Life's Little Instructions

Some years ago I received a gift titled Life's Little Instructions. The piece was done in calligraphy, matted and ready for framing. I never did have it framed, but it has moved around in my home, propped up and resting on the back of a dresser or chest. Following are a few of the "instructions", I'm sure you could add a few.

Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Never refuse homemade brownies.
Compliment three people everyday.
Leave everything a little better than you found it.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Say "thank you" a lot.
Remember other people's birthdays.
Sing in a choir.
Wave at kids on school buses.
Don't expect life to be fair.
Marry only for love.
Count your Blessings.

I promised you more TVP recipes - here is one I make often.

TVP Meatballs

1/2 cup TVP
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1 egg ( I use egg substitute such as Egg Beaters)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 small onion chopped
2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste

Reconstitute TVP in 1/2 cup hot water or broth - let stand about 15 minutes
Dice onion and mince garlic. Add to a bowl and mix with TVP, ground beef, breadcrumbs and remaining ingredients. You can also add a little ground flax seed (for the fiber) and nutritional yeast to the mixture. We will discuss both in a future post. You may also add a little grated parmesan cheese to the mixture. Be creative!

I form into meatballs and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. These can be used with your favorite sauce or gravy.

These also freeze very well after baking and cooling. Great to have on hand!

Let me know if you try these, I would love to know what you think.

Here comes the sun!

Our weather forecaster delivered on their promise of sunshine today! My dog was as thrilled as I was to see the return of
Mr. Sun.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father . . . who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

I enjoy giving gifts, small unexpected gifts, some craft I made, some cookies from a new recipe I've tried, a book that I read and enjoyed, the possibilities are endless. How about you? Random acts of kindness or just cheering a good friends day have a way of cheering you even more. Who will you give a gift to and what will it be, don't forget family - I really love surprising my grandchildren with unexpected gifts. Give it a try!

I am so hungry for raspberries - fresh off the bush raspberries. It won't be long. Here is a great recipe that is not healthy, but very good and could be used for those unexpected gifts to family and friends.

Raspberry Chocolate Spread

5 cups raspberries, crushed
6 - 7 cups sugar
1 box fruit pectin
5 - 6 squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 teaspoon butter

Measure berries into a large saucepan. Stir pectin into the fruit. Add chocolate and butter. Bring to a boil and stir constantly. Quickly stir in all the sugar. Return mixture to a full rolling boil for exactly one minute, all the while stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and skim off any foam. Ladle the mixture into clean, hot jars. I keep the jars standing in hot water in the sink or basin. Cover the jars with lids and screw on the rings, don't overtighten. Process the sealed jars in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Remove them from the canner and let cool at room temperature. Yield is approximately 9 cups. Dress up the jars with a fabric topper, a pretty bow, or both! I would love to receive a gift like this.

I leave you today with a quote - I receive daily quotes from
http://www.AllAboutGratitude.com
the quote today is:
"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to
count our blessings."

Thank you Paul for letting me use your thought of the day!

Count your blessings today - and if you have someone that is a blessing to you, let them know and remember to thank God.

I am heading outside, the sun is shining and the weeds are calling. Until tomorrow!

God's Richest Blessings on your Day!!!

Gail

Rain, Rain, Go Away

. . . but then I thought, no, I don't want the rain to go away

"I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and trees of the field their fruit" Leviticus 26:4

I woke again this morning to a dreary, rainy, damp day. It has been this way for a week. I really need some sunshine that I know will come. So today I will be content to be inside and work on some projects that I certainly will not have time for once the sun is shining and the temperatures are warmer.

TVP - Textured Vegetable Protein

You are either saying, what is that?, or I use it all the time. I have been using TVP for about 4 months, and I want to tell you a little bit about it.

What is TVP - Textured vegetable protein, TVP for short, is a high protein, high-fiber, meat substitute made from soy flour and available in a variety of flavored and unflavored varieties, as well as different sizes, from large chunks to small flakes.

TVP Granules

Though the data may be difficult to read - TVP has no fat, no cholesterol and 6 net carbs per 1/2 cup. It also contains 23 grams of protein. TVP takes on the flavor of whatever you add to it.

There are a bounty of recipes available on the internet for using TVP. Because I am watching my cholesterol intake I like to use TVP with ground beef, ground turkey and ground pork to name a few. I also watch my carb intake because I am diabetic.

