The New American Plate Cookbook

Recipes for a Healthy Weight and a Healthy Life

from the American Institute for Cancer Research

This cookbook was highly recommended to me by a family friend. She raved about how great it is and how many people had purchased it because of her. I enjoy reading cookbooks so in July I ordered it from Amazon without even looking at it first. The basic premise of the book is that "your plate should hold two-thirds (or more) vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and one-third (of less) animal protein." This sounds reasonable to me (although we don't eat this way) so I was on board with trying some of the recipes.

I have only tried a few of the recipes so far...southwestern black bean salad with barley (which I really enjoyed); green peppers stuffed with rice, beans, and feta (which again I enjoyed); kasha pilaf with squash and chicken (this tasted like health food); and apple-spice bread (which we both really enjoyed). Matthew wasn't really a fan of the meals without meat. He thought the kasha dish tasted like tree bark. So out of everything I have tried so far, the bread was the only hit for both of us.

I am not giving up on the book though. There are many recipes that seem more suited to fall and winter that I am excited to try...cider-glazed sweet potatoes with cranberries; honey-roasted parsnips with sweet potatoes and apples; brussel sprouts with balsamic glaze; carrot-raisin bread; cranberry-pumpkin bread with flaxseed; gingerbread; and many others. I am getting hungry just looking through the book again. I think for the time being, I may just stay away from the grains.

October 2008

We have a lot to be thankful for and celebrate during the month of October.

• 1st Mom's birthday


• 10th friend Wade's birthday


• 15th friend Worley's birthday


• 16th Matthew's birthday


• 22nd Carolyn's birthday

A couple of these days will be hard this year, but they are still days worth celebrating.

What a view!

The view from our driveway has changed a bit. Do you see the change?


Unfortunately after a year and a half in our house, the lot directly across the street from us has sold. Soon we will not have this view of Pikes Peak. We don't sit out front and look at this view so it shouldn't be a big deal, but it is still nice to see any time we go out the front door. We'll miss this view for sure. I think Max will even miss the view.

Customer Service

We've had some interesting dealings with customer service recently. My employer is very big on good customer service. My office is attached to a conference room and more than anything else I have overheard trainings and conversations on customer service.

A couple of months ago Matthew took a stereo/receiver that we purchased around Christmas to the store we bought it from for repair. The store sent it to the manufacturer and we were supposed to get it in 6 to 8 weeks. We called the store a couple of times without an update on our stereo/receiver. Finally a week or so ago Matthew went to the store to find out what was going on. It turns out somewhere along the way our stereo/receiver went missing. They told him to come back the next day because they would replace it with a new model. The next day, they gave him the floor model because they didn't have any new ones. He had to go back the next day because they hadn't given him everything he needed to set it up. Everything works which is good, but it was a little disappointing because they had promised a new one.

Last week, for the second time this year, someone stole our trash can from in front of our house. The last time this happened we were using a different trash company. That company had identifying numbers on the trash can itself. I called the company and they told me they would keep an eye out for it. I didn't really think anything would happen, but they actually found our trash can. I was so glad we didn't have to shell out $70 for that trash can. Needless to say, we really appreciated this trash company. Then our HOA made us switch to one trash service for the community. Last week our trash can disappeared once again. So I called the trash company to make sure they would still pick up our trash if it wasn't in the trash container. The only advice she offered was to steal one of our neighbor's containers. What kind of customer service is that?? And why is someone stealing our trash container???

Max just wants to fetch

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Max does not have good leash edicate. He pulls like crazy. I went to Petsmart a couple of months ago and purchased what one of their trainers suggested. I can't remember what the contraption is called, but it is like a harness. When the dog pulls, it is supposed to make him feel like he is losing his footing and cause him to stop pulling. That did not work at all. I only walked him a short while because we went to a field to play with a frisbee for the first time and his chuck-it. The frisbee was ok but not as big of a hit as the chuck-it.

We played for a while in the field. Then Matthew showed Max there was a pond thinking Max would take a drink from it. Not Max. Max just ran into the water and got completely wet. He really enjoyed retrieving and then running into the water. He's very silly around the water...he LOVES it! This is the first time we have seen Max lay down in the water. He should really learn to relax.

Congratulations to Andy and Amy

who had a baby girl today. I hope they will soon have pictures and info up on this blog.

Next

So my next sewing project could possibly take the rest of my life to complete. I hope it doesn't, but I may have decided to take on more than I can handle. BUT I am committed to see it through to completion. AND I am really excited about it.

I have now read a couple of books, a couple of magazines, and at least a dozen blogs about quilting. I am starting with a simple quilt from a book I recently read. It looks pretty simple and says it is for beginners. Have I mentioned I am excited about this?

I started last Friday night at the fabric store. I was going to start small but got so excited about the fabric I was finding that I just couldn't help myself. I like the colors in this fabric and hope it will not turn out too matchy-matchy (which I have been known to have an issue with). Isn't it lovely and inviting?

I am a bit anxious to post about this so early in the process, but I thought it would (1) be fun to have an update each week and (2) encourage me to continue when I get discouraged or overwhelmed.

The first picture is of the fabric just after purchase and before washing. I got home so late from the store that after washing, I wasn't even able to get started until Saturday. The second picture is of all the fabric cut into 6" x 6" squares after it had all been ironed. I'm not sure if you noticed, but I decided I didn't have a large enough variety so I went to the store again Saturday afternoon for some additional fabric.

Now that it has all been cut out, I have to iron all 4 edges of each square. Last night, I ironed 18 squares. I have no idea how many I have left, but it is going to take me a good while to get that part done.

I tell you...there is a lot of preparation before any sewing can start.