Dessert is Served!

Okay - I've talked about it on the air, and I've given you the 'master grocery list.' I promised you recipes, so take a big bite out of these lip-smackin' ideas for dessert tonight! I'm gonna be drooling all afternoon!

Love you guys!

-Fredly.

From www.hungrygirl.com: Here are THREE insanely awesome dessert recipes... NONE of which require the use of an oven (or a blender or food processor for that matter!). The only hard part is deciding which one to make first.

Mini Microwave Triple Chocolate Cake PER SERVING (entire recipe): 123 calories, 1g fat, 201mg sodium, 28g carbs, 0.75g fiber, 12g sugars, 2g protein -- POINTS® value 2* Yes, this is as good as it sounds. And no, we don't consider using a microwave "baking"! Ingredients: 2 tbsp. Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Cake Mix, Devil's Food 2 tbsp. Cool Whip Free, thawed 1 tbsp. fat-free vanilla yogurt 1 tbsp. Hershey's Lite chocolate syrup, divided Directions: Stir together the whipped topping and half of the syrup, and then place mixture in the freezer to firm up while you prep the rest of your dessert. Next, in a very small microwave-safe dish (like a ramekin), combine cake mix and yogurt. (Don't worry if it seems like a small amount. Your cake will puff up -- we promise!) Stir until smooth and blended. Microwave for 1 minute, and then allow to cool for 5 minutes. Once cake has cooled, remove chocolate topping from freezer, and spoon it over your cake. Finally, drizzle the remaining chocolate syrup on top. Enjoy! MAKES 1 SERVING

Tiramisu Pudding PER SERVING (entire recipe): 166 calories, 1g fat, 297mg sodium, 24g carbs, 0g fiber, 7g sugars, 14g protein -- POINTS® value 3* Face it -- ladyfingers are overrated. Here's a creamy, cocoa-dusted dream come true! Ingredients: 1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese 1/2 container Jell-O Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Snack 1/4 cup Cool Whip Free, thawed 2 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder Directions: Combine the ricotta cheese, pudding, Cool Whip, Splenda, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth. Sprinkle with cocoa powder. Dig in! MAKES 1 SERVING

Quickie Caramel Custard PER SERVING (entire recipe): 88 calories, 0g fat, 61mg sodium, 8g carbs, <0.5g>POINTS® value 2* Flan-flavored Fage? AMAZING! Ingredients: One 5.3-oz. container Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt 1 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) 1 1/2 tsp. Torani Sugar Free Caramel Syrup 1/4 tsp. cinnamon Directions: Mix all ingredients together and serve with your favorite spoon! MAKES 1 SERVING

For Mom - You are the glue that holds the family together!

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, 'I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed'

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches.

Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.

She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.

She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails. Dad called out, 'I thought you were going to bed.'

'I'm on my way,' she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. 'I'm going to bed.' And he did...without another thought.

Take some time to tell your wife how much you appreciate her hard work – she needs it, and more than that – she DESERVES it.

-Fredly.

Power of Our Words...

My wife forwarded me a great post today, and I wanted to share a portion of it with you! I often talk about the power of our words, and I truly desire that you (if you don't already) focus on speaking words of LIFE in your daily lives!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I will never again settle for a mediocre, average existence.

I will not settle for things the way they are. There is more to this life that God has for me, and I expect Him to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think.

I will think big, and ask big. Then I will experience BIG.

I desire to improve, to get better and to make something great of my life. I am NOT an excuse maker. I am always improving; always adding value to my life and the lives of others.

Jesus came to give me life—abundant in quantity and superior in quality; life to the full; life that overflows.

I pray that this word blesses you as much as it did me - I've actually printed it out in big, bold letters, and taped it on the wall in front of my computer, so that it's right in front of me as I work every day!

Have a great afternoon!

-Fredly.

Your Birth Verse!

Here’s a really cool website that I was shown this morning. There’s a scripture verse to correlate with each day of the year—and every day is someone’s birthday.

http://www.birthverse.com/mybirthverse.cfm

You put in your birthday, and it gives you a scripture.

Mine is:

2 Peter 1:11 NIV
and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hope you all have a blessed day!

-Fredly.

CLOSURES AND CANCELATIONS

2/22/08

· Eldon Upward Games scheduled for tomorrow have been canceled.

· School of the Osage basketball game for tonight has been canceled and rescheduled for tomorrow at 2pm. Also, there will be court-warming activities during the game, but no dance.

· Eldon First Assembly of God’s Kingdom Kids Movie Night has been canceled for tonight.

· First Family Church’s Women’s Rally scheduled for tonight has been postponed until tomorrow…doors will open at 6pm…rally begins at 7pm.

· The Adult IV Luncheon at First Baptist Church of Richland scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed, and will be rescheduled at a later date.

