Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

This recipe goes back to childhood when the cafeteria staff used to make them for the kids. When they cooked and not heated the food that came from a box. 🙂 Anyway, I made them today and liked them a lot. It was a little too much sugar for me but maybe that’s because I’m a little mature 😉 Whatever, they are great. Normally, people share horror stories about cafeteria food. I have a couple of good ones and this recipe is one of them. Hope that you like them too and workout on the same day (before and after I might add).

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies 

1/2 C Butter

2 C Sugar

1/2 C Milk

4 Tbsp Cocoa

1/2 C Peanut Butter

3 1/2 C Quick cooking Oats

2 tsp. Vanilla

Add the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, and boil for 1 minute. Stir in the next 3 ingredients and drop onto wax/foil paper. Let cool until set.

 

Family Memories: Caretaker Roles

From time to time, I will write about my family memories. This has nothing to do with voice overs but includes the “me” in GVOS and Me. Sometimes, a reflection heals the soul and I don’t mind sharing from time to time.

My grandmother, Eunice “Shug” Geter’s visitation was today with my parents. Grandma is 95 year’s young. Although, she is so ready to go most days that we don’t always as the younger generation (I’m talking 72 and under with my parents and myself without some of those aches and pains) don’t see it that way. Grandma has a good mind and mentions without hesitation what the workers do and what they don’t do. Food with the older generation (mind you that grandma was highlighted for her cooking in Better Homes and Gardens in 1973) constantly is an irritation. Each sentence was punctuated with the phrase, “…and I left it on the plate.” A person can’t help but to laugh, however, it’s truly not a funny matter. Grandma could always get under dad’s skin. Saw some tough arguments on occasion with them that made me glance a second look but there was always love (of course). Dad helped his mom with everything while my mom would aid as best she could. Both my parents took on family: my uncle when he underwent surgery for prostate cancer: my great-aunt Aunt Jessie when diagnosed with dementia; and my grandmother when my Uncle wasn’t able to help due to health issues. My aunt (her step-mother) didn’t share a good relationship.

Family dynamics are interesting. My parents are care givers. I will help my parents although this gene wasn’t really found in my DNA but I will be there for them.

For me, this is an interesting topic. I didn’t mean to write this particular topic, but others will follow from time to time. This is a snapshot of family memories of my parents in a caretaker role.

 

Recipe for the PERFECT ICED COFFEE

So, I drink coffee everyday. It started in college while at Georgia State University. A jazz piano friend took me to Little Five Points at Underground Atlanta to try some specialty coffees, and I started drinking it ever since! So, what is the perfect iced coffee that you can make from home? Try this recipe (thanks Laura N.) and save about $5 from Starbucks (love Starbucks but the economy is in a recession). Click on the link below:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee

 

LA Fitness vs. Bally’s Fitness

LA Fitness bought out Bally’s Fitness Centers in GA a few weeks ago. I had just changed my membership from Bally’s to LA Fitness since I wasn’t satisfied with the service. Also, I didn’t want to wait ’till January 1st to go into the gym. I need to work out now!

Truth Is: Geter wasn’t going at all and I needed something to push myself back into the gym. I needed a nice whirl pool, inviting locker rooms, the latest bling to feel comfortable in walking in and out of a facility. Yeah, Ballys didn’t keep up with their equipment like LA Fitness. However, why do girls need all of the niceties that men really don’t need? Men love a grungy gym while women need all of this stuff not really necessary for working out.

So, I worked out at LA Fitness and now I can’t walk today. This doesn’t stop me. I’m not the crazy Target lady on those commercials during the holiday season (although memorable), I’m determined to reach AND keep my goal of a size 6-8.

I have a long ways to go. Whatever gets me to the finish line: Weight Watchers on my right and LA Fitness on my left will steer me forward to the goal post. That’s the idea anyway.

Kim

 

Pot Roast: Crock Pot Style

I bought roast beef and didn’t know how to cook it. I know. I had it good for a LONG time…Anyway, some friends on Facebook told me what to do. The recipe that I used is below. I basically threw it together without a lot of measuring. However, if there are measurements, I had a need to remember, so I wrote it down. BTW, this is not a weight watchers recipe. I will have my first meeting this week.

roast thawed and washed

4 c. water

chopped celery (approx. half a small bag)

small baby carrots (approx. half a small bag)

2 sliced and peeled medium potatoes

sweet red, yellow, orange peppers

1/2 sliced onion

3 T olive oil

rosemary

thyme

sea salt

peppercorn

Worcestershire sauce

1 pkg. beef Lipton soup mix

red wine (optional for a gravy texture)

The spices are seasoned to taste. I didn’t measure them. Mix and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Slam dunk, it was a winner! I LOVED it! Made cornbread muffins and drank some of the wine instead of cooking with it (oops!). For dessert, I had a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. It was a simple meal that I enjoyed. You can put 1 can of cream of mushroom soup instead of beef Lipton soup mix for a nice gravy. I saw recipes where flour can be added for a nice gravy as well. Next time, I may sear the meat on both sides and marinate the meat first. Friends shared their versions and I added a little of theirs with my twist. There are many variations. See below a different twist for this recipe. I was also told that more recipes are found at http://www.foodnetwork.com or http://www.epicurious.com.

Kim

Comments from Linda J.: “Before you drain the excess water, leave the cover off the beef and let it boil off. This would create more flavor in your beef….simple is best try topping the beef with mushrooms, sautéed with onion, garlic, butter or margarine and add Worcestershire sauce. Yummy!”

 

Weight Watchers

So…I’ve eaten at Mary Macs Tea Room and it’s time to register at Weight Watchers. I will check the schedule and make a plan to stop by there on Saturday.

It’s long overdue. I hope to get the results that Jennifer Hudson did. That’s my prayer and will be able to lose weight and keep it off with the Weight Watchers Plus Program. I need also to find an exercise program that I can do no matter how busy I am.

I want that for myself. I’ll post my progress and exercise regimen along this journey. I hope the journey will be a happy one!

Kim