Thursday, May 7, 2009

A Healthy Jumbo Bran Muffin Recipe




Healthy Jumbo Bran Muffin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Serving Size: 6

Yield: 6 jumbo muffins or 12 standard size muffins

Weight Watchers Points 6 for one jumbo muffin


Ingredients:


2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed

1 Tablespoon butter, cut in small pieces

2 Tablespoons chopped walnuts

1 1/2 cups unprocessed bran

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

2 egg whites

1/3 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons molasses

1 cup lowfat buttermilk, 1% or fat free if you can find it

2/3 cup golden raisins


Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 6-jumbo-cup (1 cup each) nonstick muffin tin with non-stick spray (or line with foil or paper liners).

2. To make the crumb topping, combine 2 T. of the all-[purpose flour and the brown sugar in a medium bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the walnuts.

3. Combine the bran, whole wheat flour, the remaining 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and the baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg, egg whites, sugar, molasses in a large bowl until blended. Gradually add in the buttermilk. Gradually add the bran mixture, mixing on low speed until just blended. Stir in the raisins.

4. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about half full. Sprinkle with the crumb topping. Bake until atoothpick inserted in a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack 5 minutes; remove from the pan and cool completely on the rack.


Notes:


For smaller muffins, spoon the batter into a standard 12-cup muffin tin and bake about 20 minutes, and cut the points in half.


Nutritional Information:


WW Points 6


Per Serving ( 1 jumbo muffin) 329 cal., 6g. Fat, 2g. Sat Fat, 42 mg Chol, 481 mg Sod, 64 g carb, 8g Fib, 10g Prot, 111 mg Calc.



Saturday, April 25, 2009

Mad at England and Socialized Medicine- Need to Vent



I AM MAD AT ENGLAND!!!
I have to vent--

Short history: There is a little boy named Samuel that was born a Thanatophoric dwarf- He wasn't suppose to survive. He is almost 4 now.

Well I belong to a Thanatophoric support board:

Anyway there is a young women on the board from England whose baby has been given the same diagnosis as Samuel and the medical community won't do anything for her.

They won't let her deliver at a hospital that has an intensive neonatal unit- She has to deliver at her local hospital. They won't let her have a c- section even if the baby is breech that would give the baby a better chance of at least being born alive instead of still born. They won't give the baby any special treatment like a vent after he is born. They won't even give her a doctor for the delivery jut a midwife. No offense to midwives, but this is a high risk pregnancy especially for the baby. She was pressured to abort but said no. They have just decided that this baby isn't worth any special effort at all because his diagnosis is fatal/ futile!!! Which it is not! just look at Samuel. I guess England doesn't consider it cost effective to do anything to help this mother and child. GRRRRRRR I don't like our system in America but this is why Socialized medicine stinks too! Samuel's mom was on bed rest at the hospital the last month or so of her pregnancy so she wouldn't go into pre-mature labor. She had a c- section to give the baby the best chance at being born alive. They gave Sam the same drugs they give pre-mature babies to help their lungs (which is why he probably survived) They went along with Samuel's parents wishes to have him placed on a ventilator - And today he is happy and bubbly, laughs and smiles and interacts with his environment. All things the doctors said he would never do.-
Just see here:
http://deenyssimplejoys.blogspot.com/2009/01/update-sam-surviving-3-12-year-old.html

Samuel also has a you tube video where he is laughing too cute!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Q92MC8plU

And a news article all about him here:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14845


The young mother in England is Named Chelsea - This was her last post to the Thanatophoric Support group board:

From Chelsea) ...Did anyone have a breech delivery with their baby? Ive been told Charlie is breech and may not turn so will have to deliver him/her breech. They won't do a c section so I will have to deliver myself. Also been told I won't have a doctor, just a midwife. Hope she is prepared!!
Still feel very let down by the system. No support or counselling. Have been asked if I would like a post mortem done but have said no. It seems like the medical profession want to do these things once Charlie goes, there is no help being offered while Charlie is alive! Doesn't make sense :-(


