A SENSE OF ADVENTURE - AND THIS AND THAT!!

Last night my husband took me on a date -- well it really felt like one -- just the two of us.  Thanks to some very special friends that took Michelle to a ballgame and homecoming -- we had the evening to ourselves for a little while.  We started to bring in Pizza and then he suggested we go out.  We had a wonderful meal at Dakotas - pricey - but very good!  Too much eating out lately, but usually the week I've cooked a big meal at church I want to stay out of the kitchen!  This was certainly a cold and damp day and I felt really lazy but did go out for a couple of hours for some beauty treatments!  My little niece came over this afternoon and things were lively from then on.  She is so cute, prissy, and smart and one live wire this afternoon!  Today I've been thinking about this blog and how I could encourage each of you to develop that "sense of adventure" in your kitchen - especially those of you that say you only go to your kitchen for a drink of water!  I am not saying become a slave to it - but just try out new things.  Develop your own style or your own specialty!  It could be you always just open a can of cream style corn, heat it up and throw it on the table -- then try taking that corn, mix in about 1/2 box Jiffy mix, 1 beaten egg, about 1/4 cup of sugar, a dash of cayenne pepper, about 1/4 cup shredded cheese (any flavor), and if you are brave enough - chop up a few jalapenos!  Stir it together and put it in a small casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray, and Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until set.  There are hundreds of recipes for Corn Casserole, but you don't need a recipe - just put in  some of your favorite things - whether it is cream cheese and green chiles or onions -- just try it and your family will thank you!!   Another thought -- do you always make Green Bean Casserole for holiday means?  Try exchanging the Green Beans for Asparagus!  It makes a delicious dish!!  I have been reading a book that was recommended -  "THE FLAT BELLY DIET" and it says that every meal should include a "Mufa" - these are foods that kick-start your metabolism.  Some of them happen to be some of my very favorite foods -- Avacados, Peanut butter, nuts of all kinds, and dark chocolate (not one I like or eat). Another thing was to always eat your fruit first -- it also wakes up your metabolism! In the newspaper this week - one diet expert recommended using your hand, a deck of cards, and a golf ball to visualize the portion of food you should have.  For instance, visualize a golf ball and that is the size of peanut butter you should have at one time -- no more!  The size of the palm of you hand is all of the steak you should ever eat at one time -- unless your hand is large like some of the basketball players - and then even that is too much!  Now how did I get off on this subject -- well if most of you are like me -- staying fit and trying to either lose weight or keep it off -- is a big part of my life and I love new tips that really work!  None work as well as pushing your plate back before you really want to -- but that is sometimes hard to do!! So think of the one thing you either like the best, don't mind doing, or enjoy cooking - and experiment with it -- develop a "Special Dish" that only you know all the secrets to!  Have a good nights sleep - and be in church tomorrow!  God Bless!