I started using TVP by mixing it with lean ground beef. Using 1/2 cup of TVP granules, I rehydrated it with 1/2 cup chicken broth. You could use vegetable or beef broth. I heated the broth in the microwave, then added to the TVP and let it sit for about 15 minutes to rehydrate the TVP. I then added 1 pound of lean ground beef and mixed thoroughly. To this I added chopped onions, garlic powder, grated carrots and any other spices/flavorings you would like. Be creative. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour, form patties, and cook. These are wonderful on the grill, if making on the stove top add a small amount of canola oil to the pan, they are very lean. Just think of the cholesterol you have cut out by extending the ground beef, and honestly I don't know the difference. Over time I increased the amount of TVP I added to the pound of ground beef.

I will be adding more TVP recipes that I have enjoyed in the next few days.

TVP can be found in the Health Food Section of most grocery stores. Locally I find it near the flour - so check that aisle too.

God's Blessings on your day,

Gail

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Viola in my rock garden.

My Honey Crisp tree is in it's 3rd season

Along with the flowers are fruit tree blossoms, this Honey Crisp tree is the last to blossom. I have had beautiful blossoms and scents from my Cherry, Pear, Plum and other Apple trees this spring. The showers and warm weather of April in Minnesota, did indeed bring May flowers, but the showers continued. My flower beds are yielding beautiful flowers and also a bounty of weeds that I need to tackle soon. The weather forecasters are saying sun and warmer temperatures for the weekend, I hope they are right.

Here it is - day two of my blog. Many thanks to my friend Linda and her computer whiz daughter for helping me with some of the "technical" issues. I have been talking about starting a blog for such a long time. My husband of 40 plus years recently passed away after a lengthy illness. I retired from my job almost 2 years ago to care for him, so now I find myself with time and the need to fill that time. I miss him. Many times during the day I start to tell him something only to catch myself and remember. I am comforted in the knowledge that he is free from pain and illness in heaven with our Heavenly Father. I'm sure there was quite a reunion when he arrived and was reunited with his Dad and Grandparents. I am sad for me, but have my faith, a wonderful family and many friends that fill my time.

I have so many interests that I hope to share with you through this blog and I want to hear about your interests as well. For all you gardeners, hope you are able to get out and dig in the dirt.

Please drop me a line and let me know about you. God's richest blessings on your day.

Gail

Honey Mustard Dressing

The name is a misnomer as there is no honey in the recipe, but it rivals the taste of any purchased Honey Mustard Dressing. The recipe comes from my Mom, and it is a new favorite of mine.

Ingredients

1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup pancake syrup - I use sugar free
1/4 cup mayonnaise - I use Hellmann's Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar - I use Splenda
2 teaspoons mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix well - place in glass container, refrigerate. Will keep in refrigerator up to 1 month - but I don't think you can make it last that long. Shake or mix well before each use.

Nutritional Data for the entire mixture

Carbs - 17 grams
Cholesterol - 0 mg

Lemon Cream Cheese Tofu Pie

Ingredients

1 ready made graham cracker crust
1 package sugar free lemon Jello - .3 oz
1 cup boiling water
1-2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
4 ounces fat free cream cheese
12 ounce package silken tofu - soft type
4 ounces non dairy whipped topping - Cool Whip Free

Directions

Heat the water in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. Put the water in a blender - slowly add lemon jello, lemon extract and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly, pour jello into a small bowl and refrigerate until it starts to set. Put jello back into blender, blend with the tofu, cream cheese and Cool Whip. I blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into graham cracker crust, refrigerate for about 4 hours until set. Cut into 8 pieces, eat and enjoy. This is a very diabetic friendly recipe.

Nurtritional Data
Based on 8 servings
Carbs - 19 grams per serving
Cholesterol - 2.5 mg per serving
Protein - 1.5 grams per serving

If you have a sweet tooth - this will satisfy your craving.

Welcome to my Blog

Good Morning and welcome to my blog. I am very new to blogging; however with the help of a new found internet friend, that I might add has a wonderful blog, I am taking the first step. So here we go. My interests are widespread, so please check with me often, you never know what you will find. Today I'm starting off with a few recipes, that have become favorites of mine in my quest to control my cholesterol and diabetes. It is working!