· Opened Door Christian Fellowship’s End-time Joseph Food Giveaway will be Monday night, February 25^th from 5pm – 8pm.

· Knights of Columbus Counsel #10381 has canceled the Fish Fry in Laurie for tonight.

· W.M.U. Book Study at First Baptist Church of Richland scheduled for tonight has been canceled, and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Healthy Living Info...

Okay. Let's face it. Most of us want to shed at LEAST a couple of pounds. Personally, I'd like to drop the equivalent weight of a Volvo wagon. That said - there are really a lot of things that we can do that don't just scream, "DIET!" I'm learning that I will take in fewer calories just by buying the right types of food. Most times - I get a healthy alternative to something I want, and I don't really have to sacrifice much in the ole' taste department.

One of the coolest places I've seen recently to give a lot of good nutritional advice is a website:

www.hungrygirl.com

That site can give you a lot of great ideas, recipes, and ways to curb your caloric intake. And it's NOT all a bunch of tofu and bean sprouts! (although you can find it if you're into that sort of stuff)

Today Hungry Girl posted a grocery list, and it's HUGE! I'm gonna share it with you, so you can think about your next trip to stock the pantry!

Love you guys! Talk with you soon!

-Fredly.

Hungry Girl's 2008 Supermarket List

Dairy, Dairy Alternatives and Eggs

Kraft Fat Free Cheeses (slices and shreds)
Lifetime Fat Free Cheeses (shreds and blocks)
The Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges
Galaxy Veggie Slices & Shreds (soy-based cheeses low in fat)
Light string cheese
Fat-free liquid egg substitute (Egg Beaters, Better'n Eggs, Nulaid ReddiEgg)
Fat-free or low-fat yogurt (Yoplait Light, Dannon Light & Fit, Weight Watchers, Yoplait Fiber One)
Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt
Fage Total 2% Greek Yogurt with Fruit
Fat-free yogurt smoothies (Dannon Light & Fit, Weight Watchers)
Light vanilla soymilk (8th Continent Light Vanilla Soymilk, Silk Light Vanilla Soymilk -- refrigerated)
Almond Breeze in Unsweetened Vanilla, Unsweetened Original and
Unsweetened Chocolate (located with the non-refrigerated soymilks)
Fat Free Reddi-wip
Cool Whip Free (in the freezer aisle)
Coffee-mate Original Fat Free liquid creamer
Coffee-mate Fat Free French Vanilla powdered creamer
Fat-free half & half
Fat-free cream cheese
Fat-free sour cream
Fat-free cottage cheese
Fat-free mayonnaise
Reduced-fat parmesan-style grated topping (usually found in the pasta aisle)


Cereal

Puffed stuff (puffed wheat, puffed rice, puffed corn, shredded wheat, Kashi 7
Whole Grain Puffs)
Fiber One Bran Cereal (original)
Kashi Vive
Barbara's Bakery Puffins
Special K Cinnamon Pecan
Kix
Quaker Instant Oatmeal packets
Quaker Simple Harvest Instant Multigrain Hot Cereal


Meat & Seafood

99% fat-free turkey slices
Applegate Farms sliced ham (or the freshest sliced ham from the deli counter)
Lean, skinless, boneless chicken breast (Tyson Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, Perdue Fit & Easy Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts)
Extra-lean ground turkey breast (Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast,
Butterball Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast)
Fat-free or nearly fat-free hot dogs (Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks, Yves Meatless Hot Dogs or Tofu Dogs, Ball Park Fat Free Franks or Bun Size Smoked White Turkey Franks)
Canned/pouched tuna in water
Canned/pouched salmon in water
Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Albacore Steak Entrées
Real or imitation crabmeat
Shrimp
Hormel Turkey Pepperoni or Yves Meatless Pepperoni
Jennie-O Lean Turkey Burger Patties
Jennie-O Extra Lean Turkey Bacon


Veggies

Giant romaine lettuce leaves and cabbage (great for wraps!)
Salad greens
Frozen veggies (steamable ones!)
Butternut squash (for HG's special fries)
Onions (for our ROCKIN' onion rings)
Baby carrots
Pickles
Jicama (the vegetable that tastes like an apple!)
Spaghetti squash
Red bell peppers (cut into strips for a crunchy snack!)
More fresh vegetables (your choice)


Fruit

Fresh fruit (we love red seedless grapes, Fuji apples, navel oranges, melons, bananas, peaches, and Ruby Red grapefruit!)
Canned fruit in juice or water (like pineapple, mandarin oranges,
peaches, etc.)
Frozen fruit with no added sugar (strawberries, mixed berries, peach slices, etc.)
No-sugar-added applesauce (Mott's Healthy Harvest comes in a bunch of fruity flavors!)