OK I am so mad at England and Socialized Medicine right now!! Sorry had to vent

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Not too Big To Color Easter Eggs

Coloring Easter Eggs
Still fun to dye Easter Eggs no matter if you are a little kid or a big kid. :-)


Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Boating on a Lovely March Day









One of my favorite past times is boating. Of course my husband does most of the work. I pack the picnic lunch. This past weekend we took the boat out on a beautiful lake. We live in what I think is a tropical paradise. No alligator sightings this weekend, which is a good thing.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

White Rice Vs Brown Rice

White Rice vs. Brown Rice

OK everyone says how much better brown rice is, and for probably the past 5 years I have been making just brown rice.

However, I compared packages of white to brown, and from a vitamin standpoint the white was better. The brown and white rice had the same grams of protein and iron, but the white rice had more added B vitamins. The only advantage to the brown i saw was that it had more fiber, but really not a whole lot more. It only had 1 gram per serving. Now I can add veggies and beans to up fiber content in the white.

The white rice was more than 50% cheaper than the brown.
Second brown rice goes rancid relatively fast and I have to keep it in the fridge or freezer for freshness which takes up room. Not good for long term or emergency storage.

Now yes (at least I think - I would have to fact check) white rice by itself metabolizes faster in the blood stream and causes blood sugar to rise faster but when mixed with other protein or high fiber foods that slows it down.

Anyone else have any thoughts? I can buy a 5 pound bag of white rice for the price of a 2 pound bag of brown and the rest of the family likes it better. (However they do like my brown rice too because I can make it extremely yummy but it is chewier.)

So anyone know of any other reasons brown rice is suppose to be better? Just looking for some added input.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Belinda is Going To be on Dancing With the Stars


I was and still am a big fan of the Go-Go's and Belinda Carlisle. What can I say. I am still stuck in the 80's. I last saw the Go-Go's perform in 2003 and Last saw Belinda perform in 2005.
Premiere of Dancing With the Stars is March 9th

"When I see a Britney Spears video, I just think of a bunch of old men,bordering on pedophiles, sitting in a marketing room and deciding what's sexy."
Belinda Carlisle 2001
In Time Out New York



Friday, February 20, 2009

Today's Bread

This is the bread I made today. I used my Kitchen aid for the loaves and my bread maker to make the roll dough. Nope it isn't 100% Sourdough Whole Wheat. They are both made with a ratio about 1/3 whole wheat and 2/3rds white flour. I like this ratio for bread. They rise well and are light, and the family likes them.
Recipes: Family Bread

Bread and Rolls before baking. Final Rise.




Sunday, February 15, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

Update: Sam a Surviving 3 1/2 year old Thanatophoric Dwarf has Fun at Sea World & Disney



Update: 1/16/09

Hi Everyone,

This is another Update on the wonderful and amazing life of Samuel who was born with Thanatophoric Dysplasia. He is surviving, thriving, full of life and doing fantastic. Here he is in his shades on his trip to Disney & Sea World. The wonderful Make A Wish foundation granted this wish for Samuel and his family. I want to let families know that if they ever have to face the choice of whether to put their child on a ventilator that these children do not live in pain and do have a very wonderful quality of life. I don't always think doctors give parents all the information necessary to make an informed decision. I think doctors in many cases scare people away from life saving procedures especially when they feel there is supposedly no hope. I want to let parents know they do have options. Choose life.


He is a giggly, happy toddler who does interact with his environment.
Samuel and His Mom at Disney & Sea World in Orlando Florida
A Wish Granted to Him By The Make A Wish Foundation

Samuel's Website
Sign his Guest book


A Sampling of Pictures From Samuel's Trip















Tags: long-term thanatophoric survival, living thanatophoric dwarf, thanatophoric dwarf turns 3, laughing and happy child with thanatophoric dysplasia, Living with thanatophoric dysplasia, surviving thanatophoric dysplasia, living on a ventilator

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

My Show Girls: Sadie and Roxie




My Miniature Pinscher: King's Little Lady Sadie
My Maltese: Sweetie's Foxy Roxie
Sadie and Roxie for short