Week 43 Monday (11/3/14)

Recipe Review       

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Sticky Pecan Mini Muffins

         Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

I figured out that there are 233 calories per serving, if 36 servings  or 117 calories if 72 are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

It begins with a melted stick of butter

I added the nuts - sorry it's a little blurry

Once the inside ingredients were added I rolled it up in a long tube

Kinda like a snake

The mix from the pan goes in the pan
first - it will become the top

They are out of the oven. This is the bottom view.

Once you flip them over the good topping shows

They are so darn good!

         I love these mini muffins. They were pretty easy to make, but I was surprised how I made double the amount. My mini muffin pans must be half as big as the ones that Ree uses. What I really like about these is that they were only 117 calories. I have made a lot of sweet treats lately and my weight is fluctuating because of it, but these were the perfect sweet treat. If you love cinnamon and pecans, then these are perfect for you.

Random Reflections - Bucket List

       My basement is an area that holds all overflow from school, as well as so much more. I have this on my bucket list because it is an overwhelming task, which cannot be done quickly. I need to sort and organize what I will keep and purge what I no longer want or need. Y goal is to have this be a short term item on this list so that I do not have to do so when I prepare to move.

Organize and purge the basement

I am going to learn as much as I can about large animals

Make repairs in each and every room of my home to prepare to sell

Research Hadrian’s Wall for visit to Scotland

Enter a quilt in a local fair

Write a book about school for parents

Host a game party

Purchase a truck

I would like to learn more about fostering animals

Visit the narrowed list of Kentucky towns each for a weekend

Have a B.M.I. of 24.9 or lower

Return to Florida/Alabama and see old friends

Play tennis again

Learn to play bridge

Have an in-ground pool

Finish writing a book on the Scent Family

Save up enough money for a down payment on my Kentucky house

Research every town in Kentucky in hopes of relocating

Work on learning calligraphy and bettering daily penmanship

Begin making my own clothing using a mannequin

Volunteer at an animal rescue

Visit all 50 states

Photography courses

Complete all of Mom’s and my scrapbooks

Go skiing again in Colorado

Meet the Duggar family

Watch every nominee and winner for the Academy Awards to date

Remodel my kitchen

Take piano lessons

Write 2 books for my great-nephews

Travel to Wales

Travel to Scotland

Alaskan cruise

Why Weight?

         This has been a very difficult week for me, and it is all because of this blog. This week, I cooked the remaining Halloween recipes. Unfortunately, most of them were dessert-like items.

         First I told myself, that I was “just tasting” the food, so I could write about it. Of course, that quickly got out of hand. I claim it was the blog, but I do know it is still all about my choices. I should have just had one piece of each item and then give them away. That is not how it worked out, but that is how it should have been.

         I must say that I am looking forward to cooking for Thanksgiving. These recipes are more “dinner-like” and easier to freeze and eat one at a time. Sometimes, overeating reappears and I just have to begin again.

10/26                  Sunday                  2,008         calories         yard work                 

10/27                  Monday                 1,926         calories         nothing                 

10/28                  Tuesday                1,796         calories         Curves

10/29                  Wednesday            1,662         calories         Curves

10/30                  Thursday               2,800         calories         Curves

10/31                  Friday                     2,417         calories         Halloween

11/1                  Saturday                   2,223         calories         yard work

Goal:             63.5 lbs.          (100 lb. loss between 6/1/14 – 6/1/15)

                  +   4.1 lbs.         this week’s loss

                     67.6 lbs. lbs to go

         I lost the charge on my FitBit so there are no steps this week.

Wants and Wishes

       I am tired of hearing people constantly gossip about others. In the past, I have been a part of this pastime, but in the last few weeks I made a major decision to avoid being with people who have nothing kind to say, and seem to thrive on gossip. I have made the decision to avoid these situations if it is at all possible. If not, I will sit in silence and not participate.

Halloween is Over

        The trick and treating is all over and it is time to clean-up the yard. Nicole had the best decorations this year. She loves Halloween and has her home decorated to the nines both inside and out. Here is what she will be cleaning up this weekend.

This creeps me out, big time.