Soups & Other Canned Goods

Low-calorie canned soups (Campbell's Soup at Hand, Campbell's Select Gold Label Soups, Progresso 99% Fat Free Soups)
Progresso Light Soups (60 calories and 0 POINTS® value per serving -- endorsed by Weight Watchers!)
Amy's Light in Sodium Organic Soups (especially the Chunky Tomato Bisque!)
Fat-free chicken, beef, or vegetable broth (look for ones low in sodium)
Canned low-fat turkey or veggie chili (Hormel Chili in Turkey or Vegetarian,
Health Valley Chilis)
Tabatchnick Soups (located in the freezer)
Mishima instant soups (the Miso and Edamame ones are the best!)
Canned pure pumpkin (Libby's is the best!)
Canned hearts of palm
Canned sweet corn kernels (Green Giant's Mexicorn has peppers in it!)
Canned beans (S&W has some awesome varieties)
Canned tomato sauce (or low-calorie, low-fat jarred ones)


Packaged Snacks, Bars, Cookies, Crackers, Chips & Popcorn

Quaker Rice Cakes
Quaker Quakes Multigrain Minis
Quaker Mini Delights (now in new flavors!)
Sugar-free or no-sugar-added pudding cups (Jell-O Sugar Free Pudding Snacks, Sugar Free Handi-Snacks, Hunt's No Sugar Added Snack Packs)
Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Rice Pudding and Tapioca Pudding
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs (any variety -- check out the new Candy Bites)
Keebler 100 Calorie Right Bites
Hostess 100 Calorie Packs (look for the new Streusel Muffins!)
Special K Snack Bites
100 Calorie Packs Blue Diamond Almonds
Hershey's, Reese's, and York 100 Calorie Bars
Entenmann's Little Bites 100 Calorie Packs
Weight Watchers Snack Cakes
VitaMuffins (freezer aisle!)
South Beach Diet/Living Snack Bar Delights
Fiber One Chewy Bars (new Caramel flavor out NOW!)
Kashi GoLean Bars
Curves Bars
Quaker Sweet & Salty Crunch Granola Bars
Special K Cereal Bars and Bliss Bars
Guiltless Gourmet Potato Crisps and Tortilla Chips
Kettle Bakes Potato, Pretzel, and Pita Chips (look for the new 100-calorie packs of potato chips!)
Popchips
Baked! Lay's Potato Crisps
Soy Crisps (Quaker, Genisoy, Glenny's)
94% fat-free mini microwave popcorn bags (Jolly Time Healthy Pop Mini Bags, Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop! Mini Bags, Pop Secret 94% Fat Free Snack Size)
Freeze Dried Fruits (Gerber Mini Fruits, Just Tomatoes, Trader Joe's, Sensible Foods Crunch Dried Snacks, Funky Monkey)
Gerber Fruit Puffs and Veggie Puffs
Everybody's Nuts! California Pistachios
Jell-O Sugar Free Gelatin Snacks


Breads

Light english muffins (Weight Watchers, Thomas' Light Multi Grain or 100 Calorie Original, Western Bagel Alternative)
Low-fat flour tortillas with around 110 calories each and high in fiber (La Tortilla Factory Low-Carb Tortillas, Mission Carb Balance, Tumaro’s Tortillas)
Light bread, low in calories and high in fiber (Wonder Light, Weight Watchers, Nature's Own Light, Nature's Own Double Fiber, Arnold's Bakery Light, Pepperidge Farm in Light Style, Very Thin, and Classic
Whole Grain, Sara Lee Delightful Bread)
Light buns (Wonder Light Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns,
Nature's Own Double Fiber Buns, Pepperidge Farm Classic Whole Grain White Hamburger Buns and Hot Dog Buns)
Low-calorie bagels (Western Bagel Alternative, Weight Watchers, Kim's Light Bagels)
High-fiber pita bread (Western Bagel Alternative, Weight Watchers)


Ice Cream & Frozen Novelties

Fat-free or low-fat ice cream (Dreyer's/Edy's Slow Churned Light Ice
Creams, Dreyer's/Edy's Loaded, Breyers Double Churn FREE)
Low-fat ice cream sandwiches (The Skinny Cow, Weight Watchers, Klondike Slim-a-Bear 100 Calorie Sandwiches)
Portion-controlled ice cream cups (Weight Watchers, Breyers Double Churn 100 Calorie Cups)
The Skinny Cow Bars
Weight Watchers GIANT Bars (Fudge, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate
Cookies & Cream, and more)
Healthy Choice Premium Fudge Bars, Sugar Free Fudgsicles
Sugar Free Popsicles
Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Bars (look for the ones with "Lites" in the title)
Starbucks Frappuccino Bars


