casual sundays

Do not let the sunshine fool you! It did me today. It is cold and blustery. They're calling for a wintry mix, but it is now almost 7 p.m. and that hasn't started, although the air, if possible, just keeps getting colder and colder. It's crazy windy and it chills you to the bone if you go outside.

So pretty. The first of many new and exciting flowers that will be added to the gardens for 2008. I'm predicting an abundant, productive, and healthy 2008 for the people and the gardens here on our little plot.

I like the smaller print and I like the background. Is it hard to read? I don't think it is, but you know how everything changes from one monitor to the next...

What's for dinner? A delicious combo from the crockpot rounded out the day very well.

The Menu:
Pork Tenderloin, Onions, Green and Orange Peppers in a garlicky beef and tomato sauce
Sauteed Green Beans & Shallots
Mixed Green Salad

This morning I threw the pork loin into the crock pot, opened the cupboard and found a can of organic-low-sodium-99%-fat-free beef broth (I believe I might have needed two of those, and yes, I would write a cookbook if I could figure out how to keep track of ingredients while I cooked!), two cans of lower-sodium-organic tomato sauce, chopped garlic, red onion (although any onion would be just fine), green peppers and orange peppers. Turn the crock pot on low and let it simmer and smell good until dinnertime. Tomatoes, roasted or fresh juicy ones in place of tomato sauce, make this dish even better. In the winter, I use what I have in the cupboard and my family seems to gobble it up in no time no matter how I prepare it.

super bowl menu

We will be enjoying:

--Steamed Shrimp
--Blue Cheese Dip
--Crab/Parmesan/Asiago Dip
--Guacamole
--Pico De Gallo
--Red, Orange and Green Peppers
--Celery
--Cucumbers
--Baguette
--Blue Corn Tortillas
--Asiago/Parm Multi-Grain Crackers
--Baked Whole Wheat Triscuit Style Crackers
--Part Skim Swiss, Asiago, and Cheddar Cheeses

As for the game... well, don't tell but I don't know both teams involved. Sorry. I do know the Patriots are playing and that they have not lost this season. I certainly don't hate football or anything. It's a regular TV viewing choice with all the boys around here. You could call me neutral. Anyway, it's more important for me to have everyone enjoy the food that I have lovingly prepared.

It's a little less heart healthy than is my usual cooking habits, however, most ingredients are organic, including the chips, breads and veggies. Most of the cheese are part skim. The sour cream is fat free and the cream cheese is lower. The crackers and tortillas are both lower sodium.

I've learned to throw away all containers before my guests arrive because when they see lower fat cheese labels they tend to think of less taste and dieting. Not what I want my guests to be thinking about before putting food into their mouths. Now I keep my mouth shut and offer nothing until after the food is being inhaled and someone wants a recipe.

If you run into anyone that will be attending our Super Bowl Affair, mum's the word, k?