy ranch like dressing with a great flavor....you really must try it.

Now the salad......
The recipe is pretty much basic ingredients; lettuce, grilled chicken, tomato, scallions(I used green onions this time), avocado, Hormel real bacon bits, reduced-fat feta (I left this off...didn't have any)
I love salad and this is just exactly like I like mine. I did find that just a small amount of the bacon bits gives an added flavor. I really liked it.

I had to have a shake or two of balsamic to top it off. This one had become my favorite....from Whole Foods.

So now you are probably wondering what my husband thought of the low-fat dinner? I didn't tell him, he thought it was just a regular chef salad with homemade dressing. He had no complaints....yea! But around 9:00PM he was wishing for a cheeseburger topped with portabello mushroom (his new favorite food item) I guess a meal that light can't fill a hardworking, tired man! I should have served it as a side.

To get back in good graces he is getting a steak, baked potato and grilled portabello tonight....hey you have to keep the men happy! We will ease into the calorie counting........

Nanny

Under 350 Calories!

I love cookbooks! I know that you can find any recipe you want on the internet but I still am a pushover for a new and different cookbook. I love to sit and look at really old ones that belonged to my mother. I hope that someday mine will be enjoyed by my grandchildren and their grandchildren......

I have been intrigued by Rocco's remake of comfort foods. When I saw him on Dr. Oz last week cooking Faux-Fried Onion Rings with Smoky Mayo, I decided that I wanted his new book, "Now Eat This". He took onion rings from 124g Fat, 1837 Calories to 4.7g Fat and 342 Calories by using panko, egg whites, skim milk, whole-wheat flour and baking until crisp. If you haven't seen this cookbook yet, he takes 150 comfort food recipes and takes them all under 350 calories. I can't wait to gather some ingredients and give these a try!

Tonight I will definitely make his recipe for "Not Your Mama's Ranch Dressing"

Fat 19g ...reduced to 1.7g

Calories 180...reduced to 29

To top his Cobb Salad recipe

Fat 71g.....reduced to 11.3g

Calories 1,090...reduced to 235

I will keep the reduction of fat and calories a secret from my husband.......I mean I want him to eat dinner/ha He likes chef salad but the amount of Ranch or Thousand Isle he uses defeats the purpose.......

I'll let you know tomorrow how it turns out.

For more about Rocco and the new book, you can visit his site here!

From his site:
"FRIED CHICKEN, MACARONI AND CHEESE, BROWNIES, AND 147 OTHER FAVORITE
RECIPES UNDER 350 CALORIES
In this delectable cookbook, award-winning chef Rocco DiSpirito transforms America's favorite comfort foods into deliciously healthy dishes-all with zero bad carbs, zero bad fats, zero sugar, and maximum flavor. What's more, Rocco provides time-saving shortcuts, helpful personal advice, and nutritional breakdowns for each recipe from a board-certified nutritionist. So prepare your favorite foods without the guilt. Finally, a world-class chef has made healthy food taste great! "

The weeks seem to fly by and I don't have time to sit still and compose my thoughts to post....I do check in and try to read as many as I can though....forgive me, I am thinking of all of you as I mow, run errands, pay bills, cook, swim (not nearly enough) have company, go fishing....etc.....

Have a good Monday!

Nanny

Favorite Fruit?

If you could have only one fruit for the rest of your life and you could have it fresh year round....what would you choose?

My choice would be these wonderful cherries

Firm, Juicy, Sweet, Perfect!

Those of you who know me are asking, "What about your lemons"?

Answer; Lemons are a staple in my house! They don't enter into this question/ha

So what is your favorite that you can't do without?

Nanny

Starting Over

She froze up and quit cooling! The bad thing is, I didn't know she wasn't cooling, I just noticed the icecubes were small, hollow, and clear. I had to throw away lot of stuff......I am so ashamed!! I knew my cheddar and crackers tasted funny the other night but didn't realize why.

Well I washed all of the shelves and it looks brand new. I am not going to clutter my refrigerator up with condiments again! How many steak sauces and salad dressings do you really need? And then there is hot sauce, tabasco sauce, pepper sauce, hot wing sauce I mean I didn't have room to sit a bowl of leftovers! I had salad dressings that I don't even like. I just kept them instead of throwing them away.. If you wait on the expiration date and then throw away it seems better.....

Hopefully hubby will have the part in hand to get her running tonight and I can buy groceries, (no condiments) tomorrow....ha

Nanny

Cure All!

Fresh air....beautiful scenery....catching fish....just what the Dr. ordered...

Oh so relaxing. I think we fished around every tree.



Look at the size of this beauty. I wish I knew how old it is.

The cypress knees are everywhere and the fish love them.

We caught several around this stump, and hubby didn't fail to catch a big one out of the hollow trees (I just lost my bait in them) ha

We got home in time to clean these and heat the fish cooker before a small shower started....small, I said, but better than nothing.



My daddy always said "A day spent fishing, is an extra day added to your life". I think I have to agree with him. I love it!
Nanny

My Poor Yard

I took this picture on June 16, a mere 3 1/2 weeks ago.....

After 95 - 100 degree weather and "NO RAIN" it now looks like this.....

My pretty dogwood tree has shed most of its leaves and looks like this.....

I don't get down very often, but if anything bothers me, it is seeing all of the beauty in my yard die in July. We got a shower earlier and I could have stood outside in it and not needed to dry off. Most of you know that my idea of a fun day is spent outdoors, mowing and trimming....I just wish it would rain......bring the grass and trees back to life...and maybe me too!

Nanny

Nanny Is Having Fun!

Lots of pat-a-cake

The spice drawer has become the drawer of choice.......

Hanging out at the aquarium is fun too....

Pool is great but don't put me in that baby swim ring....no way! I need my freedom!



Getting lost in those eyes and that smile makes everyday perfect!

Nanny

Happy 4th of July!

Have a great 4th, friends! Stay Safe!

Nanny