Thursday, October 31, 2013

Always Tender, Tenderloin

For a quick, delicious, and "nice" dinner, try one of the Hormel Always Tender Pork Tenderloins.  Available in the original unseasoned flavor, and several other pre-marinated flavors including Teriyaki (our current favorite), Lemon Garlic, and Mesquite Barbecue  So easy to make, just bake them in the oven for about 30-35 min, slice and serve.  Just as the label says, they are always tender.  We just enjoyed one last night with a baked butternut squash and Asian-style slaw.  A simple but "nice" dinner.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Kind of Tasty


Out and about and late for lunch?  Got the 4pm munchies and looking for something to hold you over until dinner?  Pick up a Kind bar!  Claudette first introduced me to the Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt .... mmmmm!  Then I picked up a box this summer at Sam's Club - Peanutbutter Chocolate and possibly my favorite flavor, Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew.  Last week at Target I tried a box of the  Coconut Almond flavor and that is running a very close second.  Around 200 calories a bar, and full of crunchy nuts, they are a delicious and satisfying snack!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Sugar and Spice and Pumpkin is Nice!



This is one of my favorite fall recipes ~ Pumpkin Cake.  Easy to make and lightly spiced, topped with just a dusting of powdered sugar.  Originally a Pampered Chef muffin recipe, I prefer to make it in a Bundt pan and serve it for dessert.

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

1 pkg Yellow Cake Mix
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 can (15oz) Pumpkin
3 Eggs
1/2 c Oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Blend together all ingredients.  Pour into greased and floured Bundt pan.  Bake 45-50 min or until done.  When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.  You can top with cream cheese frosting, but we prefer it plain and simple.  


Friday, October 11, 2013

"All Shirred Up" is a Sure Thing!



The "All Shirred Up" top from Zella is my new go-to favorite.  I am wearing it as I type, with my red jeans and a white tank, ready to go cheer on the Red Devils tonight.  Last week, I topped it over a pale yellow tank and black yoga pants for an early morning flight to Florida.  A few days before that, I pulled it on over a work-out T and capri's after my (very first!) Zumba class to meet with my accountability group.  It's cozy, comfortable, and very wearable.  The sweater-knit top has sleeves nice and long sleeves with ruching at the cuffs, and a soft cowl-style collar with a loose hoody.  The back features shirring from top to bottom.  Besides the versatile gray, it is also available in white and teal.  Although it's one of those high-tech, quick-dry fabrics, it looks and feels like a light weight sweater.  Another Pearl from Zella!

Friday, October 4, 2013

Whip It, Whip it Good!




Like peanut butter but want to cut back a little on the fat and calories?  Like peanut butter but hate it when your apple slice or carrot breaks off stuck in the jar?  Then look for Jif Whips in the peanut butter section.  It's peanut butter, whipped!  Regular peanut butter, with no unpronounceable ingredients, in a soft and spreadable form.  Perfect for dipping in apple slices, carrot sticks, or topping a banana, and just as good in an old-fashioned PB&J as old fashioned peanut butter, but with just 140 calories per serving (2 Tablespoons).  Rumor has it there is also a peanut butter-chocolate flavor that I can not wait to try!