Sat. Dec 29th

A slice of my friend's Homemade Fruit Cake for Dessert!

Daily Tidbit:  A dear friend was kind enough to share a slice of her homemade Fruit Cake with me today, something I had never had before!  This famous seasonal treat has been known to make its way into a joke or two, but I have to say, I enjoyed every bite!  (Yes, it was made with real fruit!)  Meanwhile, little did I know that Dec. 27th is actually National Fruit Cake Day, I only missed it by two days!  

For those looking to enjoy this treat as it was intended: home-made and with real fruit, then check out Cooking Light's updated Lighter version and enjoy!

http://simmerandboil.cookinglight.com/2012/12/27/give-the-fruitcake-a-facelift/
 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Cheerios with Walnuts

Breakfast:  Cheerios with Walnuts
1 cup Cheerios  
1 cup Fat Free Milk
2 tbsp plain Chopped Walnuts
5 oz Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie (recipe below) 
Regular Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
 

Spinach Egg Flaxseed Salad

 

Lunch:  2 Eggs Over Easy Spinach Salad
I put the following ingredients together in a bowl and then added the hot Over Easy Eggs on top, chopped them up and mixed everything together:

-1 packed cup fresh Baby Spinach
-Red Onion, sliced
-1 Plum Tomato, sliced
-1 tsp EVOO
-2 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
-Fresh Corn, cut from 1/2 Cob
-1/2 tbsp Flaxseed   

Water with Lemon 


*A good addition to this salad would have been some Dijon Mustard mixed into the dressing, along with the Oil, Vinegar and Eggs.
 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 

 

Multi-Grain Crispbread with Kalamata Hummus

Snack:   1 Wasa Multi Grain Crispbread topped with 1 tbsp Kalamata Olive Hummus (recipe below)
Decaf Coffee, 1/2 tsp unsweetened Dark Cocoa, splash Fat Free Milk

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Snack:   1/4 cup lightly salted, dry roasted Peanuts, Fat Free Milk

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Fresh Salsa + Black Beans + Avocado

Cheddar Mozz Nachos

Dinner: Nachos with fresh Salsa, Beans & Avocado
Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips, toasted with Part Skim Mozzarella & Cheddar Cheese, served with:
1/2 cup Black Beans + 1 cup fresh Salsa (recipe below) + 1/2 Avocado 

Red Wine

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

  

Fruit Cake

Dessert: Thin Slice of Fruit Cake with Icing, Water 

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

  

RECIPES:

 

Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie Recipe:

Into blender put:

2 Bananas

1 cup Fat Free All Natural Vanilla Yogurt

1 cup Strawberries (frozen/ thawed)

1 packed cup Baby Spinach

Blend and serve!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Kalamata Olive Hummus Recipe:

I cooked Dried Chick Peas in my Slow Cooker (1 cup of Chick Peas, in 4 cups of water, for 6 hours).  I drained the Chick Peas and prepared the Hummus as follows:
Into Food Processor put:
1 large clove Garlic, process first before adding other ingredients 2.5 cups Chick Peas, from Slow Cooker (still warm) juice from 1/2 Lime 1/2 tsp Salt (or more to taste) 2 tbsp Tahini

Process.  While Processing, stream in 1-2 tbsp EVOO and up to 1/4 cup of cool water depending on the desired texture/ consistency.   

I used half of this recipe as "Plain Hummus" then  took the leftover half, still inside the food processor, and threw in 8 pitted Black Kalamata Olives and processed until they were incorporated into the Hummus.  That is it!

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


Fresh Salsa Recipe:

Into food processor put:

1 large clove Garlic (process this first before adding other ingredients)
1/4 Large Red Onion
1/4 Large White Onion
Juice of 1/2 Lime
Large bunch of Cilantro 
1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes
Salt, to taste
   

Process.  While Processing, stream in 1 tbsp EVOO.  Transfer to bowl.  Mix in 1/4 cup sliced Scallions.  Refrigerate to allow flavors to meld.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>