Sauces, Dressings & Spreads

Low-calorie salad dressings (Girard's Fat Free Dressings, Kraft Free Italian Fat Free Dressing, Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Fat Free, Wish-Bone Light! salad dressings, Newman's Lightened Up Salad Dressings)
Litehouse Vinaigrettes (check labels for the low-cal ones)
Spray dressings (Wish-Bone Salad Spritzers, Ken's Steak House Lite Accents, Newman's Own Natural Salad Mist)
Light buttery spread or light whipped butter (Brummel & Brown, Land
O'Lakes Whipped Light Butter, Smart Balance 37%
Light Buttery Spread)
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
Sugar-free maple syrup (Cary's Sugar Free, Mrs. Butterworth’s Sugar Free,
Log Cabin Sugar Free, Joseph’s Sugar Free)
Salsa
Smucker's Sugar Free Preserves
Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
Hellmann's/Best Foods Dijonnaise
Vivi's Original Sauce Carnival Mustards
Reduced sodium or light soy sauce


Frozen Foods & Meals

Veggie Burgers (Boca Original Meatless Burgers, Gardenburger Veggie Burgers, Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Patties, Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Burgers, Amy’s Veggie Burgers)
Ground-beef-style soy crumbles (Boca Meatless Ground Burger, Morningstar
Farms Meal Starters Grillers Recipe Crumbles)
Breaded-chicken-style soy patties (Boca Meatless Chik’n Patties Original, Morningstar Farms Chik Patties Original)
Boca Meatless Breakfast Wraps
South Beach Diet/Living Breakfast Wraps
Amy's Burritos
Cedarlane Low Fat Garden Vegetable Enchiladas
Lean Cuisine Panini Sandwiches
Healthy Choice Panini Sandwiches
SoLean Breakfast English Muffin Sandwich
SoLean Cheeseburgers
Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean D-Lights
Amy's Spinach Pizza in a Pocket Sandwich
South Beach Diet/Living Pizza
Amy's Cheese Pizza Toaster Pops
Lean Cuisine Brick Oven Style Pizzas
Kashi All Natural Frozen Pizzas (the new Thin Crust ones are SO
GOOD!)
Boca Meatless Lasagna
Boca Meatless Chili
Morningstar Farms Corn Dogs (meatless)
Amy's Mexican Tamale Pie
Kashi All Natural Entrees
Healthy Choice Café Steamers
Kellogg's Eggo Special K 99% Fat Free Waffles


Beverages

Diet soda (Coke Zero, Coke Cherry Zero, Sprite Zero, Diet Coke Plus, Diet Rite Pure Zero, Fresca)
Coffee (Millstone, Dunkin' Donuts)
Sugar-free powdered drink mixes (Crystal Light, Wyler’s Light, Market
Pantry, Disney Magic Selections)
SoBe Adrenaline Rush, Sugar Free
SoBe Lean
Swiss Miss Diet Hot Cocoa Mix
Dasani Water, Aquafina Water
Hint Water
Minute Maid Fruit Falls


Baking Goods, Spices, & More

No-calorie sweetener packets (Splenda, Sweet'N Low, Equal, stevia)
Nonstick cooking spray (Pam No-Stick Cooking Spray, Pam Professional High Heat)
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Garlic powder
Taco seasoning mix
Low-calorie marinades (Mrs. Dash, Lawry's, Newman's Own)
Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated (comes loose in the box, not in packets)
Splenda Flavors for Coffee
Mrs. Dash Seasoning Blends
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Torani Sugar Free Syrups
Sippah Milk Flavoring Straws


And Of Course...

House Foods Tofu Shirataki noodles (look for the new and awesome Angel Hair shape!)

39th Annual GMA Dove Award Nominees

Naturally, we all get a little giddy this time of the year - the annual event that recognizes the biggest achievements in Christian music is coming, and this year's nominees have just been announced! You can see the full list at the link below - download it or print it out on your computer, and make your own picks, and then see how they line up for the big show!

http://www.doveawards.com/categories/39th_DoveAwards_Nominations_List.pdf

Kid Stuff...

Being parents of young children has taught my wife and I that we must CONSTANTLY come up with new and inventive ways to keep our children creatively occupied. For instance, our daughter LOVES to color. But she can motor through an entire coloring book in a day.

We can't spend a fortune on coloring books, so what do we do?

We have found that there are a number of great websites on the internet that provide you with FREE printable coloring pages! It's the cat's pajamas - we can find pages that correspond with daily lessons or activities, and Ashleigh just loves them.

Here are a couple of sites to get you started:

http://www.bozthebear.com/fun/activities.asp

http://www.coloring-book.info/coloring/coloring_page.php?id=155

It's pretty simple stuff - just click and print for the most part! You will need to have the Adobe Reader installed on your computer for many sites, including the 'Boz' site.

I hope that you get as much enjoyment as we have from this simple, cost-effective option to coloring books! I know one thing's for sure - our house and my office have been COMPLETELY redecorated time and again from our daughter's colorful creations!

Have a blessed day! Love you guys!

-Fredly.