Grandma's Kitchen

We are starting off today with an odd recipe.

I am dieting. I am having a time of it. I tried some of the items that are on the market to lose weight and found it has too much Vitamin K in it. It is dangerous for someone who can, or has gotten, blood clots, like me.

So I am down to the real thing - counting calories.

I was desperate this week for something to eat - something I could basically eat completely. Here is what I came up with.

LINDA'S DESPERATE MEAL

(half is about 20 Carbs; all is 40 Carbs, and the calorie count is small, too)

1 can green beans, drained

1 can stewed tomatoes (with celery, onion and green peppers)

Pour both in a saucepan. If tomatoes are large, chop up using a kitchen scissors.

Warm in saucepan till hot. There should still be a lot of juice in the pan.

Then break up and add:

2 crusts from 1 loaf of bread

Break the crusts up good, and put them in. Stir up well, and allow time for juice to get into the bread. Stir well, and add a little water if need be.

Then, help yourself.

I usually take 1/2 of the recipe in a bowl, and have 2 beef hot dogs, cut in pieces and microwaved, on the side. It is a nice meal. However, for just the "PIG OUT", I eat the beans and tomatoes. It does work, cause I am getting smaller.

IDEA #2

I haven't done this yet, but heard Richard Simmons say years ago that another tactic is to wash, dry and then freeze whole grapes. It takes a long time to eat them, sort of like a mini popsickle. It is worth a try.

* If you have some "Desperate Meals", please send them in and help all of us who are trying to eat well, but healthy too.

CHEDDARY POUCH POTATOES

1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

4 cups frozen steak fries

Paprika

Stir the soup, milk, garlic and onion in a large bowl. Stir in the potatoes.

Place the potato mixture on four (14-inch) squares of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Sprinkle with paprika. Fold the foil to make packets.

Heat the grill to medium. Grill the packets for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Tip: To bake in the oven: Place the packets on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.

REFRESHING COOLER

2 cups cranberry juice

1 cup pineapple juice

1 cup orange juice

4 ounce jar maraschino cherries

2 tablespoons lemon juice

12 ounce can ginger ale

1 orange, sliced in 8 rounds

In a gallon pitcher, combine, cranberry juice,, pineapple juice, orange juice, cherry juice and lemon juice.

Keep chilled in refrigerator. Just before serving, add the chilled ginger ale; stir to blend.

Serve over ice in 8 glasses or cups.

Garnish with toothpicks with orange slices and cherries.

Linda's Note: If you want a low can version, use the low cal juices, or "juice only" juices, and diet ginger ale.

OATMEAL MUFFINS

1 cup dry oatmeal

1 cup sour milk (use a drop or 2 of vinegar to sour the milk)

1 medium egg

1/2 cup brown or white sugar

1/3 cup oil

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

In a large bowl combine the oatmeal and sour milk. If you have the chance, let it stand for a few minutes, for the oatmeal to absorb some of the milk.

Add the egg, sugar and oil. Beat very well with a wire whisk.

Add the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Mix again, until all of the dry particles are moistened. Do not over beat. It should only take about a 20 or 30 strokes by hand to mix it up enough.

Spoon the batter into a 12 well-oiled muffin cups.

Bake at 400ºF for about 20 minutes. Serve hot.